It was already noon when I left Li Zheng's house.
Cheng Wanwan did not stay at Li Zheng's house for dinner and was about to go home when she saw villagers running in one direction carrying large sacks.
She grabbed a woman and asked in confusion: "What happened at the other end of the village?"
The woman put down the sack on her shoulder and said with a smile on her face: "It is said that a shopkeeper from Wanquan County came to our village to collect cotton, and it cost fifty cents per pound. Our family has planted nearly an acre of cotton this year. , made three or four large quilts, saved some for winter clothes, and still have three hundred kilograms left, oh my God, it’s more than ten taels of silver at random, and I have the money for the bride price for my son’s wife.”
The woman was afraid that she would not be accepted if she arrived late, so after saying this, she picked up the cotton bag and left quickly.
Cheng Wanwan frowned slightly. The cotton in their village had just been collected and was not sold on the market. How could the shopkeeper from Wanquan County next door come to collect it?
Wanquan County is not within the territory of Huzhou, but it is close to Baiyun County, Huzhou. It is more than an hour's journey away. It is neither close nor far. Maybe some villagers have relatives in Wanquan County and spread the news.
Anyone who knows how to do business should be able to think of business opportunities when they see cotton, and it is normal to come all the way to buy it.
Fifty cents per catty, the price is really high. Even the villagers who grow the least cotton should have about a hundred catties at home, and they can get it for five taels of silver.
However, this price can only be determined this year. If cotton is promoted next year, the price should be reduced to about ten cents. After that, five cents will be considered a high price.
Because cotton is originally used by the people at the bottom. The high price now is due to the scarcity of goods. People in Dahe Village can only earn a little.
Cheng Wanwan walked all the way back and saw many villagers carrying money in their pockets and their faces beaming with joy.
There were several village women who held her hand and kept thanking her.
"If we had known that cotton prices were so high, we should have planted more at the beginning of the year."
"No matter what I say, I have to thank Dashan Niang, otherwise my family would not be able to earn more than ten taels of silver so easily."
"I heard from Sidan that Dashan Niang has wanted to eat a goose stewed in an iron pot for a long time. I will kill the goose at home that likes to chase people and send it over later."
"..."
Cheng Wanwan laughed: "You planted this cotton yourself, you fertilized and watered it yourself, it has nothing to do with me. I have received my wishes, so I don't want the goose."
As soon as she finished speaking, Ninglan came over in a hurry: "Anren, Shopkeeper Hu from Wanquan County wants to see you."
The woman next to me immediately said: "Shopkeeper Hu is the person who is here to collect cotton today. He looks like Maitreya Buddha. He smiles when he meets everyone and is generous with money."
"We won't waste Dashan Niang's time, let's go first."
The women dispersed.
Cheng Wanwan walked back suspiciously, wouldn't Shopkeeper Hu still want to collect the cotton from her house?
Although there is a lot of cotton in her house, every pound has its use and she will definitely not sell it.
"I've seen people from Sui'an!"
Standing at the gate of the house was a fat middle-aged man. When he saw Cheng Wanwan, he knelt down and saluted.
Cheng Wanwan smiled lightly and said: "Shopkeeper Hu, you don't have to be polite. I wonder why shopkeeper Hu came here?"
"Hu heard that every household in Dahe Village grew cotton. Out of curiosity, he came over to take a look. This cotton is extremely soft. If it is made into quilts and fabrics and sold, it will definitely be very popular." Shopkeeper Hu lowered his head and said, "But Hu heard someone say that the cotton seeds were found by people from Sui'an and picked them for free for the villagers. Hu should have asked the Sui'an people what they wanted in advance and should not have come so abruptly... If this offended the Sui'an people , Hu is willing to return all the cotton.”
Cheng Wanwan twitched the corners of his lips. This man looked kind, but he was a bit hypocritical on the inside.
After everything has been collected and the money and goods have been collected, returning the cotton at this time is not intentional to make the villagers unhappy.
But there is no need for her to argue with a businessman. Businessmen are all seeking profits, and if their interests are present, they can ignore anything.
She said softly: "Shopkeeper Hu is worrying too much. You can just handle this matter yourself."
"Thank you Suian!"
Shopkeeper Hu thanked him repeatedly.
Cheng Wanwan walked into the house with a very pale expression.
As soon as she disappeared at the entrance of the courtyard, shopkeeper Hu raised his head, his face full of joy.
He hurriedly left the big house and walked to a path. A woman with a bulging belly came over and whispered: "I have told you a long time ago that Sui'an is gentle and has a good temper. I will not talk to you." A businessman is careless, and if you are so hesitant, I will suspect that I have found the wrong person."
"As a businessman, I don't dare to go against people from the government. I naturally have to go and find out what's going on. Now I'm fine. I don't have any worries anymore." Shopkeeper Hu touched his chin, "But your price is too high. Thirty-seven cents, you Just produce the drawings and get 30% of the profit, which I may not be able to afford."
Sun Shuiqin's expression changed: "I not only provided the drawings, but also gave you information. Otherwise, why would all the tens of thousands of kilograms of cotton in Dahe Village fall into your hands?"
"You also know that the cotton is all in my hands now. It's not impossible for me to change my mind and kick you out." Shopkeeper Hu said with a smile, "But I am a person who keeps promises. Since we have agreed to cooperate, we will cooperate to the end, but only for profit." It has to be divided according to one or nine.”
"Shopkeeper Hu, you can't do this." Sun Shuiqin sneered, "I can take the initiative to seek cooperation with you, or I can terminate the cooperation."
She turned around and was about to leave. As soon as she took a step, she stopped again and turned around and said, "If there were no clothing design drawings from me, then Shopkeeper Hu could only make quilts and fabrics for sale. The cost of making them is fifty cents per pound." You can’t make much money from either of these.”
Shopkeeper Hu's face turned dark.
A village woman actually dared to touch him.
But he also knew that the village woman was telling the truth. The quilts and fabrics were made in simple processes and could not be sold at a high price.
Only by making clothes, unique clothes, can you raise the price and make a lot of money.
"Twenty-eight at most."
Shopkeeper Hu held out two fingers.
Sun Shuiqin didn't dare to make the relationship too tense, and the profits from the two levels were already a lot. She pretended to be hesitant, and then nodded after a long time: "Then let's do it."
She handed over the design drawings from her sleeves and said in a low voice, "The people in Sui'an have started to rush into production. If nothing else happens, they will be sold before November. You have to act faster."
Shopkeeper Hu put the design drawings away, nodded and said: "Don't worry, nothing will go wrong."
Sun Shuiqin looked left and right and saw that there was no one outside the road, so she walked out.
Although Cheng Wanwan said she didn't want the big goose, the woman in the village still sent the big goose that had been killed and feathered. When the big goose was brought in, several majestic white geese in the yard suddenly shivered with fright. He crouched his neck and blended into the ducks, trying to reduce his presence.
"These geese have really become sperm." Mrs. Ma clicked her tongue. "If the geese are raised for more than a year, the meat will become old. No matter how you cook it, it will not taste good. You must arrange it as soon as possible."
When she said this, the geese were even more frightened to death.
Cheng Wanwan laughed: "The meat is old and I can't bite it anymore. Let them look after the house and the courtyard. This goose today is quite good. Let's use it to make antique soup."
Antique soup is the ancient version of hot pot. She has been in this era for so long and has never had hot pot.
Mrs. Ma was already used to it. Although Sui'an was born as a village woman, she seemed to know many delicacies in the capital and the imperial city. She, a servant who specializes in cooking, sometimes didn't know as much as Sui'an.
