"Hello, Mr. Tang."
"Hello, Mr. Tang."
"I've met Mr. Tang."
These shopkeepers from the grocery store who came from Nanjing bowed respectfully as soon as they entered the door, but at the same time they were confused.
Youdao means buying it and leaving it. There is no reason to return the goods they bought.
A few days ago, the price of the Tang family's papyrus suddenly dropped. The usual purchase price is fifty cents per pack, and the selling price is one hundred cents, with a profit of fifty cents.
But suddenly the purchase price dropped to twenty cents per pack.
However, if they want to obtain such a purchase price, they must maintain a selling price of thirty cents for three months, with a profit of only ten cents.
However, after three months, it can be sold at the usual selling price.
Therefore, the shopkeepers of the grocery store stocked up a large amount of goods. After all, the profit after three months would be eighty cents.
Many shopkeepers have even bought the goods for the year after next. After all, the straw paper will not go bad, and there will be no big problem if it is stored for a few years.
But the sudden appearance of toilet paper swept the entire Nanjing market, and they could no longer sell their toilet paper.
No one can bear the sudden pressure on a small business with so much goods.
So everyone discussed coming together and wanted to return the goods, otherwise it would be a big loss.
"What's the reason for your sudden visit today?"
After Mr. Tang asked the shopkeepers to sit down, he asked straight to the point.
The shopkeepers of the grocery store looked at each other, and finally their eyes fell on shopkeeper Jia of Dongfeng Grocery Store.
Shopkeeper Jia has the largest business. He has six grocery stores in Nanjing and several in the counties below, so he is considered to be of some status.
Obviously, the representative this time is him.
Shopkeeper Jia stood up, held up his hands with a smile and said: "Mr. Tang, it's like this. The price of the papyrus sold by the Tang family this time is very fair. We all buy too much at once, which is a squeeze on funds, so now I'm thinking Come to the door, return the goods, and ask Mr. Tang for permission."
When he heard that it was really a return, Mr. Tang immediately frowned.
Tang Zizi stood up unhappily and said: "We are all old acquaintances. A few days ago, our Tang family gave us a profit. It was up to you to decide how much goods to buy. We did not force you. Now it is time to return the goods. What's going on? Don't you understand the rules of this business? Once you make a purchase, you will leave without returning it."
When Shopkeeper Jia saw this, he smiled and said: "But we also have our own difficulties. It's really not possible. We are willing to lose some money."
Hearing this, the old man of the Zhao family felt something was wrong.
The purchase price was twenty cents, and they still had to return it at a loss?
There must be something fishy about this.
Mr. Tang asked: "What difficulties do you have? Is there an official above who prohibits you from selling? If so, don't worry, I will send someone to deal with this matter."
Everyone shook their heads.
Shopkeeper Jia said: "No one prohibits us from buying and selling. We are very free."
"That's weird."
Mr. Tang said: "This is a real profit. The purchase price of 20 cents is already our cost price. Our Tang family is making a living at a loss. Why do you want to return the goods?"
After speaking, he thought for a moment and said, "Are you dissatisfied with the current rule that the price is only thirty cents for three months? In this way, three months is shortened to two months, do you think it's okay?"
Shopkeeper Jia shook his head and said: "Let alone three months, even if there is no such rule, we still want to return it, otherwise we will go bankrupt. To be honest, this product is not easy to sell."
Mr. Tang said: "Why?? The purchase price of twenty cents is not easy to sell? I allow you to sell it cheaper."
Shopkeeper Jia sighed: "Mr. Tang, it seems you haven't gone to the market to see it. Don't say it's cheap now. You can't sell it at all."
"What??"
Mr. Tang stood up suddenly, looking shocked: "Why?"
"You really don't know?" Shopkeeper Jia was also a little surprised.
He also thought that the Tang family knew that products like toilet paper suddenly came out, and then the Tang family dumped them in advance.
But looking at Mr. Tang's expression, it seemed that he wasn't just faking it.
"What do I know??" Mr. Tang said, "Stop being so secretive and tell me quickly."
Shopkeeper Jia was also confused and said: "Then let me ask Mr. Tang first, please tell the truth. Why did your Tang family suddenly sell toilet paper at a lower price and let us sell it at a lower price?"
Mr. Tang paused and said truthfully: "Then I will tell you, because my Tang family has a bet with someone. This person said that I would not be able to sell a single piece of papyrus from the Tang family, so I came up with this idea. Win the bet with price.”
“So that’s how it is”
Shopkeeper Jia was stunned and said: "Mr. Tang, if you want to put it bluntly, your Tang family has been defeated. You really can't sell any of this papyrus now."
Mr. Tang said: "The price of thirty cents is seventy cents cheaper than usual. How can it not be sold! What is the purpose of your coming here today?"
"Mr. Tang, calm down."
Shopkeeper Jia hurriedly said: "Since this is the point of the conversation, let's talk openly. The Tang family's papyrus is really unsaleable now, not just the papyrus from the Tang family, the Xu family, the Zhang family, and the Lu family. , even one piece can’t be sold. Not to mention the price of thirty cash, even if it is ten cash, it can’t be sold.”
"impossible!"
The old man of the Tang family looked at Shopkeeper Jia in disbelief and said, "Shopkeeper Jia, are you kidding me? It's not even ten cents, which is less than the cost price, and you can't sell it. What's the point? Don't you use this papyrus anymore?" "
"That's right, there's really no need for that."
Shopkeeper Jia took out a pack of toilet paper, showed it in front of everyone, and said: "Now, this kind of toilet paper has appeared in Nanjing and is spreading widely. I am afraid that in a few days, this kind of toilet paper will be available throughout Nanzhili. Who will buy toilet paper??”
"Toilet paper, show me."
The old man of the Tang family walked over in two or two steps, took the large pack of toilet paper, opened the outer packaging, and revealed a stack of toilet paper inside.
"Toilet paper, didn't it appear in Peking? It costs one or two silver to buy a pack in Nanjing. It is impossible for such an expensive thing to squeeze the toilet paper market."
Mr. Tang touched the toilet paper and said this.
The feel and softness of toilet paper surpasses straw paper in every aspect.
Mr. Tang knew about this thing, and he wanted to develop it, but he failed, there was no formula, and he concluded that the cost of this thing should not be low.
Boss Jia said: "How could it not be squeezed? This thing is sold for ten cents a pack."
As soon as this statement came out.
Both of the Tang family were shocked.
The selling price for a pack of ten cents?
This is too exaggerated.
So what is its cost price?
Five cents?
Is this possible?
He once found out that the raw material of toilet paper is wood.
The raw material of straw paper is grass.
The cost of papyrus reached 20 cents, how could wood cost less than 10 cents? ? ?
"Somebody come!"
The old man of the Tang family immediately called his servants and said to the servants who entered the house: "Go to Nanjing City quickly and buy toilet paper."
"Yes." The servant left immediately.
"Everyone, wait patiently." The old man of the Tang family said to these shopkeepers: "We have a cooperative relationship for many years. If this is the case, I will not make it difficult for everyone."
"Thank you very much."
The shopkeepers bowed and thanked each other, feeling relieved.
An hour and a half later.
The servant folded it back and handed over the toilet paper he bought:
"Master, that's really it. This is a pack of toilet paper that costs ten cents. Please take a look."
The old man of the Tang family took it and looked at it. It was indeed the same toilet paper that shopkeeper Jia had brought.
"Toilet paper costs ten cents."
Mr. Tang's face turned pale: "As a result, all the papyrus on the market will be eliminated and the bet will be lost! The income and property of my Tang family will also be gone."
This is no joke.
The Tang family's papyrus business requires everyone to pay homage to various officials every year. It has been in business for many years and it has reached today's situation. It can bring thousands of taels of income to Zhuangzi every year.
The decline of this business means that this major income will be lost in the future.
Tang Zizi on the side whispered: "Dad, could it be that this boy Yu Qian is making a profit at a loss in order to win the bet?"
"Losing money and making money"
Mr. Tang's eyes lit up and he said, "Yes! There is a possibility. Quickly, call Tang Wen, who is in charge of papermaking in Zhuangzi, to me."
"Yes." Tang Cizi responded, and then immediately left to invite him in person.
Soon, Tang Wen, who was supporting the paper maker, came to the hall.
"I've met the head of the family." Tang Wen is a middle-aged man in his forties. His skin is very rough from years of papermaking.
Mr. Tang immediately took the toilet paper in his hand and ordered: "Tang Wen, take a look immediately and estimate the cost of making such paper?"
"This is toilet paper." Tang Wen recognized it at a glance. After taking it, he squeezed it and said, "According to my experience, the cost of making such paper should be no less than fifty yuan."
In fact, Tang Wen doesn’t know this either, so he can only make a rough estimate.
Mr. Tang thought about it and said, "In other words, Yu Qian will lose forty cash if he sells a pack of toilet paper."
Tang Cizi nodded and said: "It's very possible that Yu Qian will do whatever it takes to win."
Mr. Tang looked at Boss Jia and asked, "Boss Jia, how many bags does Yu Qian sell in Nanjing City in a day?"
Boss Jia said: "Every day there are five thousand bags, and they are sold out every day."
Mr. Tang thought about it in his mind.
Each bale loses forty coppers, so five thousand bales equals two hundred thousand coppers, which is equivalent to two hundred taels of silver.
If you lose two hundred taels a day, you will lose six thousand taels a month!
Who can afford to lose six thousand taels? ?
Let alone a month, I'm afraid it can only last seven or eight days.
It turns out that Yu Qian just wanted to win the bet.
"Hahaha, shopkeepers, don't panic!"
The old man of the Tang family looked at the shopkeeper who came to return the goods, and laughed: "He Yu Qian won't last long before he collapses. He loses two hundred taels of silver a day, how long can he last?" Since he wants to sell the paper of the Tang family, If he doesn't go out, I won't do what he wants, and I'll buy it at a loss. Tang's paper sells for five cents a pack!! I don't believe in buying it."
As soon as this statement came out, the shopkeepers were dubious and confused.
Tang Cizi said: "Dad, if you sell a pack for five cents, the cost price to the shopkeepers will be two or three cents. That counts as three cents. Our cost price is twenty cents, and we will lose seventeen cents per pack. This It’s not a small amount.”
"Humph, what do you know?"
Mr. Tang snorted and said, "He Yu Qian lost 40 cents, and we lost 17 cents. Who do you think can survive?? Our Tang family has accumulated so many years of savings, can't we survive a little Yu Qian?"
When Tang Zizi heard this, he nodded and said, "Dad, you are smart! Then let's fight with that naughty boy."
"good!"
Mr. Tang looked at the shopkeepers and said: "Okay! You have also heard that our Tang family will fight to the end with people who disrupt the market. Your goods are sold for five cents and the purchase price is three cents. I will call someone Calculating your previous purchase price of 20 cents, I will refund you 17 cents for each pack of papyrus. However, you will not be refunded and will be settled in goods. Is this acceptable?"
The words fell.
The shopkeepers immediately gathered around to discuss in low voices.
In other words, they didn't get the money back this time, but they got back more goods at a lower cost. The purchase price was three cents per pack of straw paper.
If the price is five cents, there is a market, and there is a profit difference of two cents.
Although it is not much, it can make small profits but quick turnover. After all, a pack of straw paper costing five cents is five cents cheaper than toilet paper, so it will definitely sell better.
"Shopkeeper Jia, what do you think?"
Finally, everyone looked at the backbone of Shopkeeper Jia.
Shopkeeper Jia made some calculations and whispered: "I think it's okay. I'm afraid it's impossible to get the money back from the Tang family today, so why not just accept it?"
Everyone nodded.
So, Shopkeeper Jia walked out, looked at Mr. Tang and said, "Mr. Tang, just do as you say. But don't blame me for not reminding you. Now that the opening of the five cents-a-pack of papyrus is opened, even that Yu Qian It’s really bankrupt. But in the future, I’m afraid no one will buy a hundred pence worth of papyrus.”
Mr. Tang waved his hand and said: "Shopkeeper Jia, this is not something you have to worry about. Call the accounting clerk over to settle the accounts! The refund will be settled with the goods."
Next, it’s time to settle accounts.
A pack of straw paper that the shopkeepers used to pay for twenty cents now cost three cents. The extra seventeen cents were not refunded to them, but replaced with six packs of straw paper.
Based on this calculation, the straw paper brought back by the shopkeepers will probably pile up into a mountain.
While the accounts were being calculated in the hall.
At this time, a man ran over in a hurry.
This person is none other than Tang Tianbao, the eldest son of the Tang family.
He just heard about this from the accountant outside and hurried over to stop it.
"Father."
Tang Tianbao came over, bowed and said: "You must not sell at a loss. The papyrus is no longer valuable. We should stop production, clear out the inventory, and withdraw from this industry, instead of competing, which will be detrimental to the Tang family!"
"What??? Quit? Do you know what you're talking about?"
The old man of the Tang family was furious: "You are always thinking about compromising, and sooner or later the family business will be defeated by you!"
Tang Tianbao mustered up the courage to retort: "The facts are in front of us. Toilet paper will definitely replace straw paper. Father, if you are stubborn and the family business is not passed on to me, you will be ruined. Father, please believe me!" "
"You are a traitor"
The old man of the Tang family was so angry that his hands were shaking and he cursed: "I asked you to shut yourself up and think about your mistakes, but you don't want to repent. Now you dare to talk to me like this. I'm so angry. I'm so angry."
"Dad, calm down." Tang Zizi hurriedly supported his father, then looked at Tang Tianbao and said: "Brother, younger brother, I have always respected you, but what you said is too much! We are selling at a loss just to cash in on that The toilet paper produced by Yu Qian caused it to go bankrupt, why did you stop it??"
"I'm afraid it's us who will go bankrupt!"
Tang Tianbao was too lazy to pay attention to his second brother, but looked at Mr. Tang and said loudly: "Dad, I have been to Peiping. The price of toilet paper there is ten cents a pack. The normal price shows that the cost price of toilet paper itself is very low. , less than ten cents, that is to say, we are indebted to compete with him. It is impossible to win and we will definitely lose. If we continue to fight, it will only be our Tang family that goes bankrupt."
"You fart, how can the price of toilet paper be less than ten cents? It's impossible. Toilet paper in Nanjing costs one tael of silver per pack. Aren't those smugglers making a fortune?" Mr. Tang didn't believe such a statement at all.
"But Beiping sells them for ten cents, the normal selling price, and they have been sold for many years. Do you think the cost price may be higher than the selling price??? Those private breeders claim that the purchase price is five cents of silver, all for the sake of Profit, they can make a lot of money."
Tang Tianbao pointed to himself, "Dad, please believe me, don't be impulsive." (End of Chapter)
