February 18th, Gengchen Day, is a good time to pray for blessings and open the market.
After a month of preparation, the paper-making workshop for Chu Ji's funeral finally opened. The workshop followed the model of the paper money workshop in the backyard of the Chu family's old house. Shen Luzhu and several masters from Lin Ji divided the paper-making work into three. For several steps, the recruited workers are divided into groups and cooperate with each other to perform their duties.
Each group only learns one part of the paper-making craft, firstly, to get started quickly, and secondly, to avoid the risk of the skill being passed on to others.
The two stewards sent by Lin Ting each had their own specialties. Steward Xu was mainly responsible for the accounts and purchasing of the workshop, while Steward Lin was responsible for the management of the workers in the workshop. Lin Ji's masters were divided into two groups, with some following Shen Luzhu. Develop new paper-tying styles, and the other part will use newly recruited workers to speed up production.
In late February, plus the whole of March, Shen Luzhu was the busiest person in the Chu family. Every day, he was either taking Chu Li in his west courtyard and painting on the coffin, or he was in the workshop on West Street, studying new styles. of paper.
However, it was a bit busy, but the result was quite satisfying. Before the Qingming Festival, in addition to the painted coffins filling the west courtyard, the types of paper used for Chu Ji's funerals had already changed from the original grain basins to those used to attract wealth. The trees and cornucopias have expanded to include more than ten types of maids, cattle and horses, houses, carriages, furniture, etc. The coffin shop in the west courtyard is so colorful and lively.
During the Qingming Festival, without the crowds from the Yang family, Chu Ji Funeral became the only shop in the county that sold wholesale paper ingots and copper coins to burn paper. Speaking of this, I have to mention that the young couple listened to Lin Ting's suggestion and joined the funeral merchant association. It's a matter of time.
The practice of burning copper coins with paper is actually not difficult to guess, especially after it was made in the Yang family's workshop. This has long been no secret in the paper money business in the county. The Yang family was there before, so it's not like they have eaten the courage of a bear's heart and a leopard's courage. , who dares to blatantly compete with the Yang family for business, even if they know the method, no one dares to do it and sell it.
But with the fall of the Yang family, some people's thoughts became vivid. The Yang family sold the copper coins before burning the paper, and the Chu family sold them. What could they not sell?
But before these colleagues could take action, the Yang family's affairs were followed up.
Everyone in the county didn't know that the Yang family had a conflict with the Chu family first, and then was led by the Sun family and defeated them in one fell swoop. It turned out that everyone thought that the Yang family must have gone too far this time and angered them. The Sun family took this opportunity to take action against the government. They not only gained a good reputation among their colleagues, but also sold a favor to the county government.
But just after the Yang family completely withdrew from the county paper money market, the two deputy directors who had run against the Chu family together with the Yang family were expelled from the chamber of commerce.
Later, the Chu family not only joined the Funeral Chamber of Commerce, but also bought the Yang family's workshop directly from the government and opened the current Chu Ji Funeral Paper Making Workshop.
It’s hard not to think of this series of things. How could a small boss of the Chu family, who came to the county town from the village less than two years ago, have such great ability, unless...unless the government and the Sun family did it? Became the backer of the Chu family.
That's right, that's right. It turns out that the Sun family and the government are all standing up for the Chu family. No wonder the Chu family is never afraid of the various little tricks of the Yang family!
After figuring this out, the raw materials that had been prepared and the workers that had been recruited suddenly became a hot potato. How dare you continue to do it? Is it because you have done enough business and want to follow in the footsteps of the Yang family?
The young couple didn't know that their colleagues had planned such a big drama behind their backs. Although they were helping the Sun family take action, the county magistrate knew about it, and it was Ding An who did it for them.
But both the Sun family and County Magistrate Xin had their own considerations in doing this. The young couple just thought about the reactions of all parties and just followed the trend. If the Sun family and the county government were both giving the Chu family Support me, this is really the most ridiculous thing in the world.
But no matter what everyone thinks, the outcome of the matter is very beneficial to the young couple. At least in a short period of time, no one will compete with the Chu family for the business of burning copper coins, burning paper and paper ingots, which is gratifying.
In time before the Qingming Festival, the young couple put out all their newly developed paper bindings, and sent Gao Tongshan to buy paper money with Song He. They stayed at the coffin shop in the west courtyard, hoping to take advantage of the paper money in the east courtyard. shop
When the customer flow is high, a wave of free publicity can be used to add some fame to your own paper-making products.
As expected, most of the people who sell paper money in the east courtyard shop will stop and take a look when they pass by the west courtyard coffin shop, and this is the time for Shen Luzhu to show off his talents.
"Auntie, if you want to see it, just come in and have a look. Our family is not that kind of family that doesn't want to buy anything. Come in and have a look. If you want to see any novelties, I will introduce them to you. They are all used for worshiping at graves. Maybe now There are some that can be used. Now during the Qingming Festival, our family has activities, maybe if we do the math, we can get one back for free."
When the ladies and gentlemen hear that there is an advantage, no matter whether they are interested or not, they are bound to go in and take a look.
"You are a human being and a cow and a horse, so why do you still have a house? Are these all being burned to death?"
Shen Luzhu was afraid that everyone would just come in to take a look and then leave. Now that someone was talking to her, she could continue her own words, so she smiled and said: "Uncle, you have really good eyesight. These are indeed all Like paper money and grain basins, they are all sacrificial objects.”
"You two are really good at making flowers. How can you go to the grave to offer sacrifices and burn these things!"
"Master, listen to me, why do we burn paper money when visiting graves? One is to express our condolences and remember our ancestors and elders, and the other is to send them some money. What is the money used for? To call servants and maids. , buy a car, a horse, a house, everyone is doing this, why not buy it first and burn it, just like the shrouds burned during funerals and the Winter Clothes Festival."
The aunt on the side nodded thoughtfully: "It seems to make some sense."
Seeing this, Shen Luzhu hurriedly continued to sell: "Burning paper money, burning shrouds, burning grain basins and money-making trees is the same as burning these paper people and horses. It's all not our intention. I see, aunt, you are looking so good today." I bought a lot of paper money from my family, so you can choose one of these papers and I will give it to you. How about you go back and give it a try?"
As soon as she heard that there was such a good thing, the lady just now immediately confirmed with a smile: "Boss, are you serious, you want to give me one, and you can just pick it?"
"Of course it's true, but I have a small request. I'll have to help you promote my paper tie business later."
The aunt thought it was a request, and when she heard it was so simple, she hurriedly agreed: "Of course, your paper money is so easy to use, and the paper binding is not bad. Don't worry, I will make arrangements with my neighbors later. Promote your home well."
"Thank you very much, ma'am."
When others saw this, they all came up to talk to each other: "Hey, boss lady, you can't treat one favorably. We all bought paper money from your house, do you have to give us one as well?"
"Yes, yes, we bought a lot here too."
Shen Luzhu had originally planned to send out a batch for trial use by his regular customers. He had just said this deliberately in front of everyone, but now he still pretended to be embarrassed and said: "Uncles and ladies, this is really embarrassing. I'm sorry, I didn't plan to produce so many paper bundles."
"Hey, boss lady, don't you have a paper-making workshop at your house? It's not fast to make."
"No, I remember that in the first month of the year, your workshop was still recruiting workers and apprentices. It was already doing such a big business. Boss lady, can you still do this?"
Shen Luzhu looked like he was in a dilemma, and sighed: "To be honest with you, making this paper tie is very labor-intensive and time-consuming, and the workshop is full of newcomers, so they can only make so many, and now they are all on display It’s in the shop, and I plan to put it in the shop to promote something. If I give it away today, what else can the shop use to promote its own paper tie?
But the aunt just now was right. Everyone is a regular customer of my shop, and we can’t favor one over others when doing business. What should we do? "
His wife was acting hard in front, and Chu Yi couldn't wait in the back, but there was really nothing he could do, so after thinking about it for a while, he led the lady who Shen Luzhu said was going to send paper bundles. I went aside to choose the paper style.
Everyone who was still trying to persuade Shen Luzhu became more eager when they saw this, and they all said that they could also help promote it.
Shen Luzhu quietly
Behind him, he gave Chu Yi a thumbs up, but his face was still a little tangled, and then he said as if he had made up his mind: "Since you are so enthusiastic and willing to help with publicity, I must give this paper to you." Yes, but I really can’t give it all out in one breath today, otherwise after you help me promote it, if anyone comes to the shop to see it, there won’t be anything to display.”
"What do you want to do, boss lady?"
Shen Luzhu cleared his throat and said, "That's what I think. Let's ask the workshop at home to make it quickly, but it will take some time."
"Then we won't be able to get it for a while. What will happen if your family refuses to accept it?"
"Yeah, I don't have any proof. If you don't admit it, who can we find to reason with?"
Hearing this, Shen Luzhu quickly comforted him: "Auntie, listen to what I have to say. Although the workshop is a little slower, we can still make some every day. If you guys don't believe it, then let's start tomorrow. Starting from now on, in the next three days, after the shop opens every day, the first ten people who come to the shop can choose a paper bundle to take away. This way, the paper bundle is given to everyone without delaying the display in the shop. What do you think? how? "
Everyone looked around, a little puzzled: "We don't have that many people here."
Shen Luzhu smiled and explained: "No, but we have many regular customers, so it doesn't matter if we have more. You can also call your relatives and friends back home. Anyway, it's only three days, first come, first served."
