Before dawn the next day, Saburo got up early and went to the field. There was a problem with a machine in the morning. Saburo was so anxious that he was sweating profusely and spent more than an hour repairing it. Seeing that it was getting late, I asked the gatekeeper, Father He, to order some noodles for everyone to satisfy their hunger.
Sanlang took a bowl, squatted on the stone at the mouth of the well, and ate noodles. While they were enjoying their meal, Qiao Tong came in from outside. Seeing Saburo, he said: "Brother is indeed here. Fortunately, I didn't go to your house. Come out and talk to you if I need anything."
Sanlang put down the bowl and asked Dad He to put the noodles away and eat again when he came back. Together with Zhi Tong, he walked out of the gate of the venue.
After walking a few steps, Sanlang asked: "It's already noon, has brother eaten?"
Qiao Tong said: "We country people don't have the habit of having lunch? But after you told me, I feel a little hungry."
Sanlang said: "Gu Lao'er's tavern not far from here sells soy sauce beef recently. Now the government allows cattle to be slaughtered. It is no longer like before, and all the cattle sold are cattle that have died of illness and old age. I have eaten it once, and it tastes really good. Come on, let’s go have a drink and buy some beef.”
Qiao Tong's face immediately brightened after hearing this. He said: "How can I make my brother spend money?"
Sanlang said: "A few kilograms of beef is nothing! We are brothers. Don't be polite to me!"
After saying that, he pulled Qiao Tong and walked towards Gu Laoer's tavern.
The tavern is on the roadside, and there are two or three tables of customers inside. They were all strangers on the road, burying their heads in the table, some eating noodles and some eating dumplings. A few of them ordered a bowl of white wine and took a sip from time to time.
Seeing Sanlang and Qiao Tong come in, Mr. Gu hurriedly came up to greet them. He led the two of them to the table next to the window.
Sanlang said: "We each have a bowl of dumplings, a plate of soy sauce beef, and seasonal fruits and vegetables. By the way, we each have a bowl of the fine liquor in your store. Come up quickly, we're hungry." "
Mr. Gu agreed and quickly turned around. It didn't take long for the dumplings and beef to be served.
Sanlang picked up the white wine and said: "Although the white wine is a little strong, it is more powerful. Brother, let's have a bowl!"
Qiao Tong said: "White wine is different from ordinary wine. It's better to drink it slowly. I'm not strong enough to drink. This bowl is enough. Brother, please help yourself."
I took a sip of wine and ate some dumplings. Sanlang asked: "What does brother want from me?"
Tongqiao said: "I have definite news about Liugan that I told you two days ago. This is a big deal, brother, don't miss it."
After hearing this, Saburo suddenly became serious. He hurriedly asked: "What are the regulations? Can I do this business?"
Tong Qiao said: "The price has been set. The baskets will be sent to Xiangyang Wharf, and the price will be one hundred and fifty cents each. If we want to do it, we need to supply at least 10,000 pieces a year. If it is done well, 20,000 or 30,000 yuan is also possible." "
Saburo was startled. Asked: "With so many baskets, what's the use of the supply and marketing cooperative?"
Tong Qiao said: "This basket is for the army, used to store military supplies. I heard that in the future, all suitable supplies in the army will be packed in this kind of basket. This is a long-term business, and reed mats are not comparable." Of course, this is something belonging to the military, and there is no room for any mistakes, nor can we miss the deadline."
Ordinary willow baskets usually cost more than 100 yuan in rural markets, but less than 150 yuan. However, this is used by the military, and the quality is not comparable to ordinary willow baskets. It is normal that the price is slightly higher. After Qiao Tong talked about it two days ago, Sanlang made some inquiries. The cost of making your own baskets is no more than a hundred cents. Earning 50 coins per basket, 10,000 coins a year, is 500 coins. Thinking about Saburo makes him tremble.
Seeing Saburo's look, Qiao Tong smiled and said: "Brother, the people in the supply and marketing cooperative don't set prices casually. We all know that the basket in the market will not exceed one hundred and twenty coins. The basket maker also wants To make money, the cost will not exceed eighty cents. There is a special reason why they set the price at one hundred and fifty cents. I estimate that this basket is different from ordinary baskets, and the cost should be higher. "
Saburo was stunned for a moment. He hurriedly asked: "The cost is high, how much higher? If it doesn't make money, how can this business be successful?"
Comrade Qiao said: "According to my understanding of the supply and marketing cooperative, the cost they calculated should be between one hundred and one hundred and twenty cents. It is for military equipment and long-distance transportation, so the basket must be strong, so it is normal for the cost to be higher. If my brother wants to do this business, don't estimate the profit of each basket too high. If you make twenty or thirty cents per basket, it is very good. This business is different from Wei Xi. You can do it all year round, with stable quantity and stable price. It can be done. From now on, I can be a member of the Communist Party of China without worrying about being so tired."
Sanlang calculated that there were two to three hundred guan of interest a year, which was really a lot. How many people in the world can earn two to three hundred dollars a year? The most important thing is that this business is not temporary, but can be done for a long time.
He took a big gulp of wine and put the bowl on the table. Sanlang said: "Of course I really want to do it. Please ask my brother to make it happen!"
Qiao Tong smiled and said: "This is not something that I alone have the final say. To do this business, first of all, the people must be reliable, and there must be nothing wrong with the willow baskets delivered. And they must be delivered on time. Those used by the army must not be It's too late. Your brother is an officer in the army and is considered a military relative. The government must take special care of you. If something happens to you, Erlang will be affected. To put it harshly, you can run away, but Erlang cannot."
Sanlang said: "Thanks to my second brother for borrowing money for the reed mat business, you know this. He is an officer in the army, and I have benefited a lot. How can I harm him? Don't worry, brother, I will take over this business. There will definitely be no mistakes!”
Tongqiao said: "Your village is too small. It will be difficult to recruit people to take over this business."
Saburo said decisively: "If I take over the business, I will move the factory! Find a bigger town and I will ensure that I can recruit people!"
Qiao Tong waved his hand. Said: "There is no need to choose a place. The government has already decided on a place. Xiangyang Prefecture has specially selected a place between Dengcheng and Fancheng Town for you workers to move in. The government has built roads and even built houses there, and it will be free for half a year. If you don't pay the tax, you just need to move there. The government requires these factories to have fixed sales and be able to operate for a long time."
Sanlang asked in surprise: "Is there such a good thing in the world? What is the government doing this for?"
Tong Qiao said: "How can we people understand this? I heard people say that if the factories are moved together, it will be easier for the government to collect taxes. And in a special place, it will also prevent local powerful people from bullying you."
Sanlang thought for a while and shook his head: "How can such a good thing happen in the world? If you do this, the government will only be troublesome, and there will be no benefit!"
Tong Qiao said: "We don't have to think about these things. Your reed field is not qualified. But if you take over the business of Liu Basket, it will be enough. One hundred and fifty coins for each willow basket, ten thousand will be enough." One thousand five hundred guan is not a small sum. The annual tax collection is several hundred guan. For the county, it is a large amount of money. For example, in Dengcheng County, in normal years, the annual commercial tax does not reach 100 guan. Guan. I should treat you well."
Sanlang asked: "Am I the only one who makes the willow baskets used by the army?"
Qiao Tong said with a smile: "How is that possible? You are the only one doing it in Xiangyang Prefecture, and there are others in other state capitals. Military capital is related to national affairs, how can it be left to one person. And the basket must be made nearby and used."
Saburo nodded, somewhat understanding, yet somewhat unclear. What does the army need these willow baskets for? How many are there? Why not buy from the private sector as before, but build a factory? Saburo actually didn't understand many things.
Wang Xiaolie is standardizing military supplies to facilitate storage and transportation. Artillery requires gunpowder and shells, which will be packed in these wicker baskets from now on. Porcelain pots for gunpowder were packed in wicker baskets together with the cannonballs, and loaded on carts during wartime. Together with other supplies in the army that are suitable for wicker baskets, the amount used every year is huge.
These materials are very inconspicuous, but once gathered together, they are very large, enough to build a factory. Not only do supply and marketing cooperatives support people like Saburo, but the government actually has its own factories and even specially planted willow forests. Private factories check for leaks and fill gaps in official factories. Official factories, on the other hand, adjust costs.
Industry does not necessarily have to have steam engines. As long as water power, animal power, and manpower are used for scientific dispatch and management, it will be very large-scale. It’s just that the cost is higher, more people use it, and the market scope is limited. In this era, as distances increase and shipping costs increase, the cost that a factory can save is not necessarily higher than manpower.
Wang Xiaolie's purpose is to use the existing conditions to initially establish some industries. Dengcheng is located near Xiangyang, not far from the selected industrial zone north of the Han River. Relying on the favorable location and his brother, Saburo reaped this benefit.
