novelaction Chapter 713 Selling Grain at Low Prices
Chapter 713 Selling Grain at Low Prices
"A grain merchant is shamelessly trying to sell you grain? Hahaha, Lin Wuqing, you're so desperate for grain, you must be crazy!" Meng Qingchao immediately laughed loudly.
There are only a few grain merchants in Kyoto, including the Zhang family. Unless Meng Qingge agrees to marry Zhang Mingfang, the other party will never sell a single grain to the Meng family.
The other grain merchants were also shrewd; they would never sell a single grain at this opportune moment of price gouging, unless the price was exceptionally high.
"If any grain merchant is willing to sell grain to the Meng family at a low price, I will kneel down and kowtow to you."
"Don't even mention kowtowing, I'll call you grandpa."
"If you are just spouting nonsense and making fun of the Meng family, then please get out of the Meng family and never set foot in the old house again."
They spoke in a strange, kinship-like tone, never missing an opportunity to suppress Meng Qingge.
“Meng Qingge, he is your fiancé. You are responsible for his words. If he can’t find the grain merchant, you will have to hand over the winery.” Su Qingya said in the meantime.
To be honest, not only were the Meng family members surprised, but even Meng Qingge herself was somewhat puzzled.
Throughout the journey, she stayed with Lin Ping and never saw any grain merchants shamelessly trying to curry favor with her.
Furthermore, if he could really buy grain at a low price, why would he bother with winemaking instead of just brewing baijiu or huangjiu?
She never expected Lin Ping's words to cause such a big reaction; Meng Qingchao and the others were clearly going to take the opportunity to launch an offensive.
Lin Ping smiled slightly at her without saying a word, seemingly waiting for her answer.
Given his status, finding a grain merchant would be a piece of cake. The reason he hesitated to act was to see Meng Qingge's reaction.
“What Young Master Lin said is my opinion, and I will take responsibility for this matter,” Meng Qingge replied without hesitation.
Once you've chosen to believe, you must be resolute and committed, and this applies not only to wine.
"Hahaha, Meng Qingge, you're courting death! I'd like to see which grain merchant in the capital would dare to cooperate with you!" Meng Qingchao laughed loudly.
He knew the grain merchants' situation very well. The Zhang family had considerable influence, and almost all grain merchants dared not cooperate with the Meng family as long as the Zhang family spoke up.
"You can't say that. What if they can actually get Boss Jia to come?" Su Qingya said sarcastically, clearly implying mockery.
Jia Zhenzhen was one of the top grain merchants in the capital. She rose to the status of a second-rate family with her single industry. Even the Zhang family had to be wary of her. Naturally, she would not obey Zhang Mingfang's orders.
Everyone knows that Jia Zhen is a cunning businessman who will not do anything without profit. How could he possibly buy grain from the Meng family at a low price?
"Boss Jia, someone from the Meng family has their eyes on you. Why don't you come in for a chat?" Lin Ping clapped his hands and deliberately raised his voice.
Just as everyone was berating him for being insane, the doorman loudly announced, "Boss Jia requests an audience!"
These words struck like a bolt from the blue, leaving everyone utterly devastated.
Although the old lady did not want to see Meng Qingge succeed, she could not refuse Jia Zhenzhen's visit.
"Quickly, go and invite Boss Jia!"
Led by the old lady, the Meng family members hurriedly went out to greet her, practically groveling before her.
Jia Zhenzhen completely ignored these sycophants. She first glanced at Lin Ping secretly, and then bowed respectfully to Meng Qingge, saying, "I am Jia Zhenzhen, and I pay my respects to Miss Meng."
Given Jia Zhenzhen's status, even the old lady had to bow to him, yet he bowed to Meng Qingge, a junior. What's going on here?
"Mr. Jia, you've mistaken her for someone else. This is Meng Qingge, perhaps not the Miss Meng you're looking for," Meng Qingchao reminded him.
Jia Zhenzhen angrily retorted, "Where did this brat come from, daring to accuse me of being old and blind?"
Meng Qingchao was so frightened that he trembled all over and didn't dare to breathe. He didn't dare to refute her at all.
To be honest, even Meng Qingge herself thought Jia Zhenzhen was... getting old and blind.
I am not the Miss Meng you are looking for, but Meng Qingge who has a favor to ask of you.
"May I ask what brings Mr. Jia to my humble abode?" The old lady was the first to calm down and asked with a puzzled look.
"Grandmother is the head of the Meng family. Boss Jia can discuss matters with Grandmother," Meng Qingge hurriedly reminded her to avoid making a blunder.
After hearing Meng Qingge's introduction, Jia Zhenzhen finally looked at the old lady properly and said with some disdain, "Naturally, we're here to sell grain."
"Selling grain? Is Boss Jia really here to sell grain?" Everyone started to worry about their knees, since they had been so cheeky as to say they would kneel down to Lin Ping.
I'm not too worried, since Jia Zhenzhen hasn't mentioned the price yet. If it's too expensive, it'll be the same as not coming at all.
"Boss Jia, I heard that your grain is selling for four hundred coins a bushel. The Meng family can't afford it." Meng Qingchao, who knew a bit about the market, said sarcastically.
"Madam Meng, is this how your Meng family does business? If it weren't for Miss Meng's sake, would I have come to your Meng residence?" Jia Zhenzhen said coldly.
He couldn't stand Meng Qingchao, that brat who acted so arrogantly in front of him. If it weren't for Lin Ping, he wouldn't even glance at the Meng family's residence.
"Please don't take offense, Mr. Jia. Qingchao was just worried that the Meng family wouldn't be able to come up with enough money, after all, four hundred copper coins a bushel is a bit high," the old lady explained. After hearing the price, she had already given up the idea of doing business with Jia Zhenzhen.
"When did I, Jia, ever say I wanted four hundred coins? That was the price for others. If Miss Meng wants to buy grain, one dou (a unit of dry measure) only costs one hundred coins." Jia Zhenzhen smiled obsequiously at Meng Qingge, naturally trying to win her favor.
"One hundred coins? They're insane, they're all insane!"
The jaws of all the relatives dropped to the ground, practically splitting in two.
“If the Meng family feels it’s unfair, the price is negotiable,” Jia Zhenzhen continued with a smile.
One hundred coins for a bushel of grain? That's not fair, it's practically free!
Even in years of abundant harvest, grain would still sell for 120 coins, unless a wealthy merchant's granary was overflowing and they were selling it off at a reduced price.
"Mr. Jia is too kind. This price is certainly fair. I wonder how much grain you can sell to the Meng family?" The old lady's expression softened considerably, and she even smiled.
"That depends on how much silver your Meng family can come up with," the shopkeeper replied seriously.
What does this mean? It can be understood as having as much as you want.
"Qingchao, quickly go to the accounting office and get the silver. Bring all 20,000 taels in the account, no, bring the 10,000 taels deposit that Qingfeng Tower gave us a few days ago as well!" the old lady said happily.
This is a sure-fire way to make money. Even if you don't use it for brewing, you can still make double the profit by reselling it.
However, Meng Qingchao remained unmoved, and his legs even trembled slightly.
"Meng Qingchao, what are you waiting for? Don't you think you're not interested in Boss Jia's sincerity?" Lin Ping seized the opportunity to add insult to injury, naturally seeing through Meng Qingchao's thoughts.
"Grandmother..." Meng Qingchao's face was ashen, and even his voice trembled.
"What are you waiting for? Hurry up and go! Don't you even listen to my orders?" The old lady was clearly a little angry and was determined not to let the cooked duck fly away.
"The accounts... there isn't that much silver!" Meng Qingchao stammered.