freenovelworld Chapter 16 Talking about Cooperation
Chapter 16 Talking about Cooperation
Shen Qingchuan quickly chimed in, "Yes, we dug these out by hand on the mountain. You know how dangerous it is up there. So many people have lost their lives there. The price we're offering for these herbs is indeed a bit low."
Manager Feng looked at the turmeric wrapped in green leaves in his hand. It was indeed bright in color, plump and uniform in size, and all of them were fresh and juicy.
But he was still somewhat troubled!
"Everyone knows how dangerous it is up in the mountains, but turmeric is only a hemostatic and analgesic medicine, far inferior to ginseng. If you had brought ginseng today, it would have cost at least two taels of silver, but this... sigh..."
Seeing that Manager Feng looked so troubled, and didn't seem to be lying, Shen Xiaotang smiled slightly and finally agreed on the price.
"Since Manager Feng is in a difficult position, then two copper coins a tael it is."
Upon hearing this, Manager Feng secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and then a look of joy appeared on his face.
"make a deal!"
"However, this price is only for this one time. It's your first time here, so I'm giving you and your daughter face. I won't give you this price next time."
What the hell?
Will you lower the price next time I come?
She also wanted to go to the mountains to dig up the rest and use them as seeds to cultivate and plant them in a plot of land.
Shen Qingchuan, unaware of his daughter's intentions, quickly nodded, "Alright, since Manager Feng's price is fair, let's weigh it."
Shen Xiaotang quickly stopped her simple-minded father and started talking to Manager Feng about cooperation.
"Manager Feng is a straightforward man. Two coins per tael is a great deal, so I'd like to discuss a collaboration with him again. I wonder if Manager Feng would be interested?"
Shopkeeper Feng raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised. This poor girl, dressed in shabby clothes, was not only unlike the timid and cowering village girls of the past, but she also spoke with courage and eloquence, even more impressive than her father.
If born into a wealthy family, she is destined to be a golden phoenix.
At first, he really underestimated her!
"Little girl, what kind of cooperation do you want to discuss?"
Shen Xiaotang thought for a moment and said, "Manager Feng, if I get turmeric of the same size and quality in the future, would you be willing to buy it in large quantities?"
Shopkeeper Feng paused slightly, somewhat unsure, "Little girl, does your family grow it on a large scale?"
Shen Xiaotang quickly shook her head. She hadn't started planting yet, so she couldn't make any grand pronouncements. She had to tell the truth.
"Not yet, but I'm planning to, so I wanted to ask if you'd be willing to take them, and what the maximum amount you'd accept is?"
Upon hearing this, Shen Qingchuan quickly pulled his daughter aside and whispered something to her.
"Tang'er, we only brought a few pounds of this. Once it's sold out, there won't be any left. What are your plans for large-scale planting?"
"Besides, we haven't compared prices elsewhere. What if they offer higher prices elsewhere, and we sell them all to Manager Feng? Wouldn't that be a loss?"
Shen Xiaotang whispered to comfort her simple-minded father, "Dad, don't worry. If Manager Feng is willing to buy in large quantities, then I can think of a way to plant it."
Their Fengji Pharmacy is the largest pharmacy in town. If even he can't buy in large quantities, then even if other smaller pharmacies offer a higher price, the produce still won't sell.
However, the county might offer a higher price, and she could sell it there. But her father had never been to the county before, and he didn't know how far it was or what the situation was like. Besides, if they managed to grow a whole plot of land and transport it all to the county to sell, they would definitely have to use a horse-drawn cart.
Guihua Village is right next to Qinghe Town, and there isn't a single household in the entire village that owns a horse-drawn carriage. If we really want to go to the county, it will probably take quite a bit of effort.
There is only one chance to plant turmeric on a large scale. If the villagers hear the news, they will definitely follow suit and plant it.
The medicinal effects of artificially cultivated herbs are very different from those produced by the terrain and climate of the mountains. If everyone cultivates them on a large scale, they will become worthless.
She only hopes to succeed once; she doesn't expect to be able to cultivate it for a long time!
Shen Qingchuan knew that his daughter was a woman of her own mind. Perhaps she had learned something from listening to her father teaching her younger brothers and nephews to read and write at home, unlike him, who was in his twenties, knew very few characters, and was both simple-minded and clumsy.
Since his daughter has this idea, whether it works out or not, he, as her father, should support her, right?
So he nodded emphatically, "Since Tang'er is willing to do it, then Father will follow Tang'er's lead!"
Anyway, when he gets home, he will bring up the matter of dividing the family property with his father. He won't be able to do the work on the twenty acres of land in the Shen family anymore. He can take back a few acres of land and do the work on those few acres. He will definitely have more free time and can also help his daughter grow turmeric.
While the Shen father and daughter were quietly discussing, Manager Feng also tapped his head and thought about it seriously.
In the past, he would ask someone to bring back this turmeric from the county. It cost three copper coins per ounce. Qinghe Town is next to several small mountain villages. The villagers rely entirely on farming and physical labor to make a living. Some hunters and strong men would also go up the mountain to try their luck. Therefore, there are quite a few injured people in the village every year. This hemostatic and analgesic medicine is used faster than in the county and the capital.
If this little girl can really grow them, he will buy them all and sell them to the county. The largest medicinal herb merchant in the county will definitely be able to sell them to other towns.
It shouldn't rot in my hands!
Although the little girl seemed quite clever, her father was rather simple-minded. He didn't even know if she could grow it. If she couldn't, he would only have to talk to her for a while, so there was no real loss for him.
Soon, both sides had considered their options and resumed their conversation.
Manager Feng readily agreed, "Little girl, as long as you can grow it, I'll buy it!"
His eyes were full of smiles, and he looked very sincere, quite different from the shrewd and calculating look in the eyes of the Shen father and daughter when they first came in.
"Alright, we're just waiting for your word, shopkeeper. But we need to agree on the price first. What if I actually grow them and you deliberately lower the price or refuse to buy them?"
Shopkeeper Feng paused for a moment, then immediately smiled and said, "It's all my fault for being blinded by the small profits and breaking my promise to you. Since you have concerns, let me be frank with you first. I've been running Feng's Pharmacy in this town for over twenty years, and I've never heard of anyone growing turmeric on a large scale. If you can really grow it, I'd really be willing to buy it. But let's make this clear first: you can't sell it to someone else before me."
One was worried about being pressured to lower the price and then refusing to buy, while the other was worried about selling to someone else before him. Both were unsure of what to do.
Manager Feng, having been in business for many years, would never do a losing business. He wouldn't pay a deposit just because of what a six-year-old girl said.
Then, a flash of inspiration struck him, and he suddenly had an idea.
"How about we draw up a written agreement first, stating that your turmeric can only be sold to Feng's Pharmacy first, and Feng's Pharmacy must accept your turmeric? Wouldn't that be a win-win situation?"
They didn't mention the deposit at all!
Shen Xiaotang, who had also worked her way up in the workplace in her previous life, immediately understood that Manager Feng also had concerns.
"Of course we can draw up a written agreement, but we need to finalize the price first. If the deal goes through, we'll all be happy. But if we can't grow it in the future, and you haven't paid the deposit, then the agreement will be invalid. Do you agree?"