Chapter 244 – The Grain Shop Conflict (Part Five)
“Not counting the three grain shops of the Liu Residence, there are still twenty-eight grain shops big and small in Hejian. After dropping prices yesterday, today they’re all trying to play coy, indicating they’ve started to suspect our grain stockpiles. If that’s the case, why not lure them in to buy our grain?”
For a grain shop, a few thousand shih of grain is a considerable amount, but to twenty-eight shops, it really means nothing.
Jiang Pengji had meticulously prepared her calculations, allocating part for a purchasing limit while selling the rest at high prices to these unsuspecting fools.
Xu Ke: “…”
Suddenly, he felt a wave of loneliness akin to a hero without a chance to shine.
His Young Master was too capable, leaving himself—the left and right arms—feeling a bit melancholic!
“But… will they really do that?”
Xu Ke was a bit anxious since he wasn’t well-versed in business matters.
In truth, Jiang Pengji didn’t know much either, as she came from a lineage of genetic warriors where combat was the mainstay of life, and most of her learned skills leaned towards practical fighting. However, during her time, information was incredibly advanced, causing her to pick up bits and pieces.
Not an expert but capable of following the lead, especially given the ancient times’ suppression of commerce; she could certainly navigate the waters.
“Of course they will. Even if we don’t spread rumors of our insufficient reserves, they’ve likely already been testing the waters in secret.”
When it came to business, Jiang Pengji was a complete novice, but when it came to making a quick buck, she was like the founder of the trade!
Whether in ancient times or her previous era, leaders weren’t brutes without brains.
On the contrary, these folks were often wise beyond their appearances, seemingly crude, but had plenty of clever tricks up their sleeves.
Jiang Pengji, recognized by her former superior among many candidates and rising to the position of a legion commander, was undeniably exceptional.
“Inform the shopkeeper to pay attention and note the faces and characteristics of every peasant buying grain, as well as what they purchase,” Jiang Pengji instructed, “If I’m right, these shops will send people to secretly buy grain from us to test our strength.”
She continued, “What you need to do is have the prepared pawns spread rumors while ensuring the shopkeeper and staff put on a show behind the scenes.”
Put on a show?
What show?
Naturally, it was to secretly suggest that our grain storage was in short supply, prompting the shopkeeper to inquire what the master should do next.
As long as the people coming to purchase grain “accidentally” overheard this information and took it back, Jiang Pengji would achieve her goal.
Xu Ke sighed inwardly, “Understood, I’ll handle it right away.”
“Yes, go ahead.”
Despite Xu Ke being young, he was thorough and steady in his actions. Jiang Pengji was always at ease entrusting things to him.
Jiang Pengji was spot on, and indeed multiple peasants purchased significant amounts after noon. One even bought an entire shih!
A shih, under normal circumstances, could be afforded by peasants with a bit of extra money.
But now, with grain prices skyrocketing, an entire shih was no small matter.
As dusk approached, a staff member from the Liu Residence’s grain shop hurriedly ran in from the side door, so anxious he forgot to wipe the sweat off his brow, looking around nervously at the shopkeeper as if he had something urgent to report, but with other peasants around, he hesitated to speak directly.
Seeing this, the shopkeeper put down the customer he was attending to and quietly spoke to the staff member in a corner, faintly able to catch words like “one thousand nine hundred shih,” and “not enough.” The grain shop was bustling with peasants purchasing grain, making their conversation hard to hear without intent.
Coincidentally, among the grain customers, many were actually spies from other grain shops.
“Is what you’re saying true?”
The spy replied, “It’s true. I clearly heard them say they have less than one thousand nine hundred shih; if they keep selling like this, they won’t hold out for long.”
The first speaker pondered for a moment before making a decision in his heart.
Among the twenty-eight shops besides the Liu Residence’s three, they were all hoping to make a big score this time. Watching the buying peasants all head to the competitor’s shops made them anxious, and two had even decided to drop prices the next day.
Upon hearing this news, they were all pumped up like they just got a shot of adrenaline.
One thousand nine hundred shih, divided among twenty-eight shops, wasn’t much at all.
If they could consume the Liu Residence’s grain this time, they could straightforwardly raise their prices again and still make a profit.
With the news of chaos in Cangzhou escalating, the plight of starving people not only affected Zisang County but had even reached Hejian. This was the perfect opportunity to cash in; miss this village, there wouldn’t be another store. They couldn’t let the Liu Residence spoil their grand plan!
In short: buy, buy, buy!
Thus, on the third day, the Liu Residence’s three grain shops welcomed a wave of purchasing “peasants,” also compelling genuine buyers to decide to purchase, as they all heard the rumors that the Liu Residence’s cheap grain was about to run out!
If they didn’t buy now, they could only go for sky-high prices later. If they couldn’t afford it, they’d starve!
On the third day, the grain shop’s business peaked.
Even after the grain shop closed, there were still many peasants lingering at the door, disappointed that they couldn’t buy any grain, while the shopkeeper and staff could only gently persuade them to leave, “Today’s grain is sold out. Come back tomorrow if you want to buy; we’re closing now.”
The peasants exchanged glances but thought the shopkeeper’s words were merely a polite dismissal, feeling utterly disheartened.
On the fourth day, the grain shop’s business remained good, but they closed before noon, further validating the rumor of insufficient grain stock.
“Hmph, the Governor of Liu has done well in governing, but in business, he’s utterly clueless, throwing away the watermelon to pick up the sesame seeds—foolish beyond measure.”
Many chuckled to themselves. The Liu Residence had indeed made a killing, but that was it.
If they had held their nerve, they could’ve earned five or six times as much, if not more!
On the fifth day, the grain shops of Hejian suddenly seemed to have synced up and raised their prices once again.
Prices set, buyers could take it or leave it. If they didn’t buy, they could just wait to starve.
However, the anticipated customers failed to appear. After careful inquiries, the shopkeepers from several shops were nearly driven to a heart attack.
They had thought the Liu Residence’s grain shops wouldn’t open today, but the peasants discovered they had actually opened even earlier than usual.
“Hey, what’s this?”
The peasants gazed at the sign outside the grain shop, not understanding it.
“That’s a limit purchase.”
At that moment, a man in a blue scholar’s robe, holding a feather fan, stood among the crowd. Who else could it be but Qi Guanrang?
“What does limit purchase mean?”
Out of one hundred peasants, ninety-nine were illiterate, so how could they understand what limit purchase meant?
To scholars, the peasants were respectful, all giving way for Qi Guanrang to see the sign.
He stepped forward calmly, enunciating the content of the sign clearly, and then explained it in terms the peasants would understand.
“The grain shop is still open; however, each peasant can only buy enough grain for four people for two days at most. No more will be sold.”
Limit purchase?
Such a selling method was unheard of and unseen; many peasants felt a bit confused.
If this was the case, didn’t it mean they had to run to the grain shop every two or three days?
Why couldn’t they just buy it all at once?
What’s with making it so complicated?
