Jiang Sheng was not willing to give up.
Last time when she bought 20 pieces in bulk, she saw there were still two big packages in the warehouse, at least 35-50 pieces. How could it be sold out?
"Sold out means sold out. Someone came and bought them all yesterday," the lady boss said impatiently. "How can I lie to you?"
Jiang Sheng was dumbfounded.
The drab cotton coats were hard to sell in the county town, otherwise so many would not have been stockpiled, and the shop owners would not have been willing to sell them to her cheaply.
The only possibility was that someone knew Jiang Sheng had made money selling cotton coats at the village entrance, and deliberately bought them out first so that she would have no business to do and no money to earn.
Who was so unscrupulous to grab her business like this?
Jiang Sheng's eyes burned with anger, even shocking Zheng Ruqian.
"Little sister, Xiao Wu is right, we can't do this business. Let's do another one," he said softly.
Jiang Sheng gritted her teeth. "This is not about doing business. Someone has snatched my business away. Tell me, eldest brother, what if someone snatched the vegetable supply business for You Ran Ju from you?"
Zheng Ruqian jumped up at once. "I'll beat him to death, kill that turtle's grandson!"
That was because he had never been punched himself so he didn't know the pain.
Fang Heng on the donkey cart grabbed his forehead and suggested, "Why don't we try another shop? There are at least three or four garment shops in the county."
It was impossible for all the grey cotton coats to have been bought up. People with so much capital generally wouldn't bother with such small business.
Zheng Ruqian calmed down and nodded repeatedly. "Right, right, little sister, don't be angry. We'll try another shop."
Jiang Sheng didn't speak.
Her first reaction had been to just buy the coats from another shop.
But on second thoughts, since someone was already calling out to sell the grey cotton coats, it would be difficult for her to sell even if she managed to buy them again.
Unless she could lower the price to zero profit.
But her reason for selling the coats was to make money. What was the point if there was no profit?
Jiang Sheng felt she should think of a way to break this deadlock, but with her short life experience and mere seven years of age, even though she had struggled, she was still too young.
Jiang Sheng was at a loss and could only sit blankly on the cart.
When they passed You Ran Ju, she suddenly called for them to stop.
"Brothers, wait here for me." Jiang Sheng threw down these words and rushed into You Ran Ju.
She remembered how the shopkeeper had clearly been reluctant to cooperate earlier but finally agreed to the deal, helping them out.
Jiang Sheng understood this was done to help them, so she wanted to see if the shopkeeper could help her again.
This was the first time Jiang Sheng had realized - those who you've helped before may not be able to help you, but most who've helped you once are willing to help a second time.
So when Jiang Sheng tiptoed to lean on the counter, sweetly calling the shopkeeper Uncle Bai, and sincerely asked for advice, the shopkeeper stroked his beard, feeling extra chuffed.
He was not stingy with this bit of teaching. "This person has snatched your business. You should think, how to do it to snatch the business back, best if he can't sell a single one. Even paying some price would be worth it."
Jiang Sheng pondered this advice for a long time before she came to.
She smiled sweetly at the shopkeeper. "Thank you Uncle Bai," and hopped back to the cart.
The shopkeeper watched her leaving with a myriad of feelings.
The shop assistant didn't understand. "Boss, why help them once and again?"
"At such a young age, already knowing how to do business and make money, this is ability and talent ordinary children don't have," the shopkeeper said leisurely. "Since I've met them, I naturally lend a hand to tie this karma. As for future achievements, that's up to them."
The assistant said no more and lowered his head to work.
At the same time, on the donkey cart, Jiang Sheng had made up her mind to go all out. "Third brother, to the garment shop."
Fang Heng thought she had decided to buy grey cotton coats and hurriedly stopped outside a new garment shop.
Unexpectedly, after a long time inside, Jiang Sheng bought a pile of colorful, pretty colored cotton coats.
"Colored cotton coats cost the same as grey ones?" Zheng Ruqian couldn't help asking. Jiang Sheng shook her head. "Grey ones are twelve cents each, colored ones fourteen."
That was after she had haggled with the lady boss for a long time.
"These colored coats cost fourteen cents wholesale already. They can't be sold above eighteen cents retail," Zheng Ruqian said, helping to move the coats onto the donkey cart.
Jiang Sheng didn't speak.
Not until they had turned back, then she quietly said, "Don't sell for eighteen cents. Sell for fourteen."
Zheng Ruqian was greatly shocked. Buying at cost and selling at cost, wasn't that laboring for nothing?
No, it was taking a loss, because the donkey cart trip with four people back could earn eight cents.
Why would clever little sister do this losing business?
Zheng Ruqian didn't understand. Fang Heng was even more puzzled.
Luckily they soon reached the village entrance.
From afar, Fang Heng saw people calling out to sell there, same grey cotton coats, same price, attracting village women to scramble for them.
Going closer, it turned out to be Auntie Zhang who had come to ask about the coats yesterday, along with her family.
So they had come to scout the situation last night.
Fang Heng was furious. Even as a rough fellow who only knew fists and kicks, he could see the malicious intent.
First they had eyed Jiang Sheng's money-making business, then took the chance to probe, confirming Jiang Sheng wouldn't be buying stock today, so they rushed to buy out the shop's stock and occupied the village entrance to sell.
Despicable!
Jiang Sheng was unexpectedly calm. She jumped off the cart to greet Fourth Brother and Fifth Brother at the broken temple door.
"Jiang Sheng, someone snatched your business," Wen Zhiyun plucked up some courage. "Fourth Brother will go ask them to explain."
"I'll go too," Fang Heng and Zheng Ruqian immediately volunteered.
Xu Mo couldn't move.
Chang Yan didn't speak, only tilted his head staring at the colored coats on the cart.
Jiang Sheng was touched, waving them off. "No need, no need. Business is first come first served. If they want to sell, let them."
"Anyone can sell cotton coats. We can coexist peacefully."
Just as she finished speaking, Chang Yan stepped forward and picked out a colored coat from the packages, changing out of his grey one.
Zheng Ruqian wanted to stop him. "Xiao Wu, don't mess around."
But when Chang Yan had it on, he was stunned.
This little fifth brother was so handsome usually, and wearing the colored coat made him even prettier, like a little girl. If they braided his hair, people would believe he was a fairy.
Even the somewhat tacky colored coat looked good on him.
Zheng Ruqian gaped as Chang Yan slowly walked to the village entrance and stood gracefully.
Suddenly he understood. Grabbing some coats, he pulled Jiang Sheng and rushed over.
"Selling cotton coats! Beautiful cotton coats, only fourteen cents each!"
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