Chen Ping couldn't figure out Cao Lei's real intention, so he had to ask clearly.
"Press your fingerprints and leave right away, even though we haven't seen each other today."
Cao Lei has a sharp eye and has long discovered that Chen Ping is the backbone, and the other three people quite mean to follow his lead.
The He family has been rich for a long time, and Tianxiang Pavilion has emerged in recent years. The business is naturally a good one. Obtaining these will at least increase the income of Jiulong Hall, but it does not mean that you can trust them easily.
Cao Lei waved his hand, and everyone else in the hall retreated, leaving only the second hall master and Chen Ping.
Then he slowly said: "Listen up, kid, my first question is, if the three of them are poisoned..."
He paused deliberately, pointed at Ye Chongwen and the others, with a sly look in his eyes, and continued: "And you only have one antidote in your hand, who do you want to save first?"
Chen Ping was slightly startled, while He Qingxuan and Chen Tianrui frowned.
"What's the problem?" Ye Chongwen couldn't help but said: "Aren't you deliberately making things difficult for others?"
Knowing that they are brothers, but still asking Chen Ping to choose one of the three, is not sowing discord.
The second hall master did not say a word, but looked at each other with Cao Lei.
"I don't choose either." After a while, Chen Ping replied with a calm smile.
"Oh, why?" Cao Lei was surprised by this answer.
"Because the three of them are all my good brothers, choosing any one will put the other two at risk. If it were me..."
"How?"
"I will feed the poison to the poisoner and then force him to come up with the antidote!"
"Can it still be like this?" The second hall leader felt that this answer was too clever.
"Why not?" He Qingxuan was stunned for a moment, and then reacted instantly, "If choosing means giving up, then why shouldn't Chen Ping choose to have both?"
Ye Chongwen also said categorically: "Yes, if you have to sacrifice them to save me, then I won't survive!"
"Besides, the gang leader didn't say we couldn't take other paths." Chen Tianrui also supported him.
Because in his heart no matter what, what Chen Ping said must be correct.
The confident looks of these people made Cao Lei laugh.
"Okay!" He nodded in agreement and said, "You got the first question right."
Loyalty is the most important thing among people in the world. Saving your brothers may not be worth boasting about. But if you abandon your brothers, you will definitely be despised.
Chen Ping's choice was correct. It could even be said that it was exactly what he wanted.
Only pedantic nerds will stay stuck in their ways, while smart people must know how to adapt to changes.
Chen Ping had no expression on his face, but the three people behind him let out a long sigh of relief.
"Second question."
Chen Ping's answer to the first question was a new one, turning passivity into initiative, which made Cao Lei's eyes light up.
So he wanted to hear Chen Ping's answer to the second question, which was about the recent troubles in the gang. Maybe this kid could give him a surprise.
"What you said makes sense, but being a businessman is different from being a charlatan. Businessmen value profits, and I just want to know how to take money from businessmen."
Chen Ping knew that there was more to come, "Please, Hall Master Cao, please elaborate."
"We, Jiulongtang, deliver goods to people every year, all over the east, west, north and south of Dayu. After the goods arrive, we must charge a certain commission."
"From the place of shipment to the place of receipt, there are countless problems encountered. The road is rugged and the distance is long, but it is the simplest. The most troublesome ones are bandits and thieves. In order to ensure the safety of the goods along the way, the Kowloon cousins
They are all risking their lives."
"If we charge a fee of one thousand taels each time, there are thirty-six companies that can consign the goods. But if we charge a fee of one thousand five hundred taels each time, there are only sixteen companies that can afford it. In your opinion,
Which one is more cost-effective?"
This is pure business!
Chen Ping remembered that when he came to Liujiazhuang before, he heard the guards talking at the door, and he understood something in his heart.
I'm afraid, this is also the problem Jiulongtang is facing now.
If the charge is too low, the brothers in the gang will not get enough points; if the charge is raised, there will be fewer business names available.
"Forgive me for speaking frankly, but I would like to ask what the attitude of these thirty-odd merchants is towards Kowloon Hall?"
"Naturally, when we do things in Kowloon Hall, we won't be criticized by others. So far, no one has pointed out anything inappropriate in our cooperation."
Chen Ping nodded, "Actually, the basis of cooperation is long-term profit and win-win results for both parties. So first of all, we must maintain a good cooperative relationship. This is the most basic thing."
"So you mean, the former is more beneficial?" Cao Lei pondered for a moment before asking.
"Not only is it more beneficial, but this choice must be maintained." Chen Ping insisted on his statement.
"How do you say this?"
"One of the simplest questions is: the more companies that charge a thousand tael fee to cooperate with, the more stable it will be. If you choose the latter, the number of companies to cooperate with will be half less. Even if the short-term benefits are higher than the former, it will not last long.
If they find a 'substitute', how can Kowloon Hall make a profit? If they lower prices to seek cooperation, they will lose the opportunity."
The service-oriented model of cargo transportation is substitutable. Take the express delivery in the previous life, there were still five or six companies.
The second hall leader immediately interrupted: "We are the largest transportation gang in Keqian Prefecture!"
Chen Ping and others turned to look at him when they heard the sound, but they heard Cao Lei yell: "Did I let you speak?"
The hall suddenly became quiet.
Chen Ping turned to look at He Qingxuan and Ye Chongwen.
They are all smart people. When they heard the words of the second hall master, they immediately thought of the reason why Chen Ping sought cooperation.
Chen Ping smiled softly and said: "And what I just said is just the simplest situation. Once the entire market goes into trouble, such as the previous drought, locust plague, and the merchants' own profits are not high enough, Jiulongtang will increase the freight... Put yourself in your shoes, what would happen if you were replaced?"
"If it were me," He Qingxuan added, "In fact, it's not impossible to find a small gang to help deliver things to reduce costs."
"Yes, after all, businessmen earn money, not favors, right?" Ye Chongwen touched his nose and said.
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading!
Cao Lei paused for a moment when he picked up the tea cup, then put it down without drinking.
Kowloon Hall has a large number of people. To seek long-term and stable development, it is indeed not advisable to deplete the lake in a short period of time.
"Okay, you've passed the second question. This third question..."
He paused and did not continue.
It seems that Chen Ping has some real abilities. He can clarify things that are difficult to understand in just a few words.
Chen Ping and others were eagerly looking forward to the third question, but there was no answer.
"As for the third question, if it comes in use in the future, please ask it again."
However, Cao Lei directly issued an order to expel guests: "Please come back, everyone, there is no need for fingerprints."
"Huh?" Chen Ping sat still, "Should we stop talking about cooperation?"
Cao Lei looked cold: "I haven't asked the third question yet. We'll talk about it later."
How could that work? How could Chen Ping let go of such an excellent opportunity?
He asked tentatively: "Master Cao, are you serious about not considering it anymore? Tianxiang Pavilion's perfume business is extremely profitable. We can raise the transportation price by 20%, at least two to three hundred taels!"
If the transportation goes smoothly and the wear and tear is small, their one trip to Tianxiang Pavilion will be worth their monthly income.
He Qingxuan spoke at the right time, "In addition, my He family also needs people to produce cloth, and the price is also 20% higher."
The second hall master's face turned redder and redder upon hearing this, and even Cao Lei was a little moved.
But after much thought, he gritted his teeth and said, "You guys go back first and we'll talk about it later."
Seeing Cao Lei's resolute attitude, although I don't know the reason, Chen Ping has not achieved his goal yet, so he can't just leave.
"On the seventeenth day of the twelfth lunar month in the ninth year of Tianqi, it was snowing in winter. Jiulongtang transported tea through the official road and passed through Sanzhi Town."
"In July of the tenth year of the Apocalypse, silk and satin arrived in Beijing, and two cars passed through the straight road."
"In January of the fifteenth year of the Apocalypse, three carts of plum blossom charcoal passed through Mizhou..."
Cao Lei suddenly raised his head, a strange expression appeared on his face, and his eyes stared at Chen Ping like a poisonous snake.
"You...!!!"
Others are confused.
Chen Ping smiled calmly and asked, "Master, how about we chat for a few more words?"
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