In the next few days, Tang Xiaobei kept busy buying grain.
However, the news of the disaster in Sichuan and Sichuan has been confirmed by Jiangnan grain merchants. Even if the Zhou family does not cause trouble, they are not willing to sell grain to the Jinchuan Chamber of Commerce.
Everyone knows that in years of famine, the price of food will definitely skyrocket.
As long as you transport the grain to Sichuan and Sichuan, and wait until the cold winter comes, you can make a lot of money. Isn't it better than selling it to the Jinchuan Chamber of Commerce?
In the past few days, Tang Xiaobei had successively negotiated with several grain merchants.
Grain merchants either directly refused to sell grain, or the price doubled.
If you add in the freight, the cost of getting the food to Sichuan and Shu would be too high.
Of course, Tang Xiaobei couldn't agree, and the two sides were in a stalemate.
"This group of grain merchants is so abominable. The people still remember the kindness we had in Sichuan and Sichuan, but they have made it clear that they want to make fortune in Sichuan and Sichuan!"
On the way back from the negotiation, Yuan Caiwei was very angry.
"Caiwei, since ancient times, businessmen have been driven by profit."
Tang Xiaobei said: "If our Jinchuan Chamber of Commerce is not here to make money, why would we leave our hometown and go to Jiangnan to see other people's faces?"
"The money made by our Jinchuan Chamber of Commerce is clean!"
Yuan Caiwei said angrily: "But Sichuan and Sichuan have been hit by disasters. Sir and madam, you are buying food back to save lives. They are still in trouble and making unconscionable black money!"
"Xianggong said that the master who taught him once said that if something has 50% profit, businessmen will take risks for it.
If there is double the profit, businessmen will dare to trample all laws in the world for it.
If it were three times the profit, businessmen would dare to commit any crime for it, even risking being beheaded."
Tang Xiaobei said: "Never expect businessmen to be moral, and they will not care about the life and death of the people. That's why my husband established the Chamber of Commerce."
In fact, Jin Feng formed the Chamber of Commerce to accumulate wealth and also to plunder.
It's just that the targets he chose were wealthy people, not poor people.
"Madam, what should we do now?" Yuan Caiwei asked.
"If they are willing to transport grain to Sichuan and Sichuan, let them transport it. We can't stop them."
Tang Xiaobei thought for a moment and said, "Let's show the water jade beads tomorrow."
"Is it too hasty to release it now?" Yuan Caiwei suggested: "Otherwise, let's wait a few more days."
"The weather is getting colder and colder recently. We can't delay it any longer." Tang Xiaobei said, "Let's start tomorrow."
The focus of recent publicity has been on reversing Jin Feng's reputation, while Shui Yuzhu's publicity was not very good.
Taking it out now is not the best time.
But Tang Xiaobei didn't want to delay it any longer. If Shui Yuzhu couldn't exchange grain from the grain merchants, she would consider going to other counties to find a solution.
"Then I'll notify the storyteller later and ask them to quickly promote Shui Yuzhu tonight, okay?" Yuan Caiwei asked for instructions.
"Okay." Tang Xiaobei smiled and nodded: "By the way, from now on, you will also watch over the Zhongming team."
The person in charge of Jiangnan of the Zhongming Group is called Lao Cai. He used to be a farmer in the village. His loyalty is no problem. He used to be able to do good work in the familiar territory near Jinchuan.
However, through recent observations, Tang Xiaobei found that his ability to develop new territories was very limited.
When he arrived in Jiangnan, Tang Xiaobei had to remind him of many tasks before he knew how to do them.
Yuan Caiwei has read a book, knows how to think proactively, and is basically trustworthy. It will be more effective to leave the Zhongming team to her command.
But Yuan Caiwei was a little hesitant: "Madam, it's not appropriate for me to be in charge of the Zhongming Group, isn't it?"
The Chamber of Commerce, the Escort Bureau, and the Zhongming Group are the three standard groups of people dispatched to Xihewan today.
Each performs its own duties and supervises each other. The leaders of the three groups have no affiliation. There has never been a precedent for one person to be the leader of two groups at the same time.
"There is nothing inappropriate in doing extraordinary things in extraordinary times."
Tang Xiaobei said: "Brother Cai, I have other arrangements. You can take the Zhongming team with you first. I will go back and explain to my husband."
"Okay then," Yuan Caiwei nodded: "I'll take the Zhongming team with me first, and then I'll hand it over when the gentleman sends someone over."
"Jiangnan is prosperous and rich. It will be one of the main development areas of our chamber of commerce in the future. Intelligence work is very important. You should not take it lightly."
Tang Xiaobei reminded: "There is also the Zhou family, we need to keep a close eye on them."
"Yes!" Yuan Caiwei nodded.
The master and servant chatted casually and returned to the house.
That night, the storyteller stopped telling the story of Jin Feng and began to promote Shui Yuzhu.
What made Tang Xiaobei even more gratified was that Yuan Caiwei went beyond simple publicity and asked the storyteller to emphasize that Shui Yuzhu was very popular in the capital.
Those who can afford water jade beads are wealthy families, and these wealthy families generally have inextricable connections with the capital, and will regularly send people to collect information about the capital.
In fact, within a few days of Tang Xiaobei's arrival in Jiangnan, many wealthy families in Jiangnan had already received news about Shui Yuzhu.
It's just that they thought it was a rare thing only found in the capital, so they didn't take it too seriously.
Unexpectedly, I turned around and heard that water jade also appeared in Baling County.
Many wealthy families immediately became angry.
Although Jiangnan is prosperous, the capital is the center of prosperity.
Most wealthy families have their current status because their ancestors had high officials.
Almost all wealthy families dream of having another official in their family return to the court.
Every year, many wealthy families bring various gifts and go to the capital to look for opportunities.
Water jade beads are so popular in the capital, aren’t they the best gifts?
So the next day, before the Jinchuan Chamber of Commerce exhibited water jade beads, many wealthy families sent people to inquire about the news.
"Miss Caiwei, I heard that your business has water jade beads, right?"
"Yes, our Jinchuan Chamber of Commerce has water jade beads, and we are the only one in the world who has it!"
Yuan Caiwei had already made preparations and signaled the escort to open the shop next to her.
There is a wooden table placed on the counter of the shop. In the center of the wooden table is a round glass bead the size of a peanut.
At this time, the sun was rising, shining on the glass beads, making them sparkling and crystal clear.
Many wealthy family stewards exclaimed in surprise.
"Miss Caiwei, how much does this water jade bead cost? Our Zhang family wants it!"
"Old Zhang, don't think about it. Haven't you heard that the Jinchuan Chamber of Commerce has an auction house in the capital, and all good things are auctioned!"
"Yes, Lao Zhang, if you want it, go back and prepare some money!"
"Miss Caiwei, are your Jinchuan Chamber of Commerce planning to open an auction house in Baling County?"
"Miss Caiwei, when will the auction start?"
The wealthy stewards asked all kinds of questions.
"Don't worry, everyone!"
Yuan Caiwei took out an iron trumpet: "Our husband said that this water jade bead will not be sold for silver, but must be exchanged for grain. Anyone who wants to buy it can come to the Chamber of Commerce and ask me for a quote. As of the sunset today, who will provide the grain?"