When Shen Shiqi went to the government office to see his sister, Shen gave him a list.
"Ms. Shen sent this to someone. The people mentioned here have a lot of cotton in their hands. If you look for it according to these addresses, it will save you a lot of effort."
Shen Shiqi smiled and said: "Brother Wei's wife is really a wonderful person. It's not surprising that she knows that I want to buy cotton. What's strange is that she actually helped me find a way."
Shen said: "There is a reason why she helps you."
"What's the reason?" Shen Shiqi asked curiously.
Shen said: "The original owner of Nishang Embroidery Workshop has always been at odds with her. She heard about the increase in cotton prices from our family, so she decided to teach those people a lesson. However, in order to avoid hurting us, she came to tell me in advance. , let me tell you, the sooner these cottons are transported to the provincial capital, the better."
"Oh, I understand." Shen Shiqi said: "She wants to set a trap for those people, right?"
"But even if she doesn't say it, I will have someone send the cotton back as soon as possible. My father has repeatedly told me to send it back as soon as possible after I receive enough cotton."
Shen said: "Since dad has told you, that's fine. Go harvest cotton as soon as possible!"
The people Shen Shiqi brought this time were all capable stewards. Under his instructions, the stewards followed the addresses on the list to buy cotton door-to-door, which saved a lot of effort.
After the cotton harvest was almost complete, Shen Shiqi asked several stewards to take the cotton back to the provincial capital first, while he planned to stay in the capital for a few more days.
During Shen Shiqi's stay, news gradually spread in Fucheng that the cotton fields in the provincial capital were flooded, and the cotton supply in the provincial capital would definitely increase sharply this year.
Ever since he abandoned his embroidery workshop, the old man had nothing to do, so he often went to teahouses to kill time.
Not long after, he learned about this from several merchants.
That day, when he returned home from the teahouse, he saw his brother-in-law, shopkeeper Zhang, waiting for him.
"Brother-in-law, there are rumors that the price of cotton in the provincial capital will increase." Shopkeeper Zhang said, "I wonder if you have heard about it?"
The ancient master said: "I have heard people say this. I just don't know whether it is true or not?"
"It should be true. I heard someone say that a few days ago, the Shen family from the provincial capital came to Fucheng to collect cotton. This Shen family is not another family, but the natal family of Mrs. Gu's daughter-in-law. If my brother-in-law wants to know whether this is true or not, Just ask my sister to go to the government office."
The old man waved his hand and said: "That's all, I don't want to deal with my cousin and niece anymore in this life." He paused and said, "Since the Shen family sent people to collect cotton, then this news is probably true."
"Brother-in-law, this is a good opportunity!" Shopkeeper Zhang suggested: "If we can take advantage of this shareholder trend to make a fortune, our livelihood will be secure this year."
Mr. Gu was also a little moved, but he still thought it was better to be cautious, "Go to the market and ask around to see what the current cotton market is like."
It was a matter of livelihood. Shopkeeper Zhang didn't dare to neglect it and went to inquire immediately.
There are many cotton fields around Fucheng. Originally, the price of a pound of cotton was around 100 cents. Now that the middle of winter has passed, the price of cotton should have dropped. But now, because of the news from the provincial capital, the price of cotton has risen to 100 cents. One hundred and twenty cents per catty.
When the old man heard this market situation, he muttered: "One pound of cotton costs one hundred and twenty cents, and ten pounds is one tael of silver. Calculated in this way, one hundred pounds of cotton costs ten taels of silver."
Of course, one hundred kilograms of cotton is not worth sending to the provincial capital. If it were to be transported, at least five thousand kilograms of cotton would be needed.
Five thousand kilograms of cotton is equivalent to five hundred taels of silver. This amount of money is not much, and the old man can afford it.
But he still wanted to wait. If the price of cotton in the provincial capital did not increase, wouldn't it be a loss if he bought so much cotton?
Shopkeeper Zhang felt that Mr. Gu was being too careful.
But I can't make the decision myself, so I can only listen to the old master.
Just two days later, because many merchants came to Fucheng to buy cotton, the cotton market in Fucheng changed again, from 120 cents per catty to 150 cents per catty.
Shopkeeper Zhang couldn't sit still and hurriedly came to talk to Mr. Gu about this matter.
The old man said: "How much further can cotton prices rise? Besides, if you can't buy cotton in the prefecture, why can't the surrounding counties also buy cotton?"
But Mr. Gu underestimated the news that cotton prices were going to rise.
Since the news spread throughout Fucheng, several well-informed merchants bought half of the cotton in Fucheng and surrounding counties.
When shopkeeper Zhang told Mr. Gu the news, Mr. Gu made up his mind and prepared to take action quickly before the cotton price surged.
It's just that there is less and less cotton on the market now, and it has risen to two hundred cents per pound, almost twice as much as before.
The old man felt a little regretful. If he had known that cotton was rising so fast, he should have taken action earlier. Now he wants to take action, but it is a pity that it is difficult to buy cotton on the market.
Just when Mr. Gu was regretting it, shopkeeper Zhang brought good news.
"Brother-in-law, I recently met a businessman in a teahouse. He has a lot of cotton in his hands and is willing to sell it."
Shopkeeper Zhang said: "He stocked up a lot of cotton when the news first started. He originally wanted to transport it to the provincial capital, but he didn't know something happened at home, so he wanted to sell the cotton."
"Then how much does he plan to sell the cotton in his hand for?"
Shopkeeper Zhang coughed lightly and said, "He said that cotton on the market is now hard to find for a piece of gold. He doesn't want much. A pound of cotton only costs two hundred and twenty cents."
The old man said: "This is not too much, it is more expensive than the cotton on the market."
"But cotton is no longer available in the market. And this merchant has 20,000 kilograms of cotton in his hands."
Shopkeeper Zhang said: "Brother-in-law, this is the last chance to make money. I heard from people that several merchants who have returned from the provincial capital have made a lot of money. The price of cotton in the provincial capital has increased to 300 yuan per pound.
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"Three hundred coins per pound, is this true or false?"
Shopkeeper Zhang said: "This is absolutely true. There are many families in the provincial capital who make a living by weaving, so they need a lot of cotton every year. Now the cotton fields around the provincial capital are flooded, and the cotton production has already been reduced. In addition, in the middle of winter last year, we need to
Some winter clothes are used up again, so the price of cotton will increase."
The old man hesitated for a long time, but in the end he could not make up his mind.
Shopkeeper Zhang couldn't help but said: "Brother-in-law, you can't hesitate any longer. You can wait, but the merchant can't wait any longer. If he sells the cotton to others, it won't be our problem."
The old man said: "Twenty thousand kilograms of cotton is four thousand taels of silver. This is a huge amount of money. I have to think about it carefully."
Shopkeeper Zhang said: "Brother-in-law, if you think about it any more, the merchant will take the opportunity to raise the price."
Under the constant lobbying of shopkeeper Zhang, Mr. Gu finally made up his mind, "Then buy 10,000 kilograms of cotton first."
Ten thousand kilograms of cotton costs two thousand taels of silver, which is still within the scope of the old master.
It's a pity that after shopkeeper Zhang met the merchant, he was confused when he came back: "The merchant said, brother-in-law, if you want to buy it, just buy all 20,000 kilograms of cotton. If you only buy 10,000 kilograms of cotton, he won't sell it.
"
"Where is this merchant from?" The old man suddenly became suspicious, "Do you know his details?"
Shopkeeper Zhang said: "This merchant is from Huai'an County. I heard that he has some relationship with the county magistrate of the county government. There must be no problem with his origins."
Only then did Master Gu feel relieved, and then he stroked his beard for a long time before saying, "Okay, twenty thousand catties is twenty thousand catties."
When both parties paid and delivered the goods, Mr. Gu and Shopkeeper Zhang took a special look at the quality of the cotton.
The trader said: "Don't look at it, these cottons are all top quality."
The old man looked at the cotton in his hand and saw that it was indeed of good quality, then he looked at shopkeeper Zhang.
Shopkeeper Zhang took out four banknotes from his pocket and handed them to the merchant.
After receiving the four thousand taels of silver, the merchant happily asked his men to carry the cotton to the cart brought by the old man.
In order to prevent long nights and many dreams, Mr. Gu discussed with shopkeeper Zhang and planned to have shopkeeper Zhang take the convoy and set off for the provincial capital the next day.
Just a few days after Zhang was on the road, he heard from the counties around the provincial capital that cotton from the provincial capital was selling for three hundred cents per pound, so more and more merchants brought local cotton to the provincial capital.
By the time Shopkeeper Zhang was halfway there, the cotton supply in the provincial capital had dropped from three hundred cents per catty to two hundred cents per catty.
Shopkeeper Zhang's face changed color when he heard the news. In order to earn back his capital, he and his people rushed towards the provincial capital.
It's just that the price of cotton rises and falls even faster, almost falling every day.
By the time shopkeeper Zhang arrived in the provincial capital, cotton had dropped to one hundred cents per catty.
When Shopkeeper Zhang heard the news, his eyes almost darkened. But what was even more shocking was yet to come. Because merchants had shipped too much cotton, the price of cotton had dropped to a hundred cents, and sales were in doubt.
Shopkeeper Zhang spent a lot of effort to sell the 20,000 kilograms of cotton in his hand. However, he lost almost two thousand taels of silver from buying and selling.
When he thought about the consequences of Master Gu learning the news, Shopkeeper Zhang no longer had the courage to return to Fucheng.