Li Cheng did not expect that the people who did business here were so supportive of the Wang Family's Zhuangzi. In order to find out if they really did not collect taxes, he went elsewhere to get something to sell.
After changing his clothes, he carried two baskets of spinach and placed them there. Regardless of how many people were around, he started to shout.
"Spinach! Spinach for sale! Two catties of fresh spinach for one copper coin!"
After shouting a few times, the people around him gathered. They all looked at him with uncomfortable eyes. Some even shook their heads, but no one was willing to buy.
"Auntie, buy some spinach. It's cheap, two catties for one copper coin." Seeing that no one was buying, Li Cheng took the initiative to call a customer. When he saw an old woman come over, he said it was cheap.
The auntie curled her lips and muttered, "Why is such a good young man so greedy? Two catties for one copper coin? Wait to be driven away."
Her voice was not loud, but Li Cheng still heard it. He did not understand why the auntie said he was greedy. Was the price too high? No, when he bought it, it was only one copper coin for two catties. He also paid the taxi fare. He was not stupid enough to bring it here himself. He hired a few carriages and came here to pick it up.
Just when he was puzzled, a voice came from the side, "Young Master Li has nothing to do, so you came here to have fun? Why don't you have some tea? It's my treat. Why lie? For Young Master Li's sake, I won't drive you away today. Young Master Li, please. "
Li Cheng looked up and saw a man wearing a coarse cloth shirt standing next to him and looking at him.
"How do you know me? Who are you? "Li Cheng asked in confusion.
"Young Master Li is a noble. Naturally, you don't know me, but I can't not know you. You are the manager of the Li Family's Zhuangzi. With such a noble identity, you actually came here to sell spinach. I think your spinach is a little small and yellow. Is it from the Li Family's Zhuangzi? The spinach there is better than this one. It's priced at one copper coin for three catties.
Did Young Master Li go to a faraway place to buy expensive spinach to sell? If I had known that Young Master Li would be like this, I would have sold it to Young Master Li. Oh, my name is Er Gou, and I'm in charge of setting the price of this market. If you want to sell your spinach, that's easy. Five catties for one copper coin. "
Although Er Gou was speaking politely, his expression wasn't polite at all. He didn't know where Li Cheng had gotten the spinach. Not to mention the small ones, perhaps they were tender spinach. But this spinach had already turned yellow, and he still dared to sell it for one copper coin for two catties.
As for how he knew about Li Cheng, of course, it was someone who told him about it. Some of the influential people in Zhuangzi had people who specialized in collecting things and telling them to do business, including the shop assistant Between the Clouds and the Water. He would get a piece of paper with a portrait on it, and he had to remember the important people in the vicinity.
How could Li Cheng know about this? He looked at his spinach, then stood up and looked at the spinach being sold by others. He frowned and felt that the price was indeed not good enough. The seller was selling for one copper coin for three catties. From time to time, they would sprinkle some water on the green leaves to make them look fresher. Some people who bought the spinach even deducted some water from the price after weighing it.
Li Cheng saw with his own eyes that a person used a small bag of not-so-good tea leaves to exchange for six catties of spinach. He left happily, and the spinach seller gave the tea leaves to the tea stall's old man. The old man took out one copper coin and two handfuls of white melon seeds, and that was it.
Seeing this, Li Cheng didn't know what to do. He looked at Er Gou, who was waiting at the side, and suddenly said with a smile, "So it's Brother Er Gou. I've heard so much about you. Brother Er Gou, I don't have extra money on me. Can I pay the tax tomorrow?"
"Young Master Li, you want to put me in prison. When have we ever collected tax here? If Young Master Li is willing to sell, remember to ask for five catties of spinach for one copper coin. If you think it's cheap, you can go back to Zhuangzi. In the Li family's Zhuangzi, spinach can be sold for one copper coin for three catties of spinach. Of course, you have to pick the good ones. "
When Er Gou heard Li Cheng's words, he knew what Li Cheng was thinking. Not to mention that there was no tax here, even if there was in the past, it would change now. When he spoke to Li Cheng, he smiled contemptuously.
This time, Li Cheng finally had no choice. He shouted to the people around him, "One copper coin for six catties of spinach. Who wants to buy it?"
He wanted to sell these lousy things as soon as possible and continue to look for that master. Since he couldn't find trouble here, it would be a waste of time to stay here. He thought that if it was one copper coin for six catties of spinach, many people would buy it. He didn't expect that after he shouted, the people around him took a few steps back at the same time.
Li Cheng was confused. Er Gou clearly said one copper coin for five catties of spinach. Why didn't anyone buy it when he was selling it for six catties? Just as he was thinking about it, a kind person said to him, "Er Gou already said that your spinach is one copper coin for five catties of spinach. Why don't you know what's good for you? Why do you have to sell it for six copper coins? "
Hearing this, Li Cheng understood. Li Cheng understood. It turned out that the price was actually so evil. It was exactly how much it was set. It couldn't be too high or too low. He wasn't a fool. He immediately understood the key point. Whoever was in charge of setting the price would get the final benefit in the end.
For example, there were many people selling salted eggs today. If he ordered two eggs for one copper coin, then Er Gou could naturally buy a lot of them. The bulk of the business was in his hands. When there were fewer people selling salted eggs tomorrow, he would order three eggs for two copper coins. Then he would make a profit of one egg. This rule couldn't be underestimated. It could be used for all kinds of goods.
In this way, what was the use of tax? Just by relying on the right to set the price, he could make a lot of money. It was a good method. The price was set according to the quantity and quality of the goods. Naturally, other people wouldn't have any objections. They could choose not to sell, but as long as they did, it would benefit Er Gou.
"You're lying. You're benefiting from it. Everyone, don't believe him. The price he said is beneficial to him."
Li Cheng finally exploded. He criticized Er Gou and began to persuade the people around him. In his opinion, the people would definitely scold Er Gou and unite to oppose him.
Who knew that after he finished speaking, the people around him looked at him as if he was an idiot. A kind person stood up and said to him, "Young man, go home and find someone to take a look at you. Ah, you're so pitiful. It's not easy to live in this world."
When others heard this person's words, they nodded. It seemed that Li Cheng was seriously ill. Li Cheng was so angry that his lungs almost exploded. When he didn't know what to say, a person next to him gently pulled his sleeve. When Li Cheng turned his head to look, the person said, "Li Cheng, don't worry.
"Manager Li, I'm a farmer of the Li family in Zhuangzi. Don't say it. Others will think that you're sick. Who here doesn't know that Er Gou benefits from setting the price? But do you know what those benefits are for? It used to be that if you want to keep the goods at night, you need to hand over something or money. Now, you don't need to do that.
The money Er Gou earned was used to build those warehouses for everyone. Also, look at the four strong men next to you. They were hired with this money. If someone comes to make trouble or bully us, the four of them will rush up and beat him up. Then, they will send him to the authorities. Everyone knows that.
Also, look at the hot weather. If someone falls down from heatstroke, Er Gou will find someone to treat him. In the end, he will only take the cost. Anyway, we won't lose money here. It's better than being bullied elsewhere. Everyone is used to it. Manager Li, you'd better go do your own business. "
After the man finished speaking, he opened up his own stall, which was also filled with spinach. Just as Er Gou had said, one copper coin for three catties of spinach. If the people nearby wanted to eat it, they just had to take out a few copper coins or use other things to exchange for it. There were all kinds of things, and Er Gou was very busy. From time to time, he would tell the people how much each item was worth.
As he spoke, he took out the written sign. Not only did it show the price of something, but those who couldn't read could also calculate how much their things were worth according to the pattern on the sign.
Li Cheng stood there and no one paid attention to him anymore. He was relying on his high status, otherwise, he would have been driven out long ago. This time, Li Cheng finally gave up on the matter of taxes. He didn't expect to provoke others to not listen to Er Gou's price. Er Gou had said that the money would be used in the market.
But he was still a little unwilling. When Er Gou was almost done, he found Er Gou and said, "Brother Er Gou, I want to buy something from you. How much do you want? For example, my spinach. How much will you pay? It's quite a lot. "
"The same? Then one copper coin for five catties. I'll buy as much as you have. "Er Gou knew that Li Cheng wasn't sincere, but he still answered him.
"Then, if I buy the same spinach from you, how much for one catty? I can buy more," Li Cheng asked again.
"Young Master Li, I'm not selling this spinach now. You can't buy it unless you're willing to spend more money. For example, one copper coin for one catty, or two catties for one copper coin," Er Gou replied.
"So you'll sell it if it's expensive, but not if it's cheap?"
"No, I won't sell it if it's expensive. If you want to buy it, you can go to Between the Clouds and the Water. There are people there who can help you find such things, but you have to pay a certain fee." Er Gou didn't give Li Cheng a chance.
This time, Li Cheng had no choice but to thank Er Gou and turn to leave. As for the spinach, he gave it to the Li family's farmer so that he could sell it and eat it back home.
After walking for dozens of feet, Li Cheng still felt uncomfortable in his heart. What was this? He couldn't find any trouble at all. Just as he was thinking, he suddenly found a familiar figure in front of him. He hurried two steps and looked again. Li Cheng was happy. It was the expert he saw. He didn't expect him to come out.
"Hey, the person in front, wait a minute. I have something to say. Something big." Li Cheng shouted as he ran forward.
That person stopped and gave Li Cheng an unfathomable smile.
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