Chapter 333

The status of lychees in Fengjing was undisputed. Fifty taels per catty were not only expensive, but also a symbol of status. In a flash, the Liao Family had lowered the price to ten taels. What would the noble families who had purchased lychees think? What would the aristocratic families in the imperial city think?

The only advantage was probably that it could quickly squeeze out the Jiuzhen Store.

"With a price of ten taels, no matter how much we put up as collateral, no one will buy from us anymore." Jiang Sheng was in a daze. "Two noble families have already come to cancel their reservations, and it's only a matter of time before the others do too."

"Just to crush us, they don't even want profits anymore?" Zhang Xianglian trembled. "The Liao Family wants to take us down with them!"

This move was extremely painful, but also swift, accurate and ruthless.

The Jiuzhen Store had not only lost reservations for Lingnan lychees, but customers for Sichuan and Chongqing lychees had also been lured away.

Naturally, those who could afford fifty taels per catty could grit their teeth and try ten taels per catty.

The Jiuzhen Store was clearly left with little business. But had the Liao Family ever considered that in the future, if lychees could not be sold at a higher price, it would be like tying themselves up?

"Don't worry, that won't happen." Zheng Ruqian brought Wang Xiaosong in.

The usually arrogant Second Young Master Zheng was also a little embarrassed, with wrinkles on his brow that could trap flies. "On the surface this seems like mutual destruction, but if I were the Liao Family, I would have a solution."

The key thing in business competition was to crush the opponent.

As long as no one snatched the lychee business, and it became a monopoly again, the Liao Family could completely switch to another variety, or change the sales model, or even change the porcelain containers to raise the price again.

They could send more lychees to the offended noble families, and the dissatisfied commoners would have nowhere to complain either.

Only the Jiuzhen Store would become the biggest loser.

"So should we... lower the price too?" Jiang Sheng hesitated. "But Second Brother, we don't have the capital to take losses. If we really have to lower it, we might as well not do this business."

Look, the Liao Family's ruthless determination to cut off their own arm was paying off.

The Jiuzhen Store did not have the financial strength to take losses, let alone fight it out. The more ruthlessly the Liao Family acted, the faster the situation would be resolved.

Although they were opponents, Zheng Ruqian felt that the person who came up with this move had good business acumen.

"Then Master, will you still transport the fifth batch of lychees?" Wang Xiaosong asked timidly from behind. "The fourth batch is already on the way, we really can't stop it." This was truly a headache.

In his many years of doing business, this was the first time Zheng Ruqian had fought such a difficult business war. He had racked his brains, but still couldn't come up with the optimal solution.

Giving up the lychee business was unwilling and unsatisfactory.

Not giving up meant they couldn't lower the price further, and didn't dare gamble on it.

Right before their eyes, large bowls of lychees remained ignored. A passing customer wanted to buy two catties to try, but his friend pulled him away, "Lingnan lychees are ten taels a catty. Who's still eating Sichuan and Chongqing lychees? Come on, let's go, or else they'll be sold out!"

And so the Jiuzhen Store became empty again.

Zheng Ruqian clenched his fists and Jiang Sheng's face was filled with dissatisfaction, but no matter how hard the siblings wracked their brains, they couldn't come up with a better solution.

Just when they were at a loss and almost resigned to their fate,

Three figures suddenly emerged from the medical hall next door.

One was elegant and slender with a scholarly air, one was weak and timid and somewhat shy, one had a smile that never revealed his true thoughts.

They were none other than the three brothers, who should have been busy with their own affairs, but were gathered together at the Jiuzhen Store.

"You guys..." Zheng Ruqian was dumbfounded. "Weren't you busy with your own things?"

"The Imperial College isn't a prison. You can still come out after you go in." Xu Mo said lightly.

"It was me, I did it." Dr. Wen said shyly. "When I heard about your troubles, I specifically called Big Brother and Fifth Brother over."

So there were also downsides to the two shops being so close together, with no secrets that could be kept.

"What is there to hide? If Second Brother has difficulties, just tell us. There is strength in numbers." Chang Yan said smilingly.

Three cobblers together could match Zhuge Liang.

What's more, they were better than cobblers.

"You guys..." Zheng Ruqian was at a loss for words again.

Time flowed by, and it seemed everyone had returned to that village again, racking their brains about how to sell an ill-fitting gray coat, running around for days to collect vegetables, and worrying about losing the recipe for cured meat.

Although over the years he had become accustomed to traveling far and wide alone, going from ignorant to shrewd, and gradually took on the air of a successful businessman.

But whenever major difficulties arose, whenever it came time to make hard choices, his brothers would stand up for him and face the difficulties and storms together.

They were independent individuals, developing in different paths and thriving upwards. But they were also a united family. If anyone encountered difficulties, they would lend a hand and work together wholeheartedly.

"Others say three cobblers, but the six of us are two Zhuge Liangs." Jiang Sheng held up her chubby fingers.

The older brothers all burst out laughing.

Tears of laughter flowed from Zheng Ruqian's eyes. He imperceptibly wiped them away and laid out the crux of the matter. "Ten taels means there's no profit anymore. The Liao Family won't go lower, and we can't sell at that price either."

"The Liao Family transports three cartloads, thirty catties per day, that's nine hundred catties per month, earning three thousand taels in income. Ice alone costs one thousand taels. Labor and bonuses plus purchasing also cost three to five hundred taels. On the road they need to change horses and carts. Damaged goods need to be accounted for. Picking and cleaning requires labor. After arriving it needs to be iced. Matching wooden and porcelain containers, delivering to each household, calculated altogether there's almost no profit left."

Even earning a few hundred taels was just a drop in the bucket.

"Most crucial is, when the Liao Family lowered the price by twenty five taels we didn't lower ours. Now they're at ten taels and we still can't lower it. If we lower it we offend people and it still doesn't solve the key issue. The Liao Family can still ruthlessly lower it to eight taels, five taels. There will always be times we can't keep up."

But not lowering means the business can't continue.

Was there still some way to break the deadlock? What else could they still do?

Xu Mo tapped the table lightly. Wen Zhiyun heaved long sighs. Chang Yan knitted his brow. Jiang Sheng slumped over the table.

After conferring at length, Chang Yan gently opened his mouth. "That is to say, even if we transport lychees ourselves, it would cost ten taels."

"Roughly that price. Business without double the profit is considered a loss." Zheng Ruqian shook his head. "Luckily lychees fruit for a short period. I only hired short-term workers without any long-term."

Otherwise they really might have been driven into bankruptcy by the Liao Family.

Xu Mo raised his head. "It seems lychees bear fruit from May to August?"

"To be precise, mid May to mid August. Only three months." Zheng Ruqian supplemented. "Those in late August can still be eaten, but they can't be transported to Fengjing anymore."

Now it was mid July. There was still one month before the end of lychee season.

This meant the Liao Family was giving up...twelve thousand taels of profit altogether.

Only a business dynasty spanning generations would have the guts to be so ruthless.

How could ordinary commoners like them with no background compete with the Liao Family?

Xu Mo sighed heavily. Chang Yan kneaded his forehead. Zheng Ruqian stared blankly into the distance.

Only Jiang Sheng felt exceptionally sad. "We won't get to eat lychees anymore in the future."

"Don't feel bad." Wen Zhiyun secretly pulled her sleeve. "I'll secretly send Xiao Zhu to the Liao Family to buy some for you."

Jiang Sheng resolutely shook her head, not having had the chance to say anything yet.

Chang Yan slammed the table and stood up. "Second Brother, since it would cost the same price for us to transport from Lingnan, why don't we just directly buy lychees from the Liao Family?"