Chapter 457: Not A Bad Idea
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Zong Bang came to Xu Yao’s door and hesitated for a long time before Zong Ming pushed him in.
Xu Yao looked up at him. “What’s the matter, Tribe leader Zong Bang?”
As Zong Ming had said, his tone was especially polite.
The uneasiness in Zong Bang’s heart dissipated a lot. He summoned up a great deal of courage. “I want to sell my wool.”
Hearing Zong Bang take the initiative to sell wool, Xu Yao did not mock him. Instead, he placed two forms in front of him in a businesslike manner. “It’s the same price as before. If you agree, sign on it.”
These two forms described the transaction process in Syriac and Central Plains language respectively. The price was stated clearly. Although Zong Bang wanted to hide it, he could not completely hide the smile in his eyes. “I agree to it.”
He was about to sign when Xu Yao stopped him. “Wait.”
Zong Bang’s heart skipped a beat. Could it be that he wanted to make things difficult for him now?
Zong Bang secretly wondered if he should endure it. Xu Yao continued, “Let’s go and count the wool together before we sign the contract. If the grade is not reached, the price will be slightly lower. Take a look at this form.”
Zong Bang was almost frightened to death by him. He reached out and took the cla.s.sification table for wool grades. He felt that the price was reasonable and nodded. “Okay.”
They went to the hotel to take stock of the wool.
The hotel warehouse was not dampproof. The wool on the surface was still pa.s.sable. Many of the wool under it had been soaked in water to varying degrees, and some of it had yellowed and molded.
Zong Bang immediately found the hotel owner and asked him to make up for his losses.
The hotel owner was even angrier than Zong Bang. “At that time, I was unwilling to let you use the warehouse. You were the ones who begged me. I only agreed in a moment of soft-heartedness. I was only in charge of letting you use it. I didn’t say that I would check on the wool. Moreover, it’s just a warehouse. It’s not that you haven’t seen what’s going on inside. You’re the one who didn’t manage the wool well. Why should you blame it on me?”
The more the hotel owner spoke, the angrier he became. His eyes had even turned red.
Zong Bang gritted his teeth. “We gave you silver. It’s your business if the wool molds!”
The hotel owner was so exasperated that he wanted to stab someone with a knife.
Xu Yao tried to stand up for them, “The shop owner didn’t hide the actual situation of the warehouse. It has been stored here for so many days. It’s your responsibility to check it in the future. It’s better not to blame others.” Previously, Zong Bang had sent someone to the warehouse to check every day. However, the environment of the guest apartment arranged by the Imperial Court was too appropriate. There was a special storage room for different goods from various tribes. This made him careless and forget that after moving out of the guest apartment, the warehouse was completely different.
He also knew that he was being unreasonable, but he just wanted someone to help him bear the losses.
Xu Yao pointed him out directly. Zong Bang still wanted to struggle and ask the hotel owner to pay a smaller amount. Xu Yao said, “If you report it to the officials and lose the lawsuit, Tribe leader Zong Bang will still have to compensate the hotel owner. You have to think carefully.”
Thinking about their chances of winning and thinking that this was the territory of the Central Plainsmen, Zong Bang gritted his teeth and said, “Forget it, I won’t stoop to his level. Lord Xu, count the wool quickly.”
The hotel owner still felt that it was his misfortune and glared at him hatefully. “We won’t take in any outsiders in the future.”
“You!”
Zong Bang raised his hand. Zong Ming was afraid that he would be thrown into jail again, so he quickly stopped him. “Brother, we’re going home soon. Bear with it.”
Zong Bang endured it. Xu Yao sent someone to count the wool and he lost a quarter of the profits from the wool. Fortunately, he still earned a lot of silver. Only then did Zong Bang feel better.
Xu Yao and Zong Bang signed an official procurement contract. Zong Bang was overjoyed when he received the gold. He found Xu Yao much more pleasing to the eye and even asked to treat him to a meal.
Public officials could not accept any invitations. Xu Yao refused and asked Zong Bang if he wanted to sign a long-term wool purchase contract.
Zong Bang was stunned. “A long-term contract. How do we settle on the price?”
If it was always at this price and wool was in high demand, wouldn’t he make a loss?
Xu Yao said, “We will adjust the annual wool purchase price according to the market price. After signing this contract, we will prioritize buying your wool.” Zong Bang frowned. “Then you will decide the price?”
Xu Yao said, “It won’t be lower than the market price. There’s a guarantee in the contract. To you, signing this contract will give you a stable channel to sell your wool. Of course, if Tribe leader Zong Bang is unwilling, we won’t force you.”
How could he hand over the control rights of the price to others?
Zong Bang refused without hesitation. “Forget it.” He was not worried that there would be no one buying his wool.
If Carefree City did not want it, he could just secretly bring people to Ling Kingdom to sell it.
Xu Yao did not continue to persuade him. “Alright.” He waved his hand and told him that he could leave.
He was letting him go so easily. Zong Bang could not help but think that he should have begged him to sign the contract.
He had just walked out of the office when Zong Ming, who had been waiting for a long time, said mysteriously, “Brother, do you want to deposit the silver into the bank?”
Zong Bang was stunned. “What bank?”
Zong Ming explained, “It’s a silver storage place established by the Central Plains people. If we deposit the silver into it, we can earn a lot of interest. Didn’t I go to do odd jobs for a few days some time ago? I deposited some money and it really came back with interest.”
“They also said that there’s a bank in our area. If we deposit it now, we can use the bankbook to get money!”
Zong Bang had heard of the bank, but he did not trust the Central Plains people. He was afraid that the place would be corrupted and he would lose everything in the end.
Zong Bang said earnestly, “These are all bait. If you get a small profit, you’ll want to invest more money. When they get this money, it won’t be long before they take the money and run. Don’t do anything stupid.”
Zong Ming had just received the silver and did not believe Zong Bang’s words. “How can it be a lie? I asked many people in Carefree City, and everyone had deposited their silver.”
Seeing that he was already bought in by the idea, Zong Bang sighed and said, “I told you not to deposit. When your silver has been cheated, you won’t be able to explain it to your family when you go back. I won’t help you then.”
Zong Ming did not say anything, but he thought to himself that he would save a third of his money.
With the silver in hand, they were about to prepare to return. Zong Bang had already planned to buy more medicine. This was something that was profitable, light, and necessary for everyone.
The other tribe leaders had the same thoughts as him. When Zong Bang went to every shop, he could see them filling all the carriages.
Zong Bang went to the stores late. There was actually not a single bicycle that he had wanted to buy previously. The rouge and cosmetics that he had wanted to buy for the women at home had all been sold out. The pharmacy had even hung a limited-purchase sign.
Zong Bang was furious. This trip to Carefree City had not gone smoothly.
He cursed and kicked the corner, causing him to end up in pain.
Zong Ming suddenly said, “Brother, since we can’t buy medicine, why don’t we open a shop in Syria”
Zong Bang was about to scold him that after being unable to buy the medicine, how could he open a shop? But he suddenly came back to his senses.
This was not a bad idea..