Republic of China: Guandong Ginseng King

Chapter 229 Selling Goods and Returning Home
Qu Shaoyang and his party stayed in Yingkou for three days and bought a lot of goods.

Chen Yunzhe asked the foreign company about the latest model of German rifles, but the comprador said that they were not available yet.

If you want it, pay a deposit and they will find a way to get it for you.

When Qu Shaoyang heard this, he was very excited, so he paid a deposit and asked someone to get him ten M1888 committee rifles and enough bullets.

After finishing all the work here, on the morning of the sixth day of the twelfth lunar month, the sled team set out again, preparing to return to Maoer Mountain.

Before leaving, Shen Lizhen brought a few fellow sisters to see them off.

Shen Lizhen also thoughtfully prepared a lot of New Year gifts for Chen Yunzhe to bring to the Chen family.

"Second brother, what's going on between eldest brother and Shopkeeper Shen?"

Qu Shaoyang could see clearly that Shen Lizhen was obviously interested in Chen Yunzhe, but he didn't know what Chen Yunzhe was thinking.

"I don't know. Don't ask me. If you want to know, just ask my brother."

Chen Yunhan scratched his head. How could a rough man like him understand a woman's mind? He couldn't tell what his elder brother was thinking.

The two brothers of the Chen family are one literary and one martial. One is quite shrewd, and the other is honest and straightforward.

In the past, Chen Yunzhe was so focused on studying for the imperial examinations that he couldn't see anything.

After experiencing a family change, he went up the mountain to become a bandit and led people to travel the world. Chen Yunzhe grew up quickly and now he is not something that ordinary people can see through.

"Brother, let's go, leave early and go home early."

Seeing that the eldest brother and Shopkeeper Shen were chatting about something, Chen Yunhan simply greeted them.

The return journey is long and we cannot delay too long.

Chen Yunzhe responded and waved to Shen Lizhen and the others.

"It's quite cold this morning. Let's go home and don't get frozen. I'll leave the shop in your care. Goodbye."

After saying that, Chen Yunzhe turned around and got back on the sled. Chen Yunhan flicked the whip, shouted "Hand on," and the horse pulled the sled out of the city.

On the way back, we still took the same route we came, first to Andong and then walked up along the river straight to Maoer Mountain.

On the way back, if there is an inn, we will stay in it. If there is no inn, we will stay in the hut of the porters. If that is not possible, we can only stay overnight in the villages along the way.

When they came, they collected pig bristles and mountain products along the way, and everyone in those villages knew them.

Seeing Qu Shaoyang and others coming back, someone inevitably asked what was being pulled on the horse-drawn sleigh.

Qu Shaoyang said that those were the goods he brought back from Yingkou, including cloth, silk, candy, tea, wine, pots and pans, foreign goods, etc. He planned to open a grocery store when he returned.

When the family who was staying overnight heard this, they insisted on buying some things. Not only did they want to buy some, but they also notified the villagers door to door.

So early the next morning, all the men, women, young and old in the village went out, just like they were going to a big market, all wanting to pick up some things for the New Year.

I just sold pig bristles, soybeans, and mountain products some time ago, and I have some money now. It’s New Year’s Day, so why shouldn’t I buy some new things?

Faced with the enthusiasm of the villagers, Qu Shaoyang didn't know what to say. He would have to come here to collect mountain products and pig bristles in the future, so he had to maintain good relationships.

So he ordered his men to unpack some of the goods they had brought back and place them at the entrance of the village for everyone to choose and buy.

Here, Qu Shaoyang and Chen Yunzhe found the purchase order and temporarily set the retail price based on the purchase price.

Chen Yunzhe also specially copied a few orders and sold the goods according to the prices on the orders, and gave a discount if appropriate.

"Fellow villagers, we have to hurry on our way, so we can only stay here for one morning.

If you want to buy something, please hurry up, we have to leave soon." While selling goods, Qu Shaoyang arranged for a loud-voiced waiter to shout loudly.

When the villagers heard this, they hurriedly picked out suitable items, paid for them and took them home.

Qu Shaoyang and his team delayed their journey for half a day. At noon, they packed up their things and hurried back.

The next time he stayed in the village, Qu Shaoyang simply informed the villagers that they had brought a lot of goods and they could come and choose whatever they wanted the next morning.

As a result, they were delayed a lot on the road, and by the time they returned to Maoer Mountain, it was already the 19th day of the twelfth lunar month.

The good news is that most of the goods we brought back have been sold, and we made a lot of money.

"You're finally back. I thought you were going to spend the New Year away from home this time."

When Lin Ruolan saw her husband and apprentice coming back, she was happy but also a little bit complaining.

As the New Year was approaching, the head of the household was not at home, leaving her and Chen Xiuyun to take care of the children.

Fortunately, with the help of Doctor Chen and his wife, and the capable servants in the house, everything at home and outside was managed well, and nothing went wrong.

"Look, what are you talking about? Who would celebrate the New Year outside? Isn't this just going out to earn money?
You don’t know, we made a lot of money this time. This year, we are going to have a good year.”

Liu Dongshan heard something behind his wife's words and explained.

Lin Ruolan was just talking and nagging a few words. Seeing her husband's haggard face, how could she say anything else?

"Okay, hurry up and get on the kang to warm up, change your clothes and get ready. I'll cook something delicious to welcome you in the evening."

As Lin Ruolan spoke, she brushed the snow off her husband's body, then found a clean cotton jacket and trousers for Liu Dongshan to change into.

On the other side, when Chen Xiuyun saw her husband returning, she threw herself into Qu Shaoyang's arms without caring that he was covered in snow.

"I've been looking forward to your return. How was your trip? Was everything going well? I've been thinking about you all day at home."

Qu Shaoyang took his people away around the tenth day of the twelfth lunar month. It is now the nineteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, and he has been away for more than a month.

It's the coldest time of the year and the situation outside is not peaceful. How can Chen Xiuyun not worry about her husband who is away?
“Fortunately, this trip went smoothly and all the goods were sold.

We also bought a batch of New Year goods from Yingkou and sold most of them on the way back.

I haven't calculated the exact amount yet, but I estimate that I can earn at least 5,000 to 6,000 taels from this trip."

Qu Shaoyang was concerned that he had just returned from outside and was frozen by the snow and wind. If Chen Xiuyun was standing so close to him, he would catch a cold.

So he carefully pushed Chen Xiuyun away while talking. Then he took off his hat and patted the snow off his head.

When Chen Xiuyun saw this, she hurriedly helped Qu Shaoyang take off his coat, swept the floor with a broom, and then hung it on the wall.

"Well, I make a lot of money, but it's too painful. Going out in the cold winter will make you freeze."

In fact, Chen Xiuyun didn’t care how much money her husband could earn. The family had enough food and supplies anyway. She was just worried about her husband’s health.

“The main reason is that this is our first year in business, so it’s a bit troublesome.

Everything will be fine in the future. Next year, we will open a small warehouse in Maoer Mountain and receive the goods there.

Then we can find some local households in Tadian, Badaojiang, Shuidonggou, and Tonghua to cooperate with and have them collect the goods and deliver them to us, so that I don’t have to travel so often.”

Qu Shaoyang is just one person, he doesn’t have three heads and six arms, and he can’t split himself.

In the future, he will have to train more trusted people and gradually outsource the business, while he stays at home and controls the overall situation.

(End of this chapter)