Allure of a Country Maiden-Chapter 61 - 59 Selling Pearls and Ginseng

Chapter 61: Chapter 59: Selling Pearls and Ginseng

Chapter 61 -59: Selling Pearls and Ginseng

“Each one is three hundred taels, there are four of them.

Buy four, get two free.

The smaller ones will only cost a hundred taels.” Xiao’er assumed he was asking for the price.

“Brother Di is not an outsider, what about me?”

“Brother Shangguan is also not an outsider!

The three of us are business partners, we’re teammates!” Xiao’er was surprised that he was actually asking this.

Jealous?

No, she immediately denied, she was still a child with no appeal, and he was still a youth who had yet to grow his hair out fully.

Business partner?

Teammate?

That’s an unknown relation, but it sounded good.

He picked up the object wrapped in cloth again, “What’s this?”

“This is ginseng, I found it when I went up the mountain to find the bucket of latex yesterday, I dug it up.”

When Shangguan Xuanyi lifted the cloth and revealed the human-shaped wild ginseng, a gasp was heard in the room.

“Girl, why do you put all the good stuff in a box, you’re biased!”

Hearing this, Shangguan Xuanyi felt inexplicably better, “This ginseng must be thousands of years old.”

He often saw hundred-year-old ginseng, and those that were a thousand years old, but none were this big.

This ginseng must be several thousand years old.

“Xiao Fuzi, give Miss Xiao’er ten thousand taels.”

Ten thousand taels, Xiao’er felt guilty.

This ginseng hadn’t been planted for long in the space, she didn’t know if its medicinal effect was stronger than a real thousand-year-old ginseng.

After all, a genuine thousand-year-old ginseng would have absorbed essence from sunlight and moonlight for a thousand years.

This root may just be larger, “Not so much, only five hundred taels.”

“The master shouldn’t worry.

Even if it hasn’t been planted for long, it’s still stronger than the thousand-year-old ginseng outside.” Tian Bai’s voice rang out.

Upon hearing this, Xiao’er felt reassured.

Xiao Fuzi handed over the ten thousand taels of silver banknotes to Xiao’er, but Xiao’er still didn’t take them.

“Brother Shangguan, you really don’t need to pay so much.

These pearls were cut out of the river clams I fished out of the river yesterday, and the ginseng I dug up from the mountain.

They are all things that cost nothing to produce, five hundred taels are enough.”

“Take it.

It’s your luck that you found these items.

These items are worth the price.

Your home is still under construction, and you will need more money.

We’re all familiar with each other.

I can’t take advantage of you.”

Hearing this, Xiao’er finally accepted the silver banknotes.

She was rich again, even though she was just a minor tycoon, there was still a certain gap between her and a major tycoon.

But it was definitely better than being poor!

Shangguan Xuanyi handed the box to Xiao Fuzi, “Let’s go check out the store.”

“Girl, don’t forget Brother Di next time you dig up ginseng!” Di Zhaowei looked at the box with a resentful expression.

“Okay, next time I’ll dig up an extra root for you.”

The pair thought it was a joke upon hearing this.

Ginseng is not like radishes, it doesn’t grow in abundance, and you can’t get as many as you wish!

The three of them got into the carriage.

Since the shop was just on another street, they arrived very quickly.

Xiao’er had mentioned her demands for the size of the shop before, so this shop was quite large and met her requirements.

“This shop is big enough.

Was it a grocery store before?” Xiao’er remembered passing here before and the shop seemed to be called Zhouji Grocery Store.

“Yes, Zhouji Grocery Store.

The owner’s son made a reputation for himself outside (as an official), so the owner sold the store after constant persuasion to join him.”

“How much silver did it cost to take over such a large store?” The group talked while they walked.

“This shop also includes a backyard.

Because of our rapport with the owner, it wasn’t expensive, just five hundred taels.” Di Zhaowei led them to the backyard to take a look.

The backyard isn’t very large, with only three main rooms, each with three rooms on the east and west wings.

Two reversed rooms have been converted into a kitchen and a latrine, respectively.

There’s just enough room in the main building for each of the three people to have their own resting room, one room in the east wing has been made into an accounting room, another room for the shopkeeper, and one serving as a warehouse.

In the west wing, one room is also used as a warehouse, and the remaining two are just enough for the shop’s attendants to stay.

In the courtyard, there was a patio, a date tree was planted next to it, and a well was dug; fetching water was quite convenient.

This shop and backyard are very well arranged, very worth the price of 500 taels of silver.

“What do you think, is this shop suitable to be a toy store?” Di Zhaowei was quite satisfied with this shop.

“It’s great, I will draw up the design plan tonight, and give it to Doctor Luo tomorrow.

He can arrange for someone to send it over, would that work?”

“We plan to open a shop in both the prefecture city and Imperial Capital.

The Imperial Capital will be the main store.

Xiao’er, when will you have time to take a look?”

“The Imperial Capital is too far away, I definitely can’t go there at the moment.

You should send me the design plan of the shop, along with the sizes marked; I will see if I can draw up the design plan.

As for the prefecture city, if I have to go, I will have to stay overnight.

How about in three days?”

The construction of her house would start in two days.

At first, it would just be digging the foundation.

She should have no problem leaving for a day or two the day after.

Xiao’er asked them to take out all the illustrations she had drawn, she shared her vision for the shop, “The design plans that I just showed you, along with the previous design plan and the ones that I sold at the market, I plan to divide these thirty rag doll designs into three series.

These three series will be named Sky Messengers, Earth Beasts, and Water Elves, and displayed at three separate counters.”

Xiao’er pulled out the design plans for the three counters, each counter designed based on the shapes of a cloud, a mountain, and a water droplet respectively.

The counter designs were clear and relevant, yet simple and elegant.

She then discussed where these three counters should be placed in the shop and asked them if they had any objections.

The two shook their heads, “No objections.”

The concepts of series, counters, and display cases.

Both men understood each word that Xiao’er spoke, but combined, they couldn’t quite grasp what she meant.

“We should set up two children’s clothing areas in the shop, one for boys and one for girls.

We will launch with ten sets of clothing each for boys and girls.

I will draw up the designs, then make the samples with my mother and send them over.”

Xiao’er then continued to suggest where the small play area, slide, ball pit, trampoline, carousel, swings, and blocks area should be built in the shop as she pointed out each location.

“We need to ensure safety measures for the play area.

We need to establish a set of game rules that every child and accompanying person must adhere to…”

“Our shop has to have everyone from the shopkeeper to the attendants undergo training.

We must uphold the principle of customer service first and avoid disputes with customers.

We must also create a staff guideline…”

Xiao’er dictated while Xiao Fuzi took notes.

She carefully recorded everything including the staff guideline and return policy.

In the end, Xiao’er produced a drawing that featured a unique and one-of-a-kind font symbol.

She used the first stroke of the character “Peng” (Friend) to illustrate a squirrel’s tail, and then designed a snail shape underneath the “juan” character inside the word circle, thus creating a highly childish emblem from the phrase “Peng You Quan” (Friend Circle).

“What do you think about naming the toy shop ‘Friends Circle’?”

“Friends Circle?

Great!

Very original!”

“Perfect.”

Seeing no objections from them, Xiao’er continued, “Our toys could easily be copied by others once they are on the shelf.

So, apart from constantly launching new products, we need to either embroider or carve the symbol of our ‘Friends Circle’ onto every piece of merchandise, making it recognizable.

And when our shop attendants introduce the toy, they should intersperse phrases like, ‘Our ‘Friends Circle’ toys are original and first-of-their-kind.

The materials used are all top-quality, and only toys with this symbol are genuine products from ‘Friends Circle.'”

“Before each batch of new toys is launched, we should place a promotional painting in front of the shop.

I’ll call it an advertisement.

In addition to drawing some of the newly launched toys on the advertisement, we also need a catchy phrase like ‘What’s about to be a big hit, leading the new era of play, is coming soon to our shelves, etc.'”

“In short, we must strive to impress everyone that ‘Friends Circle’s’ toys are unique and the best.

To make everyone proud of owning the genuine ‘Friends Circle’ toys, this will not only reduce the damage made to business by counterfeiting but also ensure that our toys continue to sell even if there are counterfeit versions priced much lower.

Because ‘Friends Circle’ toys are different, they are original, not something that can be compared to any knock-offs.

Let everyone remember the symbol of ‘Friends Circle’.

So, as soon as anyone plays with the toy, they think of ‘Friends Circle’ and remember this playful symbol.

This would be beneficial for the inheritance of the ‘Friends Circle’ brand, making every generation of children eager to own ‘Friends Circle’ toys.”

Xiao’er spoke earnestly, her thoughts meticulously planned and considerate.

She had truly thought aspects of this venture through thoroughly!