Chapter 56: Price War

Chapter 56: Price War After the two of them reached an agreement, Master Wang and Master Luo raised their teacups, clinked them, and drank the cold tea in a gulp. A few moments later, they left the pavilion and returned to their own manor.


At the same time, Xue Ya’er was listening to Steward Han’s report in her study.


"Madam, the Wang family and the Luo family already opened their store and started selling the grains at eight wen per jin."


Hearing this, the corner of Xue Ya’er’s lips was lifted. Her plan to use her maternal granduncle’s family to help sell the grain was a success.


With more stores selling the grain at a lower price, the market price would drop eventually. As for who owned the grains, no one would know that it was her.


She placed the brush down and said, "Inform our people to lower the grain price to five wen per jin."


When he heard this, Steward Han was taken aback and said, "Madam, we bought the grains at four wen per jin. If we sell it for five wen, we are barely able to cover the wages and transportation fee."


Xue Ya’er took a sip of her tea before she replied calmly, "Uncle Han, we did not sell our grains to earn money. What’s more, didn’t we already earn enough money to cover the fee in the past days?"


Steward Han thought for a moment. A realization flashed in his eyes as he raised his head and asked, "Madam, were you planning to lower the grain price from the beginning?"


"Uncle Han is as intelligent as usual," Xue Ya’er replied.


Hearing this, Steward Han knew that his guess was right. "Madam, we do not have much grain left. At most, we are only able to sell it for four more days. By then, if the other merchants do not sell their grains, the price will go up again."


Xue Ya’er smiled and explained, "Since the Wang family and the Luo family already opened their stores, the rest will follow soon. I have already investigated this matter. The cheapest grains they bought before were five wen per jin."


"As merchants, they cannot bet all their families’ fortunes at once. This gamble, they cannot afford to play, let alone win. As long as they release their grains, the price will stabilize at five wen per jin at the lowest."


Steward Han nodded at her words and realized that with the merchants’ supplies of grains, the market’s demand would be less than the supplies. He cupped his fists and bowed to her. "Madam is wise."


Xue Ya’er smiled and said, "Uncle Han, keep an eye on their movements. When the market is no longer able to take in their supplies, they will come looking for us. By then, you can negotiate with them and buy the grains for three wen per jin."


The total of grains owned by the merchants was over two million dan. Even if they wanted to continue selling the grains to the commoners, there would be a limit. When the commoners ran out of money, they were no longer able to take the supplies.


The longest grains could be stored for one year. If stored longer, the grains would spoil or be eaten by bugs. If that happened, the price of the old grains would be much lower.


By then, they would not even need to bargain, and the merchants would come looking for them and offer a low price just to avoid suffering a heavy loss.


Steward Han nodded and replied, "Understood."


As a legitimate daughter of the richest merchant family in Luo City, Xue Ya’er was trained from a young age to take care of the family’s business. So Steward Han had full confidence in her capability.


While they were having a price war, Yao Zhi was busy living her ordinary life in the village. It had been five days since she sold the grains to the General Mansion, and she finally noticed that the villagers seemed to be fewer than usual.


When she had just finished watering the vegetable garden and was washing her clothes, she saw Wang Shen walk past her gate and waved her hand. "Aunt Wang!"


Hearing her call, Wang Shen stopped in her tracks and turned around. When she saw Yao Zhi walk over, she smiled and asked, "Yao girl, are you washing your clothes?"


Yao Zhi nodded and replied, "I have been busy planting my yards and dirtying my clothes. Today, I finally have free time, so I took out all of my clothes for washing."


Seeing that she was no longer as lazy as before, Wang Shen nodded and said, "Even if you want to finish the work faster, you should not push yourself too much. You are still recovering from your illness."


"Aunt Wang, do not worry, I know my limit," Yao Zhi nodded. After a moment of pause, she asked, "Aunt Wang, I notice that our village is not as lively as usual. Did something happen?"


When she heard Yao Zhi’s words, Wang Shen was taken aback. She looked at her and asked, "Yao girl, you did not know?"


Yao Zhi knew that something big must have happened from Wang Shen’s expression. She shook her head and said, "Aunt Wang, I stay at home and rarely go out."


Thinking about this, Wang Shen nodded and said, "Well, you have always stayed at home recently. It is normal for you not know about this matter."


She did not keep her in suspense and continued, "In the past few days, most of the people in our village and the surrounding villages went to Zhu’an town to buy grains."


"Aunt Wang, didn’t the grain stores in several towns and cities close since there were no grains at all?" Yao Zhi asked with a frown.


"I heard that the General’s wife managed to buy a large amount of grain from a merchant. No one knows who this merchant was, but they said that the General’s wife emptied all her dowry stores and treasury to exchange for these grains," Wang Shen said with admiration.