"Miss Linlang, please." Su Bai poured a freshly brewed cup of tea to the brim and pushed it towards Linlang.
"Boss Su, please." Linlang handed the newly written contract to Su Bai. Two copies, ready to be signed and sealed.
However, when Su Bai took the contract and looked at it, his mind went blank for a moment. He looked again at the amount written in bold figures.
Thirty-six million Mora per piece.
Holy moly!!
Have I been too narrow-minded?!
Su Bai forced himself not to show it, silently signing the contract.
"Ahem, in that case, pleasure doing business." Linlang took the contract with a smile, carefully took out two gemstones, placed them into a brocade pouch, and stored it safely away. She then smiled sweetly.
"Well then, Boss Su, may your business flourish! If you manage to get more in the future, remember to contact me first."
Having such a supply source was of immeasurable benefit to the Rare Antiquities. After all, at their level, it wasn't about whose craftsmanship was better anymore, but who had the better supply sources!
"Hehehe, naturally, naturally. But, now that business is concluded, let's talk about personal matters." Su Bai retrieved the remaining green gemstone and looked at Linlang with a smile.
"Personal matters?" Linlang couldn't help but feel puzzled. If that was considered business just now, then what are personal matters?
Seeing Su Bai reach for her hand, Linlang's heart began to race. No way, no way, could Su Bai be...?
As Su Bai took her hand, Linlang's mind filled with scenes from romance novels, momentarily even overlooking the audacity of Su Bai's action.
It's not entirely out of the question... Su Bai is good-looking, speaks charmingly, and has resources too...
Just as Linlang was lost in her thoughts, a familiar, cool sensation transferred from her palm.
"This! Boss Su?"
"For you." Su Bai helped Linlang close her fingers around the green gemstone, smiled, and released her hand.
"No, no, no! It's too valuable!" Linlang was stunned by Su Bai's action. A gemstone worth over thirty million, given away just like that? Even for courtship, such extravagance wasn't necessary!
"Relax, I'm hoping to have many more dealings with you in the future, Miss Linlang. If you really feel uneasy, just tell me more about Liyue." Su Bai waved his hand dismissively. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Besides, to him, this thing was just a different kind of stone.
But giving Linlang such a huge favor, creating goodwill, would make it easier to ask about Liyue Harbor's various commercial forces and business overview later. After all, he was still unfamiliar with the place.
"This... Well..." Linlang admitted she was tempted. Who wouldn't want such a huge bargain! And, Su Bai, he's so smooth!
"Then... I'll shamelessly accept it?" After a internal struggle, Linlang ultimately couldn't resist the temptation, the corners of her mouth lifting uncontrollably.
Happy :)
"Who's the boss here?!" Before the two could finish their conversation, a merchant dressed in black brocade robes entered the shop, his loud voice booming the moment he stepped in. His imposing manner drew attention.
"I heard you sell wheat in bulk here. Is that true?"
Su Bai glanced at the jade pendant on the man's waist, his eyes narrowing slightly. He seemed to have guessed something.
"I am Su Bai, owner of this General Store. May I ask our distinguished guest's honorable name?"
But a guest is a guest. Su Bai stood up, gestured for Linlang to put away her things and wait for a moment, then stepped forward to invite the man to sit.
"No need for formalities. Most in the business call me Young Master Hui, let's go with that." Young Master Hui suppressed the bit of anger in his heart, not elaborating further.
"We do have bulk wheat. How much can Young Master Hui take?"
Su Bai's gaze flickered towards Linlang, and sure enough, he saw her frown slightly. It seems she knows this Young Master Hui.
Young Master Hui looked at Su Bai in surprise. That statement was full of confidence. 'How much can you take?'
And he didn't seem to be bluffing. Could he really be a tough nut to crack?
But where is he getting the grain? The market is controlled by the guilds. Right now, only the stuff from Qingce Village... Impossible, that's the Qixing's operation. And their reserves couldn't possibly be that much either.
"The price?" Young Master Hui switched topics. "If the price is right, I'll start with an order of one hundred thousand kilograms."
"Four hundred and fifty Mora per kilogram. Fair to all." Su Bai said unhurriedly, taking a sip of tea. "One hundred thousand kilograms, delivered in three days."
Young Master Hui's teacup shook, almost dropping it. How dare he!
The current market price is five hundred and ninety Mora per kilogram!
Suddenly, Young Master Hui thought of something and asked with a light laugh.
"Boss Su, it's not old grain, is it?"
"Of course it's new grain. What do you think?" Su Bai replied with a smile. Even in an environment like MC where things don't spoil, there's no such thing as old grain. After all, the produced grain, once processed through the linked chest warehouse system, gets injected into the lava pool.
The grain in the chests is at most a few days old from production. Very fresh!
Seeing Su Bai so relaxed, Young Master Hui's doubts grew. Where does this man get his confidence? Where is the grain coming from?
However, thinking of the plan discussed today, Young Master Hui gritted his teeth and made a decision.
"Hahahaha, Boss Su truly lives up to your reputation! Then I'll order one hundred thousand kilograms first, at four hundred and thirty Mora!"
"Alright, deal! Delivery to the Ministry of Civil Affairs wharf warehouse in three days. A 20% deposit. Pleasure doing business!" Su Bai stood up and shook Young Master Hui's hand firmly. Linlang had already prepared the contract. The two signed it on the spot without any delay.
At Young Master Hui's suggestion, the penalty clause was specifically set at twice the transaction amount as compensation, fearing Su Bai might breach the contract. Su Bai remained unperturbed, generously conceding on this point.
After seeing Young Master Hui out, Su Bai closed half of the shop door and turned back to look at Linlang.
"As expected of Boss Su. In less than twenty minutes, you closed a deal worth over forty million. Truly, one shouldn't judge by appearances." Although Linlang's tone held a note of teasing, in her heart, she had a new understanding of Su Bai.
Just who is this man, able to offload such a large bulk of grain in one go, and also these emeralds? With this style of operation, he's comparable even to the Feiyun Commerce Guild. And he's willing to stay holed up in this small general store.
No wonder... Miss Yelan specifically pointed him out...
"Miss Linlang, you flatter me. Didn't we just close a seventy million deal? Everyone knows how profitable jewelry is." Su Bai leaned against the counter, changing the subject. "Let me ask, do you know this Young Master Hui?"
"Oh? Of course I know him. A famous grain merchant in Liyue. It's interesting that he came to you personally to buy grain today." Linlang covered her mouth with a light laugh.
"Master Fan! One hundred thousand catties, four hundred and thirty Mora per catty, and he dared to sign the contract!" Back at the guild, Young Master Hui, having just stepped out of his sedan chair, headed straight for the main hall. No sooner had he taken his seat than he spoke.
"At that price, it's almost the purchase price! How dare he! Judging by his confidence, he's holding at least several hundred thousand catties! His scale is much larger than we estimated!"
Young Master Hui threw the newly signed contract onto the table for Master Fan, his mood grim. Based on this contact and assessment, Su Bai's scale almost surpassed his own!
He was one of the four main directors of the Grain Merchants Guild! Where did this tough bone come from?!
Master Fan looked up at the contract on the table upon hearing this. His gaze gradually deepened.
Could it be from Sumeru? Or is there a shadow of the Northland Bank behind him?
Truth be told, he hadn't expected Su Bai to dare sell at such a price either.
But that wasn't important. After all.
"Hehehehe, isn't this a good thing?" After some thought, Master Fan spoke up, looking at the three men with a wide grin.
"If he dares to sell at this price, then we'll buy him out!"
"Anyway, it's almost the same as the purchase price, so we can't really lose. Consider it just restocking. Each family should continue sending people to buy out his stock."
"After the first batch is delivered, each merchant house will gradually start to slightly lower prices, selling only his goods! Simultaneously, try your best to push down the purchase price."
"Once we've bought out everything in his hands, immediately set a trap using futures contracts!"
"At that time, Master Qi will go to him to buy a batch of futures at a high price. Hehe, once this contract is signed, we raise the purchase price across the entire market. Push the price all the way up to six hundred in one go. I don't believe he can still get his hands on grain then!"
"If he breaches the contract, he'll have to spit out all the money he made before! Even if he forces himself to source grain at high prices, we can still sell our stock to him at those high prices. Hehehehe."
"Brilliant! I agree!"
"Agreed!"
"Agreed! I don't believe that with several of us joining forces, we can't buy out all the stock in his hands!" Young Master Hui said coldly. Admittedly, he might not be able to handle it alone, but the entire guild, even the Feiyun Commerce Guild would think twice!
We are already approaching the critical moment. Anyone blocking the final plan must be eliminated!
--
100 powerstones = 1 chapter
200 powerstones = 3 chapters
300 powerstones = 5 chapters