"Brother Liunian, can we handle the Tang family?" Du Ziteng asked, also breaking into a cold sweat for Zhang Liunian after hearing what Master Huang had said.
"Tomorrow, we'll launch an upgraded version of our pickled vegetables, keeping the price the same. We'll win with taste." As long as they didn't resort to any underhanded tactics, they were bound to win.
Zhang Liunian was confident about this. In his past life, there were plenty of such copycat pickled vegetables, but none of them were as ruthless as the Tang family, who immediately halved their prices from the get-go.
This was a heavy blow, an attempt to defeat him in one fell swoop.
It wouldn't be that easy. Given the current situation, he had several ways to deal with it. He could rely on his continuously improving taste, or he could innovate.
Although people were drawn to cheap prices, once the taste of their pickled vegetables was on different levels, there would be no comparison.
"Upgraded?" Du Ziteng murmured, then fell silent.
"Ziteng, you can go now. Everyone else, be on your way!" Zhang Liunian dismissed them and then began discussing the matter of setting up and construction with Du Ziteng.
"I've found a place. It's the third shop next to us. You can go and negotiate the price with the landlord," Du Ziteng had been helping Zhang Liunian find nearby commercial spaces to establish the Zhang Family Construction Company. Today, he had finally found one next door.
"Let's go take a look." Zhang Liunian stood up and went with Du Ziteng to meet the landlord. After a short discussion, they reached a rental agreement.
"Later, go have someone tidy it up a bit, buy some tables and chairs, and build a wooden storefront. That way, we'll be officially open. Oh, and we need to hire a receptionist. Someone who can read the room will be prioritized," Zhang Liunian took the key and handed it to Du Ziteng to handle the follow-up arrangements.
Du Ziteng diligently took notes and then went about his business.
"Comrade Huang and Comrade Li, please have a seat."
It was past three in the afternoon when Zhang Liunian welcomed the duo of Huang Niu, warmly inviting them to sit.
Huang Da and his friend Li Shu sat opposite each other, unsure why Zhang Liunian had invited them, feeling quite uneasy.
"We're not sure what you need us brothers for, Comrade Zhang Liunian. If you have something to say, please speak plainly," Huang Da had been coming here to pick up goods for a week now, and in that week, he had earned a full ten thousand yuan.
It was precisely because of this that he had brought his good friend Li Shu here today to work with him, only to be summoned by Zhang Liunian as soon as he arrived.
"You don't need to worry. I've invited you here simply to find partners for cooperation in Jiangcheng, a neighboring city. I wonder if you'd be interested in a job that allows you to earn money more easily." Seeing that they were direct and didn't beat around the bush, Zhang Liunian got straight to the point.
"An easy way to make money? There's no such thing as a free lunch in this world," Huang Da didn't believe there was such a thing as a good job where you could just lie around and make money. Even in their line of work as scalpers, they had to put in a lot of effort to make a living.
"Don't rush. You can listen first.
I want to set up a sales office in Jiangcheng, the neighboring city, and I'm also looking for someone to be my general agent. When it comes to selecting a candidate, I naturally favor Comrade Huang the most, because you have the capability.
If you become my agent, we can cover the transportation from Nancheng to Jiangcheng, rental costs, and manpower.
All you need to do is show up and find people to help us sell the products.
I can promise you that for every bottle sold in Jiangcheng from now on, you'll receive a profit of five fen.
This is no less than what you earn by transporting ten thousand bottles to Jiangcheng every day.
And you surely know the situation in Jiangcheng better than us. It's filled with factories, no less advanced than our Nancheng.
If you can open up the market in Jiangcheng, you can earn at least a hundred thousand a day. If you expand further, selling a million bottles a day isn't impossible.
By then, you can just speak the word and lie at home counting your money. Isn't this job better than running around every day!"
"Of course, if you become my agent, you'll be responsible for all matters in Jiangcheng, unless they are unmanageable, in which case you can report them."
Zhang Liunian was truly offering Huang Da a treasure trove. Anyone who had tasted his pickled vegetables knew how good they were. Moreover, these were just made with basic ingredients. What if he used intermediate, advanced, or super-advanced ingredients?
The effect would undoubtedly be even better than it was now.
His choice of Huang Da as an agent was entirely due to his status as a scalper and his capabilities. Furthermore, seeing his movements towards Jiangcheng this week, he was naturally more suitable than anyone else present to be his agent.
"Is that true?" Huang Da was completely stunned. His heart was pounding furiously. If what Zhang Liunian said wasn't a lie, then it was truly a gift of money to him. Lying at home and counting money would no longer be a mere pipe dream.
But how could such a large pie fall from the sky?
"Of course, it's true. You don't need to guess why I chose you. It's because I value your status as a scalper and am aware of your capabilities. Only you can help me capture the Jiangcheng market in the fastest possible time.
If you guys can't handle this, then no one can," Zhang Liunian said, seeing Huang Da's caution, and explained helplessly.
Upon hearing this, Huang Da and Li Shu instinctively straightened up. He actually knew their identities; he had underestimated this Zhang Liunian.
It seemed that his current success and the suppression by the Tang family were not without reason.
His rise had been rapid. It was rumored that he had sold tens of thousands yesterday alone. If not for the Tang family snatching business, he would have broken a hundred thousand in the next two days, but unfortunately, he had attracted the attention of the Tang family.
"We used to be scalpers, but now..."
"Considered entrepreneurs."
Zhang Liunian's sudden interjection made Huang Da and the other exchange glances.
"Comrade Huang, are you willing or not? If not, I can find someone else," Zhang Liunian asked for a result, seeing their prolonged hesitation.
Huang Da was very tempted, but before speaking, he looked at his good friend and exchanged whispers. Afterward, Zhang Liunian saw Li Shu nod.
"Comrade Zhang, can Li and I do it together? Be your agents in Jiangcheng together," Huang Da had just been asking for Li Shu's opinion. In his view, this was indeed a godsend of a job, and he couldn't keep it all to himself.
Li Shu did not refuse, as he clearly understood this was an opportunity.
If they could become Zhang Liunian's agents, it would be equivalent to stepping into management overnight. And as long as they found good people to cooperate with and sell products, they could lie at home counting money in the future.
"I couldn't ask for more." Zhang Liunian smiled. He hadn't expected them to come as a pair.
This was a good thing. As long as they wanted to make money, they would work hard to help him open up the market.
"Boss Zhang, happy cooperation." The two parties reached a written cooperation agreement, stood up, and shook hands.
"Happy cooperation."
Zhang Liunian shook hands with them, then elaborated on the departure time and initial investments.
The three of them talked for a while, and Zhang Liunian gave them a thousand yuan to find a warehouse-like store. Then, he sent them off.