Chapter 20: Dessert House
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Lu Zheng thought about it for two days and decided not to sell anything from the modern world.
It would attract too much attention to take out another "family heirloom" after a month.
In comparison, opening an ordinary store that sells candies was not as conspicuous.
Lu Zheng's research over the past few days produced clear results. The brown sugar and rock sugar sold in the were exactly the same as those in modern times.
Since that was the case, it was simple.
First, he could forget about buying a shop. Lu Zheng first went to the southern part of the city and rented a shop at a monthly rate of three kan. He then hired two more shop assistants to stay in the shop.
The appliances in the shop were still working. Lu Zheng didn't clean up the shop. He only ordered a custom-made sign.
Dessert House.
After that, he returned to the modern world and bought 50 kilograms of rock sugar online. When the express delivery arrived, he unwrapped the package and brought it to the great Jing dynasty to replenish the stock.
"Boss, these are all high-quality icing sugar, good stuff!"
"Boss, do we only sell icing sugar and not malt sugar?"
Icing sugar, made from sugar cane, was the top grade sugar. Malt sugar was made from fermented grains and its price was relatively low.
Therefore, in ancient times, the snacks that the common people bought for their children were basically caramels. As for icing sugar, they only bought it once a year.
However, the great Jing dynasty was at its peak. Lu Zheng saw that the people in Tonglin County were getting by, and their purchasing power should be stronger.
However, Lu Zheng still couldn't open a sugar factory. The prices of caramel and malt sugar in the modern era were much more expensive than rock sugar.
"Boss, how much are we selling them for?"
The two shopkeepers were Tonglin County's locals, but their families were poor, so they started working at a young age.
One of them was named Shitou. The other was Masan
"Like the other stores, 50 wen for 1 tael of candy." Lu Zheng said.
In terms of the price of commodities, 1wen in the great Jing dynasty was equivalent to 1 yuan in the modern world. The rock sugar that Lu Zheng brought from the modern world was sold for 500 yuan per 500 grams in the great Jing dynasty.
A hundred times the profit!
The ultimate capitalist!
"Alright, our icing sugar is much better than those shops that mix sugar with honey. With the same price, business will definitely be good."
"Yes." Lu Zheng nodded. "If you run out of stock, remember to let me know in advance. I purchased them from another place and I need time."
Shitou and Masan immediately nodded in understanding. This was their boss's trade secret. Of course, they wouldn't inquire about it.
...
Lu Zheng didn't pick an auspicious day to open the store. After everything was prepared, he found a group of performers the next day and opened the store with the sound of gongs and drums.
"Dessert House is open! They only sell icing sugar! It's the best icing sugar!"
"For the first three day, Dessert House has a big discount, the best icing sugar costs only 40 wen for 1 tael!"
After all, it was a newly opened store, so they had to hype it up and attract customers to compete with the other stores in the county.
Lu Zheng didn't sell caramels, because he didn't want to compete with too many people and risked offending them.
However, he couldn't open his business without any promotion. Otherwise, he didn't know how long it would take to attract and retain the customers.
Therefore, Lu Zheng thought for a moment and decided to have an opening sale.
It was impossible to tell when this kind of sale started. He had heard that it had existed since ancient times. However, Lu Zheng had never seen any of the stores offer any discounts.
Since that's the case, then he would start it.
After all, it didn't require any modern technology and it was just a primitive idea to attract customers. No one would think highly of it.
Perhaps they did it in other places?
Dessert House opened in a lively manner. However, there were few people buying.
After all, they only sold rock sugar and not caramels. The price of 40 wen for 1 tael was still too expensive compared to caramels that cost 10 wen for 1 tael.
However, Lu Zheng was satisfied. As long as he could earn money and break even, it was fine. After all, he didn't expect to rely on Dessert House to make a lot of money.
"Give me 2 taels of candy, divided into two portions!"
"Give me 10 wens worth of candy!"
"Mommy, I want to eat candy!"
As time passed, the store started to have steady business.
There were two shop assistants, one weighing and packaging, and the other receiving and delivering. They could handle it, so Lu Zheng only loitered around and didn't help.
"Sister, look, there's a newly opened candy store here. I want to eat candy!"
"You've just eaten two rose shortbread and a nine-layered cake. Why do you still want to eat candy?"
"I want to eat candy. Sister, buy me some! I haven't had candy in a long time!"
As the voice drew closer, Lu Zheng saw two figures walking over.
Hand in hand, a tall and slender figure who looked graceful, and a petite figure who was jumping around.
Lu Zheng's eyes brightened. Two great beauties. No, one great beauty and a little beauty.
The older one looked gentle and quiet, like an orchid, while the younger one looked lively, and full of vitality. The eyebrows and eyes of the two were somewhat similar, and they were obviously sisters.
Lu Zheng and the sisters looked at each other.
However, even though Lu Zheng was standing in the store, it was obvious that he wasn't going to move. Hence, the beauty didn't speak Lu Zheng. She only said to Shitou, "Half a tael of candy will do."
"Sure."
Shitou had never talked to such a beautiful lady before. At this time, his face was completely red, and he just lowered his head and weighed the candy.
The older beauty smiled, counted twenty copper coins from her purse, and placed them on the counter.
On the other side of the counter, Shitou weighed and wrapped the candy. Before it was handed over to Masan, the little beauty snatched it away and held it in her arms, not letting go.
The older beauty smiled at Lu Zheng in embarrassment. Then, she pulled the little beauty out of the crowd and walked into the distance.
"Oh my, this candy is so sweet. You should try it too."
"Yes, it's delicious. Let father and mother have a taste when we get back."
Lu Zheng retracted his gaze. Speaking of which, this was the first time he had seen such a beautiful woman from ancient times.
Well, except for the ghost!
...
A day passed, and Dessert House sold seven catties of candies, making nearly three kan. They earned back the rent in one day.
Of course, it wouldn't be so popular in the future. However, once his reputation was established, it would be a long-term business.
"From now on, after work every day, round up the copper coins, exchange them for notes, and send them to Uncle Li at Tongyi Lane, understand?"
"Understood, boss!"
Lu Zheng nodded. He was the one who supplied the goods. The prices were fixed and the accounts were clear. He wasn't worried about Shitou and Masan embezzling the goods.
Then, he would ask Uncle Li to accumulate ten kan before handing it to him. This way, he would not have to think about it.
At the end of the day, Lu Zheng closed the store, pocketed the three kan, and walked back happily.
Just as he reached the entrance of Tongyi Lane, he saw two figures walking over together. They were the two beauties he had met today.
-- Gift
received