Chapter 333: Deal
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Jiang Chuan understood Su Zhen’s concerns, six thousand kilograms of grain was not a small amount, so it was only natural for Su Zhen to have reservations. However, Jiang Chuan had already considered this issue the previous day, so he was not worried.
Jiang Chuan assured him, “Xiao Su, rest easy. Even if we can’t grow the full six kilogram, I will ensure that you’re compensated, either in grain tickets or in cash. I won’t let you suffer a loss.”
This promise acted like a reassuring tonic for Su Zhen. Nonetheless, Su Zhen still insisted on a down payment.
Knowing that Jiang Chuan didn’t have the necessary funds at the moment, Su Zhen took the deed to Jiang Chuan’s house as collateral. He handwrote a note detailing the terms, and only then was the deal finalized.
The two agreed that Su Zhen would deliver the seeds to Pushan Village in three days.
Once this matter was settled, Su Zhen rubbed his hands together and leaned in closer to Jiang Chuan, “Uncle Jiang, didn’t we previously discuss going into business together? Now, there’s a ready opportunity. Are you interested?”
“Oh?” Jiang Chuan, who had been a businessman even in modern times, had always intended to engage in trade in this place. Ever since the two had discussed the business prospects at Locust Tree Bay, it had been on his mind. However, other matters had kept him occupied at Zhang’s residence, and he hadn’t had the opportunity to discuss details with Su Zhen.
Jiang Chuan inquired, “What kind of deal?”
Su Zhen elaborated, “Recently, there has been trade between our province and the black market in the neighboring province. I want to get a feel for the market there, but 1 can’t go empty-handed. I need to bring something they’d be interested in. The neighboring province specializes in medicinal herbs, and almost everyone has a prescription or two. I plan to exchange for these prescriptions, but I need something of equivalent value. Do you have anything suitable, Uncle Jiang?”
Su Zhen believed that Jiang Chuan could manage this because, for one, Jiang Chuan had a keen business sense and knew the concept of bartering. The fact that he was able to sell his blue-tailed shrimps overnight indicated he had various channels.
Secondly, as Su Zhen intended to expand his operations into the neighboring province, he wouldn’t have enough time to oversee the black market within his own province. He needed a reliable person to manage it, and Jiang Chuan was obviously the best choice.
However, Su Zhen wasn’t someone who blindly trusted others. Even with their close relationship, he still wanted to test Jiang Chuan’s abilities.
Their meeting today about buying and selling seeds made it evident what role Su Zhen played in the black market. However, Jiang Chuan speculated that Su Zhen only managed the black market in the county town and had not linked this young man to the entire province’s operations.
At only eighteen, Su Zhen indeed seemed unlikely to control such a vast black market.
Upon hearing Su Zhen’s proposal, Jiang Chuan’s first thought was of the scar-removal ointment he had obtained from the county town’s pharmacy some time ago.
The old scholar at the traditional medicine shop got along very well with Jiang Xia. He once clearly stated that the scar-removal ointment lacked an essential ingredient: the spore powder of the Lingzhi mushroom. And Jiang Xia had plenty of this in her interspace.
If she were to use the Lingzhi powder for bartering, could she possibly obtain the old scholar’s prescription?
However, they would first need to evaluate the benefits that Su Zhen was offering Jiang Chuan to determine if it’s worth their effort to obtain the prescription.
Su Zhen carefully observed the expressions of Jiang Chuan and Jiang Xia. It was evident to him that they truly had a solution. He was right in his judgment of them.
Su Zhen was generous by nature, and he wanted to win over capable individuals. He handed Jiang Chuan some cash, “Uncle Jiang, rest assured, if this deal is successful, I will reward you handsomely. Here’s fifty coin as a down payment. Once the job is done, 1’11 give you another hundred.”
Jiang Chuan and Jiang Xia exchanged glances. True to his reputation, Su Zhen was indeed lavish. Offering a total of one hundred and fifty coin without batting an eyelid showed that he was financially well-off and lacked nothing.
Jiang Chuan didn’t beat around the bush and asked directly, “When do you need the item?”
“In a month.”
A month was ample time. Jiang Chuan was confident that he could finalize the deal within that timeframe, so he agreed.
Of course, he wouldn’t have committed so easily if he wasn’t certain of his capability.
While the three of them were discussing business, Jiang Gu was in the courtyard counting seeds. Having grown up in farmlands, she was familiar with many seed varieties.. As she counted, she discovered that not only were there corn seeds, but there were also sorghum, wheat, cabbage, and watermelon seeds!