Chapter 20 Sweet Shop

Lu Zheng thought for two days, still didn't take anything from the modern world to sell.

A month later, immediately taking out another "heirloom" would really be a bit conspicuous.

In comparison, opening an ordinary sugar shop, selling some sugar already available in this era wouldn't be so eye-catching.

Lu Zheng had conducted his research clearly these days, and the brown sugar and rock sugar sold in the county's sugar shops were identical to those in the modern world.

Since that's the case, it makes things simple.

Firstly, don't even think about buying a store; Lu Zheng went to the brokerage in the southern part of the city, rented a storefront at three thousand coins a month, and hired two shopkeepers to staff the shop.

The furnishings in the storefront could still be used, so Lu Zheng didn't bother reorganizing, only ordered a signboard from a lacquerware shop.

Sweet Shop.

Then he returned to the modern world, bought one hundred pounds of rock sugar online, and when the package arrived, unpacked it and brought it to the Great Jing Dynasty in bulk to replenish the shop's inventory.

"Owner, this is top-quality frosting, good stuff!"

"Owner, do we only sell frosting in our shop and not maltose?"

Frosting is made from sugarcane juice, a premium in sugar; maltose is made from grain being fermented and sugared, relatively cheaper.

Therefore, in ancient times, ordinary people basically bought maltose as snacks for children, while frosting was a rarity they might buy only once a year.

However, the Great Jing Dynasty is in a prosperous era, and Lu Zheng observed that the people in Tonglin County live reasonably well, so purchasing power should be slightly stronger than parallel world.

If not, there's nothing to be done since Lu Zheng cannot yet open a Sugar Workshop, the prices of modern maltose and barley sugar are much higher than rock sugar.

"Owner, how shall we price this frosting?"

The two shopkeepers were both locals from Tonglin County, but due to poor family circumstances, they had started working early to earn a living.

One surnamed Shi, simply called Shi Tou, and another surnamed Ma, ranked third.

"Just like the other sugar shops, ten cents per tael," Lu Zheng said.

For food purchasing power, one cent in the Great Jing Dynasty is about equivalent to one dollar in modern times, Lu Zheng's five-dollar-per-pound rock sugar from modern times sells at five hundred dollars per pound in the Great Jing Dynasty.

One hundred times the profit!

A top-notch ruthless capitalist!

"Certainly, our frosting is much better than those shops mixing brown sugar into their rock sugar, and at the same price, business is sure to be good."

"Mm." Lu Zheng nodded, "If supplies are running low, remember to inform me early. I source my goods from out of town, it takes time."

Shi Tou and Ma San nodded knowingly; this was the owner's trade secret, they certainly couldn't inquire casually.

...

Lu Zheng didn't pick any auspicious date; he found a team of performers for opening the shop with clamor after everything was ready the next day.

"Sweet Shop opens! Only selling frosting! Top-quality frosting!"

"During the first three days of opening! Sweet Shop offers great discounts, top-quality frosting now only forty cents per tael!"

After all, it's a new sugar shop, needing to raise awareness and draw in customers while competing with other sugar shops in the county.

Lu Zheng wasn't selling maltose nor trying to start a price war, in order to avoid offending too many people.

Nonetheless, it couldn't open quietly, or who knows how long it would take to attract customers and keep returning patrons.

Hence, Lu Zheng casually initiated the commonplace opening promotional event.

The origin of opening promotional events is now unknown; it's said they existed in ancient times. Lu Zheng had seen a restaurant open in Tonglin County without engaging in any discounts or promotions.

If that's the case, then let it start with me.

After all, it's not a high-tech concept, merely a crude method for customer attraction, one unlikely to be highly regarded.

Perhaps other places in the Great Jing Dynasty might already be using this method?

In Cong'an Square, Sweet Shop opened lively, yet still, many watched while few bought.

After all, Sweet Shop only sold rock sugar, not maltose. At forty cents per tael, compared to the ten cents per tael maltose, it was too expensive.

However, Lu Zheng was satisfied; as long as it could make money, reaching a balance on expenses here was enough, for he did not expect to truly strike rich with Sweet Shop.

"Shopkeeper, weigh two taels of sugar for me and wrap it up, two packs!"

"Assistant, weigh ten cents worth for me!"

"Mama, I want sugar!"

As time went by, business started to steadily pick up in the shop.

With two shopkeepers, one weighing and packaging, the other handling payments and deliveries, things were manageable, so Lu Zheng only wandered in and around the shop observing, without directly assisting.

"Sister, look, there's a newly opened sugar shop; I want sugar!"

"You just ate two rose cakes and a nine-layer sugar cake; how can you want sugar again?"

"I just do! I want sugar, Sister buy me some! I haven't had sugar in ages!"

With the sound approaching, Lu Zheng saw two figures walk up.

Holding hands, a tall and graceful figure, alongside a petite and lively one bounding up and down.

Lu Zheng's eyes lit up; two beauties—well, a big and a small beauty.

The taller one appeared gentle and serene, exuding a fragrance like orchids; the smaller one looked lively and charming, full of vigor; both had some resemblance in their features and were clearly sisters.

When Lu Zheng saw them, they naturally saw Lu Zheng as well.

Though Lu Zheng stood inside the shop, since he was not actively working, the tall beauty did not speak to Lu Zheng, only said to Shi Tou, "Shopkeeper, weigh half a tael of sugar, please."

"Um, okay, okay."

Shi Tou had never conversed with such celestial beauties of noble birth before, turning red as he weighed the sugar, head low.

The tall beauty chuckled and counted twenty cents copper coins from her pouch, placing them on the counter.

On the other side, Shi Tou had finished weighing and packaging, but before handing over to Ma San, the small beauty snatched it away, clutching it tightly to her chest.

The tall beauty smiled apologetically at Lu Zheng and then led the small beauty out of the crowd and away.

"Wow, this sugar is so sweet, Sister, have some too."

"Mm, it is delicious; we'll let dad and mom taste it when we return."

Lu Zheng withdrew his gaze; it was his first time seeing such beautiful ancient women in Tonglin County.

Well, Painted Skin aside, that's not a human!

...

A day passed, Sweet Shop sold seven pounds of sugar, making nearly three thousand coins, covering the rent in one day.

Of course, it certainly wouldn't be so booming later on, but with the name established, it would turn into a steady flow from then on.

"After finishing work each day, tally up the copper coins, exchange them for treasure notes at the bank, and deliver to Uncle Li on Tongyi Lane, understood?"

"Understood, Owner!"

Lu Zheng nodded, supplies were all provided by himself, selling prices fixed, accounts were crystal clear, ensuring no worry of Shi Tou and Ma San stealing.

Then ask Uncle Li to accumulate ten thousand coins before handing them over to him, so he wouldn't have to worry about the sugar shop every day.

Late Afternoon, Lu Zheng closed the shop, pocketed three thousand treasure notes, and happily headed home.

As he reached the corner of Tongyi Lane, he saw two figures walking together indeed, the same big and small beauties he met today.