Chapter 512 Zeng Family’s Vegetable Store
Zeng Family’s vegetable store had really come back from the dead.
Three months ago, Zeng Family’s vegetable store, which had always been price-friendly, suddenly raised the price of everything in the store. For example, they sold one tomato for six RMB, a cucumber for five RMB, an eggplant for five RMB, a catty of oat vegetables for 15 RMB, and so on.
The customers who came to buy the vegetables were shocked. In the market, tomatoes were three RMB per catty. But the boss was selling them for six RMB each. Based on the size of the tomato, three of them would make up one catty. In other words, his tomatoes were 18 RMB per catty. That was a plain robbery.
The cucumbers were sold at 2 RMB per catty in the market. But the store sold them for 5 RMB each. In other words, it would cost more than 10 RMB per catty.
The other vegetables were also so much more expensive than the ones at the market. All the crops at Zeng Family’s vegetable store had soared to a sky-high price.
“Zeng Qinghua, have you gone insane over money?” Someone saw the prices and scolded angrily, “Are you crazy to put such a high price? Aren’t you afraid of chasing away your customers?”
“That’s right, Boss Zeng. Are you trying to go in for the last hurrah? I know your shop has been affected by the other stores. Is this your last measure?”
“Boss Zeng, even if you want to do that, you shouldn’t take advantage of your regulars.”
“But this is not right. Ol Zeng, if you’re that desperate, why the shop expansion? Your shop used to be about 50 to 60 square meters but look at it now. It’s at least 200 square meters.”
“Ol Zeng, you used to complain to us about how your business is losing money. If that’s true, where would you find the money to expand your shop?”
An old customer said with obvious displeasure, “Ol Zeng, were you lying to us to get our sympathy?”
Boss Zeng was prepared for these questions once he showed the new prices, but he didn’t expect his regulars to question his character. Boss Zeng felt a little helpless and could only explain with a wry smile, “Everyone, listen to me. The price of these vegetables was not set by me but by the boss of the vegetable farm.”
As he said this, he picked up the two tomatoes on the shelf and cut them open. They looked very beautiful.
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Then, he brought them to the customers and said, “The boss said her vegetables are expensive for a reason. Come, try them and see if they are worth the price. I have been doing business in this area for so many years. When have I ever tried to scam people before?”
The customers smelled a fragrance when boss Zeng cut the tomatoes. This fragrance refreshed their spirits and cleared their minds.
Boss Zeng handed the plate to them and said, “Try some of the tomatoes. I also thought the vegetables were expensive, but my mind changed after tasting them.”
The customers were interested. After all, they also wanted to know what kind of delicacy a six RMB tomato was.
A customer pinched a piece into his mouth, and the juice of the tomato immediately filled his mouth. In an instant, the fragrance filled his chest, and his mind immediately became clear.
The noises in the shop made him irritated, but at that moment, he suddenly calmed down.
“How can the tomatoes be so delicious?” The person said incredulously, “No wonder they are so expensive. Boss Zeng is right.”
At this moment, Boss Zeng cut a few slices of cabbage and said with a smile, “Try these cabbage. They can also be eaten raw. They are sweet, fresh, and delicious.”
“Really? I want to try them!” After saying that, they picked up a long piece of sliced cabbage and put it into their mouths. “Well, it’s true. These things are sweet and have a light fragrance.”
Boss Zeng then introduced, “Actually, these vegetables are excellent in taste whether eaten raw or cooked.”
After tasting some of the vegetables, a few customers immediately decided to say, “Ol Zeng, give me ten, oh no, twenty tomatoes, five catties of cabbage, ten eggplants…”
“Give me one catty of green pepper, half a catty of chili pepper, and two catties of oilseed rapes…”
Boss Zeng immediately smiled and replied, “Okay, wait a moment. I’ll pack them for you right away.”
After paying, someone asked with a smile, “Ol Zeng, you didn’t put anything special in these dishes, did you? Things like sweetener and so on. They can improve the taste, but they are harmful to the body.”
Boss Zeng said with certainty, “Don’t worry about that. I’ve owned this shop for how many years already. When have I ever done anything against my conscience?
“You might not know this, but these products are in short supply back where they are farmed. The produce there is expensive too.
“However, the boss wanted to expand her business to City Z. I heard about that and went to ask for a cooperation.”
When the customer heard this, he was obviously a little suspicious. “Ol Zeng, are you telling the truth?”
Boss Zeng said mysteriously, “When have I ever told a lie? Do you remember the strawberry farm that burst into the scene not too long ago?”
“Of course! National Union had stocked those strawberries and sold them at a high price. I heard that in just over a month’s time, the profits of the strawberries were close to several million,” a regular customer said.
Boss Zeng said, “My vegetables are from the same farm as the strawberries. They are from the same boss.”
The customers’ eyes immediately lit up.
“Ol Zeng, are you serious?”
“I’m telling the truth!” Boss Zeng said confidently. The regulars didn’t buy too much since the prices were still a bit too expensive.
Boss Zeng and his wife looked at the remaining vegetables and said worriedly, “There are still so many vegetables left. Can we sell them all tomorrow?” Then, the couple looked at each other and began to clean up the vegetables again.
The lady boss said in surprise, “Ol Zeng, come and take a look.”
Boss Zeng hurried over and asked curiously, “What’s wrong?”
The lady boss said in surprise, “Can’t you see? These vegetables have been sitting on the shelves for the whole day already, but they still look as fresh as they were just picked.”
Boss Zeng said with a smile, “Boss Xiao told me that her vegetables can be kept fresh for more than a week.”
The lady boss asked with surprise, “Ol Zeng, are you sure there aren’t any problems with these vegetables?” What kind of vegetables could stay fresh for so long?
Boss Zeng shook his head and said with a smile, “Don’t worry. I’ve investigated thoroughly before working with Boss Xiao. Her family’s vegetables have been sold in the local area for more than half a year, and there are no problems. “On the contrary, I heard that after eating her family’s vegetables, many people with slow-acting diseases actually slowly got better. Also, it’s said that their county got the sixth-best result in the university entrance exam in the city because of these vegetables. The students managed to sleep soundly and perform well during the exams.”
The lady boss could not believe what she heard.
“Are… those real?”
If there really was such a miraculous vegetable, it should have been studied and popularized a long time ago.
Boss Zeng said, “You can easily find out about all these when you inquire around that small county. It is why her vegetables are so expensive but always out of stock. Most of her customers have children or patients will poor health.”
Hearing that, the lady boss immediately became worried. She said, “If these vegetables are really so good, they will get popular sooner or later. Won’t other people go and persuade Boss Xiao to work with them instead?”
After all, they had other competitors to worry about.
Boss Zeng said, “Boss Xiao said that she will only work with us.”
“If that’s the case, this is worse than I thought. People might use underhanded tactics to ruin our business.” The lady boss said worriedly.
Boss Zeng was shocked. “You worry too much. That won’t happen.”
The lady boss asked back, “Why not?”
Anyone with a clear mind could see that this was a profitable business. National Union Supermarket had made a profit of three to four million with the strawberries alone.
All business people wanted profit. People would be fighting for profit, and their exclusive contract would make people jealous. In the business world, it was common for people to resort to conspiracies for profit.
Boss Zeng thought for a while and said, “Honey, don’t worry. Since Boss Xiao is able to open her store for so long, she must have some backing and background. Since she has chosen to cooperate with us, she must also ensure the benefit between us.”
The lady boss thought for a while and felt that it made sense.
She nodded and said, “Then we can only take it one step at a time. Also, we should be careful not to let others plant bad evidence on
us.”
Boss Zeng nodded in agreement.
With some tension, Boss Zeng and his wife opened the second day.
They were surprised because when they opened the door, there were already many people standing outside. They all carried baskets in their hands. It was obvious that they were here to buy vegetables. They were shocked.
Boss Zeng asked curiously, “What are you here for?”
“Ol Zeng, these people are here to buy vegetables.” A regular who had bought vegetables yesterday said with a smile, “Your vegetables smell so good when I placed them in the pot yesterday night. Almost half of the people in my neighborhood could smell it.
“The smell even cleared up the minds of the people who just came back from work. They felt better.
“Also, my grandson is a picky eater. He normally doesn’t like vegetables. But yesterday, he ate only vegetables and not meat. He even ate two big bowls of rice.”
Boss Zeng also felt that it was quite strange when he heard from his old customers.
Uncle Liu continued, “The neighbors couldn’t stand this kind of fragrance, so they came to my house. So this morning, we all decided to come to visit you again. We even skipped square dancing!”
As soon as Uncle Liu finished speaking, someone said with a smile, “Yesterday, when I smelled the fragrance from Old Liu’s house, I almost asked him to feed me.”
Uncle Liu said snappily, “These people are really shameless. They came to my house and actually hoped for a free meal!”
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Uncle Liu’s neighbors rolled their eyes. “Ol Liu, that’s what you said. But you were the one who was so proud to show off your cooking yesterday.”
Uncle Liu harrumphed proudly.
Boss Zeng didn’t expect that these vegetables would cause such a stir the next day.
However, he was also happy.
Yesterday, he was worried about the prices. But today, the customers immediately came to buy them from him. Of course, these people didn’t lack money. They didn’t mind if the vegetables were a little bit more expensive.
Boss Zeng found this unbelievable. He sighed internally, ‘The life of the rich is really unpredictable. Before this, they would haggle with me over cents, but now they didn’t even blink when they are buying over 10 RMB for a catty of vegetables.’
After that, Zeng Family’s vegetable shop’s business soared. As a result, there were a few scuffles because of the snatching of vegetables.
To buy the vegetables here, you had to queue up and be early. Otherwise, you might not get the vegetables even if you had the money.
The citizens heard that the only other place where the vegetables could be found was Jun Hao Hotel. Zeng Family’s Vegetable Store was the other sole retailer. Of course, one could drive to the farm at Taoyuan Village, but that would take more than a day of driving. Of course, most customers didn’t know that the vegetables came from a countryside farm that they hadn’t even heard of before.
“Boss Zeng, I made my booking yesterday. Today, you have to give me 10 catties of chilies, 30 tomatoes, and 20 green cucumbers.”
Other than the spicy food, he also liked to eat tomatoes and cucumbers. After having the crops at Zeng Family’s Vegetable Shop, Uncle Liu stopped shopping at other stores.
Boss Zeng was very busy. So many people made bookings with him.
Boss Zeng smiled, “Uncle Liu, of course, I’ve prepared them for you!”
After eating the Zeng family’s vegetables, he wouldn’t buy from any other store.
In the shop, boss Zeng was very busy. He greeted his customers one by one and asked them to reserve vegetables from him.
Uncle Liu nodded in satisfaction.
