Chapter 34: I’m Giving You a Chance, You Have to Take It!

“In today’s business world, traps lurk everywhere. You’re a mountain man—what could you possibly understand?”

Chen Tong remained unruffled. He leisurely took a pair of rubber rain shoes, a pair of socks, and a set of workwear from the bag he carried and placed them on the counter. “Brother, take a look at these first.”

The clerk’s once disdainful gaze froze the instant he saw the items.

He picked up the rain shoes, turning them over carefully in his hands. The smooth material and exquisite workmanship were unlike anything he had ever seen.

“What… what are these made of? How are they so smooth and yet so lightweight?”

He then felt the socks, soft and thick, of excellent quality.

“These socks must be warm and comfortable.”

And the workwear—not only was the fabric sturdy, but the design was also incredibly practical.

“This clothing material is so tough, and the style is quite unique. It’s really something.”

Seeing this, Chen Tong seized the moment and pressed on.

“Brother, these things are rare finds in the market. Just listen to the prices—a full set of workwear is only a hundred copper coins, socks thirty, and the rain shoes seventy.”

The clerk’s eyes widened in shock, stammering.

“Th-This can’t be real! With this craftsmanship, the price is way too cheap! If you sold these, people would be fighting over them!”

Chen Tong smiled and said, “Brother, I genuinely want to cooperate with you.”

“If you help me sell these, I’ll give you ten percent of the profits.”

“In other words, for every hundred coins worth of goods sold, I’ll give you ten coins.”

“Think about it—this is way more than you make as a clerk here.”

The clerk’s eyes sparkled instantly; the previous mockery vanished without a trace, replaced by genuine excitement.

He rubbed his hands together and said, “Big brother, are you serious? Don’t trick me—I’ve got a whole family counting on this job.”

This was Liu Erya, the clerk from the Liu Erya Business.

Chen Tong had gotten to know a bit about Liu Erya’s background from previous visits to the county town.

Liu Erya was thin, with sharp eyes that betrayed a certain cleverness. Though somewhat cunning, he was basically honest.

Chen Tong nodded firmly. “Of course, I stand by my word.”

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“Besides, I have even more novel products coming. As long as we work well together, I guarantee you’ll make a fortune.”

“Before long, you might even open your own shop and become the boss.”

The clerk could no longer contain his excitement and quickly said, “Big brother, I trust you! I’m in!”

“Tell me, what should we do next? Should we put these out for sale right away or wait a bit longer?”

Chen Tong looked at Liu Erya in front of him.

“We need to carefully plan the sales details so these goods can quickly break into the market.”

“Brother Liu Erya, I have a detailed plan for you—listen closely.” Chen Tong’s expression grew serious, his tone resolute. “I intend for you to open a small shop dedicated to selling these items.” He gestured lightly to the neatly arranged rain shoes, socks, and workwear on the counter.

Liu Erya scratched his head, his disheveled hair getting messier as he did so, his face filled with doubt. “Big brother, do you really think these things can be sold?”

“Sure, the workmanship is impeccable, but the people in this county town are thrifty—they’d split a single coin in half before spending it.”

He picked up one of the rain shoes, turning it over in his hands, eyes full of skepticism.

Chen Tong’s lips curved into a confident smile as he patiently explained.

“Brother Liu Erya, you don’t know.”

“Take these rain shoes, for example. When it rains here, the roads turn into mud pits. Ordinary shoes can’t handle it—they get soaked and covered in mud after just a few steps.”

“But these rain shoes are different. They’re waterproof, wear-resistant, lightweight, and comfortable. You can walk through muddy paths without worrying about wet or dirty feet.”

“Think about the farmers who work outside all day and the traveling merchants constantly on the road—how could they not love these?”

Liu Erya nodded slightly, seemingly absorbing some of the explanation. Chen Tong continued.

“And the socks—they’re thick and soft, excellent for warmth.”

“Our winters here are brutal, with winds that cut like knives. Who wouldn’t want to wear socks like these to keep their feet warm?”

“Wear them, and even walking through ice and snow feels cozy.”

At this, Chen Tong picked up the workwear, shook it gently, and went on.

“As for this workwear, the fabric’s very sturdy—perfect for labor.”

“Craftsmen and physical workers wearing these can move freely without worrying about tears or rips.”

“Plus, the design is very practical—no restrictions in movement, so they can work with greater vigor.”

“So, these products will definitely sell well here.”

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Liu Erya’s eyes brightened as he nodded slightly, clearly tempted.

Yet, years of streetwise caution made him hesitate.

Chen Tong saw through his thoughts and added.

“When you open the shop, raise the prices a bit.”

“But to attract customers, we can hold a grand opening sale.”

“Anyone who spends three hundred coins gets fifty coins off; five hundred coins gets a hundred coins off. We’ll also have a raffle with practical small prizes.”

“This will surely draw a crowd.”

Liu Erya’s eyes widened in surprise. “Big brother, that’s a hefty discount. Will we still make money?”

“I may not know much about business, but I do know how to count costs. With such big discounts, won’t we be losing money?”

Chen Tong confidently patted Liu Erya on the shoulder.

“Brother Liu Erya, don’t worry.”

“Though the discounts are big, more customers will buy. Small profits but high volume—we’ll still make plenty.”

“Besides, this event will get our shop’s name out there.”

“If customers think our goods are good and affordable, they’ll keep coming back, and business will only grow.”

“This is called casting a long line to catch big fish—you have to think long-term.”

Liu Erya listened half convinced, mulling over preparations for the next few days.

Rubbing his hands, he hesitated. “Big brother, I’m still a bit worried, but you seem so confident, I’ll give it a try.”

“I’ll find a place to open a shop in the next few days and put these things up for sale. If it really goes as you say, that’d be wonderful.”

Chen Tong patted Liu Erya’s shoulder encouragingly.

“All right, Brother Liu Erya, just go for it.”

“If you run into any problems, come to me anytime. I believe this business will definitely succeed!”

“If you face any troubles, don’t bear them alone. Just speak up—I’ll help you find a solution.”