Fang Er arrived at the market with a squad of soldiers on bicycles, drawing envious gazes wherever they passed.
"Look, the Duke himself is riding one!"
"I really want to buy one, but I wonder if the Duke is still selling them."
"It's been days, and there's been no news of new bicycles at the Nameless Shop."
"Did you hear? Someone offered thirty guan for the first five bicycles sold."
"Indeed, but those five gentlemen aren't short of money, why would they sell!"
"That's right, it's a symbol of status! Didn't you see the Duke riding one himself?"
"Look, the Duke has stopped at the Nameless Shop, let's go ask."
It was no secret that Fang Er was a patron of merchants, and this was not a secret in Shenyang. So, after a brief discussion, the merchants followed him to the Nameless Shop.
Sixteen bicycles were parked in front of the Nameless Shop. As the news spread, countless merchants flocked to the scene.
It was the same situation when bicycles were sold last time. They hadn't announced the sale beforehand, and it was only when the bicycles arrived that Bing Niangzi announced they were for sale.
Perhaps, this time, I'll be able to buy one too?
"My Lord!"
Seeing Fang Er enter the shop, Bing'er and Xue'er, who were behind the counter, quickly came out to greet him.
Fang Er nodded slightly. "How has the reception of the bicycles been these past few days?"
"Replying to my Lord, many merchants have come to inquire about when the second batch of bicycles will be available for sale," Bing'er said, curtsying and then standing straight. "Yesterday, someone approached Liu Hu Zi and offered thirty guan for his bicycle, but he refused."
"Hoo~!"
"Thirty guan, they're really willing to pay that much!" Fang Er muttered to himself.
He then turned and pointed to the bicycles parked outside the shop. "Then let's sell ten more."
"Yes, my Lord."
Bing'er nodded in agreement and instructed Xue'er to buy red flowers from the fabric shop, just like last time.
When ten red flowers were tied to ten bicycles,
"I~ I want one!"
"I want one too!"
"I want three!"
"I'll take them all!"
The merchants gathered outside erupted instantly, their calls to buy filling the air.
"Tell them each person is limited to one." Fang Er instructed Bing'er behind him.
Upon hearing this, Bing'er walked to the shop entrance and gave a light cough. The merchants immediately fell silent. The Duke was in the shop, who would dare to be unruly?
"The Duke said that each person is limited to one. Those who wish to buy should pay inside the shop and pick up their bicycles outside. Please proceed." After saying this, Bing'er turned and returned behind the counter inside.
A group of merchants rushed into the shop behind her, holding up their silver.
"Bing Niangzi, sell to me first, I was here first."
"Give it to me first, I was the first."
"No, I was the first."
"No, I was the first!"
The merchants crowded in front of the counter.
Seeing this, Fang Er frowned and said to a soldier beside him, "Block the entrance, don't let anyone else in." Then he walked to the counter. "What kind of scene is this, all this noise!"
Hearing his voice, the merchants obediently stood still, not daring to shout anymore.
He counted and found there were nineteen merchants inside the shop. Not only were ten bicycles not enough, but even all sixteen that were ridden here would not be enough to sell. Besides, he had to ride one back himself later.
He had Bing'er get paper and a brush and made nineteen slips of paper, which were then rolled into paper balls.
"Since everyone likes them so much, I've decided to add five more, for a total of fifteen. However, not counting those outside, there are already nineteen of you inside the shop." As he spoke, Fang Er instructed Bing'er behind the counter, "Bing'er, bring a wooden box."
Then he looked at everyone again. "Later, I will put these paper balls into the box and shake them, and you can draw them yourselves. Those who draw one with a mark on it can buy a bicycle. Those who draw blank ones will have to wait for the next batch."
"This method is good, it's all about luck!"
"Yes, yes, luck is too important in our business!"
"The Duke is indeed the Duke, fair, reasonable, open, and transparent in his dealings!" The merchants inside the shop unanimously praised.
Thus, the Great Tang began its first lottery sale of bicycles.
The nineteen paper balls were thrown into the wooden box, the lid was closed, and after a few shakes, the crowd was allowed to start drawing.
"Hahaha, I drew one!"
"I drew one too!"
"I drew one too!"
"This bad luck, this bad luck!"
Those who drew a number were overjoyed. They paid, then went outside to pick up their bicycles and left. Those who didn't draw were filled with regret. As for the warranty cards and such, they were not included this time; that was a privilege for the first buyers and a limited edition.
After selling the bicycles, Fang Er asked Bing'er, "Have the shops of the Heavenly Constellation divisions opened for business?"
"Replying to the Duke, they opened a month ago," Bing'er replied.
"Let's go, accompany me for a stroll," Fang Er said, and he walked out of the shop first.
The merchants gathered outside had already started to disperse. After all, the Duke had said that only fifteen would be sold. One could guess with their rear end that the Duke wouldn't sell them all and walk back to his manor. The remaining bicycle was for him to ride back.
Bing'er's little face flushed as she hurried to catch up with Fang Er and led the way.
"This is the first time I'm alone with the Duke, and we're going shopping. How wonderful!" Xue'er looked dejected, watching the backs of the two as they left, and kept hitting the counter with her handkerchief, muttering something under her breath.
After walking around the market, sure enough, the shops of all the divisions had opened. There were live animals such as cattle, sheep, and mules, as well as tanned hides. Similarly, there were quite a few minerals that Fang Er had told them about earlier. However, the people sent by each division to manage the shops all sat in the shops with distressed faces. There was no other reason: compared to livestock and hides, these minerals were almost never bought, they were heavy and took up space, and it was too far to take them back, yet they were reluctant to throw them away.
Fang Er's single sentence made them beam with joy. "All the minerals are to be sent to the iron mine and sorted properly." He then instructed a随行 soldier to lead them. "The price will be the same as the fluorescent stone mine of the Heavenly Valiant Division, one coin per jin."
This price was truly not low. One coin could buy two large steamed buns. How much was a jin of minerals? It was less than a fist's size. As for the value of the minerals, Fang Er could not determine it at the moment, because for him, they were almost all things that would be used in the future. He could only say that after some time, he would appropriately increase the price for minerals with low output. But for now, they had to be treated equally.
He called the clerks, who, along with the shopkeepers of each division, went to count the quantities, then pay, and deduct taxes. The nine divisions' various minerals totaled over three million jin. With such a large quantity, Fang Er had to send someone to notify Shen Fei to bring the tractors over, otherwise, it would take several days to transport them by ox cart alone.
Counting, transaction, tax deduction. The clerks happily pulled two ox carts of copper coins to report to Liu Dacheng. In half a day, they had collected over three hundred guan in taxes. The Prefect would surely reward them with some money, hehehehe.