Before dawn the next day, Sanlang got up early and went to the field. In the morning, there was a problem with a machine. Sanlang was so worried that he was sweating profusely and spent more than an hour repairing it. Seeing that it was getting late, he asked the gatekeeper, Father He, to get off.

A portion of noodles will satisfy everyone’s hunger.

Sanlang took a bowl, squatted on the stone at the mouth of the well, and ate noodles. Just as he was eating deliciously, Qiao Tong came in from the outside. Seeing Sanlang, he said: "Brother is here as expected. Fortunately, I didn't go to your house. Come out now, if you have something to do."

Talk to you."

Sanlang put down the bowl and asked Dad He to collect the noodles and put them away before he came back to eat. Together with Zhi Tong, he walked out of the gate of the venue.

After walking a few steps, Sanlang asked: "It's already noon, has brother eaten?"

Tongqiao said: "We country people don't have the habit of having lunch? But after you told me, I feel a little hungry."

Sanlang said: "Gu Laoer's tavern not far from here sells soy sauce beef recently. Now the government allows cattle to be slaughtered. It is no longer like before, and all the cattle sold are cattle that have died of illness and old age. I have eaten it once, and it tastes really good.

Come on, let’s go have a drink and buy some beef.”

Qiao Tong's face immediately brightened after hearing this. He said, "How can I make my brother spend money?"

Sanlang said: "A few kilograms of beef is nothing! We are brothers. There is no need to be polite to me!"

After saying that, he pulled Qiao Tong and walked towards Gu Laoer's tavern.

The tavern is on the side of the road, and there are two or three tables of guests inside. They are all strangers traveling, burying their heads at the tables. Some are eating noodles, and some are eating dumplings. A few of them have ordered a bowl of white wine, and take a sip from time to time.

.

Seeing Sanlang and Qiao Tong come in, Mr. Gu hurriedly came up to greet them. He led them to the table next to the window.

Sanlang said: "We each have a bowl of dumplings, a plate of soy sauce beef, and seasonal fruits and vegetables. By the way, we each have a bowl of the fine liquor in your store. Come up quickly, I'm hungry."

"

Mr. Gu agreed and turned around quickly. In no time, the dumplings and beef were served.

Sanlang picked up the white wine and said: "Although the white wine is a little strong, it is still strong. Brother, let's have a bowl!"

Tongqiao said: "White wine is different from ordinary wine. It's better to drink it slowly. I'm not strong enough to drink. This bowl is enough. Brother, please help yourself."

After taking a sip of wine and eating a few dumplings, Sanlang asked, "What does brother want from me?"

Tongqiao said: "I have definite information about the Liu basket I told you two days ago. This is a big deal, and I can't miss it."

After hearing this, Sanlang suddenly became serious and asked hurriedly: "What are the regulations? Can I do this business?"

Comrade Qiao said: "The price has been set. The baskets will be sent to Xiangyang Wharf, and the price will be one hundred and fifty cents per piece. If we want to do it, we need to supply at least 10,000 pieces a year. If it is done well, 20,000 or 30,000 yuan is also possible."

"

Sanlang was startled and asked, "With so many baskets, what's the point of the supply and marketing cooperative asking for them?"

Tong Qiao said: "This basket is for the army, used to store military supplies. I heard that from now on, all suitable supplies in the army will be packed in this kind of basket. This is a long-term business, and reed mats are not comparable."

Of course, this is something belonging to the military, and there is no room for any mistakes or delays."

Ordinary willow baskets usually cost more than 100 yuan in rural markets, but less than 150 yuan. However, they are used by the army, and the quality is not comparable to ordinary willow baskets. It is normal for the price to be slightly higher. Two days ago, Qiao Tong

After talking about it, Saburo inquired about it. The cost of making a basket by himself was no more than a hundred coins. If you earn fifty coins per basket, ten thousand a year, that's five hundred coins. Thinking about it made Sanlang tremble.

Seeing Saburo's look, Qiao Tong smiled and said: "Brother, the people in the supply and marketing cooperative don't set the price casually. We all know that the basket in the market will not exceed one hundred and twenty coins. The basket maker also wants

To make money, the cost will not exceed eighty cents. There is a special reason why they set the price at one hundred and fifty cents. I estimate that this basket is different from ordinary baskets, and the cost should be higher."

Sanlang was stunned for a moment and asked hurriedly: "The cost is high, how much higher should it be? If it doesn't make money, how can this business be successful?"

Comrade Qiao said: "According to my understanding of the supply and marketing cooperative, the cost they calculated should be between one hundred and one hundred and twenty cents. It is for military equipment and has to be transported over long distances. The basket must be strong, so it is normal for the cost to be higher.

If my brother wants to do this business, don't estimate the profit of each basket too high. If you make twenty or thirty cents per basket, it's very good. This business is different from Wei Xi, you can do it all year round, the quantity is stable, and the price is stable. Yes.

From now on, I can be a member of the Communist Party of China without worrying about being so tired."

Sanlang calculated that two to three hundred guan of interest a year is really a lot. How many people in the world can earn two to three hundred guan a year? The most important thing is that this business is not temporary, but can be done for a long time.

He took a big sip of wine and put the bowl on the table. Sanlang said: "Of course I really want to do it. I also ask my brother to make it happen!"

Qiao Tong smiled and said: "This is not something that I alone have the final say. To do this business, first of all, the people must be reliable, and there must be nothing wrong with the willow baskets delivered. And they must be delivered on time. Those used by the army must not be

It's too late. Your brother is an officer in the army and is considered a military relative. The government must take special care of you. If something happens to you, Erlang will be affected. To put it harshly, you can run away, but Erlang can't."

Sanlang said: "Thanks to my second brother for borrowing money for the reed mat business, you know this. He is an officer in the army, and I have benefited a lot. How can I harm him? Don't worry, brother, I will take over this business.

Nothing will go wrong!"

Tongqiao said: "Your village is too small. It will be difficult to recruit people to take over this business."

Saburo said decisively: "After taking over the business, I will move the factory! Find a bigger town and I will ensure that I can recruit people!"

Qiao Tong waved his hand and said: "There is no need to choose a place, the government has already decided on a place. Xiangyang Prefecture has specially selected a place between Dengcheng and Fancheng Town for you workshops to move in. The government has built roads there and even built

It's a good house, and it's tax-free for half a year. You just need to move there. The government requires these factories to have a fixed market and be able to operate for a long time."

Sanlang asked in surprise: "Is there such a good thing in the world? What is the government doing for this?"

Comrade Qiao said: "How can we people understand this? I heard people say that if the factories are moved together, it will be easier for the government to collect taxes. And in a special place, it will also prevent local powerful people from bullying you."

Sanlang thought for a while and shook his head: "How can such a good thing happen in the world? If you do this, the government will only be troublesome, and there will be no benefit!"

Tongqiao said: "We don't have to think about these things. Your reed field is not qualified. But if you take over the business of the willow basket, it will be enough. One hundred and fifty willow baskets, ten thousand will be enough."

One thousand five hundred guan is not a small amount. The annual tax collection is several hundred guan. For the county, it is a large amount of money. For example, in Dengcheng County, in normal years, the annual commercial tax does not reach 100 guan.

Guan. I should treat you well."

Sanlang said: "Am I the only one to make the willow baskets used by the army?"

Qiao Tong laughed and said, "How is that possible! You are doing it alone in Xiangyang Prefecture, and there are other state capitals. Military capital is related to national affairs, how can it be left to one person? And the basket must be made nearby for use."

Saburo nodded, somewhat understanding, but also somewhat confused. What does the army need these willow baskets for? How many are there? Why not just buy them from the people like before, but build factories? There are many things that Saburo actually doesn't know.

clear.

Wang Xiaolie is carrying out certain standardization of army supplies to facilitate storage and transportation. Artillery requires gunpowder and shells, which will be packed in these wicker baskets in the future. Gunpowder is made of porcelain jars, which are packed in wicker baskets together with the shells.

They are packed on carts. Together with other supplies in the army that are suitable for use in wicker baskets, a huge amount is used every year.

These materials are very inconspicuous, but once they are gathered together, they are very large in scale, enough to build a factory. Not only do supply and marketing cooperatives support people like Saburo, the government actually has its own factories, and even specially planted willow trees.

Private factories check for leaks and fill gaps in official factories. Official factories adjust costs.

Industry does not necessarily have to have steam engines. Just use water power, animal power, and manpower, and carry out scientific dispatch and management, and it will be very large-scale. It is just that the cost is higher, more people use it, and the market scope is limited. In this era

, the distance is far and the freight is high, the cost that the factory can save is not necessarily higher than that of manpower.
Chapter completed!