He had originally thought that Bai Zheng had just put in more effort in the early stage. In the later stage, the operation of the shops had been handed over to the Song family. It was already very kind of the Song family to take 70% of the profits.
But if, as she said, she had the ability to double the profits of the shops, then both the later - stage operation model and the profit - sharing ratio would have to be renegotiated.
Song Yiqing pondered for a moment before smiling and saying, "Miss Bai says she has this ability. Naturally, I, Song, believe it.
Although it's my Song family that has been investing money, manpower, and effort in the operation of these shops in the later stage, it's still thanks to Miss Bai's ingenious ideas and advice. If Miss Bai is only given 30% of the profits, it's indeed too little.
I, Song, will always remember Miss Bai's hard work. Well, I'm willing to give Miss Bai another 10% of the profits to show my sincerity.
What does Miss Bai think?"
What does she think?
Bai Zheng managed to swallow the tea she had just sipped, barely holding back from spitting it in Song Yiqing's face.
Looking at Song Yiqing, who was smiling brightly and didn't seem to think there was anything wrong with what he had said, Bai Zheng suddenly understood—
This man in front of her had grown up in a profit - driven business environment. He was extremely shrewd and calculating.
If she continued to haggle with him, he would surely fight to the end over even a single copper coin.
But Bai Zheng was already a bit tired.
She remembered the mountains of account books sent by the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion waiting for her to go through in her room, and there were also a bunch of court affairs from Lan Xun waiting for her to make decisions.
Feng Linyuan had been away for ten days, leaving everything to her.
She didn't have the time to waste on Song Yiqing.
Thinking of this, Bai Zheng neatly put down her teacup. The cup made a crisp sound as it landed on the rosewood table.
"Bang!"
The sound made Song Yiqing flinch slightly. Then Bai Zheng simply said, "At most, the Song family can take 30%."
"30%?!" Song Yiqing couldn't help but exclaim.
Bai Zheng nodded, her tone brooking no argument. "If Young Master Song thinks this deal is not worth it, I, Bai Zheng, won't force you."
Hearing this, Song Yiqing immediately got anxious. "Miss Bai, you've never been in business, so you don't understand how dangerous the business world is. One wrong move, and you could lose everything.
It's not that I, Song, am trying to put you down, but you're just a weak woman. Besides the Bai Mansion and the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, who do you know in Yongding City?
As far as I know, your father, Minister Bai, is an honest and kind - hearted man. At most, he can just paint and write poems for you. How can he help you in other aspects?
Even if you want to open a tea shop in Yongding City, which tea merchants does he know? And how can he get goods at a low price?
It's not that I, Song, am being over - confident. As the head of the Yongding City Chamber of Commerce, my Song family has connections in all walks of life in the city.
No matter what your shops are selling, with my Song family around, we can surely get the best goods at the lowest cost, making business much easier.
Miss Bai, you can't just focus on the immediate benefits and ignore the hardships and dangers ahead.
Moreover, now Linyuan wants to revive the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, and what he lacks most is money.
If your shops don't succeed, it will also affect Linyuan."
Song Yiqing's endless chatter finally annoyed Bai Zheng. When Song Yiqing finally got tired of talking and lowered his head to drink tea, she quickly said,
"Young Master Song should know my temper. We'd better just be straightforward. Don't use those negotiation tricks on me.
This 30% profit is already a friendly price I'm giving you, Young Master Song, out of consideration for your friendship with Linyuan.
If you still talk in such a round - about way, not to mention 20% profit, just because of your calculating mind, I, Bai Zheng, will never do this business with your Song family."
Bai Zheng's words completely made Song Yiqing give up the idea of continuing to bargain.
At this moment, Song Yiqing was like a fox whose tail had been stepped on. He couldn't move and could only look at Bai Zheng aggrievedly, muttering, "I'm not calculating..."
"Young Master Song, the things sold in my shops are all different, and so far, there's no second shop like them in the whole Yongding City.
Your Song family has been in business for generations, so you should know best that the most capable businessmen are those who can have a monopoly in the market.
Not to mention anything else, I believe just the papermaking and printing techniques should have already made you deeply feel this.
So, Young Master Song, I hope you can understand the current situation.
No matter how much profit these shops will make in the future, it's your Song family that is making money based on my early - stage accumulation. Even if your Song family spends a lot of effort in the later - stage operation, it's still because of my predecessors' hard work that you can enjoy the fruits.
Without me, your Song family won't be able to earn a single copper coin!
But without your Song family, I, Bai Zheng, can just spend a little more time recruiting and training people. Why should I worry about not succeeding?"
At this point, Bai Zheng flicked her sleeve and said firmly, "Connections? In the face of absolute strength, what are they?"
Song Yiqing was stunned.
He hadn't heard such arrogant words for many years.
The last time he heard them was from the mouth of Feng Linyuan, the young and high - spirited man who used to be the most outstanding in Yongding City.
At that time, the young man casually pulled out a yellow pony from the stable, jumped on it, and smiled at Song Yiqing, who had come to provoke him on a carefully - selected blood - sweating BMW.
"Do you think a better horse can beat me? Hmph! These external things, in the face of absolute strength, what are they?"
Song Yiqing felt a bit dazed.
It was as if time had intersected. The face of the high - spirited young man on the horse gradually overlapped with the face of the girl in front of him.
Song Yiqing then realized that when the girl in front of him said these words, the confident and extraordinary look on her face was exactly the same as that of Feng Linyuan back then.
Song Yiqing suddenly understood why his always - high - and - mighty friend Feng Linyuan had taken a fancy to this unknown girl.
It turned out that, deep down, they were the same kind of people.
He suddenly felt that all his self - righteous little calculations before were really quite ridiculous.
After all, he had never been a match for this kind of person.
After a long while, he finally let out a deep sigh. "At most, it can only be 30%?"
Bai Zheng nodded. "If Young Master Song can't see the situation clearly, I, Bai Zheng, also don't think there's any need for cooperation."
"I understand." Song Yiqing smiled. "Naturally, I understand the value of Miss Bai's shops."
Seeing that Song Yiqing was sensible, Bai Zheng's tone softened. "It's good that Young Master Song understands. To put it bluntly, your Song family just needs to be the apparent financial backer of these shops."
Song Yiqing nodded. "Miss Bai, rest assured. I, Song, know what to do. If there's anything else that requires my Song family..."
"Miss, Miss!"