In the workshop at the back of the Jinxiu Pavilion, the production enthusiasm has not waned at all; instead, it has even risen due to the hot sales of "Shanshui Pa".
However, only a few key figures know that behind this seemingly prosperous scene lies a lifeline on the verge of collapse - raw materials.
"Second miss, the last piece of Hangzhou silk in the warehouse has been taken out today."
Several key Suzhou embroidery silk threads can last for up to three more days. From Wang Ermazi's side, there's still no news at all. The people sent to inquire reported that he hasn't seen any outsiders recently, and several familiar cloth stores also said that he was ill.
Wang Bo stood in Shen Ruoxin's study, his expression unprecedentedly solemn, and his voice carried a hint of imperceptible hoarseness.
A Xing also added, "Zhang Defa is indeed inquiring about our supply sources everywhere."
I'm worried that Wang Ermazi is not ill but has been "invited" by him to "recuperate" by some means.
The light in the study was soft. Shen Ruoxin sat upright behind a desk, with a simple map of the prefectural city and its surrounding areas spread out in front of her. On it, several unremarkable towns and markets were circled with cinnabar.
Her fingers tapped the table gently, making a regular tapping sound. Her eyes were calm but bottomless.
"Expected."
Shen Ruoxin spoke indifferently, seemingly not disturbed by this imminent crisis.
All Zhang Defa could think of was to pinch our most direct throat. He thought that by controlling a major supplier like Wang Ermazi, he could make us surrender without a fight.
"Then let's..." Uncle Wang asked urgently, "Three days have passed in the blink of an eye. If the goods were out of stock, the consequences would be unimaginable."
It's time to activate the backup plan.
Shen Ruoxin raised her eyes and her gaze swept over Wang Bo and A Xing.
Zhang Defa was keeping an eye on the big fish, those first-class fabric merchants who could directly supply stores of our size. But he forgot that beneath the current, there were countless streams.
What the second miss means is... Looking for those small and second-hand cloth merchants? Ah Xing reacts very quickly.
"Exactly."
Shen Ruoxin nodded.
Around the prefectural city and even in some unremarkable alleys and lanes within the city, there are many small cloth shops and thread stores scattered around.
They may not have as abundant a supply of goods and stable quality as Wang Ermazi, but they are well-informed and have secret channels. They often manage to obtain some "bulk goods", "surplus materials", and even "unplanned" goods that sneak out from major upstream trading houses through various means.
"But..." These small vendors have unstable supplies of goods, the quality varies greatly, and the prices are probably not low.
The quantity we need is large... Uncle Wang raised realistic concerns.
More importantly, how to find reliable people? In case one encounters a fraudster or gets the news leaked out...
This is the key to the "chain plan".
Shen Ruoxin's tone was steady and powerful, carrying a sense of confidence in having control over the overall situation.
"We can't just look for one, nor can we search under the name of the Splendid Pavilion." "
She stood up, walked to the map and pointed at the several cinnabar dots on it:
The first step is to feint east and attack west.
She pointed to a major silk town east of the prefectural city.
"Uncle Wang, you immediately send a capable but not overly core fellow over there, making a big fuss and spreading the word that the raw materials of Jinxiu Pavilion are in short supply and they are urgently looking for new supply channels."
Make sure to be well-prepared. You can even deliberately visit a few large cloth stores that are in competition with Wang Ermazi. It doesn't matter if you get a cold reception.
The aim is to draw Zhang Defa's attention there, making him think that we are still desperately trying to find a breakthrough in the primary market.
The second step is to break down the whole into smaller parts and advance in multiple directions.
Her fingers slid towards the scattered towns and inner-city markers on the map.
"Ah Xing, immediately mobilize all the personnel we can, who are absolutely reliable and have no apparent connection with the Splendid Pavilion."
Divide into arrays and simultaneously contact the second and third-level fabric merchants and small thread shops in these circled areas.
Remember, for each contact, the quantity should not be large, the types should be scattered, and the price can be appropriately increased, but it must be conducted in cash, no account records should be left, and it must be kept strictly confidential.
Different people go to different places to buy, and the quantity bought each time is not large... In this way, even if someone notices, they will only think it's an ordinary small transaction and it will be very difficult to connect these scattered purchases with our Jinxiu Pavilion! A Xing suddenly understood.
Exactly. Shen Ruoxin continued, "Don't directly transport the purchased goods back to the Splendid Pavilion." We rent several inconspicuous civilian houses or warehouses in the suburbs of the city as temporary transfer points.
When the goods arrive at the transfer point, they will be transported back to the workshop in batches and quietly at night by someone we absolutely trust. The entire process must be carried out without anyone noticing.
However, in this way, the cost will be much higher. Moreover, with more links such as purchasing, transportation and transfer, the risks will also increase. Uncle Wang was still a little worried.
"Extraordinary times require extraordinary actions." " Shen Ruoxin said resolutely, "High costs are better than running out of stock and closing down." The risks are high, so every step must be carried out with extreme secrecy and caution.
As for the manpower, Mr. Wang, you have been in the prefectural city for decades. There must be some trusted old friends or people who have been favored by us and are tight-lip-toned that you can use, right? Ah Xing, those smart and reliable girls and boys under your command can also come in handy.
Remember, use unfamiliar faces, give sufficient hush money, and act cross-differently so that they don't even know each other's tasks in full.
Wang Bo and A Xing exchanged a glance. Both saw solemnity in each other's eyes, but there was also a sense of confidence brought by Shen Ruoxin's meticulous plan.
"I'll make the arrangements right away!" Wang Bo immediately said that he had already begun to sift through suitable candidates in his mind.
"I'll do it right away, too!" A Xing also turned around and was about to leave.
Wait. Shen Ruoxin called them back, "There's the most crucial step - inspecting the goods." The quality of the goods from these small vendors is inevitably uneven.
All raw materials transported back from the transfer point must be strictly inspected by the two chief instructors, Li Molan and Wang Xiuniang, under their personal supervision.
All products that do not meet the quality standards will not be allowed to enter the workshop! Even if it is abandoned, it cannot affect the reputation of our Jinxiu Pavilion.
"Yes!" The two responded in unison.
Over the next three days, the surface of Jinxiu Pavilion remained calm, but the "Shanshui Pa" continued to sell well and the workshop was still bustling with activity. Secretly, a covert war over raw material supply has quietly begun.
The servant sent by Wang Bo indeed hit a wall and returned from a key town in the east. The news soon reached Zhang Defa's ears. It was said that he sneered smugly for a long time.
And A Xing is like a precise commander, mobilizing the power hidden in the common people. One by one, unremarkable figures appeared in every corner around the prefectural city.
In the grocery alley in the south of the city, there is a small cloth store named "Qianji".
"Shopkeeper, do you have any high-quality Hangzhou silk here?" The color should be more plain and elegant. A man in a coarse short coat and looking like a little steward asked in a low voice.
Shopkeeper Qian, a lean middle-aged man, squinted his eyes and sized up the person who came: "Hangzhou silk?" There are indeed some, but they are all small and scattered pieces, the leftovers from major customers. How much do you want?
"Not many. Let's start with ten horses to see what's going on." The newcomer said, revealing a small silver ingot from his sleeve without showing any emotion.
Shopkeeper Qian's eyes lit up and the wariness on his face eased a little: "Ten horsepower?" Ok! But the price is not cheap.
As long as the goods are of good quality, the price can be negotiated. The person who came pushed the silver over.
Similar scenes are being played out by different people at different times and in different places. Some things go smoothly, while others require some persuasion and money.
Three days later, late at night, several unremarkable carts, taking advantage of the darkness, quietly stopped at the side door of the backyard of the Splendid Pavilion. What was unloaded from the vehicle were precisely the cloth and silk threads tightly wrapped in oilcloth.
Li Molan and Wang Xiuniang, along with several trusted embroiderers, had long been waiting in a side room of the inner courtyard. Under the lamp, they carefully opened the package. One piece of fabric after another was unfurled, and one bundle of silk thread after another was picked up, carefully identifying the color, texture and toughness under the lamp.
This batch of Hangzhou silk is in good condition, just like the ones we used before.
Li Molan picked up a piece and nodded with satisfaction.
These bundles of gold and silver wires are a bit dark, but they can still be used.
Wang Xiuniang picked out a few slightly flawed silk threads and set them aside. "These pieces of cloud brocade have the right patterns, but they are a bit loose. They can only be used as lining or in inconspicuous areas."
The inspection work continued until the early hours of the morning. Ultimately, the vast majority of the raw materials met the standards and were promptly sent to the workshop warehouse.
When the first ray of sunlight of the morning shone into the workshop, the embroiderers were astonished to find that the several material racks they had already emptied were piled up to the brim again.
Although the binding method of the cloth is slightly different from before and the color of the silk thread is occasionally slightly different, at least there is rice to be cooked!
Inside the workshop, the reassuring and busy humming sound resounded once again.
In the study, after listening to Wang Bo and A Xing's reports, Shen Ruoxin's tense nerves finally relaxed a little. The first loop of the chain game was successful. They temporarily broke through Zhang Defa's raw material blockade, buying a precious breathing space for Jinxiu Pavilion.
However, she was well aware that this was only a stopgap measure.
"Uncle Wang, how long can these secondary and tertiary channels maintain their supply?" Shen Ruoxin asked.
Uncle Wang made an estimate and said, "Miss Hui Er, the goods in the hands of these small vendors are after all limited. Besides, although we are making such scattered purchases, the noise may be small, but if we do it too often, it's hard to guarantee that someone with ulterior motives won't notice." In my opinion, at most... It can last for a month.