There is a space for passenger planes in the late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 69 New Industries
  Time soon came to mid-November, and the weather in northern Shaanxi has become very cold.

Especially at the end of the Ming Dynasty, when the Little Glacier is at its peak, the weather is much colder. At this time, the temperature has already reached below zero in the morning, and ice has begun to appear in many places.

For ordinary people now, the most important thing is to keep warm. But it's not easy. Wood for heating is in short supply and quite expensive.

There is no shortage of coal in Fugu County, but it is too smoky when burned, and it can lead to carbon poisoning if you are not careful.

That is carbon monoxide poisoning. The ancients did not understand the principle very well and generally attributed it to carbon gas.

One morning, at the entrance of the "Sledgehammer Iron Art" on Xuanhua Street in the county seat, a black iron stove less than half a meter high was placed. Black objects with holes were placed inside, and blue flames were emitting.

Some iron stoves have cooking pots placed on them, and they are demonstrating cooking; some have kettles on them, and they are boiling water. A few more are burning empty.

Next to the seven or eight iron stoves, there is a huge sign that reads: "The magic tool for cooking - briquette stove, grand release, please try it out."

Several guys with loud voices were showing off the briquette stove and shouting loudly: "Folks, with a stove in hand, you won't have to worry about cooking! If you pass by, don't miss it!"

The surrounding people gathered around and were very surprised to see this briquette stove. Some of them were brave enough to try it out themselves. They immediately found it very convenient and easy to use.

So they all asked: "Seller, how do you sell this stove?"

The clerk replied: "The price of coal cake stoves in the city is 1 tael of silver each, and we will give you coal cakes as a gift. If you save some money, you can use one ten cent."

"One piece of silver is not very expensive, but I don't know if it is durable?" a passerby asked.

"It has a one-year warranty. If the stove is damaged within one year of normal use, the stove can be replaced free of charge." The clerk assured.

"Is it burning coal? Is there any carbon gas?"

"What is burned inside is mainly coal, with briquettes made from some secret recipes. As long as you use it according to the instructions, there will be absolutely no carbon gas." The clerk explained.

"Then give me one!"

"Give me one too!"

……

After the onlookers tried it, they immediately started a rush to buy it.

This is the briquette stove that Lin Feng arranged for Zhang Tiechui and others to make in the early stage. He then used high-quality Fugu coal, sawdust and a small amount of clay to make briquettes in molds, and sold them while the weather was cold.

Since heating and cooking are a necessity, this briquette stove is easy to ignite, very clean, and very safe. It does not produce carbon gas. It became a hot item once it was released.

On the same day, the Prairie Trading Company in the farmers' market also launched new products - thermal robes made of skim wool lining and thermal quilts filled with skim wool.

There is also a big signboard at the entrance of the store: Warm and good products - woolen robes and woolen quilts are on sale, please take a look!
  The people who entered the shop picked up soft and warm robes and quilts and let out bursts of admiration.

"Hey, why is this woolen robe so soft? There is no hardening problem that is common with woolen products?"

"Yes, this wool doesn't even have a bit of odor. I don't know how it was processed."

"This wool coat is so warm. I need it at home."

"And this quilt, it's light and warm, you won't feel cold if you put it on it."

……

Soon, a customer had chosen a woolen robe and asked, "Shopkeeper, how do you sell this robe?"

On the first day of new product sales, of course Duan Liang, the shopkeeper of Grassland Trading, was in the store.

Hearing this, he immediately replied: "A woolen robe costs 6 coins."

"It's so expensive, can it be cheaper?"       "These wools are processed through special technology. They are soft and smooth, and very warm. It is also easy to clean in the future, but the cost is very high. This time it is on sale at a discount. So there will be no counteroffer." Duan Liang explained.

"Hey, the stuff is good, but a bit expensive. Forget it, let's get one. We need warm robes in winter, and those sheepskin jackets in the past were too smelly." The customer said reluctantly.

"Shopkeeper, how do you sell this wool quilt?"

"One tael of silver a piece, no counter-offer."

"Let's have one."

……

Although the customers who come in feel that the products are a bit expensive, they can’t stand the price. Although they are a bit expensive, they are not unacceptable. Most people can buy a woolen robe and a woolen quilt with one month’s wages. Even this winter, they can afford it. After that, it was still worth it.

Therefore, only a few of the customers who came in left empty-handed with regretful expressions on their faces because they had no money. Most of them came back happily after buying new products, and within half a day all the products in the store were sold out.

The lobby of the county forest house.

In the evening, Li Xiongzhen, the general shopkeeper of the group, Zhang Tiechui, the shopkeeper of "Dahami Iron Art", and Duan Liang, the shopkeeper of Grassland Trading Company, all came over to report on the sales of the group's winter thermal products.

After Li Xiongzhen sat down, he said: "President, you personally designed and launched the winter thermal products, and the market response has been very good. Let them report to you the sales situation on the first day."

Lin Feng asked the other two people to sit down and said, "Then let's talk briefly."

Zhang Tiechui immediately stood up and reported: "President, on the first day, we sold more than 150 briquette stoves and received taels of silver. We also sold some briquettes, making at least % profit."

Since the establishment of Dahami Iron Art, even with the support of orders for weapons and armor from the county government barracks, the daily sales have been only forty and fifty taels at most. This time, the coal cake stove alone exceeded one hundred and fifty taels. Zhang Tiechui was extremely happy.

"That's right, keep it up. In fact, selling briquette stoves is not the most profitable. After all, people won't buy another stove in a year or two after buying it.

But these coal cakes are used every day. As long as the donated coal cakes are used up, there will be a steady demand for purchases. You must maintain a good supply. " Lin Feng reminded.

"Understood, President, please rest assured, we have prepared tens of thousands of coal cakes." Zhang Tiechui responded.

"Okay, Iron Hammer did a good job. According to the grassland trading company, I will also give you a 10% profit share. For example, if I make six or seventy taels today, I will give you six taels. But these six taels are not just for you. Yes, your Sledgehammer Iron Art team has a share, and it’s up to you to allocate it." Lin Feng said.

"Ah, thank you very much, President!" Zhang Tiechui hurriedly counted his profit share on his fingers. If there are 6 taels a day, it is 180 taels a month. Even if more than 20 people share it, each person still has seven or eight taels, which is worth several months' wages.

"Duan Liang, where are you?"

"Back to the president, our sales are also very hot. All the goods we prepared are sold out, and the initial sales are nearly one hundred taels." Duan Liang replied.

"Very good, has the goods started being distributed in Jiazhou?" Lin Feng asked next.

"President, the first batch of briquette stoves, woolen robes, and woolen quilts have been shipped to Jiazhou via Sitong Express today. It is estimated that they will arrive the day after tomorrow, and the sales in Jiazhou will definitely be greater.

Now the business of several branches such as Dahamui Iron Art, Grassland Trading, Sitong Express and Alkali Making Workshop has become full at once, and the group will soon be able to make an overall profit. "Li Xiongzhen reported with a smile.

Some time ago, the group had been in a loss-making period since its establishment. He was anxious to death. He only saw inputs and rarely saw outputs. This feeling is really unknown to everyone.

"Don't be anxious, Xiongzhen. With the continuous launch of new products, our group will not only make money, but also make a lot of money.

But we can't forget our goals when making money, so the group's current profits haven't reached the time of dividend distribution, so we can give out some reward money appropriately. The vast majority of the money has to be accumulated and used to expand reproduction. Do you understand? " Lin Feng took over the words.

"Understood!" Several people responded in unison.

　The group finally started making money.

　　
  　
  (End of this chapter)