"Important announcement. This is Li Long. Starting today, I'll be buying Reed Bundles for twenty consecutive days, at fifteen fen each. The requirements are: two and a half meters long, ten reeds per bundle, thick reeds only, no fine reeds, and bound with three strands of Fine Iron Wire. They must be good quality. Payment on the spot once they pass inspection. Remember, twenty days only! Once again, important announcement..."
After repeating the announcement three times, Li Long switched off the microphone.
"Xiao Long, you really know what to say. Twenty days only-I bet some people have already grabbed their sickles and are getting ready to head out. Fifteen fen! They can make quite a bit over twenty days!"
"That's why it's first come, first served. I'd better hurry back to the Stable, or I might not even be there when people come to sell their Reed Bundles."
Li Long had guessed right. By the time he reached the Stable, two households from the team had already hauled over Reed Bundles.
"Xiao Long, is it really fifteen fen each?"
"They have to pass inspection." Li Long smiled. "Old Cai, as long as they meet the requirements, I'll take as many as you bring. And I'll pay right away."
"Good, good, good." Old Cai unloaded the Reed Bundles from his handcart and said:
"Have a look. Take however many pass."
Li Long did not dare be careless, checking them one by one. Li Anguo and the others came out to watch, too. Chen Xingbang asked Li Long from beside him:
"So these are Reed Bundles? How do you make them?"
"Brother-in-law, I'll tell you in a bit. Let me check his goods first," Li Long said as he inspected them.
Old Cai had brought twenty-seven Reed Bundles, five of which failed