Chapter 286: A 30% Deposit Will Suffice
“This is the first time I’ve heard of a fruit being used in cooking. These tomato dishes look quite appetizing. In that case, I won’t stand on ceremony—I’ll have a taste.”
Yu Luo smiled and gestured for him to proceed. Wu Zhao didn’t wait for his attendants and served himself a bowl of soup, taking a careful sip.
Before he knew it, he had finished the entire bowl and was eagerly helping himself to another. Only after two bowls did he realize—this was just a sample tasting! He had been so engrossed that he momentarily forgot himself.
“This soup is truly delicious! It’s savory with just the right amount of sweetness and acidity—it really stimulates the appetite! I didn’t expect your fruit to be such a treasure. Now, let me try this stir-fried dish as well.”
Without hesitation, Wu Zhao picked up a chopstickful of stir-fried tomatoes and eggs and took a bite.
The rich, tangy flavor of the tomatoes spread across his tongue, making him crave more.
“It pairs even better with white rice. Why don’t you try it, Boss Wu?”
Conveniently, the kitchen had just prepared some freshly cooked rice. Yu Luo scooped a bowl and placed it in front of him. Wu Zhao eagerly followed her suggestion, and before he knew it, he had finished the entire bowl of rice along with the tomato stir-fry.
Watching him eat so heartily, Yu Luo knew there was no need for further persuasion. These two simple dishes were enough to prove the value of her tomatoes.
“This is too good! I actually forgot to let my shop assistants try some as well! But there’s still some soup left—take it out and let everyone have a taste.”
Wu Zhao let out a hearty laugh. He wasn’t embarrassed at all about his lack of self-restraint. He promptly handed the remaining soup to an attendant, who quickly carried it out.
“I must say, this fruit has completely surprised me! I thought it was just an unusual variety, but I didn’t expect it to have so many different uses. I’ll take as much as you have!”
“Boss Wu, don’t be too hasty. Even with a great product, success doesn’t come overnight.”
Yu Luo kindly advised him.
She wasn’t trying to limit her sales—rather, she didn’t want to rely on a single buyer.
Moreover, tomatoes don’t store well. If Wu Zhao overstocked and couldn’t sell them in time, he might suffer losses and lose confidence in the product. That could jeopardize their future business relationship.
It was better to proceed steadily, ensuring a long-term partnership.
“That’s right. Our lady is right. Tomatoes ripen in batches, so there’s no rush.
“Besides, they’re a consumable item—they can be eaten as a fruit or as a vegetable in daily meals. Sell what you have, then restock. There’s no need to hoard them.”
Hearing how straightforward and reasonable they were, Wu Zhao felt more assured about doing business with them.
“Alright, I appreciate the advice! Now, let’s discuss pricing. I’ll start with 10,000 cool melons—do you have that many? As for tomatoes, I’ll take 30,000 pounds for now.”
Upon hearing this, Wu Er’s eyes widened in astonishment.
He was completely shocked by Wu Zhao’s large order!
After all, they had only brought three carts of cool melons, each carrying barely over 200 melons—totaling less than 1,000!
But Wu Zhao had just casually placed an order for 10,000 melons—ten times their current supply!
They hadn’t expected such a massive deal!
“We’ll have 10,000 melons ready within fifteen days. Wu Er, discuss the pricing with Boss Wu.”
Suppressing her internal excitement, Yu Luo remained composed, responding with a calm smile.
She, too, was stunned by this opportunity. She never imagined she would stumble upon such a high-volume buyer!
“Understood, my lady.”
Wu Er then quoted the same prices they had previously agreed upon with Lu Yi.
Wu Zhao listened quietly. He didn’t immediately agree but also didn’t reject the offer.
After some contemplation, he chuckled and looked at Yu Luo.
“The prices you’re offering are lower than your retail prices, but considering the large quantity I’m purchasing, shouldn’t there be some additional discount?”
Yu Luo expected this—a seasoned businessman like Wu Zhao would naturally try to negotiate a lower price.
However, since they had already set these prices in Yueyang City, she wasn’t going to change them.
Even if it meant losing this big client, she wouldn’t budge.
“Boss Wu is a large-scale merchant—it would be unlike you to place a small order. I’ll be honest with you—this is our lowest price. If you agree, we can sign a contract immediately, and we’ll deliver the goods to Yueyang City within fifteen days. But if you think the price is too high, then perhaps we’ll have another opportunity to work together in the future.”
Hearing how firm Yu Luo was, Wu Zhao was slightly surprised.
The price she offered was already profitable for him, but in business, higher margins were always preferred.
After all, his trading company didn’t just sell retail—they also distributed goods to smaller merchants, meaning his profits came from the markups.
“Miss, is there no room for negotiation at all?”
Yu Luo simply smiled and shook her head.
“This is just my first batch of goods. If they sell well, I’ll double my supply in the next order. I understand that markets fluctuate—if you think the price is too high, you can wait until there’s more supply. Or… someone else might secure a contract before you do, and prices could remain the same or even increase. As an experienced businessman, I’m sure you understand market trends well.”
Yu Luo was speaking truthfully, but strategically.
Even if tomatoes ripened in bulk, she could turn them into tomato sauce for extended storage.
As for cool melons, she could sell them in batches, knowing that wealthy nobles valued them immensely. There was no concern about market demand.
Besides, aside from Dongfeng Kingdom, she was expanding into the Bei Kingdom and Xi Mo Kingdom—she was gradually breaking into three different markets.
With less than 100 acres of melon fields, she wouldn’t even have enough supply to meet future demand!
From Wu Zhao’s perspective, however, Yu Luo’s stance meant she wouldn’t lower the price—she was firmly set on her terms.
But he also didn’t want to lose this business opportunity—this was his chance to enter the market before competitors did.
“Alright, then. Let’s sign the contract, and I’ll pay a deposit upfront.”
“No need for too much. Just a 30% deposit will suffice.”
