Chapter 12— Bricks and Tableware

"Hey boy, are you available for a moment? I have something to talk about."

　A peddler who always comes to the village says.

　Just right.

　This is also a new product.

　What I usually sell to the peddlers are sandals made from Hatsuka stalks and magic mushrooms that have finally begun to increase production.

　However, the unit price of sandals is terribly cheap, and I can only get a small amount of magic mushrooms.

　So, I was thinking of selling the tableware I made the other day.

"Actually, I want you to sell the bricks that you used to make that house. Did you build a new house recently? I saw that it was a pretty good one."

"Huh? The house has been around for a long time and I haven't built a new one ... Maybe you're talking about the storehouse?"

"Eh? Is that brick building a storeroom? No, even if it's a storeroom, that's fine. Ask your parents to sell that type of brick anyway."

"It's okay. There are some bricks left over from when building the storeroom. But there are better products than just the bricks. I made new tableware. Buy it."

"Hmm, tableware ... No, I want the bricks now. I'll see you again next time."

"Don't say that. The tableware is nicely made, so you shouldn’t miss the chance to buy it. Look at it."

　Apparently, the old man is thinking only about bricks and is not very interested in tableware.

　But at least I think white porcelain and the glass tableware that I have never seen in this village are rare.

　I'm confident in showing the new products.

"Well, this is amazing. Everything is beautiful. How did you make it?"

"Secret. But more importantly, will you buy it?"

"Oh, okay. I’ll buy it with the bricks."

　I was wondering if the negotiations with the peddler were over.

　However, when I finished stacking the bricks that had been placed near my house and settled the bill, the result was not what I expected.

　Tableware made of white porcelain or glass can be bought at a high price.

　I thought so, and I didn't doubt that idea.

　But the peddler paid much less than I expected.

　You should buy it higher.

　But the result didn't change much.

　Even with this, it can be said that he is buying the porcelain and glass dishes at a price several times higher than ordinary tableware.

　I argued that some people would buy such a clean glass cup at the highest price, but it didn't work.

　Basically, this peddler does business with the common people who live in towns and villages.

　Not many people spend such a high amount of money on tableware.

　If so, I think it would be good to sell it to the rich people, but I was told that it is not so easy.

　Wealthy people are not very willing to deal with peddlers who go around the villages to do business.

　The wealthy only interact with the merchants they have a long relationship with, and no one can get in between them.

　From hearing that, I should be grateful that the peddler chose to buy the tableware at a price several times higher than usual.

　Good things don't always sell.

　I came up with the words that I heard from somewhere.

　No matter how great a product is, it doesn't sell by itself.

　Rather, what was important was how to promote the product so that it could be sold.

　However, there is no TV, newspaper, or internet here.

　If the item that I want to sell is expensive, the buyers I need to aim at will be wealthy people such as aristocrats.

　How can I make the wealthy people want to buy my products?

　Perhaps the best promotion is a track record such as "It is a type of tableware that is also used by aristocrats from over there."

　However, there is no connection to any other aristocrats which I need to obtain the track record.

　I wonder how much it would take to have a peddler promote my product?

　I was disappointed, but promised the peddler to continue selling bricks in the future.