Chapter 42: 40 Zhang Returning to Reality (Seeking to be read!!!)
In the 21st century, countries generally use grams and kilograms for measurement units.
However, the concept of ’gram’ was actually only proposed in 1795, when it was defined in Gaul as "the absolute weight of a volume of water equal to a cubic decimeter at the melting point of ice."
Therefore, in the seventeenth century, the United Kingdom was still using the common system, which included drams, ounces, pounds, etc.
The common system differs from the troy system, wherein an ounce is approximately 28.3495 grams, whereas the latter is 31.1034768 grams.
By converting through the former, the ten ounces Xu Yun mentioned is just over 280 grams, roughly half a kilogram.
As mentioned earlier.
The main cost of homemade tomato ketchup lies in sugar, as a pound of tomato ketchup needs about 30 grams of sugar, which translates to approximately 18 ounces corresponding to 30 grams of sugar.
The current market price for sugar is about 8 pence per 100 grams, but the cost price for the district is much lower, around 2 pence—it is comparable to the internal price of tobacco or spirits, and sugar is even more ruthless because it is a plundered resource.
Therefore, after some calculations, the cost of ten ounces of tomato ketchup is about 0.6 pence.
Including other transportation, labor, and miscellaneous costs, it is about 0.8 pence or slightly more.
A cost of 0.8 with a selling price of 2 pence is actually considered cheap—according to normal thinking, with the premise that others can quickly replicate the product and enter the market, the price should be as high as possible.
But the Grantham District, after all, is not a professional chamber of commerce. The religious guise dictates that they cannot swindle people too harshly, or else a bad reputation would be not worth the gain.
So after some discussion, Yalrin finally set the price of tomato ketchup at ten ounces for 2 pence.
Once the market settles, this premium won’t be criticized too harshly—if it really doesn’t work out, you can use the blessing... ahem, blessing as a buffer.
"Ten ounces for 2 pence..."
Upon hearing Xu Yun’s offer, Tiffany Boli quickly did the math in her head:
The current average income in England is 0.65 Guinea, which is 150 pence, earning roughly one penny every two days.
The income of Tiffany Boli’s family is a bit higher than average; being able to settle in Grantham, their family’s annual income can reach about 1.2 Guinea.
Thinking about this, Tiffany Boli glanced at the jar beside her:
"Is this jar ten ounces?"
Xu Yun nodded:
"That’s right, a standard ten-ounce weight."
Tiffany Boli nodded slightly.
Ten ounces (280 grams) of ketchup looks like a lot, even if her family uses it every day for bread and potatoes, it wouldn’t be finished in ten days to half a month.
It’s more expensive than butter, but much cheaper than sugar; even ordinary families can afford it.
Thus, after only a slight hesitation, Tiffany Boli made up her mind:
"Sir, may I have ten ounces, please?"
"Alright!"
Xu Yun promptly brought out a bottle and whispered:
"Madam, this bottle of ketchup was freshly made and taken from the back, so it’s fresher than the others; please don’t tell anyone else."
Tiffany Boli was initially thinking of bargaining, but upon hearing this, she felt a sudden joy—she clearly saw that Xu Yun indeed took the jar from the back area.
So she immediately stopped bargaining and happily handed over two pence:
"Thank you very much, please accept these two pence."
Xu Yun politely accepted the money and handed it to the district staff beside him, watching them record the transaction.
Then he glanced around and, taking advantage of the gap when no one was around, moved a can of ketchup from the front to the vacant spot in the back...
As Xu Yun completed this covert operation, someone suddenly touched his left arm.
Xu Yun turned around and found a small girl standing beside him without knowing when she arrived.
The person who could move freely around here was none other than William’s little daughter, Lilani.
However, at this moment, Lilani was holding not dung but a cup of steaming water.
Xu Yun blinked, seemingly understanding something, and pointed at himself:
"For me?"
Lilani nodded.
Seeing this, Xu Yun couldn’t help but feel a bit surprised:
This little rascal seems to have become much more low-key and well-behaved since last meeting?
This was good—not that girls must be quiet and conform to the three obediences and four virtues, but at the very least, they should not be rascals.
He then took the cup, checking for anything unusual inside while pretending to blow on it, then took a small sip:
"Thank you, Lilani."
Lilani was silent for a few seconds, suddenly uttering a word:
"Last time... sorry."
After saying that, this former little rascal turned around and trotted off.
Xu Yun couldn’t help but scratch his head:
"This kid..."
.......
Tiffany Boli’s purchasing process was just a glimpse of the stall today. With the district’s endorsement, William’s family almost didn’t need to spend much effort in selling jar after jar of ketchup easily.
Tasting—introduction—collecting money.
The process was that simple.
Three hours later, today’s market was in the closing stage—this was only today’s closing; following the custom, the market would continue for another day tomorrow.
Saint Titus Church would temporarily provide an internal area for merchants to stay overnight.
In a way, this is similar to future events that include accommodation, as it is a way for the official to stimulate the economy.
Just as Xu Yun was getting ready to help tidy up the venue, Little Niu suddenly pulled him aside mysteriously:
"Fat Fish, we’re going to make a fortune!"
Seeing this founder with stars in his eyes, Xu Yun’s curiosity was piqued:
"Oh? Mr. Newton, how much ketchup did we sell today?"
Little Niu cautiously looked around and whispered a number:
"Nine hundred pounds!"
Upon hearing this number, even Xu Yun couldn’t help but click his tongue:
"Wow, nine hundred pounds?"
Nine hundred pounds translate to over fourteen thousand ounces.
According to William and their ten-ounce per jar specification, that’s over fourteen hundred jars of ketchup.
One must understand.
The resident population of the main city of Grantham is only about 3-4000 Thousand People, even during the market period, the gathered population barely exceeds around twenty thousand.
More importantly, each jar of ketchup corresponds not to one person but one family!
Even deducting some scenarios of affluent people buying repeatedly, the purchase rate of this batch of ketchup wouldn’t be below 15%!
Thus, one can imagine the size of the market for ketchup throughout Europe—of course, the condition is still there: it’s a market that cannot be monopolized.
"The cost of one jar of ketchup is 0.8 pence, with a net profit of 1.2 pence...."
At this moment, Little Niu’s mind, which ranks among the top few in history, was calculating basic math quite shrewdly:
"1400 x 1.2 is 1680, divided by 252 is 6.67 Guinea, our share is one-third, that’s 2.2.....
Oh God, this is only three hours, in only one Grantham! How long can one jar of ketchup last a family?"
With this, Little Niu gave Xu Yun a firm pat on the shoulder:
"Fat Fish, I now declare, we are friends!"
Little Niu’s slap was quite forceful, and Xu Yun was caught off guard and almost stumbled.
"Can you be gentle..."
Xu Yun grumbled as he rubbed his shoulder, ready to lift his head and say something, when he suddenly felt the surroundings pause, and the long-awaited prompt board appeared before him:
[Newton has regarded ’Wall-Facer’ as a drinking buddy, the novice quest is complete, dungeon time has stopped, preparing to return to reality!]
Xu Yun:
"?????"
.....
Note:
The next Chapter should be quite interesting, hopefully....