Chapter 107 The Price of Playing Merchant
Time to deal with Evelyn next.
Eliza switched accounts and posted a message on WhatsApp using a profile with over two thousand
contacts.
“Special offer to thank old and new customers–scarce supplies now discounted! Special meds at 150 per box, masks at 100 per box. DM if interested.”
The moment it was posted, likes soared past a hundred.
The comment section flooded with people wanting to buy.
After all, this price was far cheaper than what anyone had seen recently.
Lately, Eliza had already started prepping promotional material for test kits.
Once the demand for medicine and masks faded, the next hot item would be test kits.
They were essential for proving infection status–and within two to three months, they’d be rolled out nationwide.
Since test kits hadn’t been common before, almost no one was selling them.
Which meant Eliza’s online store would soon make test kits the new premium product.
Early the next morning-
Evelyn, still riding the high from yesterday, opened her phone eagerly, expecting more messages from people asking to buy her supplies.
Instead, everyone who’d been begging for them the day before had gone completely silent.
“What’s going on?”
Evelyn refreshed her screen several times.
Still nothing.
Just then, Nathan came upstairs, face dark with anger.
“What are all those boxes downstairs? What the hell are you doing?!”
Nathan had been out the night before for a business dinner.
The Rivers family’s business had been in a slump, so he’d been forced to put on a brave face and attend as many dinners as possible.
But when he walked in the door, he was greeted by piles of cardboard boxes crowding the living room— and even spilling outside.
1/3
Chapter 107 The Price of Playing Merchant
+8 Pearls
Seeing Nathan return, Evelyn quickly masked her awkward expression and said, “W–Well, things have been hard for the family lately. I thought I’d start a little side business to help with expenses.”
“A little business? How many cases is that–thousands? Are you insane?!”
Nathan felt his blood pressure spike.
Afraid he’d blow up, Evelyn rushed to explain. “Honey, I did it for us! I bought special meds and masks. These are all high–demand items! We can make a lot of money off this!”
Hearing that only made Nathan’s expression darker. “You’re telling me those are special meds and masks?”
“Yes!”
Evelyn still didn’t realize how serious this was. “I bought them at a cost of 160 a box. We can sell at 200. That’s a decent margin!”
“Unbelievable!”
3
Nathan nearly slapped her. “That market’s already on its way out, and you bought in at 160 a box? Are you trying to lose everything?!”
“W–What?”
Evelyn didn’t know much about business, but Nathan raged on, “If you’d bought at 160 before the flu hit or just after it started, that would’ve been a windfall! Even two weeks ago, maybe you’d scrape by! But it’s been over a month since the outbreak started winding down. The market’s collapsing, and you’re still buying at a premium? Who’s going to buy from you now?!”
“But… but just last night, people were still messaging me!”
Evelyn felt wronged.
Nathan was so furious it nearly triggered his heart condition. He pointed at the boxes by the door. “How
much?”
“I…”
“How much did you spend?!”
“…E–Eight… eight million.”
Hearing that number, Nathan felt like the sky was falling.
But something didn’t add up. He immediately asked, “Where did you get eight million?!”
Evelyn’s eyes flickered, but Nathan had already locked onto the key detail.
He knew exactly how much cash she had.
The next second, Nathan yanked open the safe.
Sure enough–three gold bars were missing.
2/3
“You!”
Nathan pointed at Evelyn, face flushed with rage. “What exactly have you done?!”
“Honey, don’t worry!”
Evelyn trembled. “We’re going to make money. Supplies are still in short supply! As long as we have the right connections, we’ll definitely profit!”
This was the first time she’d ever used Nathan’s money to invest in something.
Nathan’s expression grew darker. “If you don’t know how to run a business, then don’t get involved! Do you have any idea how much you’ve cost this family?!”
The Rivers family had already been forced to suspend several projects because of the flu.
So many around them had gone bankrupt from it.
Nathan had no intention of joining them.
“Honey, trust me. Look how many people came to me asking for meds and masks. There’s no problem!”
Evelyn tried to calm him. “Besides, this flu is persistent. Even three to five months from now, people will still need medicine…”
Trying to soothe Nathan’s temper, Evelyn spoke gently.
Nathan took a deep breath and said, “I hope you’re right. But right now, you need to unload that stock as fast as possible. Otherwise, you’ll be the one taking the hit!”
88
W
