Mr. Minser owned the only general store in town. He was friends with many of the farm estates, from whom he bought wheat, corn, chicken, and beef. They would often come to give him deals and do business with him. The only people who purchased from his store were the estate's servants, except for Mr. D, the man who sold him the beef and chicken. Mr. D had 15 children, one of whom was 18 and accompanied his father almost everywhere. There was only one large wheat estate nearby, as well as other large estates in the area. Any other nearby estate was at least two hundred miles away.
On a busy day, four businessmen entered his shop. They were the men from whom he had borrowed a loan one year ago in order to purchase a much-needed supply of corn and wheat. However, he was still unable to pay back the loan.
"Look," said one of them, seeming half-asleep, "you need to pay your loan."
Suddenly, there was a shout as someone tried to enter the shop, but the crowd of chatting people inside the doorway prevented them.
It happened to be his sister with her four little kids with their pocket money who liked to buy candy. His sister simply grabbed an apron, smiled, and said, "Busy day, huh," before going into the back of the store.
I want four candies said the youngest timing up to the counter and putting down his money.
Ok
, the storekeeper replied, grabbing four candies from the shelf and ringing up the sale. The youngest child eagerly took the candies and ran back to his siblings.
Meanwhile, the businessmen continued to press Mr. Minser about his loan repayment. They insisted that he needed to pay it back soon or else they would take legal action against him.
Mr. Minser looked worried as he glanced at his sister in the back of the store. He knew he had borrowed a significant amount and was struggling to make ends meet. He had hoped that the recent business from the farm estates would help him generate enough income to pay off the loan, but it hadn't been enough so far.
"I understand your concerns," Mr. Minser said to the businessmen. "I am doing my best to generate enough revenue to repay the loan. I apologize for the delay, but I ask for a little more time."
The businessmen exchanged frustrated glances but agreed to give him a little more time. They warned him that this would be their final extension and emphasized the consequences of not repaying the loan.
After the businessmen left, Mr. Minser's sister emerged from the back of the store. She had overheard the conversation and looked concerned.
"Brother, what are we going to do?" she asked.
Mr. Minser sighed deeply. "I don't know, sis. Business has been tough, and I don't want to lose the store. I must find a way to repay that loan soon."
His sister thought for a moment and then suggested, "What if we reach out to the farm estates and ask if they can help us with a temporary loan? You have a good relationship with them, and they might be willing to assist."
Mr. Minser considered the idea. It was worth a try. He knew he needed to find a solution quickly before things got worse.
The next day, Mr. Minser visited the nearby wheat estate and explained his situation to the owner. To his relief, the wheat estate owner agreed to provide him with a temporary loan to help him repay the businessmen.
With the new loan, Mr. Minser was able to pay off the businessmen and avoid any legal actions. He continued to work hard and gradually managed to stabilize his finances, ensuring the survival of his general store.
From that day on, Mr. Minser remained grateful to his sister and the farm estates for their support during his difficult times. He learned the importance of maintaining good relationships with his suppliers and customers, as they could be the key to overcoming challenges in his business.