The next day.
Tang Qing was awakened by his biological clock early in the morning.
He glanced at his watch and it was only half past six. He went back to sleep, but around eight o'clock, he was awakened by the rumbling of his stomach. He sat up, shook his gradually awakening head and realized that there was no point in trying to get more sleep.
He needed to go out and find something to eat.
He would be a diligent small... eh, never mind.
He didn't feel like cooking himself.
After freshening up,
Tang Qing had a traditional breakfast at the entrance of his neighborhood: deep-fried dough sticks, steamed buns, and soya milk. Today, he needed to eat three times his usual portion to feel full.
It seemed like,
from now on he had to eat more, or else he wouldn't grow properly.
After breakfast,
Tang Qing was ready to start his task.
Time was pressing.
He was hoping to secure the clients recommended by the system today.
But before that, the first thing was to buy a mobile phone. Although his uncle's house had a landline, he, who was used to the information age, always felt it was inconvenient without a mobile phone.
...
Fifteen minutes later.
In Qingyan City,
on the Pedestrian Street.
Tang Qing was leisurely strolling around.
In his previous life, he rarely came here.
Because his family was in the business of selling clothes.
And with Lin Jiaxue's frugality, they seldom went shopping. They usually strolled around the wholesale market because they knew many bosses in the market.
It was the perfect combination of quality and affordability.
At this moment,
most of the stores on the pedestrian street were already open.
But there were few customers around, which was understandable, as folks were either enjoying a holiday lie-in or busy with Golden Week activities like traveling or visiting relatives, diluting the overall crowd.
Soon,
Tang Qing spotted a mobile phone shop.
It was quite big.
The store's sound system was broadcasting discount information and introductions to various new products.
It was precisely nine in the morning.
The mobile phone store had just opened not long ago.
The shop assistants were idly chatting in the back. The idle chat only stopped when they noticed that a customer, Tang Qing, had entered the shop.
However, upon seeing Tang Qing's attire,
they resumed their seats.
It made sense considering the service consciousness hadn't reached a certain height in this era. But Tang Qing didn't pay much mind to it. After all, he wasn't money anyone should be circling around.
"Welcome! How can I help you?"
As soon as he entered the store, a pretty girl with a delicate face came up to him.
"I want to buy a decent mobile phone. Do you have any suggestions?" Tang Qing smiled and pondered whether he should buy one for Lin Jiaxue too, but dismissed the idea.
If he did buy her one
he might get berated by Lin Jiaxue for being wasteful.
"What price range are you thinking about?" the salesperson asked.
"Around two or three thousand will do," Tang Qing answered without hesitation.
This would be his first mobile phone in this lifetime.
Of course, he wanted to buy the best.
However,
looking at those so-called majestic phones of 2004 in the display case, his facial muscles twitched a bit. Having been used to smartphones, he felt a bit embarrassed going out with this type of phone.
But then it struck him that these were the most popular models right now.
And he accepted it.
"Alright, sir, please follow me."
The salesperson looked at Tang Qing in surprise.
She didn't expect Tang Qing, who looked like a student, to be a big customer. She was even a bit excited. Selling a phone priced around three thousand, considering the current prices, the commission for her would indeed be substantial.
She's now treating Tang Qing like he's some kind of Richie Rich.
She brought Tang Qing to a counter at the very back.
Pointing at the pile of phones inside the cabinet.
"These phones are all top-of-the-line global brands, although quite expensive, they have all-rounded functionality, superior performance, exquisite design, and have high international reputations."
Looking at these phones.
Tang Qing didn't know what to say.
Most of the phones here were Nokia, with a few Motorola and Ericsson models, and one Mitsubishi. But these phones, which they viewed as representing advanced technology, trend-setting style, and latest craftsmanship...
...Well.
That's something.
Making phones in the future seems to be a good business choice, though there's a high entry barrier. But, it'll do for now.
As the saying goes, the shortest trees sprout the tallest.
After looking around.
Tang Qing pointed at the Motorola V3.
"Let me take a look at this one."
With a price tag of six thousand five hundred, although it is a flip phone, it looks much better compared to other straight-line phones and flip phones with an added antenna.
At least it doesn't give off a silly-outdated vibe while using it.
"Alright."
It just got released last month.
There weren't many units in their store either, and due to its steep price, it had been sitting in the store for almost a week with no buyers. Out of professional ethics, the female sales assistant enthusiastically took out the phone from the counter.
"Sir, this phone is the latest arrival in our store, and it's not yet available in other stores in the city. It has an aviation-grade aluminum alloy frame, comes with a 300,000-pixel camera, 5M memory, can take videos, listen to music, watch videos, and even supports Bluetooth..."
She skillfully introduced the features and selling points of the phone to Tang Qing.
In her mind, even if he didn't buy it.
It was good sales practice anyway.
After flipping it over a few times, Tang Qing felt quite satisfied.
The jet-black frame and design were full of high-tech vibes for the times. As for the other features, he didn't really care – 300,000 pixels, only 5M memory and no support for extension cards.
How much could one really expect?
Back in his first year of college.
He had been so envious of a classmate who owned this phone model. That guy would show it off all day, and now it was his turn to boast a little.
Although he felt… quite immature and foolish.
Well.
He needed to move past such childish tendencies.
At that time.
A few female sales assistants who had nothing better to do, started teasing Tang Qing and made him a subject of their jokes, occasionally bursting into fits of laughter. Not only could Tang Qing hear everything clearly, but the beautiful sales assistant heard it too.
Being a laughing stock right there and then.
Tang Qing wasn't pleased at all, an unhappy look painted on his face.
How melodramatic.
Was the scriptwriter of life the kind of person who likes to see others uncomfortable?
"I'm sorry!"
The salesgirl too didn't look too pleased.
Her lips curling up in a bitter and helpless smile. Being pretty was both a curse and a blessing. Many customers would gaze at her while purchasing their phones, causing the other senior salesgirls to feel jealous.
They even collaborated to isolate her.
Upon hearing this.
Tang Qing shook his head with a smile, and reassured her, "It's not your fault. Keep treating every customer with sincerity. Their lives are already predestined, but yours is full of unknown and hope."
This girl was being isolated.
He had been there in his past life.
Especially in the foreign trade company he used to work for. Even though he held the fancy title of 'manager', those royal relatives didn't fear him at all, each acting like overlords, commanding him around.
They didn't give a damn about him.
A family business?
Tang Qing chuckled.
If he hadn't been reborn, he would have liked to see the faces of those arrogant family members when the business failed. I'd like to see you build your high-rise buildings, wine and dine your guests. I'd like to see it when your building collapses.
No one is spared by fate.
"Thank you, I'll hang in there." The beautiful sales assistant said with resolute eyes.
"I'll take this one, make out the bill."
Tang Qing decided to buy it.
Even though it was way beyond his initial budget, it was well worth it.