Chereads / Rebirth: Back to 1991 to Become the Richest Man / Chapter 10 - Chapter 10: Adding Some Extras

Chapter 10 - Chapter 10: Adding Some Extras

TL: Etude

Chen Jianghai got straight to the point, grinning as he said, "Brother Dong, I'm looking to buy some accessories."

"What do you need accessories for? Go talk to the sales department. Why come to me?" Xu Dong appeared all business, a complete contrast to his attitude from the previous day.

Chen Jianghai seemed to ponder something before speaking, "The sales department is swamped right now. They don't have time for me."

Xu Dong glanced at Chen Jianghai and remarked indifferently, "That's not my concern."

With that, he lowered his head and continued reading his newspaper.

Faced with this situation, Chen Jianghai grew somewhat anxious.

If he couldn't persuade Xu Dong to pull some strings, there'd be no way to secure the accessories.

Buying them from a store would be expensive, significantly reducing his profit margin, not to mention the waste of time.

Even though there was an electronics components factory nearby, it had no dedicated sales outlet.

To purchase, he'd have to go to a nearby city.

"Brother Dong, have a cigarette!" Chen Jianghai quickly leaned in, offering a cigarette and placing a freshly opened pack of Ashima cigarettes on the table.

Xu Dong hesitated for a moment but finally accepted it.

As the saying goes, don't slap a smiling face.

Given Chen Jianghai's humble approach and the fact that they had interacted the day before, Xu Dong found it difficult to outright reject him.

This looks promising!

Seizing the moment, Chen Jianghai lit the cigarette for Xu Dong and said with a smile, "Brother Dong, it seems the factory's performance isn't too good."

Hearing this, Xu Dong couldn't help but sigh. He set down the newspaper he had no interest in continuing to read and began to vent his frustrations.

"You're telling me! Nowadays, there are lots of private enterprises in the electronics market, and even foreign companies have moved in. A small local factory like ours can't compete. If we price high, no one will buy; if we price low, we'll incur losses. It's a tough situation!"

From the looks of it, the electronics components factory was in particularly bad shape.

No wonder it would go bankrupt soon.

After all, when you consider that a town didn't even have its own distribution point for the factory, it wasn't hard to realize how rigid the leadership's thinking was.

But at this moment, Chen Jianghai didn't want to stick his nose in other people's business and offer unsolicited advice.

Better to focus on assembling his products quietly and make some money!

With a slight smile, Chen Jianghai continued, "Let's put the factory aside for now, Brother Dong. Have you thought about your next steps?"

Hearing this, Xu Dong looked at him in surprise and fell into silence.

State-owned enterprises like theirs were currently facing reform. Many factories, even those that were much more profitable, had collapsed in a short period.

Their factory was already in crisis, and if they continued this way, they wouldn't last much longer.

And if it did shut down, he'd be out of a job.

These thoughts filled Xu Dong with a series of sighs.

Unbeknownst to him, he had finished his cigarette.

Only at this moment did he realize—how had this guy taken control of the conversation?

This Chen Jianghai is not simple!

"So what exactly are you getting at?" Xu Dong narrowed his eyes, sizing up Chen Jianghai as he questioned him.

Chen Jianghai smiled, saying, "Hey, what else can I do? I just want to make some money."

As he spoke, he rubbed his thumb and index finger together, miming the action of counting money.

"Make money?" Xu Dong's mouth cracked into a smile, tinged with both mockery and curiosity, "Buying just one or two heating tubes at a time, how much can you earn?"

Here it comes!

Chen Jianghai immediately responded earnestly, "Brother Dong, the quantity I need this time is substantial."

Xu Dong didn't pay much attention. After taking a sip of tea, he looked at Chen Jianghai with a half-smile and said, "Big? How big can it be? How much money can you make by dealing in some electronic components?"

Chen Jianghai replied at a measured pace, "Brother Dong, to be honest, I'm planning to assemble and sell electronics myself soon."

"What did you say?" Xu Dong's eyes widened in astonishment as he stared at Chen Jianghai.

Seeming to have anticipated this reaction, Chen Jianghai calmly said, "I said I'm going to assemble and sell electronics!"

"You'll assemble them? Do you know how?" Xu Dong scrutinized Chen Jianghai for a few seconds, emphasizing his query.

Chen Jianghai smiled and said confidently, "Brother Dong, if I bring it up, it means I have confidence. I have the skills, you have the resources; collaboration will surely be profitable."

Hearing this, Xu Dong's face contorted slightly, clearly tempted.

Chen Jianghai knew he needed to add a little extra to tip the scales. "Brother Dong, the factory's profit will always belong to the factory. The money that reaches your pocket is yours." Chen Jianghai spoke with weighty sincerity, as if he was entirely considering Xu Dong's interests.

Xu Dong remained silent, walked to the door, and after ensuring no one was outside, he closed it. "How exactly are we going to do this? Let's hear it," he asked quietly upon returning.

"It's simple! I'll take components from you, you guarantee my supply, and we settle in cash," Chen Jianghai laid out his plan.

Xu Dong couldn't help but take a deep breath. The scope for maneuvering was significant if they were to proceed. As long as the quantity was substantial, even slightly below market prices could guarantee profitability. His warehouse was brimming with spare parts that were even beginning to rust, and he had been anxious about turning them into cash. He didn't expect Chen Jianghai to take all of it, but anything that could be sold before the factory closed would suffice.

"Tell me what you need, and I'll get it for you now," said Xu Dong, without hesitation, having thought it through.

Chen Jianghai promptly listed about thirty components he needed. Xu Dong jotted them down and told him, "Wait here."

About fifteen minutes later, Xu Dong hurriedly returned with a bag. "Here, everything you need is in this bag. Give me thirty bucks and go quickly; let's not be seen."

Chen Jianghai pulled four crisp new bills from his pocket and handed them to Xu Dong. "Thanks, Brother Dong!"

After Chen Jianghai left, Xu Dong looked at the four new bills in his hand, still smelling of ink, and nodded: This Chen Jianghai is really something.

Armed with the purchased components, Chen Jianghai rode his bicycle cheerfully back to the street and efficiently repaired the remaining electronics.

"Somebody ought to say it, Master Chen; it's a waste for you not to open a shop with your skills!" someone couldn't help but exclaim.

"Indeed, if Master Chen opens a shop, I'll definitely be a patron!"

"Be a patron? Old Liu, do you have that many appliances at home? He doesn't repair flashlights!"

"But seriously, if Master Chen really opens a repair shop, it'll be so convenient for us!"

Watching people chat and joke with each other, Chen Jianghai couldn't help but feel sentimental. The saying was true: better a close neighbor than a distant relative.

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