TL: Etude
Selling just one TV could net fifty yuan in profit—if ten were sold, that would be five hundred!
How much does a worker earnestly going to a job make in a month nowadays?
What's more, after the last experience selling radios, Fang Aiguo had not only gained insights but also established a customer base.
Therefore, he believed that he could quickly sell off this batch of refurbished TVs.
Continuing at this rate, the status of a ten-thousand-yuan household that Chen Jianghai spoke of didn't seem too far off.
Chen Jianghai patted Fang Aiguo's shoulder and said, "Aiguo, work hard, and I will definitely not treat you unfairly."
The matter of commission was something he had already thought through.
Not to mention that Fang Aiguo had been a loyal brother to him in his previous life, and he deserved to be repaid.
Just the previous experience of selling radios alone showed Chen Jianghai Fang Aiguo's capability in sales.
As the saying goes, it's better to teach a man to fish than to give him a fish.
Chen Jianghai wanted to cultivate Fang Aiguo's abilities and confidence so that even if he left one day, he would not lead a mediocre life, forever dependent on his parents.
More importantly, the cost of acquiring an old TV set was only around twenty or thirty yuan, with parts for repairs averaging to about ten yuan; the cost of a refurbished TV did not exceed fifty yuan.
Chen Jianghai took care of the labor himself, so the cost was negligible.
If Fang Aiguo could sell a TV for three hundred yuan, giving him a fifty yuan commission, Chen Jianghai would still have a net profit of two hundred.
That's almost a fourfold return!
Marx once said, if capital sees a fifty percent profit, it will take risks.
If there's a hundred percent profit, it will dare to trample all human laws.
With three hundred percent profit, it would dare to commit any crime, even at the risk of hanging.
With four hundred percent profit, such a return would be something capitalists would not even dare to dream of—it's the realm of the desperado.
Yet, in the China of the nineties, this was not a difficult task.
With such high returns, the commission given to Fang Aiguo really wasn't a concern for Chen Jianghai.
Fang Aiguo said excitedly, "Brother Hai, rest assured, I definitely won't disappoint you."
"Alright, you should head back early to rest up, gather your strength for tomorrow's work," Chen Jianghai said, patting his good brother's shoulder.
Fang Aiguo left filled with ambition, looking as if tonight was going to be a sleepless one for him.
After a busy day, Chen Jianghai also prepared to head home.
Just as he stepped out, he noticed someone in the distance who seemed to be watching the warehouse.
As soon as that person saw Chen Jianghai coming out, they immediately turned and walked away.
Chen Jianghai gave the person a glance but didn't take the matter to heart, locked up, and left.
During dinner, Lin Wanqiu also had no interest in watching TV, looking hesitant to speak, which caught Chen Jianghai's attention.
"What's the matter, Wanqiu? Is there something on your mind?" Chen Jianghai couldn't help but ask.
Lin Wanqiu fidgeted for a moment before saying, "Jianghai, has business... been bad recently?"
She asked tentatively, but Chen Jianghai knew what Lin Wanqiu was implying.
In the previous days, whenever Chen Jianghai made money, he would leave it with Lin Wanqiu.
Chen Jianghai did this partly to reassure Lin Wanqiu, to let her know that he truly had the ability to provide a better life for her.
The other reason was that before the assembly work started, carrying too much cash wasn't safe.
The public security in the nineties wasn't as good as in later years; thieves and pickpockets were not uncommon.
Now that the assembly had started, Chen Jianghai had more expenses, and with hardly any income from repairs, he had no money to give to Lin Wanqiu.
"Yeah, business has dropped a lot, only making about ten or twenty yuan a day," Chen Jianghai replied truthfully.
Hearing this, Lin Wanqiu immediately became anxious.
"What should we do? Why don't you go back to work at my factory? With a stable income, we can live our future life more securely," Lin Wanqiu suggested.
Chen Jianghai just smiled and said, "Wanqiu, you don't have to worry, I've already found a new way to make money."
"What is it?" Lin Wanqiu asked, her face full of curiosity.
"Selling televisions!"
Chen Jianghai didn't hide anything from Lin Wanqiu and said straightforwardly.
"Sell... selling televisions?"
Lin Wanqiu was momentarily stunned, "That's not cheap, do you have that much capital?"
Chen Jianghai put down his chopsticks and told Lin Wanqiu everything he had been doing recently.
"You... you can assemble televisions?"
Lin Wanqiu's face was filled with shock, her eyes wide as if she was seeing this man in a new light.
Chen Jianghai said matter-of-factly, "I can repair electrical appliances, naturally I can assemble them too. Is that strange?"
"Is it profitable?" Lin Wanqiu hesitated before asking.
Chen Jianghai nodded, taking Lin Wanqiu's hand and saying, "I wouldn't do it if it wasn't profitable! Wanqiu, don't worry about making money, that's my concern."
Hearing Chen Jianghai say this, Lin Wanqiu didn't say much more, though worry still lingered in her eyes.
Chen Jianghai saw the concern in Lin Wanqiu's eyes, but knew that explanations were futile.
Because he was well aware, with his wife's cautious nature, unless he could show her the money right now, right in front of her eyes, she would inevitably worry.
But that would soon change.
Once Fang Aiguo managed to sell this batch of televisions and got the money, it would dispel Lin Wanqiu's doubts.
...
The next morning, Fang Aiguo got up early, went to the warehouse, took out a television, and placed it in his family's small shop.
"Aiguo, where did you get this television from?" Huang Shuifeng asked with some surprise upon seeing it.
Fang Aiguo said proudly, "Mom, this was assembled by Brother Hai, impressive isn't it?"
Huang Shuifeng's eyes lit up upon hearing this, "Jianghai has this skill too?"
"Of course, Brother Hai's talents are immense!" Fang Aiguo slightly lifted his chin, his thumb up in the air, looking very pleased with himself.
Huang Shuifeng then asked, "How much money can you make from selling one of these?"
Fang Aiguo stepped forward and said, "For selling one, Brother Hai gives me a fifty yuan commission!"
"How much? What did you say?"
Huang Shuifeng suddenly became agitated, her eyes wide with astonishment.
"Selling one, I earn fifty!"
Fang Aiguo stretched out five fingers and waggled them, his face full of pride.
Huang Shuifeng frowned and said, "Really? Fifty just for selling one?"
"Mom!"
Fang Aiguo complained, "Keep your voice down!"
A trace of worry crossed Huang Shuifeng's face, "Son, is money so easy to earn now?"
"Absolutely! You just don't realize who Brother Hai is." Fang Aiguo's face beamed with a radiant smile.
Huang Shuifeng, however, reminded him earnestly, "Son, it doesn't matter how much we earn, but we must never do anything illegal!"
Fang Aiguo obviously didn't expect his mother to say this and immediately became defensive, "Mom! What are you talking about? How have I done anything illegal?"
Huang Shuifeng expressed her worries, "Such huge profits, would the government allow it? Don't destroy your whole life over a small amount of money!"