TL: Etude
Chen Jianghai was about to speak when he saw someone rush in quickly, shouting: "Brother Hai, you've finally come!"
Upon realizing there were quite a few people standing in the warehouse, the hasty Fang Aiguo couldn't help but pause.
"Yo, sister-in-law, you're here too!"
Lin Wanqiu revealed a light smile and responded, "Mhm."
Fang Aiguo's gaze then shifted to Lin Jianguo and Xue Chunli with a hint of confusion.
Chen Jianghai continued to introduce them, "Aiguo, these are my parents-in-law."
"Uncle and Auntie, hello, my name is Fang Aiguo, I am Brother Hai's friend, helping out around here."
Fang Aiguo quickly said with warmth.
"Jianghai, if he is the one watching the warehouse, what is he doing then?"
Lin Jianguo pointed at Zhao Changgui and then at Fang Aiguo, asking.
After all, the warehouse wasn't large; having one person to watch it could be justified, but two seemed excessive.
Before Chen Jianghai could speak, Fang Aiguo preempted, "Uncle, I am in charge of sales, specifically selling televisions."
Xue Chunli followed up with a question, "Then… how much does one television… sell for?"
Fang Aiguo hesitated and glanced at Chen Jianghai, unsure if he should reveal this.
It was a business secret, after all.
Seeing Fang Aiguo's hesitation, Xue Chunli's heart skipped a beat.
Could this man be an actor hired by Chen Jianghai?
Chen Jianghai waved his hand, "Aiguo, just answer whatever my mom asks you; we're all family here, no need to hide anything."
Fang Aiguo nodded and was about to answer when a man's voice was heard from outside.
"Aiguo, are you there?"
"Yes, yes!" Fang Aiguo quickly responded.
As soon as Fang Aiguo finished speaking, a man in his thirties entered from the doorway.
Upon seeing Fang Aiguo, he immediately started complaining: "Aiguo, when can I get the television? I've already paid the deposit!"
"Brother Xiang, don't be anxious!"
Fang Aiguo said with a hint of helplessness, "I already told you, there are just too many people ordering, you have to wait in line!"
Brother Xiang sighed and pleaded: "Buddy, it's not that I'm impatient, my future mother-in-law is coming, and I'm counting on this TV to make a good impression. You have to get me one as soon as possible!"
"There's nothing I can do if there's no stock!" Fang Aiguo spread his hands.
Hearing this, Chen Jianghai couldn't help but chime in, "Brother, we have one that will be assembled right away, can you wait a bit?"
This guy is having a hard time; he's trying to impress his mother-in-law. We must help him out!
Upon hearing this, Brother Xiang quickly agreed, "Sure, sure, as long as I can get it today, I'll pay right now, thank you!"
After saying this, Brother Xiang couldn't wait to pull out a stack of money from his pocket and stuffed it into Fang Aiguo's hand.
Xue Chunli saw everything clearly.
There was a one-hundred-yuan note, and the rest were fifties, twenties, tens, and fives.
At least three to four hundred yuan.
A single assembled television could sell for so much!
How much was the cost?
Xue Chunli's mind couldn't accommodate anything else; she was now pondering how much money Chen Jianghai could make from this business.
Chen Jianghai then said to Lin Wanqiu and Lin Jianguo, "Dad, Mom, Wanqiu, please sit down for a while, I'll get this television assembled and handed over to the customer."
With that, he picked up his tools and began to get busy.
Seeing this, everyone tactfully moved aside.
After watching for a while, Brother Xiang couldn't help but ask Fang Aiguo in a low voice, "Is that Master Chen?"
"Exactly, that's my brother Hai," Fang Aiguo confirmed, his chin lifted with a hint of pride.
Brother Xiang couldn't help but give a thumbs up, genuinely praising, "Many people in our town have had their appliances fixed by Master Chen. Everyone says his craftsmanship is impeccable!"
"Then, Brother Xiang, you must give us a good word. The TV sets assembled by my brother Hai are also guaranteed quality!" Fang Aiguo said with a smile.
Without hesitation, Brother Xiang responded, "Of course, otherwise I wouldn't have come all the way here to buy one."
The conversation between the two made Lin Jianguo and his wife exchange glances before turning their attention to Chen Jianghai.
About half an hour later, Chen Jianghai put down his tools.
The television was now assembled.
Chen Jianghai plugged it in adeptly, flipped the switch, and the screen lit up promptly, though it was all snowy.
"It's all set, you can use it now. Just plug in the antenna or the cable TV when you get back. You know how to do it, right? If not, let Aiguo go with you," Chen Jianghai said as he stood up and patted the television.
"I know, I know. The antenna has been set up already; just waiting for the TV. Thank you, Master Chen, I'll be on my way now!"
With that, Brother Xiang happily carried the TV on his shoulder and left.
"Brother Hai, I haven't given you the money for the TV I sold a few days ago. I'll give it all to you today," Fang Aiguo said after seeing Brother Xiang off.
In fact, as soon as Fang Aiguo realized that the couple before him were Chen Jianghai's parents-in-law, he knew what he had to do.
Now, he had to put everything aside. His first priority was to ensure Brother Hai made a good impression in front of his mother-in-law and father-in-law.
Chen Jianghai smiled slightly, casting an approving glance at Fang Aiguo.
The lad had indeed grown up over this period.
Not to mention anything else, but his ability to read a situation and act accordingly was impressive.
"Brother Hai, here's the money," Fang Aiguo said as he pulled out a thick stack of cash. The exact amount was unknown, but it looked substantial.
Xue Chunli and Lin Jianguo's eyes popped at the sight of the money!
Such a thick stack of cash, how much could it be?!
Sensing the thoughts of the elders, Fang Aiguo promptly declared the amount.
"The total is 1,854 yuan!"
Upon hearing this figure, Chen Jianghai was initially taken aback, but then he quickly realized what was going on.
This youngster was pretty slick!
It was known that Chen Jianghai had only assembled two television sets in the past few days, selling for a total of just over 700 yuan.
But the figure Fang Aiguo reported was over a thousand more.
Presumably, this extra thousand was the cost for the electrical appliances Chen Jianghai had previously sent him to collect.
Without a doubt, the lad had used this money to exaggerate Chen Jianghai's income in front of Lin Wanqiu's parents.
Strictly speaking, it wasn't an exaggeration.
After all, Fang Aiguo was very clear in his mind that Chen Jianghai was now a genuine ten-thousand-yuan household.
If Lin Wanqiu's parents were somewhat skeptical before, after this act, they were likely to be thoroughly convinced.
Chen Jianghai accepted the money with a smile and then took out a hundred-yuan bill: "Then, this is for you."
Fang Aiguo didn't say much, just cheerfully took the money.
Zhao Changgui witnessed this scene but remained silent.
In his eyes, there was no envy, no jealousy, just tranquility.
Lin Jianguo and Xue Chunli were dumbfounded by the thick stack of cash in Chen Jianghai's hand.
"Ah!"
Lin Jianguo suddenly shouted, turning his head and exclaimed, "Old woman, why did you pinch me?"