Liu Bing found Ding Yuanying's apartment and rang the doorbell.
When Ding Yuanying opened the door and saw Liu Bing, he was slightly surprised. "It's you? Come in."
The shift from a business relationship to this new dynamic made Liu Bing uneasy. He awkwardly said, "Brother Ding, I'm sorry about the record sales before. Last night, I was drinking with Xiaoming and Shijie at the night market until past one. This morning, I went to see Miss Rui. She drove me here and told me to come."
Ding Yuanying politely invited Liu Bing to sit. Liu Bing's hints had already made his intentions clear. Ding handed him a cigarette and said casually, "We know each other. The record deal was just business; it's all good."
Sitting on the sofa, Liu Bing saw the expensive audio system that Ye Xiaoming had once described with such awe. As an audiophile, Liu Bing was mesmerized, momentarily forgetting why he was there. He walked over to the audio system, crouched down to touch the CD player, and exclaimed, "Wow, this is amazing!" At that moment, seeing the system up close, his doubts about Ding Yuanying began to fade, even though there was no logical connection between the equipment and Ding's capabilities.
Understanding Liu Bing's feelings, Ding Yuanying waited silently.
After a few moments, Liu Bing snapped back to reality and returned to the sofa, embarrassed. "I'm sorry, Brother Ding. I've never seen anything like this. I heard you're helping Shijie and Xiaoming with something. I'm here to ask if you could give me a chance too."
Seeing Liu Bing holding an unlit cigarette, Ding Yuanying leaned over and lit it for him, then lit his own. Taking a puff, he said, "This is Shijie's project. I'm just tagging along. If you're interested, as long as Shijie and Xiaoming agree, it's fine by me. I don't have the authority to make that decision."
Liu Bing said, "Brother Ding, you're the one holding the majority share, so it's up to you."
Ding Yuanying replied, "It's not me holding the majority; it's the investors. If this project is feasible, I'm just a matchmaker between the capital and Shijie. The investors' majority share is to mitigate risks. It doesn't change the fact that Shijie and Xiaoming are the main players. From a financial perspective, you're getting a share of their pie. They're the ones in control, not me. If they agree, it's all good."
Liu Bing felt relieved and more relaxed. "We're a close-knit group in the local audio circle. They asked me to talk to you because they were worried you might disagree."
Ding Yuanying said, "Then there's no problem."
Liu Bing continued, "Thanks, Brother Ding. I've decided to sell my shop in the next few days. I'll invest whatever I get from it. You may not know me well..."
Just as Liu Bing was about to delve deeper, the doorbell rang. Liu Bing knew it had to be Ye Xiaoming or Feng Shijie bringing market information about audio systems, as they had discussed last night at the night market.
When Ding Yuanying opened the door, it was indeed Ye Xiaoming and Feng Shijie. Ye Xiaoming was carrying two heavy plastic bags filled with magazines and newspapers.
Liu Bing stood up and said in a familiar tone, "I knew it was you two."
Ye Xiaoming, reading the situation from Liu Bing's expression and tone, said, "What a coincidence!"
Liu Bing smiled, "Miss Rui brought me here."
Ye Xiaoming placed the bags on the sofa. "Brother Ding, we've brought all the materials we could gather."
With the sofa now full, Ding Yuanying fetched two folding chairs from the inner room and placed them by the coffee table for Ye Xiaoming and Feng Shijie. He then went to the kitchen and retrieved several small tea cups, starting to prepare tea. "Since you're all here, let's discuss Liu Bing's involvement."
Feng Shijie said, "We're all brothers. As long as Brother Ding doesn't mind, let's do it together."
"Exactly, we're all in this together," Ye Xiaoming added with a smile. He then pulled a piece of paper from his pocket and placed it on the table. "Brother Ding, here are some audio forums I frequent. They have a lot of information you might find useful."
Ding Yuanying glanced at the paper and put it in his pocket. "I have a question. Miss Rui's speakers use components from the Le Sheng flagship series, which is their premium line. Why are these components available for retail by dealers?"
Ye Xiaoming, the expert on this topic, explained, "Le Sheng's flagship components have three distribution channels. First, audiophiles who build their own speakers, enjoying both high performance and affordability. Second, audio shops that assemble and sell these as 'value versions' with Le Sheng flagship labels but not their trademark, indicating they're not original Le Sheng products. Third, high-end audio workshops in big cities that cater to wealthy clients, using Le Sheng components in luxury handmade speakers. These distribution channels don't hurt the flagship's market and actually boost Le Sheng's brand recognition."
Feng Shijie added, "Reputable audio companies have their own brands and won't use others' components to boost their products. They usually mix and match parts to highlight their brand. It's not that Le Sheng's speakers are the best, but at that price point, their flagship series offers the best value. Without considering the price, Western brands are still superior."
Ding Yuanying nodded, understanding now.
Feng Shijie, looking at the audio system, asked, "Brother Ding, can we listen?"
Ding Yuanying said, "Go ahead. The records are in the bookshelf in the other room. Pick what you like."
Perhaps driven by their passion for records, the three men eagerly went to browse the collection. The two tall bookshelves, aside from a few reference books, were packed with over a thousand records, a treasure trove for them. They excitedly examined each one, amazed to find many original records from famous international labels, some so rare they hadn't even seen them in audio magazines.
After a while, they returned with a few records they had chosen based solely on their covers. Ye Xiaoming turned on the system and inserted a CD. The speakers filled the room with a beautiful, North African-inspired melody led by a piano and accompanied by a violin, immediately captivating them.
Liu Bing shook his head in amazement, "No words can describe it. The piano is so crisp, and the violin sounds so smooth, like it's been polished."
With the water boiled, Ding Yuanying brewed tea and poured a cup for each of them.
Feng Shijie sighed, "Since listening to Miss Rui's setup, I can't even use my own. Domingo's voice gets worse, and Heifetz's violin sounds heavier. It's unbearable."
Ye Xiaoming smiled, "This music is soothing. I listened to a folk music collection the other day; it was all so mournful, with the erhu and horsehead fiddle making it even sadder."
Liu Bing took a sip of tea, exclaiming, "This tea is fragrant!" Setting down his cup, he added, "Listening to this system is torture. I'll never be satisfied tinkering with mine again. In the end, you need money for good sound."
Seeing Ding Yuanying hadn't said much, Ye Xiaoming finished his tea and stood up. "Brother Ding, take your time with the materials. Call me if you need more information. We have other matters to attend to, so we'll be off."
Feng Shijie also stood, "We'll leave you to it, Brother Ding."
Ding Yuanying, with plenty of materials to review, didn't keep them longer.
Back in the Jeep, the three of them were in high spirits, chatting animatedly as they drove away from Jiahe Garden Community.
Feng Shijie asked Ye Xiaoming, "Do you think Brother Ding is an audiophile?"
Ye Xiaoming replied, "Not really, just a player. Look at his lifestyle: listening to music, drinking tea, all calm and composed."
From the back seat, Liu Bing leaned forward, "Brother Ding's lifestyle is like a god's. If I'd known, I'd never have made money off him back then."
Ye Xiaoming teased, "If you feel that way, you can still return the money."
Liu Bing protested, "No way. That would be insulting to Brother Ding. Hey, guys, since we have investors now, do we still need to put in our own money?"
Ye Xiaoming, exaggerating a fainting gesture, said, "Faint!"
Feng Shijie laughed, "If I weren't driving, I'd faint too."