2003: Starting with Foreign Trade

Chapter 17 Jinpeng Trading Co., Ltd.
"Alright then, you tell me how you want to allocate it. If there's no problem, let's settle on this."

After a moment's thought, Zhang Xupeng spoke decisively.

“We each have 12 yuan in principal now. We need to deduct some money for daily food and housing. We certainly can’t invest it all.”

“Here’s my idea: I’ll invest 10, and you’ll invest 8; based on a share distribution of 100, I’ll own 55.55%, and you’ll own 44.45%, how about that?”

After saying that, Tan Jincheng smiled and said, "Even if we lose money, we don't have to worry about not having enough money to go home. The 60,000 yuan we have left will be our capital to make a comeback."

After further consideration, Zhang Xupeng realized that Xiao Tan's plan still didn't offer him any advantage. Although he had fewer shares, he also invested less money, so his risk was naturally lower than Xiao Tan's.

This allocation method is still fair and just to me.

"Let's not go with 44.45%, it's too hard to remember. Let's say you get 56% and I get 44%."

Before he could finish speaking, Zhang Xupeng quickly added, "Forget it, 44 sounds too awful. I'll take 43%. You'll be doing more work than me later, so it's reasonable for you to take an extra percentage."

"Isn't this a bit inappropriate? Have you considered how much this 1% equity stake will be worth if we become successful in the future?"

Zhang Xupeng looked at Tan Jincheng as if he were an idiot and said, "Aren't you overthinking it? We don't even know if it will work out. Besides, even if we make 1000 million in the future, this 1% profit won't be much more than the principal."

"And if you have 10 million, would you still care about 1000 or so?"

"What if we make a hundred million or even more in the future?" Tan Jincheng asked Zhang Xupeng.

"Damn, another 100 million? Do you even know how much 100 million is? Why don't you just say you're the richest man in Yicheng? Xiao Tan, your thinking is terrible. You haven't even learned to walk yet, and you're already thinking about running."

"Alright then, I hope you won't regret it in the future," Tan Jincheng shrugged.

The identity of a reborn person must not be exposed. For now, it seems like there's nothing to worry about; but who knows what the future holds? This is all I can say to myself.

“If I regret it, I’ll take your surname, Tan!” Zhang Xupeng glared at Tan Jincheng and said.

"That won't do, I can't give birth to a son that big."

"You want to die, huh? Trying to take advantage of me!"

"You were the one who said you would take my surname."

"I said I only took your surname because I regretted it, are you asking for a beating?"

After they finished speaking, the two started fighting. This was the norm for the two brothers in their previous life. They would fight at the slightest disagreement, but it was always in a joking manner and they would never hurt each other.

Tan Jincheng is very ticklish and can't stand being tickled. Zhang Xupeng discovered this weakness and tried it repeatedly without fail.

"Okay, okay, I was wrong; you said 43, so it's 43. But 43 doesn't sound very good. How about 40?"

"Get lost, you want to be tickled again, huh?"

"Alright, alright, I'll listen to you. Let's talk about what the company should be called then," Tan Jincheng quickly pleaded.

When it came to serious matters, Zhang Xupeng stopped what he was doing.

The distribution of shares was decided in this playful way in a small hotel.

Tan Jincheng invested 10 yuan and Zhang Xupeng invested 8 yuan, accounting for 57% and 43% respectively. The company's operation is based on the principle of friendly consultation, but when the two disagree, Tan Jincheng's opinion shall prevail.

Each party's shares cannot be sold privately. If a share needs to be sold, the other party's consent is required, and the other party has the right of first refusal. There are also other clauses, all of which were drafted in advance by Tan Jincheng with reference to the Company Law.

Apart from the shareholding ratio and the company name, Tan Jincheng had already considered everything else. He then pulled it out of his backpack as if by magic, which really stunned Zhang Xupeng.

"You little rascal, you're way too well prepared."

"Isn't it good to be well-prepared? I've looked at it and there are no problems, right? If there are no problems, let's think of a company name together."

"Isn't it easy to come up with a company name? Let's take one character from each of our names and call it Jinpeng, which means 'a bright future,' right?"

Zhang Xupeng said with a grin, "Pengjin seems like a good name, but since Xiaotan is in charge of the company, let's call it Jinpeng."

"Jinpeng? That's fine too. He's a bit tacky, but the meaning is good. Let's go with him."

Tan Jincheng did not object; and so the name of the company, Yongcheng Jinpeng Trading Co., Ltd., was decided.

Next, he explained what they should do first tomorrow. Most of the time, Tan Jincheng was doing the talking, and Zhang Xupeng was listening.

Overnight, Zhang Xupeng seemed to have a completely new understanding of Tan Jincheng. He was meticulous in his thinking and well-prepared, unlike his first time starting a business.

Xiao Tan seems to be a little different from before.

Everything is difficult at the beginning. Xiao Tan has figured out the direction and the clues. So I have to study hard and not hold Xiao Tan back.

Before they knew it, the two had been talking for nearly four hours. It wasn't until the early hours of the morning, when sleepiness overcame them, that they stopped talking.

Late at night on October 10, 2004, in an unnamed hotel in Beicang District, Ningbo City, two young people fell into a deep sleep, filled with hopeful expectations for the future.

The next morning, their biological clocks, honed from a year of working on the cruise ship, woke them up early.

After washing up and changing into clean clothes, the two went to a breakfast shop near Ningbo Vocational College for breakfast.

A flatbread wrapped around a fried dough stick, tofu pudding, and an egg, totaling two yuan and fifty cents; the prices in 2004 were truly heartbreaking.

If this were 2023, this one egg would cost two yuan.

At this time, the best neighborhood in Beicang, Liren, should have a house price of around 3000, right? Other neighborhoods that are more famous in later years can probably be bought for less than 3000.

In some areas, the landscape is still largely undeveloped, like a newborn baby compared to 2023, brimming with opportunities.

The real rapid economic development of Beicang District began after 08, and housing prices did not rise significantly until 2019.

In 08, affected by the financial crisis, there was even a period when housing prices were offered with zero down payment, which Tan Jincheng remembers very clearly.

Of course, if you bought a house in Haibian Chunxiao back in 08, you would have fallen into a trap; at that time, the concept of sea-view villas was being hyped up, and the price was almost the highest point in the next 15 years.

If you buy new coal (qi, meaning 'qi'), then there's absolutely no problem, even with large coal.

Small goals, one step at a time. First, earn money to buy a house; get yourself a foothold in this city as soon as possible!
After finishing their meal and paying the bill, Tan Jincheng pulled Zhang Xupeng out of the breakfast shop. The number of students in the nearby shops was gradually increasing.

With the official opening of Tianrunfa, the popularity of this street has increased year by year, and the 703 bus route passing through here has always been the busiest bus route in Beicang District.

This is the essence of everyday life.

(End of this chapter)