Year 1983: I was a carpenter in Northeast China

Chapter 146 A Sudden Enlightenment

The Chen brothers, Jianguo and Chen Jianshe, were taken aback by Xu Bei's words.

However, he then realized that the collaboration was still quite feasible.

After all, they don't need to do the work or provide the materials; they just need to be responsible for sales.

Moreover, as a timber-producing region, the price is lower.

Chen Jianguo chuckled and said, "Brother Xu, look at the mess you've made. I've never heard you mention this before."

Xu Bei said with a smile, "I didn't know your brother did this before today, otherwise I would have told you already."

.

"Indeed. It's also because I didn't tell you, how would you have known? And to be honest, when I first heard you were from that area, I really wanted to ask about the timber, but transporting it over would probably be quite troublesome, so I didn't bring myself to ask."

However, the finished product is different, and it's much easier to transport.

Chen Jianguo paused for a moment, "But we also need to check how well the stools and tables are made, and how much profit there is, before we can decide whether to cooperate."

Xu Bei could easily see that the two brothers were interested. He laughed heartily and said, "Of course. We'll mail you samples when we get back. If you think they're suitable, send a telegram to make the payment and ship the goods. If you don't think they're suitable, just pretend it never happened. Anyway, I'm just selling them for my boss, so it definitely won't affect our relationship."

After exchanging glances, Chen Jianguo spoke first, "Of course, we've been dealing with each other for a while now, so what's there to say?"

They verbally agreed on the matter in the courtyard, and then Xu Bei and Zhao Fengying left the Chen family with Chen Jianguo to go to Boss Zhang's place to buy goods.

On the way, the three of them chatted and inevitably continued the topic of selling wooden stools and tables.

The more Chen Jianguo listened, the more he felt there was money to be made, and he looked forward to receiving more samples from them after they returned.

Xu Bei was quite pleased with the collaboration that might have unexpectedly led to.

Compared to unfamiliar strangers, Chen Jianguo's character seems quite good for now, and he is trustworthy.

If the cooperation is successful, it will expand the market to the provincial capital, and the income will be even greater in the future.

Zhao Fengying was also happy that her son might earn more commission.

But in front of Chen Jianguo, he definitely had to keep a straight face, lest he become a laughing stock or cause things to go wrong because of his obvious joy or excitement.

After getting off the bus, the mother and son, led by Chen Jianguo who knew the way well, quickly arrived at a bungalow.

They overheard each other on the way, saying that since it was just after the New Year, many people were still immersed in the afterglow of the celebrations, and Boss Zhang's goods were still stored at home, not yet moved back to the warehouse that Xu Bei had visited.

Chen Jianguo gestured with his chin toward a half-open tin door, "This is it."

Then he stepped forward, pushed open the door, and led the two into the courtyard.

Compared to the clean and tidy Chen family home, the state of the Zhang family home's yard clearly indicated that it was a messy and somewhat pathetic place.

Perhaps seeing someone enter the courtyard, a woman with short hair came out of the house.

Chen Jianguo immediately greeted her with a smile, "Sister-in-law, is my brother Zhang home?"

"He's not here! Do you need to see him?"

The woman recognized Chen Jianguo, so she kept looking Xu Bei and the other two unfamiliar people up and down as she spoke.

Xu Bei remained completely oblivious to the scrutiny, casually glancing around as if he were at home.

Zhao Fengying felt a little awkward and uneasy, after all, it was her first time dealing with stocking goods, and the boss wasn't even there.

Chen Jianguo pointed to Xu Bei and Zhao Fengying beside him, "I brought my friends over to take a look at the goods. It won't be a problem since Brother Zhang isn't home, right?"

""

The woman's attitude changed immediately, becoming incredibly enthusiastic. "No problem, no problem, I'll have the child go to the neighbor's house to call him back right away. Please come in and have a seat."

Xu Bei and the others naturally followed suit and went into the house first.

Then the woman sent a little boy, about seven or eight years old, with snot running down his face and wiping it with his sleeve, to fetch someone.

After that, they were busy making tea, pouring water, and serving melon seeds and candy.

However, the three of them took the cups and put them aside without drinking from them.

Just as they were having an awkward, rambling conversation, Old Zhang, wearing a black cotton-padded coat, jogged back from outside.

"Oh, it's Boss Chen and Brother Xu! Happy New Year! And who is this?"

"Happy New Year, this is my mother." After introducing her, Xu Bei turned to his mother and said, "Mom, we used to get our small general merchandise from Boss Zhang."

"I should call her 'Big Sister' now, let's address each other respectfully," Boss Zhang asked with a smile. "Big Sister, those hair ties and hair clips are selling like hotcakes here! Do they sell well over there too?"

Zhao Fengying felt that this person was much older than her, at least in his fifties, but calling her "elder sister" was just a respectful title, and she couldn't take it too seriously.

"It sold well, very well. Later we ran out of stock, and people were still coming to us for more, but there were only one or two days left until the Chinese New Year, so we didn't restock."

Boss Zhang looked on with pity for them, "Look, they didn't buy enough goods. It'll delay their sales and they'll make less money. This time, stock up on whatever you think will sell well. It's not easy for you to come all this way."

Zhao Fengying, still following her son's lead outside, didn't rush to respond, but instead looked at Xu Bei.

Xu Bei wasn't easily fooled by a few words. He smiled and said, "It'll be the off-season after the New Year. Let's check the goods later."

"Yes, things have definitely slowed down after the New Year. Now come with me to see the goods."

Old Zhang didn't say anything more and quickly led the three of them to the house next door.

There were many boxes and bags piled up from the kang (a heated brick bed) to the floor.

Xu Bei's gaze, however, was drawn to the pile of fabrics on the shelf, especially the red fabric, which he glanced at several times without making a sound. "You still have fabrics for sale?"

Boss Zhang immediately looked over and said with a smile, "This batch of slightly flawed material was put here by someone else for resale. If you want it, I can give you the lowest price."

"Let me take a look first." Xu Bei walked over, picked up a corner of the fabric, and rubbed it between his fingers, feeling the slightly elastic texture and thick grain of the fabric. The simple and neat collar design of Xiaoqing shirt immediately came to mind.

"Mom, this material is not bad, much better than that stiff coarse cloth. Why don't we buy some and take it home?"

Zhao Fengying initially didn't understand what her son was up to.

They came here to buy small general merchandise, so why did they take a liking to fabrics?

However, after the mother and son whispered to each other, she suddenly understood.

Just now at the Chen family's house, the two of them were chatting about how the actresses on the Spring Festival Gala wore red collared shirts, and how Sister Liu from the tailor shop next door wanted to copy them.

"It's possible, but it depends on the price. If it's too expensive, then it's not worth it."

"Big sister, Brother Xu, if you really want it, I'll tell you the lowest price."

Boss Zhang immediately made a price offer, and Xu Bei, of course, couldn't refuse.

So, after a long struggle, the two finally managed to remove all the bolts of red cloth.