Era: Rise from the Wilderness

"Okay, Gangzi, let's take a look at the goods in your shop first."

Li Hongfeng's voice wasn't loud, but every word was like a nail being hammered into a wooden board, carrying the unique, unquestionable tone of someone from a state-owned enterprise.

"But let me make this clear from the start!"

"In business, honesty and fairness are paramount."

"Prices must be fair, and goods must match the description."

"What if either of these two points is ambiguous..."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over Wang Gang's face like a ruler, "Let's not waste our time."

"Brother Li, you're so generous!"

Instead of getting angry, Wang Gang's eyes lit up, and he slapped his chest with his large palm, making a loud thud.

"I, Old Wang, make a living in this area by being honest and straightforward!"

"Genuine products at fair prices, honest and trustworthy!"

"Please come in!"

He stepped aside to make way, his gaze naturally falling on He Ling and Li Yunjing. The hint of street thugness on his face instantly vanished, replaced by a forced smile: "This must be your sister-in-law, right? Oh, this young man, so spirited and energetic!"

Li Hongfeng hummed in response, then turned to his wife and children and said, "Let's go in and take a look."

Li Yunjing, on the other hand, felt a sense of curiosity about Wang Gang, who might "make it big" in the future.

He had a vague premonition that, besides wholesaling goods, he might have other interactions with this person in the future.

"Hello, Uncle Wang!"

So, he put on a sweet smile and greeted him, "Uncle Wang, you're so tall and strong! Like a hero from a movie!"

"Good lad! You know how to talk!"

Seeing that this boy was sweet-talking and articulate, unlike most children who were afraid of him, Wang Gang was overjoyed and laughed heartily, "Not bad, just like your Uncle Wang when he was young!"

"Come on in, we have all kinds of delicious food in the store, take whatever you want!"

"Uncle Wang is treating today, there's plenty to eat!"

The group walked into "Wang Gang Trading Company" amidst laughter and conversation.

The shop has a narrow storefront, but a deep interior.

A ray of sunlight slanted in from the doorway, illuminating the dust particles floating in the air like gold dust.

The goods were piled up so high, stretching from the ground to the ceiling, that they looked a bit messy, but the variety was indeed extensive.

Packaging bags and cartons of various colors were mixed together, and the air was filled with a mixture of food smells.

Li Yunjing really didn't hold back.

My eyes swept over the colorful packaging, and I tiptoed to pull out a pack of "Kissing Shrimp Chips" from the middle shelf.

The plastic bag was printed with a bright red shrimp, its whiskers almost sticking out of the packaging.

I also grabbed two thick Shuanghui ham sausages, their casings gleaming a greasy pink in the dim light.

"So, I'll really eat it? I got up early this morning, and my stomach's been growling for ages."

The ripping sound of him tearing open the shrimp cracker packaging was particularly crisp in the quiet shop.

"You silly child!"

He Ling was a little embarrassed and lightly patted her son on the back of the head, "How can you be so ill-mannered!"

He quickly turned to Wang Gang, "Boss Wang, how much is this? We'll pay..."

"sister in law!"

"That's insulting me!"

Wang Gang's voice suddenly rose, carrying an unyielding,江湖-like air, "I, Wang Gang, can spit and cause a crater! I said I'd treat the kids, and I meant it! A bag of shrimp chips and two sausages, who do you think you are?"

He turned to look at Li Yunjing, who was popping a shrimp cracker into his mouth with a crisp sound, eating with a calm demeanor and without any sign of fear.

Eat! Eat as much as you want!

A hint of admiration flashed in Wang Gang's eyes.

This child isn't intimidated and knows his own temperament.

Li Yunjing ate the shrimp chips while secretly nodding to himself.

His actions couldn't possibly be motivated by greed; he simply wanted to take the opportunity to observe Wang Gang's character.

Judging from this brief encounter, Wang Gang does indeed possess a certain chivalrous spirit, and is not the petty, calculating small-time merchant he seems to be.

This personality trait, if used well, can make a loyal partner, but one must also be wary of its impulsive and domineering side.

However, for the time being, this kind of "generosity" may not be a bad thing for a supplier.

Since I didn't reject them at first glance, I can continue to get to know them and see how it goes.

The little incident with Li Yunjing was over, and Li Hongfeng and Wang Gang walked to the area where the main goods were stored.

He Ling also stepped forward to carefully check the production date and packaging quality of the goods.

Li Yunjing munched on shrimp crackers while following his parents, listening intently to learn about the business practices of this era.

"Brother Li, look at this Hua Feng Three Delicacies Yi Noodles! It's the best-selling dish right now! Students love it!"

"This Bincheng soda, orange flavored, sells out fastest in the summer!"

"And these ham sausages, from Shuanghui, are of guaranteed quality."

"Shredded figs, preserved plum candy, various kinds of cookies... which ones would you like?"

Wang Gang introduced them as if they were his own treasures.

Li Hongfeng, on the other hand, appeared very calm. He did not completely believe Wang Gang's one-sided story, but carefully examined the packaging, inquired about the wholesale price, and occasionally exchanged opinions with his wife in hushed tones.

He also took out a small notebook, on which he recorded the approximate price range he had inquired about from Uncle Wang at the convenience store near his home, as a reference.

"Gangzi, this price is too high."

Li Hongfeng pointed to a line in the notebook, "Compared to the purchase price of my neighbor's store, it's three cents more expensive per box."

"Brother Li!"

Wang Gang raised his voice again, "My price is truly the lowest! This is a legitimate shipment from Shenyang Station, freshly made! I absolutely do not believe your neighbor's shop can sell it for three cents less!"

"I checked the date, it's about two weeks off."

He Cailing suddenly interjected, her voice soft but precise, "Your case of soda is ten days later than the one from the store near the door."

Wang Gang choked, his dark face turning slightly red.

"Gangzi, can the price be lowered any further?"

Li Hongfeng bargained, saying, "We're looking to buy from you long-term, and the volume will only increase."

"Brother Li, this is already the bottom price!"

When it comes to profits, Wang Gang naturally wouldn't back down. "Go ask around, you definitely won't find a price like mine!"

"I don't think so. The shop owner at the door just now seemed to say his place is cheaper?"

"Hey! You actually believe what that Han Laosan guy says? His background isn't even legitimate!"

Both parties repeatedly negotiated and bargained over the types, quantities, and unit prices of various goods.

The bargaining was like a tug-of-war.

"Heh... This Wang Gang is big and burly, with the air of a chivalrous hero, but he has a lot of ulterior motives behind his back, and he'll fight over every penny."

Li Yunjing listened quietly, secretly amused, deeply feeling the power of information asymmetry in this era.

The wholesale price of a single pack of instant noodles or a case of beverage may differ by a few cents, but for long-term, large-volume purchases, this can accumulate into a considerable sum.

The father clearly understood this principle, which is why he fought for every inch of land.

Before we knew it, it was noon.

After a fierce "tug-of-war," Li Hongfeng finally drew up the final purchase list on a piece of paper, which detailed the product names, specifications, quantities, and agreed unit prices.