Era: Rise from the Wilderness

That's half true and half false.

While time costs and risks certainly exist, the profit margins are definitely substantial.

Li Yunjing knew the other party was trying to lower the price, but the average cost of acquiring these bonds was around 85, so even if he sold them for 92, he would still make a profit.

However, he didn't want the other party to think he was a pushover.

"Manager Wang, you're right."

Li Yunjing softened his tone, with a hint of sincere remorse, "However, my family really needs the money urgently, and this price... is a bit of a dilemma."

"Could you lift it a little higher?"

"Even if it's just a little bit, I can go back and explain it to my family."

"You've seen the items; the dates are all good."

"We won't tie up your funds for too long."

He feigned weakness, but also highlighted the quality of the product, giving the other party a way to raise the price.

Manager Wang remained silent for a few seconds, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the table, his gaze shifting between Li Yunjing's face and the treasury bonds on the table.

The room was quiet, with only the faint creaking of the old ceiling fan turning slowly and the faint sounds of the city outside the window.

"How about this?"

Manager Wang finally spoke, his tone suggesting a significant concession: "I can see you've had a tough time, and the products are indeed quite good."

Ninety-five.

"This is the highest price I can offer."

"Okay, let's count the money now."

"No, go outside and turn right, then try asking at another store."

Ninety-five.

It was five dollars lower than the "one hundred" the man in the straw hat had initially said, but three dollars higher than the ninety-two dollars that Manager Wang had initially asked for.

This price is very close to Li Yunjing's desired price.

But he wanted to try again.

"Manager Wang, ninety-eight."

Li Yunjing gave a number, meeting the other person's gaze with a calm expression, "To make it an auspicious number, so that I can give my family a satisfactory explanation when I go back."

"If we have any more goods in the future, we'll definitely think of you first."

He emphasized the words "there will be more stock later" slightly.

This is both an implication and an indication of a possible long-term cooperation prospect.

Manager Wang narrowed his eyes slightly, as if he was weighing his options.

The boy in front of me was unlike any other child who ran errands for his family. He was articulate in his bargaining, knew when to advance and retreat, and even knew how to make promises he couldn't keep.

For him, the profit difference between a 1,000 yuan coupon and one worth 950 yuan and 980 yuan is not significant. However, if he can establish a long-term and stable supply channel, then the value will be different.

Especially now that the treasury bond pilot program has just started, and there is a large information gap between different regions, it is the perfect time for a land grab.

Another brief silence followed.

Even the sixth brother, who was standing at the door, nervously rubbed his hands together.

"Young man, you can talk."

Manager Wang suddenly laughed, this time the smile was more genuine, but it also seemed more shrewd. "Ninety-eight it is! Consider it making friends! But we have a deal, next time you have goods, you have to think of me first."

"must!"

A smile appeared on Li Yunjing's face, and he breathed a sigh of relief.

With the price settled, the rest is simple.

Manager Wang took out the black faux leather briefcase again, counting the money a little slower than when the man in the straw hat announced "one hundred," but still with practiced ease.

Based on the total face value reported by Li Yunjing, multiply it by 0.98, round down, and finally count out 1029 yuan.

There was a thick stack of banknotes, mostly ten-yuan notes, with a few fifty and one-hundred-yuan notes as well. Li Yunjing and Lü Ruoxi counted them carefully again to confirm that everything was correct.

He carefully put away the "huge sum" of money, which smelled of ink and leather, and stuffed it into the innermost pocket of his backpack, zipping it up tightly.

Li Yunjing felt that the weight and texture of the backpack had subtly changed.

This is not just money, but the first real "victory" they have earned after days of running around, scheming, and taking risks.

A rough calculation shows that the acquisition cost of these bonds is around 850 yuan.

With one resale, I made a net profit of 179 yuan!

This is almost equivalent to more than a month's salary for a section-level cadre in a state-owned enterprise like my father, Li Hongfeng!

And this was all done in less than three days, taking a "wild path" that most people don't see or dare to take.

If they went back, he and Lü Ruoxi could buy goods from all the surrounding villages, towns, and streets, and make thousands in net profit during the summer vacation.

This is equivalent to spending several years' worth of savings that Li Yunjing's family could accumulate!

"It's a pleasure doing business with you, Manager Wang."

Li Yunjing stood up and extended his hand.

Manager Wang also stood up and shook hands with him.

"It's a pleasure doing business with you. What's your name, young man?"

This time, he used considerable force, and his eyes showed a more serious expression.

"His surname is Li."

Li Yunjing did not give his full name.

"Alright, Brother Li."

"If you have any goods in the future, just have Lao Liu pass on the message, or you can come find me here."

Manager Wang didn't ask any further questions. He handed over a business card with only a phone number and the character "Wang" on it. The paper was rough and the printing was rudimentary.

"it is good."

Li Yunjing took the business card and put it in his pocket.

The transaction was completed, both parties achieved their goals, and the atmosphere was much more harmonious than before.

The sixth man in the straw hat also joined in, his face beaming like a chrysanthemum: "Brother Li, please take care of me in the future!"

Stepping out of the dimly lit reception room and back into the scorching July sun of Bincheng, Li Yunjing and Lü Ruoxi both breathed a long sigh of relief.

The sunlight was dazzling, and the traffic was noisy, but the two felt a sense of openness in their hearts.

"Let's go."

Li Yunjing glanced at the sun and said, "Let's go to the antique street and see how much our 'Yuan Shikai silver dollars' and copper coins are worth."

With the successful transaction just now as a foundation, the tension on Lü Ruoxi's face dissipated considerably, replaced by an eager excitement.

She nodded vigorously: "Yes!"

The antique street is not far from the trust company, in an older neighborhood.

The streets are lined with low bungalows or two-story buildings, with small storefronts and plaques with names like "XX Xuan" or "XX Zhai" hanging on them. The calligraphy is flamboyant and has a deliberately antique feel.

Many others simply set up a stall at the entrance, spreading a blue cloth on the ground and displaying bottles and jars, coins and jade artifacts, old books and paintings that are difficult to distinguish as genuine or fake.

The air was filled with a mixture of stale dust, cheap incense, and sweat.

There were more people than I had imagined. Besides those who looked like tourists, there were mostly middle-aged men dressed casually with shrewd eyes, gathered in twos and threes in front of a stall or shop, talking in hushed tones, their eyes occasionally scanning the street.

As soon as Li Yunjing and Lü Ruoxi walked in, they felt several gazes fall on them.

Two ordinary-looking young people stood out from the crowd on the street.

They didn't rush into the store; they first looked around at a few street stalls at the street corner.

Li Yunjing's gaze fell on a stall displaying a lot of copper coins and a few silver dollars.

The stall owner was a thin old man, with a pipe in his mouth, squinting in the sun, and barely paying attention to the customers coming and going.