Spring Breeze Twenty Years

Chapter 188 Let Me Rub It

Chen Xiao slapped the coffee table and said, "Xiao Hong is so lucky, and Xiao Wei is amazing."

Xiao Wei looked at Old Chen: "Uncle, how do we sign this contract? What's the plan?"

Old Chen thought for a moment and said, "Did he ask if you were a company or an individual?"

Xiao Wei said, "No, I was just joking and saying I had some goods on hand."

Old Chen took a puff of his cigarette and said, "Then let's sign it in your personal name. The supply contract shouldn't be a problem. If they need it stamped, just contact me, and I'll have the labor service department stamp it for you. If the money needs to be transferred, just transfer it to the labor service department. Try to get cash to avoid trouble."

Xiao Wei said, "I don't know how to sign it?"

Old Chen said, "Ask the manufacturer how long it will take to supply 500,000 units. Then add a week or ten days, and that's your supply period, understand? After signing the contract, ask them for a deposit. The deposit can't be less than 40%, and the contract should clearly state that it's payable in full upon delivery. That's all. Oh right, it would be even better if you could sign a long-term supply agreement. Go talk to them tomorrow; it should be possible."

Xiao Wei ran to the desk to make another call. After finishing, he came back and said, "They said it would be within twenty days. Then they asked if I wanted to use a standard mold or a custom mold. I don't know anything about that. Oh, and they also said I have to get my own car to pick it up for 13 cents. They won't deliver it."

Old Chen said, "The car is a small matter. Ask the manufacturer how much it costs to order a mold. Then ask Donglaishun whether they use a standard mold or a custom mold. If they use a custom mold, just give them the price directly. It's a separate charge, and you can add a little extra if you want. Molds vary greatly in price."

Xiao Wei ran over to make another call. After a few minutes, he put down the phone and came back, saying, "The manufacturer said one mold costs 8,000, but I told Donglaishun it's 12,000, using a custom mold. What's a custom mold?"

Old Chen said, "It's a custom-made mold with the Donglaishun logo on it. No one else can use this kind of mold; only his family can use it, so we have to pay extra for the mold. Okay, that's settled then. You guys go there early tomorrow. Where is it? Is it far? Xiao Hui, drive there."

Xiao Wei said, "They said it was at the Yingpan Cold Storage."

Chen Hui said, "I know, it's over there on the other side of the Hunhe Bridge. I'll drive there tomorrow, haha, making a couple more phone calls will earn me another four thousand. Dad, aren't you going to charge me for the phone calls? Just give me two thousand."

Everyone laughed, and Old Chen said, "Okay, that's settled then. Tomorrow, after you sign the contract, go straight to the Municipal Construction and Installation Bureau. Just take an engineering vehicle and drive off in a bit, use that command vehicle. If you need anything there, go find the person in charge of the cold storage over there and tell him you're my son, ask him for a favor."

There was a knock on the office door. Chen Hui ran to open it, and the woman came in with the contract: "Director, the contract is ready."

Old Chen nodded and let Chen Hui take the contract. The woman said, "Then I'll go over first." She closed the door and left. Old Chen flipped through the contract and handed it to Xiao Wei, saying, "Take a look. Go to that pig farm tomorrow to get it signed. Have them put their fingerprints on it. Bring a box of inkpad with you."

Xiao Wei took the contract and agreed. Old Chen said, "Then you guys go back. I need to look at a few documents. Xiao Hui, go to the office to get the keys and find Xiao Liu. Tell him you're on duty." The four of them said goodbye to Old Chen and left. Chen Hui ran to the general office to get the car keys. The four of them went downstairs to the back garage to check the car. It was also a Hiace, but it was a Fengtian Jinbei, a high-quality imitation.

Chen Hui went up to test drive the car, checked the fuel gauge, got out, closed the garage door, and the four of them walked home.

Back then, gas stations were scarce, and each company refueled itself by storing large barrels of refined oil. Large companies like the power and telecommunications companies had their own oil depots, and you had to go to the office to get a fuel ticket to refuel.

By the mid-90s, with the rapid development of the entire social economy, there were more and more vehicles, and gas stations suddenly sprang up. At that time, private individuals could drive freely, and all kinds of gas stations, large, medium and small, were everywhere. There were plenty of gas stations that mixed water, engine oil, or substandard products. It didn't matter for domestic cars; they would drive around belching black smoke. Imported cars, on the other hand, often had gas stations that were ruined by refueling.

In the late 90s, the two major oil companies began to divide up the market, taking over all gas stations, merging and buying them off, and rebranding them. Only then did the refined oil market gradually become more regulated. After the monopoly came the price increases. When international oil prices rose, they said they were aligning with international standards and raising prices accordingly. When international oil prices fell, they said the national conditions were different and continued to raise prices.

The most popular phrase throughout the 90s was "aligning with international standards," and everyone wanted to adopt everything. However, in the end, it was just a superficial agreement. They adopted things like raising prices and putting on airs, but the service philosophy, business attitude, and product quality were all left to the national context. There was no need to adopt those things, since others would always have the final say anyway.

The most impressive ones are clothing sellers. Korean-style clothing entered China in the 1990s and has been sought after ever since. The retail prices at that time were directly aligned with those in Korea. They sold the clothes in China at the same prices as in Korea. For example, 1,300 Korean won was sold for 1,300 RMB. As for the exchange rate, that's a matter of national conditions.

……

All four of them were in a state of excitement, as if the usually annoying northwest wind had suddenly become gentle.

Chen Hui said, "Let's go buy groceries, we'll drink tonight."

Chen Xiao nodded in agreement: "Yes, yes, let's celebrate. We should invite more people. Xia Maosheng, why don't you bring your girlfriend over sometime?"

Xia Maosheng scratched his head and said, "She can't come. We'll see later, when there's a chance."

Chen Xiao asked, "Why?"

Xia Maosheng glanced at Xiao Wei and said, "Neither of our two families knows about this yet; it's all happening secretly."

Chen Xiao asked, "How old are you? Twenty-one? You're twenty-one and your family won't allow you to date?"

Xia Maosheng blushed slightly, raised his hand to rub his face and said, "No, it's not like that. It's just that my girlfriend won't let me say it. She's very shy, and I can't help it." Xiao Wei chuckled, then immediately gasped and stifled his laughter.

Chen Xiao tugged at Chen Hui's arm, giggling and laughing so hard she could barely stand.

Chen Hui said, "Old Xia, you can't do this. What's the point of this? Just take her home and be honest with her. Why are you keeping things like this, like you're in a secret operation?"

Xia Maosheng said, "I asked her, and she said she wasn't going. If I said anything more, she would get angry."

Xiao Wei said, "Don't you have legs? Why don't you go to her house?"

Xia Maosheng paused for a moment, thought for a long time, then shook his head and said, "I'm afraid it won't work; she'll turn against me."

Chen Hui said, "That's easy. Get the child out of there, and see if she's still like this. Ouch—hiss. Pinch me, you'll definitely get a bruise." Chen Hui rubbed his arm hard, shook off Chen Xiao, ran several meters away, and shouted back at Chen Xiao.

Chen Xiao glared at him and said, "You can't keep your mouth shut, you just spout nonsense all day long. Pinching you is too lenient."

Xiao Wei nodded and said, "You know, that's actually a good idea. Lao Xia, you can try it." He turned to Chen Xiao and said, "You don't know about this. Don't blame Xiao Hui. Lao Xia and his girlfriend are a bit too shy. It's really hard to get them together if you don't give them some pointers. They're a good person, and they're getting along so well. They can't just break up, can they?" He didn't dare say the second half of the sentence. They have to turn off the lights after dark to even kiss. How can they live like this?

Chen Xiao raised her hand and beckoned to Chen Hui, saying, "Fine, I pinched you wrong. Come here, let me rub it for you."

Chen Hui approached with some skepticism. Chen Xiao's hand visibly trembled when she touched him. Xiao Wei covered his face. This kid has developed a phobia of pinching. Luckily, Xiao Hong doesn't have the habit of pinching people. God bless her.

The four of them went to the farmers' market instead. It was getting late to buy groceries, so Chen Xiao said, "Let's buy fish and seafood. There probably won't be much meat left."

(End of this chapter)