Spring Breeze Twenty Years

Chapter 932 The Brokerage Firm

"If we do it this way, our work will be much easier. Each company only needs to calculate its profits and then decide how much to give to others. The rest, after paying taxes, will all go to headquarters. We don't need to calculate it here anymore, nor do we need to pay taxes." Geng Hui tidied the bed and neatly folded the things she had changed out of and put them aside.

Xia Maosheng kissed his son and said, "You mean each company should file taxes separately?"

Geng Hui knelt on the bed, smoothed her hair, and said, "Yes, it's more troublesome for each company to report separately, but it's easier to calculate. If the headquarters reports everything, each company's expenses and profits have to be calculated, then the headquarters has to calculate it again, and then it has to be verified. That adds a lot of work. Usually, state-owned enterprises do it this way because they don't have to worry about manpower, or joint ventures because their headquarters offers more favorable terms."

Xia Maosheng said, "Don't we also have preferential terms?"

Geng Hui shook her head and said, "We can't offer much, the difference in terms of resources isn't that great, and we can't compare to joint ventures. They're like biological children, state-owned enterprises are like adopted children from a young age, while our private enterprises are like homeless children on the street."

Xia Maosheng was taken aback: "It can't be that bad, can it?"

Geng Hui raised her hand to ask for the child, saying, "You don't understand because you're not in finance. The difference is too huge. Let me put it this way, the policies we enjoy when we invest 100 million are not as good as those enjoyed when we jointly invest a few million."

Xia Maosheng handed Xia Gengsheng to Geng Hui and asked, "Why?"

Geng Hui said, "Attracting foreign investment is a national policy. They represent international recognition, advanced concepts, and high technology. But it's all wishful thinking. We can't bring in high technology. We can at least learn some of their concepts."

Xia Maosheng said, "You're being too absolute. In fact, what they have as outdated technology is already advanced to us."

Geng Hui helped Xia Gensheng change into his pajamas, put him on the bed, and lay down to breastfeed him, saying, "Most of the technology is from the 1960s or 70s, and some of it isn't even as advanced as what we have in China. Don't you ever read the news or newspapers? Only French companies bring in contemporary technology, and that's the only country that does. The largest importers are from Japan, but they also use outdated technology in joint ventures, and they only import finished products with advanced technology."

Xia Maosheng said, "Newspapers don't report these kinds of things either."

Geng Hui said, "Analyze it. Just compare all kinds of information, both domestic and foreign, and you'll understand."

Xia Maosheng asked, "What kind of technology did France bring in?"

Geng Hui said, "Cars. Peugeot and Citroën both use truly modern technology and are in sync with foreign manufacturers, but the French don't seem to be very good at marketing. Their domestic advertising is controlled by Japan and Germany, and France has never been given much attention."

Xia Maosheng got into bed, pulling the covers up as he said, "I've heard of Peugeot, but I've never even heard of Citroën."

Geng Hui made way for Xia Maosheng and said, "Aren't we going to buy cars? I've been collecting some information in my spare time. I think we should buy Peugeot or Citroën; at least they're more advanced, and we'll save on import taxes. We could talk to the manufacturers and sell them here."

Xia Maosheng said, "Then you should talk to Xiaowei and Chen Hui about it tomorrow. Are you asleep yet?"

Geng Hui said, "No, just stare at me with those big eyes. Don't say anything."

Xia Maosheng said softly, "It doesn't seem as noisy as it used to be."

Geng Hui said, "With someone to play with during the day, and Xiao Xiao Hui too, he doesn't sleep much, so he doesn't fuss at night and stops talking."

……

"The houses in my dad's area will start selling tomorrow."

Xiao Hong brushed a strand of hair damp with a thin layer of sweat, leaned against Xiao Wei's chest, and said, the afterglow still lingering on her face.

Xiao Wei said, "I haven't had a chance to go check on it these past few days. I'll go take a look tomorrow."

Xiao Hong pinched Xiao Wei's arm: "You don't care about my affairs at all."

Xiao Wei chuckled and said, "I've been busy lately. This is using public resources for personal matters, and afterwards I'll give you a little red envelope."

Xiao Hong said, "I'm using my house to practice and gain experience; I haven't even asked for tuition yet."

Xiao Wei said, "It's definitely about gaining experience. I sent someone to Riverside Garden to observe and learn from them. We'll be selling the whole thing next year, so we need to practice. We'll be selling Dalian Andong Xidu Ice City, Kyoto Tianjing, and other places. If we don't train a team, am I supposed to step up myself? Or are you going to go?"

Xiaohong said, "I'll go then. I want to go to work too, I don't want to go to school anymore, it's boring."

Xiao Wei said, "You dare say no? Auntie will spank you until your bottom is swollen." He raised his hand and patted Xiao Hong's bottom, then rubbed it a few times: "Go to sleep."

Xiao Hong said, "I want to go to Kyoto after the New Year. I want to buy a yard."

Xiao Wei said, "Okay, buy it if you want. I don't see what's so good about that thing. We're definitely going to build our own house, isn't that better than that?"

Xiao Hong said, "There are good ones, the kind where high-ranking officials used to live, not those crowded tenements."

Xiao Wei asked, "How did you know?"

Xiaohong said, "I asked. There are shops that specialize in this. They'll help you find the right place, negotiate the price, and then charge you."

Xiao Wei said, "Is it reliable? Don't let them scam us."

Xiao Hong said, "They have licenses, and they're called an agency."

Xiao Wei nodded. He knew about real estate agencies; it was a popular new profession in the last two years. They were usually people with resources who made money by connecting people and building relationships.

The intermediary industry first emerged in the mid-1980s and then flourished. Initially, it was a convenient measure provided by government agencies, but it gradually developed into an industry encompassing matchmaking, job placement, resource matching, and project matching. It reached its peak in the mid-1990s, but by the late 1990s, various scams under the guise of intermediaries began to appear, leading to the industry's decline.

The shell companies that were popular in the 1990s can also be classified as intermediaries. They had no physical presence and made money by leveraging the information and resources they possessed. However, they gradually became corrupted and started to cheat, eventually leading to a situation where everyone condemned them.

Various scams began in the mid-1990s. Initially, some Hong Kong people and a few foreigners, unable to make a living locally, came to our side to exploit mainland policies to scam local governments, then businesses, and finally individuals.

They inspired a large number of people across the country who wanted to get rich quick, leading to a booming industry that began to spread from the southern coast to the inland areas. Scammers are a group of incredibly hardworking and diligent people; they operate throughout the country, penetrating remote villages, meticulously crafting various scams.

……

The next day, the group got up one after another, went to the bakery for breakfast, and then went to school or work. Chen Hui was going to a meeting in Heping that day, so Xiao Wei drove to Bayi Park.

The sales office was set up right in the residential complex, with colorful flags and a large banner. The banner was printed in the newspaper and broadcast on radio and television, and had already been distributed in advance. Everyone was in high spirits, waiting for potential homebuyers to come to the door.

(End of this chapter)