Before being reborn and getting married, the pampered young lady emptied her family's assets to

Chapter 174 First Business Talk
After settling in, Liang Yi went to the electronics factory with Zhang Jianguo the next day.

He changed into work clothes and went straight to the production line.

His years of technical expertise allowed him to quickly grasp the ropes.

He can spot problems at a glance, such as where processes can be optimized or where the yield rate is low.

Unlike some experienced workers who only talk, he personally debugged the equipment and worked with the workers to figure things out.

Before long, the workers were completely convinced of the newcomer, Engineer Liang, who was a man of few words but highly skilled and approachable.

Zhang Jianguo saw this and was delighted. He completely handed over the production and technology to Liang Yi, which freed up his hands to focus on securing orders and building relationships.

It is said that fathers and sons go to war together, and brothers fight tigers together.

With Liang Yi watching over everything at the factory, he was completely at ease.

Anmin wasn't idle either.

She first went for an interview at a foreign trade company recommended by Li Hongmei.

Her Russian proficiency and composed, appropriate manner of speaking pleased the boss.

But when I heard that she had just moved in and that her child was still young and might need some time to be taken care of, I hesitated.

They only agreed to let her work as a part-time translator, handling some correspondence and documents from the Soviet Union.

Wages are calculated on a piece-rate basis, so the income is not very stable.

Anmin does have an inheritance left by her mother, but she still prefers to work hard on her own.

She originally planned to use part of it for rent, but Li Hongmei stopped her.

They have spare rooms, don't waste your money.

That evening, while helping Li Hongmei organize some documents from the factory, Anmin chatted about the interview she had done that day.

Li Hongmei said, "Sister An, working for someone else means you have to be subservient to them and earn a meager living."

"Look, more and more Soviets are coming here looking for opportunities. They're all here to buy things like electronic watches, clothing, and small appliances."

"They don't speak the language, they're unfamiliar with the area, and they often get scammed."

An Min's heart skipped a beat: "Yes, I also saw two Soviet businessmen at the foreign trade company today. They seemed to have some trouble communicating with the translator."

Li Hongmei smiled as she sorted through the receipts and continued talking.

“This is an opportunity. Your Russian is so good, and you understand the situation in China. Lao Liang can still get electronic components at discounted prices from the factory.”

"Why don't we do something ourselves? Even if we start small."

These words ignited a spark in Anmin's heart.

She recalled the anxious and somewhat bewildered looks she had seen from the Soviet businessmen during the day.

Then she thought of the affordable electronic components produced by the factory her husband managed.

“Hongmei, what do you think… if we set up a small translation service agency, and helped these Soviet merchants find suppliers, took them to familiar factories to see the goods and negotiate prices, and charged a small commission or translation fee in the process, would that work?”

"That's amazing!"

Li Hongmei's eyes lit up; she had been waiting for An Min to say that.

"This is called... yes, matchmaking. We don't need to invest any capital; we can rely on your words and our connections."

"Let me introduce you to a few reputable manufacturers first. You can also count the spare parts from the electronics factories in Jianguo. You might not earn much at first, but it adds up!"

The two sisters got right to work, and Anmin immediately began preparations.

She didn't have much capital to rent a storefront.

So it's located on the street not far from the entrance of Zhang Jianguo's electronics factory.

I borrowed a small space in front of a fellow villager's grocery store, put a table there, and hung a small handwritten sign.

"Chinese-English-Russian translation and business consulting." Services are available in Chinese, English, and Russian.

She then asked Liang Yi for help to print some simple flyers using the factory's mimeograph machine.

The service details were written in Chinese, English, and Russian. Li Hongmei distributed them to some factory owners she knew and also asked someone to take them to the hotels where Soviet businessmen often stayed.

Starting a business is harder than you think.

For the first few days, the area behind the table was deserted, with only curious onlookers.

Anmin felt a little uneasy, but she remained calm on the surface, sitting there reading Russian books or organizing information about the manufacturer's products.

The turning point came one afternoon.

Two tall Soviet men lingered in front of a grocery store, pointing at various items and discussing them intensely in Russian, looking both anxious and helpless.

The grocery store owner couldn't understand, so he could only use hand gestures.

Anmin took a deep breath, stood up and walked over, smiling in fluent Russian, "Hello, gentlemen, do you need any help?"

The two Soviets were taken aback for a moment, then their faces lit up with great joy, as if they had heard a familiar accent.

It turned out they wanted to purchase a batch of electronic calculators and transistor radios.

However, the translator they had previously hired was unreliable, and the factory they were taken to had inflated prices. They felt cheated and didn't know what to do.

An Min listened carefully to their needs and quickly reviewed the manufacturer information provided by Li Hongmei and Liang Yi in her mind.

Instead of making grand promises, she said, "I can provide translation services for you, and I'll charge by the hour."

"At the same time, I can recommend several factories that I think are reliable in quality and reasonably priced, based on your requirements, and I will accompany you to negotiate."

"The final choice is up to you. Is that alright?"

This candid and professional attitude immediately won the trust of the Soviet businessmen.

As agreed, Anmin first collected a one-day translation service fee, and then took them to three electronics factories.

One of them was Zhang Jianguo's factory. Liang Yi had made prior arrangements and provided a reasonable quote.

Thanks to An Min's clear and accurate translation and coordination, communication between the two parties went very smoothly.

Ultimately, after comparing the options, the customers chose one that they considered to offer the best value for money.

Coincidentally, it was Zhang Jianguo's factory, and the two signed a sizable order on the spot.

After seeing off the profusely thankful Soviet businessmen, Anmin breathed a sigh of relief. He felt his legs were getting thin from running so much, but he was filled with a sense of accomplishment.

That evening, she not only received the agreed-upon translation fee, but Zhang Jianguo also happily gave her a red envelope.

"Sister An, you've brought in a big client for our factory! This is your commission!"

When Liang Yi came home from get off work, he saw his wife's sparkling eyes and the considerable sum of money on the table, and he was genuinely happy for her.

"Looks like your translation service has a very successful opening!"

An Min smiled and nodded: "Although it's just the beginning, it seems like we've found a way."

"It's not just about translation; the key is to provide trust and help them find the right resources."

And so, Anmin's small business slowly took off.

She charged reasonable fees, was reliable, and introduced manufacturers whose products were of guaranteed quality. Her reputation gradually spread within the small circle of Soviet businessmen.

The number of people looking for her gradually increased from just one or two occasionally.

She no longer limited herself to electronic products, but also began to explore clothing, daily necessities, and other in-demand items in the Soviet market.

The couple, one in charge of production and the other in market expansion, are busy but have a clear direction and are full of energy.

With this translation shop, she could reasonably sell off the items in the space, laying the foundation for settling down in the south in the future.