Reborn in 1990: My Family Store Leads to the Future

Lu Yuan arrived at the glass factory to look at the products.

This glass factory produces two types of products, both of which are supplied to state-run stores.

One type has a wooden frame and a single-layer flat glass. This is the type of glass cabinet commonly used in small shops. A 1.2m x 0.6m glass cabinet costs 120 yuan.

Another type is double-layered tempered glass with a metal frame, which is usually used in pharmacies and costs around 180 yuan.

Lu Yuan frowned; neither of these was what he wanted.

He wanted a curved glass panel counter.

Lu Yuan explained his needs.

The glass factory salesperson clicked his tongue and said, "Boss, what kind of business do you run? Why do you need this kind of counter?"

"These kinds of counters are usually used in jewelry stores. Our factory doesn't sell them, but I can recommend one for you. Generally speaking, a standard 1.2m x 0.6m curved modular counter costs 300 yuan, including an industrial coupon. If you don't want the industrial coupon, it's also possible, but the price will increase to 400 yuan."

Lu Yuan calculated that he would need at least ten such counters, which meant that he would have to spend four thousand yuan just on the glass cabinets!

Lu Yuan gasped. This glass cabinet was unexpectedly expensive. Was 10,000 yuan really enough for him?

He gritted his teeth. If it wasn't enough, he would borrow some from his parents and some from the credit union.

These days, banks are practically begging people to lend money.

Lu Yuan said, "Okay, I'll try to get the industrial quota."

Lu Yuan already had a plan in mind.

My uncle is a minor leader in the customs department. He has some connections with the vouchers. He can ask my uncle to help him get some industrial vouchers to save himself some money.

……

at home.

Lu Yuan had just returned home when he saw his uncle, dressed in a suit, in his house.

He was talking to his father, who was wearing a white shirt.

When Lu Zhaocai saw Lu Yuan, he said with displeasure, "Why are you closing the shop in broad daylight?"

"Where did you go to play this time?"

Lu Yuan felt somewhat ashamed, as he had caused his father a lot of worry in his previous life.

He said, "Dad, I didn't go out to play. I went to do something important."

"Uncle, take these things back with you."

Lu Yuan went to the square table and picked up the packaged gift bag.

The uncle glanced at the gift bag, looking surprised.

This box contains a bunch of goods, and the packaging is excellent. Just by looking at the packaging, you can tell the product quality is good.

He said, "Xiao Yuan, I was just talking to your dad about whose things these are. It turns out you bought them."

"Where did you buy these things?"

"I've never seen these items in the Friendship Store."

Lu Yuan said, "I have a high school classmate named Lu Long. After graduating from high school, didn't he go to Hong Kong and Taiwan to work?"

"He recently came back."

"He works at a large supermarket in Hong Kong and Taiwan. A supermarket means a large store."

"Then, he had a stockpile of goods, and his boss asked him to try his luck in the mainland market."

"Isn't this just a coincidence?"

"I run a small shop, and he approached me to collaborate, wanting to test the waters using my distribution channels."

Lu Yuan gave the excuse he had already thought of, and his uncle found it reasonable.

These days, it's not so strict for civil servants to accept gifts, so my uncle didn't shy away from accepting them.

Lu Yuan asked, "Uncle, do you have any extra industrial vouchers?"

The uncle complained, "Xiao Yuan, this gift of yours is not easy to receive."

"Are there any industrial rolls left over?"

Lu Yuan smiled and said, "It would be fine if my uncle could help me make the contact."

"You can buy it with money, or you can exchange it for this kind of good product."

The uncle thought for a moment and asked, "What do you need the industrial scrolls for?"

"I figured that since we're not selling those old-fashioned products anymore, we should renovate the shop and replace the windows with the kind of glass used in jewelry stores. It will look nicer and more sophisticated."

"Then I inquired around and found out that those glass cabinets are not only expensive, but you also need industrial vouchers to buy them."

The father asked, "How much money do you plan to invest?"

"Ten thousand yuan."

The father clicked his tongue: "Isn't this risk too high?"

Lu Yuan explained, "Dad, based on my observation, the risk isn't high."

"The market today doesn't lack goods; it lacks good goods."

"Many times, my shop has failed to make a sale because I didn't have any special items to sell."

"I've inquired, and this batch of high-quality goods I have is the best you can find in all of Shanghai. If it gets on the market, it's guaranteed to be a huge hit."

After thinking for a moment, the father said, "Fine, since you've investigated it thoroughly, then do it yourself."

"Don't count on the little money I have."

"If you lose everything, I can still guarantee you a minimum return."

Upon hearing this, the uncle realized that his nephew was up to something serious.

He said, "Your uncle has some spare industrial vouchers on hand, but those vouchers aren't enough to buy ten glass cabinets."

"I'm not taking these gifts for nothing; I'll use them to exchange for some coupons with my colleagues."

"It's not that bad," Lu Yuan quickly said. "How could I let my uncle help me for nothing? I'll bring him another cart full of snacks later."

……

the next day.

Customs office.

"Old Li, didn't you want to buy a motorcycle last time but couldn't, so your industrial vouchers were empty?"

"Give me the industrial voucher, and I'll trade you something."

With a pen clipped to his jacket pocket and wearing glasses, Old Li, who looked like a scholar, said, "Section Chief Lu, of course you can exchange the papers."

"However, I don't care for ordinary things."

"What will Section Chief Lu offer me in exchange?"

"Or you can exchange foreign exchange certificates for industrial bonds."

Lu Xing rolled his eyes and said, "Dream on, the foreign exchange reserves are tight."

"Doesn't your child love candy?"

"Take this jar of candy imported from Hong Kong and Taiwan."

"And this roll of paper."

"Doesn't your wife always complain that domestically made toilet paper rolls aren't good enough?"

"I've used this toilet paper; it's thick, smooth, and very good. I guarantee your wife will be satisfied."

Old Li took the goods handed over by Section Chief Lu and took a look.

First, there was candy. It was a jar full of candy, probably over a hundred pieces.

The candies inside are beautifully packaged, unlike domestic brands which use yellow straw paper or oil paper. Instead, they are packaged in high-end aluminum foil with attractive prints.

Old Li glanced at the product name: Alpizi Sugar.

"Wow," Old Li raised an eyebrow, "this jar of candy alone isn't cheap."

Let's take a look at the toilet paper rolls.

This toilet paper is very different from the toilet paper sold on the market now. The toilet paper on the market now comes in yellowish-brown, green, and red colors. Only foreign brands have a pure white color like snow.

Old Li was surprised.

Is this reasonable?

It's important to know that selling this kind of paper in the current market requires foreign exchange certificates.

The gift from Section Chief Lu was quite substantial.

Old Li asked, "Hey Lao Lu, you're not asking for just a little bit of industrial vouchers, are you?"