Year 1983: I was a carpenter in Northeast China

After getting off the bus in the city, Xu Bei went to Lao Ba's house without any trouble.

It just so happened that Old Scar's wife was also at home, and they exchanged a few pleasantries.

After the other party served tea and left the room, the two got down to business and started talking about the price reduction.

"Brother, I've really put in a lot of effort to help you out in front of my buddies, but these wooden stools and tables also have costs, so my buddies have to make a little profit, right? So the stools can be five cents cheaper, and the tables are fifty cents."

Xu Bei spoke as if it were the truth, while also observing Old Scar's reaction.

Old Scar subconsciously scratched the scar on his face. "Brother, I should be satisfied with the price reduction, but the customers who placed the orders are pushing the price down so hard that I can't do anything about it."

Besides, if I hadn't helped with such a large volume of shipments, your brother wouldn't have been able to make this much money even if he wanted to.

Could you please relay this message again? My target price is one cent cheaper for the stool and one dollar cheaper for the table.

If that works, after we've delivered the 100 and 10 we ordered earlier, we'll continue at this price.

If it doesn't work out, then we can't cooperate for the time being. I can't just end up doing all the work for you for nothing!

Xu Bei frowned upon hearing this.

In fact, the products generated by the game system space have no cost and are all profit, so they can be sold at any price.

However, considering various factors and long-term goals, he cannot price it too much below market value.

That could easily arouse suspicion and distrust, and even cause big trouble.

Since the other party's threat made him somewhat unhappy, there was no need for him to feign compliance.

"Brother, my friend told me the truth before I came, so what you said is definitely not going to work. In that case, I'll come over later to deliver the order, and let's temporarily stop our cooperation."

Old Scar clearly hadn't expected Xu Bei to make such a decisive decision for his friend. He wanted to find a way to back down, but then he realized that Xu Bei had gotten up and left without leaving any room for negotiation.

Old Scar and his wife had no choice but to see him off at the gate and watch Xu Bei's tall figure leave.

The latter couldn't help but mutter a complaint, "How much does a wooden stool cost in total? They've already lowered the price again and again, agreeing to a 5-cent discount. You could have just accepted it without being so stubborn!"

Old Scar also regretted it a little, but he still stubbornly insisted, "What do you mean I need that kind of energy!"

If I hadn't gotten involved with that little southerner, could he and his buddies have sold so much with such a large order? They would have worked themselves to death!

"If you don't believe me, just wait and see. If you can't sell them, you'll have to come back to me and negotiate!"

Old Scar's wife was skeptical. "I hope so. Anyway, let's wait for the last delivery. If he's nice, we can still be on good terms even if the deal falls through. This young man seems like a decent person."

Old Scar said somewhat irritably, "I'm not as good at judging people as you are, so why would I need you to teach me how to do things?"

……

After leaving, Xu Bei made sure there were no little tails following him, then went to the department store to stroll around.

Besides buying canned yellow peaches that my sister wanted, I also bought canned braised pork.

These days, canned meat is firm and has a good balance of lean and fat, making it very delicious whether you stew it with cabbage or eat it directly.

Later, when they estimated that it was about time, they went to a quiet and safe place, released the sled specially used for hauling goods, loaded wooden stools and tables onto it, tied it up, and pulled it towards Old Scar's house.

Xu Bei continued delivering goods not only because he didn't want to waste over a hundred yuan, but also because he wanted to be a person of his word.

After all, it was all agreed upon beforehand, and we can't break our promise just because we couldn't agree on the price.

Just as Xu Bei was slowly pulling his sled across the snow, he unexpectedly ran into the two southerners who had sold electronic watches that day after turning a corner in an alley.

"Oh, what a coincidence, we've met again."

The two of them were also pleasantly surprised, and when they saw what was on the sled behind Xu Bei, they exchanged glances.

"Yes, sir. I didn't expect to run into you here."

"Thanks to you that day..."

The man named Acheng even came over and touched it, asking, "Brother, where did you get this wooden stool?"

Xu Bei, observing the situation, noticed something amiss and said with a smile, "It was set up by a friend of mine. What, you guys bought some?"

"Neither Ah Long nor I bought it. It was a fellow villager of ours who resold it from someone else. I didn't even know it was your friend..."

Upon hearing what Acheng said, Xu Bei knew there had been a misunderstanding. He immediately clarified, "Then the 'buddy' we're talking about shouldn't be the same person. My buddy is only responsible for production; he asks me to promote and deliver the goods. He hasn't had any contact with the fellow villager you mentioned, but he has distributed the goods to other people."

Ah Cheng and Ah Long exchanged a glance and then spoke up.

"Brother, since you already know each other, wouldn't it be great if we could help you get to know our fellow villagers?"

"Yes, that would eliminate the middleman. It would be best if you all cooperated directly; you could both earn more that way."

Xu Bei had just had a falling out with Old Scar, but now things had taken a dramatic turn for the better by chance, so he naturally wouldn't refuse the opportunity to get to know him that had come to him.

"Okay, thank you. I'll have to trouble you to make the introduction."

Ah Cheng quickly waved his hand and laughed, "No trouble at all, not at all. We just met by chance before, and you were so kind as to take the risk to help. No need to thank me for this little thing."

Ah Long chuckled and chimed in, "Yeah, it's nothing. Besides, our fellow villagers would be happy to meet up, brother. When do you have time?"

Xu Bei laughed heartily, "I'm available anytime, but I need to deliver the goods now, since I already promised them."

So the three of them quickly agreed on a meeting place and parted ways for the time being.

Xu Bei arrived at Lao Ba's house with even more ease to deliver the goods.

He remained quite indifferent to the enthusiasm of Old Scar and his wife.

After unloading the goods and receiving payment, they left quickly and decisively.

Then, Acheng and Along saw Xu Bei pulling the sled and went forward to greet him.

Xu Bei had a good impression of the two, especially since he was now being taken to meet the client behind Old Scar, and he became more friendly with them.

When the three of them arrived at the city's guesthouse, which locals privately call a "big hotel," Xu Bei carefully observed the exterior of the building, which was originally built in the 1960s.

In this day and age, there are no hotels like the Songxue Hotel, which is a favorite among older travelers from the south. This is the largest and most representative place for receiving guests.

It not only provides accommodation but also a canteen, giving business travelers from all over the country a good place to stay.

Xu Bei quickly placed the sled next to the stairs and followed them inside.

As soon as he entered the first floor of the guesthouse, he smelled a musty smell mixed with disinfectant and cigarette smoke.

There are also walls painted half green, and terrazzo floors that exude a sense of age.

Acheng and Along led Xu Bei straight to the second floor, and knocked twice on the door of room 208.

Xu Bei stared silently at the closed door, feeling a little curious about what their fellow villagers were like.

Footsteps soon came from inside the door, and when the person who opened the door appeared, both Xu Bei and the other person were stunned for a moment.

Because they had met on the train to the provincial capital...