Era: Rise from the Wilderness

Li Yunjing didn't participate in the whole process, so the price difference wouldn't be much. It was a good opportunity for his parents to hone their small business skills.

Finally, Li Hongfeng wrote down the final list with a fountain pen on the last blank page of his notebook.

The handwriting is vigorous and powerful, penetrating the paper: the product name, specifications, quantity, and unit price are all accurate to the last detail.

He tore that page off and pushed it in front of Wang Gang.

"Gangzi, deliver this batch of goods to No. 7 Middle School in Fuzhou Town before July 10th. Find Li Hongfeng or He Ling."

He paused for a moment, then said, "Once the goods arrive, inspect them thoroughly, and then pay."

Wang Gang took the paper and examined it carefully against the light.

The profit was 10% less than he had expected, but he licked his lips and smiled nonetheless.

He understands that this business is a long-term, steady venture.

"Brother Li, that was great!"

He carefully folded the paper, patted his chest, and declared loudly, "I'll be there first thing in the morning on July 10th, and I guarantee everything will be perfect!"

"How about... if everything goes smoothly from now on, we'll deliver and settle accounts on the 10th of each month?"

He suddenly leaned closer, lowered his voice, and said in a somewhat conciliatory tone, "Once the date is set, everyone will have less to worry about."

Li Hongfeng nodded, his gaze sweeping over the deeply creased purchase order, then looking at Wang Gang's face, which was soaked with sweat and a sense of江湖 (jianghu, a term referring to the world of martial arts and chivalry).

"Okay, it's settled then."

"Integrity is the foundation of our first collaboration."

"We'll be living a long life ahead of us, so let's all be honest with each other."

His voice wasn't loud, but it was like a stamp, sealing the matter firmly.

"Brother Li is a truly honest and straightforward person!"

Wang Gang grinned, revealing his teeth, and stood up with a smile: "You'll see what I, Old Wang, do!"

Standing to the side, Li Yunjing watched as his father and Wang Gang finalized the supply agreement, feeling a mix of emotions.

Communication and logistics were really backward in that era.

The two sides didn't even have a phone call to contact each other; the agreement was entirely verbal and based on a note.

Stockouts cannot be replenished in a timely manner, and any changes cannot be communicated quickly.

This is certainly a drawback, but it is precisely this lack of information that gives many people the opportunity to make money by exploiting "information gaps".

If you know something that others don't, you can take the initiative in business and even "get something for nothing".

He secretly thought to himself that perhaps he could also put his mind to this.

After all, he had no money at all. If he could find 5 yuan on his person, he would be considered rich.

In this day and age, five yuan has purchasing power, but it's not enough to do business. So sometimes, resorting to "shady methods" is a last resort.

"Brother Li, sister-in-law!"

Wang Gang's loud voice interrupted his thoughts, "It's already noon, you absolutely have to let me do my best to be a good host!"

"There's a restaurant across the street that has pretty good food, let's grab a bite together!"

Having accomplished something of great importance today, Li Hongfeng found Wang Gang more agreeable and readily agreed, "Alright, then I'll let Gangzi pay for it."

"Eating out is so expensive..."

He Ling quietly tugged at the back of her husband's shirt, her voice low: "Why don't we go home? I'll buy some meat and cook a couple of dishes. It'll be clean and affordable."

"fine,"

Li Hongfeng patted the back of her hand, his eyes carrying a deeper meaning, "Having a meal with a supplier is a different matter altogether. Listen to me."

He Ling fell silent, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes, her mind racing with calculations.

How much will the food cost for this meal?!

Even though she wasn't spending her own money, she still felt that eating out at restaurants was a waste of money.

Looking at her mother's habitually frugal manner, Li Yunjing gently shook her head. This generation is used to hardship, and their mindset is deeply ingrained; they can never change it in their lifetime.

In the future, he will have to take advantage of his parents' youth to correct this consumption concept.

He came back, made money, but didn't spend it on his parents or make his life more exciting. Didn't he come back for nothing?

Lost in thought, the group left "Wang Gang's Shop," and Wang Gang casually locked the door with a padlock.

The restaurant is located across from the wholesale market. Its storefront is narrow, and the red signboard with white lettering has faded from the sun. The four characters "Yingbin Snacks" are so blurred that they are almost unrecognizable.

Guided by Wang Gang, the group pushed open the greasy glass door, and a wave of heat mixed with the smells of oil, vinegar and sweat hit them.

It was already 11:30 a.m., lunchtime, and the room was packed with seven or eight square tables.

The shirtless shopkeeper, the man in work clothes covered in dust, and the vendor carrying a woven bag with a weathered face, all shouted and talked loudly, spitting as they spoke.

"Squeak! Squeak!"

The old ceiling fan overhead turned listlessly, its blades covered in a thick layer of black ash, and the air it stirred was hot.

Wang Gang knew the way well and led them to squeeze into the innermost corner by the window.

The table was greasy, and it felt sticky when you pressed your fingers against it.

Outside the window was a dusty road, and a tractor belching black smoke sputtered past, making the glass vibrate.

Looking at the restaurant's environment, Li Yunjing could only sigh helplessly.

This restaurant was even worse than the hole-in-the-wall restaurants and dumpling eateries of later generations. If you didn't get diarrhea after eating at this restaurant, it was all thanks to the resilience of people in this era!

Li Yunjing is very particular about food. When he ate with Lü Ruoxi in Fuzhou Town, he would carefully choose a clean little shop like Ma Ji Stir-fry, a place he knew well.

At this point, he couldn't refuse to give them face, so he could only sit obediently and wait for the unpalatable meal.

"Boss! The usual four dishes, plus some shredded pork with eggs! And hurry up!"

Wang Gang yelled towards the kitchen.

"Alright!"

The person in the kitchen recognized Wang Gang's voice and responded loudly. They didn't ask about the usual four dishes, which showed that Wang Gang often ate here and was familiar with the restaurant.

The dishes arrived shortly afterward.

The large wontons filled with chives and eggs had bits of oil floating on the soup; the stir-fried potato shreds were unevenly cut, with too much vinegar, giving them a pungent sour smell; the peanuts were a bit overcooked, turning black; the smashed cucumber was crisp and refreshing, with a mountain of minced garlic; the only dish that could be considered substantial was the "Mu Shu Pork," with thinly sliced ​​pork that was almost translucent, and generous portions of wood ear mushrooms and daylily buds.

Wang Gang unscrewed a bottle of "Bincheng Beer," and without even using a glass, gulped down a large mouthful, then wiped his mouth.

"Brother Li, you've seen the world."

His eyes lit up, and he leaned forward. "I heard that the purchase price of that batch of German machines your factory got before the Lunar New Year was around this amount?"

He held up two fingers and gestured.

"More or less."

Li Hongfeng picked up a piece of cucumber with his chopsticks, chewed it with a crunching sound, and smiled faintly: "The main problem is that foreign exchange quotas are difficult to approve, and the procedures are troublesome."

"Listen to this! Foreign exchange! Quotas!"

Wang Gang slapped his thigh, his face full of longing. "We're just small fry; we'd never even get close to that level in our entire lives! Your large state-owned enterprises are so impressive!"