Rebirth: Fan Debiao rises from the Liaobei land

October 8th marked the first day that TCL and Amoi officially went on sale.

The queue outside Dexing Communications started forming before dawn. By the time they opened at 7:30, the queue had stretched across two blocks, a sea of ​​heads.

"Don't push! Line up!" Gangzi and his two brothers shouted themselves hoarse trying to maintain order.

Inside the shop, Xiao Juan and Xiao Ling were extremely busy. Sister Zhou sat behind the cashier, the money counting machine whirring non-stop all morning.

Fan Debiao stood behind the counter, watching the scene unfold, feeling incredibly satisfied.

At this time in his past life, he was working as a bodyguard at Victoria, earning eight hundred a month, and he was always getting beaten up; now? This morning's earnings are enough to earn him for several years back then.

By noon, TCL had sold 63 units and Xiaxin had sold 38 units. Customers who had pre-ordered also came to pick up their orders and took away more than 70 units.

"Mr. Fan, the turnover this morning was 287,000." Sister Zhou's hand trembled slightly as she reported the number.

"This is just the beginning." Fan Debiao lit a cigarette.

Even more people came in the afternoon. Many had heard that the sales were booming in the morning and came specifically for that purpose. By the time we closed at 6 p.m., we had tallied up the numbers and found that we had sold 219 units that day, generating a revenue of over 470,000 yuan.

"Oh my god..." Xiaoling was so tired that she slumped into a chair. "I can't even lift my arms."

Gangzi came in from outside, carrying several boxes of takeout: "Brother Biao, Boss Wu called and said that he's having a celebration banquet at Victoria tonight and wants us all to come."

Fan Debiao looked at the group of people in the shop: "Okay, everyone go, let's have a good meal."

At 7 p.m., in the largest private room on the third floor of Victoria.

A large round table was set up, seating about sixteen or seventeen people. The entire staff of Dexing Communications, plus Wu Derong, Awei, and two friends Wu Derong had invited.

The table was laden with main dishes. The liquor was Wuliangye, and three bottles were opened.

Wu Derong stood up, holding his wine glass: "This first toast today is to Debiao! Dexing Communications has been open for a month, and we've already pre-sold over 300 units. Today, on our official opening, we've made a profit of 470,000 yuan in just one day! This is unprecedented in Kaiyuan's telecommunications industry!"

Everyone stood up and clinked glasses.

Fan Debiao finished speaking and waved his hand, saying, "It's all thanks to everyone's hard work. Gangzi ran around doing everything, Sister Zhou kept accurate accounts, Xiao Juan and Xiao Ling worked hard to promote the products, Liu Qiang and Wang Fang went to the countryside to develop the market... We couldn't have done it without everyone."

Wu Derong smiled: "Debiao knows how to talk. Come on, a second toast to everyone here! Thank you for your hard work!"

Let's have another drink.

The atmosphere warmed up, and everyone started eating.

Ma Xiaocui also came and sat next to Yu Fen. She was wearing a pink sweater today, and her hair was tied in a ponytail; she looked quite energetic. Gangzi sat diagonally opposite her, and the two of them would steal a glance at each other every now and then before quickly looking away.

Wu Derong noticed and asked with a smile, "Xiao Cui, how's your learning going at the trading company?"

Ma Xiaocui blushed: "It's alright... it's just that making reports is a bit difficult."

"Take your time." Wu Derong placed a piece of pork rib on her plate. "If you don't understand anything, you can ask me."

These words were spoken naturally, but Fan Debiao sensed something was amiss. He glanced at Wu Derong, whose expression remained unchanged, just like an elder showing concern for a younger person.

Awei sat down next to Fan Debiao and poured him a cup of tea: "Mr. Fan, you've had quite a bit to drink today, have some tea to sober up."

"Thanks." Fan Debiao took it.

Awei served him another bowl of soup: "This soup was specially made in the kitchen, please try it."

Someone at the table started grumbling, "Manager Wei, why are you only taking care of General Manager Fan? What about us?"

Awei said without batting an eye, "You all have hands and feet, serve yourselves."

A burst of laughter erupted.

General Ma sat at the other end of the table, his face and neck flushed from drinking. He was particularly excited today, feeling that his brother-in-law had made something of himself, and that it made him proud too.

"Biaozi! Brother-in-law toasts you!" Ma Dashuai came over with a wine glass, his steps a little unsteady. "You're something else! You really are something else! I thought you were just messing around opening a mobile phone shop, but I never expected you to actually make it!"

Fan Debiao clinked his hands with his: "Brother-in-law, drink less."

"It's nothing! I'm happy!" Commander Ma tilted his head back and downed his drink, wiping his mouth. "I, Commander Ma, have never admired anyone in my life, except you! Really!"

He poured himself another glass of wine and turned to Wu Derong: "Mr. Wu, I'd like to toast you too! Thank you for taking care of Biaozi!"

Wu Derong smiled and clinked glasses with him.

When Ma Dashuai got drunk, he started talking a lot and began to recount his experiences in the village. The people at the table listened, occasionally offering a few words of agreement.

After several rounds of drinks and several dishes, the atmosphere became increasingly lively.

Wu Derong then spoke to Ma Xiaocui: "Xiaocui, if you find studying at the trading company too tiring, you can come to Victoria. I'll arrange an easier job for you."

Ma Xiaocui lowered her head and said, "I...I want to learn how to make reports first."

"Where can't we learn financial statements?" Wu Derong said. "Victoria Finance is quite professional."

Fan Debiao chimed in, "Mr. Wu, Xiao Cui is still young. Let her learn some proper skills at the trading company. We'll talk about it after she's learned them."

Wu Derong glanced at Fan Debiao and smiled: "That's right, Debiao is right."

At this moment, Gangzi stood up and offered a toast: "Mr. Wu, I'd like to propose a toast to you. Thank you for giving me that opportunity back then."

Wu Derong clinked glasses with him: "Gangzi, you're doing well working with Debiao now. Keep it up."

"clear."

After finishing his drink, Gangzi glanced at Ma Xiaocui subconsciously. Ma Xiaocui was also looking at him. Their eyes met, and Ma Xiaocui's face flushed red. She quickly lowered her head.

Awei saw all of this and gently nudged Fan Debiao under the table.

Fan Debiao turned to look at her.

Awei leaned closer and whispered, "Xiao Cui seems to have a thing for Gangzi."

Fan Debiao remained silent.

Awei added, "Mr. Wu is quite attentive to Xiao Cui as well."

Fan Debiao remained silent and lit a cigarette.

By this time, Commander Ma had drunk quite a bit. He stood up unsteadily, picked up his wine glass, and walked over to Fan Debiao.

"Biaozi, brother-in-law... brother-in-law has something to say to you from the bottom of his heart." Ma Dashuai's tongue was slurred, "You, you've made something of yourself now. But you can't forget your roots, you can't forget we're family!"

"General, you've had too much to drink." Yu Fen came over and pulled him away.

"I didn't do much!" Ma Dashuai flung his hand away. "I'm perfectly sober! Biaozi, tell me, you run a shop, why don't you let me help out? Why make me clean toilets in Victoria? I'm your own brother-in-law!"

The table fell silent.

Fan Debiao's expression remained unchanged: "Brother-in-law, you're doing a great job at Victoria."

"Good my foot!" Ma Dashuai retorted, getting excited. "Six hundred yuan a month, what can you do with that? How much do you earn a day? Four or five hundred thousand! Even a little bit of money between your fingers is enough for me to earn for a year!"

Yu Fen's face turned pale: "General, what nonsense are you talking about!"

"I'm talking nonsense?" Ma Dashuai pointed at Fan Debiao. "Fan Debiao won the lottery, over a million! He opened such a big store! What, can't he even help a relative? Making me clean toilets, who are you trying to embarrass?"

Wu Derong frowned: "General, you've had too much to drink. Sit down."

"I didn't do much!" Ma Dashuai became more and more agitated as he spoke. "Fan Debiao, you just look down on me, don't you? You think I'm incompetent and a good-for-nothing! Let me tell you, without your sister, would you be where you are today? Back when you were penniless, who was it that..."

"Enough!" Fan Debiao stood up. His voice wasn't loud, but everyone heard it.

General Ma was stunned for a moment.

Fan Debiao looked at him and said, word by word, "Brother-in-law, you've had too much to drink today, so I won't hold it against you. You're my brother-in-law, and I respect you. But you have to understand that I, Fan Debiao, do things with a clear conscience. You want to work in the store? Fine, but you have to start from the bottom, just like everyone else. Are you capable of that?"

General Ma opened his mouth, but no words came out.

Fan Debiao turned to Wu Derong: "Mr. Wu, I'm sorry to spoil the mood. I'll take my brother-in-law home first."

"Okay, drive carefully."

Yu Fen helped Ma Dashuai walk out, with Ma Xiaocui following behind. At the door, Ma Dashuai suddenly turned around, glaring at Fan Debiao: "You...you wait..."

Before he could finish speaking, Yu Fen dragged him out.

The private room was completely silent.

Wu Derong waved his hand: "It's nothing, everyone's like this when they've had too much to drink. Come on, let's continue."

But the atmosphere had already soured.

After sitting for another ten minutes or so, Fan Debiao got up to say goodbye: "Mr. Wu, thank you for your hospitality today. The store will be busy tomorrow, so we'll head back now."

"Okay, then you guys should get some rest."

The group from Dexing Communications walked out. Gangzi followed behind, whispering, "Brother Biao, Uncle Ma, he..."

"It's nothing," Fan Debiao waved his hand. "I just drank too much."

Awei saw them to the door: "Mr. Fan, take care."

"Let's go back."

Fan Debiao and his group left. Awei stood at the door of Victoria, watching them walk away.

Wu Derong appeared out of nowhere and stood next to her: "Awei, what do you think of Debiao?"

Awei was taken aback: "Mr. Wu, what you're saying..."

"Just asking." Wu Derong lit a cigarette. "De Biao is a talented person, but he's too sentimental. He would have cut ties with someone like Commander Ma a long time ago."

Awei didn't respond.

Wu Derong took a drag of his cigarette and said, "Xiao Cui is a very innocent girl."

Awei's heart skipped a beat, but she didn't show it on her face: "Yes, she's young and doesn't understand anything."

Wu Derong glanced at her and smiled, "Alright, go back now."

Fan Debiao escorted Yu Fen and the others home, but didn't go in himself.

"Uncle, won't you come in and sit for a while?" Ma Xiaocui asked.

"No, I have some things to do at the shop," Fan Debiao said. "Xiao Cui, focus on your studies and don't think about anything else."

Ma Xiaocui blushed and said, "I understand."

Watching them go upstairs, Fan Debiao lit a cigarette and slowly walked back.

When he arrived at the entrance of Dexing Communications, he didn't go in, but sat down on the curb.

The streetlights were dim, and there were hardly any people on the street.

Halfway through his cigarette, Gangzi came over from the other side of the street: "Brother Biao, what are you doing sitting here?"

"Just getting some fresh air." Fan Debiao flicked his cigarette ash. "Why haven't you replied yet?"

"I...I'll just wander around." Gangzi squatted down next to him. "Brother Biao, don't take what Uncle Ma said today to heart."

"I know," Fan Debiao said. "That's the kind of person he is."

After a moment of silence, Gangzi suddenly asked, "Brother Biao, how's Xiaocui doing at the trading company?"

Fan Debiao turned to look at him: "What do you want to ask?"

Gangzi scratched his head: "N-nothing, just asking casually."

"Gangzi," Fan Debiao stubbed out his cigarette, "Xiao Cui is only eighteen, young and immature. You're seven or eight years older than her, you need to be more mature."

Gangzi blushed: "Brother Biao, I didn't mean that..."

"Whether she meant it or not, you know it in your heart." Fan Debiao stood up. "Now is not the time. Wait two years. If she's still willing, and you're truly sincere, then we can talk about it."

Gangzi nodded: "I understand."

"Go back," Fan Debiao patted him on the shoulder. "We'll be busy tomorrow."