Rebirth: Fan Debiao rises from the Liaobei land

After the meeting, Awei returned to her desk, opened her contact list, and ran her finger across the pages, stopping at a number—General Manager Wang of TCL's provincial office. She didn't call immediately; instead, she took a sip of her tea, her eyes darting around as she mentally went over what she wanted to say.

The phone rang four times before being answered.

"Hello Mr. Wang, this is Awei from Kaiyuan Dexing." Awei's voice was sweet and cheerful, like it had been coated with honey. "I hope I haven't taken up too much of your time?"

A hearty laugh came from the other end: "Ah Wei, no problem, no problem. How's Boss Fan doing lately? I heard he landed another big project?"

"That's right, we're so busy we're practically running around like headless chickens." Awei continued, "With the Lunar New Year just around the corner, we're planning a big push in Kaiyuan to boost TCL's sales even further."

"This is great news!" General Manager Wang's voice was quite loud. "Tell me how the factory can support us!"

"Mr. Wang, we're thinking of setting up two flagship stores in Kaiyuan, and completely rebranding the storefronts with TCL logos," Awei said. "How many sets of promotional materials for the Lunar New Year... posters, display stands, lanterns, and 'Fu' characters could you provide?"

"How many do you want?"

Awei narrowed her eyes: "There are more than fifty retail stores of all sizes in Kaiyuan City and its towns. We plan to stock them all. If we calculate one set per store... that's fifty sets."

A hissed on the other end of the phone: "Fifty sets? That's a considerable number..."

"Mr. Wang," Awei's voice softened slightly, "as you know, we've put the most effort into the Kaiyuan area of ​​the Liaobei market. This month alone, we've sold over a hundred TCL 3188 units, and next month, with the year-end sales push, we expect sales to double. If this promotion goes well, it will not only make us look good, but it will also enhance TCL's reputation in Liaobei, won't it?"

She paused, then added casually, "Oh, by the way, Xia Xin called yesterday to say they have plenty of year-end supplies and asked if we need any..."

"Hey, hey, no, no, no," Manager Wang quickly interrupted, "Hey, I'll approve eighty sets for you! The extra thirty sets are yours to focus on at your key stores. But Wei, we have to agree, you absolutely have to boost your year-end sales!"

"Mr. Wang, you can rest assured!" Awei smiled even more broadly. "By the way, Mr. Wang, about next year's order fair..."

"That's exactly what I was thinking of telling you," said General Manager Wang. "The manufacturer is holding a major conference in Guangdong on February 19th next year, the eighth day of the Lunar New Year. Your sales this year have been so outstanding that the manufacturer specifically requested to invite you. The policies will definitely be favorable then, but the order quantity... might have to be adjusted upwards. After all, you've sold so well, you should take on more sales targets, right?"

"Of course, of course!" Awei replied, knowing perfectly well that this was because their Spring Festival sales were good, and they were going to increase the budget. "Thank you, Mr. Wang. We'll be waiting for the invitations then!"

After hanging up the phone, Awei quickly wrote "Eighty sets of materials, Guangdong Trade Fair on February 19th" in her notebook and circled it twice.

At 2 PM, the mobile phone store was not very busy.

Xiao Juan and Xiao Ling were leaning over the counter, staring longingly at the Bird store across the street. The queue at the door almost stretched to the curb, and everyone was carrying a rice cooker, grinning like they'd just found money.

Xiaoling muttered, "They're delivering rice cookers... we only get a rebate, what do ordinary people know about this?"

Xiao Juan sighed, "Yes, only tangible benefits are true benefits."

Just then, the door was pushed open with a bang, and Fan Debiao came in, radiating coldness, followed by Awei.

"Brother Biao." The two quickly stood up straight.

Fan Debiao glanced at the scene across the street, then at his own deserted house, and chuckled: "What's wrong, jealous?"

Xiao Juan muttered to herself, "Brother Biao, they really did deliver a rice cooker..."

"What's wrong with giving away rice cookers?" Fan Debiao pulled up a stool and sat down. "How much is that broken pot worth? Fifty at most. Our kickbacks are real money."

Xiaoling pouted: "But ordinary people only care about these immediate benefits."

Fan Debiao took out a cigarette, then thought for a moment and put it back: "You two, what are you up to? Are you worried about not being able to sell the goods and having your commissions reduced? Are you worried about not making any money?"

Xiao Juan blushed: "Brother Biao, we didn't mean that..."

"Forget it, I know exactly what you're thinking." Fan Debiao waved his hand. "But your brother Biao here has figured it all out long ago. Come on, let's serve you something substantial today."

The two girls' eyes lit up instantly.

"First thing," Fan Debiao said, "we have quite a lot of slow-moving models in stock, right? Let's do a 'deposit 100 and get 158 ​​off' promotion."

Xiao Juan was confused: "What do you mean?"

"Think about it," Fan Debiao leaned forward, "How many of these people loitering on the street actually have three or two thousand yuan in their pockets? Most only have a few hundred. If he's just strolling around, let's make him pay a 100 yuan deposit. That 100 yuan is like 158 yuan. Won't he be scrambling home to get the money?"

Xiaoling slapped her thigh: "Brother Biao, this trick can clear out the inventory!"

"That's right!" Fan Debiao said. "The trick is simple—put up big red posters at the door and hire two people to hand out flyers on the street. The key message is 'Deposit 100 and get 158 ​​as credit, no price increase when buying a phone during the Spring Festival, and no trouble picking up your goods in the first month of the lunar calendar.'"

Awei chimed in, "Brother Biao, this trick can catch those who come back from working. I want to change my phone during the Lunar New Year, so ordering it in advance will give me peace of mind."

"That's right," Fan Debiao said. "This way, we can lock in sales in advance and precisely order goods from TCL based on the deposit amount, minimizing inventory pressure. This is the first trick."

"What's the second trick?" Xiao Juan asked anxiously.

"The second trick is to have acquaintances buy together," Fan Debiao said. "Northeasterners care a lot about face, and they love to get together with neighbors, coworkers, and relatives to buy things. So we'll organize 'group buying among acquaintances'."

He explained: "The rules are simple—if 3 people place an order together, each person gets a 50 yuan discount; if 5 or more people place an order together, each person gets a 100 yuan discount, plus a free New Year's gift package containing a box of Kaiyuan hazelnuts. The person who organizes the group gets an extra year of extended warranty on their phone—I've already arranged it with the repair center; it's low-cost and ensures we have a strong after-sales service bond."

Xiaoling blinked wide as she listened: "How do I do that?"

"Simple!" Fan Debiao said. "You call your regular customers and ask them to invite new customers to join the group purchase. At the same time, put up group purchase posters in residential areas, farmers' markets, and factory gates, leaving our store's phone number. Anyone who wants to join can call to register, and we'll arrange it."

He stood up: "We rely on old customers to bring in new ones. We don't spend a penny, and people keep coming in. Once they're here, why worry about them not paying?"

Xiao Juan clapped her hands with delight: "Brother Biao, with these two moves, our business is going to sell out fast!"

"But there's one rule," Fan Debiao said sternly, "TCL 3188 and Xiaxin A8, these two blockbuster models, we will absolutely not participate. That's an ironclad rule."

Avi nodded: "Yes, we've already stocked these two essential commodities in retail stores. If we lower the prices ourselves, the retail stores won't be able to survive."

"Do you understand?" Fan Debiao looked at the two girls.

"Understood!" the two shouted at the top of their lungs.

"Then what are you standing there for?" Fan Debiao laughed. "Xiao Juan is going to the printing factory to make posters, and Xiao Ling is writing up the word list. They'll be done this afternoon. Awei, you contact two temporary workers and we'll hand out flyers on the street tomorrow."

"Alright!" The three of them split up and got to work.

Fan Debiao stood in the store, looking at the group of people queuing at the Bird store across the street, his face expressionless.

Will you deliver a rice cooker?

Let's see who has more family members when he uses his tricks.

It was six o'clock in the evening, and the sky was pitch black. Fan Debiao came out of the company, the north wind whipping his face, and he hunched his shoulders.

When he got to the bottom of his rented apartment, he looked up and saw the lights were on. He paused for a moment before remembering that Awei had said she was coming to deliver food, and he had given her the keys that afternoon.

As I went upstairs and opened the door, a strong smell of pickled cabbage mixed with the aroma of meat wafted into my nose.

Avi, wearing a floral apron, poked her head out of the kitchen: "You're back? Perfect timing, the ribs are just stewed until they're tender."

Two bowls sat on the table: one of sauerkraut stewed with pork ribs, steaming hot, and the other of green peppers and dried tofu, glistening with oil.

"You..." Fan Debiao stood at the door, somewhat at a loss.

"What are you waiting for? Hurry up and wash your hands and eat." Awei set out the chopsticks and sat down first.

Fan Debiao washed his hands, sat down, and picked up a piece of pork rib. The meat was stewed until it was falling off the bone, and the pickled cabbage smelled delicious.

"How is it?" Avi asked.

"The execution is spot on." Fan Debiao picked up another piece of food with his chopsticks.

"That's right." Avi was a little smug. "My mom said that if you want to keep a man, you have to feed him first."

The moment the words left their mouths, they both froze.

Awei's face flushed red, and she lowered her head to shovel rice into her mouth: "I was just kidding..."

"Let's eat, let's eat." Fan Debiao also kept his head down and started cooking.

The only sound in the room was smacking lips. After a while, Awei looked up and around: "Brother Biao, you need to tidy up this room. The sofa cover is discolored, and the curtains are dusty."

"As long as we can stay here, we're all fine with men," Fan Debiao said.

"But we can't just make do," Avi said. "I'll come and tidy it up for you on Sunday. That way it'll look like a home."

Fan Debiao paused in his eating, but remained silent.

After dinner, Awei cleared the dishes and went to the kitchen to wash them. Fan Debiao wanted to help, but she pushed him away, saying, "Just stay put. You were so drunk yesterday, and you've been busy all day."

Fan Debiao sat on the sofa, lit a cigarette, and stared at Awei's busy figure in the kitchen. The light shone on her, highlighting her slender waist in her apron, and her ponytail swayed with her movements.

He suddenly remembered his past life, on New Year's Eve when he was 62 years old, lying alone in a low-rent apartment, where it was so cold that his breath turned to ice, and he couldn't even get a sip of hot water.

"Brother Biao," Awei said, drying her hands as she came out after washing the dishes. "I'm going back."

"Ah, let me see you off." Fan Debiao quickly stood up.

"No need, it's just a short walk. I'll take a taxi and go back myself." Awei put on her down jacket, walked to the door, and then turned back. "There are dumplings in the fridge. I made them last night. Cook some if you get hungry tonight."

After saying that, he opened the door and left.