All the heavens begin with the love in the courtyard.

Who would offend a talented young man with connections?

After the wedding banquet, Song Yunhui pulled Lei Dongbao aside and talked to him about some things. One thing that surprised Lei Dongbao was that Yang Xun had sent him a gift through someone for Song Yunhui's wedding, and the gift was quite valuable!

The gift was an imported large-screen TV. Domestic TVs cost several thousand yuan, so this imported large-screen TV must have cost at least tens of thousands of yuan. For Song Yunhui, this was an astronomical figure. Naturally, Song Yunhui dared not accept such an expensive gift, nor would he accept it. So, without even opening the packaging, he had already called Yang Xun, hoping that Yang Xun could have someone take the gift back.

On the phone, Yang Xun asked him to accept the gift, saying that he really couldn't find the time to come to Jinzhou, otherwise he would have come in person no matter what. On the phone, Yang Xun said in high spirits that he was not short of money now, making millions every month, so this amount of money was nothing to him. He hoped that Song Yunhui would accept the gift out of consideration for the past.

Song Yunhui couldn't persuade Yang Xun over the phone, but he naturally wouldn't accept the large color TV, so he wanted Lei Dongbao to help deliver it to Yang Xun!

Lei Dongbao became interested in Song Yunhui's words. He hadn't paid attention to Yang Xun's affairs for a long time. Since he invited Yang Xun to join Jiangcheng Electric Appliances last Chinese New Year, the two had not been in contact for almost two years.

There was no internet back then, and he was completely unaware of the storm Yang Xun stirred up in Licheng. In Jiangcheng, he didn't know anything about it. There were countless electronics stores that had sprung up in recent years, but he hadn't paid any special attention to them.

He mainly plans to develop in Anhui and Zhejiang provinces in the next two years. He has no plans for other provinces yet. His original plan was to enter other provinces at least the year after next.

The road logistics system at that time was really rudimentary. For single electrical appliances like electric fans, it was still possible to open up markets in other provinces. However, for an appliance market with dozens of different products, it was difficult to establish a complete supply chain system. That's why Lei Dongbao had no plans to go to other provinces for the time being.

Once the provincial markets of Anyun Province and Zhijiang Province are fully digested, there will be sufficient human, material and financial resources for better development. Lei Dongbao felt that in the 1980s, when many laws and regulations were not yet perfect, there was no need for him to rush to expand nationwide. After all, his current status still belonged to others. Once someone else took the credit, it would be inconvenient to do many things!

By the way, Yang Xun brought over an imported color TV worth tens of thousands of yuan, which naturally piqued Lei Dongbao's curiosity, so he agreed to Song Yunhui's request!

It seems that Yang Xun has deviated from the original plot and his career has reached another level. This makes Lei Dongbao very curious about him. He also wants to find out what's going on. Yang Xun's personality is deeply ingrained in Lei Dongbao's mind. He is a business genius. So he plans to go to Licheng to see Yang Xun after the wedding!

Chapter 93: Yang Xun's Changes

After the wedding, Lei Dongbao arranged for a car to take the unopened large color TV to Licheng, a thousand miles away.

1984 was a year of steady and rapid development for Jiangcheng Electric Appliances. By October, Jiangcheng Electric Appliances had more than 29 stores in two provinces, and within the next two years, it will achieve full coverage in the prefecture-level cities of the two provinces!

Although there were many competitors of all sizes around, Lei Dongbao believed that none of them were worthy of a fight.

These shops are basically imitating the same model. Since they are mostly state-owned or collective enterprises, they cannot compare with Jiangcheng Electric Appliances in terms of service and price. Lei Dongbao's unique door-to-door after-sales service almost completely outclasses these shops.

Lei Dongbao knew from the beginning that service was the future of Jiangcheng Electric Appliances. Therefore, in the past year, before any new store opened, the store staff and service personnel underwent at least three months of training before starting work.

In addition to training in service awareness, these people must also have basic repair knowledge, at least the ability to determine if an appliance has a quality problem, and a general understanding of various appliances. It's unacceptable to be clueless when customers ask questions; that's absolutely not allowed in Jiangcheng Appliance City!

Thanks to its excellent shopping environment and comprehensive after-sales service, Jiangcheng Electrical Appliance City has experienced almost no obstacles to its development, and its reputation is naturally ranked first among all similar electrical appliance stores!

Furthermore, Lei Dongbao also conducts performance evaluations for each store, with all bonuses linked to sales performance. He also conducts annual performance evaluations for each employee in the store, among other measures, which ensures the quality of the service staff!

Another point is that Lei Dongbao's marketing methods far surpass those of other shops of this era. As early as last year, he established a marketing department with more than 200 employees. These employees include a dedicated advertising team, including a wall painting team, a poster team, and other TV and radio broadcasting teams. Each team is responsible for different tasks and has monthly performance assessments!

The base salary of employees working at Jiangcheng Electric Appliances is similar to that of other companies in the same industry, but their bonuses far exceed those of other companies. Most of the entry-level employees receive bonuses that are about the same as their base salary each month, and in many departments, the bonuses are even several times or more than ten times the base salary!

Lei Dongbao's rule is that those who are capable should do more work and receive more rewards. He hates egalitarianism the most, believing that egalitarianism will eventually end up in the dustbin of history!

Jiangcheng Electrical Appliance City also established a logistics department and a transportation team last year, and purchased five Jiefang trucks. In addition to these five Jiefang trucks, there is also a car. This car is naturally Lei Dongbao's vehicle. He usually travels around and needs a car.

This year's development has been very stable. The total sales for the year are expected to be around 50 million. Last year, sales increased significantly because of the increased investment from Leiting Second-hand Electric Fans. Now, those opportunities are naturally gone, and things have returned to normal.

However, the annual profit of over ten million is still guaranteed. If the popular saying that Lei Dongbao is a multi-millionaire is true, then it is no longer a legend. Lei Dongbao's net worth has indeed exceeded ten million.

This year, in addition to domestic sales expected to reach 50 million, Lei Dongbao also participated in the Canton Fair in the spring and autumn with the city's team. With OEM electric fans, kettles and water heaters, Lei Dongbao also secured foreign trade orders worth 1.1 million!

The difference between an order of one hundred million US dollars and one million US dollars is indeed quite large. However, Lei Dongbao is not a god. Apart from air fryers, he really can't think of any other electrical appliances with independent intellectual property rights for the time being!

In fact, air fryers are now everywhere at the Canton Fair. Back then, Lei Dongbao's air fryers cost $100 each, but at the Canton Fair in the spring of 1984, they were everywhere for $30. Lei Dongbao was heartbroken to see this, as the product was ruined like that!

Starting in 1982, when Lei Dongbao received a foreign trade order worth 100 million US dollars, he gradually completed all deliveries by 1983. The fact that he was able to deliver one million air fryers within a year was naturally due to the contributions of those contract manufacturers.

At that time, the An Yun Province government had arranged for more than a dozen factories to do the manufacturing. Each of those factories that were able to get the manufacturing contract was a key state-owned enterprise in An Yun Province, and they were all like the Jinzhou Second Machinery Factory.

So at the Canton Fair in 1983, these "sons" all brought their own air fryers to the exhibition. In an instant, the once star product, the proud air fryer of China, became a cheap commodity at street stalls!

At the 1983 Spring Canton Fair, things were a bit better. People still had some bottom line. Air fryers that cost $100 could be sold for $90, and the lowest price was only $80 per unit. In fact, the sales volume of air fryers at the 1983 Spring Canton Fair actually exceeded ten million US dollars, which was quite a miracle.

Anhui Province made a fortune from air fryers, earning not only US dollars, but also receiving praise from many departments in Beijing. This naturally made other provinces envious, so they all began to imitate air fryers!

Then, at the Canton Fair in the autumn of 1983, a magical scene unfolded: in the Huaxia Home Appliance Exhibition Area, every store had air fryer products, and thus, an inevitable price war began!

What is an avalanche? This was exactly what happened at the Canton Fair in the autumn of 1983. Air fryers that cost $100 were ultimately sold for no more than $50. In the last few days of the fair, some companies that hadn't received any orders gave up and started accepting orders for $30 a unit. This was already breaking industry rules because the price was close to the cost price.

These companies have been racking their brains for foreign exchange, and at this time, the air fryer, the first home appliance product in China with independent intellectual property rights, was officially announced to become a street vendor item!

Among them, the most heartbroken should be Jinzhou No. 2 Machinery Factory. They finally had such a money-making machine, but it was ruined!

They also wanted to file a complaint, but at this point, who cared about Jinzhou Second Machinery Factory?

The only thing that made Jinzhou No. 2 Machinery Factory feel gratified was that in 1983, thanks to the Hongyun Fan project, their sales successfully exceeded 100 million yuan, which was a small consolation!

But this little bit of face probably won't last long, because there are already six factories in Anhui Province that have started plastic fan projects, and countless companies across the country are starting to enter the plastic fan industry!

In 1983 alone, the advertising and marketing expenses of Jinzhou No. 2 Machinery Factory exceeded 15 million yuan. In Lei Dongbao's opinion, this amount was already a bit too much. Jinzhou No. 2 Machinery Factory now mainly relies on the Hongyun fan project. The newly launched air conditioner project is still under approval. It is estimated that it will be several years before it can produce air conditioners!

Who knows what might happen a few years from now?

In short, the development path of Jinzhou No. 2 Machinery Plant seems to have returned to the stagnant state of large state-owned factories. Although the newly appointed leaders are trying their best to bring Jinzhou No. 2 Machinery Plant to new glory, its huge size limits its various developments!

Lei Dongbao also felt a chill over the air fryer. Sometimes he wondered if he could have prevented the air fryer from being ruined if he hadn't left Jinzhou Second Machinery Factory.

After much deliberation, his final answer was that he couldn't stop it either. Perhaps he could bring more benefits to Jinzhou Second Machinery Factory, but the outcome would be almost the same, because he had to accept it all, since the patent rights for the air fryer did not belong to him, Lei Dongbao!

This incident should serve as a lesson for him. In the future, if a similar product comes along and he has complete patents, he will have to be very careful!

Lei Dongbao drove his car at high speed and finally arrived in Licheng, a coastal city. The strong ultraviolet rays made Lei Dongbao feel a little uncomfortable at first, but he still found a place and made a phone call to Yang Xun!

The relationship between myself and Yang Xun is a bit strange. If the two of us are close, we are not quite intimate. But Yang Xun is a talented horse, and Lei Dongbao was once considered his mentor!

Yang Xun was initially curious about Lei Dongbao's arrival on the phone, but he quickly expressed his enthusiasm and said that he would come to pick up Lei Dongbao right away.

Lei Dongbao was secretly touched by Yang Xun's enthusiasm, but he underestimated Yang Xun. He stood in front of the public phone for a full hour and a half without seeing Yang Xun. Only then did Lei Dongbao realize that the Yang Xun he remembered was no longer the same!

Although Lei Dongbao was somewhat disappointed, he still finished what he started. He picked up the phone again and called Yang Xun. Yang Xun answered the phone quickly and apologized for a while, saying that he had been too busy and had to entertain a big client, so he had forgotten the time. He said that he would finish up right away and asked Lei Dongbao to wait for him.

Lei Dongbao nodded indifferently, agreeing!

Half an hour later, a black luxury car with four slats stopped in front of Lei Dongbao. The car door opened, and a young man in a suit and tie with his hair neatly combed got out of the back seat. This man was naturally Yang Xun!

Yang Xun still had his signature smile, but this time the smile no longer showed the humility of the past. Instead, it had a unique air of arrogance, which made Lei Dongbao very uncomfortable!

Yang Xun got out of the car, his face beaming, and quickly stepped forward to say something.

"Brother Lei, I'm so sorry, so sorry. I've been so busy. A Chinese businessman is planning to buy some appliances for his parents to enjoy their retirement. I've been helping him choose for a long time, and I'm so sorry to have kept you waiting! This must be your first time in Licheng, right? I've prepared a welcome dinner for you as a gesture of hospitality. Let's go over there now. We'll have to have a few drinks at the dinner table later as an apology for being late!"

Lei Dongbao looked at Yang Xun, who was full of vigor, and didn't embarrass him. He smiled and said.

"Let's skip the welcome banquet, Yang Xun. I was just passing by. Xiao Hui asked me to help him return the color TV you gave him to you. How about I move the TV to your car now?"

As expected of someone from a humble background, Yang Xun's face instantly transformed into that familiar humble smile as he quickly spoke.

“Brother Lei, it’s rare for you to come all the way to Licheng, and you haven’t even had a meal yet. If you just go back like this, wouldn’t that be a slap in my face? You have to give me face today no matter what. I happen to have a few friends to introduce you to. I did have something to attend to earlier, Brother Lei, please understand!”

Lei Dongbao sighed inwardly. He had witnessed Yang Xun's flexible and adaptable personality firsthand. To put it bluntly, Yang Xun had a thick skin!

However, it is precisely because of this personality that Yang Xun has been able to thrive in Licheng in just a few years!

That works too. I can find out more about him. Lei Dongbao is also quite curious about Yang Xun's rise to power!

Seeing that Lei Dongbao had agreed, Yang Xun quickly invited him to get into his luxury car with a smile. Lei Dongbao smiled and declined, pointing to his old Soviet-made Polonez not far away. Yang Xun immediately understood and got into the car, telling the driver to drive. Lei Dongbao also got into the car and followed behind. The two cars then drove towards the street in the distance!

Chapter 94: Are young people these days playing so wildly?

From the beginning of Love in the Courtyard, Chapter 94: Young people nowadays play so wildly. Lei Dongbao followed Yang Xun's luxury car all the way to a residential area and stopped in front of it. This residential area was obviously a gated community, surrounded by shady trees, and it was obviously not a place where ordinary people lived.

There were uniformed security guards standing guard at the main gate. Yang Xun opened his car window, said a few words to the guards, and they saluted and ordered the gate to be opened.

Seeing this, Lei Dongbao felt a chill in his heart. He vaguely guessed how Yang Xun had made his fortune!

Lei Dongbao has always avoided getting involved with these people in his network of connections because he doesn't want to be someone else's puppet. But everyone makes different choices, and there's nothing he can say!

The two cars slowly drove into the residential area. Yang Xun's car stopped in front of a two-story villa. Lei Dongbao glanced at the villa. It was quite old and probably had a style from the Republican era. He also slowly pulled his car over to the side of the road and got out.

Yang Xun got out of the car and said to Lei Dongbao with a smile.

"Brother Lei, today's chef is someone who cooks for the big shots up above. I specially chose this place to entertain you!"

Lei Dongbao's face was ashen, and he managed a rare smile. He nodded but said nothing.

After Yang Xun finished speaking, he led Lei Dongbao into the villa, and Lei Dongbao followed him inside.

Upon entering, Lei Dongbao's eyes lit up. The interior was completely different from the outside. It was not only bright but also luxuriously decorated. The ceiling was adorned with crystal chandeliers, and modern leather sofas and furniture were all available. The spiral wooden staircase also looked grand and luxurious.

Moreover, looking inside, there was another small courtyard, which was a hidden world inside. This place combined Chinese and Western styles, and it was the first time Lei Dongbao had ever seen anything like it!

Yang Xun casually tossed his briefcase onto the sofa next to him and said to Lei Dongbao.

"Don't be shy, we rarely have customers here. Young Master Cheng and the others will be here soon. Please have a seat, and I'll have the kitchen start preparing!"

After saying that, Yang Xun walked towards the inner courtyard. Lei Dongbao didn't stand on ceremony and sat down with a thud. Lei Dongbao felt the softness of the special leather under his buttocks. Sure enough, he was a rich dog. Even though he was so rich now, he had never enjoyed such a luxurious life!

Lei Dongbao carefully observed everything around him, secretly wondering what the other party wanted to do by calling him over. Just then, he suddenly heard the sound of a car stopping outside the door.

Lei Dongbao had just stood up when he heard a voice coming from outside the door. Lei Dongbao looked up and looked towards the door.

Two young men, dressed in suits, strode into the house.

The two walked into the house one after the other, looking relaxed. The young man behind them was saying something, and the young man in front nodded occasionally without saying anything.

As soon as the two entered the house, they both saw Lei Dongbao standing in front of the sofa. The two young men paused, and then the younger man stepped forward and reached out his hand to Lei Dongbao.

"Welcome, Mr. Lei! I've heard so much about you! Haha, Mr. Lei, we've spoken before, I wonder if you still remember me?"

Lei Dongbao was taken aback, and a name immediately came to mind.

"Yang Shaodong!"

The young man opposite him immediately burst into laughter, shook hands briefly with Lei Dongbao, then let go and said casually.

"I am Yang Shaodong. I still vividly remember the scolding you gave me a few years ago, Boss Lei—no, back then I should have said Factory Director Lei! Haha!"

Lei Dongbao's expression was neither humble nor arrogant, and he nodded to Yang Shaodong.

Yang Shaodong seemed to lack any real depth, so he immediately looked at another young man who had been silent all along. This man must be the young master Cheng that Yang Xun had just mentioned.

This man was clearly different from Yang Shaodong. He had an innate arrogance in his expression. He glanced coldly at Lei Dongbao, then a smile appeared on his lips before he slowly spoke.

"You're a guest, please sit down, don't be shy, I'll go change my clothes!"

After saying that, he walked towards the stairs and disappeared into the stairwell in the blink of an eye.

Lei Dongbao didn't stand on ceremony and turned to sit down. Yang Shaodong, who had been watching Lei Dongbao closely, noticed that Lei Dongbao seemed indifferent to him and looked slightly embarrassed. He then sat down on the other side of the sofa.

Lei Dongbao glanced at him casually, and seeing that the other man was sizing him up, it seemed that today's meal was a bit like a trap!