Chapter 42: Signing the contract and returning with the goods

Bai Laosan was excited. An order worth several thousand yuan was not a small amount.

He took Su Zhongguo and the other two to his unit.

I found the Minister of Logistics and told him the purpose of Su Zhongguo and others' visit. Minister Li was so excited.

"Welcome, welcome to you. It's getting late. Let's go to the cafeteria to have lunch first. I'll have someone prepare the contract right away." Minister Li is a very considerate person.

He is even better at dealing with people than the salesperson Bai Laosan.

With just a few words, he can let go of his identity and bring people closer together.

Su Zhongguo and the other two naturally wouldn't hit someone who smiled at them.

"Minister Li, you are too polite. We will respectfully obey your orders." Su Zhongguo bowed to Minister Li.

Baoguo and Baomin also thanked Minister Li.

"What's the matter? Let's go."

The meal on the table was very sumptuous, which showed that Minister Li valued Su Zhongguo and the other two very much.

While eating and drinking, the contract was also taken over by Bai Lao San.

Chinese people have the habit of discussing business at the dinner table, and Su Zhongguo and others don't think there is anything wrong with this.

"Zhongguo, take a look. This is the contract of our factory. If you have any comments, please let us know." Bai Laosan also drank a few glasses of wine, and his face turned a little pale, but he was happy.

What he is interested in is not this cooperation, but their future cooperation.

Su Zhongguo took it with a smile and looked at it carefully.

To be honest, he was a little nervous at first, but after reading the whole article, he felt relieved.

It's very simple, it just states the shipment volume, pricing, contact person, etc. It's just two pages.

It is stamped with the official seal and signature of the garment factory.

After he finished reading it, he gave it to Baoguo and his brother.

The two of them were naturally literate, and after reading every word, their faces were full of smiles.

This price was negotiated with Minister Li over a dinner table.

In fact, Bai Laosan could also make the decision, but he did not directly give this price to Su Zhongguo and others, which was to give Minister Li a way out.

Now that people are in front of him, we have to give him some space to move around.

It's just right now.

"Minister Li, Third Brother Bai, I have no objection to the price, but there is one thing. We naturally cannot bring back so much goods in person. I wonder if you have any way to deliver the goods to us?" It is unrealistic for the three of them to carry so many goods.

He also didn't think that the three of them could bring the things back safely.

When the two heard him say this, they immediately became embarrassed.

It’s not that they don’t want to help, but whether it’s by train or mail, it’s a lot of money, and the price they offer doesn’t include shipping costs.

Seeing that they were in trouble, Su Zhongguo immediately asked, "But what's the problem?"

Minister Li sighed and expressed his dilemma: "Boss Su, it's not that we don't want to find a solution for you, but the price we gave you is really low. If we help you ship the goods again, we will lose money."

"I believe that you, Boss Su, are also knowledgeable and can understand our suffering."

Bai Laosan also explained, "Yes, Brother Zhongguo, if you can afford this money, we can find a way to help you ship the goods back. If it were my personal business, I would definitely not argue with you like this, but this is for the factory, so you should also understand."

When Su Zhongguo heard this, he was delighted. So that's how it was.

"Minister Li, Third Brother Bai, you misunderstood. I didn't want you to pay. We'll pay for it ourselves. But you also know that we are from outside the city, so this way is naturally not possible. This is why I want you to come up with a solution."

While feeling relieved, he also wanted to achieve a longer-term cooperation with them.

Even though trade is so free here now, it is not like this anywhere else except Shenzhen.

Although the economic reform and opening up has been going on for two years, to be honest, apart from the increase in foreign trade, there has been no change in the domestic consumption system. I am afraid that it will not end well, just like before.

Faced with the danger of life and death, who would dare to be the first to take that step?

If it weren't for his daughter's voice, he wouldn't have taken the risk. After all, he is not alone, he has his family, his relatives, and his lover behind him.

If we want to have free trade like the south, it will probably take some years for the whole country to make the transition.

Minister Li and Bai Laosan were relieved. "If that's the case, we can help you ship the goods back, but Boss Su may have to pay for the freight himself."

Minister Li smiled sincerely. How could he not see the future that Bai Laosan could see?

Apart from state-owned orders, this business of theirs is not small.

What they need is the backlog from last year. After clearing out all these goods, their factory's prospects this year will be completely different.

Since there is reform and opening up, the country will naturally take all aspects into consideration for them.

Although there is not much domestic transportation, it does exist.

"In that case, let's include this clause in the contract. I'll pay and you'll help us ship the goods." Su Zhongguo is very smart.

"Okay." Minister Li agreed happily and asked Bai Laosan to include this condition in the contract.

The next step is to go to the warehouse to check the goods.

Originally, the contract was signed and the payment was made, but Minister Li gave Su Zhongguo and others the privilege of going to the warehouse to select the goods themselves.

When starting a business for the first time, I naturally want to do everything myself.

Look, I just got off work after being busy at the factory.

Bai Laosan also stayed with him the whole time without any complaints.

This is also to further strengthen cooperation with Su Zhongguo.

"Third Brother Bai, you've worked so hard today. So, I'll treat you to dinner tonight. However, I don't know much about this place, so I'll have to trouble you to show me the way."

Bai Laosan shook his head. "What are you talking about? How can I let you spend money? I can also get a reward if I complete your order. I will treat you tonight and take you to eat our Shenzhen specialties."

After another meal, the relationship between the few people deepened.

They also learned Bai Laosan's real name, Bai Jingtang, and that he was a native of Shenzhen.

Bai Jingtang, who was drunk, dragged the three people back to his home and told them to get acquainted with the place and stay at his house next time instead of going to any guesthouse.

Su Zhongguo had no objection to this.

However, they did not stay at Bai Jingtang's house that night, but returned to the guesthouse.

They didn't go back immediately, but stayed in Shenzhen for two more days.

They walked around Shenzhen, saw the country's development, and saw the busy exchange meeting. The three knew that the country was beginning to take off.

It would be a lie to say I wasn't excited.

Standing outside the exchange meeting, watching the foreigners coming and going, Su Zhongguo and the other two stood there for a long time without moving.

"Brother Baoguo, we will definitely be able to go in and buy the best things from our country like foreigners."

"Well, I also believe that our country will become better and richer."

"Yes, I also believe that as the country has more money, the lives of us people will get better and better."

After learning that the garment factory had loaded and shipped the goods for them, the three of them bought tickets back.

He was still dressed in rags, just like when he came, and he didn't have much money on him. Apart from the money for food and drink, he didn't have a penny left.

The only three big bags are gifts for family members.

After four or five days of clanging, they returned to their hometown county.

When they got off the train, they went to the unloading department of the train station with the certificate issued by the factory.

Find the person in charge here, show your ID, and then wait here for unloading.

They had already arrived at the county town, which was considered their own territory. Su Zhongguo went to buy some food and also found several rickshaws.

These goods have to be transported back to my home in the county town.

They wouldn't feel comfortable if they didn't keep goods worth thousands of dollars at home.

I was busy until dark and finally got everything back.

Baojun lived next door. When he came home from get off work, he saw the commotion and came straight over without even going home.

As soon as he came over, he saw his wife busy in the yard.

"What's going on? Why did you open the courtyard of my brother-in-law and his family?" He didn't see Su Zhongguo and the other three, so he asked his wife directly.

Lin Qiujuan heard her man's familiar voice and ran towards him with a happy face, "You're back, go to the house quickly, my brother-in-law and Baoguo are all here."

She was also scared. She never expected that her brother-in-law and the other two would come back and bring back so many things.

She also looked at those things, clothes, watches, which one she didn't yearn for.

"Oh, so, help me push the car over there, and I'll go inside to take a look."

"Okay, go quickly."

When Li Baojun came in, he saw his brother-in-law and cousin sorting things there.

The floor and tables were filled with goods.

"Brother-in-law, what are you doing?" Li Baojun asked in confusion.

"Baojun is back, come quickly and help us open the unopened packages and see if there is anything wrong inside." Su Zhongguo's face was flushed. He had no choice, as he had opened many packages but the contents had not been replaced.

How could this not make him excited and happy.

"They've all been unpacked?" Li Baojun looked at the large and small bags on the ground, full of confusion. "Where should I put them after I unpack them?"

"Put it here." Pointing to a place that had been vacant for a long time, Su Zhongguo began to unpack the new package.

They were so busy that Lin Qiujuan came in and called them to dinner.

"Stop, eat first, I'm hungry." Su Zhongguo stopped and stood up first, then greeted the three people.

Baoguo and Baomin had also calmed down after their excitement and were able to face each other normally. When they heard that it was time to eat, their stomachs started growling.

"Okay."

Li Baojun was still a little reluctant and wanted to take a closer look to see what was there, but was directly carried out of the main hall by Su Zhongguo and the other two.

Xiao Jin was also picked up and taken directly to the kitchen next door.

The meal was very sumptuous, showing that Baojun's wife had put a lot of thought into it.

"I bought vegetables late today. I will go to the market early tomorrow morning and buy more meat." Seeing that everyone was at the table, Lin Qiujuan said a little embarrassedly.

After sitting on the train for such a long time, you need to eat something good to replenish your body.

"Sister-in-law, you are too polite. I can tell that you put a lot of thought into the food. We are not strangers, so you don't have to be like this. Come on, hold Xiaojin and eat together." Baoguo was the oldest among them, so naturally he was the first to speak.

"That's right, sister-in-law, you are being too polite to us. It's us who are bothering you." Baomin became more talkative when he saw his relatives.

Perhaps because they have seen the world, the three of them are obviously more eloquent than before.

Maybe they themselves haven't noticed the changes, but outsiders can see it when they get along with them.

"Okay, you can sit down and eat too. There are no outsiders here." Li Baojun finally spoke, and Lin Qiujuan sat down to have dinner with everyone.

After devouring the meal in no time, his eating speed finally slowed down.

"Home-cooked food is still the best." Baomin couldn't help but sigh.

The other two were similar.

"Yes, it smells really good, even better than the ones in the restaurants in Shenzhen."

This praise made Lin Qiujuan feel embarrassed.

Baojun was puzzled, "Is the food in Shenzhen so bad?" He would believe that they suffered on the train, but he didn't believe it in Shenzhen.

Upon hearing this, Baomin couldn't stand it anymore, "Woo woo, Baojun, you don't know." So, after a lot of outbursts, Baojun, who had never been to Shencheng, began to reject the food in Shencheng.

"Not only is it bland, but even though the food is all good stuff, something we haven't seen here before, it still tastes fishy and has a hint of mud and sand. It's a wonder it tastes good."

If they hadn't been carrying the buns and steamed buns, the three of them would have returned long ago.

It’s not their fault. The Shenzhen of today is not the Shenzhen of later generations. It gathers delicacies from all over the world. There is nothing you can’t eat, only things you can’t imagine.

The brothers chatted and laughed, and after filling their stomachs, they went back to sort the goods.

When Li Baojun saw the things brought back, his scalp tingled.

"Have you thought about how to sell it? Although some people have started setting up stalls here, none of them are as big as yours." He was a little worried.

These are goods worth several thousand yuan. What if they can’t be sold?

"Don't worry, how can you not be moved when you see these things?" Su Zhongguo had already matched him with an electronic watch and a set of clothes.

That’s right, there are not only women’s clothing, but also men’s clothing, but there are not many men’s clothing.

The same is true for Lin Qiujuan.

Xiao Jin is playing with a digital watch, with a smile on his little face.

"I'm tempted, but have you decided on the price?" Li Baojun couldn't say anything against his will. Naturally, he was tempted by the new clothes and the new watch.

But the price is not cheap.

"If it's too expensive." He didn't say the rest, but everyone understood what he meant.

Li Baoguo smiled and stepped forward, patting Li Baojun on the shoulder. "Don't worry, your brothers are not stupid. They will not do business that will lose money."

"Come, tell me, if this suit costs seven dollars, would you like it without a ticket?" He asked, picking up a men's Dacron suit.

I forgot to mention that summer clothes are only a few dollars each, and the most expensive is only five dollars, which is not as expensive as autumn clothes.

So if they sell it for seven, eight or ten dollars, it’s no big deal.

"Impossible." Li Baojun jumped up when he heard the price, "Do you know how much this piece of clothing costs in the supply and marketing cooperative?" He actually knew the price of this piece of clothing. He had bought one when he was at work.

Fifteen dollars, and not only that, he also asked for a lot of tickets.

"Haha, this can't be compared with that place. Just tell me, are you tempted by the price?" What Li Baomin didn't say was that they made a profit of three dollars from the seven dollars.

Su Zhongguo on the side smiled and shook his head, "Stop it, this price is definitely not acceptable. Seven yuan is too much of a loss. It should be at least ten yuan. We don't want tickets." Seven yuan, doubled, but he felt it was a little too little.

"What?" Li Baoguo shouted, "Zhongguo, you want to sell this dress for ten yuan?" The purchase price was four yuan, isn't it a bit unfair to sell it for ten yuan?

"Brother Baoguo, you only calculated our purchase price, but what about the freight we paid? What about the labor cost? You didn't take these into account." They are not working for nothing. It's such a far place, how can they justify the sand they eat if they don't earn more.

"If you add all that up, the cost of each piece of clothing will have to go up by at least one dollar. With that calculation, do you think ten dollars is still too expensive?"

Five yuan less than the supply and marketing cooperative, this was already his biggest concession.

"Now that you put it that way, big brother, I think Zhongguo is right. We didn't dare to eat or drink during this journey. It was even harder than farming for me." Li Baomin agreed with what Zhongguo said.