Chapter 90 The Guest from Afar

Sometimes, too much business can be a problem.

The inventory was being depleted much faster than He Changyi had anticipated.

Because the distance between Zhong and E is quite far, a full 8,000 kilometers, sea transport takes one to two months, while land transport takes at least half a month. In addition, the customs procedures in Eros are complicated and inefficient, so customs clearance takes ten days or longer.

Therefore, the store's restocking cycle is once every forty-five days. At the same time, it is also necessary to maintain two months' worth of inventory to keep the quantity of goods in a dynamic balance, so as to avoid stockouts due to transportation or customs clearance delays.

However, due to the sudden incident of counterfeit goods vandalizing the store, in order to reverse the reputation of Friendship Store and Zhongguo products, He Changyi spent a lot of money on a lucky draw promotion, paid for the travel expenses of reporters to come and cover the story, and also held a Zhongguo Day event.

Unexpectedly, this combination of tactics, which would later become commonplace, directly caused a tsunami in the stagnant old industrial city, with almost everyone in the city crowding into the shops!

Inventory was disappearing at a visible rate. Goods that were originally expected to last for two months were about to be exhausted in just half a month. In the end, purchase restrictions had to be implemented to barely ensure the universal principle that "there must be water in the fire hydrants and goods in the stores."

He Changyi placed an order with domestic suppliers overnight. Because the order was too urgent, it would inevitably disrupt the suppliers' original production plans and cause them to suspend ongoing orders to catch up. She offered a 10% discount, prepaid the full amount, and even reserved orders for the next quarter. This generous offer directly impressed the suppliers, who agreed without hesitation.

In factories thousands of kilometers away, machines run day and night, and boxes of goods are loaded directly onto trucks after coming off the production line and driven away toward distant Oros.

But distant water cannot quench immediate thirst.

He Changyi then contacted various middlemen in Emei, hoping to buy goods from them at high prices, even if the quality was slightly inferior. He could simply sell them at a discount, as long as customers had something to buy.

But—the moral bottom line of these middlemen is really low. Even though He Changyi has lowered his standards, less than one in ten of the goods are still up to standard.

Down jackets with feathers and faded leather jackets are just the basics; there are also cotton-padded coats with catkins and rat-skin gloves. The most unscrupulous ones mix lime into milk powder and dilute liquor with industrial alcohol, both for profit and to kill. Their motto is "If I don't go to hell, who will?" Even Satan would have to step down.

He Changyi's actions were utterly incomprehensible.

Dude, even if Oros doesn't have a 315 (consumer rights hotline), this is still bullying!

Besides, although the people of E'guo may not have the weapons to criticize, they have plenty of weapons to criticize. You're just not giving up until you see an AK-47!

Some acquaintances who were also resellers tried to advise He Changyi: "Why are you selling so many good things to the Russians? Do they even know how to use them? Let me tell you, these gray-collar animals can grow tall and strong even eating chaff and wild vegetables. It's a waste to let them use good things."

He Changyi picked up the bare, fur-less fur coat with one finger and disdainfully threw it at the other person.

"Take your junk and get out of here!"

The middleman, thoroughly humiliated, sullenly grabbed his coat and left, muttering curses as he went:

"You're a bastard who won't make money when you can! You'll regret it sooner or later! You're always on the Russian side, bullying your own compatriots. I think you're a traitor! Bah!"

He Changyi shouted to his bodyguards, "Throw him out! Beat him every time you see him from now on!"

Xie Xuejun and his men were eager to go into battle.

Damn it, adding lime to baby formula deserves to be shot ten thousand times over!

Zheng Xiaowei sidled up to He Changyi and said cautiously, "Boss, our warehouse is almost sold out... How about we stock up a bit more? It's okay if the quality is a little lower. We can't let customers come in and not be able to buy anything. Otherwise, they'll all go to other stores. Once this opportunity is gone, it's gone forever. Let's make money first. If things go wrong, we can always switch to better quality later..."

He Changyi glanced at him and, unusually, offered an explanation: "They are itinerant merchants, they make a quick buck and move on; we are settled merchants, we have families and businesses, we don't need to make a quick buck and run away."

Zheng Xiaowei nodded hesitantly, but couldn't help himself and said, "But this time the situation is special, so let's make an exception and not do it again..."

Under He Changyi's oppressive gaze, his voice grew softer and softer, and finally, he shrank back and slipped away.

The shortage problem remains unresolved.

The warehouse, which used to be piled high with goods, is now empty, and you can even hear the echo of your footsteps as you walk through it.

Meanwhile, the stores remained packed with people, and the number of customers was even increasing.

After purchasing their desired items, the first few groups of customers enthusiastically recommended the products to their friends and family. Some even took the initiative to act as guides, leading a large group of people toward the Friendship Store.

"They can get canned beef here!"

"You don't need to give gifts to the sales staff; you can buy whatever's on the shelf!"

"You can enter a prize draw just by buying a roll of toilet paper!"

"Did you know that this store even accepts receipts!"

Spontaneous word-of-mouth advertising is even more effective than newspaper ads; people spread the word, one to another, and everyone becomes a volunteer salesperson.

He Changyi never imagined that one day she would have a headache because she had too many customers.

This might sound like she's showing off, but she's genuinely having a headache.

The fastest shipment is currently stuck at customs. She urgently contacted an old acquaintance in the gray market customs clearance business, but even if it clears customs now, there's still a land transport step, and it's several thousand kilometers from the border crossing to Vladimir.

He Changyi: ...Why do you Eguo people occupy such a large area of ​​land? You neither develop nor build it, it's just left uncultivated. There are more bears than people, it's a complete waste of resources. You might as well let Lao Zhong give you a demonstration of the Far East Development.

Headache is a headache, but we still need to find a way to solve the problem.

He Changyi pieced together all the reasonably good goods on the market and strengthened after-sales service to minimize any adverse effects.

She had finally managed to shed the label of "inferior product," and she absolutely wouldn't allow herself to be fooled twice.

During this period, He Changyi lived in the store and worked on-site to solve problems. Some customers who had read the newspaper came to take photos with her, and some even took out their notebooks to ask her for autographs.

He Changyi felt as if she wasn't doing business, but rather participating in a reality show called "Debut! Speculators".

Especially when customers say to her, "Keep it up, our whole family supports you!"

...I was very moved, but also had mixed feelings.

Xie Xuejun also secretly told He Changyi that Zheng Xiaowei was privately reselling her photos and was reportedly making a lot of money, with demand exceeding supply.

He Changyi gave the kid a good beating!

Zheng Xiaowei begged for mercy, wailing and howling. When he got back, he interrogated Geng Zhi: "Did you tell on me?!"

Geng Zhi scoffed, "Do you think everyone's like you, all you think about is money? So that's why you sent that letter asking for the camera—you shameless!"

Zheng Xiaowei's face flushed red, and he jumped up and down, shouting, "Don't change the subject, just tell me if you did it!"

Xie Xuejun strolled leisurely past the door, poked his head in, and said, "I did it."

Zheng Xiaowei completely lost his temper.

Beyond the daily chaos, the issue of stockouts continues to hang like the Sword of Damocles over their heads.

He Changyi sometimes even wanted to beg customers not to come and buy anymore (…

On the very day the warehouse was to be completely emptied, a convoy of several large trucks suddenly appeared on the road outside the store.

He Changyi was standing by the window when she happened to meet the gaze of the person getting out of the lead car.

He looked up at the building, a beaming smile on his face, just like the snowy landscape of years ago.

He Changyi raised an eyebrow and also curled the corners of her mouth.

This was indeed an unexpected surprise.

The office, piled high with documents, was hastily cleared out to create a reception area. The guest sat calmly on the sofa, holding a teacup, but not in a hurry to drink, and looked at the host with a smile.

Why didn't you contact me?

He Changyi leaned back against her desk, her posture relaxed. Instead of answering immediately, she asked him, "How did you know? Could there be a mole inside?"

He chuckled, not angry at all, and instead explained earnestly, "There was no traitor. News of your shortage has spread throughout Oros and even reached Eastern Europe. I came here after hearing the news."

He Changyi looked him up and down without any politeness, and he didn't flinch or avoid her gaze.

A well-tailored coat, perfectly wrinkle-free trousers, gleaming leather shoes, and a discreetly luxurious watch on the wrist—even the most discerning eye could find no fault with it.

He looked completely different from the train's handyman, and completely different from the nouveau riche in the mink coat.

A thought popped into He Changyi's mind: This guy has become a spirit through cultivation.

A very beautiful fox spirit.

The flamboyant and impatient temperament that once seemed eager to show off to the world has now become calm and reserved, confident and composed.

He Changyi didn't speak, and he sipped his tea slowly and calmly, showing no sign of impatience.

It was as if he had traveled a long way just for this cup of steaming hot tea.

Xie Xun.

He Changyi called out his name, "You're just doing this to help?"

Xie Xun put down his cup and said with exceptional sincerity, "Changyi, you helped me when I needed you most. Now, I want to help you."

...These words are very touching, and they would be even more touching if the speaker wasn't Xie Xun.

He Changyi said, "I thought you were still angry with me because of the breakup."

Xie Xun said, "I just don't know how to face you."

He stood up and walked up to He Changyi.

Surprisingly, he looked even taller than he did on the train, perhaps because he finally stood up straight?

"I'm sorry," Xie Xun said softly. "I shouldn't have said those things back then."

What kind of words?

He Changyi thought about it carefully before finally recalling it from the corner of her mind. Oh, it turns out that when they were discussing breaking up the partnership, Xie Xun got so angry that she went crazy on the spot, saying that there were too many Russian men and she couldn't guess who they were.

Is it really such a small matter?

He Changyi said generously, "I've long forgotten about it, so don't take it to heart."

Xie Xun glanced at her, his smile fading slightly, and then changed the subject.

"I brought ten truckloads of goods, that should be enough for your next order."

He Changyi said, though her words didn't reflect her true feelings, "Oh, that's not a good idea. Won't you run out of stock?"

Seeing her smiling eyes, trying hard to hold back her laughter, Xie Xun's bad mood improved slightly.

"I just want to help you."

He Changyi stood on tiptoe, put his arm around Xie Xun's shoulder like a good brother, and said heartily, "I've decided you're my brother!"

Xie Xun didn't reply, but instead reached out to support her waist. He paused as he got close, then moved his right hand up and finally placed it on her back.

"Go check out the goods. I've picked out the best quality ones; you'll definitely like them."

He Changyi didn't notice his little trick. He called over Geng Zhi and Zheng Xiaowei and asked them to take charge of unloading the goods, arrange food and lodging for the truck drivers, and park the trucks in a safe place so that they wouldn't find their tires removed and their fuel tanks emptied when they woke up the next morning.

Geng Zhi readily agreed and pulled Zheng Xiaowei to get to work.

Under He Changyi's tutelage, this kid can now basically stand on his own, but he's still a bit green and needs more practice.

Zheng Xiaowei kept turning around, his eyes shining, and whispered to ask who the strange man in the office was.

Geng Zhi had never met Xie Xun before, and absentmindedly said, "He's probably a friend of the boss."

Zheng Xiaowei said firmly, "They are definitely not ordinary friends!"

Geng Zhi was too lazy to gossip with him and urged Zheng Xiaowei to get to work quickly, as there was a lot to do today.

Zheng Xiaowei looked back at the office with reluctance, wondering when he would be able to become like that man.

Compared to the other party, he was just a wild fox that hadn't even grown its first fur, and a Tibetan fox at that.

The most troublesome problem was finally solved, and He Changyi enthusiastically invited Xie Xun to dinner at a Georgian restaurant.

The familiar waiter smiled and arranged the best table for them. He Changyi ordered several signature dishes and then asked Xie Xun what he wanted to eat.

Xie Xun just looked at her and smiled: "Anything is fine. The food isn't important; the people you eat with are what matter."

He Changyi glanced at him and thought to herself that, indeed, becoming a spirit through cultivation is quite different.

She ordered a bottle of wine and was about to pour it into their glasses when Xie Xun stood up and took the bottle from her.

"I'll do it."

He poured the wine with impeccable manners, swirled the glass, and let the wine breathe more fully.

This set of movements is so fluid and graceful, it's quite pleasing to the eye.

He Changyi suddenly asked, "Xie Xun, besides delivering goods, what else do you want to do on this trip?"

Xie Xun paused, then looked up at He Changyi.

He didn't speak, but that one look seemed to say it all.

She has very beautiful peach blossom eyes, and her gaze is always overly affectionate.

But it seems that it's not just the eyes that are the cause.

But the other side was too heartless and unmoved, so all that could happen was the passing of spring like flowing water and falling flowers.

Xie Xun lowered his eyes and said slowly, "It's been a long time since I've seen you."

He suddenly looked up and stared straight at He Changyi.

Even if we break up, I think we can still be friends, right?

He Changyi inexplicably felt that his gaze was incredibly sharp, lacking the misty haze characteristic of peach blossom eyes, and instead felt like a sword blade approaching.

Why not?

She cracked a joke, trying to turn the tide.

"Unless you look down on me as an old friend, I can't think of a reason to break off our friendship."

Xie Xun, however, refused to let her get away with it and pressed for details: "So, at least you consider me a friend, right?"

At least?

He Changyi didn't have time to think about the meaning of the word and said directly, "You saved me, and I will always be grateful for that. Of course you are my friend, unless it is your decision to break off our friendship."

Xie Xun nodded, his face always bearing a smile, making it impossible to tell whether he was satisfied or not.

As they chatted, the waiters brought the dishes to the table one after another. With the delicious food as a lull, the two ate and talked, and the atmosphere became more harmonious.

He Changyi talked about the obstacles he encountered in opening a store in Fuzhou, and Xie Xun then talked about his business in Eastern Europe.

He has already opened his fifth wholesale market, from Yugoslavia to Hungary, choosing countries that are pro-China. The First Lady spearheaded the establishment of Chinatown in order to attract more Chinese businessmen to revitalize the country's economy.

As the business expanded, there wasn't enough manpower. Fortunately, Xie Xun's hometown custom was to help fellow villagers. Once he established himself in Eastern Europe, his relatives started doing business through his connections, and everyone banded together to conquer the world.

Although Xie Xun was young, he was very capable and became the head of the family. He always stood in the first row when worshipping ancestors.

He Changyi thought of Xie Shirong, whom he hadn't seen in a long time, and Mosk hadn't heard from him either.

Xie Xun said casually, "He went back to his hometown."

He Changyi said, "Uncle Xie doesn't seem like someone who's content with his lot. Even when he's seventy or eighty, he'll still try to make money while leaning on a cane."

Xie Xun suddenly laughed, his tone contemptuous and indifferent.

"He has no chance."