Chapter 293 Two weaknesses of human nature: fear of change of heart and fear of loss

The news that I was drunk and sleeping in Dongli spread, but no one believed it.

After returning from the first day, Xiaolin didn't ask me.

He didn't ask me the next day.

It wasn't until the third day that I felt better. After dinner, Xiaolin glanced at me and I followed her into the bedroom.

She asked, "Can't you turn wine into water? You don't have any medicine."

"I brought medicine."

"Then why did you get drunk?"

"If I wasn't drunk, even what I said in class would be a lie. Only when I was drunk did they believe that I was really doing this to cheer up Dongli, and I had fun with them, laughed with them, and got drunk with them."

"What good will it bring to you to revitalize Dongli?"

Yes, what benefits will the revitalization of Dongli bring to Wanshanhong?

My mother has asked me this question twice. Since it is really difficult to explain it to her, I just smiled and said I would not drink it next time.

Now, Xiaolin asked me, and I couldn't help but feel a little excited, and asked: "Will you allow me to tell the truth?"

She nodded.

"But you are not allowed to laugh at me."

She said, "You have so many prerequisites."

"Yes, there are some things I just want to keep to myself. If they stay in my stomach, it's the truth. Once I say them out loud, they become a joke."

"Shanhong, I won't laugh at you, just tell me."

"Who am I in your eyes?"

Xiao Lin smiled and gave me a glare: "What kind of person? A good person, filial, loyal, good to the master, good to my parents, good to my family, and good to my friends."

I nodded and then shook my head.

She asked, "Did I say something wrong?"

I said, “I am still a sentimental person.”

She stared at me in confusion: "Sentiment?"

"Yes. In the eyes of some, I'm a fortune teller, in the eyes of others, I'm even a liar. Even fair-minded people only acknowledge that I'm a person who can speak, divine, have some education, and make a living in society.

In short, I can't escape the label of being a low-class person.

Along the way, only four people have understood me. One was my master. The second was understanding. I gave him an idea, and he said the world was unfair to me and that I shouldn't be in this position of fortune-telling.

The third person is Mr. Chen, one of the company’s senior executives who supports my idea of ​​building a daughter island.

The fourth one was Secretary Tian. After listening to my analysis, he punched me and decided to spend five years to build the bamboo village.

Xiaolin, although I, Wan Shanhong, am a fortune teller and a low-class person in the eyes of others, I also have a lot of feelings and ambitions.

He listened to me and built a provincially recognized model sanitary scenic area. Mr. Chen accepted me and gave me a platform to showcase my talents. Construction has already begun on the Bainiao Lake Scenic Area, based on my ideas.

Now, Secretary Tian is convinced that I can implement my ideas. In a few years, Dongli will become the Chinese Bamboo Town that I planned. Why can't I be happy? Why should I drink fake wine? Why can't I get drunk?

As Xiaolin listened, his eyes became moist.

"What is the purpose of life? Master said that most people are at four levels: to live well for themselves, to live well for their families, to live well for their relatives, and if they have the ability, to help their friends so that they can live well.

In addition to these four levels, if you still have energy left, help more people live well.

So you found me. I may not be a good husband who is good at love, but I am definitely a person with some ideals, some feelings, and some ambitions.

I can't tell anyone these things. Saying them would be a joke. I don't even want to tell you. But since you brought it up, I have no choice but to say it. I hope you understand me and support me."

Xiaolin bit her lower lip, trying not to cry. She sat down next to me silently.

After a long while, she said, "I wish we had switched places back then. You could have gone to college, and I would have graduated from high school. Actually, graduating from high school with painting skills is enough."

I held her little hand tightly, rubbed it in mine, and said, "Just your words are enough."

At this time, my mother knocked on the door and said, "Yifan is back."

Xiaolin and I went to the living room, and Yifan said happily, "After three rounds of dueling with Boss Zhang, we finally got the contract signed. Uncle Wan was right. The owner of the ear-cleaning shop had an argument with someone, and they beat her up, so she's quitting the shop."

My mother said, "Shanhong, Yifan will open his own shop in the future. You've been running around everywhere. If you're free tonight, we can discuss it together and guide him to run the shop."

I said, "Yifan, tell me your thoughts first."

Yifan explained in detail his ideas for running a store.

My mother said, "You've been in the city for a few years now and have gained a lot of experience. Ask your uncle to call a group of friends and hold a lively opening ceremony. Start by doing business with your acquaintances and then expand it."

Yifan clapped his hands happily: "Yes, uncle has many friends."

I shook my head. "Mom, I need to say a few more words about this. Please don't be angry. It's not that I don't support Yifan. If you want to do business, don't do business with acquaintances, especially not with friends. Otherwise, you won't be able to make friends even if you fail to do business."

My mother looked at me with disgust and said, "His last name is Jiang, so you won't help him?"

What he meant was that you got a wife and forgot your mother, and you still have to take Xiao Shitou with you.

I burst out laughing. "Don't get excited, old man. Listen to me. If you really want to do business, don't do business with people you know.

For example, if you open a clothing store and buy clothes for 100 yuan and sell them to others for 180 yuan, then you meet a friend and sell them to him for 120 yuan without making any profit.

After deducting rent, utilities, and other expenses, there's basically no profit left. If someone else wears the same outfit you paid 180 yuan for, your acquaintances and friends will definitely become strangers.

He always doubts you, thinking that either the quality of the clothes is problematic, or that they are samples that people try on and can’t sell. That’s why you sell them to him at a low price.”

My mother thought about it and said, "Your statement makes sense."

I said, "I studied psychology. People have two weaknesses. One is the fear that you will change, and the other is the fear of being at a disadvantage."

The whole family stared at me seriously.

"First, I'm afraid you'll change. For example, I give each of my uncles 1,000 yuan during the Lunar New Year, regardless of whether I go back home or not. If I give 1,000 yuan this year and 500 yuan next year, my uncles will think my feelings for them have diminished.

So, either give five hundred at the beginning and do the same every year, or give one thousand every year and don’t change it.

Unless there are two situations, one is that you really cannot come up with the money, then you have to explain it.

Second, your financial situation has improved significantly. Even if it has, you can't give them 10,000 yuan. If you give them 10,000 yuan, you have to keep it up every year, otherwise they will think that your feelings for them have declined again.

So, treat people according to their abilities and don't change them. People don't fear anything else, but they fear your changing attitude towards them."

When my mother heard this, she knocked on the table and said, "That's a good point! I hate your sister. She has no sense of propriety when she returns to her hometown. If she's happy, she'll give a thousand. If she's unhappy, she'll give three or two hundred."

"So when you open a shop in Yifan, don't change. If you're happy, give them a free meal because they're friends. If you don't give them a free meal next time, they'll be unhappy. Stick to your price and provide good service."

Yifan nodded.

"The second point is the fear of losing out. I gave the example of a clothing store earlier, so I won't go into more details. Let me give you a business example where the Japanese exploited the human principle of 'fear of losing out' and made a fortune.

A Japanese man hired two relatives from the countryside to manage a shop for him. The two shops were connected together.

He first trained the two relatives. To customers, these were two unrelated shops, but in fact, they had the same boss.

Two stores sell nearly identical clothing. Store A sells one for 200 yuan, while Store B sells one for 150 yuan. Store A has a sign that says "No Bargaining," so you buy from the other store because it's cheaper.

People always suspect that the 150 yuan item is fake and would rather buy the 200 yuan one. In order to make the performance more realistic, the two boss ladies often quarreled.

Yifan asked, "What if someone wants to save money and buys one for 150 yuan?"

I smiled and said, "The boss didn't suffer any loss either. He originally made 100 yuan."

My mother said, "This boss is amazing."

I said, "Humanity has two major weaknesses. So, Yifan, don't expect me to help you with business with acquaintances or friends."

"What kind of business is that?"

"You only do business with repeat customers. There are only two tricks to doing business with repeat customers: one is good skills and the other is good service.

If you want to do business, you should do the same as I did when I learned fortune-telling. Write down all the characteristics of the first-time customers and their preferences.

For example, the Rising Sun Hotel has a dedicated system where once you enter your ID card, the front desk will say, "Mr. Yifan, welcome to our hotel for the fifth time," giving guests a warm feeling.

The same goes for you. When a customer comes for a massage, you ask the staff to chat with the customer. Some people are afraid of tickling, some are afraid of pain. Ask everyone to write down their preferences.

Next time they come, if you can tell them what they want, they'll feel respected. Acupuncture relies on technique, while massage relies on precise, close contact with the body.

There's another type of guest who doesn't like you asking questions. Remember that, too. Don't initiate a conversation with them.

My mother listened very carefully this time. After listening, she said, "Yifan, these are useful words. You have to listen to them. Doing business depends entirely on yourself."

On November 8th of the first year of Shangzhou, Yifan's shop opened quietly.

I think I've finished all my personal affairs. I'm married, Yifan opened a shop, and Xiao Shitou has a job.

My official business is progressing smoothly. Construction is underway on Bainiao Lake, and Dongli Town has invited a group of experts to conduct a review.

I felt more relaxed than ever. I longed for these two projects to become a success. If you're poor, you can focus on yourself; if you're rich, you can take care of the world.

Although I don't have the ability to take care of the world, I must be loyal to the people who entrusted me with the task. When I offer suggestions to Mr. Chen and Secretary Tian, ​​I must work hard to help them succeed.