"Shaojun, aren't you afraid that the factory will slowly go bankrupt if things continue like this?"
Xia Enruo could only ask indirectly.
It's safer to say it this way.
"Sister, I'm not worried. After all, it's a large state-owned factory, and the salary is paid by the government."
Even at its worst, it won't go bankrupt, since the government is there to bail it out.
Wu Shaojun never imagined that a large state-owned factory could go bankrupt. With the state as its backing, there was no fear of it ever collapsing.
Although production has been declining year after year, many people still desperately try to get in. Once they come out, they say they are factory workers, eating the government's food, and who wouldn't envy them?
Xia Enruo's heart tightened; she figured many people in this era shared the same thoughts as Shaojun.
They thought that working in a factory was still a secure job with guaranteed income, but they never imagined that in the next ten years, national policies would be reformed one after another, and the former secure job would become a worthless one.
"Shaojun, as you can see from the newspapers, national policies change every year and evolve with economic and social development. Therefore, we must view issues from a developmental perspective."
Xia Enruo wanted to give him a heads-up, after all, this was her godbrother who was closer than family.
"Sister, as a driver, I haven't thought about major policies and guidelines. I just want to do my job well."
"Sister, I really envy you. You have such good taste and such courage. Even a man might not have your abilities."
Xia Enru smiled. This kid was starting to use sweet talk again. But Shaojun was an honest kid and didn't covet what he had.
That's why the factory leaders always had him accompany them wherever they went, mainly because they felt reassured and knew he had no bad intentions.
"Shaojun, if you have any business ideas in the future, come and find your sister. Although I am older than all of us, I work in a government unit and have little contact with the market."
Although I'm not involved in any big business right now, I can still offer some advice from a businessperson's perspective. I just hope everyone around us has a better life.
"I'm relieved to hear your words, brother. Don't worry. I'll definitely ask for your help in the future."
The two wandered around the scrap market, looking at one shop after another.
Finally, they selected three broken washing machines and four broken freezers. Shaojun said he was absolutely certain he could fix these appliances.
The washing machine problem is solved, but the spin dryer is still a problem. Xia Enruo really regrets that there isn't a second-hand market right now where people can sell second-hand furniture, kitchenware, and appliances.
Otherwise, buying secondhand is always more cost-effective than buying brand new.
When home appliances break down these days, people either find someone to fix them and keep using them, or if they can't be fixed, they simply leave them as decorations. At worst, they sell them directly to a scrap metal recycling station for very little money, maybe a few cents or a dollar.
Finally, having no other choice, the two went to the department store and bought two brand-new domestic Blue Sky brand washer-dryer combos, spending a total of 540 yuan.
You should know that she only spent 15 yuan to buy three broken washing machines from the scrap yard. The profit is incredible!
Fortunately, the mall delivered the washing machine to our door using a handcart, so the two of us didn't have to hire a vehicle to pick it up.
She had already had Meng Fei handcraft the large furniture and shelves in the shop according to her own design drawings. They were unique and would have been considered custom-made for the whole house in her previous life.
In preparation for the opening, she assigned her employees to the three shops based on the location of their homes.
The store has three new employees, plus the store manager, making a total of four people.
Tian Xiuli and Liu Cuiyun were assigned to the old shop because they lived in the compound close to the medical university.
These past few days, the two of them have been following the store's employee rules, going to work on time together, and not daring to be careless in the slightest.
Although they all lived in the same compound and were already familiar with Xia Enruo, once they entered the shop, Xia Enruo adopted the serious and cautious demeanor of a boss.
Even after meeting her, the two men still felt that she had a strong presence and dared not be careless in her work.
The first month is as an apprentice, there is no full attendance bonus, and the salary is only half of the base salary.
Xia Enru gave each of them 20 yuan.
Although 20 yuan is nothing to Xia Enruo now, Tian Xiuli and Liu Cuiyun have been housewives since they got married, staying at home to take care of their husbands and children and have never earned any money.
This 20 yuan was the first time they had earned it with their own hands, and it was quite a lot, almost as much as the living expenses their husbands gave them.
The two were incredibly excited to receive their wages. No wonder Ge Qiuqin was willing to follow Xia Enshuo; she had already earned so much money as an apprentice. If she were to become a full-fledged employee in the future, she would earn even more.
Who wouldn't be happy to do something that makes money? It's no different from having a secure job.
The shop's equipment is ready; now it's time to stock the supermarket on the second floor.
"Shaojun, do you know where the main wholesale markets for daily necessities in Yongning City are located?"
Since the household uses relatively few of these items, Xia Enruo occasionally goes to state-run stores or department stores to shop.
But opening a supermarket is different; you have to find a place to source goods and lower the purchase price in order to make money.
Wu Shaojun was a local, having grown up in Yongning, so he knew all about these things.
"Sister, for daily necessities manufactured in Yongning, the cheapest option is to buy directly from the factory. If Yongning doesn't have a factory or you want to buy products from other brands, you can only go to the Hongmen Trade Market."
That area was practically the hub for wholesale daily necessities in the city; even many items for state-run stores were sourced from there.
Upon hearing this, Xia Enruo realized that she had indeed brought the right person. Shao Jun was indeed an expert in these matters; as expected of the leader's driver, he knew everything.
Wu Shaojun took Xia Enruo on a tour of the Yongning State-owned Factory. As he was the driver for the leather factory director, he often attended meetings and knew people from other factories.
So wherever she goes, she has acquaintances. As soon as they hear that Wu Shaojun's sister is here to buy goods, the wholesale price is much cheaper.
The wool textile factory's towels were sold wholesale to outsiders for 50 cents each, and sold for one dollar each in the market, but the price given to Xia Enruo was 30 cents each; the wholesale price of handkerchiefs was 10 cents each, but the price given to Xia Enruo was 8 cents each.
The wholesale price of a bath towel is 20 cents, but it's 15 cents for Xia Enruo; all prices are kept to the lowest possible level.
The factory already had a backlog of inventory year after year, and they were eager for more customers to order more goods. They even offered discounts because of acquaintances.
The two then went to the sugar factory to buy sugar cubes, popsicles, and ice cream, and to the enamel factory to buy washbasins, thermos flasks, and water cups.
The remaining daily necessities, such as pens, erasers, rulers, toothpaste, toothbrushes, and combs, were purchased wholesale from the Hongmen Market.
Xia Enruo left her landline number with each merchant she visited, and they agreed that if any item was out of stock, she could simply call to order and they would deliver it to her door immediately.
After two busy days, the shelves of the four shops were full of goods, with all kinds of daily necessities.
The freezer even has several kinds of ice cream and popsicles. Xia Enruo has planned that after the business opens, she will take the time to make fruit tea and freeze it in the freezer to sell as a cold drink.
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