Chapter 116: Buying a Pager

After settling the bill, Old Yao drove Wang Qiang to the Friendship Guesthouse. When they first entered, only the landlady was behind the counter. After inquiring, they learned that Old Zhu had taken Zhu Xiaofeng to the game room.

So Wang Qiang and Old Yao moved the five hundred pagers inside.

“Xiao Wang, so many pagers?” the landlady asked, somewhat surprised.

“Yeah, five hundred units. Once Brother Zhu returns, I’ll deliver them with him,” Wang Qiang replied, wiping sweat from his brow as he stood by the counter.

“How much can we make this time?” the landlady asked happily. “Could it be two thousand?”

Wang Qiang glanced at Old Yao and smiled, “Yes.”

Old Yao, about to light a cigarette, chuckled and said, “Not just two thousand. I already asked Xiao Wang; it’s at least three to four thousand. You guys, doing business with Xiao Wang and not inviting me? And to think Old Zhu and I have been childhood friends.”

Again, he was subtly working the landlady.

Is she trying to think of ways to make money with me by cutting her own head off?

But honestly, Wang Qiang admired Old Yao’s shameless persistence. No matter how many times he was flatly or vaguely rejected, Old Yao still brazenly wanted to join in. This brother was truly unyielding.

After a moment of grumbling in his heart, Wang Qiang asked, “Big sister, where nearby can we buy pagers?”

Before the landlady could answer, Old Yao cut in, “I know where. Let’s go; I’ll take you.”

“Aren’t you busy?” Wang Qiang blinked.

Old Yao exclaimed, “Busy? It’s just buying a pager with you; it won’t take long.”

Wang Qiang smiled gratefully, knowing Old Yao had set his sights on him and was trying every angle to join the business. Alright, since you’re so sincere, I’ll test the waters. If everything checks out, we can work together, but the supply won’t be handed over; it must remain tightly controlled by me for now.

They said goodbye to the landlady and left the guesthouse.

...

Once they left, the landlady sat upright behind the counter, frequently glancing nervously at the five hundred pagers stacked inside, as if afraid they might be stolen at any moment.

Suddenly, the sound of a motorcycle roared outside.

Then Old Zhu’s voice came from outside, “Honey, I’m back with the groceries.”

No sooner had he spoken than he struggled in with several large bags of groceries. He didn’t expect his wife to help because, based on past experience, even if he asked for a hand, the landlady would mock him, saying something like, “Is that all you do all day that you’re so tired?” — family status at an all-time low.

But to Old Zhu’s surprise, the landlady immediately stood up, came over, grabbed some bags, and said, “Our Old Zhu, you’ve worked hard.”

Huh?

Worked hard? Are you feeling alright?

Old Zhu was puzzled, almost like a blind man feeling around in the dark, wondering if she had found out about him losing three hundred at cards. He cautiously probed, “Do you know something?”

“Know what?” The landlady carried the groceries inside, glancing back and rolling her eyes. “Did you steal the three hundred yuan hidden under my pillow?”

Oh no.

She really found out.

Old Zhu’s face went pale, and he laughed awkwardly, “Well... um...” He was ready for a scolding.

But the landlady casually said, “Next time, play smaller stakes. Our money isn’t blowing in the wind. Alright, bring the groceries inside.”

Old Zhu grew even more bewildered, watching his wife’s back with growing confusion before following her in.

Inside, dense stacks of boxes awaited. Old Zhu abandoned his doubts and smiled, “Xiao Wang is back?”

The landlady put down the groceries, smiling warmly. Then she changed tone, “You know, a few days ago when I asked you how much this business could earn, you were so secretive. What, planning to hide the money to gamble?”

“How would I know how much we’re making?” Old Zhu snapped. “I still don’t know Xiao Wang’s cost price. How am I supposed to tell you? If I say too much and we don’t have that much later, you’ll complain. Say too little, and you’ll think I’m hiding money...” Halfway through, he realized his tone was off and glanced surreptitiously at his wife.

Usually, the landlady would have called out “Zhu Rongxing” by now, but this time she lowered her voice, “I just asked Xiao Wang. He said this venture guarantees at least three to four thousand in profit.”

Old Zhu was stunned. That meant he’d get at least over a thousand? A four-thousand-yuan investment with a one-third profit margin?

What if they did this several times?

That could mean earning one or two hundred thousand yuan a year!

His heart pounded fiercely, his throat dry, longing for water, and finally understanding why his wife was so pleasant today. No wonder people say money is a man’s courage. Indeed, money hadn’t arrived yet, but his family status had already risen considerably.

He grinned, feeling grateful to Xiao Wang.

Old Zhu was in such a good mood he was already thinking about having a few drinks with Wang Qiang that evening.

...

Of course, Wang Qiang was unaware of what had happened at the guesthouse. He was now with Old Zhu at a nearby shop selling pagers.

Inside the shop, the female owner lazily glanced up. Every day, countless customers came to inquire about pagers; very few actually bought them, but she was used to it.

Seeing no one attending to them, Wang Qiang wasn’t annoyed. He and Old Zhu walked along the counter to look around.

Old Yao introduced a black pager, pointing at it. “Xiao Wang, this Motorola digital pager is pretty good and costs only two thousand three hundred yuan. Quite cheap.”

It’s worth mentioning that numeric messaging became popular precisely because of the emergence of digital pagers.

Wang Qiang nodded. “It is pretty good. Is there a Chinese character display version?”

“The Chinese character display ones are more expensive. A friend of mine who plays cards bought a Motorola character display pager for 3,688 yuan recently.” Old Yao searched around the counter and finally pointed to one near the corner. “Here it is.”

To be honest, Wang Qiang really wanted to buy the character display version because numeric pagers were a bit cumbersome. But hearing the nearly 3,700 yuan price made him hesitate; it was too expensive.

Just then, the female owner interjected, “The Bodao Chinese character pager is only 2,988 yuan.”

Wang Qiang’s eyes brightened immediately. “Let me see that one.”

Old Yao muttered beside him, “Domestic pagers aren’t very good quality. I advise you not to buy one.”

Indeed, at this time, foreign brands dominated 99% of the pager market. Domestic pagers were hard to sell, partly due to quality, but mainly because many people favored foreign brands.

In this era, many regarded the US and Japan as the first-tier paradise, South Korea, Canada, the UK, and France as the second tier, with Hong Kong and Macau in the third tier.

This wasn’t rumor. Wang Qiang vividly recalled an incident from university.

There were Korean exchange students. One day in the dining hall, a Korean student accidentally spilled soup on Wang Qiang’s clothes. Apologizing in broken Mandarin mixed with English and Korean, the Korean student was earnest. Wang Qiang, mouth full of a large piece of meat, nodded silently to show it was okay.

Suddenly, a nearby female student grew indignant and accused Wang Qiang of ignoring the Korean’s apology. Wang Qiang was confused and quickly tried to explain, but she sternly scolded him, “They apologized to you, why are you acting like that?” The Korean student tried desperately to help explain, but then the girl did something that made Wang Qiang feel as if he had a braid hanging from the back of his head.

She bowed deeply, ninety degrees, and said, “Korean student, on behalf of us Chinese students, I sincerely apologize to you!”

This even stirred up the Student Dining Self-Government Committee. A few serious students wearing red armbands reprimanded Wang Qiang. The female student was furious, waving her arms and glaring. Wang Qiang just stood there, feeling foolish.

Yes.

That was how fanatical the admiration for foreign things was.

Wang Qiang remembered this incident clearly. So when Old Yao said foreign pagers were better than domestic ones, he didn’t hesitate to choose the Bodao character display pager.

We should be patriotic, starting by supporting domestic products.

Well, okay, no boasting.

Actually, Wang Qiang just thought the Bodao pager was cheaper...