Chapter 127: Finding a Market for the Four-Piece Set (Please Vote Monthly)

Noon.

Wang Qiang and the driver followed Su Weiming to the Japanese clock and watch factory next door. The factory, called Baojinnuo, had just reached lunchtime.

The three of them followed Su Weiming’s wife to the cafeteria. During the introductions, Wang Qiang learned that her name was Shi Jiafeng. She was quite tall, probably around five feet seven, and although her looks were ordinary, the woman in her forties had maintained herself so well that she looked little different from someone in her late twenties. Perhaps her accounting job was relatively easy, which was why she had aged so gracefully.

Inside the cafeteria, the workers at Baojinnuo lined up in an orderly fashion, unlike the workers at the Metalworking Machinery Factory. No one pushed or jostled. Some had already begun eating and were chewing slowly and carefully, carrying themselves with a gentle elegance. Even their conversations were quiet; there was none of the usual clamor or bustle.

Wang Qiang glanced around. “Sister Shi, your workplace is pretty well managed.”

Shi Jiafeng turned back with a smile. “If it weren’t, we’d be fined.”

So that was the reason.

Japanese-funded companies certainly had a great many rules.

The four of them talked as they climbed the stairs, soon reaching the second floor.

Unlike the densely packed workers in uniforms on the first floor, almost everyone upstairs was dressed casually. As they passed one of the tables, Wang Qiang heard two Japanese employees chattering away in their own language, though he had no idea what they were discussing.

When they noticed Wang Qiang looking over, they took the initiative to greet him in stiff Mandarin, displaying impeccable courtesy.

Wang Qiang returned the greeting.

He had never been particularly fond of the Japanese, perhaps because he had watched too many war films. Still, his nature had always been to return a foot of respect with ten feet of respect. Since they had greeted him, he naturally would not ignore them.

After passing several tables, they soon arrived at a small room at the very back.

Shi Jiafeng pushed open the door first. Inside, two men and a woman were eating. She said from the doorway, “Mr. Yamamoto, I’ve brought a client,” while pointing toward Wang Qiang.

A round-faced Japanese man in his forties immediately stood up. With great courtesy, he extended his hand and said in flawless Mandarin, “My name is Ichiro Yamamoto. May I ask your esteemed name?”

His manner of speaking was so ceremonious that Wang Qiang felt as though he had stepped back into ancient times. Still, he did not return courtesy with discourtesy. He took Yamamoto’s hand and said, “Hello, Mr. Yamamoto. My name is Wang Qiang.”

Ichiro Yamamoto asked amiably, “Have you eaten? Why don’t you join us?”

His words suddenly made Wang Qiang realize that he was a little hungry. He felt awkward about sitting down to eat and was just about to decline when Yamamoto had already pulled him into a seat. He introduced the other two people and asked the woman in her thirties to order four more meals.

That left Wang Qiang feeling embarrassed instead. He thanked them repeatedly. From the introductions, he learned that Ichiro Yamamoto was the factory’s general manager, the other man was the deputy general manager, and the woman was Yamamoto’s assistant.

Before long, the assistant had someone bring over four additional meals, and everyone began eating.

Wang Qiang wanted to discuss business during the meal, but Shi Jiafeng stopped him with a glance. He therefore remained silent and concentrated on eating.

After the meal, Ichiro Yamamoto took the initiative.

“Mr. Wang, before you came, Manager Shi told me that you were interested in purchasing electronic watches. Is that correct?”

Wang Qiang picked up a napkin from the table and wiped his mouth. “Yes. However, I don’t yet know the prices of the electronic watches your factory produces.”

The assistant gave him a brief introduction. The cheapest electronic watches cost five yuan apiece, followed by models priced at six yuan, ten yuan, twenty or thirty yuan, and even one or two hundred yuan. There was an extensive range. She thoughtfully described their other products as well, including electronic clocks and ordinary clocks and watches.

After listening, Wang Qiang asked, “I’m looking for something fairly inexpensive. Could I see what your five-yuan and six-yuan watches look like?”

“Of course.”

Ichiro Yamamoto personally led Wang Qiang and the others to the workshop.

After examining the watches, Wang Qiang found that there was basically no difference between the five-yuan and six-yuan models. If he had to name one, the six-yuan version was perhaps a little more attractive in design. He therefore ordered fifteen hundred of the five-yuan watches.

The order was fairly small, yet Ichiro Yamamoto showed no displeasure. On the contrary, he seemed delighted. When they parted, he repeatedly shook Wang Qiang’s hand and said that he hoped Wang would visit again whenever he needed anything.

Wang Qiang had not expected a general manager to be so approachable. The negotiations had gone astonishingly smoothly, and Yamamoto even instructed his staff to arrange shipment as soon as possible.

Come to think of it, Wang Qiang found it a little strange that he had needed to negotiate with the general manager personally.

It was not until they were leaving that Shi Jiafeng told him that Ichiro Yamamoto personally participated in every order the company received. Only then did Wang Qiang begin to understand just how seriously the Japanese took their work. He guessed that even if he had come to the factory on his own without Shi Jiafeng’s introduction, Yamamoto would probably have treated him in exactly the same manner.

…

After leaving Baojinnuo Clock and Watch Factory, they took a taxi to Jiahua Clothing Wholesale Market.

The rain outside had weakened to a faint drizzle, as if it might stop at any moment.

Perhaps because of the rain, the wholesale market was nearly empty that day. The taxi drove in smoothly, and Wang Qiang directed the driver to stop in front of the shop belonging to the proprietress, Sister Xu.

He opened the door and ducked into the shop. Sister Xu was sprawled across the counter, apparently asleep.

Wang Qiang wiped the water from his face and gently tapped the counter. “Sister Xu?”

Only after hearing his voice did Sister Xu slowly raise her head. Still bleary-eyed, she murmured, “Who is it…” Then, halfway through her sentence, she recognized Wang Qiang and immediately became alert.

“Oh, Little Wang, you finally made it! Did you bring the bedding sets?” As she spoke, she peered beneath the counter.

“They’re here, in the car outside.” Wang Qiang pointed toward the street.

Sister Xu immediately stepped out from behind the counter and looked outside. “It’s still raining?”

She picked up the umbrella leaning against the counter. “Hold this over me while I bring the bedding sets inside.”

Wang Qiang could hardly stand by and let a woman carry the goods, so he told Sister Xu to hold the umbrella while he moved the bedding sets himself. The driver was a decent fellow and helped carry them as well.

A hundred sets were not an enormous amount. They finished carrying everything inside in two trips and stacked the goods on the oiled paper beside the counter.

Once they were done, Sister Xu poured each of them a cup of hot water.

Wang Qiang took a sip from his glass and asked, “Did you sell all fifteen sets from last time?”

“They were gone ages ago. Otherwise, would I have asked you to hurry up and deliver more?” Sister Xu replied with a cheerful laugh. “By the way, let me settle the payment with you first. Last time, the total from selling them on your behalf was… Oh, driver, could you step outside for a moment?”

She had only spoken halfway before remembering something.

The driver quickly said, “Sure, sure. I’ll wait in the car.” He took two hurried sips of hot water, set down his cup, and went outside.

Once only Wang Qiang and Sister Xu remained in the shop, she continued, “Last time, the total came to one thousand one hundred and twenty-five yuan. Adding this order of one hundred sets at forty-two and a half yuan each, I should give you five thousand three hundred and seventy-five yuan, right?”

Wang Qiang swallowed his hot water and nodded. “That’s right. Let’s round it down a little. Just give me five thousand three hundred and fifty.”

Sister Xu let out a laugh. “I thought you were going to say five thousand three hundred. So you’re only knocking off twenty-five yuan?”

She turned and walked toward the back of the counter. “I prepared the money long ago. I’ll get it for you now.”

“Alright,” Wang Qiang replied.

It was not that he was stingy. If he discounted too much, Sister Xu might realize how large the profit was and start haggling with him later.

Sister Xu took out a leather purse, removed the payment, and handed it over.

Wang Qiang counted the money. The amount was correct, so he placed it in his suitcase.

The bedding sets were quite profitable. One hundred sets had cost him two thousand yuan, while he had received four thousand two hundred and fifty yuan in payment. Excluding shipping and similar expenses, he had made two thousand two hundred and fifty yuan—more than a hundred percent profit.

Thinking about how he might establish a company after returning home, Wang Qiang’s thoughts turned to the bedding sets.

Once he founded a company, they could no longer divide up the money as soon as they earned it, as they had before. The funds would have to remain in the company account. They would need to establish rules governing how much each person received every month or every year, and how much was retained for the company’s development.

That meant Wang Qiang would have little spare money to invest in other ventures in the short term, which could affect their future growth. He could not possibly rely entirely on electronic products as a source of income. He could not help wondering how wonderful it would be if the bedding sets could open up a larger market, just like the electronic products. Even if the company did not distribute profits for a while, he could still earn money from the bedding sets and use it to operate other businesses.

Sister Xu said, “Little Wang, if these hundred sets sell well, call me next time and bring the goods over sooner.”

“Sure. Give me a call in advance, and I can usually deliver them within two days.” Wang Qiang agreed, then asked with concern, “Do you think there’s a future in selling bedding sets?”

“There is. Last time, when you left those fifteen sets here, I forgot to put them out for sale on the first day. I only remembered on the second day. As soon as I brought them out, someone asked how much they cost and bought the whole lot. They even left…” Sister Xu paused. “Anyway, they sell very well.”

Wang Qiang knew what she had intended to say. She had probably connected with a major customer. As for what kind of customer it was, he could not be bothered to ask. As long as the goods sold well, that was enough.

The problem was that Sister Xu was the only person buying from him. It seemed far too limited.

Wang Qiang had hoped that more people in the wholesale market would want the bedding sets. But since Sister Xu’s sales were not exactly booming, even if he approached other clothing wholesalers, they might not be willing to take the goods. Unless he followed the arrangement he had made with Sister Xu before—leaving a dozen or so sets with other shops on consignment, allowing the shop owners to see for themselves that the bedding sets sold well without requiring them to spend anything. Then customers would naturally come.

But he could not guarantee that the bedding sets would truly sell well throughout the clothing wholesale market. The reason was simple: Sister Xu had happened to connect with a major customer. If the owners of the other shops failed to find similar customers, would that not leave them stuck with a large quantity of unsold merchandise?

To be cautious, Wang Qiang did not make an impulsive decision. He wanted to see how well Sister Xu sold these hundred sets. If they sold well, he could bring more next time and let the owners of other wholesale shops try them.

After turning the matter over in his mind, Wang Qiang had his answer. He stood and said, “Sister Xu, I have something to take care of, so I’ll be going. If you need more goods next time, page me.”

“Page you?” Sister Xu blinked.

Wang Qiang slapped his forehead. “I forgot to give you my pager number. Do you have a pen and paper?”

“I do.”

Sister Xu took out a notebook and a ballpoint pen and handed them to him.

Wang Qiang accepted them, leaned over the counter, and wrote down his pager number. Then he said, “If you page me, I’ll call you back as soon as I see it. I’ll be going now.”

“Alright. Go take care of your business.” Sister Xu waved her hand.

Wang Qiang waved back and walked toward the taxi outside, still thinking about how he could open up a larger market for the bedding sets.