Chapter 149: Passing the Test (7/28)

At noon, after finishing lunch, Wang Qiang finally met the thirty people Ding Yujuan had recruited, at a cha chaan teng.

It was a very common name, Lam Kee Cha Chaan Teng.

Perhaps because the lunch hour had just passed, the cafe wasn't very crowded. Thirty men and women of various heights, weights, and ages were gathered around a round table in the back corner, listening to Wang Qiang's instructions.

"Miss Ding should have told you about the compensation, right? You all know about it?" Wang Qiang asked, looking around at the group.

Chen Dezhi, a man in his forties who was as round as a ball, said in broken Mandarin, "We know. One thousand Hong Kong dollars, excluding travel expenses."

"We just need to deliver the computers to Shenzhen, right?" asked a woman in her thirties, surnamed Xu.

"Yes, just deliver them to Shenzhen," Wang Qiang nodded and continued giving instructions. "You'll be going in batches. If customs asks, just say you're bringing the computers back as gifts for relatives, or come up with any other reasonable excuse. Make up whatever story you want, as long as you can get the computers through customs."

"No problem."

"Leave it to us."

"Just make sure you pay us when the time comes."

The twenty or thirty people chimed in all at once.

Wang Qiang had thought things through very carefully. He certainly couldn't let this many people cross the border all at once, as that would arouse the suspicion of customs. On the other hand, since there were several checkpoints from Hong Kong to Shenzhen, he arranged for groups of people to enter Shenzhen through different routes. Once they arrived in Shenzhen, everyone was to rendezvous at the Jiahua Foreign Trade Clothing Wholesale Market in Huaqiangbei.

At first, he had been slightly worried that some people might take the computers and run off, but Ding Yujuan had promised that no one would do such a thing, and that she would compensate him if anyone absconded with a computer.

Wang Qiang was a bit curious about where she had found these people.

Ding Yujuan had explained each one of them: these individuals had all previously settled in Hong Kong from the mainland through various channels. Because they had originally been from Shenzhen, they were quite familiar with one another, making them easy to assemble. For people whose income fell far below the average in Hong Kong, the prospect of earning a thousand Hong Kong dollars just for a single trip across the border was a huge temptation.

After briefing everyone on the details, Wang Qiang led them without a moment's delay to the Mong Kok Computer Centre, where each person picked up a computer and set off.

He and Ding Yujuan took a vehicle from Portland Street back to Huanggang, and sharing the ride with them was one of the couriers carrying a computer—none other than Chen Dezhi.

Perhaps because Chen Dezhi was a Hong Kong resident, he encountered no trouble at customs. After filling out an application form, he was waved through.

In contrast, the checks were much stricter closer to entry.

...

Huanggang Customs.

Wang Qiang, standing further back in the queue, watched as Chen Dezhi was interrogated by customs officers, his palms drenched in sweat.

Male Customs Officer: "What are you bringing a computer to Shenzhen for?"
Chen Dezhi: "Visiting relatives back home, bringing it for my cousin."
Female Customs Officer: "Where is your hometown? What's your cousin's name?"
Chen Dezhi: "My hometown is in Futian District, Shenzhen. My cousin's name is Zhou Xuyang."
Male Customs Officer: "Aren't there computers sold in Shenzhen?"
Chen Dezhi: "How would I know? Anyway, my cousin asked me to bring one back for him."

After a full five or six minutes of questioning, they finally let him through.

Seeing Chen Dezhi successfully clear customs with the computer, Wang Qiang let out a long sigh of relief.

Beside him, Ding Yujuan noticed his relaxed brow and asked with a smile, "What, afraid you wouldn't get through customs?"

Afraid?
How could he not be?

Wang Qiang wiped away the dense beads of nervous sweat from his forehead. "Yeah, a little bit."

Ding Yujuan said quite calmly, "One or two computers won't be a problem. Customs is still very lenient toward us Hong Kong residents."

That's right, customs was very lenient toward Hong Kong residents. Everyone knew that Hong Kong would be returning to the motherland in three years—how could they not be lenient? It was just that customs was much stricter when it came to mainlanders.

Wang Qiang understood this crystal clear, but such was the current situation, and there was no use complaining.

Before long, it was their turn. They each underwent customs inspection, and since they weren't carrying anything of note, they crossed the border with ease.

As soon as they stepped out, they found Chen Dezhi, hailed a taxi, and rushed to Huaqiangbei.

...

At the entrance of the Jiahua Foreign Trade Clothing Wholesale Market.

Ding Yujuan went over to Boss Ding's shop.

Wang Qiang took out a thousand Hong Kong dollars and handed it to Chen Dezhi. "Uncle Chen, thanks a lot."

Chen Dezhi took the money with a broad smile and pointed at the computer on the ground. "Do you need me to help carry it anywhere?"

"No, no, you can head back to Hong Kong now," Wang Qiang said.

"Alright, thanks, little Wang," Chen Dezhi waved and left.

Wang Qiang waited. Before long, another two people arrived with computers.

"Little Wang, we've brought the computers."
"Where's little Chen? Did she go back?"

After a brief exchange of casual questions, the man and woman collected their money and left as well.

People arrived in a steady stream.

During this time, Boss Ding came over to help move the computers into his shop.

This continued until around eight o'clock in the evening before all the computers were finally assembled.

For this labor alone, Wang Qiang had paid out thirty thousand Hong Kong dollars.

...

Inside Boss Ding's shop.

By this time, all the other storefronts had already closed down, leaving only Boss Ding's shop brightly lit.

Wang Qiang carried in the very last computer.

Boss Ding and Ding Yujuan were talking. Seeing him enter, they immediately stood up to give him a hand. Then Boss Ding chuckled, "Your company must be quite large, needing thirty computers all at once?"

Ding Yujuan asked in surprise, "You started a company?"

"Started in partnership with someone else. It's very small, with a registered capital of only one hundred thousand," Wang Qiang answered casually.

Boss Ding said with a hint of envy, "Even so, it's a company. With a registered capital of one hundred thousand, you can probably pull off a million-dollar business. Look at you, starting a company at such a young age, while I'm stuck guarding a shabby clothing wholesale shop at my age. Comparison really kills the spirit."

Wang Qiang smiled without saying anything and steered the conversation elsewhere.

The three of them chatted for a little while.

To express his gratitude for their help, Wang Qiang suggested, "Since my computer trouble delayed you both to the point of missing dinner, how about we find a restaurant nearby?"

"Sure, and you're treating," Ding Yujuan said with a wink.

Wang Qiang laughed heartily. "Of course I'm treating. You've been such a huge help today; it wouldn't be right to let you pay."

"No rush, let's get your computers delivered to the hotel first," Boss Ding said. "I'll go get the van. There's quite a lot of stuff; we might need a few trips." With that, he walked outside.

Afterward, with the help of Boss Ding and Ding Yujuan, Wang Qiang moved the computers to the hotel.

Once the moving was done, he found a decent restaurant nearby. The three of them enjoyed a dinner filled with laughter and chatter. However, he hadn't expected Boss Ding to be so fond of alcohol, repeatedly toasting with Wang Qiang.

In exceptionally high spirits, Wang Qiang naturally didn't refuse. He drank until he was thoroughly intoxicated, returning to the hotel swaying unsteadily with the support of Ding Yujuan. They were staying at the same hotel, so she had simply lent a helping hand.

Although he was drunk, Wang Qiang's mind remained quite clear.

The thirty computers were finally in his hands.

Tomorrow, after showing the samples to Ding Yujuan, he would hurry back to Shanghai, deliver the goods to Ma Yuanheng and the others as quickly as possible, and launch a massive promotional campaign for himself.

As these thoughts drifted through his mind, Wang Qiang collapsed onto the bed without even taking off his clothes, drifting off into a comfortable sleep, and even indulging in a sweet dream.

Perhaps because his biggest problem had been solved, or perhaps because of the alcohol, he slept with unusual peace of mind.