Chapter 150: Is It Him?

Three days later.

Wang Qiang returned to Shanghai by train. Because the computers were too bulky to fit in Old Yao's van, he simply hired a small pickup truck to transport them back to the company.

When Wang Qiang appeared at the entrance of Guoxing Trading Company and announced that the computers had been secured, the three people inside burst into jubilant, overlapping chatter.

"You actually got them?"
"Can we really make a profit?"
"All thirty computers, not a single one missing. Exactly how did you smuggle them through customs?"
"Out with it, man!"
"Yeah, we're all dying of curiosity."
"When Boss Ma and the others came by earlier asking to source foreign computers, my first reaction was that it was impossible. But you actually brought them back from Hong Kong, Xiao Wang?"

The three of them fired questions and rushed him, interrupting Wang Qiang every time he opened his mouth to speak.

Finally, with no other choice, Wang Qiang looked at them, half-amused and half-exasperated, and waved his hands to stop them. "If you all fire questions at me at once, how am I supposed to answer?"

Wang Baoguo reached out and gave his son's shoulder a firm squeeze. "We won't ask anymore. At least you've got the computers back."

Old Zhu also chimed in eagerly, "You have no idea how worried the three of us have been, Xiao Wang. Today is the delivery deadline, and we were terrified you wouldn't make it back in time."

Walking over to his desk and sitting down, Wang Qiang explained, "Actually, I could have returned to Shanghai yesterday, but I was delayed by a few things. Another thing—now that we have the computers, let's deliver them to Ma Yuanheng first, and then have him help promote our company. Brother Yao, have the people you know help spread the word as well, saying that we managed to source cheap computers for Ma Yuanheng." The reason he was delayed by a day was because he had shown the four-piece bedding set samples to Ding Yujuan. Ding Yujuan hadn't expressed a definitive opinion yet, only saying she would take the samples back to examine them closely and would contact Wang Qiang if she thought they were viable.

Old Yao, who was usually full of petty schemes, was now utterly submissive. "Got it, I'll take care of it later."

Old Zhu asked excitedly, "How much can we make on these thirty computers? Every single cent in the company's account was emptied out to buy them. We literally have nothing left and are waiting for this rice to hit the pot."

How much profit?

Without calculating carefully, it was hard to know for sure. All the funds had previously been converted into Hong Kong dollars.

Hearing Old Zhu's question, Wang Qiang finally had the time to meticulously tally it up: the 386 models cost 7,500 Hong Kong dollars each, and the 486 models cost 11,000 each. The thirty computers totaled 277,500 Hong Kong dollars. Adding the 30,000 Hong Kong dollars paid to hire people to carry the goods through customs and various other expenses, the entire trip cost approximately 310,000 Hong Kong dollars. With the current exchange rate of Hong Kong dollars to RMB at 0.8417, the actual expenditure was 261,000 RMB. The price he had quoted to Ma Yuanheng and the others was 10,000 RMB per unit for the 386 and 14,000 RMB per unit for the 486, making the total payment 360,000 RMB.

It went without saying that these thirty computers alone netted the company a profit of around 100,000 RMB. Just thirty computers generated a profit of 100,000! Even Wang Qiang couldn't help feeling excited, though accompanied by a tiny bit of regret.

This business could only be done once.

Finding people with Home Return Permits wasn't easy, and if they repeated it too many times, customs would inevitably catch on. Once intercepted, it was entirely possible to lose everything overnight.

Wang Qiang wasn't greedy; he knew which businesses could be sustained long-term and which ones couldn't, no matter how lucrative they seemed.

He shared the profit figures with everyone.

Old Yao, who had just pulled out a cigarette, didn't even light it. Instead, he wore a broad smile and joked with Wang Qiang, "Xiao Wang is amazing. Even if there's no business after this, we can live off this single deal for a whole year."

Wang Qiang bantered back, "Then I can really kick back and relax, and leave the company's operations to the two of you and my dad."

"Don't, please don't." Old Yao waved his hands. Despite his past plotting, he knew the company could do without anyone except Wang Qiang. "Stop pulling our leg. If the three of us ran this alone, wouldn't the company lose every penny down to our underwear?"

Old Zhu chuckled, "Can't you tell Xiao Wang is joking?"

Old Yao rolled his eyes. "I can tell, but what if we agree and he actually washes his hands of it?"

Wang Baoguo patted his son's shoulder and said only one word: "Good."

"You still haven't told us how you got the computers back," Old Yao pressed.

"Knowing won't do you much good, but I can tell you if you're curious." Wang Qiang gave a brief explanation, selectively omitting the existence of Boss Ding and Ding Yujuan. He shared the story because it was trivial—he wouldn't have mentioned sourcing goods from Shenzhen—and it would reassure everyone, especially his father, that he hadn't done anything illegal, but merely exploited certain legitimate loopholes.

"Turns out it was that simple? At first, I thought it was so difficult," Old Zhu said happily. "You should have told us beforehand. You had me worried sick for days, unable to eat properly and tossing and turning all night until your sister-in-law chewed me out multiple times."

Wang Qiang smiled. "Alright, let's talk more about this over dinner tonight. Right now, let's deliver the goods to Boss Ma and the others."

Old Zhu suggested, "Shall we all go?"

Wang Baoguo said, "I'll stay behind to watch the company."

...

At noon.
Qiujiang Road Electronic Digital Building.

According to the contract, today was the final day for delivery, yet Guoxing Trading had shown no signs of life whatsoever up to this point.

Madam Zhang couldn't sit still any longer. Accompanied by Boss Fang, she found Ma Yuanheng, who was eating lunch in front of his counter.

"Brother Ma, having lunch?" Boss Fang greeted.

Seeing them approach, Ma Yuanheng quickly put down his chopsticks and said with a displeased expression, "I was just planning to look for you two after I finish eating. What on earth is going on with Guoxing Trading? Forget about delivering the computers, they haven't even made a single phone call! Could it be they couldn't get the computers and ran off with the money?"

At the mention of this, Madam Zhang grew angry. "Old Fang and I came to find you for the exact same reason. Why on earth did we lose our minds and hand the money over to them the other day? Oh well, whatever. At least the monks can run but the temple can't; their company is legally registered, so we don't have to worry about them absconding with the cash."

Ma Yuanheng frowned. "That's easy to say, but what if we ran into deadbeat scammers?"

"Should we go to Guoxing Trading to ask, or wait a bit longer?" Boss Fang asked.

"Let's go take a look."
"You finish eating first, Old Fang and I will wait for you."
"Alright, we'll rush over as soon as I'm done. If they really can't get the computers, we'll demand our money back."

A payment of over one hundred thousand was no small sum; anyone would be anxious. Actually, the three of them hadn't thought much of it initially, but seeing that today was the delivery deadline and it was already noon with not a peep from Guoxing Trading, they naturally couldn't sit still anymore. Who knew if the scenario often seen in the news—suppliers running off with payments—might happen to them?

The moment he thought of that possibility, Ma Yuanheng lost all appetite. He shoveled down a few hurried bites, wiped his mouth, and called into the back, "Wife, stop sleeping, come out and watch the store for a bit, I'm heading out."

A woman's voice came from the storage room, "Oh, coming, coming."

Before long, a middle-aged woman walked out and asked, "Yuanheng, where are you heading?"

Ma Yuanheng was silent for a moment. "You know about us going to Guoxing Trading to source goods a while ago. But today is the deadline and they haven't made a move yet, so Old Fang, Xiao Zhang, and I are going to check it out."

His wife asked fearfully, "Could they have taken the money and run?" She shared the exact same thought as her husband.

Ma Yuanheng sighed irritably, "I'm worried about that too. Never mind, I won't talk with you anymore. Watch the counter, I'll be right back."

Boss Fang and Madam Zhang said nothing, their eyes filled with worry.

Ma Yuanheng grabbed a jacket, stepped out from behind the counter, and said, "Let's go."
"Mhm."
"Take my car."

The three of them walked toward the stairwell.

Just as they were about to descend, Ma Yuanheng, blessed with sharp eyesight, suddenly pointed downstairs and shouted, "Hey, look down there, isn't that the young man from Guoxing Trading who negotiated with us!?"