Chapter 46: Does He Prefer Boys or Girls?

Chapter 46: Does He Prefer Boys or Girls?

"Brother Dong, take a look and see if you have these components in stock."

Chen Jianghai wasted no time, pulling out the prepared list and handing it over.

"Oh?"

"Alright, let me take a look first." Xu Dong nodded and accepted the list.

Chen Jianghai had already thoroughly inquired about what the electrical appliance factory was capable of producing. Everything he had written down on the list was definitely available.

Sure enough, Xu Dong raised his head shortly and said, "We have all of these items, but the quantity is quite large this time."

"Yes, so I have to trouble you, Brother Dong. I've already prepared the money—here is five hundred yuan, please count it."

As he spoke, Chen Jianghai pulled an envelope from his pocket and pushed it across.

He had calculated this account well in advance. Buying these retail at a store would cost just over six hundred yuan, whereas the factory price would probably be around four or five hundred. If the other party could secure the goods at a lowered price, it was guaranteed to be a profitable deal without any risk of loss.

"Good, good."

After counting the five hundred-yuan bills, Xu Dong wore a beaming smile and followed up with a question.

"Can you manage to carry all these goods by yourself? Would you like me to arrange for someone to deliver them to you?"

"That would be fantastic! Thank you for the trouble, Brother Dong!"

Chen Jianghai said, pulling out another pack of Red Pagoda Mountain cigarettes and handing them over.

"Hehe, minor matter, minor matter. But we'll have to wait until after work shift."

Seeing how tactful and generous Chen Jianghai was, Xu Dong's mood improved considerably.

"Alright, I'll leave an address, and I'll wait for you there later."

Chen Jianghai picked up a pen and paper and wrote down the warehouse address.

Upon leaving the appliance factory, Chen Jianghai first went home to cook a meal. He left a note telling Lin Wanqiu to eat by herself and not wait for him, then hurried out in a rush.

The appliance factory had already finished its shift for the day. Chen Jianghai needed to head over to the warehouse in advance to receive the goods, avoiding making the other person wait too long.

As the setting sun dipped below the horizon, Xu Dong arrived at the entrance of the alley with a tricycle.

"Brother Dong, over here!"

Chen Jianghai waved and quickly hurried forward to greet him.

After all the purchased components were unloaded, Chen Jianghai politely said, "Brother Dong, you've worked hard. How about joining me for a couple of drinks?"

Xu Dong shook his head. "Forget it, let's save it for another day. I have to go back and look after the kids. I'll be off first!"

"Alright, take care on your way, Brother Dong!"

...

Chen Jianghai called out after him and then hurried back toward home.

...

"Jianghai, where did you go just now? Have you eaten?"

Seeing Chen Jianghai return, Lin Wanqiu stood up and asked.

"Not yet, I had some urgent business to take care of!"

"Then hurry up and wash your face, come over and eat!"

As she spoke, Lin Wanqiu carried the dishes out from the kitchen.

Noticing that the food on the table remained completely untouched, Chen Jianghai couldn't help but ask with some surprise, "What? Wanqiu, you haven't eaten yet?"

Lin Wanqiu scooped a bowl of rice and replied, "Well, I wasn't hungry, and I figured I'd wait for you to come back and eat together."

Hearing this, a wave of warmth washed over Chen Jianghai's heart. He stepped forward, wrapped his arms around Lin Wanqiu, and earnestly instructed, "Wanqiu, from now on, if I have to go out for something, just eat first and don't wait for me, you hear?"

"Oh!"

Lin Wanqiu responded softly, though judging by her expression, Chen Jianghai knew she hadn't taken his words to heart at all.

"Jianghai, are you extremely busy with repairs lately?"

Halfway through the meal, Lin Wanqiu suddenly asked.

Chen Jianghai swallowed his mouthful of rice and nodded in response, "Yes, it's going to be very busy from now on. I've already handed over the task of acquiring old appliances to Aiguo, and in the future, I'll be focusing exclusively on assembly."

"Aren't you going to repair appliances anymore?" Lin Wanqiu asked with some bewilderment.

Chen Jianghai smiled. "Hah, how many appliances are there left for me to repair anyway? Repairing was only profitable initially because people had nowhere else to take them. After running around this much, the business is pretty much tapped out."

After all, it was still the early 1990s; ordinary households were doing well just to own a black-and-white television or a cassette player. With a small ownership base, naturally, there weren't endless repair jobs.

"Then what will we do in the future?"

Hearing that repairs would no longer bring in money, Lin Wanqiu instantly grew a bit anxious.

Chen Jianghai patiently explained, "Wanqiu, don't worry. Repairs only earn petty cash. Once the assembly business gets off the ground, you won't need to go to work anymore and can just stay home in peace and comfort as a pampered young lady."

"What are you talking about! What young lady, I don't want to be one!" Lin Wanqiu chided playfully.

Chen Jianghai leaned in closer, wrapped his arms around his wife, and whispered into her ear, "Once we have children, you'll become a mother eventually!"

"You have no seriousness in you! Eating your meal still can't stop your mouth!"

Lin Wanqiu instantly blushed from ear to ear.

Yet, deep down in her heart, she pondered quietly, wondering whether Jianghai would prefer a boy or a girl.

After dinner, under Chen Jianghai's enthusiastic and proactive initiative, and with Lin Wanqiu offering only half-hearted resistance, the two of them slipped back under the covers once more, beginning their blissful and delightful nightlife.

...

Over the next few days, Chen Jianghai spent the majority of his time assembling appliances in the warehouse.

Fang Aiguo kept bringing back more and more broken appliances, and despite being drenched in sweat, he was brimming with energy. For all these years, this was the first time he had felt so driven and motivated.

Chen Jianghai smiled and said, "Since we've run out of money, it's time to move on to the next step."

"Hah, Brother Hai, my mind is completely set on our business right now, I don't have time for anything else."

Fang Aiguo evidently misunderstood Chen Jianghai's words and waved his hands repeatedly.

Chen Jianghai led Fang Aiguo into the inner room and pointed at a dozen or so television sets neatly arranged there. "From now on, you're going to start selling televisions."

Gazing at the more than ten televisions in the room, Fang Aiguo was utterly shocked. "Brother Hai, are these all operational?"

"If they weren't watchable, why would I tell you to sell them?" Chen Jianghai glared playfully, pretending to be angry.

Fang Aiguo quickly walked up to one of the television sets, plugged it into the socket, and flipped the power switch.

Soon, the screen lit up, but it was entirely filled with static snow without any image whatsoever.

Fang Aiguo was dumbfounded. "Brother Hai, this doesn't work!"

"You fool!"

Chen Jianghai laughed despite himself. "You haven't connected it to cable television, nor have you erected an antenna outside, how could the television possibly display a picture?"

Hearing this, Fang Aiguo suddenly dawned on the realization and heavily slapped his own forehead. "Haha, I was just too excited, too excited."

"How much do you plan to sell these television sets for per unit?"

Chen Jianghai followed up with a question.

Mentioning this, Fang Aiguo immediately regained his high spirits.

"Brother Hai, I've already asked around. Brand new black-and-white televisions at Zhongbai No. 1 Department Store cost around six hundred yuan, so I plan to sell these for three hundred yuan." Fang Aiguo stated his plan.

Hearing this price, Chen Jianghai nodded in approval. It was quite reasonable, and he added a supplementary remark: "Good, handle the pricing as you see fit. If there are plenty of buyers, raising the price slightly is acceptable too."

Fang Aiguo smiled and said, "Don't you worry, Brother Hai, I know what I'm doing."

Chen Jianghai patted his shoulder and continued, "Let's set three hundred as the base price, and I'll give you a commission of fifty yuan for every unit sold. If it sells for higher, I'll give you an extra bonus."

Hearing this, Fang Aiguo was instantly stunned. "Brother Hai, isn't the commission ten yuan per unit?"

Chen Jianghai smiled. "That was the price for radios. This is for televisions. What, do you think the money is too much?"

Fang Aiguo immediately grinned sheepishly. "No way, no way, who would ever think they have too much money!"