Chapter 47: What a Windfall!

Chapter 47: What Exorbitant Profits!

Making fifty bucks on just a single television set—if he sold ten, that would be five hundred!

How much did a regular, honest worker earn in a month back then?

More importantly, having gone through the experience of selling radios last time, Fang Aiguo had already built up both know-how and a solid customer base.

Therefore, Fang Aiguo was confident that he would be able to sell off this batch of refurbished televisions in no time.

At this rate, the ten-thousand-yuan household status that Chen Jianghe had mentioned didn't seem so far away after all.

Chen Jianghai patted Fang Aiguo on the shoulder and said, "Aiguo, work hard. I will definitely not treat you unfairly."

He had already factored in the commission long ago.

Putting aside the fact that Fang Aiguo had been a true brother to him in his past life and deserved to be rewarded, Chen Jianghai had also witnessed Fang Aiguo's sales capabilities firsthand during the radio-selling incident.

As the old saying goes: Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.

Chen Jianghai wanted to cultivate Fang Aiguo's abilities and self-confidence. Even if Fang Aiguo were to leave him in the future, he would never end up living a mediocre life, relying on his parents for support forever.

More importantly, the cost of acquiring an old, discarded television was only around twenty to thirty yuan. Buying a few replacement parts and spreading the cost out came to roughly ten yuan, meaning the total cost of a refurbished television set did not exceed fifty yuan.

As for the labor, Chen Jianghai handled it all himself, so that cost was negligible.

If Fang Aiguo managed to sell one for three hundred yuan and took a fifty-yuan commission, Chen Jianghai would still net a clean two hundred yuan.

That was nearly a fourfold return!

Marx once wrote that if capital has a 50 percent profit, it will risk being hanged; for 100 percent profit, it dares to trample on all human laws; and for 300 percent profit, it dares to commit any crime, even risking the gallows.

A 400 percent profit—such a return was something capitalists wouldn't even dare to imagine; only desperate outlaws would dare to pursue it.

Yet in the China of the 1990s, this was not a difficult feat at all.

With such high returns, Chen Jianghai truly didn't care about the small commission given to Fang Aiguo.

Fang Aiguo said with immense excitement, "Don't worry, Brother Hai. I definitely won't let you down."

"Good. Go home and get some rest early, build up your energy, and we'll start work tomorrow," Chen Jianghai said, patting his good brother on the shoulder.

Fang Aiguo left with grand ambitions. Clearly, this was going to be a sleepless night for him.

After a busy day, Chen Jianghai packed up his things and prepared to head home as well.

Just as he stepped out of the doorway, Chen Jianghai noticed a figure in the distance seemingly staring at the direction of the warehouse.

Seeing Chen Jianghai come out, that person immediately turned around and walked away.

Chen Jianghai glanced at the person, but didn't take it to heart, locked the door, and left.

During dinner, Lin Wanqiu didn't even have the heart to watch television. Her hesitating, about-to-speak expression caught Chen Jianghai's attention.

"What's wrong, Wanqiu? Is something the matter?" Chen Jianghai couldn't help asking.

Lin Wanqiu fidgeted for a moment before saying, "Jianghai, recently... has business not been good?"

She asked very tactfully, but Chen Jianghai knew what she wanted to say.

In the past few days, whenever Chen Jianghai made money, he would leave it with Lin Wanqiu.

He did this for two reasons: first, to give Lin Wanqiu peace of mind, letting her know he truly had the ability to give her a better life.

Second, the television assembly work hadn't started yet, and carrying too much cash around wasn't safe.

Public security in the 1990s was far from being as good as in later generations; pickpockets and thieves were everywhere.

Now that the assembly work had begun, Chen Jianghai needed money for various expenses, and the repair work brought in very little income, leaving him with no spare cash to give Lin Wanqiu.

"Yeah, business has dropped off a lot. Just a dozen or twenty yuan a day now," Chen Jianghai replied truthfully.

Hearing Chen Jianghai say this, Lin Wanqiu immediately grew anxious.

"Then what should we do? Why don't you come and work at my factory instead? With a steady income, our life ahead will be more secure," Lin Wanqiu offered her opinion.

Chen Jianghai smiled and said, "Wanqiu, you don't need to worry. I've already found a new way to make money."

"What is it?" Lin Wanqiu asked, her face full of curiosity.

"Selling televisions!"

Chen Jianghai didn't keep it from Lin Wanqiu and said it straight out.

"S-selling televisions?"

Lin Wanqiu was stunned for a moment. "Those aren't cheap. Do you have that kind of capital?"

Chen Jianghai put down his bowl and chopsticks and told Lin Wanqiu everything he had been doing lately, detail by detail.

"You... you even know how to assemble televisions?"

Lin Wanqiu was utterly shocked, her eyes wide as if she were looking at this man for the very first time.

Chen Jianghai said as a matter of course, "If I can repair appliances, naturally I can assemble them too. Is that really so strange?"

"Does it make money?" Lin Wanqiu asked after a moment of hesitation.

Chen Jianghai nodded, took Lin Wanqiu's hand, and said, "I wouldn't do it if it didn't make money! Wanqiu, just leave the money-making to me, and you won't have to worry."

Hearing Chen Jianghai say this, Lin Wanqiu didn't say anything more, though a trace of worry still lingered in her eyes.

Chen Jianghai also noticed his wife's cautious hesitation, but explaining further was useless in such a situation.

He knew very well that given his wife's prudent personality, unless he could pull the cash out right now and place it right before her eyes, she wouldn't stop worrying.

However, that day was coming soon.

Once Fang Aiguo sold this batch of televisions and brought the money back, it would completely dispel Lin Wanqiu's doubts.

The next morning, Fang Aiguo rose early, went to the warehouse to haul a television set back, and placed it inside his family's small grocery store.

"Aiguo, where did you get that television?" Huang Shuifeng asked with surprise when she saw it.

Fang Aiguo said smugly, "Mom, this was assembled by Brother Hai. Pretty impressive, right?"

Huang Shuifeng's eyes lit up upon hearing this. "Jianghai has that kind of skill?"

"Of course! Brother Hai's capabilities are massive!" Fang Aiguo lifted his chin slightly, gave a thumbs-up, and looked extremely proud.

Huang Shuifeng followed up with, "How much money can you make selling one of these things?"

Fang Aiguo stepped forward and said, "For every one I sell, Brother Hai gives me a fifty-yuan commission!"

"How much? What did you say?"

Huang Shuifeng instantly lost her composure, staring wide-eyed as she asked.

"I make fifty for every single one sold!"

Fang Aiguo waved five fingers in the air, looking immensely pleased with himself.

Huang Shuifeng furrowed her brows. "Really? They give you fifty just for selling one?"

"Mom!"

Fang Aiguo complained, "Keep your voice down!"

A hint of worry crept onto Huang Shuifeng's face. "Son, is money really this easy to make nowadays?"

"Of course it is! You don't even look at who Brother Hai is." Fang Aiguo's smile was blindingly bright.

Huang Shuifeng, however, offered an earnest piece of advice: "Son, it doesn't matter how much money we make, but you must never do anything illegal!"

Fang Aiguo clearly hadn't expected his mother to say this and instantly grew anxious. "Mom! What are you talking about? How is your son doing anything illegal?"

Huang Shuifeng said worriedly, "With profits this exorbitant, would the government allow it? Don't ruin your whole life just for a bit of money!"