"Here, old pal, you're a great brother-in-law. This is your first sale, a lucky start. Originally, the 30 Yuan radios only came with two tea eggs, but I'll make an exception this time and give you one tea egg and one pancake."
As Zhang Shugen filled out the warranty form, Qin Yousheng immediately started making a pancake. By the time his cousin finished the form, he had already made one.
It looked quite professional, and he hadn't wasted his practice at home these past few days.
"Brother-in-law, the radio seller is really considerate. He knows we lined up before dawn and even got us breakfast."
"This big pancake, with a fried egg and pork cracklings inside, smells so good. Brother-in-law, you try it first."
The younger brother-in-law, carrying the radio, sniffed the air vigorously. The pork cracklings in the pancake were incredibly fragrant.
In those days, even a small handful of pork cracklings was a rare delicacy. You couldn't have them unless it was a special festival.
"You silly kid, are you afraid of getting your brother-in-law's saliva on it? Here, you try a bite, this pancake is delicious."
The brother-in-law, having paid, took a bite of the pancake and his mouth was immediately greased. The aroma of pork cracklings mixed with egg and chives instantly satisfied the man who had lined up in the dark to buy a cheap radio on an empty stomach.
Despite what he said, he was reluctant to hand the pancake over to his younger brother-in-law.
He had lived for more than half his life and had never eaten such a delicious pancake. It was truly amazing.
However, seeing his younger brother-in-law drooling with envy, he couldn't bring himself to eat it all himself.
"Eat quickly. I've peeled the tea egg. We'll share it."
Suppressing the saliva almost flowing from his mouth, the brother-in-law gave the remaining half of the pancake to his younger brother-in-law.
"Old man, how's the pancake? Is it tasty?"
Qin Yousheng hesitantly leaned over. This was his very first customer. Although he had heard his family members praise it countless times and he himself thought it tasted good, Qin Yousheng was still anxious. Whether the food was good or not had to be confirmed by the customer, after all, they were the ones paying for the pancake.
"Your pancake is not bad. How much is it? I want to buy one to take back for my wife and kids to try."
Seeing Qin Yousheng approach, Liu Weidong had an idea. The pancake tasted really good. He himself was still savoring the flavor.
As a man, a husband, and a father, eating something so delicious, his first thought was naturally of his wife and children.
"Old man, yes, we add chives and diced carrots for free. For pork cracklings and fried egg, you can choose one, it's 25 cents. If you want both, it's 35 cents."
Qin Yousheng looked at Liu Weidong and stated the price they had already discussed with Chen Yang, anxiously watching this potential first paying customer for his pancake.
"Thirty-five cents? That can buy half a pound of meat!"
A pancake for 35 cents was a very high price at this time.
You have to know, pork was only 90 cents a pound at the butcher's then.
"Old man, we're not making up these prices. Look at how the pancakes are made, the fried egg inside, and these pork cracklings. We're also burning coal, so we're just earning a living from our hard work."
"You've tasted it yourself. My brother and I rely on our skills to make a living. Even if you have 35 cents, you can't make this taste with half a pound of meat."
At this point, Qin Youshui, who had been silent, chimed in. In business, it was normal for people to bargain, Chen Yang had told them this long ago.
If you weren't thick-skinned, you couldn't do business.
No matter how good their pancake was, you had to believe in your heart that it was the best and most delicious thing and promote it.
"Brother-in-law, this pancake is really delicious."
"I've never eaten anything so good in my life."
Liu Weidong was initially hesitant about the price, but when he heard his younger brother-in-law say that.
He felt uneasy not taking such delicious food back for his wife and children to try.
"Alright, I'll buy one. Please put more pork cracklings in it."
Liu Weidong gritted his teeth and, with a resolute heart, bought a pancake.
"Certainly, please wait a moment."
Qin Yousheng's hands trembled slightly as he made the pancake. This was the very first sale he had ever made.
No matter how successful their business became in the future, even if their pancake empire expanded nationwide, Qin Yousheng would never forget the feeling of selling the first pancake on the opening day of his cousin's radio shop.
This was the beginning of his business, and that pancake was the one he had made with the most earnestness in his life.
No matter how much time passed, he would always remember the feeling of his hands trembling with nervousness as he made that pancake.
While Qin Yousheng and Qin Youshui were making pancakes, Qin Kaiyun was almost numb from shock at the scene of people scrambling to buy.
She had no idea there were so many people who could afford radios!
In her eyes, people who could afford radios were remarkable. In their entire commune, only a few households could afford one.
But judging by the current situation, people were buying them as if they were cabbage, lining up to grab them!
Actually, she didn't realize that while buying radios and bicycles was rare in the countryside, it wasn't as uncommon in the city.
After all, most city dwellers had jobs and their incomes far exceeded those of farmers. Moreover, the lowest-end radios sold at Chen Yang's shop were only a little over twenty Yuan each.
Many people could probably buy one by saving up for a month's salary.
Combined with the extensive promotion Chen Yang and Zhang Weiyang had done for the opening, even people from the Industry and Commerce Bureau were helping with the publicity. How could it not lead to such a rush?
"We're from the Jianye Red Flag Factory. The factory's publicity officer told us that if over ten of us come, we get a 30% discount, making it only 21 Yuan each. You won't go back on your word, will you?"
A young man in the lead was wearing a worker's uniform, clearly intending to go to work after buying the radio. He was now a bit worried that Qin Kaiyun would renege.
After all, they had personally handled these radios. Although they had some wear and tear on the exterior, the sound was genuine.
A new radio cost over 120 Yuan and required industrial coupons. These used ones, with a 30% discount, at 21 Yuan, were only a fraction of the cost of a new one. They naturally worried that the shop couldn't afford to sell them at this price and would regret it.
"Comrades, please rest assured. The promotions we advertised are all real and valid. As long as there are more than ten people, we will give the 30% discount."
"Business is all about integrity. If I don't sell to you at the agreed-upon price today, how can you trust the warranty forms we issue? And will the comrades behind you dare to buy our radios!"
"Everyone who lines up today will receive radios at the advertised price. We have sufficient stock. If you can't get one due to the long queue, you can pay a deposit first and reserve a radio at today's price. We will replenish your order as soon as possible and guarantee the quality is absolutely fine."
Qin Kaiyun spoke decisively. These were all instructions from Chen Yang and Zhang Weiyang.
Today, her only mission was to resolve any issues the customers might have and, most importantly, to sell as many radios as possible!