Xie Sui shook his head, "I'm not sure."
Chen Weimin's face darkened, "Are you playing with me?"
"Don't get angry, if I said I could supply you with goods continuously, would you dare to take them?"
Chen Weimin calmed down. That was true. The supply and marketing cooperative was running out of stock. Unless he had extraordinary abilities, he couldn't possibly get a steady supply of goods. But if he had that kind of skill, why would he need to come to me?
"Sit down and talk."
Xie Sui smiled. Half the deal was done. The rest depended on his persuasion. He was sure he could convince him.
"I'm not sure how much clothing I can get, but I can guarantee that every batch of goods I bring back will be yours to sell. Not just clothes, we can sell anything that's popular!
As our business grows, we can even sell electronics, televisions, bicycles, even cars, planes, and cruise ships!"
Chen Weimin burst into laughter, "You're quite amusing, a real businessman. I like that. Happy cooperation."
"Happy cooperation. I have five to six hundred pairs of stirrup pants on hand now. Can you take them, Brother Chen?"
Chen Weimin's eyes darted, "So many, that's a considerable amount of money. How about this, I'll sell them first, and then I'll give you the money once they're sold. Is that okay?"
Xie Sui looked at him deeply. This guy wasn't honest. He was trying to fool me. Once the money was in his pocket, it would be hard to get it out.
Did he have too much time on his hands? To find himself a master?
"If Brother Chen isn't flush with cash, then take a hundred pairs first. I'm not in a hurry. If I didn't feel bad about my wife setting up a street stall in this heat, I'd sell them myself and wouldn't bother you.
If I wasn't busy at the food factory, I could set up my own stall. A profit of one yuan would be enough for me to hire many people."
Chen Weimin chuckled. This guy was more slippery than he was. He no longer dared to play any tricks, "I was just discussing it with you. Don't worry, I'll borrow money from someone before I owe you any."
"Brother Chen is righteous. It's settled then. Cash on delivery."
"Alright, I'll send someone to pick them up now."
Chen Weimin went back to his room and took out a bulging cloth bag, likely full of money. He found a subordinate to accompany him and went to get the goods himself.
Before nightfall, Xie Sui had resolved the stirrup pants issue and found a long-term business partner, which gave him something to brag about to his wife.
"Wanwan, this is Brother Chen. We'll leave all our stirrup pants to him to sell. You don't need to worry about it anymore."
Lin Wanwan said happily, "That's great! Thank you so much. Come in for some tea." Su Dan Novel Network
"Hello, sister-in-law. No hurry, I'll examine the clothes first."
Chen Weimin was eager to finalize this deal, a business worth five to six hundred yuan!
Seeing the stirrup pants with his own eyes, the labels from the municipal garment factory, and the quality of the fabric, his heart settled. "Count the quantity. Cash on delivery."
Xie Min also came to help. In less than fifteen minutes, the six hundred and thirty-eight pairs of pants were counted. Money exchanged hands for goods, swift and decisive.
Lin Wanwan counted the money and locked it in the drawer, still feeling that the money earned wasn't quite real.
Chen Weimin had his subordinate deliver the clothes back and invited the couple to dinner at the state-run restaurant. People's relationships are often fostered at the dinner table.
Xie Sui declined, "The factory needs me. We have to go home later. Why don't you have some drinks here and taste my cooking?"
Chen Weimin was surprised, "You can cook?"
"It's not that I can cook, I'm exceptionally good at it. Wanwan, go buy two bundles of beer. I'll make a couple of appetizers. Brother Chen and I will have some beer in the courtyard. It won't delay anything."
"Alright, I'll buy some cooked meat too."
Xie Sui went to the kitchen and stir-fried scrambled eggs with chives. There was pickled cabbage in the jar and fish in the tank, so he made pickled fish soup. He also sliced a cucumber and steamed eggplant, drizzled with minced garlic and vinegar, which was refreshing and appetizing, perfect for summer.
Xie Min helped out. Within half an hour, the meal was ready. Lin Wanwan bought pig's head meat and sausage, making it a very lavish spread.
Chen Weimin took the opportunity to observe his factory. The people coming and going had smiles of ease on their faces. Vendors kept coming to pick up goods. Everything was busy but orderly, with everyone performing their duties. The small factory exuded a vigorous and thriving atmosphere.
He nodded inwardly, this young man was a talent. His resolve to befriend him and have a long-term partnership was further strengthened.
"Oh my, this is so lavish. You really can cook. It's not often men are willing to cook."
Xie Sui poured him a glass of beer, "To cook well, it has to be a man. Look at all the head chefs, aren't they all men? Brother Chen, let's have a toast."
"Alright, cheers!"
Drinking the cold, slightly bitter beer on a hot summer day was incredibly satisfying. Taking a bite of the pickled fish whetted his appetite. Chen Weimin couldn't help but eat more, "Hmm, this is even tastier than what they make at the state-run restaurant."
"Of course. The head chefs at the state-run restaurant come to me for advice. Secretary Liu of our county loves my braised pickled fish. When important figures visit, they even ask me to be the chef."
Xie Sui said proudly. In any craft, reaching the pinnacle makes one a big shot, respected by all.
Chen Weimin felt even better. Their conversation flowed, and under Xie Sui's deliberate guidance, Chen Weimin's entire background was revealed.
Although he appeared imposing now, with dozens of subordinates, he was barely managing. Life was becoming increasingly difficult.
Times were changing. People weren't eating from communal pots anymore. Every household had land and enough food. No one bought from the black market anymore. He was still using his old ways, selling basic necessities like grain, meat, oil, salt, sauce, vinegar, and tea. Business was getting harder and harder.
Xie Sui smiled like a fox, "Brother Chen, meeting me is your luck. With our cooperation, the chance to make big money has arrived. Here, have another drink. From now on, we'll be like brothers, getting rich together."
Chen Weimin's tongue was already slurred, "If you can make me rich, you're my brother!"
Xie Sui burst into laughter, "Brother Chen is drunk. I wouldn't dare. Eat more, drink less."
The drinking lasted until the sun began to set. They finished two bundles of beer. Xie Sui was moderately drunk, while Chen Weimin was completely intoxicated and had to be picked up by his subordinate.
"Wanwan, let's go home!"
Lin Wanwan brought a basin, "Wash your face. You drank too much?"
"No, my drinking capacity is great. Beer is like water to me. I'm still a long way from being drunk. Wanwan, you wash my face for me."
Lin Wanwan was speechless. He wasn't drunk?
However, she still wiped his face. Drunk men were unreasonable.
Fortunately, Xie Sui was not noisy or troublesome. He lay in the back of the cart and soon fell asleep. By the time they arrived home, he was half sober. He put his arm around Zhang Wenfeng's shoulder and spoke from the heart, "Divorce is a divorce. As a grown man, you can't be controlled by your wife. Follow your brother, we'll find another virtuous and kind woman, just like your sister-in-law. That's a woman who lives a proper life!"