Zhang Lingfeng said, "Enough with the nonsense, what instructions did you give me?"
Zhao Qiang said, "How about I introduce you to a business opportunity?"
Zhang Lingfeng said, "Normally I only do the most profitable things. Young Master Zhao, do you have another new invention?"
Zhao Qiang said, "It has nothing to do with that. Chen Kezong's daughter, Chen Yumin, has a daughter named Li Jingjing."
Zhang Lingfeng said, "It's a bit of a mouthful, but I've seen her picture. I can't believe that Young Master Zhao would be interested in her."
Zhao Qiang said, "I'm not interested, but I want to help her and her boyfriend do some business. You can bring over a few batches of cosmetics every month and let him be the agent in the south."
Zhang Lingfeng immediately objected, "Young Master Zhao, are you kidding me? Our products are already in high demand and short supply. Why should we give them money to others, especially our enemies? You must have something wrong with your brain."
Zhao Qiang remained silent, and Zhang Lingfeng's tone immediately lowered: "I must ask for permission."
Zhao Qiang said, "Let's ask for instructions."
(Thanks to Baiyang's Moonlight for the 100-coin reward, thanks to Shining Pig for urging updates, thanks to Flying Eagle [2 images], Father of God [5 images], Wind Demon Azure Dragon, Collection of Memories, He Wenxiu [2 images], and Zhiwei Niゑ猦誑 for the monthly ticket support)
Volume 2 [519] Making Money
[519] Making Money
Zhang Lingfeng naturally consulted Xu Xiaoya. He couldn't make the decision himself. If Zhao Qiang were still the same Zhao Qiang as before, he would have agreed without hesitation. However, according to the information he had received, the Zhao Qiang in front of him was different from the Zhao Qiang of the past, so he had to consult Xu Xiaoya.
"Huh? He really asked that?" Xu Xiaoya was slightly surprised.
Zhang Lingfeng said, "Yes, they actually want to help the Chen family make money. We've already let go of the rubber industrial park issue with them, but now they're trying to take advantage of me. You can't agree to that."
Xu Xiaoya said, "I'll agree to it."
Zhang Lingfeng didn't hear clearly: "What?"
Xu Xiaoya said, "I said I would agree to it, and he could decide the amount he would receive each month."
Zhang Lingfeng shouted, "Did I hear that right, Mr. Xu? Are you confused? Even though you say you love him, he has no idea right now. He's only focused on making money for those two girls."
Xu Xiaoya chuckled, "You don't understand. He knows better than anyone else. Agree to him." With that, Xu Xiaoya hung up the phone.
Zhang Lingfeng returned dejectedly. Zhao Qiang asked, "How did it go? Did you ask for permission?"
Zhang Lingfeng said, "Consider yourself lucky. Tell me, how much do you need each month?"
Zhao Qiang said, "No need, you also need to maintain the normal operation of your company."
Zhang Lingfeng was stunned for a moment: "What? You're telling me I don't need it after all this trouble? Then why were you in such a hurry before?"
Zhao Qiang said, "You bring the raw materials here, and I'll take care of things here. I know your supply is a bit tight, so I won't trouble you. But you still have to keep it under the name of a youth health product."
Zhang Lingfeng seemed to realize something: "No wonder Xu Xiaoya dared to agree to your request. It turns out you were pretending to be ignorant when you knew the truth."
Zhao Qiang said, "We still have time today, so let's just get it done. I'll call Zhang Wenjing and ask him to come over and discuss it right away."
Zhang Lingfeng said, "Alright then, you decide this matter. I'll just be your puppet, and I'm already used to it."
Zhang Wenjing was very excited to receive Zhao Qiang's call. She immediately put down what she was doing and rushed over with Li Jingjing. When they met Zhang Lingfeng, the young couple exchanged pleasantries for a long time. This was unprecedented for Li Jingjing. Given her status, she naturally did not need to be subservient to people from the Northern faction, but now that she needed their help, she had to be respectful.
Zhang Lingfeng said, "Let's be straightforward and get straight to the point. It's not impossible for you to handle the second and third-tier cities in the south, but I'm afraid someone will interfere and ruin our company's reputation."
Li Jingjing patted her chest and said, "I can guarantee that. I can't speak for others, but I can get my brother to do things."
Zhang Lingfeng nodded: "Li Zhongyuan is quite capable, but he doesn't seem to be in favor lately. But he's still better than ordinary officials. Okay, let's sign the contract."
Zhang Wenjing couldn't believe it: "That's it? You don't have any other requirements?"
Zhang Lingfeng said, "Then what else do you want? However, our company has never had wholesale prices, so you won't get any discounts. We'll supply you at retail prices. I don't care how you sell it behind the scenes, but on the surface, the distributors still have to adhere to the original prices."
Zhang Wenjing said, "No problem, we can sell pre-sale tickets, which can make a lot of money. In addition, the agency will sell 10% and the outside will sell 90%. You don't object to this approach, do you?"
Zhang Lingfeng said, "Just don't let the media make a fuss, otherwise the Price Bureau and the Development and Reform Commission will come after me again."
Li Jingjing said, "President Zhang, please rest assured, I can handle these matters as well."
Zhang Lingfeng said, "That's good. However, I can't give you a definite answer on the quantity of goods yet. We'll have to wait and see how much actually arrives."
Zhang Wenjing said, "Mr. Zhang, if you only give me one or two boxes a month, I can't make it work."
Zhang Lingfeng said, "At least a truckload, Young Master Zhao, what do you say?"
Zhao Qiang said, "No problem, right?" With Zhao Qiang's current energy, converting a truckload of raw materials needed for cosmetics wouldn't be enough to just eat a small cold dish.
So Zhang Lingfeng called back to the company and ordered someone to draft the contract documents immediately, and then fax them over for signature shortly. The waiting time would be perfect for dinner.
Everything went smoothly, and a whole truckload of cosmetics arrived on the third day. The shipment consisted of finished products. Zhao Qiang hadn't considered this properly; he didn't have the time or energy to repackage them. However, he could have the delivery truck take the modified masterbatch back with it, which meant it wouldn't affect Zhang Lingfeng's production operations. It just meant the packaging workers in the workshop would need to do a little more work.
On the day they received the goods, Zhang Wenjing jumped for joy, and Li Jingjing was also very happy. If the goods were genuine, the two of them could earn at least several million to tens of millions of yuan if they sold them all. You know, on the black market, a box of youth health products and cosmetics costs tens of thousands of yuan, while the pre-sale tickets through normal channels are already booked for several years.
Zhang Wenjing hugged Zhao Qiang and said, "Brother Qiang, you're amazing! I really have to thank you this time. I've decided to give you half of the profits from this shipment."
Li Jingjing nodded in agreement: "Yes, Brother Qiang helped Wenjing a lot, so we can't let you work for nothing."
Zhao Qiang waved his hand: "Don't give me that, I'm not short of money."
Zhang Wenjing thought for a moment and said, "Yes, anyway, if there's anything we can help you with in the future, just ask, Brother Qiang."
Zhao Qiang said, "Okay, have you decided where to open the shop?"
Zhang Wenjing said, "I have already rented a street-front shop in the downtown commercial street. It has two floors and the annual rent is 80,000 yuan."
Zhao Qiang said, "It's not cheap."
Zhang Wenjing said, "This is far inferior to the goods in this truck. The other side is under renovation, so these goods will be temporarily moved to my house. I don't feel comfortable leaving them outside."
Zhang Wenjing lived in the municipal government compound; if that wasn't safe, then nowhere was safe. Zhang Wenjing personally drove Zhao Qiang to her home for a meal to express her gratitude, and Zhao Qiang accepted.
Zhang Feng got off work early today. His wife received a call from their son saying he was bringing friends home for dinner. So she opened the refrigerator to help the housekeeper prepare the groceries. Zhang Feng asked his wife, "Who is your son bringing home this time?"
Zhang Wenjing's mother said, "I didn't say anything, why are you making such a fuss?"
Zhang Feng said angrily, "You've spoiled our son rotten. He won't let me do anything and has accomplished nothing."
Zhang Wenjing's mother said, "What nonsense are you talking about? Our son is an overseas student, and he's also related to the Chen family by marriage. Don't you benefit from this?"
Zhang Feng couldn't answer. In the past few days, most people at the municipal party committee and government meetings had started to fawn over him. In the past, as mayor, many of his decisions were difficult to pass smoothly, but now even Secretary Qiao didn't oppose him much. All of this was due to the appearance of Li Jingjing. Although she was Chen Kezong's granddaughter, she was still considered half a member of the Chen family. Moreover, Chen Kezong's daughter and son-in-law were currently highly valued, which made Li Jingjing even more important.
Zhang Wenjing's mother came out of the kitchen wiping her hands and said, "Are you going to take care of your son's job or not?"
Zhang Feng got angry again, "How could I not care? I found him several jobs, but he wouldn't do them."
Zhang Wenjing's mother said, "He's either a low-level employee or working in a company. Isn't that embarrassing for your son? He's an overseas student!"
Zhang Feng shook the newspaper in his hand and said, "Look, look! I didn't agree to him studying abroad back then, and now he's stuck in a limbo. Didn't I also start as a junior employee? Do you think he can get promoted right after starting work? You're dreaming."
Zhang Wenjing's mother said, "You're the mayor, don't you even have the ability to let your son take a stake in the rubber industrial park?"
Zhang Feng said in a serious tone: "Don't even think about it. The rubber industrial park is not an enterprise that the municipal party committee and government dare to touch."
Zhang Wenjing's mother asked in bewilderment, "Why? What is there to be afraid of in Baiyuan's territory?"
Zhang Feng snorted: "Now that they've been branded as a military-industrial enterprise, you understand? The Chen family wants to make good use of it."
The sound of a key being inserted echoed from the security door. Zhang Wenjing warmly opened the door and invited the guest inside, "Brother Qiang, please come in."
Zhao Qiang walked in, followed by Li Jingjing, who was carrying some cooked food she had bought on the way, as well as several bottles of good wine. Doing something like this was unprecedented for Li Jingjing; she had made a huge sacrifice for Zhang Wenjing.
Upon seeing Zhao Qiang, Zhang Feng hurriedly stood up: "Zhao Qiang? You're the guest Wenjing was talking about today?"
Zhao Qiang said, "Mayor Zhang, I'm sorry to bother you. What kind of guest am I? You wouldn't even give me a chance to freeload a meal, would you?"
Zhang Feng said, "How could that be? Please have a seat. I usually can't even get you to sit down even if I wanted to."
Zhang Wenjing's mother went to greet Li Jingjing. Although Li Jingjing had been behaving very well while staying at Zhang Wenjing's house, given her status, Zhang Wenjing's mother dared not act like a mother-in-law.
After everyone was seated, Zhang Feng said to his son, "You should learn from Zhao Qiang. Look how capable he is now—a technical consultant at the rubber industrial park and the art director of Lingdong Entertainment. Don't just eat whatever you learned abroad and forget everything you've got."
Zhang Wenjing said, "Dad, don't worry, I'm about to become rich."
Zhang Feng asked, puzzled, "Get rich? Get rich in what way?"
Zhang Wenjing said, "Make a fortune, absolutely a huge fortune, make me rich overnight."
Zhang Feng slapped his son on the head: "You're dreaming."
Zhang Wenjing said aggrievedly, "Dad, I'm really going to get rich. You can ask Jingjing if you don't believe me."
Li Jingjing nodded. Zhang Feng then took it seriously and asked, "What exactly did you do? Our family is in the eye of the storm right now, with countless people watching. You absolutely mustn't cause me any trouble."
Zhang Wenjing said, "Do I look like that kind of person? Just listen to my name, Wenjing, such a gentle person. I just run an agency to sell products for others."
Zhang Feng was unaware of this matter and couldn't accept it when his son mentioned it: "Starting a company? What exactly is going on?"
Zhang Wenjing said, "It's very simple. I rented a shop in the commercial street and bought some goods from others to sell."
Zhang Feng said, "Renting a shop in the commercial street? And buying goods? Where did you get the money? Did Jingjing give it to you?"
Zhang Wenjing said, "No, it was all on credit."
Zhang Feng panicked: "What? You bought it on credit? You're not trying to get something for nothing and then run away, are you? Your father is under public scrutiny right now. If you cause trouble for me, how am I supposed to explain this to the provincial authorities?"
Before Zhang Wenjing could explain, someone knocked on the door. Zhang Feng had to stop talking. Zhang Wenjing's mother went to open the door. The person who came was the wife of the organization minister upstairs. She was carrying a bag and was very respectful: "Wenjing's mother, is Wenjing home?"
Zhang Wenjing's mother ushered her in: "She's home. Come in quickly. Is there something you need to see Wenjing about?"
The organization minister's wife said, "Yes, let's buy some things."
Zhang Wenjing said to her father, "Look, what's wrong with me buying on credit? I'll pay it back in a little while, so you don't need to worry about me."
Zhang Feng glared at his son, but Zhang Wenjing ignored him and walked over to the wife of the organization minister, saying, "Auntie, what would you like to buy?"
The other person shoved the bag into Zhang Wenjing's hand and said, "Wenjing, this is all the money I have. You can give me anything you like, but you have to make sure it's genuine."
Zhang Wenjing beckoned to Li Jingjing: "Jingjing, bring the agency contract over for Auntie to take a look at."
Li Jingjing obediently took out the contract she had just signed from her bag. Zhang Wenjing shook the contract and showed it to the organization minister's wife, revealing a bright red seal: "Auntie, you have to look carefully. This is the seal of the Youth Health Products Company, and this is the signature of the legal representative."
The organization minister's wife said, "This signature is really ugly, but the seal should be genuine. Wenjing, you really have a way with things. You managed to get this done. Hurry up and take Auntie to pick up the goods."
Zhang Wenjing threw the money that the organization minister's wife had given her onto the sofa, then led her people downstairs to pick up the goods.
Zhang Feng opened the bag and saw that it was full of stacks of RMB, probably no less than 300,000. What was going on?
A short while later, Zhang Wenjing carried a box, while the Organization Minister's wife held four small bottles of cosmetics. The two happily went upstairs. Before parting, the Organization Minister's wife repeatedly thanked them, saying, "Wenjing, thank you so much. I know I've gotten a great deal from you. Let's keep in touch. I appreciate your kindness." These four bottles would sell for at least 500,000 yuan, with a guaranteed profit of 100,000 yuan. With proper marketing, they could even sell for a million yuan. Such things are common in big cities.
Zhang Wenjing entered the house, put the cardboard box at the door, and said to Zhang Feng, "Dad, look, we've saved up for several years' rent. We'll pay the rent tomorrow, and then we'll sell some more to cover the cost of the goods. What are you afraid of?"