Chapter 49: Orders Are Flooding In

Melodious and clear singing began to flow from the tape recorder. Even after so many years, Wong Ka Kui’s slightly hoarse voice remained captivating. The clients, upon seeing the small tape recorder, couldn’t help but brighten up, especially with its silver casing, which gave off a strong sense of technological sophistication.

Jiang Butong played with it in his palm, clipping it to his waistband, and it could even fit into his pocket. “Guess how much this costs?” Jiang Butong teased.

“Eighty?” the middle-aged man with a Sichuan accent ventured, his eyes immediately drawn to the compact recorder. Its appearance and portability felt very forward-thinking.

Jiang Butong shook his head.

“Could the wholesale price be a hundred?” another middle-aged man asked. If it was too expensive, then it wasn’t worth it.

Jiang Butong smiled and held up two fingers.

“Two hundred?” the Sichuan man exclaimed in surprise. He glanced at the brand—nothing particularly famous.

“Too expensive. If we stock it, few would buy,” said another.

Jiang Butong observed their expressions and slowly revealed, “The wholesale price for first-tier agents is twenty yuan.”

“What?”

“That’s impossible!”

“Selling at a loss?”

The group was shocked, staring at Jiang Butong in disbelief. If this compact tape recorder sold for twenty yuan, they were certain anyone would want it.

Jiang Butong handed them the authorization letter, which clearly stated the full authorization from Zhou Jianliang’s factory and the purchase price—twenty yuan.

“This recorder is a product developed in collaboration with a factory. The current agent price is twenty yuan, with a three-month quality guarantee. If any issues arise, you can return or exchange it,” Jiang Butong said confidently.

“Really?” the Sichuan man asked.

“If you want to be agents, we can sign a contract now. Or, if you want to buy directly and sell yourselves, you can take stock right away—I just received a shipment,” Jiang Butong gestured to the unopened boxes behind him.

The Sichuan man was moved. He made a quick decision: “Give me twenty units, with tapes.”

With the first, came the second. In just a few words, the four of them ordered eighty recorders altogether, and two signed regional agent contracts. It had only been a day since Zhou Jianliang’s requirement to sell out within a month.

Wang Yun, having just finished sorting the goods, was stunned. She had never imagined Jiang Butong was so capable—he was nearly done with the task in a single day. Maybe the compact recorder was just that appealing.

In truth, only Jiang Butong understood—it wasn’t his eloquence at work, but the product’s irresistible allure. The price was simply too low. Portability and affordability were enough to sway anyone, especially compared to the expensive dual-speaker tape recorders; this price was a cut among cuts.

Once the satisfied clients left with their goods, Wang Yun began recording the sales. Seven hundred tapes sold, eighty recorders gone—the morning’s turnover reached 4,400 yuan. If more customers came in the afternoon, she couldn’t imagine the numbers—it was simply unbelievable.

Jiang Butong looked at Wang Yun and said, “Now do you understand how to sell the recorders? Remember to display them, let them guess the price, and then reveal the agent price—break their expectations.”

Wang Yun nodded. She was convinced—whatever matter Jiang Butong touched, he could turn it upside down.

“Call Zhou Jianliang and tell him to send next week’s two hundred recorders tomorrow,” Jiang Butong instructed.

“Alright.” Wang Yun, seeing how well the recorders sold, felt a newfound confidence.

Jiang Butong left the wholesale shop and headed to Jiang Yuan’s parking lot. He hadn’t seen Jiang Yuan for several days and wondered what he was up to.

The younger men who knew Jiang Butong greeted him, aware he was Jiang Yuan’s closest brother. Some knew that Jiang Yuan owed his current success to Jiang Butong.

Among them, Jiang Butong spotted a familiar face—Liu Shuan Zhu, who had betrayed Black Dog last time.

“Brother Tong…” Liu Shuan Zhu came over to greet him.

“Shuan Zhu, what are you doing here?” Jiang Butong asked, recalling that he’d asked Eagle to find Liu Shuan Zhu.

“Eagle found me and called me over. Later, Yuan agreed to take me in, saying you’d put in a word for me,” Liu Shuan Zhu replied.

Jiang Butong nodded, “Yes, I did. I promised you before. How’s it going here?”

Liu Shuan Zhu grinned, “Much better than with Black Dog. Black Dog didn’t even feed us, but here I get a salary and a meal.”

Jiang Butong patted Liu Shuan Zhu’s shoulder, “Good. Work hard, don’t let me down.”

Hearing the word “trust,” Liu Shuan Zhu tensed, then stammered, “Brother Tong, I swear—I’ll never do anything to let you or Yuan down.”

“Don’t be nervous. Work hard and your day will come,” Jiang Butong smiled, putting Liu Shuan Zhu at ease.

Liu Shuan Zhu had thought he was finished. Not only had he betrayed Black Dog, but he’d also offended Jiang Butong. Until Eagle found him, saying he was sent by Jiang Butong, and asked whether he wanted to join Jiang Yuan’s crew.

Once Liu Shuan Zhu learned about Jiang Yuan and Jiang Butong’s relationship, he didn’t hesitate. With Black Dog gone, his followers scattered, most joining Jiang Yuan.

Initially, Liu Shuan Zhu doubted Jiang Yuan could ever stand up to Black Dog. He didn’t think much of him.

Later, he heard from others that it was all thanks to Jiang Butong’s cunning plan—using others to do the dirty work—Black Dog’s men were caught like rats in a trap, and their base was raided.

Liu Shuan Zhu finally understood why Jiang Butong had wanted Black Dog’s address—it was all part of the plan.

Such meticulous strategy—even now, recalling it, Liu Shuan Zhu felt chills.

Jiang Butong made a round, found Jiang Yuan absent, and learned from Liu Shuan Zhu that Jiang Yuan was at the video hall.

He drove straight there.

Half an hour later.

Jiang Butong pushed open the door to the video hall. The seats were packed, the color TV playing an indescribable film; a crowd of bachelors watched, mesmerized.

Eagle noticed Jiang Butong and came over to greet him.

“Are these kinds of films shown often?” Jiang Butong asked.

“Every day. Yuan found these are really popular—the business is great, earning over a hundred yuan daily,” Eagle whispered.

“If you keep showing them, make sure someone stands guard at the entrance. If the authorities raid you, you’ll end up in jail,” Jiang Butong cautioned.

Back then, though the rules were lax, a complaint could still spell trouble.

“I understand, I understand.” Eagle called over a young man, whispered a few instructions, and the boy went out to stand watch.

Jiang Butong surveyed the room—there were plenty of viewers. It seemed Jiang Yuan had stumbled onto a new money-making avenue, no wonder he neglected the parking lot business.

“Are you here to see Yuan? He’s upstairs. Shall I take you?” Eagle asked.

“No need, I’ll go myself,” Jiang Butong waved him off and climbed the stairs.

The attic on the second floor had once been Black Dog’s base, rented for five years. Now it belonged to Jiang Yuan.

Jiang Butong found Jiang Yuan counting money, small bills scattered across the table.

“Yuan, what are you up to?” Jiang Butong asked.

Jiang Yuan looked up, saw it was Jiang Butong, smiled, and beckoned him over. “I’m struggling here. Come help me count.”

“What’s so troubling about counting money? Shouldn’t you be happy?” Jiang Butong was surprised.

“Don’t mention it. This video hall seems busy, but all the money coming in is just coins and small bills. Damn, it’s barely enough to pay the electricity,” Jiang Yuan cursed.

So that’s why—no wonder Jiang Yuan had been hiding out here these days, counting change.

“How’s the parking lot business?” Jiang Butong felt that was the real enterprise; the video hall was just a sideline.