stjorthotic Chapter 21: Friends Reunited
Chapter 21: Friends Reunited
Under Huang Xiaochuan's effusive flattery, a genuine stamp collector and a fake quickly found common ground.
Moreover, the two were quite similar in personality, perspective, and way of thinking, and soon felt like they had known each other for a long time. In their previous life, they also became good friends because they got along well.
The two discussed the current state of the stamp market, starting with the stamp exhibition.
Ge Changli started collecting stamps at a young age with the support of his family, so he was very knowledgeable about the history of stamp collecting in the 1980s. When Huang Xiaochuan humbly asked him for advice, Ge Changli was happy to share his knowledge of the history of stamp collecting and his own views on the development of stamp collecting.
"Our country resumed the publication of the magazine 'Philately' in 1980, and also issued its first zodiac stamp in the same year, which represented the full revival of mass philatelic activities. Moreover, because philately has a relatively low barrier to entry compared to other hobbies, many people joined the ranks of philatelists at that time."
"In the past, most stamp collectors like me obtained their stamps by cutting them from envelopes, and they would exchange and trade them with each other. Later, we gradually started buying new stamps issued each year from philatelic companies. At that time, the number of stamps issued was very small, but the number of stamp collectors was increasing. Some people were no longer satisfied with the stamp-for-stamp method of collecting and started trading privately, but at that time, buying and selling stamps privately was illegal."
"Starting in January 1984, almost overnight, stamp collectors went crazy, queuing up to snap up the souvenir sheets issued that year, such as 'Chinese Zodiac Rat,' 'Ladies Wearing Flowers in Their Hair,' 'Olympic Games,' and 'The Peony Pavilion.' I saw it with my own eyes, and it's no exaggeration to say that the lines of people buying stamps surrounded the stamp company three or four deep."
At this point, Ge Changli seemed to recall that scene from back then, and couldn't help but feel nostalgic.
Huang Xiaochuan then asked him, "So you must have been in line too, right?"
Ge Changli laughed smugly: "No, back then I was already a member of the district philatelic association. With the philatelic association membership card, I could buy five sets of stamps, which is one block of stamps plus one single stamp, or five miniature sheets or souvenir sheets."
Huang Xiaochuan continued, "And then what happened?"
After thinking for a moment, Ge Changli said, "Later? Later, I started using stamps to support my stamp-buying business. I would sell some of my extra stamps at the market and buy the ones I needed. To be honest, it was like being a thief. I had to find a secluded place to secretly conduct the transactions. If I got caught by the police, not only would the stamps be confiscated, but my parents would have to go to the police station to pick me up. The charge would be speculation and profiteering!"
When Huang Xiaochuan heard this long-lost yet familiar word, he couldn't help but smile knowingly.
"Now things are better. A couple of years ago, the government allowed private individuals to obtain business licenses for buying and selling stamps, which means that private individuals are allowed to buy and sell stamps among themselves. So I can say these things to you now."
葛长立的话提醒了黄小川，就在这一年也就是1990年至1991年，华夏历史上的第二次邮市大潮就在这一时期发生的，着名的80猴就是在这个时候开始一路翻着筋斗云向上翻，不到三个月的时间价格翻了六倍。从1990年8月前的30元一枚到了当年的10月涨到了180元一枚，而后一直向上直到2019年最高点15000元时才开始回落。
If you don't seize an opportunity that's presented to you, you'll be struck by lightning. Huang Xiaochuan suddenly had some new ideas.
Huang Xiaochuan said, "Now that you mention it, I'd like to go to the stamp market too. I'm the kind of stamp collector you mentioned who cuts stamps off envelopes. It's rare to have the opportunity to meet a professional like you, so I'd like to learn more about stamp collecting from you."
People, especially Chinese people, love to teach others. So Ge Changli agreed to Huang Xiaochuan's small request without hesitation.
"No problem. If you have time this week, I'll take you to the Lugong Market so you can experience the atmosphere. You can buy some things you like, but it's best to compare prices and ask around. If you're unsure about anything, just tell me and I'll tell you what to do."
Huang Xiaochuan feigned delight and said, "Then it's settled. But how can I contact you?"
Ge Changli got up and took two business cards from his desk, handing them to his uncle and nephew. Zeng Jiahua followed Huang Xiaochuan's example and accepted them with both hands. Upon receiving them, he saw that the business cards contained Ge Changli's contact information, including his office phone number, home phone number, and pager number.
After reading the contents of the business card, Huang Xiaochuan chuckled and put it in his pocket, saying, "I'll arrange a time with you a day in advance so we can broaden our horizons."
Ge Changli readily replied, "Then I'll wait for your call." And that's how the two finalized their plans for the week.
Only then did Ge Changli realize that Huang Xiaochuan and his nephew definitely didn't come to his office to talk about stamp collecting; they must have come to conduct business.
So he took the initiative to ask, "You and your uncle are here to do some business with me, right?"
Huang Xiaochuan briefly explained the situation to Ge Changli and showed him the contract signed with Jiadao Company.
After carefully reading the contract, Ge Changli immediately agreed: "Out of respect for you, Xiao Chuan, we will act as your agent for this export trade. However, I cannot give you preferential treatment regarding the agency fee rate. Please don't blame me."
Zeng Jiahua was completely dumbfounded. What was going on? They hadn't even discussed any business matters; they were just talking about stamps. And he'd gotten the agency share just like that? What was going on? Why was his nephew more effective than him, the uncle? Was he some kind of natural-born lucky charm?
Huang Xiaochuan knew when to stop and wouldn't push his luck any further! He said with a smile, "This is good enough. The agency fee will be whatever it is."
Next, the formal procedures were followed. Ge Changli reviewed all the materials brought by Zeng Jiahua and found that some materials were still missing. He wrote down the names of the missing materials on a letterhead with the letterhead of Shanghai Light Industry Foreign Trade Company, then tore off the letterhead and handed it to Huang Xiaochuan.
After glancing at the contents of the letter, Huang Xiaochuan considered for a moment and said, "Today is Monday, July 30th. After we go back, we can prepare all these materials tomorrow. We'll come back on Wednesday. Once we've signed the agency contract with you, I won't leave. I'll find a place to stay for the night, and on Thursday I can get up early and go to the stamp market with you."
After thinking it over, Ge Changli agreed that the arrangement was indeed feasible, so he took the initiative to say, "In that case, I'll arrange for you to stay at our company's guesthouse. I'll come to the guesthouse to find you on Thursday morning and invite you to eat at a pan-fried bun restaurant in an alley. Their buns are really delicious. After breakfast, we'll go to the post office market."
Huang Xiaochuan didn't stand on ceremony with Ge Changli at all, and nodded with a smile, saying, "Okay, I'll go along with whatever the host says."
......
On the way back, Zeng Jiahua was very excited. All the obstacles had been removed, and now all that was needed was to produce and supply goods according to the contract.
After leaving the foreign trade company, Zeng Jiahua kept looking at Huang Xiaochuan, finding him more and more pleasing to the eye.
If it weren't for saving face, Zeng Jiahua would have loved to hug and kiss his precious nephew a few times. This isn't just a nephew! This is a real benevolent child!
On the way back to Suzhou, Huang Xiaochuan's eyelids slowly drooped after he sat in the car and swayed from side to side.
Zeng Jiahua, however, showed no signs of fatigue with excitement. He was calculating in his mind how long it would take to complete the goods under this contract.
Suddenly, Zeng Jiahua realized a problem, a crucial one that he had overlooked.
The factory doesn't have that much production capacity right now! It would be very difficult to complete this contract with the current production capacity. We can't expand the factory and equipment in the short term, and where will we find skilled workers? What should we do?
After thinking it over and over, Zeng Jiahua couldn't come up with a good solution, so he had no choice but to turn to Huang Xiaochuan to see if he had any ideas.
Unexpectedly, Huang Xiaochuan fell asleep while reclining on the back seat. Zeng Jiahua still woke Huang Xiaochuan up. Now, it has become a habit for Zeng Jiahua to turn to Huang Xiaochuan whenever he encounters difficulties.
Huang Xiaochuan was so sleepy he could barely keep his eyes open. He complained, "Uncle, can't you let me sleep for a while? We're not home yet!"
Zeng Jiahua said anxiously, "There's a problem now. If we can't solve it, we might not only fail to make money, but we might also lose a lot of money."
Huang Xiaochuan was jolted awake by Zeng Jiahua's words. Thinking something had gone wrong again, he quickly asked, "What's going on?"
"I was so happy I lost my mind. I only realized our factory's production capacity might not be able to keep up after we finalized the contract and the export agent." Zeng Jiahua's poker face twisted into a pig's kidney-shaped face.
Upon hearing this, Huang Xiaochuan immediately relaxed and leaned back in his seat to continue sleeping.
"Hey, hey, hey, aren't you listening? Why are you sleeping again?"
Zeng Jiahua tugged at Huang Xiaochuan's clothes again.
It seemed he wouldn't be able to sleep without clarifying things, so Huang Xiaochuan had no choice but to sit up again and utter a single word: "Outsourcing."
This was the first time Zeng Jiahua had heard of this term, and he asked in confusion, "What is outsourcing?"
"Outsourcing means subcontracting the product. Simply put, your flange processing involves several steps, right? Subcontract some of the less important but time-consuming steps to other factories, and then your factory will complete the most important steps. This way, efficiency is high, and completing this contract will be no problem at all." Huang Xiaochuan explained the method sparingly.
This was the first time Zeng Jiahua had heard of such a method. After pondering it for a long time, he suddenly slapped his thigh. What's most abundant around Suzhou? Township and village enterprises, of course! Finding a few factories to subcontract some processes couldn't be simpler!
"This is a great idea!" I really want to crack open this kid's head and see what's inside. How come nothing can stump him?
And just like that, the last problem was easily solved. In the near future, outsourcing will be commonplace in all industries. Huang Xiaochuan casually waved his hand, and the problem was solved. According to the current progress and the contract, he can soon request Jiadao Company to pay the first 40% of the payment.