Rebirth 03: Starting a Business After Giving Up a Secure Job

Chapter 23 Confronting Wu Wenjie

That evening, Lin Xiaoqiang took his younger sister Xiaowen back to their rented apartment.

Lin Xiaowen didn't say a word the whole way, but the corners of her mouth would occasionally curl up.

Lin Xiaoqiang glanced at her several times, and finally couldn't help but ask.

"Xiaowen, you said today that you want to be Lin Feng's assistant, are you serious?"

Lin Xiaowen nodded: "Of course I'm serious."

Lin Xiaoqiang was silent for a few seconds, then took out a cigarette from his pocket, but then remembered that his sister was next to him, so he put the cigarette back.

"Xiaowen, Lin Feng is a good person, we should remember his kindness. But it's not appropriate for you to be his assistant!"

Lin Xiaowen tilted her head and looked at him: "Why isn't it suitable?"

"You're too young and don't know anything about business. How can you be his assistant?"

"Brother, it's precisely because I don't understand that I want to learn."

Lin Xiaoqiang sighed, his tone softening: "I'm worried about you! I'm afraid people will laugh at you. Lin Feng was just saying it casually today, don't take it to heart."

Lin Xiaowen lowered her head and remained silent.

Meanwhile, Lin Feng returned to his room at the guesthouse.

He remembered the look of anticipation in Lin Xiaowen's clear eyes when she said she wanted to be his assistant.

As a man, who wouldn't like having a beautiful woman as their assistant? But Lin Feng's business is just starting out, and it's impossible for him to hire an assistant at this stage.

As for relationships, he has no interest in dating right now.

Having been reborn, making money is the priority. Besides, he hasn't even fulfilled the promise he made to his father to earn 100,000 yuan in four months.

Now, he's focused solely on making money.

He took out the business cards he had collected from visiting manufacturers over the past few days.

Three business cards are placed on the table, representing three paths.

Xinfa, priced at 310 yuan per unit. Good quality, well-managed factory, but the price is relatively high.

Fuda, priced at 290 yuan per unit. Comparable quality at a reasonable price.

Jinke, priced at 285 yuan per unit. Slightly inferior quality, but the best price.

How should I choose?

Lin Feng lit a cigarette.

Lin Feng had no intention of completely giving up on his relationship with Wu Wenjie.

He decided to confront Wu Wenjie the next day.

The next morning, when Lin Feng went downstairs, Lin Xiaowen was already waiting at the entrance of the guesthouse.

She was carrying two breakfasts, steamed buns and porridge, which are the usual foods for people from Xichuan.

"Brother Feng!" she said with a smile, handing him breakfast. "My brother leaves early and gave me a ride on his way."

Lin Feng took the breakfast and looked at her: "Xiaowen, about that assistant from yesterday..."

"I know you just said it offhand," Lin Xiaowen said, her head down, shuffling her toes on the ground. "But I'm unemployed right now anyway, so I thought I'd go with you. Aren't you going on a research trip? I can help you remember things and run errands for you, no pay needed."

Looking into her big eyes, Lin Feng couldn't bear to refuse.

"Alright then." He thought to himself that he would be returning to Rongcheng soon, so he would keep her by his side for now.

After Lin Feng agreed, Lin Xiaowen's eyes curved into crescent moons.

After the two finished breakfast at the entrance of the guesthouse, Lin Feng took out his phone and called Wu Wenjie.

"Brother Jie, are you free today? I'd like to have a chat with you."

"Brother Lin, let's have lunch together."

We agreed to have lunch together, and it's still early.

"Let's go check out other digital malls." Lin Feng led Lin Xiaowen to the SEG Electronics Market.

SEG Electronics Market is the first professional electronics market in Shenzhen, and it is larger than Yuanwang Digital City. It has more than 3000 shops, twice as many as Yuanwang.

Lin Feng led Lin Xiaowen through the market, looking at each stall one by one.

He not only inspected the goods, but also inquired about the manufacturers' information and the latest market and hardware developments.

Lin Feng patiently explained things to Lin Xiaowen that she didn't understand.

Lin Xiaowen took out a small notebook and carefully took notes. She wrote down the brand, product model, configuration, price, etc., in neat and tidy strokes.

Lin Feng glanced at her notebook: "Your handwriting is quite good."

Lin Xiaowen blushed slightly: "I practiced for a few years when I was little."

The two spent more than two hours in the market, and Lin Feng learned about the configurations and prices of the latest digital products, which gave him a better understanding of the market.

At noon, Wu Wenjie called and asked me to have lunch at a Hong Kong-style tea restaurant downstairs in Yuanwang Digital City.

When Lin Feng arrived with Lin Xiaowen, the restaurant was quite crowded, mostly with business people from Huaqiangbei.

Wu Wenjie had already taken a spot towards the back.

Seeing Lin Xiaowen follow Lin Feng in, Wu Wenjie greeted her with a smile, "Xiaowen's here too? Come, come, have a seat."

Lin Xiaowen greeted, "Hello, Brother Wu," and then sat down next to Lin Feng.

Wu Wenjie poured tea for the two of them: "What's this? Xiaowen, are you hanging out with Brother Lin now?"

Lin Feng waved his hand: "Xiaowen hasn't found a job yet, so she'll come with me for a while."

Wu Wenjie didn't ask any further questions. The group ordered classic roast goose rice, rice noodle rolls, and congee.

While waiting for the food, Wu Wenjie took out a cigarette and offered one to Lin Feng.

"Brother Lin, what are your thoughts after you went back the other day? Should we place an order with Xinfa?"

Lin Feng took the cigarette, but didn't light it; he just placed it beside him.

"Brother Jie, after returning from Longhua, I went to visit two more factories by myself."

Wu Wenjie paused in his cigarette-lighting motion, then looked up at him: "Oh? Which two?"

"Fuda Electronics and Jinke Electronics. To be honest, both manufacturers are good. For the same configuration, Fuda quotes 290 yuan per unit, while Jinke quotes 285 yuan per unit. I've checked the quality, and there are no problems."

Wu Wenjie lit a cigarette, took a drag, and slowly exhaled.

"Brother Lin, you're quick on your feet." There was a hint of something else in his smile. "How did you find it?"

"I asked around through a friend," Lin Feng said with a smile.

"I see." Wu Wenjie glanced at Lin Xiaowen and quickly understood.

"So what are your thoughts? Which company are you planning to choose?"

Just then, the waiter brought out the rice. Roast goose rice, served with a few green vegetables, looked very appetizing.

The three of them stopped talking for a moment and picked up their chopsticks to eat.

After taking a few bites, Lin Feng put down his chopsticks and looked at Wu Wenjie.

"Brother Jie, we fought off the scammers together on the train, and you've helped me a lot since I got to Shenzhen. So, I'll be frank with you."

"Go ahead," Wu Wenjie said, putting down his chopsticks and sitting up straight.

Lin Xiaowen buried her head in her food, her eyes darting back and forth between the two of them, barely daring to breathe.

Lin Feng slowly explained, "Boss Chen from Xinfa quoted 310. I know there's a rule here: if you bring in a client, he gives you a commission. It's industry practice, and I understand perfectly."

"But you know a bit about my situation. Doing business with students means thin profit margins. I can't afford a price of 310."

Wu Wenjie neither denied nor admitted it, but just listened quietly.

"Fidelity and Jinke offer reasonable prices, but I'm not familiar with them. You've been in Shenzhen for so many years, you have a wide network and know the ways. From a personal standpoint, I still want to cooperate with you. So I'd like to discuss this with you."

"How so?" Wu Wenjie asked.

"If Brother Jie is willing to talk to Boss Chen of Xinfa and get the price down to the same 290 as Fuda, I'll choose to get my goods from Xinfa. I'll calculate your share separately."

Lin Feng looked into Wu Wenjie's eyes with a sincere expression.

Wu Wenjie stared at Lin Feng for a good five or six seconds, then suddenly smiled. His smile was full of emotion.

"Brother Lin, how old are you really this year?"

"22," Lin Feng answered honestly.

Wu Wenjie shook his head. "When I was 22, I was still working as a lackey in my hometown, and I didn't know anything. But Brother Lin, you don't seem like someone who's just entered society; you seem like a seasoned veteran."

"Okay, you've made yourself clear, and I'll be honest with you too. Xinfa does offer rebates, but not as high as you're thinking. I can try to negotiate with Boss Chen, but I might not be able to get it down to 290. I'll do my best!"

"I believe you." Lin Feng raised his teacup.

The two men clinked tea leaves together, using tea instead of wine.