Chapter 538: Money Doesn't Grow on Trees
Chapter 538: Money Doesn't Grow on Trees
Though Lu Jiajin had endured a difficult time, he was fortunate to have Luo Guangyuan and Sun Qi looking after him, and his physical injuries were not severe. After recuperating for over three months, he was almost back to his old self.
Concerned about his dwindling savings, Lu Jiajin couldn't sit still any longer. After informing Lu Jiaguang of his plans, he set off for Pengcheng with Sun Qi.
Upon arriving in Pengcheng, he sought out Su Heming, expressing his desire to purchase a batch of electrical appliances to sell back home.
With the economy opening up, many people had money to spend and were eager to buy home appliances. Televisions were the most popular choice, but electric fans and refrigerators were also in high demand. As a result, the appliance factory was operating around the clock, yet they still struggled to keep up with the demand.
Su Heming looked at him and asked, "Countless people are begging me for supplies every day. Lu Jiajin, tell me, why should I give you the goods?"
Securing the goods meant the opportunity to make money, so he was in high demand. Sometimes, overwhelmed by it all, he would escape to Hong Kong City for some peace and quiet.
Lu Jiajin was taken aback. "Brother Su, we've been friends for so many years..."
Su Heming gestured for him to stop. "Lu Jiajin, we've never been friends. The only reason I took care of you before was because of your connection to Jiaxin."
"Over the years, you and your family have benefited a lot from Jiaxin. But what have you done for her in return?"
Among the Lu family, only Lu Jiaguang was decent in his eyes. As for the others, he had no respect for them. It was only because of Jiaxin's kindness that he associated with them at all. As for the rest of their relatives and friends, only those who had helped their family in the past would receive his acknowledgment.
Lu Jiajin was left speechless by the question. After a moment, he said, "Brother Su, Jiaxin is capable and doesn't need our help."
Su Heming continued, "I know you've been taking advantage of your status as her relative. Lu Jiajin, you're a grown man. How can you keep relying on your younger sister? Don't forget, she's only twenty years old this year."
Lu Jiajin's face turned bright red.
"You only care about her money and don't think about how difficult it is for a young girl like her to be alone in Hong Kong City, constantly on guard against the schemes of the He family. She works hard in her business, but she dares not let anyone know about her earnings. Where were you when she needed support?"
"Lu Jiajin, don't even think about getting supplies from me. If you're a man, stand on your own two feet and build your business from scratch. Then, pay back every penny you owe Jiaxin. Otherwise, I'll lose all respect for you."
After a thorough scolding, Lu Jiajin returned empty-handed.
Sun Qi asked curiously, "You mentioned that Mr. Su and your sister were very close. He also referred to her as his 'little sister.' Now that he's refused to supply you with goods, isn't he worried about upsetting her?"
Lu Jiajin remained silent for a moment before replying, "It's probably my sister's decision. She doesn't want to help me anymore and wants me to earn money and repay my debts myself."
His original plan had been to ask Su Heming to supply him with goods on credit, which he would then sell and use the profits to settle the debt. With electrical appliances in high demand, he was confident that securing a large supply would result in a substantial profit. However, his plans, though well-laid, were not destined to come to fruition.
Sun Qi's heart sank. If Lu Jiaxin was no longer offering her assistance, they would have to start from scratch. Having been in business himself, he understood the importance of connections, and with Lu Jiaxin's help, they could have avoided many pitfalls.
"So, what do we do now?"
What could they do? They had no choice but to abandon this lucrative opportunity. Without the right connections, it was impossible to get their hands on the much-sought-after electrical goods.
"Let's import a batch of clothing instead!" Lu Jiajin suggested.
He had been in the clothing business for three years and had built up a network of contacts.
Lu Jiajin went to Gough Street and found several friends who had become wholesalers. He managed to get his hands on some goods at a discounted price. He had originally intended to transport the goods back by train, but Lu Jiaguang told him that regulations were strict, and if he pulled any strings for him, someone might report him. Lu Jiajin was left to figure out an alternative plan.
With no other choice, Lu Jiajin hired a large truck to transport the goods. However, they encountered bandits along the way. Fortunately, they were prepared, and after a fierce fight, they managed to drive the bandits away. Lu Jiajin returned to Si Jiu City with a heavy heart and stored the goods in a warehouse before setting out to find buyers.
It had been a year since he last dabbled in the clothing business, and in his absence, his previous partners, including Xiao Qiu, had found other suppliers. Of course, in business, people tended to go with whichever supplier offered the best deal.
Lu Jiajin still had a good eye for quality, and the batch of clothing he acquired was of superior make and featured the latest designs. However, after selling the entire stock, he realized his profit was only 5,000 yuan.
Back when he had first started in the clothing business, he would double or even triple his investments. Although increased competition had driven down profit margins, most people were still making a 70-80% margin. In contrast, Lu Jiajin's profit was a mere 40%. Out of this 5,000 yuan, he also had to pay Sun Qi 2,000 yuan, leaving him with a meager sum. At this rate, it would take him forever to pay off his 800,000 yuan debt.
After much deliberation, Lu Jiajin sought out Luo Guangyuan and asked if he could join him in his ventures. "Guangyuan, I can help you find suppliers, and then we can transport the goods to the border."
Although the border areas were not entirely safe, they were still within the country, and as long as they kept a low profile and remained cautious, they should be fine. The 800,000 yuan debt hung over Lu Jiajin like a dark cloud, and he felt he lacked credibility until it was repaid.
Luo Guangyuan asked, puzzled, "Jiajin, you have money, and your previous line of work is enough to support your family. Why take this risk?"
Lu Jiajin explained about his 800,000 yuan debt. "My sister said she doesn't want to see me until I've paid it all back. I know I've disappointed her."
Upon hearing this, Luo Guangyuan was even more reluctant to involve Lu Jiajin. "Even transporting goods to the border is dangerous. If something happens to you, how can I face your sister? Jiajin, please don't put me in this difficult position."
Miss Lu had demanded her money back, but she hadn't specified a deadline, so he could take three years or even ten to pay it all back. Luo Guangyuan didn't want to be responsible if something went wrong while they were doing border trade, as Miss Lu might blame him, and he couldn't afford to offend someone of her stature.
Lu Jiajin returned home dejected after yet another setback. He racked his brains but kept coming back to the clothing trade—it was what he knew best and where he had the most connections.
Meanwhile, Luo Guangyuan also confided in Lao Geng about Lu Jiajin's desire to join them and his refusal. "Miss Lu is probably still angry. Once she calms down, he can easily make money doing something else. There's no need for him to take this risk with us."
Lao Geng admired Lu Jiajin's loyalty and quick thinking, and since Luo Guangyuan needed funds, he decided to bring Lu Jiajin on board. Firstly, they genuinely needed more hands, and secondly, it would be a way to counterbalance Luo Guangyuan's friend. After so many years in the underworld, Lao Geng knew that the most unpredictable element was human nature.
After some thought, Lao Geng said, "Go find him tomorrow and tell him I've agreed to let him join. From now on, he'll be in charge of getting goods to the border."
Luo Guangyuan was taken aback and shook his head. "Lao Geng, if something happens to him, and Miss Lu blames us, what then?"
A smile appeared on Lao Geng's face as he assured him, "Don't worry. Miss Lu is fair and just. If he chooses to join us, even if something happens, she won't hold it against us."
Lao Geng had his reasons for wanting Lu Jiajin on the team.
(End of Chapter)
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