Reborn in 80: Starting with hunting in the mountains to get rich

Chapter 220 Dealing with Red Businessmen: This is What Makes a Successful Man

Boss Wang glanced up at the Li family's house. There were quite a few good things hanging from the beams of the Li family's house. Wildcats, leapcats, pheasants, and half-pound hamsters—they hunted more than they could eat, so they either hung them from the beams or buried them in the snow.

Many unprocessed furs were hanging to dry on the rafters in the shade. In the corner of the haystack were two barrels of brewed deer bone wine. He couldn't take his eyes off them.

He asked Li Ju'an how these wines and mountain products were sold.

Li Ju'an glanced at him and knew this man was trying to jump on the bandwagon and start a business, but hadn't quite figured it out yet. Before the New Year, hunters all went home to celebrate peacefully, and the county market was deserted. Who would set up a stall at the market during the New Year? Boss Wang had just arrived in the Xing'an Mountains and didn't know the intricacies of the business, so he'd come to him seeking information.

Li Ju'an pondered, "This guy charges 8 yuan a pound for tomatoes, he doesn't know the local price. These big, fat sheep are a rare sight, we should slaughter them all."

He said, "Homemade deer bone wine is 15 yuan a barrel, a juvenile cat is 4 yuan, a pheasant is 6 yuan, and a civet is more expensive. It depends on whether you want the skin or not. If you only want the bones and meat, it'll be 120 yuan a civet."

The lynx is a wildcat. Lynx pelts are valuable, and he had already skinned them and made raw leather to sell in the county town. Now, all that's left are the meat bones buried in the snow, with no market for them. He was just worrying about this when, sure enough, a red merchant from Shanghai arrived.

"Red merchants" refers to those who became capitalists in the early stages of development without clashing with higher authorities, actively participating in economic construction. These merchants fully utilized the policy dividends and national policy responses of the period to pursue profits.

Li Ju'an didn't care whether someone was a "red" businessman or not. In the 80s, before the policies were fully liberalized, businessmen of all political affiliations had to be careful and watch their step.

Upon hearing this, Boss Wang was overjoyed, his eyes practically sparkling. He slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "Alright, Boss Li, I'll take all of yours. This is wild game from the Xing'an Mountains, you can't buy it in Shanghai!"

Li Ju'an understood what he meant. The mountain products brought in from Shanghai, though labeled as wild game, had passed through countless hands, were not only not fresh, but also expensive. Shanghai industrialists, with their deep pockets, came to the Xing'an Mountains for a visit, naturally looking for cheap deals on everything.

He grinned and said, "Alright, Mr. Wang, go to the guesthouse and warm yourself by the fire for a while. I'll bring all of this over on a sled later tonight. You can order dinner; as long as the price is right, everything is negotiable."

The two hit it off immediately and got along very well.

Li Ju'an watched as he took out some money first, then personally escorted the two of them back to the guesthouse. Before leaving, he waved with a smile and shouted, "Don't worry, Boss Wang, I've got it covered. I guarantee you won't have come to our village for nothing."

He calmly left the guesthouse and hurriedly went to the commune to call Song Desheng, then called Lao Qian and Lao Zhao from Niubei Village, the hunters from Wangxing Village, and the forestry worker from the production team. He called Lu Zhiqiang, ran to the houses of Lao Qin, Li Guaizi, and Lao Zhang, and also went to Lao Tao's place to ask.

Hunters in the village would stock up on mountain products for the New Year. In addition to the meat and hides of various birds and animals, they would also have wild honey collected from the mountains when it was hot, or other mountain products that could be stored, such as deer antlers.

You're a bastard who doesn't make money.

The Li family's house was piled high with all sorts of mountain goods, from raw hides and tanned hides to wolf teeth, bear paws, and bear gallbladders that had just been dried by the hunters of Niubeitun—all of them were high-quality items.

Song Desheng brought ginseng wine to offer New Year's greetings. The boxes of ginseng wine were homemade wine given by relatives in the village. He said, "Brother Li, someone is really offering a high price to buy it. It's like the God of Wealth has come, giving away money so people can have a peaceful and happy New Year. I don't understand why he's offering such a high price."

Li Ju'an flicked his forehead and said, "Don't ask, just keep your head down and collect the money."

Song Desheng racked his brains but couldn't come up with a solution, but the thought of being able to send away the unused congratulatory gifts made him happy. He helped Li Ju'an load boxes of mountain goods onto the dog sled, and led a large group of hunting dogs to drag the sled to the guesthouse.

He still had a nagging feeling: "Brother Li, don't think you've been fooled and sold out while still paying the customer."

Li Ju'an took out cash from his pocket, split the bill with him, and said, "They prepaid the money. Why would they bother with money if they were trying to scam someone? Who would deliver the money and then run away? That's just plain stupid."

Meanwhile, in the guesthouse, Boss Wang and his beautiful female secretary were whispering sweet nothings to each other, and after a good, sweaty night, they were both exhausted as they rolled around on the bed.

The secretary, Wang Jiao, still had a lingering blush on her cheeks, and her voice was charming and alluring. Her feminine charm made him unable to resist, and after resting for half an hour, he couldn't wait to turn over and start again.

The woman giggled, playfully pressing against his chest, her eyes alluring, and said softly in a drawn-out tone, "Boss, what if that country bumpkin runs off with the money? You gave him a lot of money."

Mr. Wang chuckled and patted her shapely buttocks, quite pleased with the crisp sound. He said, "If he dares to run away, I'll report him. Let's see if he dares."

Although he said that, he was also having doubts. What he had done was not something to be discussed openly, and if it really got out, he would lose face.

Suddenly, there was a commotion downstairs at the guesthouse; dogs were barking.

Mr. Wang pulled up his underwear, fastened his belt, drew back the curtains, peeked down, and chuckled. "Here it comes," he thought.

Song Desheng waited with Li Ju'an downstairs at the guesthouse. Soon after, Boss Wang brought Wang Jiao down.

The beautiful female secretary leaned gently on the man's shoulder, her face still flushed with a lingering blush.

Song Desheng cursed under his breath and whispered to Li Ju'an, "This vixen is pretty enough. Do all the bosses in the city live such carefree lives?" He shook his head and muttered, "If I were a big boss, I would hire a few more female secretaries like her."

Li Ju'an turned his head and laughed at him: "Watch out, your tigress might scratch you."

Song Desheng shrank back, obediently refusing to speak, but inwardly he thought: Am I afraid of that tigress? As long as I don't get caught, it's no big deal.

The dog sled was loaded with mountain produce. Li Ju'an used the advance payment given to him by Boss Wang to buy these mountain produce.

He raised the price, and the advance payments were sufficient. He didn't pay for the mountain goods out of his own pocket; they all came from the advance payments. Hunters from various villages who knew each other gave him their surplus mountain goods and hides, which they planned to sell after the New Year at higher market prices. The hunters received their money early, didn't lose money, and could have a peaceful New Year. Both sides were satisfied.

Boxes of homemade wine, wild game, and hides were delivered to Boss Wang, and the city businessmen's eyes widened in surprise.

"Wow, you were able to buy so many!"

Li Ju'an laughed and said, "That's right. Wild game and mountain products aren't as expensive as in big cities; they're very cheap. Mr. Wang, just give me what you think is appropriate."

He handed a Shancheng cigarette to Boss Wang, saying "Give it to me as you see fit," while giving Song Desheng a wink.

Song Desheng immediately understood and, being a straightforward person, meticulously calculated the accounts. Pointing to each piece of raw hide and mountain product, he repeatedly emphasized that the prices were "fair."

Mr. Wang knew exactly what Song Desheng was thinking. After listening, he nodded, took out a wad of cash from his briefcase, and handed it over: "Mr. Li is a very honest man. Next time you come to Shanghai, call my secretary, and we can have more exchanges."

The thick wad of cash made Song Desheng's eyes practically pop out of their sockets. He reached out his hand but didn't dare to take it, feeling the heat burning his palm.

Li Ju'an took the money and said with a smile, "Mr. Wang, please leave your phone number. If there's an opportunity next time, I'll definitely trouble you."

Mr. Wang nodded, took out a pen from his pocket, asked the guesthouse for a piece of stationery, wrote down a landline number, handed it over, and said, "If you need anything in Shanghai, contact my secretary; she will take care of you."

Wang Jiao's upright and proud figure, even wrapped in a cotton-padded coat, couldn't hide her full and beautiful curves. Her gaze fell on Li Ju'an.