HPDBC Chapter 104 Establishment of the Shenzhen Office
Chapter 104 Establishment of the Shenzhen Office
The taxi headed in the opposite direction from where it had come, towards a slightly chaotic area on the other side of the city.
The streets are lined with messy signs and congested side streets.
In the car, Lin Xiaowen suddenly spoke softly, "Brother Feng, my brother... it's getting harder and harder for him to make a living as a taxi driver. There are a lot of people driving taxis in Shenzhen now, the prices are low, and the enforcement is tight. His car keeps breaking down, and after a month of repairs, fuel costs, and fines, there's hardly anything left."
Sometimes when the car breaks down, we don't earn any money for several days... If it weren't for you giving me a job at the factory this month, we would have had trouble even eating." Her voice grew softer and softer until it was almost inaudible.
Lin Feng hummed in agreement, understanding the situation. It was indeed difficult for Lin Xiaoqiang and Lin Xiaowen, siblings, to find work in Shenzhen without education or connections.
"Nanxing Auto Repair, it's just ahead." The taxi driver pointed to a dimly lit shop on the side of the road.
The red light box displays the four characters "Nanxing Auto Repair," but the character "repair" is not lit.
The taxi stopped at the entrance. The roller shutter door was open, letting in the glaring light of an incandescent bulb, and the sound of metal being struck could be heard from inside.
Several dilapidated cars awaiting repair were parked in the open space in front of the gate. Among them, a familiar white Chang'an Bread was being supported by a jack, and a tall, thin figure wearing a dirty vest and with oily hands was busy working in front of the car.
"Brother!" Lin Xiaowen got out of the car first.
Lin Xiaoqiang turned around and saw Lin Feng, his face instantly showing embarrassment. He hurriedly put down the wrench, wiped his hands haphazardly on his trouser leg, and his body still reeked of engine oil.
"Brother Feng! What are you doing here... My old car is such a disappointment..." His face was streaked with black and gray, and sweat mixed with grease.
"I just stopped by to take a look." Lin Feng approached the van. The paint was dull and covered in scratches, the bumper showed signs of welding, and the tire treads were almost worn down.
He pointed to the bread truck: "What's wrong with it?"
"The ignition coil is completely ruined, it won't start. The mechanic looked at it and said the brake pads are worn thin, the tires are faulty, and the chassis is badly rusted..."
Lin Xiaoqiang sighed deeply: "It will cost more than a thousand to repair..." His face showed embarrassment and anxiety.
This car repair bill was clearly a heavy burden for him.
Lin Feng walked around the car once, then squatted down to examine the rusty chassis. He stood up and clapped his hands.
"Even if this car is fixed, how long can you keep using it? Will you earn enough to pay for the repairs, and then enough for food next month, and the month after that?"
Lin Xiaoqiang stiffened, shook his head helplessly, and after a long while said in a muffled voice, "Just make do... That's how this business is. If the car isn't good, you have to accept your fate. It's not easy to get jobs these days either. There are cars everywhere, the prices are low, and you always have to avoid traffic checks..."
The helplessness in his voice was particularly clear.
Wu Wenjie, who was standing behind, also sighed but didn't say anything. Lin Xiaowen turned her face away, unable to bear watching her brother's expression.
Lin Feng looked at him and remained silent for a moment. Then, he said solemnly, "Don't fix this car."
Lin Xiaoqiang looked at Lin Feng blankly, seemingly not understanding.
"I'm setting up an office in Shenzhen and need a reliable person to handle administrative tasks and also drive," Lin Feng continued. "The work will be varied, so you need to be diligent, meticulous, and discreet. The monthly salary is 3,500 yuan, and the company will pay your social security. Are you interested?"
Lin Xiaoqiang was stunned, his mouth slightly open, his eyes staring straight at Lin Feng, as if he hadn't reacted to the sudden words.
The repair shop lights shone on his face, which was covered in oil and sweat, reflecting the rapidly changing shock in his eyes.
He couldn't believe it! Such a good thing?
"Yes! I'm willing! I'm a hundred times willing!" He finally found his voice and didn't hesitate for a moment.
"I will definitely work hard! I can learn anything, I can do anything! I..."
"Alright," Lin Feng interrupted him, his gaze softening slightly. "Go tell the mechanic that we're not repairing this car. We'll sell it for whatever we can get. Now go get it sorted out and come with us. We'll have dinner together tonight."
"Hey! Good! Good! Thank you, Brother Feng! No... thank you, boss!" Lin Xiaoqiang responded repeatedly, overwhelmed with joy, and rushed into the depths of the repair shop like a gust of wind.
Wu Wenjie smiled and said to Lin Feng, "Brother Lin, you've solved his immediate problem. Xiaoqiang is honest and hardworking; he'll have a good life with you in the future."
Lin Feng didn't reply. In this world, some people chat and laugh in high-rise buildings, while others struggle to survive in the mud. All he could do was offer a rope to those around him who were visible and willing to work hard, so they could climb out.
He took out a cigarette from his pocket, handed one to Wu Wenjie, and lit it himself with a lighter.
Just then, a gust of wind blew in and extinguished the lighter's flame. He lit it again.
Lin Xiaowen quietly walked to Lin Feng's side and reached out to shield him from the wind.
He finally lit the cigarette and looked up into Lin Xiaowen's eyes, which were already wet with tears.
Lin Feng saw gratitude, relief, and deep love for him in her eyes.
Not long after, Lin Xiaoqiang came out wearing a relatively clean old T-shirt and trousers. His face and hands were still covered in grease, but he looked refreshed and completely different from before.
The four of them hailed another taxi and headed towards the city center.
Sitting in the passenger seat, Wu Wenjie told the driver the name of a hotel, then turned to Lin Feng and said, "Brother Lin, I've booked the hotel for you. It's in Futian, a four-star hotel, and the conditions are better than the hotels I've stayed in before."
"Thank you for your trouble," Lin Feng replied.
"Of course," Wu Wenjie said with a smile, glancing at Lin Xiaoqiang, who was still immersed in great joy in the back seat, then shook his head with a smile in his eyes.
The hotel is indeed nice; the lobby is spacious and bright.
Wu Wenjie helped with the check-in process; the room was on the executive floor.
After settling in, Wu Wenjie said, "Brother Lin, you must be tired from your journey and hungry. The Chinese restaurant on the second floor of this hotel is quite good. Shall we grab something to eat nearby?"
"Okay, let's go to the hotel restaurant, it's closer." Lin Feng agreed.
The restaurant had an elegant ambiance and wasn't crowded.
The waiter led them to a booth by the window. When ordering, Lin Feng asked Lin Xiaowen to order a few dishes she liked, and Lin Xiaowen, unable to refuse, ordered two light dishes.
Wu Wenjie ordered a few more signature dishes, a bottle of baijiu (Chinese liquor), and a bottle of soft drink.
The dishes were served quickly. Wu Wenjie proactively opened a bottle of baijiu (Chinese liquor), first filling Lin Feng's glass, then his own and Lin Xiaoqiang's. Lin Xiaowen had orange juice in front of her.
"Brother Feng... no, from now on I should call you Boss!" Lin Xiaoqiang was the first to pick up his wine glass, his face flushed with excitement.
"I'm not good with words. This glass of wine is for you! I, Lin Xiaoqiang, may not have any great skills, but I have plenty of strength. I will definitely work hard in the future and never let you down!" After saying that, he tilted his head back and downed the full glass of white wine.
Lin Feng picked up his wine glass and downed it in one gulp: "We're all family, no need to stand on ceremony."
Lin Xiaoqiang let out a heavy sigh, his chest still heaving.
Lin Xiaowen also picked up her glass of orange juice, her cheeks slightly flushed, and looked at Lin Feng: "Brother Feng, I also want to toast you. Thank you for helping me and my brother. I will definitely work hard and not let you down." After she finished speaking, she also drank the beverage in her glass.
Lin Feng smiled and looked at her: "Xiaowen, you're more outgoing and articulate than before."
Lin Xiaowen's face turned even redder.
Seeing this, Wu Wenjie also raised his glass, his expression becoming serious: "This glass is for you. Brother, you think highly of me, A-Jie, always giving me orders."
I've been in Huaqiangbei for years, I know all sorts of people, and I know a bit about the market. I can't promise anything else, but I'll do my best to handle your matter! I'll do it, you can do whatever you want!" With that, he downed his drink in one gulp.
"Brother Jie, you flatter me." Lin Feng never drank half-heartedly, and he downed his drink as well.
After finishing his drink, he continued, "Today at Xinfa, the order for 40,000 units is just the beginning. The business in Shenzhen will only expand further. I need a trustworthy and knowledgeable person to oversee everything here, from procurement and production to quality control, logistics, and even future market expansion."
Wu Wenjie sat up straight, his eyes filled with anticipation.
"I registered a new company in Chengdu called Rongcheng Fengchi Digital Technology Co., Ltd. This time I came to Shenzhen to set up a branch office for the company, which will serve as the company's base in South China."
Lin Feng looked at Wu Wenjie: "For the general manager of this office, I need someone who understands the product and the market, has business experience, and can deal with all sorts of people. Brother Jie, after thinking it over, you're the most suitable."
Lin Xiaowen held her breath and looked at Wu Wenjie. Lin Xiaoqiang also stared wide-eyed at these two "big shots" in his eyes.
Wu Wenjie didn't answer immediately. He picked up a cigarette from the coffee table, offered one to Lin Feng, and lit one for himself.
Amidst the swirling smoke, the slightly slick smile on his face slowly faded, revealing the shrewdness typical of a businessman.
"Brother Lin, we haven't known each other for very long, but I believe I have a good eye for people."
From your dealings with MP3 players and discovering Tang Lei, to acquiring the copyright for "Mice Love Rice" and applying for a design patent, I've seen it all.
"You're no ordinary person. Even those resellers and chip speculators in Huaqiangbei, ten of them bundled together, don't have your foresight."
He paused, took another drag of his cigarette, and said, "I earn a few hundred thousand a year from my stall in Yuanwang Digital City. I'm not rich in Shenzhen, but I make a decent living. But working for you... I believe we can achieve great things and make a lot of money. This is an opportunity that many people would kill for."
He stubbed out the half-smoked cigarette: "Brother Lin, no, Boss Lin. I, Wu Wenjie, will take over as general manager of the Shenzhen office! I can't guarantee anything else, but you can rest assured that you can handle everything in Shenzhen—procurement, production, distribution channels—with me. I'll definitely get it done for you."
"Okay!" Lin Feng nodded. "Brother Jie, I'm leaving things in Shenzhen to you. The salary and benefits will be at the general manager level; we'll discuss the details tomorrow. You can keep the stall as a side job, but your focus should be on the branch office. There will be a lot to deal with in the early stages, so you'll need to put in a lot of effort."
"Of course!" Wu Wenjie nodded emphatically, his eyes full of enthusiasm.