Chapter 21

After securing Li Shanshan’s promise, Zhou Yuqi also committed to having the 800,000 pieces of foreign trade surplus stock and over 30,000 pieces of original sample surplus stock under Changning Holdings fully inventoried, categorized, and shipped to Fengcheng, a process that would take about ten days.

Li Shanshan beamed, "Thank you, Mr. Zhou. You are so kind."

She then asked about the payment.

"It shouldn't be more expensive than what you paid Yang Hailin; one million is enough." In truth, the quality of this batch was far superior to what Yang Hailin had sold her, and countless wholesalers in the industry had been eyeing it for two or three years. Brand-name original samples were typically kept in storage for a year or two, released at low prices only after the season had passed to avoid undermining the value of the full-priced items.

"One million is really not expensive," Li Shanshan said happily. "How did so much surplus stock accumulate?"

Zhou’s garment factories always produced an extra 5% to ensure there was a buffer for selection in case of defects. In reality, because the workers were so skilled and meticulous, the defect rate was extremely low—less than 1%.

Eight hundred thousand pieces—the thought alone was daunting. A large quantity meant a significant amount of capital tied up.

Zhou Yuqi explained nonchalantly, "There was a batch of export clothing where the buyer paid a 50% deposit but backed out when they faced a capital breakdown at the time of delivery."

That batch alone accounted for 300,000 pieces. And since they were this year’s new designs, they were easier to sell than older models.

Li Shanshan realized, "Wouldn't selling them to me at such a low price be a huge loss for you?"

"I've already recouped the costs anyway." Zhou Yuqi didn't care how much he could have made by selling to other wholesalers at factory price. "Besides, export clothes are custom-made for the buyer; there is no such brand in the domestic market, so they don't fetch a good price here. Rather than that, I’d rather build a rapport with you, Ms. Li, for the sake of future returns."

Li Shanshan was overwhelmed with gratitude. "Mr. Zhou, I will definitely repay you well."

As for how she would repay him, that was for her to decide.

Zhou Yuqi, shrewd as he was, easily guessed her thoughts. A light chuckle reached her ears, "That won't do. I must be the one to propose the favor I want."

Li Shanshan curled her lip, "Fine, fine. I’ll make sure you're satisfied."

Better to get the money in hand first.

The next day, Zhou Yuqi ordered Chen Zhao to go to the garment factory personally, and the contract was soon faxed to Li Shanshan. Once the agreement was signed, everything was secure.

Having earned so much, Li’s father hadn’t slept well for several nights. When he read the details while signing, his heart raced, and his eyes glowed.

After the fax was sent, the father and daughter walked out of the copy shop. He couldn't help but ask Li Shanshan, "Should we notify those wholesalers who didn't get any goods or those who want to restock?"

"Of course!" Li Shanshan replied. If she didn't hint for them to prepare their cash in advance, how would she make money?

Li’s father patted his chest and asked again, "What you said before about buying houses for your uncle’s sons—is that still on?"

"It is." As the saying goes, when one person reaches the top, their family rises with them. Li Shanshan didn't have siblings, and she didn't want to leave her uncle’s family, who had always been good to them, behind. "I’ve already chosen the location: the new commercial housing across from the Fengcheng No. 1 Middle School affiliated primary school. Once the brothers and sisters-in-law settle down and their children go to school in the city, their chances of success will be much higher than studying in the countryside."

She knew the property prices there very well. This year it was 1,600, but in twenty-something years, it would soar to over 30,000, as it was the most expensive school district in Fengcheng and located in the city center.

Li’s father nodded gently. "About how much does one unit cost?"

"The largest ones are 140,000 to 150,000, and the smallest are over 110,000." Li Shanshan remembered that the complex had three layouts: 70-square-meter two-bedroom, 80-square-meter two-bedroom, and 90-square-meter three-bedroom units. There were no larger ones.

Li’s father clutched his chest. "Five large ones would be 700,000 to 800,000." That was too generous. His heart couldn't take it.

"That's right, plus taxes, it’ll be at least 800,000." Li Shanshan intended to do the job right once and for all—buy big, not small, to avoid being called stingy later. "But we won't buy them just yet. Let’s pay my uncle and cousins a daily wage of one hundred for now. After they come back from the New Year holiday to help me clear the other batch, I’ll have them bring their wives to the city to pick out the houses."

There were plenty of housing options; they could pick whatever they liked. Many people didn't have the concept of buying homes yet; most employees were just waiting for state-allocated housing.

Li’s father nodded, then shook his head. "We don't have to buy now, but you must let them know your intentions. So much money has passed through our hands—who hasn't noticed? They don't know we’ve already paid the supplier. This time, tell them that the profit is certain, but since the cost of the goods and shipping is huge, after deducting costs and setting aside 800,000 for their houses, you’re only netting a million."

A million is a million, and nine million is also a million. This way, they would receive the benefits while knowing Li Shanshan didn't have much left, balancing their hearts.

Li Shanshan hugged her father’s arm. "Dad, you’re so good."

She had actually planned the same thing and was just waiting for her father to give her a reason.

Li’s father sighed. "Shanshan, you are wise and know how to make money, but you are young. You must, must remember what I say: the ancestors’ saying 'wealth should not be revealed' exists for a reason. No matter how much money you make in the future, never, ever tell anyone, including me. I will warn your uncle and your five cousins not to tell anyone how much you make, but I cannot guarantee they won't tell your aunt or their wives in private. Once too many people know, it's no longer a secret. You are still young, and it's fine since you'll be away at school, but if anyone comes to borrow money from me, I’ll just say all the money has been invested in houses and shops. Don't you let it slip."

Li Shanshan blinked. "Understood!"

"Of course, if it’s for a life-or-death situation, I will definitely lend some. We’ve suffered the bitterness of not being able to borrow money for tuition, but if they want to take money from me to eat, drink, and play, absolutely not." Li’s father wasn't a fool. "Keep the money in your account. After the New Year, we’ll buy a house in the city for convenience, buy a few shops to collect rent, and renovate your grandparents' house. We won't do anything else; the money will be saved for your dowry."

Li Shanshan smiled. "Keeping money in the bank isn't good; the interest can't beat inflation. Look at how much prices have risen over the years. Today pork is three yuan a jin; in the future, it might be thirty. It’s better to continue investing."

"I don't understand inflation or investment, but you are grown, you make the decisions." Li’s father knew his limits and wouldn't restrict his daughter’s development. "But you must buy a few houses and shops. Even if you have no money in the future, you won't starve if you have property, and you can take risks elsewhere."

Li Shanshan nodded. "I’ll listen to you, Dad. I’ll turn eighteen in August; it won't be too late to buy then, and I won't even need your signature. I want to buy in Shanghai and Beijing in the future; the property there is valuable, and the rent is higher."

Li’s father agreed. "You must also buy two in Fengcheng."

"Definitely." One house, plus a few shops and stalls.

After the father and daughter finished discussing, they happily went to find the uncle and his five sons to tell them about the plan. They were greeted by six faces in total disbelief.

The eldest cousin, Li Aizhong, said with a trembling voice, "Shanshan, are you serious?" Was he really going to own a home in the city?

The other four cousins gripped their hands tightly, holding their breath as they waited for her answer.

"More real than gold," Li Shanshan said firmly. "After we sell the next batch, bring the wives, and we’ll pick out the houses together. Each of your five families gets one, and I’ll buy two—one for me, and one for the eighth cousin once he works for me."

The eighth cousin was the youngest son of her uncle and aunt. The uncle and aunt had eight children, with the third and fifth passing away young. Eighth cousin Aijun was closest in age to Li Shanshan. Since he had no sisters, he had protected her most growing up, never allowing the village bullies to say she had no mother. Even if he picked a wild fruit, he would think to share half with her. After he joined the army, Li Shanshan often received school supplies and pocket money from him—not much, as most of his salary went to helping his parents pay off debts. In terms of affection, he was the closest to her.

She could write him a letter next time to tell him she had made a fortune and that he should join her in the future.

The uncle was at a loss. "Shanshan, you’re already paying us a salary; how can we take houses from you? City houses are so expensive, tens of thousands each! Six houses would cost hundreds of thousands!" My god, he couldn't imagine it.

Li Shanshan asked back, "How do you know they cost tens of thousands? Did you ask?"

"I heard it from others." The uncle spent time in the wholesale market and naturally talked to city people. "The place where your father and I are staying now is worth thirty or forty thousand."

Li Shanshan hummed. "You and the cousins have helped me a lot, so of course I want you to eat meat too. With a house in the city, you can get residency, the kids can go to good schools, and the wives won't have any complaints. Life will get better every day. They are hardworking, and they all have sewing machines and know how to make clothes. There are over 40,000 pieces of defective stock left. Divide them among the five families, take them back, sort them, repair them, and set up street stalls. They’ll sell easily at a lower price. After you sell them, pay me back at one yuan per piece."

She didn't say she was giving it away for free. Better to teach them to fish than to give them the fish. Let them practice first, so they’ll have the capital to buy good stock from her later.

"Shanshan, you are... I don't know what to say." The uncle felt even more embarrassed, knowing that wholesalers had offered up to 1.5 yuan for this defective stock. Li Shanshan hadn't sold it then—was she keeping it for his sons and daughters-in-law? He was deeply moved.

Li Shanshan smiled at this. "Just keep working hard for me!"

"Don't worry, just tell us what to do." The cousins patted their chests. "We'll even risk our lives for you."

"That won't be necessary; human life is more precious than money." Li Shanshan checked the time on her phone. "Clean up the warehouse and the stalls; you can go home for the New Year this afternoon. Use my dad’s old tricycle to haul some autumn and winter clothes back to sell first."

There were relatively few autumn and winter items in the defective stock, only about 3,000 to 5,000 pieces in total. Perhaps because the costs were higher, the factory workers had been more careful.

Li’s father asked, "Shanshan, where are you going?"

"I'm going back to the hotel to contact those wholesalers and tell them there will be a large shipment arriving after the New Year." She had exchanged contact information with them at the time. The notebook containing the numbers was at the hotel. Mobile phones at this time had limited functions, only storing ten numbers, so she had reserved those spots for the most important people.

"Aren't you coming home with us?" Her father was worried about leaving her alone in the city, especially since she had just come into a fortune. Who could guarantee no one was watching her?

Li Shanshan smiled. "I’ll head back in two days."

Now that she had money, she had to stimulate consumption! The prices in Fengcheng were much lower than in first- or second-tier cities, and as the ancestral home of emperors, it was the easiest place to find hidden gems. Besides, she had to go and thank the local leaders for their strong support.