Five hundred tons, good heavens, that’s nearly half a million worth of business. It looks like this is going to be a huge profit!
“It wasn’t easy for me to come all this way, so I naturally need to buy more. As long as you, Boss Zhu, have the goods, the price can be discussed.”
Zhu Changgui was very tempted, but the batch of steel he had accumulated had just been sold to Gu Xingdong. At present, the raw materials in the factory combined probably wouldn’t even amount to five tons.
However, this was indeed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Even if he didn’t process it himself, just by reselling the existing steel, he could make twenty to thirty thousand in profit.
“Since the production limit order came down, honestly, we’ve been greatly affected. You asking for five hundred tons right off the bat, that’s really difficult.”
Even if he was willing to take on the job, five hundred tons was truly beyond his capabilities.
The man hesitated and reluctantly said, “I’m really in a hurry. How about you, Boss Zhu, get me three hundred tons first? It really can’t be any less. I’ll deal with this urgent need, and we can sort out the rest slowly?”
“How long do you need it by?”
“A week. Transportation will also take some time. I’m really in a hurry!” the man said with an anxious tone.
Zhu Changgui nodded. It seemed the man was quite desperate, so he should raise the price.
“You need so much, and so urgently. What about the price?”
“I’ve already inquired. The going rate in the black market here is nine hundred. I’ll give you Boss Zhu nine hundred and fifty. What do you think?”
Er Lai chimed in with a smile, “You need so much and you’re in such a rush. Honestly, just the bribes we have to pay are very difficult. Nine hundred and fifty is too low.”
The man frowned, “I’m truly in a hurry. Why don’t you name your price?”
Zhu Changgui: “One thousand and one hundred. It can’t be lower than this. I guarantee I’ll gather three hundred tons for you within a week.”
“This…” The man hesitated for a long time, then finally conceded, “One thousand and one hundred it is. Who told me I need it urgently? However, I need you, Boss Zhu, to sign a guarantee agreement with me. I’m willing to wait a week for you to gather the three hundred tons of steel. If you can’t deliver by then, you must compensate me at double the transaction price.”
This time it was Zhu Changgui’s turn to hesitate.
If he couldn’t gather three hundred tons within a week, he would have to pay over six hundred thousand in compensation?
But at a price of one thousand and one hundred, as long as he managed to gather three hundred tons, he could easily make over ten thousand in profit just by reselling it.
In this day and age, the bold prosper and the timid starve. Moreover, the other party had also said they wanted to cooperate further. As long as this deal went smoothly and he connected with this person, wouldn’t there be a continuous stream of wealth from Pengcheng?
Honestly, if the other party hadn’t added the guarantee agreement, he might have been unsure. Now that it was added, didn’t it just show that he was truly in urgent need of the goods?
Having been in this area for so many years, he still had some connections. Director Cui of Xiangyang Steel Plant had been cooperating with him for a long time. As long as he asked, it should be no problem.
Thinking of this, Zhu Changgui said, “Alright, we’ll do as you say. However, after signing the agreement, we need to pay a deposit first.”
The man didn’t say a word. He opened the briefcase he was carrying and took out several bundles of cash. “This is fifty thousand. The rest will be transferred to Boss Zhu once you see the goods. What do you think?”
Seeing him so readily take out the money, Zhu Changgui swallowed the words he was about to say about paying half the deposit first. Anyway, it wasn’t as if he was short on time for a week, and it wouldn’t look good to be too stingy.
After parting ways with the man, Zhu Changgui immediately set about purchasing the steel bars.
His factory was small, with only a dozen employees. It was too late to start production now, so he had to go to Xiangyang Steel Plant.
“What wind blows your presence here, young brother?” Cui Xiangqian said with a smile, gesturing to a seat as Zhu Changgui arrived. “Sit.”
“Brother, I’ve run into some trouble this time. Brother Cui, you absolutely must help me.”
Cui Xiangqian laughed heartily, “What’s there to say between us? Just tell me if there’s anything.”
“I want to purchase three hundred tons of steel bars. I definitely won’t treat Brother Cui unfairly in terms of price.”
“Three hundred tons, so much?”
Seeing Zhu Changgui nod, Cui Xiangqian pondered for a moment and said, “When do you need it?”
“Within a week.” Zhu Changgui continued, “I know it’s difficult for you, Brother, but I really have no other choice but to ask you.”
“A week is too tight. Our factory’s raw materials are already scarce, and we’ve already accepted orders from several downstream factories. For you to suddenly ask for three hundred tons, if it were three or five tons, I would have helped you without question. But this, Brother, I truly can’t help you with.”
Zhu Changgui had placed all his hopes on Cui Xiangqian. They had been cooperating for many years, and he didn’t expect to be refused. Remembering the compensation contract he had just signed, Zhu Changgui honestly said, “To be frank, Brother, I have a big deal on my hands now. Brother Cui, you must help me find a way.”
Cui Xiangqian thought for a moment and then said, “Well, I do have a way.”
Zhu Changgui’s eyes lit up upon hearing his words and he urged, “What way? Brother Cui, tell me quickly.”
“There’s a Baiqiang Steel Plant in Qingling City. Their factory called me a couple of days ago. we’ve been friends for over ten years, so there’s nothing we can’t talk about. With the Gregorian New Year just over two months away, their factory still hasn’t met its tax quota for this year. The factory is also facing some difficulties, so they wanted to entrust someone trustworthy to help them privately trade a batch of steel. You and I are definitely trustworthy, but the price might be a bit high.”
“I knew coming to you, Brother Cui, was the right decision. A higher price is fine!”
Zhu Changgui readily agreed. He hadn’t expected to find such a benefactor. It seemed his luck had truly turned this year.
“How about this, I’ll give you his phone number. You two can contact each other directly, and I won’t get involved in the back and forth.”
“Okay, okay, Brother Cui, you’ve really helped me out a lot. Once this matter is settled, I’ll definitely treat you to a good drink.”
After getting the phone number from Cui Xiangqian, Zhu Changgui called Cui Xiangqian’s friend, Xu Zhisheng.
“Introduced by Director Cui? Alright, alright. It’s not convenient to talk on the phone. We can discuss the price in detail when you come over.”
Hearing the dial tone on the phone, Zhu Changgui also hung up. A hint of excitement flickered in his eyes.
The next day, he and Er Lai drove to Qingling City.
Qingling City was about a hundred kilometers away from his city. They set off early in the morning. Because the road was not very smooth, it took nearly four hours to reach Baiqiang Steel Plant.
“Director Xu, hello. I am Zhu Changgui. Director Cui Xiangqian introduced me,” Zhu Changgui said, looking at the man in front of him, and eagerly extended his hand for a handshake.