2003: Starting with Foreign Trade

Chapter 70 Persuading Zhang Qingliang (Please continue reading)
When Zhang Qingliang was born, besides his two older cousins, he already had one older brother and one older sister from the same mother. The family was not well-off to begin with, so the resources available to Zhang Qingliang were already very limited.

Moreover, he had a younger brother. Growing up in such an environment, Zhang Qingliang barely managed to graduate from junior high school before entering the workforce to make a living.

In Yicheng during the 1980s and 90s, there weren't many ways to make money. I had worked with my father and brothers to build the Yangtze River dike since I was a child, and I had also worked as a laborer. I had done almost every kind of manual labor that I could do.

And so it went until 1998, when Zhang Qingliang was 29 years old and his child was three years old. That year, the Yangtze River basin was hit by another major flood.

Due to the production team's assigned tasks, various taxes, and the losses caused by the flood, Zhang Qingliang, like everyone else in the village, was forced to go far away to work.

In the 1990s, Northeast China still held a high status in the eyes of rural people, and going to the Northeast to work was a common choice for many rural people. Zhang Qingliang was no exception. If nothing unexpected happens, this year will be Zhang Qingliang's seventh trip to the Northeast to work.

Over the years, the couple worked in Northeast China and saved some money by living frugally. They originally planned to save money for another year and build a new house by the end of the year.

Before he could even return home, his sister called to tell him that her nephew had bought a house in Yicheng and wanted him to be in charge of all the renovations. Zhang Qingliang was conflicted about this.

If possible, it would be better to stay in the hometown, but you can't make money there. Relying solely on my nephew's house, I definitely can't make a living there for more than a few months. I'll have to go far away again eventually.

Often, by the middle of the month, it becomes quite difficult to find work, as everyone has already found suitable partners.

Zhang Qingliang naturally knew what Tan Jincheng meant by telling him not to get drunk, but it wasn't appropriate to refuse directly during the New Year. He decided to listen to what Tan Jincheng had to say first.

After the meal, once everyone else had left, Zhang Qingliang beckoned Tan Jincheng over.

"Are you talking about the house renovation?"

“Well, there’s a 133-square-meter apartment and a 92-square-meter apartment. I’m not in a hurry to move in. It should be enough for you to make a living this year, Uncle, right?” Tan Jincheng said with a smile.

"Why are there two sets? Didn't your mother say she only bought one set?" Zhang Qingliang asked, somewhat surprised.

“I also bought a small apartment in Beicang, but they don’t know yet. Uncle, you can take on other jobs or farm crops at home, just make sure it’s renovated for me this year. There’s no specific timeframe.”

"The Beicang project can be arranged for the second half of the year. Actually, Uncle, you should really consider Beicang. It's developing very rapidly there. I also know some small business owners. I can ask them to introduce you to some jobs. There shouldn't be any problem."

Then, Tan Jincheng added, "I won't let you help me for nothing, Uncle. We are relatives, but one thing is one thing. I don't know how much you and Auntie can earn in the Northeast in a year, but if you help me get these two houses sorted out this year, I can give you 6 yuan."

6 yuan is roughly the market price for renovation workers in Beicang. This was something Tan Jincheng had inquired about beforehand. In 2004, renovation workers in Beicang earned about 50 yuan a day.

Tan Jincheng didn't know what the salary level was like in Northeast China, but he spent at least half the year in Yicheng this year, so it should be enough for him.

Don't think that 6 yuan a year for a couple is a small amount. You should know that there is no guarantee for construction workers. They only get paid when there is work, and there is no guarantee when there is no work. Although Tan Jincheng pays on a contract basis, he can guarantee a year's income.

With so many relatives in the family, Tan Jincheng could only offer this much help in terms of salary; otherwise, it would easily cause conflicts. As a junior member of the family, he knew that if he didn't handle things properly, it would put his parents in a difficult position.

The richest man in China in 2003 was Ding Pangzi, who was later known as the "pig farm boss," with a net worth of 75 billion yuan. In 2004, the richest man in China was Huang Guangtou of Gome, with a net worth of 105 billion yuan.

The unit is RMB; that's how much wealth there is in the country these days.

Zhang Qingliang looked at his nephew with some surprise: "6?"

60,000 yuan is not a lot, but it is not a small amount either. When the couple is lucky, they can indeed earn more than 60,000 yuan a year. However, if they have few jobs or the employer defaults on payment, their income will be reduced by at least 30%. In addition, there are the costs of travel expenses.

"Well, 60,000. If your uncle agrees, I can pay you half now, which is 30,000 yuan. The other 30,000 yuan will be given to you after the house in Yicheng is renovated."

"Also, I'll help you with your housing when you go to work in Beicang; of course, this only applies while you're helping me renovate the house. If your uncle thinks Beicang is a good place and plans to stay and develop his career there, then you'll have to rent a place yourself." Talking to immediate family members doesn't require any special skills. All you can do is state your conditions and requirements, and then see if they can accept them.

Tan Jincheng paid wages at market rates while also providing some assistance. This ensured his uncle's income without making him feel that his nephew was deliberately taking care of him, making it easier for him to accept the situation psychologically.

The fourth uncle has a meticulous personality and is more sensitive than the other uncles. If Tan Jincheng directly offered 10 yuan a year for the couple, Zhang Qingliang would refuse without hesitation.

Zhang Qingliang remained silent for a while. The price his nephew offered was indeed tempting. Even if he didn't take any other jobs this year, he could still guarantee a year's income and take care of his son at home nearby.

Based on the construction site in Yicheng, I can handle it all by myself. My wife can stay home to plant a season of rice and take care of the children. When she gets too busy, she can go to the city to help.

However, the price my nephew offered, along with the offer to rent a house for me in Beicang, was clearly a gesture of goodwill, and I felt a little embarrassed to agree directly.

Tan Jincheng could clearly see Zhang Qingliang's concerns, so he offered him a cigarette and said with a smile, "Uncle, don't feel embarrassed. If I hire someone else to do the renovation, it will cost about the same. My mom has to take care of Xiao Jinyue, and my dad has to go to work. It's perfect that you're in charge of the construction site."

"Besides, you're my uncle, so I feel more at ease having you help me with the work. This is a house I'll live in for the rest of my life, and there are many tricks to decorating it. I don't want to get ripped off."

"You know a lot about the ins and outs of home renovation?" Zhang Qingliang said with a smile, taking the cigarette.

“I’m in business too, and I come into contact with all sorts of people. I know that you wall paint companies take kickbacks from the shops.”

Zhang Qingliang said with a wry smile, "You little rascal, it seems you really know a thing or two; alright, I have no objection to the principle, but I need to discuss it with your aunt."

My sister had already told me beforehand that the price my nephew offered was very reasonable, so it would be a bit unreasonable to disagree, but it would also be a bit embarrassing to just agree.

"Of course, it definitely needs my aunt's consent; if there are no problems, Uncle, you can contact my mother. I'm leaving on the eighth day of the first lunar month. As for when you start work, it's up to you."

"Don't you care about the decorating style?"

"I'll do what my parents want for Yicheng, and I'll tell you about Beicang later."

"Alright, I'll talk to your aunt about it once she's finished cleaning up the kitchen."

Zhang Qingliang actually wanted to agree right now, and Tan Jincheng could see that too, but he didn't say anything more.

After a moment of silence, Tan Jincheng looked at his fourth uncle's thin face and said earnestly, "Uncle, I have no other requests, but there is one thing: your job is quite dangerous, so I hope you will be careful."

I remember that after my fourth uncle had his accident in my previous life, my mother and grandmother would often stare at me blankly for a long time. My fourth aunt was also unusually kind to me after that, because I looked the most like my fourth uncle.

Looking at it now, they do indeed resemble each other somewhat, except that the fourth uncle looks a bit thinner.

After persuading his fourth uncle, Tan Jincheng breathed a sigh of relief.

I've done all I can. My uncle is a living, breathing person; I can't possibly keep him locked up at home. The only way is to use family ties and money to keep him in a closer place in the future.

I also hope that, for the sake of family ties, he will pay more attention to safety, so as to prevent a good thing from turning into a bad thing.

As for the outcome, whether it will remain unchanged like in the previous life, or whether it will avoid an unexpected turn of events, can only be decided by fate.

In the second round of recommendations, following up on the data is crucial as it affects subsequent recommendation positions. Please follow up!


(End of this chapter)