Siheyuan: Starting from 1958

Yan Fugui seemed to sense his son and daughter-in-law's suspicion, and immediately continued with a smug expression.

“I know you don’t believe in Xu Damao’s character… to be honest, I don’t believe it either…”

"To prevent the several thousand yuan I invested from going down the drain, I specifically asked my third brother to go with Xu Damao to do foreign trade business, and also to keep an eye on the several thousand yuan I invested."

"After a few months, I found that Xu Damao has really changed. He's making money everywhere like a big boss. In just six months, he's made back 50% of the money I invested."

"They said..."

"Next year, my investment will double in just one year. The more money I invest, the more I will receive at the end of the year."

The third son of the Yan family had unknowingly become Xu Damao's loyal henchman. Coupled with Yan Fugui's prior instructions, he immediately replied, "Big brother... second brother..."

“I was involved in Xu Damao’s foreign trade business from start to finish, and there were no problems at all.”

“We bought imported radios and televisions from Hong Kong Island at low prices from some people and transported them by train to remote counties in the mainland for sale.”

"If you're lucky, you can earn thirty or forty yuan from a radio."

Even if you're unlucky, you can still make twenty yuan from a radio.

"If I can sell a TV, I can earn at least fifty yuan."

"Xu Damao is a very shrewd man. I followed him for half a year but still couldn't get in touch with the suppliers who could buy imported radios and televisions at low prices."

“If we can find out who sold the radios and televisions to Xu Damao, we can completely ditch Xu Damao and go it alone.”

“Although Xu Damao gave his father 1,500 yuan a few days ago, I have calculated that Xu Damao has made at least 2,000 yuan from the 3,000 yuan his father invested in him.”

“Even if I gave my dad 1,500 yuan, he still made several hundred yuan himself.”

“My dad has invested a full five thousand yuan in him, and he can get at least two thousand yuan in profit every year.”

“If we were to work alone, the two thousand yuan profit would be ours.”

"Why don't you invest some money too...?"

"Given my relationship with Xu Damao, my dad and I would definitely agree if he wanted it."

"The more money we invest, the more money we'll receive at the end of the year."

"If you miss this opportunity, it will be hard to find another chance to make so much money."

"I only told you because you are my eldest and second eldest brothers. Otherwise, I would never have introduced such a good business to others."

"Xu Damao said..."

"After the New Year, we will have more and more funds in hand, and we will be able to buy two or three hundred imported radios and televisions at once."

"Then we won't need to use trains anymore. Tickets are expensive, and it's a huge hassle."

"We'll just find a car to help us transport the goods. It will not only save money and time on the road, but we'll also earn more and more money."

The 1,500 yuan bonus that Xu Damao gave to Yan Fugui before the New Year, the introduction and analysis by the third son of the Yan family, and the affirmation of their father Yan Fugui's foreign trade business, made it impossible for the two brothers Yan Jiecheng and Yan Jiefang to find any flaws, and they were immediately tempted.

But they are no longer alone; they have wives and sons. They must discuss everything with their wives before making any decisions. In addition, their wives earn more than them and have complete control over the family finances. If they want to take money from the family, they need their wives' consent even more.

Yan Jiecheng spoke first: "Wife..."

“If you invest 1,000 yuan, it will turn into 2,000 yuan by the end of the year. That’s much more profitable than working to earn money… We shouldn’t miss this opportunity, why don’t we invest some money too?”

"If I remember correctly, our family has saved more than a thousand yuan recently."

"Keep the change at home for future use, and invest the rest of the thousand yuan."

The second son, Yan Jiefang, encouraged his wife, saying that even though the family could only afford five hundred yuan, they didn't want to miss this great opportunity to make big money.

The eldest son's wife, Zhang Juan, did not respond immediately, but instead frowned and fell into deep thought.

Although the foreign trade business that Yan Fugui introduced to Lao San sounded flawless, and Yan Fugui even received a return payment of 1,500 yuan, Zhang Juan still felt that the matter was unreliable and not as simple as she had imagined.

If making money were really that easy, doubling your investment in just one year, why would such a lucrative business fall into Xu Damao's lap?

It should be noted that after Xu Damao was fired from the steel rolling mill, he became unemployed and did not return to the courtyard house for several years.

It's fair to say that he has neither connections nor capital, so how could he possibly stumble upon such a lucrative business opportunity?

If the "foreign trade business" that everyone talks about really has no risk at all, then there are plenty of people in Beijing who have more power, status, and capital than Xu Damao. Why don't they do this business and let Xu Damao get the bargain?

The more Zhang Juan thought about it, the more she felt that there was something wrong with the "foreign trade business" that Xu Damao was doing.

Unlike the cautious yet bold Zhang Juan, Yan Jiefang's wife, though very cautious, didn't think as much as Zhang Juan.

The prospect of doubling her investment in just one year was too tempting, so she herself was also interested. However, since Zhang Juan hadn't agreed yet, and she always put Zhang Juan first, she didn't want to speak up first.

As long as Zhang Juan agrees, Yan Jiefang's wife will definitely take the money immediately, and might even thank her father-in-law, Yan Fugui, for providing her with a great opportunity to make a lot of money.

"Sister-in-law...is there a problem?" Seeing that Zhang Juan remained silent, her brows sometimes furrowed and sometimes relaxed, Yan Jiefang's wife quickly asked.

"I always felt this was unreliable... There's no such thing as a free lunch."

"What's unreliable about it?" The eldest brother, Yan Jiecheng, guessed from his wife's words that Zhang Juan didn't want to invest money, and he immediately became anxious.

“Juanzi…”

"The third brother personally accompanied Xu Damao to do foreign trade business for half a year. If this matter was unreliable, would the third brother not know?"

"Moreover, Xu Damao clearly gave our father 1,500 yuan before the New Year, so this must be true, right?"

"If this whole thing is unreliable, do you think Xu Damao, given his character, would give my dad so much money?"

"You're being too cautious..."

"Your father disregarded past grievances and told us about this great opportunity to make money, and instead of being grateful, you're doubting this and that. That's going too far..."

“I’m the head of our family, and I’ve made up my mind. I’m going to invest this money, a thousand yuan, not a penny less. Tomorrow we’ll bring the money over to Dad and ask him to invest it in Xu Damao.” (End of Chapter)