Chapter 392

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Protagonist:

Chai Mi

Old Zhou's smile was starting to falter: "Aiyo, girl, your mouth... fine, fine, fine, let's negotiate again. So... what price do you have in mind?"

Chai Mi held up two fingers: "Two thousand. Males and females, all sizes included, you sort them out yourself. Take them away today, cash settled on the spot."

"Two thousand?! My Chai Mi niece! Your price is too harsh! Impossible! I'd lose money hauling them back!"

"If not, I'll ask someone else?"

Seeing Old Zhou hesitate, Chai Youqing didn't know where he got the courage—maybe he thought his daughter's price was too high and feared the deal would fall through, maybe he truly wanted to help—he suddenly interjected: "Zhou... Old Zhou, you see... my daughter is young and hot-headed, her price is a bit high... how about... how about this, we both make a concession? One thousand... one thousand five?" After speaking, he looked at Old Zhou with some anxiety and expectation.

Chai Mi almost laughed in anger at Chai Youqing.

She had finally backed Old Zhou into a corner, and he, instead, directly slashed his own price!

Old Zhou's eyes lit up instantly!

He had been worrying about how to back down!

He immediately seized on Chai Youqing's words: "Aiyo! Old Chai is a reasonable man! Understanding! One thousand five... hmm... one thousand five is still a bit high, but out of respect for you, Brother, and because your family indeed has difficulties needing to clear space... fine! Old Zhou is going all out today, treating it as making a friend! One thousand five it is!"

Chai Youqing's face instantly showed an expression of relief mixed with a little smugness, as if he had achieved a great feat.

Chai Mi took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to push Chai Youqing into a pile of sheep dung.

She coldly glanced at Chai Youqing: "No, the price your father said won't do. Old Zhou, I'll lower it by one hundred, one thousand nine, you pick the sheep. Otherwise we can weigh them, you pay whatever the market price is, okay? Or we can just estimate the pile? Up to you..."

"Estimating the pile is fine! I trust your family's sheep, and it's less trouble! One thousand nine it is, I'm the kind of person who just wants it quick, not to make money..." Old Zhou, afraid Chai Mi would regret it, hurriedly said, "I've got the money! Just got it from the Credit Union, brand new bills!"

"Fine, you count it, then take them away."

The sheep were tied up in strings, and Old Zhou took out a wad of money from his waist pouch and handed it to Chai Mi: "Girl, count it, one thousand nine, exact."

Chai Mi took the money, didn't count it, and directly stuffed it into her pocket, moving efficiently: "I trust Old Zhou. You get the sheep ready."

"Got it! Don't worry!" Old Zhou happily led the sheep rope, driving the flock out of the courtyard.

Chai Youqing looked at the empty sheep pen, then at Chai Mi: "Chai... Chai Mi, you see... one thousand five... isn't that a lot? Old Zhou is a shrewd person, getting him to agree wasn't easy..."

Chai Mi didn't look at him, coldly saying: "Dad, next time I'm negotiating a price, if you feel your mouth is idle and uncomfortable, go fill the water jars. Or go hide in some corner."

Afterwards Chai Mi rolled up her sleeves, picked up the large iron shovel leaning against the wall, and began cleaning the sheep pen.

Afterwards Chai Youqing was sent off to haul sand.

Chai Youqing and Liu Zhijing hauled sand together, busy until evening, hauling a total of four carts.

"Da Zhi said the foundation is basically enough," Chai Youqing said.

Chai Mi nodded, looking at Liu Zhijing who got off the stopped tractor and walked over: "Da Zhi, thanks for your hard work. This sand came just in time, how much? I'll pay you."

Liu Zhijing waved his hand, wiping his sweat: "Chai Mi, why mention money? It's a small favor. The sand from the riverbank is free, just costs some diesel. My father said, you building a house is a serious matter, and it's a quiet place for Xiu'er to study, so if I can help, I'll help." He paused, looking at Chai Mi, "I see your father said you need more sand? Foundation, ground beams, building walls and plastering, the usage is not small. Go haul two more carts tomorrow afternoon? Anyway, I don't have any big work these days."

Chai Mi felt grateful in her heart, and didn't stand on ceremony: "Fine, then haul two more carts, thanks for your hard work, Da Zhi. The diesel money and labor fee..."

"Aiyo! Don't!" Liu Zhijing hurriedly interrupted, "Chai Mi, if you mention money again I'll really get angry! No labor fee or anything, just treat me to a noon meal!"

Chai Mi smiled: "Treating you to a meal is a must. Fine, then as you say. But today I still need to trouble you to make a trip."

"Where? You say!" Liu Zhijing readily agreed.

"Go to Dongwa Brick Factory," Chai Mi said, "Your father mentioned it yesterday, saying the kiln owner Liu Guangcai is a distant relative of his. I was thinking of going to negotiate the brick price. Building three side rooms, all bricks to the top, the usage is not small."

Chai Youqing, hearing that money would be spent again, wanted to say something, but was glanced at by Chai Mi and swallowed it back.

Liu Zhijing's eyes lit up: "Liu Guangcai? He's my distant maternal uncle! My father knows him well! I'll go with you! With my father's face, he'll have to give a fair price!"

"That's great!" Chai Mi was delighted, having Liu Zhijing this "connection" along would save a lot of talk. "Dad, you follow Da Zhi to the riverbank tomorrow to haul more sand, having extra sand is not a bad thing. I'll go to the brick factory with Da Zhi in a bit."

Chai Youqing was only too happy to stay away from spending money, and quickly nodded: "Aiyo, fine! Hauling sand I can do!"

Liu Zhijing, however, waved his hand: "Chai Mi, no need to rush this bit. Hauling sand can wait until tomorrow afternoon. Now go to the brick factory first, settle the bricks, and when I haul sand tomorrow afternoon I'll make an extra trip to bring the bricks back! Saves another trip."

Chai Mi thought this was a good idea: "Fine! Let's do that! Dad, you stay home and help Mom clear the crushed stones at the foundation site again, clear the space completely, waiting for Zhu Shukun and them to come set the lines tomorrow."

After making the arrangements, Chai Mi went back to the house to get money, and together with Liu Zhijing jumped onto the tractor.

Dongwa Brick Factory wasn't too far from the village, the tractor arrived in less than twenty minutes.

The factory was of a considerable size, a tall round kiln emitting faint black smoke, but the area near the kiln mouth was piled full of red bricks, obviously sales were not brisk.

The air was filled with the mixed smell of earth and coal.

Chai Mi knew the bricks from Dongwa Brick Factory were of better quality, but the price was high, and in this era, when the price was high, sales were generally average.

Liu Zhijing drove the tractor directly to the entrance of the factory office's small courtyard, jumped down, and, familiar with the place, shouted: "Uncle Guangcai! Is Uncle Guangcai here?"

A middle-aged man wearing a gray suit, of sturdy build, with a dark red face, came out of the house upon hearing the voice, exactly Factory Director Liu Guangcai.

He frowned slightly, obviously the situation in the factory was giving him a headache.

"Eh? Da Zhi? How did you kid come to my place?" Liu Guangcai saw Liu Zhijing and squeezed out a smile, but couldn't hide his worry.

"Uncle, I'm here to discuss a deal with you!" Liu Zhijing smiled and went up to him, pointing at Chai Mi behind him, "This is Chai Mi from our village, she wants to build three side rooms and needs bricks! All bricks to the top! Well, the Village Chief is my father, Chai Mi is a straightforward person, so I brought her here. You have to give a fair price!"

Liu Guangcai sized up Chai Mi, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

Chai Mi's reputation in Sanjiacun was not small, he had naturally heard of this capable girl.

He nodded, his tone carrying a businessman's politeness, but also a hint of helplessness: "Chai Mi, I've heard of you, capable! Building a house is a good thing. However... sigh, bricks aren't easy to sell now, the kiln fires have been stopped for two." He pointed to several extinguished kilns in the distance.

Chai Mi smiled slightly and went straight to the point: "Factory Director Liu, precisely because they aren't easy to sell, I thought of coming to talk to you. I need a large quantity, three side rooms, all bricks to the top, three-seven walls, calculating it comes to nearly twenty thousand bricks? What price can you give?"

Liu Zhijing calculated in his heart. The market was poor now, the retail price was just over one jiao, and wholesale in large quantities could be pressed to around one jiao one fen. But looking at the mountains of bricks, he was indeed eager to recover funds.

"Niece," Liu Guangcai sighed, "By rights, out of respect for the Village Chief and Da Zhi, I should give full face. But now this situation... you know the cost of bricks, coal is expensive, labor is also expensive. Like this, I'll give you a fair price, one jiao one fen per piece! This is absolutely the bottom price, if anyone else came, I wouldn't give this number!"

Chai Mi didn't respond, her gaze sweeping over the mountain-like pile of red bricks, then looking at Liu Guangcai's worried face.

"Director Liu, one jiao one fen... to be honest, compared to the market price I asked around, it's not low. Look at all these bricks in your factory, exposed to wind, sun, and rain, the loss isn't small either. I want twenty thousand yuan at once, which clears less than half a stack, right? Besides, I'm paying in cash, settle today, and Da Zhi can come haul some away this afternoon."

Liu Guangcai was struck right at his heart, his face a bit embarrassed, but every word Chai Mi said made sense.

He was just driven to distraction by credit debt.

In this era, many people bought bricks and didn't pay.

IOUs were flying everywhere; you can't just not pay when the time comes and then haul the bricks back.

Besides, many large construction sites just press on funds; if you don't do it, others will, and the capital pressure is especially great.

Competition is fierce.

He struggled a bit: "Then... then what price do you think is suitable?"

Chai Mi extended her right hand, thumb and index finger making a "nine": "Nine fen. Director Liu, that's the price I want. Twenty thousand yuan, cash. If you think it works, I'll pay the deposit today, and come tomorrow afternoon or the day after tomorrow morning; it'll take seven or eight carts to finish hauling, and after hauling, I'll pay you for the rest together."

"Nine fen?! No, no! At this price I can't even preserve my capital! Not even enough for coal money! Niece, coal is too expensive now; it would have been fine in summer, but now winter is approaching, coal prices change every day, rising sharply; you really can't come down on this... nine fen really doesn't make money... this thing has low profit, you're cutting too hard!"

Liu Zhijing interjected at the right time: "Table Uncle, Chai Mi isn't someone who cuts prices blindly. Look, these bricks stacked there are just stacked; after a long time they weather and crumble and become even less valuable. Nine fen is a bit low, but clearing so many at once saves you a lot of trouble? Besides, Chai Mi said cash, how hard is that! You think it over again?"

Chai Mi wasn't in a hurry, adding: "Director Liu, if you really find it difficult, then forget it. I'll go check other kilns, or... wait until you can lower to this price, then you call me?"

She made a move to turn around.

"Hey! Wait!" Liu Guangcai was anxious.

Now in this situation, cash is king; anyway there are plenty of bricks, the difference between giving cash now and owing credit to pay later is too great.

Chai Mi's order, large quantity, cash, can solve the urgent need.

He hardened his heart, gritted his teeth: "Fine! Nine fen it is! Just treat it as making a friend; in the future if you, Chai Mi, have any projects, remember to look after Old Liu! But it's settled, pay the deposit today, haul bricks this afternoon!"

Chai Mi smiled on her face: "Director Liu is straightforward! A deal is a deal! I'll pay the deposit now, and Da Zhi will come haul bricks tomorrow afternoon."

She immediately took out a stack of prepared money from her bosom, counted out five hundred yuan: "This is the deposit, you keep it."

Liu Guangcai took the money, sighed, and seemed to put down a burden: "Sigh, you girl... fine! I'll arrange people to prepare bricks for you!" He turned and shouted to the kiln workers: "Old Zhao! Prepare twenty thousand good bricks! Stack them neatly! Someone will come haul them the day after tomorrow!"

After leaving the brick factory, Chai Mi and Liu Zhijing were both in good moods. On the tractor ride back, Liu Zhijing said admiringly: "Chai Mi, you're really something! Nine fen! My table uncle's face looked like he'd eaten bitter melon, but he had no way out! If my dad went to negotiate, he'd probably only cut it to one jiao."

Chai Mi smiled: "He's also really pressed for goods. We each take what we need." She looked at the sky: "Da Zhi, you'll still have to work hard. Come eat at my house tonight."

"Small matter, small matter!" Liu Zhijing patted his chest, "But Chai Mi, just having sand and bricks, the foundation stones haven't been settled yet. Ramming the ground beam and building the wall base all need stones."

Chai Mi was also thinking about this: "Yes, just wondering where to get them? Buying would be another expense."

Liu Zhijing's eyes lit up: "Why buy! That abandoned quarry on the mountain top, opened by the commune before, later failed. That place is near our village, tractors can go in. The ground is full of large and small broken stones, and many usable dressed stones and block stones, leftovers from when they opened the mountain, weathered by wind and rain for many years, very sturdy! Just need to pick and load them yourself, costs some effort. But it's free!"

Chai Mi also knew this, but mainly going to get stones herself would take too much time.

Can't have Da Zhi go haul stones too, right?!

"Too much trouble for you..."

"What trouble..." Liu Zhijing said: "My dad says those stones are all green stone material, much harder than river pebbles, best for building foundations! Just need to pick them out, carrying them is tiring. Anyway, after hauling sand tomorrow afternoon, I'll swing by the day after tomorrow, haul a few carts back first, and go again if not enough! You just have your dad come with me to load the carts."

"Fine! Good idea! But tomorrow still need to haul bricks, the day after... how about this, you really work hard, you need to go early tomorrow morning. Get five or six carts of stones... I'll find two more people for you tomorrow morning, otherwise can't finish in one morning."

Afterwards Chai Mi went home.

Back home, Chai Mi told Su Wan about buying the bricks; Su Wan heard it was nine fen per brick and also said it was a good deal.

Chai Mi said to Chai Youqing: "Tomorrow morning... morning, get up early in the morning, then Dad you greet our neighbors Second Brother and Eldest Brother, ask them to help, anyway I see they've been idle lately. Then go up the mountain to get some stones, haul six or seven carts, seven or eight carts, for the foundation."

Chai Youqing had to agree: "I know."