Chapter 61: Immortal treatment

That afternoon.

Li Jiaci had Hong Bo witness just how great the power of money is.

It was a little past one in the afternoon.

Manager Chang of the Machinery Factory led several vehicles to the Timber Factory.

Seeing the scene, Manager Chang was also quite startled, and he said straight out: 'No wonder Boss Li is so flush with cash—your business is really booming!'

"What do you mean 'booming'?"

Li Jiaci affected a modest tone: 'This is all because the machines aren't enough; we can't produce enough, so everyone can only queue outside.'

"But now that you've brought the machines, our production capacity is back up."

"Just wait until you come back next time—outside will surely be deserted."

"Hehe!"

Manager Chang shook his head, laughing: 'You already have two sets of machines inside, and I'm bringing you four more; each day you can produce at least 4560 cubic meters of timber. If you still make those dealers queue, your business will surely blaze to the heavens!'

"Don't even mention it."

Li Jiaci said: 'I've been preparing for this.'

"Awesome, Boss Li is awesome!"

Manager Chang glanced back and said: 'I'll go install the machines for you now—you keep busy!'

"All set!"

Li Jiaci waved at Manager Chang, then had Zhao Chen lead him to install the machines.

At that moment.

Zhang Chuqiang also came up to Li Jiaci's side.

"Brother!"

"Now I understand why you rented this factory."

"Why?"

"Big!"

Zhang Chuqiang said: 'Expanding this factory is really convenient.'

Their factory is really quite large.

Inside, not to mention fitting four sets of wood‑processing machines—even adding another four would be more than enough.

Li Jiaci curled the corner of his mouth, patted Zhang Chuqiang on the shoulder, and said: 'The advantages of this factory go far beyond that—you'll find out gradually.'

At that moment.

Hong Bo came up to Li Jiaci again and said: 'Boss Li, even bringing in new machines won't solve the problem—you're not enough; the workers will still slack off if they feel like it.'

"Don't rush, Hong Bo."

Li Jiaci gave a faint smile and said: 'Let the bullets fly a bit longer!'

That was just a little over an hour later.

At 2:30 p. m., the second shift of workers arrived and replaced the first shift.

Besides the twenty regular workers who came to the machines, Li Jiaci also temporarily had Liu Jiang go out and fetch twenty day‑laborers.

This.

The whole place bustled with activity.

Busy workers could be seen everywhere.

And by 5:00 p. m., the two newly arrived machines also started up.

Li Jiaci immediately assigned experienced workers to operate the machines, so all four wood‑processing sets ran simultaneously.

This.

Production speed visibly picked up, and the timber dealers outside were thrilled.

Trucks streamed in one after another, and left loaded with timber one after another.

Hong Bo, who had come back with a delivery, saw the scene, gave Li Jiaci a thumbs‑up, and said: 'The power of money is truly great.'

"Hehe."

Li Jiaci chuckled lightly and then said: 'Hong Bo, have you told your wife? When are you coming over to work here?'

"Eh!"

"No rush on this."

Hong Bo came up to Li Jiaci and handed him a cigarette.

"Hey, Boss Li!"

"May I dare ask why you always want me to come here?"

Hong Bo had also been thinking about this lately, but he just hadn't felt comfortable asking Li Jiaci directly.

"Why on earth would he give me such high treatment and try to poach me?"

Li Jiaci certainly had his own calculations: in the current market, a piece of wooden furniture has to go through many steps before reaching the consumer.

First, the timber processing plant distributes the processed timber to timber factories everywhere.

Then, the timber factories distribute the transferred timber to local secondary dealers.

After that, the secondary dealers, upon receiving the timber, send it to various furniture factories according to their demand.

Then the furniture factories send the timber to be processed into various furniture, and then distribute it again to secondary dealers in the furniture industry.

Finally, the furniture industry's secondary dealers deliver the goods to malls, where they are sold to consumers.

This process is extremely complex and also extremely tedious.

Too many interests are divided up, making both consumers and low‑level sellers bitterly complain.

And as a person from later generations.

Li Jiaci clearly understood that if he wanted to maximize profits, he necessarily had to simplify these cumbersome procedures and engage in end-user sales.

If he could process the raw timber he collected into finished furniture and sell it directly to consumers, his profit would be far more than simply quadrupling.

And Li Jiaci was also very frank, directly telling Hong Bo: "I want to do end-user sales."

"End-user sales?"

"That's right."

"That is, turning timber directly into goods to sell to ordinary people."

Li Jiaci said: "This way, my profit will be greater, and I will earn more."

"My goodness..."

"Boss Li, you really dare to think that."

Hong Bo exclaimed in astonishment: "This isn't something an ordinary person can do."

"I know."

That's why I want to network with someone like Brother Hong.

Doing end-user sales is not just talk.

This requires a huge amount of capital, as well as a correspondingly vast network of connections as support.

And with Li Jiaci's current strength, he is far from being able to achieve it.

"If we can eliminate unnecessary cumbersome steps."

"For example, directly selling timber to the furniture factory, eliminating the procedures of the timber mill and the middlemen."

Li Jiaci looked at Hong Bo and said: "And if I want to achieve this goal, I need an old hand who is well-versed in this industry to show the way; Brother Hong has connections, has wisdom, and is obviously my best choice."

After hearing Li Jiaci's words.

Hong Bo stared for a while, then suddenly laughed: "Boss Li, you're not hiding anything from me? You've basically laid all your cards bare for me."

"There's no need for that with Brother Hong."

Li Jiaci said: "As long as Brother Hong is willing to come, the previously agreed-upon treatment remains unchanged, and your furniture factory contract can be easily handled; you can directly transfer to me, and for however much timber they need there, I'll give you a commission of fifty per cubic meter, and moreover, in the future, as long as it's business you, Brother Hong, bring in, for each cubic meter they want, you get a fifty commission."

"Fifty?"

Hong Bo's eyes widened upon hearing this, and he was clearly somewhat tempted.

He delivers goods to the furniture factory, but his earnings are only the price difference and delivery fees.

If it weren't for the discount Li Jiaci gave him, and if the timber were good, one cubic meter of timber would at most earn him thirty or forty dollars.

After deducting vehicle expenses and driver wages, he could save three or four thousand a month; even in a bumper harvest, when market conditions are poor, he might earn only a few hundred a month, and sometimes he doesn't even make enough to pay the driver's wage.

Li Jiaci not only gives him that much salary, but also gives him a commission; this is practically divine treatment.