Chapter Forty-Four: Business Opportunities for Computers

  Chen Lulu was eating when she suddenly curiously asked: "Mengmeng, what does your husband do?"

  Li Mengmeng said: "You ask him yourself, he does everything. Hehe."

  Chen Lulu rolled her eyes: "You're bragging again, you think he's a genius or something, can do everything!"

  Li Mengmeng didn't say anything. Huang Xiangyun replied: "Mengmeng is right, I really do everything."

  "So tell me, what are you doing now?"

  "I'm mainly doing repairs on heavy machinery like excavators these days. I used to sell clothes for a while before, and I still have some stock left. In the next two days, I'll set up a storefront and plan to open a clothing store... Hmm, I also want to open a computer repair and sales store... And I'm thinking of setting up a mechanical repair shop, doing things like argon arc welding and electric welding... My family has many hands, so we might even open a small eatery or something! We'll see about that later."

  Chen Lulu said disbelievingly: "Really? You're not bragging, are you? What can't you lift?"

  Li Mengmeng proudly said: "What's that! My husband is a writer, and many of his articles have been published in print! Now they're going to be published domestically and in Taiwan, isn't that impressive?! Hmph, haha..."

  Huang Xiangyun couldn't help but have a bad habit of showing off like Li Mengmeng, this little girl. Everyone has vanity, he does too, and it's something to be proud of when his wife advertises for him. He had no objection to this.

  Chen Lulu was even more disbelieving: "Cut it out, you two are no wonder able to become a couple so quickly, really birds of a feather flock together. One is more boastful than the other!"

  Huang Xiangyun did not express her distrust of Chen Lulu. Li Mengmeng, on the other hand, proudly raised her little head and looked at Chen Lulu with disdain: "Hmph, I think someone is just jealous! Jealous that I have a multi-talented and versatile good husband. Husband, let's not get angry, ignore him... Come, husband, eat some chicken!"

  Chen Lulu couldn't stand Li Mengmeng's coquettish and flirtatious behavior, she shook her head in distress, lowered her head to eat, and refused to look at her intentionally disgusting display.

  Li Mengmeng took a bite of garlic shoots stir-fried meat, suddenly thought of something, and asked Chen Lulu: "Hey, Lulu, isn't there some houses under the name of schools opposite your uncle's school? I remember when I passed by last time, one of them seemed to be closed, and it didn't seem to be rented out. Can you ask your uncle for me? If we open a clothing store or a snack bar there, it seems not bad!"

  Chen Lulu heard her say that, and suddenly remembered something: "Okay, no problem. By the way, Little Huang, aren't you going to start a computer sales and repair business? Do you have any connections to get cheap computers, as long as they're of good quality, new or used is fine!"

  Huang Xiangyun asked: "What configuration is needed?" Chen Lulu said: "I don't quite understand this either, it's my uncle and their school wanting to set up a computer room. But the funds are a bit tight, he's scratching his head over this... Hmm, as long as it's similar to Mengmeng's one, that'll do!"

  Huang Xiangyun hesitated for a moment, then suddenly remembered when he called his middle school teacher Li during the New Year's holiday. He mentioned that he wanted to open a computer sales and repair store, so Huang suggested selling the school's computer lab computers to buy new ones. Those computers had been used for just over a year and were all good machines with decent brands and configurations. Although they couldn't compare to the price of Li Mengmeng's computer, in terms of usage, there was absolutely no difference.

  Huang Xiangyun said: "I really have such a route. Lu Lu, you say it, how many units does your uncle need in total, and what's the highest price that can be offered?"

  Chen Lulu thought for a moment before saying: "I heard my uncle say that he plans to get around 100 units. As for the price, of course, it's better if it's cheaper as long as the quality is guaranteed... I heard him say that the price can't exceed 4,000 yuan per unit. Because we also need to buy computer desks and set up a local area network, all of which cost money!"

  Huang Xiangyun's heart was filled with joy: "If this can really be done, it will be a big business. I heard Teacher Li say that the school's machines were all taken down, and each one cost only 700 or 800 yuan. Even if we don't sell them for 4,000, but for 2,000 or 1,500, the profit from these 100 machines will not be a small amount! This is an opportunity, absolutely a good opportunity!"

  "Alright," said Huang Xiangyun, "Lu Lu, let me call and ask. If we can get this batch of second-hand equipment, will your uncle's place definitely want it?"

  Li Mengmeng said: "Lulu's uncle is the principal, what he says is absolutely authoritative. As long as her uncle says a word, everything will be fine!"

  Chen Lulu nodded: "Mengmeng is right, my uncle has the final say in this matter. However, Xiao Huang, we must make it clear that you have to guarantee the quality of this computer. If there are problems with it all the time, you will be held accountable."

  Huang Xiangyun said without hesitation: "I'm responsible for the maintenance! And, I can also do the local area network, and I'll definitely be cheaper than finding someone else! Of course, if your uncle's school has an expert in this field, then I won't show off!"

  Chen Lulu shook her head: "There's no expert, only a newly graduated college student who will teach computers in the future. I heard that he got into school through connections and his level is very poor! When there's a minor problem with the computer in the office, he can't even fix it, all he knows how to do is type and play games! And he acts like a big shot too! If it weren't for his background, my uncle would have fired him long ago, what a joke!"

  Huang Xiangyun ignored Chen Lulu's complaints and got up to call Teacher Li after eating his fill, asking about the computer.

  Stepping into the balcony, the phone rang several times before finally getting through.

  "Hey, Huang Xiangyun!"

  "Teacher, it's me. I won't be polite with you either. Didn't you say during the New Year that the computers in the school computer room were going to be sold? Have they been sold yet?"

  Mr. Li said: "Ah, you're talking about this thing? No! How could you think of buying it? That's 120 machines, not a single one is for sale!"

  Huang Xiangyun heard that the computer hadn't been sold and let out a sigh of relief. "Teacher, I know. Do you think this computer can be even cheaper?"

  Mr. Li was silent for a moment before saying: "It should be okay, but you might need to butter up Principal Wang who's in charge of this matter! No money means no deal!"

  "Teacher, you're familiar with Principal Wang, how much money do you think is needed?"

  Mr. Li fell silent for a moment, then said: "I heard Principal Wang mention that the lowest price for this batch of machines should be 500 yuan per unit. The current asking price is 800 yuan per unit, with a difference of 300 yuan per unit. One hundred and twenty units would be... hmm, if you give me 6,000 yuan, I estimate the price can drop to 500 yuan!