Chapter 1375: Chapter 184: Earnest Hopes
On March 1st, the twenty-sixth day of the first lunar month, suitable for opening businesses, travel, moving, marriage and engagement, and trading, the Linghai Binke Mobile Phone Supermarket officially opened.
The so-called "supermarket" is a mall specializing in electronic products, with a lot of effort put into the decoration. The floor is all white tiles, and the rows of counters are modern, with lights inside. There are even advertising light boxes on the shelves behind the counters, and white ceilings hang overhead.
The mall is divided into six areas.
Right at the entrance are counters for famous brand mobile phones like Motorola, Nokia, Ericsson, and Samsung. The salespeople are young, beautiful, and tall women. Since the hall is air-conditioned, the saleswomen are dressed in thin yet fitted business attire, with scarves around their necks, looking a bit like flight attendants at first glance.
The second area sells domestic phones, and the counters look equally stylish and high-end.
The third area sells various pagers and stock machines.
The fourth area specializes in selling computers, printers, and various computer and printer accessories, with two open booths set up, showcasing two desktop multimedia computers and two high-priced laptops.
A salesperson stands beside the booth, explaining and demonstrating the various functions of the multimedia computers to the leaders from different units and customers selecting phones and computers who have come to celebrate the opening.
The fifth area specializes in selling second-hand mobile phones and computers. The counters in front mainly display models of various mobile phone types; this is the place where you can see so many real phones.
Compared to new mobile phones, second-hand phones are much cheaper.
Five second-hand phone counters are surrounded by people. Compared to the new phones that cost six to seven thousand regularly, people are more interested in these phones that only cost two to three thousand.
Further inside is the repair area for mobile phones and pagers.
If the owner selling second-hand phones promises a three-year warranty, any problems with the second-hand phones can be sent here for free repairs.
There are a total of four engineers who fix phones, looking very young, and judging by their accents, they are from East Guang. The equipment for repairing phones and pagers is complete, suggesting that the repair tools might not come cheap.
The sixth area is specifically for buying phone cards and selecting numbers, featuring both China Mobile and China Unicom. The decoration is equally high-end, appearing more formal than the service halls of mobile and Unicom.
For today’s opening ceremony, Niu Bin made careful preparations.
Starting from the sixth day of the New Year, ads were run on Linghai TV Station and Linghai Radio Station.
Three days ago, six mobile advertising cars were hired for promotion within the city and towns. Meanwhile, the small business owners in the supermarket organized their salespeople to distribute flyers in the streets.
To make a big opening splash, his Samsung counter launched six special discount phones.
The small business owners in the supermarket also introduced discount phones; the number of phones offered in the promotion was allocated according to the number of counters, with each counter required to offer at least one phone at a discounted price during the opening period.
Additionally, he personally funded over fifty thousand yuan in gifts for a raffle.
Not only was a helium balloon arch installed by the advertising company at the entrance, but a small stage was also set up, inviting performers to sing and dance. In the intervals, hosts went on stage to introduce the various activities the supermarket was hosting, showcasing a variety of phones and interacting with the crowds watching the event, which was more entertaining than having a drum and gong team.
On both sides of the main entrance, banners congratulating the Linghai Binke Mobile Phone Supermarket on its grand opening were hung, with at least a hundred banners by sight!
Various bureaus and offices in Linghai City, along with many enterprises from Linghai, sent them, giving passersby the impression that the mall owner had connections.
Considering the sidewalk at the entrance was occupied and the cycling lane was crowded with citizens watching the excitement, the Urban Management Team and Traffic Police Team specifically organized four urban management officers, two traffic police, and two auxiliary police to maintain traffic order.
The Northern City Police Station also arranged for two police officers and five auxiliary police to be responsible for security.
This isn’t because Niu Bin used to work at the Police Bureau and arranged police presence to "guard the scene," but because whenever a large mall opens, especially those hosting discount events, it’s necessary to arrange police force to maintain order; otherwise, incidents can easily occur.
Wu Ren Guang received an invitation back in December and got another invitation personally delivered by old subordinates a week ago, so he arrived very early today. Accompanied by Niu Bin and his wife, he toured around and was invited to the general manager’s office on the second floor.
Unexpectedly, Shi Shengyong arrived earlier and was already sitting in the spacious and impressive office, sipping tea.
"Director Shi, how come you arrived earlier than me!"
"My house is just at the back, so arriving earlier than you is quite normal, isn’t it?"
Shi Shengyong chuckled, stood up, and teased Niu Bin and his wife, "Inspector Wu, don’t they look like they’re getting married today? One in a suit, the other in a bright red qipao, both wearing corsages, anyone would think they are the groom and bride."
"Director Shi, our kids are almost going to kindergarten, you really know how to joke." Chen Fang smiled charmingly, then turned to ask the elegant female manager to bring another plate of fruit.
The female manager’s surname is Jiang, and her name is Xiao Mei.
Wu Ren Guang and Shi Shengyong have known each other early on because Xiao Mei is the daughter-in-law of the former director of the Linghai Tax Bureau, who used to work as a sales clerk in a department store, specializing in selling cosmetics.
Later, the Tax Bureau was split into the National Tax Bureau and the Local Tax Bureau, the old director retired, and the department store closed down. Xiao Mei, with a bit of influence, was arranged by the police to work for several years as a lobby manager at the Linghai Government Guest House.
Every government department has reception tasks, and the police bureau is no exception, so Wu Ren Guang and Shi Shengyong are not unfamiliar with Xiao Mei.
Unfortunately, due to the outdated facilities, the Government Guest House could not compete with newly opened hotels like the Linghai Hotel, and soon became deserted, to the extent that even the City Committee and Municipal Government no longer arrange their meetings there. Now it is contracted to individuals, and thus Xiao Mei was laid off once again.
It wasn’t until the end of the year when Niu Bin invited them for dinner, during which they saw Xiao Mei at the table, that Wu Ren Guang and Shi Shengyong realized Niu Bin only acts as the boss without managing personally. Somehow, he hired Xiao Mei as the manager of the mobile phone market.
The banners outside were Xiao Mei’s handiwork.
She knows more people than Niu Bin does, and she made calls with leaders of various units in advance. The banners were arranged by her, requiring neither their creation nor sending, only their names...
Overall, all this made Wu Ren Guang think that although he hadn’t seen Niu Bin in ten years, this old subordinate had grown skilled, more so in ’playing’ than he imagined.
Seeing an antique brush stand next to the large desk with a few brushes hanging, Wu Ren Guang walked over, took one down, touched the tip, and turned back with a smile: "Niu Bin, Director Shi writes well, you might not know, but he is not only our Executive Deputy Director of Linghai Police Bureau but also the Vice Chairman of Linghai Calligraphers Association."
"Is that so, I really didn’t know."
"I write for fun, and as for the Vice Chairman of the Calligraphers Association, that’s just for fun."
"Director Shi, don’t be modest." Wu Ren Guang wouldn’t miss this chance, pointing at the large desk, he laughed: "Niu Bin, missed opportunities won’t come again. Today is your phone market’s grand opening, won’t you ask Director Shi for a piece of calligraphy?"
"That’s right!" Niu Bin chuckled: "Director Shi, help us out, write something for us."
"Director Shi, I have rice paper here."
Xiao Mei, having worked at the Government Guest House for years, knows that some leaders like to dabble in the literary arts, understanding how to cater to their tastes, she quickly opened the cabinet below and took out a piece of rice paper and ink, arranging them together with Boss Lady Chen Fang.
With no choice, Shi Shengyong extinguished his cigarette, walked to the large desk, lifted the brush, dipped it in ink, and pondered aloud: "With no preparation at all, what should I write? I can’t just write ’grand opening’ or ’hard work pays off,’ can I?"
Wu Ren Guang thought for a while, then smiled: "Director Shi, we are different from those who send banners or flower arrangements, not only are we old leaders of Niu Bin, we can barely count as his elders, and can’t just say good luck."
"Makes sense, what should we write then?"
"How about a couplet?" Wu Ren Guang was prepared, turning to Niu Bin with a deep meaning: "Niu Bin, Chen Fang, ’Abiding by laws, integrity ensures broad wealth’; ’Following rules, sincerity brings fortune’, how about that?"
Abiding by laws, following rules!
What does the old leader mean by this?
Niu Bin was stunned and didn’t know how to reply for a moment.
Chen Fang, oblivious, enthusiastically said: "Great! Thank you, Inspector Wu, I’ll leave it to Director Shi."
Shi Shengyong, being the person he is, could not miss the hidden meaning in his colleague’s words; he paused slightly, smiled, and said while wielding the brush: "Niu Bin, Chen Fang, Manager Jiang, Inspector Wu has gifted you a very good couplet, with neat structure, filled with profound hopes for you."
"Thank you, Inspector Wu, thank you, Director Shi." Niu Bin forced a smile.
Wu Ren Guang patted his shoulder, sighing: "Maybe it’s because we’re older, unlike when we were young wishing for our children to succeed or hoping the younger generation achieves greatness. At our age, we just hope our children and younger ones can live peacefully."
Live peacefully, what does this mean?
As Niu Bin sensed something amiss, Shi Shengyong had already finished but didn’t put down the brush, instead turning with a smile: "Manager Jiang, please find another piece of rice paper. This one is for Inspector Wu, and I want to gift you guys another."
Wu Ren Guang smiled and asked: "Director Shi, what do you want to write?"
"I only know how to write, not as high level as you, or talented." Shi Shengyong looked over at the confused Niu Bin with deep meaning: "I’ll give you eight words, ’Abide by laws, steady trickle!’"
"Old Shi, you said you’re not skilled, but that’s straight to the point!"
Wu Ren Guang turned to look at Niu Bin and his wife, then at Xiao Mei, who seemed pensive, thought about it, then chuckled: "Since business is opening, earnings are inevitable. But abide by laws, only by abiding laws can the trickle last, you can’t always think of making quick or big money, this is also Director Shi’s deep hope for you!"
