Chapter 36: Changing Outfits
Baichuan Feng, who had made a windfall, was in a particularly good mood. He came back and silently counted his own small treasury.
Well, that’s good. You’re almost a multi-millionaire.
However, this amount of money is still a drop in the bucket for him who wants to engage in industry. Large initial investment and long return cycle in the later stages are common problems in industry.
But it is different from the financial industry. Once it is successful, it becomes a real fixed asset and the risk is relatively lower.
At present, Japan is the world's manufacturing factory. A large number of low-priced light industrial products are impacting the Western market. In the past two years, thanks to the two oil crises, Japanese cars have gradually begun to open up the North American market with their advantages of light weight and fuel efficiency.
Looking at the entire real economy, the whole nation is working hard to sell products to the Western market. The price of similar products is only one-third to two-thirds of that in foreign countries. Because of this advantage, Japanese manufacturing has blossomed almost everywhere in the world.
Does this phenomenon sound familiar to you? Yes, it is similar to what happened after China joined the WTO.
First, occupy the market with low price advantage, then improve manufacturing quality, and finally forge its own technological path.
Around the 1960s, Japanese products were synonymous with copycat and shoddy workmanship in the eyes of Westerners.
It is only in recent years that the company has gradually begun to pay attention to its own product design and core technology.
But in general, the current physical manufacturing industry still has dividends to be reaped. The government also has a large number of preferential policies for industrial companies, which is one of the reasons why Baichuan Feng chose the industry at present.
Besides being familiar, it's also profitable.
Besides, even if he wanted to make some quick money in finance, he would have to wait until the Plaza Accord was signed in 1985 before he would have some memory.
It was too early, and he was not familiar with the financial industry. He could only use some stupid methods, after all, the higher the return, the higher the risk.
After fulfilling his dream of getting rich, Baichuan Feng got up obediently and started fiddling with his pile of old electrical appliances.
I still have to save money. I’m still a long way from achieving this small goal.
Because the school does not have classes every day, Shirakawa Kaede sometimes lives directly in the apartment here in Asakusa.
There are so many rooms anyway, and Kotaro wouldn’t need so much space by himself.
His rag-picking team is now much better than when he was fighting alone.
It was just him and Yamashita Daiji who repaired the electrical appliances, and Kotaro would occasionally help out.
After such a long period of training, he can still handle small problems.
The rag picking task was handed over to Ota and his brothers. They were from humble backgrounds and were very good at dealing with people at the bottom of society. Sometimes it was better for them to do it than for Shirakawa Kaede to do it himself.
One time, Ota came to Shirakawa Kaede mysteriously and said that a nearby resident wanted to buy second-hand electrical appliances directly from him. He asked Shirakawa Kaede if he would sell them.
Sell, of course. This kind of transaction also directly cuts out the middleman who makes a profit from the price difference.
Shirakawa Feng told Ota to sell the machines with confidence, and he would give Ota a share of the profits from every sale.
Upon hearing this condition, Ota was like a chicken with blood injected. On the one hand, he showed his loyalty to the leader, and on the other hand, he patted his chest and promised to get the job done.
From then on, part of Shirakawa Kaede's second-hand electrical appliances went to second-hand shops, and part was directly distributed from Ota.
Most of the items sold to second-hand stores are in good condition, and only these items can be sold at high prices. Many old items that are difficult to deal with are given to Ohta.
After all, those who come to him to buy second-hand items are not middle-class families. Ordinary people are not very picky about new or old styles.
Although the price is not high, it can be a considerable income if accumulated over time.
Baichuan Feng fiddled with the vinyl record player in his hand, a hint of thought flashing in his eyes.
It wasn't that this machine stumped him, but this was the third time he had seen such a machine this week.
"Totaro, does this machine look familiar to you?" Shirakawa Feng turned around and greeted Totaro who was fiddling with the radio.
Kotaro put down the screwdriver in his hand and looked up, "Hey, it seems familiar." He came over and took a closer look at the record player, "B...S..."
"Black Stone" Baichuan Feng rolled his eyes helplessly and read out the logo on the vinyl player for him.
"Yes, yes, Black Stone," said Kotaro, with a look of sudden enlightenment on his face. "I seem to have seen this machine before. Has it not been sold yet ? Or is it difficult to repair?" As he said that, he reached out and started to fiddle with the machine.
"Yeah," Baichuan Feng shook his head, "If I remember correctly, this is the third time I have seen them?"
"the third time?"
"Hmm," Baichuan Feng frowned, "Have you found a common feature among them?"
"Hey," Kotaro touched the smooth and delicate black stage that could reflect people's figures, "It seems that this machine is still new?"
"That's right," Baichuan Feng nodded, "Take a look at the production date on the chassis."
Kotaro turned the record player over and found the production plate. "Date of production: December 20, 1978."
"Eh?!" Kotaro's eyes widened. "Xiao Feng, this machine has only been produced for less than a month!"
"Yes, the situation is similar for the other machines." These machines have all passed through his hands, and Baichuan Feng remembers them very clearly.
"Damn, these unscrupulous businessmen!" Kotaro put down the machine angrily and cursed the manufacturer for being despicable.
The products produced broke within a month. This is unimaginable for RB, which has begun to pursue quality.
Even a low-end record player costs tens of thousands of yen, and it broke within a month of purchase. Aren't consumers going to complain like crazy?
The most important thing when making a product is word of mouth. How could this Blackstone record player not understand this? The key is that it seems that there has been no improvement at all recently.
Baichuan Feng pinched his chin and rolled his eyes.
"Xiao Feng, what are you planning now?" Seeing his expression, Kotaro, who knew him well, immediately knew that he was up to no good again.
"Hi~" Baichuan Feng waved his hand and said righteously, "I don't have any bad intentions. I just want to visit this Blackstone record player and learn from its advanced experience."
Learn advanced experience? Learn how to make a product that breaks after only one month? You must be kidding.
Seeing Kotaro looking at him suspiciously, Shirakawa Feng clapped his hands and said, "It's decided. Let's go to Blackstone Record Player as soon as possible. Maybe I can give them some suggestions and improve the quality of their products."
"Ah? You're really going?" This time it was Kotaro's turn to be surprised. It wasn't that he didn't trust Shirakawa Kaede's character, but what did he want by coming here like this?
"We have to go, of course." Bai Chuanfeng stood up and looked around, "But we can't just go like this. We have to change our clothes."
"Outfit?" Kotaro's face was full of question marks.
"Yes, what " Shirakawa Feng straightened his collar and put on the posture of a president.
Kotaro stood up and touched Shirakawa Kaede's forehead, then moved closer to him and sniffed, "Hey, you don't have a fever, and you didn't drink."
"Go away," Shirakawa Feng waved his hand in disdain, "I'm going to buy two suits of suitable suits today. You too, Kotaro, how can the president not dress decently?"
"Ding-ling-ling~" Just then the phone in the room rang.
Yes, that's right. Since he rented an apartment and made some money, Shirakawa Feng also installed a phone for himself.
Just this year, RB has completed telephone automation. Calls across the country can be dialed and answered immediately. There is no need for a switchboard operator or extra waiting, which is very convenient.
Baichuan Feng picked up the phone, "Moximoxi?"