Chapter 20: Selling the Design Blueprints

On Huanghe Road, there was a shop specializing in stainless steel security windows and stair railings called Prosperity Stainless Steel Emporium.

Four workers were busy welding security windows, with a pile of finished products stacked nearby. The owner, Li Changsheng, had just landed a major contract.

“Hello, boss. I want to make a stainless steel food cart,” Wang Peng said.

“What’s a food cart?” Li Changsheng shook his head. “I’ve never made one.”

“I’ve brought the blueprints. Let me explain how to make it.” Wang Peng pulled out the drawings and began to explain. “Here’s where the gas cylinder goes, here’s the stove, this section is for vegetables, and this is the cash box…”

He had stayed up until two in the morning the night before, carefully designing the cart based on the structure of future snack carts.

Li Changsheng listened in confusion but smiled and said, “This cart sounds complicated. You just want to sell food; a simple rack cart will do.”

“A rack cart won’t work,” Wang Peng laughed. “Boss, please give me a price.”

Since fried rice is food, hygiene was crucial, so he chose stainless steel that wouldn’t rust.

If he used a dirty rack to set up his stall, people would lose their appetite at the sight of it, and business would be hard to start.

Li Changsheng took out pen and paper to calculate the material and labor costs.

A few minutes later, he said, “Two hundred yuan. I’ll make it for you.”

“Two hundred?” Li Fang exclaimed. “That’s too expensive. I’ll pay you at most one hundred and fifty.”

“Two hundred it is. No less,” Li Changsheng boasted. “Young man, I’m the only one in the county who makes stainless steel products.”

“Two hundred it is. Let’s get started,” Wang Peng accepted the price.

Li Changsheng lit a cigarette and called over a young apprentice. “Xiao Wu, you’ll make it for him.”

“Boss, can I do it?” Liu Xiao Wu scratched his head timidly.

He was just an apprentice; the masters were busy welding security windows.

“Sure!” Li Changsheng pointed at Wang Peng. “This boss here knows his stuff. Figure it out together.”

Wang Peng had over ten years of experience on construction sites and was somewhat versed in carpentry and welding.

He smiled, “Brother Xiao Wu, let’s start cutting materials. I’ll tell you the measurements.”

Minutes later, the cutting machine roared to life.

Under Wang Peng’s guidance, Liu Xiao Wu quickly welded the frame and then attached stainless steel sheets to it.

Wang Peng told his cousin to wait there while he strolled around town.

Walking from south to north, he found an advertising shop and had four stickers made with the words “Golden Fried Rice.”

He also spotted another stainless steel shop where, true to form, Li Changsheng was bragging.

Continuing his walk, he found a gas store, rented a gas cylinder, and bought a stove.

Finally, he went to the People's Market, bought four small wheels, and returned to Prosperity Stainless Steel Emporium.

He asked Liu Xiao Wu to weld the wheels onto the cart, insert the stove, and stick on the advertising stickers — the job was done.

“It's really beautiful!” Li Fang’s eyes sparkled. “Peng, you designed it perfectly.”

“Try it out,” Wang Peng said.

Li Fang pulled the cart around a few times, then gave her cousin a thumbs up. “It’s so light, I can pull it by myself.”

“That’s exactly the effect I wanted,” Wang Peng was very pleased.

From then on, his cousin would help set up and pack up the stall, and after school, he would be responsible for frying rice, targeting the student market.

He took out two hundred yuan and handed it to Li Changsheng, pocketed the blueprint, and prepared to take the cart away.

At that moment, two women on bicycles passed by.

They stopped a few meters away after seeing Wang Peng’s cart, then came back to take a closer look.

“Sister Hua, this cart is nice.”

“Indeed, the stainless steel looks very clean.”

“Miss, can I try pulling it?”

Li Fang looked at Wang Peng, who nodded.

The woman with permed hair pulled the cart a few steps and exclaimed, “So light! Comrade, how much does this cart cost?”

“We want to make two, too,” the other woman smiled. “We sell mashed potatoes; we won’t compete with your business.”

“Two hundred yuan each,” Li Changsheng hurriedly quoted.

He never expected the cart to turn out so beautiful that it would attract new customers.

After discussing, the woman with permed hair said, “Make us two, exactly like this one.”

“No problem.” Li Changsheng instructed Liu Xiao Wu, “Don’t just stand there. Hurry up and make a cart for these ladies.”

“Uncle Changsheng,” Liu Xiao Wu blushed. “I don’t know how to do it. He was the one guiding me.”

He pointed at Wang Peng.

Wang Peng smiled faintly and waved goodbye.

“You’re hopeless!” Li Changsheng scolded Liu Xiao Wu, then grabbed Wang Peng’s hand. “Brother, leave me the blueprint.”

“Don’t joke,” Wang Peng refused outright.

He had stayed up late into the night drawing the blueprint; there was no way he would give it away so easily.

“Boss, what’s going on? Can you make it?” the woman with permed hair asked Li Changsheng.

“Of course, I can make it. We’ll have it ready soon.” Li Changsheng pulled Wang Peng inside the shop.

He pulled two hundred yuan from his pocket, his face beaming with a broad smile. “I’ll give you the cart money. You give me the blueprint.”

Wang Peng scratched his head, already satisfied. He had basically gotten a free cart.

At the same time, he now had the leverage to ask for more.

“My design will definitely sell well. Those two ladies outside already proved that.”

“Boss, I’m the only one nationwide with the blueprint.”

“If you give me another five hundred yuan, I’ll transfer the patent rights to you.”

Wang Peng raised the price on the spot.

“Brother, don’t joke,” Li Changsheng laughed angrily. “If I study hard, I can design an identical cart.”

“Right, I believe you can.” Wang Peng declined the two hundred yuan and turned to leave.

“Brother,” Li Changsheng gritted his teeth, “I’ll add another two hundred.”

There were two other stainless steel businesses in the county, and he worried Wang Peng might sell the blueprint to them.

He was confident he could replicate the cart but would lose the two orders right in front of him.

In business, the earlier you enter the field, the more solid your footing.

“Deal.” Wang Peng took out the blueprint.

“Little brother!” Li Changsheng sighed helplessly and took out another two hundred yuan. “You’re a natural at business.”

“Thanks for the compliment.” Wang Peng handed over the blueprint and pocketed the four hundred yuan.

On the way home, he shared the story with his cousin.

“What?” Li Fang was stunned. “Boss Li gave you a free cart and then paid you two hundred yuan just to buy your blueprint?”

Wang Peng grinned smugly.

“Peng, you’re really smart. Truly... impressive.” Li Fang was at a loss for words.

Laughing and chatting, the two returned home before heading straight to the large agricultural market.

The market was vast. During the planned economy era, it was the county’s main supply base for vegetables, meat, and grains.

Walking through the market, they arrived at the rice and grain section.

“Hello, comrade, how much is the rice?” Wang Peng asked, pointing at a bag of Japonica rice.

“Do you have a ration coupon?” the clerk replied. “Without a coupon, it’s three mao per jin; with a coupon, two mao.”

Wang Peng didn’t have a ration coupon and was about to buy a bag when a sudden thought struck him.

Ration coupons were a product of the planned economy. In the early days of reform and opening up, the market and planned economies coexisted, and coupons were still used as discounts at grain stores.

But apparently, this year the state abolished ration coupons, stamps, and other types of vouchers.

Without discounts, grain prices naturally soared.

—This was the first major surge in food prices after China’s reform and opening-up.

Wang Peng paid two hundred yuan for tuition, reserved three hundred for living expenses, and took out the remaining nine hundred yuan.

“Comrade, I’ll buy three thousand jin of Japonica rice.”

His declaration stunned everyone.

“Peng,” Li Fang quickly grabbed his hand, “why buy so much rice? The rice store won’t run away.”

Wang Peng smiled. The rice store might not run, but the rice prices would.