Zhang Tong emerged from Su Ping An’s dog’s kennel, a blanket of stars stretched across the night sky. The cold wind was biting, but it could not extinguish the fire that burned within him.
For a young man of his age, hanging out at the train station, the allure of making money was far less appealing than the lure of following the Red Robe Brother into a world of conquest.
“For every 100 jin you move, Red Robe Brother will pay 2 kuai for your hard work. You can easily move a thousand jin a day.” This was the proposition he had made to his father. The process had been smooth sailing; Zhang Tong had used his father, Zhang Jian Guo’s connections to quickly secure the support of Li Zhi Yu, the shift supervisor at the Ertai Town freight station. Upon hearing the good news, Su Ping Nan, after some deliberation, immediately sent Su Wen Wen and Guo Guang Yao, two quick-witted guys, to the town. Their tasks were twofold: to quickly establish rapport and to find a local influential figure to help them understand the market for pine nuts in Ertai Town.
After sending the two off, Su Ping Nan instructed Zhang Tong to go to the department store at the station and buy two packs of Hongta Mountain cigarettes. He wrapped them in newspaper and headed straight for the freight yard.
Zhao Feng was on duty at the freight office. He was taken aback when he saw Su Ping Nan enter, but quickly recovered to greet him. Although the Red Robe gang made their living off the freight yard, Zhao Feng had witnessed Su Ping Nan’s prowess firsthand and treated him with utmost respect.
During that era, the railway system operated somewhat independently from local authorities. Zhao Feng, a young man, often went to the local area for dates and movies. As a young man with a fiery spirit, he inevitably got into some minor scuffles. Su Ping Nan, always generous, would have Su Wen Wen step in to help resolve these issues. Through these interactions, the roles of leader and follower seemed to shift, almost reversing their positions.
“Su Ge, what brings you here? Want some tea?” Zhao Feng stood up and poured tea with enthusiasm.
Su Ping Nan, without hesitation, tossed the newspaper-wrapped cigarettes into Zhao Feng’s arms and said, “Fengzi, I’m going to move some goods from Fengcheng. When they arrive in a few days, don’t bother inspecting them. Just send them directly to the station.”
Zhao Feng, with a mix of nervousness and excitement, took the newspaper, opened it, and a smile immediately spread across his face. He quickly said, “No problem, Su Ge, you’re being too kind.”
Su Ping Nan patted Zhao Feng’s shoulder and thanked him. He understood the young man’s nature – timid, fearful, and quite stingy. Before leaving, he said casually, “One pack for you, the other for the forklift drivers who help out. For every crate moved, I’ll give you an extra 10 kuai, pay per delivery.”
Zhao Feng was stunned! He was a young man who had been working only a few years, earning a meager 70 kuai a month. He bowed and scraped as he saw Su Jing Dong out of the freight yard, then returned with a beaming grin.
Su Wen Wen and Guo Guang Yao had been in Ertai Town for three days. Su Ping Nan had implemented a policy that any of his men with tattoos were required to wear long sleeves. The two were always obedient, even when they were sweating profusely from drinking, they diligently covered themselves up, never taking off their sleeves.
Su Wen Wen and Guo Guang Yao’s interactions with Li Zhi Yu went smoothly. Within three days, the three of them had become close friends, throwing their arms around each other. As instructed by Su Jing Dong, they had been glued to Li Zhi Yu’s side, from breakfast to dinner. They would always be the first to offer to pay when they were out together, putting Li Zhi Yu in a bit of an awkward position. Eventually, he even took the initiative to introduce them to Li Qiang, a local influential figure at the Industrial and Commercial Bureau.
Li Qiang, another young man, embodied the typical streetwise, rogue persona common among young people of that time. The moment the two groups met, they hit it off. A few rounds of drinking cemented their brotherhood. After accompanying Li Qiang to several businesses to get a feel for the market, Su Wen Wen immediately sent Guo Guang Yao back.
Su Ping Nan hadn’t been idle either. He’d been busy with Yang Qian Li and Zhang Tong, gathering information on the pine nut business. He didn’t even need to go to the farmers’ market to find buyers. During a seemingly casual conversation, he casually mentioned the nuts to some merchants who were traveling to Yun Gang. This sparked their interest immediately.
7.2 yuan. That was the price for transporting the pine nuts to Wu Cheng. One merchant even whispered that if the supply was consistent and large enough, they could offer a higher price. Su Ping Nan was satisfied. With only 40,000 yuan in capital, he couldn’t afford to go big right away. This reselling business was the perfect way to start.
According to the information Guo Guang Yao brought back, he could get top-quality pine nuts in Ertai Town for around 2.4 yuan per jin. With so much cargo coming in, there wouldn’t be enough space at the freight yard. He quickly mobilized his people to find a suitable storage location. After checking out several options, he settled on a bankrupt street factory, located less than 5,000 meters from the station. This place had caught his eye.
Zhang Tong, who had been running around looking for a place, found it. His youthful innocence made him work tirelessly for Su Ping Nan. The factory was fully equipped with two workshops of over 60 square meters each, as well as three offices. Most importantly, it had a separate courtyard with its own independent gate. This meant it was located adjacent to the street office but still independent, which was very convenient.
The factory was dilapidated, the roof was partially collapsed, and the windows were shattered beyond repair. Inside, there was a heap of foul-smelling garbage and broken tiles. The offices were smaller, about 15 square meters each. Compared to the workshop, the offices were in even worse condition. Doors and windows had been removed, and excrement was strewn everywhere. Su Ping Nan figured people from the neighborhood had been using it as a toilet.
Ignoring the disgusted looks of his companions, Su Ping Nan was delighted with the place. He was particularly pleased to hear that the street office was open to selling the factory. He clenched his fist discreetly. He knew that, in a few years, this location would become a bustling commercial street as Wu Cheng developed.
Nodding, he said to Zhang Tong, “Good work.” This was the first time Zhang Tong had been praised by Su Ping Nan. The young boy’s happiness was palpable. Yang Qian Li also patted Zhang Tong on the shoulder. He liked the guileless boy as well.
Su Ping Nan continued, “We need to put some desks and beds in the three offices. We can make do for now. We need to move in here. Someone has to watch over all these goods.”
Zhang, the head of the street office, was a woman in her forties with a slight build. She breathed a sigh of relief when they decided to rent the place. Finally, this headache for the street office was resolved. After a lengthy negotiation, they settled on a monthly rent of 180 kuai. However, the lease agreement included a predatory clause: if someone bought the property, Su Ping Nan would be required to vacate.
Su Ping Nan was confident in his ability to make money quickly. He had already mentally claimed this place as his own and readily agreed. They went back to the street office, finalized the agreement, and got the keys just before dusk. Su Ping Nan then cordially invited the staff from the street office to dinner at a small but decent restaurant.
One deliberate, the other unintentional, Su Ping Nan soon had a thorough understanding of the factory. When he heard that the property had clear ownership and even a land title certificate, he fully considered it his own. Land title certificate! That meant he could do whatever he wanted with it – build anything he wanted, legally and legitimately. All he would need to do in the end is apply for a property certificate.