Siheyuan: I am a big capitalist after the founding of the People's Republic of China

Li Zihang looked around and was very fond of the flowers, plants and potted plants in the store. He even asked the boss about the price.

"Boss, how much is this pot of asparagus fern?"

As he spoke, he handed the asparagus fern to the boss.

The boss turned his head and opened his mouth, and the price came out.

"One dollar and two cents for the pot and bamboo. Look, that's the price for the ones in the upper row."

Li Zihang stared at the row of flowers and plants on the shelf and groaned inwardly: They are really not cheap!

Li Zihang: "Can I get a discount if I buy in bulk from you?"

When the boss heard this, he slowly stood up, picked up the purple clay teapot, and looked Li Zihang up and down.

"What's the matter? Do you want to join the industry? Or do you just like this?"

Li Zihang did not play it easy either.

"what do you think?"

The boss said: "My dear, you don't look like someone who works in this field based on your attire, but you look very noble."

"I can't tell your pulse, but if you want to tease me, I won't be polite."

Li Zihang walked and looked around, and he already had an idea in his mind.

In his opinion, the only people who can afford to grow flowers and plants nowadays are the literati and poets.

He planned to buy these back, change the pots, add some moss, dead branches, pebbles, asparagus fern, and make a small pottery figure or something, to make a multi-combination bonsai.

These things are definitely good sellers in the entire store at the entrance of Peking University.

Those literary students, both male and female, and old professors, love these things very much.

Why did you have to go to Peking University? After the original Yenching University was split up, Peking University inherited most of the assets of Yenching University.

Including the school's address and garden, as well as many disciplines and departments. Even the style of study has been preserved.

Nowadays, six out of ten students who can enter Peking University are rich people and do not need that little money at all.

Teachers and professors are even worse. The worst teaching assistants make more than 50 yuan a month, and teachers and professors make between 80 and 500 yuan a month. Anyway, they are not short of money.

To satisfy material life, one needs to have some spiritual pursuits.

At this time, other universities lack some foundation compared to Peking University.

Including Wudaokou Technical School, if we only look at the family income of the students' parents, it is far from that of Peking University.

Li Zihang: "Just tell me how much discount you can give me if I want to buy in large quantities."

"By the way, I only want flowers and plants, not flower pots."

The boss has figured it out now and decided to name a price regardless of whether it is true or not.

"That row of plants. If you don't want the pots, take them away for 3 cents a pot."

The boss suddenly thought of something and kindly reminded Li Zihang.

"Oh, by the way, let me say one more thing. Boy, if you want to buy it back to cultivate your sentiments, it's up to you."

"If you want to be a middleman, I advise you to think it over carefully. These days, speculation is a serious crime."

Li Zihang answered with a smile.

"Don't worry, I will never engage in speculation."

In this era, due to public-private partnerships, various small shops and family-run stores were integrated.

Later it was discovered that some industries in these small shops with one to six people were integrated together, which was not conducive to the convenience of residents.

Later, some industries were replanned.

Especially husband-and-wife shops or small shops owned by one or two people.

For example, breakfast shops, bicycle repair shops, barbers, shoe repairmen, and other businesses of this type.

The government reforms but does not build. In plain words, it is nominally state-owned. Individuals are responsible for their own turnover and bear the profits and losses. However, they still have to pay the taxes they should pay.

The government does not care about other things, and will take the initiative to provide loans to those mom-and-pop stores and individual stores.

They were supported to open shops, so before the big storm came, there were still numerous privately-owned shops with one or two people.

The class composition issue has also not changed. The class composition is still the same as it was 46 years ago.

For example, the class status of hired farmers was determined in 46, but now they are running a small business and have money, but their class status remains unchanged.

As for Li Zihang himself, he runs a small potted plant business just as a transition so that he can live a better life during this period.

In this era, although the wind direction has changed, human nature remains. Everyone wants to live a good life and envy the rich.

As for the political direction, it only has a negative impact on certain people.

The rest are the same, not that weird.

Times of great storms are a different matter, and all beings are equal.

Li Zihang discussed some issues such as the price and varieties of potted plants with the flower and bird shop.

Then started the next step.

After some inquiries, Li Zihang learned that there was a large glass and porcelain factory in Haidian District.

Selling glass from the entire city of Sijiu, bowls, plates, bottles, basins, and various porcelain bottles and jars.

But generally we supply those merchants.

Upon learning of this situation, Li Zihang spent the next half month running around applying for various business licenses and looking for a storefront.

"The government office faces south. If you don't have money, don't come in."

No matter what era, this sentence has its truth.

During this period, Li Zihang ran around to various government offices.

He made no less than seven trips just to get the license stamped.

There is no one in the yamen, there is nothing we can do.

One stamp first goes to the street office to find the street office leader to verify, then takes out the storefront store and the government lease contract. After getting the street office leader's signature, go back and find the government department that manages the store to stamp it.

He was running back and forth to sign various documents and his legs were almost broken.

Matters such as the store opening license, renovation approval, and distribution of material receipts actually took him a full half month.

Fortunately, he had sufficient funds, otherwise he would have given up on this matter long ago.

As for the manager, he asked Uncle Shunzi for help and promised to let Shunzi's wife work in the store and look after the shop. Only then did he get the matter done.

After everything was ready, Li Zihang began to purchase large quantities of goods and produce various simple, stylish, unique and artistic potted plants.

Li Zihang is very good at handling green plants. All the green bonsai in his bird house are designed and cultivated by him.

This is especially true for potted ornamental plants placed on windowsills and desks.

He often went to the countryside to collect various artistic dead branches and dig up patches of moss.

All kinds of broken jars and tiles are good materials for his landscape creation. Asparagus fern, orchid, evergreen, Podocarpus, Osmanthus fragrans, etc. are matched in the bonsai with unique artistic conception, which has a unique flavor.

Another month passed, and Li Zihang finally established a foothold in Madaren Hutong next to Peking University. There was an endless stream of people coming to buy bonsai, including teachers, professors, and students.

Shunzi's wife, whom Li Zihang calls Aunt Hong, has also become much more wealthy due to this job.

After Aunt Hong became familiar with the business in the store, Li Zihang also started to do supporting work.

In a well-known teahouse in Liulichang, Li Zihang was leisurely drinking tea and listening to crosstalk.

The crosstalk artist is a household name in later generations. He had just started to make a name for himself at that time, performing in teahouses every day to earn a little money to support his family.

Today's Liulichang still retains its past style. If people in the industry have good things they want to sell, they will use the teahouse as a market and trading place.

Due to the current situation, people will not put their products out for sale openly at this moment.

Those who want to sell goods will wrap the old items in floral cloth, put them on the table, and order a cup of tea.

The tea set and teacup lids are placed upside down on the covered cups, indicating that the items on the table are for sale.

If someone wants to buy something, they will sit down and straighten the lidded cup to show that they want to see the goods.

Li Zihang had participated in such sales events among industry insiders several times before.

But at that time there were only a few pieces that he liked, and sometimes he wouldn't find one that satisfied him for months.

Later I lost interest and no longer participated in this kind of business.

Li Zihang was drinking tea, listening to crosstalk, and watching people coming and going in the teahouse. When he turned around, he actually ran into an acquaintance.

Li Zihang quickly stood up and greeted him: "Uncle Guan, over here! What are you looking at?"

At this moment, Uncle Guan was holding a string of Buddhist beads in his hand, walking around the teahouse, looking around, wondering if there was anything interesting.

Suddenly I heard a familiar voice, so I turned around to look for it.

It was not until he saw Li Zihang that he walked over with some doubt.

Uncle Guan asked tentatively: "Xiao Hang?"

After saying that, he looked at him again.

Li Zihang smiled and invited Uncle Guan to take a seat.

"Master Guan, with your eyesight, if you can't even recognize a person, how can you still play with antiques~"

Uncle Guan also laughed out loud when he heard the familiar tune.

"You little brat, you disappeared for such a long time, I thought you were kicked out by your family~"

After Li Zi sat back, he answered while making tea for Uncle Guan.

"You're right. I was kicked out of the house, right~"

When Uncle Guan heard this, a questioning look appeared on his expressionless face.

"You're not joking, are you?"

Li Zihang said after taking a sip of tea.

"Look at my clothes and my pale face."

"Do you think I have the time to joke with you?"

Uncle Guan didn't ask a single question about why Li Zihang was kicked out of the house.

There's no harm in knowing less about the affairs of a large family.

Uncle Guan changed the subject.

"Boy, your behavior is exactly the same as those Eight Banners disciples in the late Qing Dynasty."

"He started to spend money recklessly, and was good at eating, drinking and having fun. Then his family fell into poverty and even food became a problem. And then he still held on to his old attitude."

“When I see you, I think of the past.”

"You've treated me to meals many times before, so I'll treat you to a meal today too."

Li Zihang laughed when he heard this.

"That's great, but it's not time yet. Let's listen to some crosstalk and visit the market."

As soon as Li Zihang finished speaking, a young man dressed in country style came out, carrying a flowered bag.

I walked into the teahouse timidly, looking around as I walked.

From his appearance, you can tell he is not an insider in the industry. I don’t know where he heard the news and why he came here to sell the item.

I don’t know what the package is. It doesn’t look like it’s very big.

As soon as the young country boy entered the teahouse, he instantly attracted the attention of the veterans in the industry.

No one spoke at this time, so I went over to ask.

First, let's put an end to that young man's arrogance. Then no matter who bargains later, they can get a good price.

Some industries like to take advantage of the familiar, while the antique business likes to take advantage of the fresh.

In the antique business, if you do business with acquaintances, it will be difficult to ask for the price. But if you do, they are all acquaintances and everyone understands the market.

If you want to be honest, you will feel that you have been at a disadvantage. If something happens, it will be easy for acquaintances to come to you for repayment.

Doing business with strangers involves these problems.

At this moment, Uncle Guan also pretended to be serious.

"Look at that greenhorn, boy. Where do you think the things come from?"

Li Zihang answered with a smile.

"Look at that guy's outfit. He either dug it out of the ground or got lucky and found it from some horn in Grari."

"But no one can be sure without seeing the thing."