Literary Master 1978

"I thought it was a big clothing mall, but it turns out that they only rented a few counters!" Tao Yumo said.

Her words immediately made Du Feng jump with anger, "What do you know? This is Xidan Mall, don't you know? It's the best department store in the country, and we have a business area of ​​1,000 square meters. Do you know how much effort I put into this?"

In order to rent a place in Xidan Mall, Du Feng really racked his brains.

Not only did he raise the banner of a joint venture, but he also specifically asked the leaders in charge of industry and commerce in Xicheng District to negotiate the contract with Xidan Mall.

The total business area of ​​1,000 square meters, the rent alone is 350,000 yuan per year, which is twice the price Du Feng estimated at the beginning.

Not only that, the contract also stipulates the total sales, tax and profit they must reach each year, and the number of employee wages. The total sales alone is required to reach 15 million yuan.

If these figures are not reached, the mall has the right to withdraw the contract.

The conditions were harsh, but once the arrow was shot, there was no turning back. Xidan Mall was in a unique location, and it had been one of the best destinations for Yanjing people to shop and relax for half a century.

Let alone 350,000, no matter how expensive it was, Du Feng would rent it.

Seeing that he was furious, Tao Yumo asked again: "It's only 500,000 in total. You spent 350,000 to rent a mall. What will you do in the future? Can you still do this business?"

Du Feng glanced at her, "Little girl, you don't know anything. What's wrong with spending 350,000? We have rented the mall, and we have the source of goods. We have the purchase channels and sales channels, and the rest are minor problems. What's the problem with lack of money? Just take out a loan."

"Loan? It's not like you don't have to pay it back, and there are interest."

Du Feng shook his head and made a tut-tut sound, expressing his disdain for Tao Yumo's short-sightedness.

"Don't understand? We are a joint venture company, and the bank has a preferential policy for loans, which can be low interest. This money can be used for three to five years, and you can only pay the interest in the beginning, and you can continue to borrow in the future.

And we are called a limited liability company, do you understand what a limited liability company is? If we can't pay the money, we will go bankrupt directly, and the bank can't do anything."

Tao Yumo listened to Du Feng Banpingzi showing off his poor legal and financial knowledge with dissatisfaction, and her eyes were contemptuous.

She was about to retort, and Tao Yushu said at this time: "Okay, you two don't talk about these useless things for now. When does the clothing city plan to open?"

"The decoration is fast, and it will be completed in one or two weeks, but it will take at least more than a month to purchase goods, recruit people, and advertise, and it will be March at the latest."

Tao Yushu pondered and said: "It didn't catch up with the Spring Festival!"

For the Chinese people, the month before the Spring Festival has always been a time to change new clothes, and the demand for clothing purchases released is extremely exaggerated.

"No way. It's not easy to negotiate in Xidan, and we have to coordinate and make room for them."

Just as Du Feng said, we have the venue and the source of goods, and the rest is decoration, purchasing, advertising, and recruiting.

The most important thing is advertising. How to make the reputation of Asia-Europe Clothing City in one shot may directly determine the life and death of Asia-Europe Clothing City.

"Good wine needs to be hidden in the alley. You have to work harder on advertising." Tao Yushu reminded Du Feng.

Du Feng patted his chest and said, "Sister, don't worry. I have contacted the newspapers. I will cover a whole page of advertisements in the first half of the month before the opening."

Hearing this, Tao Yushu frowned.

"How to advertise?"

"Just say 'Asia-Europe Clothing City Opening Promotion', write all our clothing categories, there is no more complete than mine in Yanjing, and there are also discounts, 20% off for the whole store."

Du Feng is full of confidence in his opening promotion, but Tao Yushu frowned even tighter.

It has to be said that Du Feng's idea is too crude, and there is no highlight at all, especially compared with the ideas that Lin Chaoyang instilled in her.

Looking at Tao Yushu's expression, Du Feng's face, which was originally full of confidence, hesitated, "Sister, what do you think?"

"Advertising is to create momentum. It's useless to just let the people know that there is such a clothing city to open. It must be able to attract them to come shopping."

"Our clothing city has such a complete category, and there are also discounts. Isn't this attractive?"

"It's not unattractive, but not attractive enough. According to your calculation, the Spring Festival was less than a month after the opening of the clothing city.

The people's demand for clothing has just been released for a short time. If it is not attractive enough, why should they come to us to buy clothes?"

Tao Yushu's words make some sense, but Du Feng still feels indignant. He thinks his idea is good and will definitely attract people to come shopping.

Tao Yushu looked at his expression and knew that it would not work if he didn't show some real efforts.

"Well, you can put up a job advertisement in a few days."

"A job advertisement?"

"Yes. The requirements in the advertisement are as follows: female, aged 18-25, height between 165-170, regular facial features and good temperament, technical secondary school education or above, standard Mandarin, and priority will be given to local residents of Yanjing."

Du Feng looked at Tao Yushu in disbelief, "Sister, we are recruiting salespersons, not a beauty pageant. Who would dare to apply for the job after you put up this advertisement? Besides, who would work as a salesperson with these conditions!"

The conditions listed by Tao Yushu are nothing if they are seen alone, but when combined together, it is not an exaggeration to say that one in a hundred is the best.

How many people have to be screened just for a "technical secondary school degree or above"? Even if the average education level of Yanjing people is high, we can't do this!

"Why not come? The salary is 100 yuan per month, plus sales commission, which is no less than 50 yuan per month."

Hearing this, Du Feng was shocked again.

"150 yuan a month for one person? Sister, you can hire me as a salesperson. According to your method of recruiting people, we will have to pay a salesperson's salary of 100,000 yuan a year."

In 1985, the annual income of urban workers in China was 739 yuan. Yanjing, the capital, had a higher income than other regions in the country, with this figure exceeding 900 yuan.

But the wages of ordinary employees in Yanjing are definitely lower than this level. A monthly salary of forty or fifty yuan is the normal income for most people.

Tao Yushu said that the salary plus commission for recruiting salespersons would be 150 yuan a month, which was almost three times the salary of ordinary employees in Yanjing at this time. Du Feng couldn't help but be shocked.

"Our recruitment standards are high, and the higher salary is very reasonable." Tao Yushu said calmly.

Du Feng said anxiously: "Sister, let's just hire a salesperson. It's not cost-effective for you to set such high demands and give such a high salary!"

His expression was urgent, but Tao Yushu's expression became calmer.

At this time, Tao Yumo on the side suddenly asked: "Sister, your recruitment advertisement is also an advertisement, right?"

Hearing this, Du Feng was stunned for a moment, "What do you mean?"

"What's the point? It's just an advertisement. As you said, my sister's recruitment requirements are higher than those of a beauty pageant, and the salary is so high.

If the advertisement was placed in the newspaper, how many people would talk about it?

By then, won’t our Asia-Europe Garment City be famous in no time? "

Du Feng thought about Tao Yumo's words and found that they seemed to make sense.

Don't look at it. At this time, people are proud of having an iron rice bowl, but there are only so many jobs. There are more wolves and less meat!

Otherwise, there wouldn’t have been so many weird things happening to the educated youth after they returned to the city a few years ago. Otherwise, why are there so many people setting up stalls in the sea? You think everyone loves doing business!

The requirements and benefits Tao Yushu mentioned just now will definitely attract the attention of thousands of people after being published in the newspaper, and will also indirectly increase the popularity of the Asia-Europe Garment City.

After being inspired, Du Feng then thought that when the people of Yanjing City see that Asia-Europe Garment City has such strict requirements for finding a salesperson and pays such a high salary, they will definitely make a preset for the Garment City in their hearts. High-end impression.

At this moment, he finally understood Tao Yushu's intention, and a smile broke out on his face.

"Sister, you want to use recruitment to advertise the clothing city first!"

Tao Yumo said: "Nonsense, didn't I just say that!"

Du Feng wasn't angry when his sister choked him, but he thought about it and said: "But sister, with a salary of tens of thousands of dollars a year, and for so many years, why can't we advertise enough? "

"The state promotes joint ventures to make use of foreign advanced technology, capital and management methods. What does our garment city have? Do you really think of yourself as a joint venture?

If the salary is not higher, can we recruit talents? Take a longer view. "

Du Feng hadn't noticed it before, but now listening to Tao Yushu's words, how could he still not know whose idea this was?

"Sister, this is what my brother-in-law told you, right? If he has any other good ideas, please tell me more, tell me quickly!"

Under his urging, Tao Yushu said a few more methods in a leisurely manner, and Du Feng's eyes became brighter and brighter as he listened.

"Sister, this model performance is a good idea. Is this modeled after Pierre Cardin? It will definitely attract the attention of many people."

“Isn’t the cost of this seven-day no-reason return and exchange process too high?”

"It will definitely increase the cost a little bit. If you just raise the selling price, wouldn't that be the end of it?"

“If it’s too expensive, fewer people will buy it.”

"You have a misunderstanding. If you open a clothing city in Xidan Mall, our grade and style must not be low, otherwise you will not be able to achieve the sales set by the mall.

Why should I be afraid of being more expensive? The more expensive it is, the more respect it has. He can buy two pieces of clothing with one month's salary outside, and they are just clothes when he wears them.

But it's different here. You can only buy one with two months' salary. When people ask where to buy it,

Asia-Europe Clothing City!

High-end clothing!

This is face!

You have to study the customer's shopping psychology. He has come to our clothing store to buy clothes. Can he make the difference by a few dollars? "

Du Feng was almost dumbfounded. He had been in business for several years and thought he had some experience. But what Tao Yushu said was something he had never heard of before, and it simply refreshed his outlook.

The more he tasted it, the more he felt that what Tao Yushu said was a wise saying.

But he still knew Tao Yushu, and these words were not like what his sister could say.

"My brother-in-law told you this?"

Seeing Du Feng ask this, Tao Yushu nodded, "Yeah."

"My brother-in-law is tall!" Du Feng marveled.

But there was still the second half of the sentence he didn't say: What a shame not to be a profiteer!

Tao Yushu smiled. She and Lin Chaoyang just provided an idea. The final execution would depend on Du Feng. As long as it could ensure that the Asia-Europe Garment City could become famous as soon as possible.

In the following time, Du Feng was busy with the clothing city, and Tao Yushu also participated in it with enthusiasm, completely treating herself as a strong woman charging into battle.

As for the child, Tao Yumo helps take care of the child during the day, and she comes back to take care of the child at night, so that she can balance work and life.

It's just that it's a bit taxing for my sister!

It's only a few days away from the Chinese New Year, and Lin Chaoyang just received the royalties for "The Chess Master" on this day.

"The Chess Master" has been published for more than four years. In the first three years, it was paid in the form of basic royalties plus royalties for the number of prints. It was not until this year that Lin Chaoyang signed a royalty contract with Yanjing Publishing House.

This is the largest amount of royalties received by "The Chess Master" since its publication.

Since the end of the first China-Japan Go Challenge, the sales of the novel "The Chess Master" have remained high, and in December it even set a record of one million copies sold in a single month.

This number is not only not achieved by other writers, but also by many of Lin Chaoyang's new books.

For more than two months, under the hot atmosphere of Go discussion among the whole nation, "The Chess Master" has easily sold 2.6 million copies, and the cumulative sales have easily exceeded 6 million copies.

The royalties settled by Yanjing Publishing House are based on the sales of "The Chess Master" in the past three months, and the 2.6 million copies are naturally included in it. This royalty alone is as much as 480,000 yuan.

Tao Yumo couldn't help but marvel at this number. Her brother-in-law's royalties have always been astronomical, and she has been used to it in the past two years.

For example, in December, Huacheng Publishing House settled nearly 400,000 yuan in royalties for "The Truman Show".

But that was a new book after all, and selling more than one million copies in a few months was not an exaggeration in my brother-in-law's record.

The situation of "The Chess Master" is different. This is an old book that has been published for four or five years.

In the book market, the best sales of a book are the year it is just published. After this period of time, it will be submerged in the increasing number of new books.

Books that can survive the selection of time and readers and stay on the bookshelves of bookstores are almost all word-of-mouth works that can be circulated for a while.

"The Chess Master" is such a word-of-mouth work in the market. Although its sales have been declining in recent years, there are still many readers willing to pay for it.

Under normal circumstances, the sales of this novel may continue to decline until it hits the bottom and remains constant at a relatively small number.

But to everyone's surprise, "The Chess Master" seems to be an indestructible cockroach. Its sales only dropped for a while in 1983, and then it quickly rose again.

Last year, the movie "The Chess Master" was released, which made the novel a little popular again, selling 300,000 or 400,000 more copies.

This year is even more exaggerated. After the start of the China-Japan Go Challenge, the sales of "The Chess Master" have been steadily rising until it broke out completely after the challenge ended, breaking through the 6 million mark in one fell swoop.

Looking at the current situation, as long as the Go fever continues, the sales of this novel will not have to worry about the next few years, or even more than a decade.

"Remember, the next mainland royalties settlement for "The Chess Master" will be in May." Lin Chaoyang explained to Tao Yumo.

"Got it."

With more and more works being created and published, Lin Chaoyang could not personally handle the publication and publishing issues of every novel, so he handed all these matters over to Tao Yumo.

Tao Yumo looked at the numbers in Lin Chaoyang's bank passbook with envy. The seven-digit number starting with "3" seemed to have a kind of magic, pulling her eyes and unable to move.

"Haven't you seen enough? Then take another look." Lin Chaoyang threw the passbook to her.

Tao Yumo took the passbook in a panic, with the fear of a little eunuch holding the imperial seal.

She carefully counted the numbers on the passbook, "ones, tens, hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands..."

Finally, she returned the passbook to Lin Chaoyang with satisfaction.

Looking at her money-loving look, Lin Chaoyang couldn't help but think of when he married Tao Yushu a few years ago, Tao Yushu also carefully calculated their belongings.

"You two sisters, you are really cut from the same mold!"

Listening to his words, Tao Yumo complained: "I am different from my sister. I don't like to trouble others!"

Her words were full of resentment. Although she took the money, it did not prevent her from being dissatisfied with her "employer".

"If you really don't like taking care of children, then I will give you some money and let you do business like Du Feng, okay?" Lin Chaoyang asked her.

His attitude made Tao Yumo feel much better, "Doing business is too troublesome. Look at my sister and brother, running around all day, a lot of troubles."

"What about going back to work?" Lin Chaoyang asked again.

"Work..." Tao Yumo hesitated.

If it was before she went to Hong Kong, she thought it was good to go to work. But now it's too boring for her to go back to work.

She thought for a long time, and finally found that taking care of children was a job suitable for her. Tao Yumo felt a little uncomfortable.

Lin Chaoyang observed her for a long time, and could roughly guess what she was thinking, and looked at her with some amusement.

"You, don't force yourself to worry about it. You don't do anything now, but you have saved more money than 99% of people."

Don't think that Tao Yumo always cries poor around Lin Chaoyang and his wife, in fact, this girl is richer than anyone else.

When she was in college, she had several hundred yuan in her personal savings. In the past few years, she has been working and taking care of children, and she has not spent much money on food, clothing, housing and transportation. She has saved all the money.

Lin Chaoyang estimated that she now has at least more than 10,000 yuan in her hands.

Hearing this, Tao Yumo subconsciously became alert, "I also earned my money through hard work!"

"Look at your potential!" Lin Chaoyang glanced at her with disdain, and then said: "If you really want to pursue some value in life, then think carefully about what you want to do. Your sister and I will definitely support you!"

Feeling the sincerity in Lin Chaoyang's words, Tao Yumo nodded, "I'll think about it."

In the evening, after Tao Yushu returned home, Lin Chaoyang told her about her sister-in-law's current confusion.

Tao Yushu said helplessly: "It's not like I had to tie her up at home because of my evil intentions. She just has such a fun-loving temperament. She is such an old person and has no personal goals in life."

Lin Chaoyang joked: "There are three children in the family. Yu Mo and the eldest brother are from the same family. Who do you think you look like? Did you take up all the goals of both of them when you were born?"

His words provoked Tao Yushu's criticism. The couple had a laugh before Tao Yushu summarized his sister's character.

"She has never suffered much since she was a child. She lives in a honeypot. She has never had any sense of urgency or pressure. Naturally, she has no motivation to make progress."

Lin Chaoyang was deeply convinced after hearing this.

"By the way, there is something I want to discuss with you." Tao Yushu said.

"What's up?"

"The clothing city is opening. Du Feng wants to invite some singers and dancers from the song and dance troupe to perform. It would be best to invite two movie stars."

Lin Chaoyang smiled and said: "He is willing to spend money."

"It shouldn't cost much, right?"

The couple's words may sound contradictory, but in fact they are coming from different starting points.

What Tao Yushu said about "not spending much money" was based on their family's income, while Lin Chaoyang's words were based on the perspective of the working class.

But to be honest, it is indeed much more cost-effective to hire celebrities and perform shows these days than in later generations.

There was no entertainment industry at this time, it had to be called a literary and artistic circle. Everyone earned dead wages. If literary and artistic workers wanted to make some extra money, performing in acupoints was the fastest way. This kind of thing has only become popular in the past two years.

Even if you hire a popular actor or singer, it only costs a few hundred yuan, and the performers work really hard.

Moreover, these people all have units, and doing this kind of work usually involves risks.

"It depends on who you invite. If you invite everyone with names, it will probably cost several thousand yuan more."

"What kind of person is Liu Xiaoqing?" Tao Yushu asked.

Lin Chaoyang looked at her with strange eyes, "Are you going to invite me, or Du Feng?"

Tao Yushu said: "You ask questions knowingly!"

Lin Chaoyang smiled, everyone was a man, of course he could understand Du Feng's little thoughts.

He has no filter for Liu Xiaoqing, but Du Feng is different. He spent his youth watching movies of actresses such as Liu Xiaoqing, Zhang Jinling, Gong Xue, and Fang Shu.

Especially Liu Xiaoqing, who has frequently produced excellent works in recent years and knows how to market herself. The year before last, she also published an autobiography called "My Way", which became a bestseller. She can be said to be very popular in the domestic film industry.

It is a bit exaggerated to say that Liu Xiaoqing is the goddess in Du Feng's heart, but it is definitely not wrong to take advantage of the opening of the clothing city to get an opportunity to have close contact with female movie stars.

"If he really wants to invite me, then I'll go back and ask someone. Besides Liu Xiaoqing, who else does he want to invite?"

"There are no specific candidates for the others. Let's see if there is someone who is cheap and famous."

Lin Chaoyang smiled bitterly, "Your demands are really not low!"

Tao Yushu hugged his neck, "Isn't this all for business?"

Lin Chaoyang gently held her waist.

Vice Chairman Tao sacrificed a lot for business.

Du Feng worked as an art soldier in the Comrades Art Troupe before he went to sea. He can find singing and dancing actors by himself, but if he wants to hire movie stars, he really has to ask Lin Chaoyang for help. Who made him cooperate with Yan Film Studio in the past two years? .

However, the Chinese New Year is coming up in the next two days, so Lin Chaoyang is not in a hurry and will wait until the New Year is over.

On New Year's Eve, Lin Chaoyang went to Yanda early in the morning to pick up all the Tao family members in Xiaoliubukou Hutong.

He and Tao Yushu stayed out for half of this year, and they wanted to have a good get together this year.

"Oh, the in-laws are here!"

Lin Erchun greeted the Tao family at the entrance of the hospital with a hearty laugh. He first warmly held Tao's father's hand, and then led everyone into the hospital.

"Come, come, let's have some tea with the in-laws. Yucheng, how about a cigarette? What do you two little guys want to drink? Coke or Arctic Ocean?"

After entering the house, Lin Erchun welcomed him warmly again.

After working as a charterer for two years, Lin Erchun's current hospitality was less of a farmer's simplicity and more of a businessman's tact.

When the family got together, some were responsible for working, some were responsible for looking after the children, and some were responsible for chatting. Lin Erchun was responsible for chatting with Tao's father and Tao Yucheng. The content of the chat was nothing more than daily life.

Tao Yucheng was very interested in Lin Erchun's life as a charterer, so he asked a few more questions.

In his opinion, Lin Erchun was as happy as a god when he opened his eyes every day and only needed to collect rent.

"Hey! You'll know when you get started. It's not easy to do any job. It's great to just collect rent, but with dozens of houses and hundreds of tenants, how can it be possible to just collect rent?

You have to repair and repair your house in the spring and autumn, right? If you have to cancel the lease, you have to clean up the house, right? I still need to research before renting it out.

There is a dispute between neighbors. Small conflicts are nothing, but can you ignore major conflicts? If something happens in your yard, can you take responsibility?

There are still people who are in arrears with rent, so they have to press for rent...

Day by day, I have no time to spare and am just worrying about things. "

Lin Erchun talked about the things he did with his landlord in detail. Although his words were full of annoyance, his expression was filled with contentment.

What he is proud of is nothing else, but the fact that he still has so many troubles in his hands, and he has a vague sense of the high-spiritedness he had when he was galloping around in the production team.

While chatting, Tao Yucheng brought up the topic he was most interested in, "Uncle Lin, you have been busy this year and have earned tens of thousands of yuan, right?"

Father Tao glanced at Tao Yucheng dissatisfiedly, "Yucheng!"

Lin Erchun smiled and said, "In-laws, it's okay, we are all family members."

He then said to Tao Yucheng: "The net remaining amount is less than 20,000 yuan."

Lin Erchun spent 240,000 yuan just to buy a house in the past two years. When Tao Yucheng heard this figure, he thought about it.

With such a large investment, this business doesn't seem to be as profitable as he imagined!

His video studio made more than 10,000 yuan this year. After taking into account the share with Du Feng, he still got more than 4,000 yuan.

"You have invested so much money and only gained so little in a year. Have you never thought of doing anything else?"

Tao Yucheng thought that the return on investment in Lin Erchun's business was too low, and couldn't help but want to give him some advice.

"You're so old, why bother? Just find a way to make a living." Lin Erchun said with a smile.

Then he complained: "Come to think of it, it's no wonder that house prices in Yanjing have risen so fast. Otherwise, I could have saved another 30,000 to 40,000 yuan by buying a house."

Nowadays, there are few commercial houses in Yanjing City, and housing prices are relatively stable.

However, after the liberalization of private housing transactions in the past few years, although house price assessment still uses the "dead score" and "dead valuation" methods of the 1950s, the transaction flexibility of buyers and sellers is no longer controllable by the government.

The actual situation in Yanjing now is that there are many people but few houses. Therefore, in the process of private housing transactions, the bargaining space of homeowners has increased significantly compared with the previous two or three years.

The rise in private housing transaction prices has led to a hidden increase in Yanjing's overall housing prices. Since this year, Yanjing City has also discovered this trend and is planning to impose a maximum price limit on housing purchase and sale prices to stabilize housing prices.

Lin Erchun has been dealing with real estate in the past two years and is quite well-informed. He said: "I guess the policy will be released in the spring next year."

Tao Yucheng couldn't help but nodded slightly after hearing what he said so eloquently. After a while, he suddenly came to his senses.

That’s not right!