It took Fang Bai four days to thoroughly understand the procurement channels of the major appliance stores in Wen City. Fortunately, household appliance stores were still relatively scarce in that era. If it were the year 2000, ten years later, just running around the Wen City Liushi Appliance City would have been enough to exhaust Fang Bai!
Normally, it would be too difficult to figure out the channels.
Fortunately, Fang Bai had a Golden Finger. He found various household appliance malls in Wen City and managed to shake hands with the managers, extracting the channel information he wanted.
Some of the managers were still bewildered when he shook their hands: 'I don't know this young man, yet he came right up, maturely offered a cigarette, and shook my hand. I initially thought he wanted to do business with me, but then he just flattered me a few times and left!?'
'Is that it?'
'Nothing else?'
They couldn't understand; it was baffling, leaving them completely bewildered.
Fang Bai's method was a bit underhanded, but he liked it, as long as it achieved his goal.
Anyone in the same city could be considered a competitor.
After his appliance store opened, they might even cause him trouble, so it was better to understand his competitors' situations early.
In business warfare, one must also know oneself and one's enemy to win.
After understanding the channels, Fang Bai only needed to wait until the mall was nearly renovated before going to purchase goods.
After resolving these matters, the time had also come to January 7th. Fang Bai took time to go to T City for the seventh batch of television purchases.
When he returned home that evening, Fang Bai's mother told him that a tall man named Wang Dakai had come looking for him earlier, claiming to be his classmate.
"Son, is that Da Ge Zi really your classmate? He's not someone from the streets, is he? His face and build look quite scary."
Fang Bai looked at his mother's expression and couldn't help but laugh: "Oh, Mom, that's a classmate, and even my deskmate. He doesn't want to go to school anymore and plans to work with me; he just came to be my assistant."
Liu Fengqing breathed a sigh of relief after hearing this: "Oh, so that's it. What's his character like?"
"He's a good person, honest and meticulous. Your son is good at judging people, so don't worry."
"You, child, you're so precocious. You still need to be careful; people's hearts are hidden," Liu Fengqing reminded him naggingly.
Fang Bai nodded, indicating he understood, knowing his mother's worries and her fear that he might get involved with gangs.
He would guard against anyone except his family, even people he was familiar with in his previous life.
Wang Dakai had not yet entered society, and in school, he showed a simple and honest character. Perhaps after entering society, his temperament might change.
Now that Wang Dakai was looking for him, he probably had already sorted out his family matters. At the time, he seemed determined to follow him.
"Mom, did my classmate say when he'd come again? Did you tell him our home address?"
"I didn't tell him our home address. How would I know if he was really your classmate? He asked when you'd be back, and I could only say I wasn't sure."
"Oh, I see. It's fine, I'll go to his house tomorrow."
The next day,
Fang Bai first went to school.
Since his last exam, Fang Bai hadn't been to school once.
The moment he stepped into the classroom, his classmates all looked at him in surprise.
"Fang Laoda, you're finally here at school."
"What has this guy been up to lately? He hasn't been to school for so long. He might just disappear for the college entrance exam."
As soon as Fang Bai sat down, Zhang Xiaoai and Zheng Ran in the front row turned around, and the boys next to him also leaned in.
"Fang Bai, do you know that you got first place in the monthly exam for the entire grade, with a total score of 583?"
"You haven't been to school for so long, you must have been secretly studying at home."
"I bet Fang Bai was helping his family sell TVs, so busy making money that he forgot he was a student."
"Yeah, probably. And he's still so freakishly good at studying."
Fang Bai looked at his chattering classmates and only then realized he had scored 583 points and was still first in his grade.
On the desk were his test papers.
Only, they were a bit crumpled, especially the English test paper.
"Have you seen Da Kai at school?" Fang Bai asked his classmates around him.
Zhang Xiaoai shook her head: "I haven't seen him. Teacher Zhan said you went to visit him. Didn't you see him? Why isn't he at school?"
"I did. He has some family matters. I'll go find the homeroom teacher first." Fang Bai stuffed the test papers into his drawer and, taking advantage of the time before class, told his classmates he was going to find the homeroom teacher.
A moment later, Fang Bai arrived at Zhan Feng's office.
"Fang Bai, you're here. Your leave of absence this time is a bit long," Zhan Feng said when she saw Fang Bai knock and enter, not blaming him, but just a little curious.
"Sorry, I was delayed by something. I went to Wang Dakai's house and saw Wang Dakai. Has he been to school recently?"
"No, he hasn't. How's his family situation? It's been so long, why hasn't he come to school? I was even thinking of visiting him."
"Nothing serious. I'll go to his house again this afternoon. I'm familiar with the way, and I can get there quickly on my bike," Fang Bai replied. It seemed Da Ge Zi had decided to give up on retaking the exams, he just hadn't come to complete the procedures and move his things, but he still wanted to confirm it with him personally.
"Hmm, that's good then. Thank you for your trouble." Zhan Feng felt a little guilty; this was originally her job, but a student had helped her complete it. Her eyes shifted slightly, and she suddenly remembered something, "Oh right, the principal wants to see you, probably about your studies. You should go when you have time."
"Okay, I'll go now."
Fang Bai left the homeroom teacher's office, turned, and walked up the stairs to the school leaders' office on the second floor.
At this time, several school leaders were in the office. The principal was chatting with the director of studies. Hearing a knock, he looked out.
He paused for a moment before recognizing Fang Bai.
"Fang Bai, come in quickly, it's been a long time," Principal Zhang Mubao enthusiastically waved him in.
The other school leaders were also curious about this student who had recently gained quite a reputation: good grades, frequent absences, rumored to be starting his own business, and even had a broken finger.
"Hello, Principal, and all school leaders."
Fang Bai smiled slightly, naturally walked into the office, and sat on the chair opposite the principal as instructed, saying, "Principal, you look well recently."
"Haha, you're such a smooth talker, student. I called you here mainly to check on your studies, and it seems my worries were unnecessary. You've shot up to first place in the monthly exam for the entire grade! You must keep it up; a key university won't be a problem," the principal said with a smile.
The director of studies next to him knew Fang Bai's situation and understood that the principal hadn't just called Fang Bai for a chat; this was about befriending a student who might have a good future. Understanding the principal's intention, he personally took out a paper cup and poured Fang Bai a cup of hot tea.
As for the other school leaders, they were a bit confused about the situation and more curious about Fang Bai as a student.
"Thank you for your concern, Principal. Thank you, Director of Studies." Fang Bai took the hot tea, sipped it, and maintained a faint smile on his face.
"I heard your family's TV sales are booming. Is this your entrepreneurial venture?" The principal still wore a smiling expression. According to the school's records, Fang Bai's parents were just ordinary farmers, and their family's economic situation was generally modest; otherwise, they wouldn't have gone to work in factories.
Last time, he had witnessed Fang Bai's money-making ability and had passed by his family's TV stall. He observed it out of curiosity and found that Fang Bai's recorded advertisement lines were indeed excellent, no wonder so many students at school were learning them.
Moreover, it was extremely popular. He didn't know the profit margin but knew it must be very profitable.
There were dozens of TVs on site; he roughly estimated them to be worth tens of thousands of yuan.
Upon hearing this, Fang Bai guessed that this was one of the principal's purposes for calling him: first to praise him, then to subtly inquire about other matters.
A bit gossipy,
"Uh, I only participated; I don't have such great ability." Fang Bai didn't want to admit it; he just let him guess.
He had only been forced to tell the principal how much money he had earned from his business before, and that was to get a long-term pass to leave school.
Now, it was no longer necessary.
The principal nodded upon hearing this, looking at Fang Bai's faint smile, deep in thought.
After chatting for a while, Fang Bai used the excuse of class to leave the principal's office.
"Principal, so this is Fang Bai, what a spirited young man!" the vice-principal said with a laugh after seeing Fang Bai leave.
"Yes, he is, very unusual," the principal said little. After two observations, he still couldn't quite figure out Fang Bai.
He always had a smile on his face, making it impossible to tell if it was genuine or not.
When praised, he still maintained a smile, like a calm lake, without a ripple.
If he didn't know that this student was good at flattering and did it naturally, pleasing the listener, the principal would truly believe that Fang Bai wasn't behind his family's TV stall.
Hmm, he needed to observe more.
He planned to have Fang Bai give a speech to the students. His story of working, breaking his finger, then returning to school while also starting a business was very inspiring. He also wanted the education leaders above to hear about such a young talent emerging from his school, which would be beneficial to him.