The meeting place is arranged at Dongfeng Market, a lively area in the capital.
So, you two ride your uncle's bicycle, leave the things for Xiao Yu at home, business matters are important, settle the business first, and then you can go see Xiao Yu when you come back.
Last time, your uncle invited Xiao Yu to dinner, but she was busy with work and couldn't make it. This time, it's a perfect opportunity.
Chen Yang naturally had no objections. His aunt and uncle treated his younger sister well, and he was naturally happy. After all, it was better for the girl to have relatives looking out for her when she was out on her own.
Since Chen Liqi had nothing else to do, he borrowed a bicycle and accompanied Chen Yang and the others. Beijing was a large city, and finding a place was not easy.
Although he was not from Beijing, he had lived there for so many years and was quite familiar with the city's geography.
This Dongfeng Market was originally built in the late Qing Dynasty and was called the Old Dong'an Market. It was one of Beijing's older and more famous markets.
The market sold a wide variety of goods, not only daily necessities but also various local snacks unique to Beijing, opera houses for listening to traditional opera, and shops dealing in cultural relics and jewelry.
In 1967, Dong'an Market was renovated and expanded, reopening in 1969 as a large department store. It was one of the earliest department stores in Beijing, and it was renamed Dongfeng Market.
This place would continue to prosper. By 1988, Dongfeng Market would revert to the name Dong'an Market. In the 1990s, a company from Hong Kong participated in its construction, and the new Dong'an Market became a large CBD integrating dining, entertainment, and cinemas.
Both in the future and in the present, this place was a bustling area, with supply and marketing cooperatives and department stores having their own shops.
Chen Yang's purpose this time was to acquire a plot of land in this market to build a building.
Even if he couldn't build a building, he would find a way to rent one or two floors to establish his own sales outlet. With the right opportunity, he could ascend to great heights. Such a mature market was naturally to be fully utilized, and Chen Yang would not miss it.
Chen Liqi accompanied Chen Yang to the department store in Dongfeng Market for a look. The phenomenon of insufficient supply for large items like televisions also existed in Beijing.
Although a television cost several hundred or even a thousand yuan, which was basically a worker's annual or even several years' wages, despite the exorbitant price, it could not dampen people's enthusiasm for buying televisions.
Many people went to great lengths to obtain a television coupon, then saved money and queued up at the department store to buy one.
Therefore, even though Zhenhua televisions were not famous, the Wenzhou businessmen could still do thriving business in Beijing because of the current market environment of insufficient supply.
If Chen Yang could build his own home appliance store in Dongfeng Market, it would definitely lead to a significant increase in sales.
"Yangzi, I'm just going to browse around the market for a bit and buy some things to take back. You go talk business, and we'll meet at Donglaishun later."
"Your uncle is treating you to Donglaishun's copper-pot lamb stew today. It's a delicacy in Beijing, no less than roast duck."
Li Yong and Chen Yang had agreed to meet in the office of the department store building in Dongfeng Market. The management of the department store at this time probably had no idea that Chen Yang was here to compete for business and were preparing to welcome this boss whom Li Yong respected.
However, the department store was a state-owned enterprise at this time, so there was no such thing as competing for business.
But one thing was certain: if Chen Yang flooded the market with televisions, the salespeople in the department store would find it difficult to extort money or engage in corruption.
After all, many people now tried to curry favor with salespeople working in department stores to get television coupons. However, such things were unavoidable.
In a market economy, many formerly desirable state-owned units would gradually be forced to adapt to the market. If they didn't change, they would be eliminated by the market.
Chen Yang was just making them experience the changes in the world a few years earlier.
His uncle went off on his own, so Chen Yang didn't need to make arrangements. He identified himself and Lei Baoguo, and they were welcomed into the department store building.
"Uncle Li, it's been over a year. You look even more distinguished."
Chen Yang found the long-unseen Li Yong on the third floor. Although Li Yong's hair had turned grayer, he was full of energy. It was clear that Li Yong had worked harder than before in the past year, but he had definitely gained a lot.
"What distinguished appearance? It's you. I heard that your factory, which employs tens of thousands of people, has made Pudong a vibrant area. Some even say it will be another Bund in ten years."
"That's incredible. A factory producing thousands of televisions a day, this is probably the first of its kind in the country."
Although Li Yong had left Shanghai, it didn't mean he had lost all interest in Shanghai and Chen Yang.
"Uncle Li, please don't flatter me. You only see the glamorous side of me; you don't see the immense pressure I'm under."
"I haven't fully opened up the sales channels for televisions yet. Otherwise, I wouldn't have come all the way to Beijing to explore the market."
Chen Yang naturally complained. Li Yong, even if not in absolute power, was certainly influential. If he wanted to implement economic reforms, he needed someone to set an example.
Chen Yang was currently that benchmark. No matter what, Li Yong would help him. Perhaps by complaining a bit more, he might receive even greater assistance. After all, complaining about hardships and fatigue did not diminish his stature.
"Don't worry, I'll take care of this for you. Here, beside me, is Director Lou of the department store, and this is Director Wang of the supply and marketing cooperative."
"They are eager for your televisions to enter the market. Many workers in the Beijing area have a demand for televisions. People's lives are getting better, and many want to buy a television to improve their living standards."
Li Yong had not yet realized that Chen Yang intended to establish his own appliance store. He thought Chen Yang merely wanted to supply televisions to the department store and supply and marketing cooperatives for sale.
"Uncle Li, I will definitely supply to all department stores and supply and marketing cooperatives in Beijing. However, in this Dongfeng Market, I want a large storefront, preferably several floors, to establish a dedicated home appliance store."
"Then, I will increase supply so that comrades who want to buy televisions can purchase them at any time without waiting in line, allowing them to take televisions home sooner."
"This way, we can also set up a dedicated after-sales service department. If there are any quality issues with the televisions, we can promptly help customers with repairs."
Chen Yang wanted to build a reputation. Even if he incurred a loss on repair parts in the early stages, he wanted to establish the Zhenhua television brand. He was not in the business for a one-off transaction.
In the future, with televisions, refrigerators, air conditioners, and washing machines, the market was vast, and there were many profits to be made!