Chapter 104 Erga's Sales Techniques

April 1981, Yangcheng.

This session of the Spring Canton Fair.

Although Red Star Technology was still registered under the Seventh Ministry of Machine Building Industry, it already had its own independent booth.

The products were mature, and the distribution channels had already been established.

As the "shopkeeper," he was naturally happy to enjoy some leisure time.

Lin Xi slept until the sun was high in the sky before leisurely making his way to the exhibition hall.

In the streaming room, the "supervisors" began their daily roast:

【The Streamer has let it go to his head! Completely!】

【Other factory directors sleep under their booths every day, but you? You sleep until you wake up naturally!】

【Even a donkey in a production team wouldn't dare rest like this!】

Lin Xi retorted back in his mind:

"What do you know?"

"This is called strategic planning."

"Besides, I've worked myself to death for over a year; what's wrong with sleeping in for half a day?!"

He wandered over to the Red Star Technology booth.

Er Ga was holding a piece of paper, promoting products to a customer with a composed expression.

Lin Xi showed a smile like a proud father.

After more than a year of tempering, Er Ga had finally come into his own!

As he got closer, certain words drifted into his ears.

"...can project power... electric fan... Master Lin... Qi..."

???

Lin Xi's forehead was filled with question marks.

Looking closely, what Er Ga was holding was indeed the "Spring City Evening News."

The one from February when they went to Spring City to sell the "forest oxygen bar."

The translator lady next to him—

Was the same girl who had been tormented quite a bit by Lin Xi last year.

She was translating with an expressionless face:

"Dantian... Qi..."

Lin Xi's face was covered in dark lines.

Er Ga, for the sake of foreign exchange, have you really lost all your principles?

I've mentored you for over a year, and this is the sales technique you've learned?

The netizens in the streaming room were already bursting with laughter.

【Er Ga, job well done!】

【To be fair, Er Ga's savvy is truly beyond reproach.】

【I think we can call Er Ga Master Lin's direct disciple!】

【Look at the translator lady's expression; she's already resigned to her fate! It seems she prepared quite a bit on how to translate Eastern metaphysics after she went back!】

Lin Xi sighed and looked up at the roof of the shed.

For the sake of the country's industrialization, this charlatan's hat...

If I must wear it, so be it!

...

Lin Xi was wondering where else to wander.

A figure suddenly blocked his path.

Immediately after, a pair of large hands gave him a bear hug.

"Oh! My God! Look who it is!"

An exaggerated aria, spoken in English with a Neapolitan accent.

Lin Xi struggled to break free.

Looking at the man in front of him, dressed in a suit with slicked-back hair, he smiled and said:

"Luigi, it seems you've lived very comfortably this past year; your belly has grown by two sizes."

"Didn't your brother come with you this year?"

The person who came was none other than the bicycle manufacturer from Italy from last year, Luigi.

Compared to last year's cautiousness, the current Luigi exuded the confidence of a nouveau riche from head to toe.

The golden Rolex on his wrist was dazzling under the lights.

"He came too; he's wandering around the other halls!"

"Thanks to you, my brother!"

Luigi affectionately put his arm around Lin Xi's shoulder:

"That batch of fans and shavers last year allowed me to finally hold my head high in the family!"

"Especially the electric shavers."

"You have no idea, those arrogant Germanic and Netherlands folk."

"They were howling in pain from our price war!"

"He sells for 80 dollars, I sell for 60!"

"Now, the entire distribution channel in southern Italy."

"As long as it's electric shaver products, our family has the final say!"

Luigi was beaming, gesturing with his fingers in the air:

"Even several large department stores in Milan have started taking the initiative to contact me for supplies."

"Before, they wouldn't even give us a second look."

Lin Xi smiled as he listened to him brag.

It was expected that Luigi's family business would grow.

With heavy hitters like red star · gentle breeze and red star whirlwind, it would be hard not to strike it rich!

Lin Xi suddenly had a thought and asked:

"How is your family's original business, the bicycle business?"

The smile on Luigi's face stiffened for a moment.

He sighed.

He pulled an exquisite silver cigarette case from his pocket.

He tried to offer one to Lin Xi, but Lin Xi waved him off.

"Don't mention it; there's some trouble."

Luigi scratched his head in frustration:

"The Japanese Shimano is too fierce."

"Their parts are cheap, and their precision is high."

"Our frames are beautiful, but you know, the workers in Naples..."

"Other than striking and drinking red wine, they work like they're sleepwalking."

"Costs can't be brought down, and the yield rate is low."

"If this continues, our family's bicycle factory will have to be converted into a pizza shop."

Lines of bullet comments flashed before Lin Xi's eyes.

【I knew it! The 80s were the key period for aluminum alloy replacing steel frames!】

【Italy people are still playing with sentimentality, while the Japanese have already started using automated machine tools for mass production.】

【Shimano is using forging and precision machining technology to massacre the European market!】

【This is a huge gap! Specialize in cranks, hubs, and derailleur housings! Streamer, show your talent!】

A glint flashed in Lin Xi's eyes.

"Luigi, what if I could let you produce parts with the precision of a Italy master, but at the cost of the Japanese?"

Luigi was stunned for a moment, then smiled bitterly:

"Lin, stop joking."

"You make fans; precision machinery is another matter entirely."

"I want to buy Japanese CNC machine tools."

"But those short guys want eighty thousand dollars a unit, and there's a waiting list."

"Follow me."

Lin Xi didn't explain; he turned and walked away.

The two of them pushed through the bustling crowd and arrived at the machinery exhibition area.

The booth of Quancheng No. 1 Machine Tool Plant was not conspicuous; it was even somewhat shabby.

Several green C616-M1 units were squeezed into a corner, ignored by everyone.

Right next door was the booth of Fengtian No. 1 Machine Tool Plant.

Red carpets, large banners.

Deputy Factory Director Ma of Fengtian No. 1 Machine Tool Plant had just seen off a customer.

Holding a letter of intent in his hand, a reserved smile was on his face.

Looking up, he saw Lin Xi leading a foreigner over.

Deputy Factory Director Ma picked up his teacup, blew on the floating leaves, and had a hint of mockery in his eyes.

"Oh, Little Lin."

Deputy Factory Director Ma complained in a humble-bragging way:

"Friends from Tanzania just now ordered five C620s."

"That's a good thing," Lin Xi replied casually. "How many US dollars?"

Deputy Factory Director Ma's smile stiffened, and then he gave a light cough:

"Friendship first, business second."

"What we want is rubber and copper ore; this is a national strategic material exchange."

Barter trade.

Some small countries didn't have foreign exchange.

So they introduced Chinese resources through bartering.

Lin Xi smiled and said nothing.

He led Luigi straight to the booth of Quancheng No. 1 Machine Tool Plant.

Director Cui Yushan was personally leading the team for this exhibition.

As soon as he saw Lin Xi bringing someone over, he hurried up to them.

"Man... Manager Lin, who is this?"

"A customer."

Lin Xi pointed to the C616-M1 with the black box attached:

"Luigi, this is what I wanted to show you."