67.

When Lin Hongwen arrived at the firm, he told Xu Qingzhi about the matter, thinking that Xu Qingyi wanted to save the country through industry, and he didn't know if he would think it would be too much, so he added at the end, "When the time comes, as long as we maintain the original price, we will be able to enter the market." ”

Xu Qingzhi shook his head, "The price can't be kept, and it is specified to rise." ”

"How?"

"There are more and more people, there are more and more needs, and once the war starts, the railways and waterways are strangled, and the supply simply cannot meet the demand. Even if we don't make any publicity, there are people with a discerning eye who can see that they will prepare first, and when the time comes, these people will specify that the price will be raised. If they go up, we don't, we will become the target of public criticism. Xu Qingzhi explained, "If our business is very big, then they don't dare to say anything, but at the moment, in the eyes of others, we are just making a small fuss." ”

Lin Hongwen said that since this is the case, there is no way, and then he told Xu Qingzhi about his plan to trade with foreigners.

Xu Qingzhi said that even if you do business with foreigners, don't order too much at one time, otherwise it will also be too conspicuous. He made a list of the goods of various foreign companies, and the two discussed it and crossed out all the expensive goods. Xu Qingzhi calculated how many orders he had ordered, and only after ordering how much he ordered at a time did he go out to talk.

In the next few days, Xu Qingzhi spent every day wandering around different trading houses, haggling. He Mu also handed a list to Lin Hongwen as agreed. "The number of people entering and exiting every day has increased slightly, and the goods are very miscellaneous, from rice, flour, grain and oil to clothes, shoes and hats, every day I look at the delivery to go in, it is rare to see shipments, the details are on the list, you see."

Lin Hongwen glanced at it and asked, "Who are the people coming and going, can you see it?" ”

"Most of them are businessmen, and there are expatriates living nearby," Mr. Ho said, "but they say a few of them are a little eccentric." ”

"What's that weird method?"

"It's hard to say, they don't live nearby, they don't buy in Japanese trading houses, but every three days, they show up," He Mu said.

"It's a bit weird," Lin Hongwen said, "and keep staring like this for the time being." ”

"I heard Shi Ying say that there is going to be a war?" He Mu asked.

"Hmm", Lin Hongwen folded the paper and held it up, "Don't tell others, I don't know when the fight will start, but it should not be a few months." ”

"Yes," He Mu said.

Lin Hongwen looked at him and was happy, "You don't have to worry, if you can't fight, what should we do?" ”

"Worry is also your worry," He Mu said with a smile, "This matter is not my business. ”

"Riding in the same boat, you are not afraid that the ship will sink?"

"With you here, it's not so easy to sink", He Mu said, "Among the four of us, I know the least." In my opinion, if you take 10,000 steps back, even if this battle really can't be fought, you don't have to worry. Look at how many more people and so many people have been able to sell after the opening of this railway? It's nothing more than making more and making less. ”

"You can think about it," Lin Hongwen said with a smile.

68.

A few days before the autumn equinox, a large number of Russian ** teams drove into Harbin, some of which were concentrated near China Street. Xu Qingzhi watched the soldiers with guns walking around the street, thought for a while, and went out to find Vincent next door.

Vincent was wiping his vase, and when he saw Xu Qingzhi coming in, he thought he was going to ask about the goods he had ordered before, and hurriedly said, "It's being unloaded at the dock, and it will be delivered tomorrow at the latest." ”

"That's not in a hurry", Xu Qingzhi said, "This is something to order next month, in addition, I want to buy something extra from you." ”

Vincent took the list and looked at it, "More than this month?" ”

"You don't know, there are a lot of people from other places in Fujiadian every day, and there are not enough things to sell," Xu Qingzhi said.

"Well, it's a pity that the Russians won't let us do business there", Vincent shrugged, "I can only cheapen you, you just said that you want to buy something extra?" ”

Xu Qingzhi got closer and whispered, "Gun." ”

Vincent looked at him warily, "What are you going to do?" ”

"It's just self-preservation," Xu Qingzhi said, "and you can see that the Russian garrison has increased again." ”

Vincent finished wiping the vase by himself, and raised his eyes to look at Xu Qingzhi, "How much do you want?" ”

"How many can you get?"

"I'm not sure right now," Vincent said, "I'll have to try one or two in the next shipment." ”

"Where's the price?"

"Each with fifty rounds of ammunition, 60 rubles, or 40 taels of silver."

Xu Qingzhi shook his head, "It's easy to buy this thing in your country." ”

"But it takes a lot of effort to transport it", Wen Sen looked at Xu Qingzhi calmly, "Who let your country not let you buy and sell." ”

"Even so, you are not the only one willing to do this business", Xu Qingzhi said with a smile, "If you insist on this price, I have to go to Mr. White and ask, I heard that the quality of their country is better?" ”

"What's so good about that British?" Vincent grabbed Xu Qingzhi, "Xu, you have to understand that this thing was invented by the Americans, and the Americans know it best, and the American ones are the best." ”

"But yours are too expensive, I don't have to buy the best," Xu Qingzhi pouted.

"The price is negotiable," Vincent said, "you know, if it's not of good quality, it's dangerous, so you have to buy something made in the United States." For the sake of all the business we have done, I'll give you a 10% discount. ”

Xu Qingzhi shook his head, leaned closer and whispered, "When I was studying abroad, I heard that the □□ sold to us by the Germans was only about twenty taels per stroke, and one hand. Gun, do you want me 40 taels of silver? ”

"Eighty-five folds," Vincent said.

"Five folds", Xu Qingzhi's counteroffer.

"Xu, the technology content is different!" Vinson said excitedly, "How can the Germans be as advanced as us?" In this way, I take another big step back, seven folds. ”

"Six folds," Xu Qing's face did not change.

"Deal", Vincent sighed and sat down to write in his notebook, "I'll let you know when the next batch arrives." ”

Xu Qingzhi walked over and bent down and whispered, "Don't forget, each one also comes with fifty rounds of ammunition." Turning to go out, Vincent put down his pen and slapped the table hard.

69.

Hand. The gun arrived three months later, and Vincent was afraid that something would happen, so he deliberately asked Xu Qingzhi to come back after nine o'clock in the evening to pick up the goods. Xu Qingzhi has always been punctual, and as soon as he arrived at nine o'clock, he stood outside the door with Lin Hongwen.

The three of them sat around the table by the light of the oil lamp, and Vincent carefully took out a box, unlocked it, and went several layers of outer packaging before the gun was revealed.

The jet-black gun glowed with cold light, and Vincent unloaded the magazine in front of them, "Browning M1900, can hold 7 bullets, the size is moderate, suitable for self-defense." ”

"Browning?" Xu Qingzhi smiled, "Don't you say that you are the best produced in the United States?" Why did it change to Belgian again? ”

"The bullets are made in our Americans", Vincent took out a small box of bullets, and the yellow metallic luster was very soft under the light of the oil lamp, "Colt bullets, and Browning is American." ”

Vincent gave them a general explanation of how to use it, but he was still not at ease, "Don't put the bullet on it when you take it back, let's look for a day recently, let's go to the suburbs, find a place where there is no one, and I will show you in person." ”

With Wen Sen's help, Xu Qingzhi and Lin Hongwen quickly mastered how to use it. Although the accuracy is still very poor, it is still possible to hit the target with close shooting. Vincent said that this is fine, this □□ has a range of only thirty meters, and anyone who needs you to use it is basically a few steps away from you.