Free Web NovelChapter 449: Chapter 449: Sold Out in a Rush
The villagers later learned that Adrian Hawthorne had been the one to procure the sewing machine ticket. Shane Thorne had bought it for eighty yuan, whereas in the city they were going for a hundred, and even then, they were hard to come by.
Lately, whenever Shane Thorne had some free time, he would stroll around the village with his new radio, humming along to the opera programs. Sometimes, he would even leave the radio at the village entrance for a group of old men and women to listen with him.
The radio had now become a crucial piece of cultural equipment for Millstone Peak Village. After dinner, many people would head to the village entrance to listen to the opera or catch up on the news, getting a glimpse of the outside world. They would shoot the breeze and chat, and the evening would just fly by. Their cultural lives were much richer than before.
Soon after, the village chief, Preston Thorne, also had a new radio, identical to Shane Thorne’s. When the villagers inquired, they learned that Adrian Hawthorne had also procured this one from a relative. It sold for fifty yuan, the same price as the department store, but didn’t require a purchase ticket. This made the villagers’ hearts itch with desire. Those with spare cash all went to Adrian Hawthorne, asking him to help them get radios too.
They, too, longed for a richer cultural life!
What the villagers didn’t know was that Adrian Hawthorne had actually sold the radios to Shane Thorne and Preston Thorne for only thirty-five yuan each. He claimed it was his relative’s cost price and that he wasn’t making a single cent, but he told them to quote fifty yuan to everyone else.
Shane Thorne and Preston Thorne were, of course, more than happy to oblige. They felt quite pleased, thinking that Adrian Hawthorne was a sensible young man who understood the importance of treating close relations differently. ’He’s a good kid, loyal and decent.’
And so, with Shane Thorne and Preston Thorne acting as two living advertisements, people from other villages began sending representatives to buy radios. Adrian Hawthorne had initially assumed the purchasing power in the countryside would be low, but he was proven wrong. Half of his twenty radios were sold to villagers, and demand was still outstripping supply. But now, he was out of stock.
Winston Lowell had sold off the remaining few units and had even collected a number of deposits. Adrian Hawthorne only had one radio left, which he was saving for Old Master Tate to listen to the news.
"Boss, the fabric’s almost sold out, and there isn’t a single radio left. I’ve also taken a bunch of deposits. Here’s the money and the ledger. You should check the accounts."
Winston Lowell handed a ledger and a thick stack of cash to Adrian Hawthorne. Unlike when they sold movie stills and the money was all small bills and coins, this time it was mostly ten-yuan "Great Unity" notes. The sight alone was gratifying.
The ledger was kept quite clearly. Adrian Hawthorne gave it a quick look, then counted the money. The cash Winston Lowell had turned in amounted to over 1,500 yuan—the gross profit from the fabric and radios. His and Goldie Thorne’s side had also brought in a significant amount, bringing the total to around 3,400 or 3,500 yuan. After deducting costs and commissions, his own take would be about a thousand yuan. On top of that, he had also pocketed two free radios and the leftover fabric scraps.
’In less than a week, the fabric and radios were completely sold out, and I’ve already cleared a thousand yuan. This venture was more than worth it.’
Adrian Hawthorne suppressed his excitement and said coolly, "Calculate your own commission. I’ll give you the total amount, and you can distribute it among the guys."
"No rush, Boss. Isn’t it time to restock? A lot of people are clamoring for more fabric," Winston Lowell said, his eyes gleaming.
’Selling fabric is way more profitable than selling movie stills.’ He did a quick calculation. ’In just one week, I’ve made a hundred yuan without putting down a single cent of my own money. All I have to do is talk a bit more and smile a little wider, and I could make several hundred a month. This is better than having gold Dollars fall from the sky!’
On top of that, his sister had gotten several beautiful dresses for free and was dressing up every day. His brother-in-law was worried sick because some reckless young university student, newly assigned to the area, kept insisting that "unmarried means available" and pestered his sister daily. Yelling at the guy didn’t work; he was completely shameless.
"Tell them we’ll definitely have more fabric, but they’ll have to wait a few days."
Adrian Hawthorne had already booked his ticket. He was preparing to make another trip.
