Chapter 314: Signing an Order Right on the Train
Director Tian couldn’t help but look at Su He ahead of him. Su He had handed her small shoulder bag to Principal Chen for temporary safekeeping and was now holding a briefcase in her hand.
She looked somewhat different from her usual self, but Director Tian didn’t know what words to use to describe it; in short, he just felt she looked highly reliable.
When they reached the entrance of the soft-sleeper carriage, due to the regulations, Su He could not enter.
Under Wang Qiang’s mediation, she and David conducted their negotiations with one standing outside the soft-sleeper carriage and the other standing inside.
David sized Su He up for a bit. Although the young girl was dressed very simply, she looked vastly different from most Chinese people he had met.
She showed no curiosity, nor was she anxious or uneasy. She even possessed a measure of the calm and ease a host shows toward a guest.
After exchanging greetings, Su He said in fluent English, “Mr. David, it is an honor that our product has earned your recognition. Let us get straight to the point! Our instant noodles are priced at 0.3 US dollars per pack, which is three thousand US dollars per ton. How many tons would you like to order?”
She asked how many tons he wanted to order rather than whether he wanted to buy them; this was a strategic phrasing technique.
David didn’t fall into the trap. Having been in business for many years, he was thoroughly familiar with such tactics.
“Su, although I am interested in your instant noodles, to be honest, I am still hesitating. I’ve purchased instant noodles from Country R before, and the sales volume wasn’t very good.”
Su He said with a smile, “You must have tasted our instant noodles just now. Whether in terms of flavor or quality, they are absolutely much stronger than those from Country R.
“Furthermore, I’ve investigated the matter—the export price of their instant noodles is 0.35 US dollars per pack, which is far higher than our pricing.
“Mr. David, our production capacity is temporarily limited. Therefore, we only plan to sign contracts for three hundred tons at this Canton Fair.
“If you don’t sign now, you might not necessarily be able to snatch a quota once we reach the fair.
“We have a saying in China: ‘An opportunity lost never returns.’ If you hesitate any longer, you’ll miss a golden opportunity!
“How about this—we in China place great importance on a booming start when doing business. If you can sign the very first order of this Canton Fair with us, we will gift you two enamel basins for every ton of instant noodles.
“The gifted enamel basins are different from those sold at the Canton Fair. Every single design highly embodies our Chinese characteristics, and they can be printed with your signature.
“When the time comes, you can gift them to your distributors, or you can use them for a lucky draw.
“To use a professional term, this is high-end manual customization. It can greatly increase the added value of the instant noodles!”
The train conductor, Wang Qiang, and the team leader from the foreign trade department were both listening nearby since they had to play a supervisory role.
Of course, they couldn’t understand English. However, there was a translator with the team who translated the conversation between David and Su He for them.
The two looked at each other, the exact same line running through their minds: What the hell is high-end manual customization!
Those things are all handmade anyway!
But David didn’t know that!
He was moved!
On one hand, it was because of how excellent Su He claimed the enamel basins were; on the other hand, Su He’s mention of a lucky draw gave him an inspiration.
With the gimmick of a lucky draw, the instant noodles would definitely sell better.
It was just that he hadn’t decided on how many tons to order yet. Since it was their first cooperation, it was better to be prudent.
After pondering for a while, only then did he say, “Su, I’ll order ten tons first. If the sales momentum is good, I will place follow-up orders.”
Su He’s eyes curved into smiling crescents. “Then we will sign a pre-order agreement first. Once the Canton Fair commences, we will sign the formal procurement contract.”
As Su He spoke, she pulled out a pre-drafted bilingual pre-order agreement from her briefcase.
After both parties filled in the detailed information, Su He looked at Director Tian, who had been standing like an old, submissive quail the entire time. “Director, stamp it!”
Director Tian’s hands trembled as he pulled out the official seal. Seeing this, Su He simply took the seal, pressed it into the inkpad, and stamped it twice upon the two copies of the contract with sharp smack sounds.
To be on the safe side, she further stamped the seams of the pages.
David also pulled out his stamp and pressed it down.
Su He tucked away her copy of the contract and extended her hand. “Mr. David, a pleasure cooperating with you!”
Although David had cooperated with Chinese manufacturers before, this was his very first time encountering a manufacturer that acted with such swift, thunderous efficiency.
He said with a smile, “Su, I look forward to our follow-up cooperation immensely.”
Su He’s eyes curved into smiling crescents. “I look forward to it immensely as well.”
Su He exchanged a couple more pleasantries, then pulled a rolled-up straw hat from her briefcase, saying with a smile:
“Mr. David, the weather in Guangzhou is scorching hot. I happen to have a straw hat hand-woven by our handicrafts factory here. When not in use, it can be rolled up for storage without taking up space, and when you need it, you can just unroll it and wear it.”
David accepted it and took a look. There was even an elastic band to adjust the head circumference at the back of the straw hat, which he found quite excellent.
Su He said a few more generic pleasantries before turning to leave.
She had barely taken two steps when Director Tian stumbled. Fortunately, Su He was quick-eyed and swift-handed, catching him in time, otherwise he would bound to have fallen flat on his face.
Director Tian said with some embarrassment, “Well, my legs are a bit numb.”
In reality, the old man was still in a complete state of dazed shock!
This—this was a success just like that?
Three thousand US dollars per ton—doesn’t ten tons mean thirty… thirty thousand?
Previously when I said we could claim fifty thousand US dollars in orders at this Canton Fair, Old Feng even said I was dreaming in broad daylight.
Heh, we haven’t even reached the Canton Fair yet, and Little Su has already claimed thirty thousand US dollars in orders.
Tsk-tsk, if Old Feng finds out, won’t his eyes pop right out of his head?
Director Tian was simply far too excited!
So much so that even after snapping out of his daze, he walked with a slight, rhythmic bounce in his step!
As for what others thought, it lay completely outside his scope of consideration.
His mind was entirely filled with: I, Tian Jide, have earned foreign exchange!
Smoke is rising from the ancestral graves of my, Tian Jide’s, family line!
After calming down a bit, he lamented in his heart. A person truly has to broaden their macro vision. Look at that—how outstanding my crown prince is!
If nothing else, Little Su had prepared the pre-order contract ahead of time. She had plans for this all along!
Very quickly, the two returned to the sleeper carriage.
Principal Chen and the other three hurriedly came up to meet them. “Little Su, what did the train conductor call you over for?”
Su He said with a beaming smile, “Because our instant noodles were far too fragrant, those foreigners in the soft-sleeper carriage absolutely insisted that the conductor get them a few packs to taste. Consequently, once they tasted them, a foreigner wanted to sign a contract with us.
“In reality, Director Tian and I hadn’t intended to sell them at all. After all, the Canton Fair hasn’t even commenced yet. But that foreigner was far too sincere, so we could only reluctantly sign a ten-ton pre-order contract with him…”
Director Feng let out a startled gasp like a squawking duck: “How—how much? Ten—ten tons?”
Su He let out a sigh. “Exactly, ten tons. It’s a bit on the small side, but I suppose it’ll do!”
Director Feng: “…”
His very first reaction was that Su He was lying!
But seeing Director Tian’s face looking as if it had been injected with chicken blood, he had no choice but to believe it was the truth.
This—how on earth was this possible?!
Securing a contract for ten tons of instant noodles just by riding a train?
Su He hadn’t hidden her words when she spoke; she had spoken completely openly, so a great many people overheard her.
Every single one of them stood dumbfounded!
Some of them had already participated in a dozen or so Canton Fairs, yet this was their very first time hearing of a case where an order was claimed right on the train!
This Su He truly was extraordinary!
Luo Dongchuan, meanwhile, stood completely like a wooden block!
Shen Jiawang still wants me to dig a pit for Su He?
Forget it!
With this capability of hers, she could casually spawn a drop of wicked intent and bury me completely alive!
