Reborn Industrial Tycoon

In his previous life, Li Weimin ended up working in a department store. After moving goods for a few years, he became a small cadre in logistics by giving gifts to leaders, but he was eventually laid off.

Of course Li Weidong didn't want his younger brother to follow the same path of his previous life.

Xijiao Department Store was originally a supply and marketing cooperative, and was later expanded and turned into a department store. In the early 1990s, two floors were added to the original foundation to become Xijiao Department Store.

In the mid-1990s, the state-owned department store industry ushered in the first wave of bankruptcies. Department stores in the western suburbs also underwent restructuring and were acquired by a large enterprise and were no longer state-owned units.

After entering the 21st century, large supermarket chains appeared one after another. Carrefour, RT-Mart, Suning, Gome, etc. moved into Qinghe, which once again suppressed the living space of department stores. At this time, department stores could only survive, relying on some traditional stores.

Old customers survive.

The emergence of large-scale shopping malls has become the last straw for department stores. Wanda Plaza and the like are all one-stop shopping for food, drink, entertainment and shopping, and there are many brands, so the shopping experience is much better than traditional shopping malls.

In terms of price, department stores are not as competitive as e-commerce. People who want to buy cheap goods go to e-commerce platforms. Even the elderly rarely go to department stores.

In the end, the Western Suburb Department Store had to go bankrupt. The owner of the department store made hundreds of millions of dollars from selling the land. However, Li Weimin, who was in his forties at the time, became a laid-off worker.

He was laid off in his forties, had no skills, and had no hope of re-employment. However, Li Weimin was not willing to endure hardship, and it was embarrassing for him to set up a street stall, so he stayed at home and rested on his laurels.

Next is the drama of the rich brother helping the poor brother from time to time. Li Weidong "lent" Li Weimin 108,000 yuan every year. Of course, Li Weimin never paid back a penny of this money.

It was precisely because of knowing these circumstances that Li Weidong objected to his younger brother going to work in a department store. He did not want Li Weimin to follow the same path of his previous life.

However, Li Weimin was very interested in working in a department store.

So Li Weidong advised: "A department store is nothing more than a place to sell things, and it is such a big place. Its development potential is not as good as that of a power plant, let alone a construction company."

At this time, the second sister Li Chunyan came in with a plate of freshly fried vegetables and said at the same time: "Weidong, I think the department store is quite good. Think about how popular it was when you worked in a supply and marketing cooperative.

ah!"

"In the past, supply and marketing cooperatives were popular because of the insufficient supply of materials. But now it is different. The supply of materials will become more and more abundant, and there will be more and more places for people to buy things. If nothing else, let's talk about the market to the west of the station.

There are all kinds of small commodities, and the prices are cheaper than those in supply and marketing cooperatives.”

Li Weidong paused and then said: "For another example, in the past, we all went to the supply and marketing cooperatives to buy pork. Who still goes to the supply and marketing cooperatives now? When you go to the small vegetable market, you can always meet a vendor selling meat. In the future, such small stalls will also

More and more, there is no need for ordinary people to go to supply and marketing cooperatives to buy things."

"How can those street stalls compare with department stores? Department stores are state-owned after all. They sell good things and the product quality is guaranteed. Besides, even if department stores don't sell meat, they still have a prosperous business by selling other things.

, During the holidays, there are many bicycles parked in front of the department store." Li Chunyan, the second sister, said.

"Second sister, we have to take a long-term view on this matter." Li Weidong continued: "In the past, the supply and marketing cooperatives controlled purchasing and marketing. The supply and marketing cooperatives controlled the purchasing channels. If there were some good products, of course they would all go to the supply and marketing cooperatives.

But things are different now. Now they are all self-purchased and sold. Things that can be purchased by your department stores in the western suburbs can also be purchased by street vendors, and their operating costs are lower, so the things can be sold cheaper.

What's more, our Qinghe City has more than just one department store in the western suburbs. There was originally a Baiyun Department Store in the center of the city; the Electricity Bureau's Supply and Marketing Cooperative has now become the Jiuzhou Department Store; and our transportation company's supply and marketing cooperative

, I heard that it will also be converted into a transportation department store.

In the department store industry, there will be more and more competition, and maybe foreign-funded department stores will be opened in the future. By then, Americans, Europeans, and Japanese will all come to open department stores. How much competition pressure will there be!"

"No matter how fierce the competition is, people will always want to buy things!" Li Dengke said from the side: "The key is that Weimin is willing to work in department stores. The construction company and power plant are too hard after all, and I don't want Weimin to go there.

!”

The old man still doted on his younger son and was reluctant to let him suffer.

His mother, Zhou Yunxiu, also came over and advised, "Let Wei Min go wherever he wants to go. The key is to have a formal job. It's not like you don't know that your brother has been naughty since he was a child. If you find him

If he doesn't like a job, he will definitely give it up within three days!"

Regarding the matter of where Li Weimin should go to work, other family members felt that the department store was a good place to work. Li Weidong's objections alone were obviously difficult to support.

In the 1980s, supplies were still scarce, and department stores were definitely in need. People at that time could not have imagined that department stores would one day go bankrupt.

…

In Jicheng, the provincial capital, Ma Dexing brought Li Weidong to the newly established foreign exchange adjustment center.

Before 1994, China implemented a dual-track exchange rate system. The government would announce an official exchange rate, and when export companies made foreign exchange settlements, it would be another exchange rate.

For example, in 1980, the official exchange rate of the U.S. dollar to the RMB was 1 U.S. dollar to 1.5 yuan, while companies that earned foreign exchange through exports received an exchange rate of 1 U.S. dollar to 2.8 yuan when they made foreign exchange settlements.

The reason for this is that the actual exchange rate of RMB is not as high as the official exchange rate. If foreign exchange companies settle foreign exchange according to the official exchange rate, they will lose money on one sale.

Even if export-earning enterprises have another exchange rate, this exchange rate is still far behind the real exchange rate. In other words, if the settlement is based on the real exchange rate, the enterprise can earn more.

In 1986, in order to encourage enterprises to export, the country decided to establish a foreign exchange adjustment market.

The so-called foreign exchange swap market is a market outside the official market where enterprises and institutions buy, sell and receive foreign exchange quotas from each other. Therefore, the price in this foreign exchange swap market is floating.

There are also many restrictions when trading in the foreign exchange swap market. Buying foreign exchange is not something you can just buy or sell if you want.

Companies that want to purchase foreign exchange quotas must obtain approval from the Administration of Foreign Exchange before they can do so, while companies that want to sell foreign exchange quotas must also go through a series of approvals.

It was precisely because of the need for approval that Zhu Shicong was unable to obtain foreign exchange to purchase imported knitting machines.

The foreign exchange adjustment markets in various places are run by the Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Bureau. Even if a bank wants to enter and engage in agency transactions, it must be approved by the foreign exchange management department.

When companies that earn foreign exchange through exports sell foreign exchange quotas, they actually sell them to the local foreign trade and economic bureau; similarly, when companies that need foreign exchange buy foreign exchange, they also buy it from the local foreign trade and economic bureau.

In those days, the more foreign exchange the local foreign trade departments had in their hands, the greater their say and power. Therefore, after the foreign exchange swap market emerged, various places began to desperately engage in exports, and China's foreign trade also quickly declined from a deficit.

is a surplus.

Today Li Weidong came to Ma Dexing to convert the foreign exchange quota earned by the garment factory into RMB.

When an enterprise comes to exchange foreign exchange quota, the Department of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation will of course welcome him with both hands. Ma Dexing personally entertained Li Weidong and took Li Weidong to the foreign exchange swap center of the Department of Foreign Trade to handle business.

"Director Li, you have seen that the current official exchange rate is 1 U.S. dollar to 3 yuan, 7 cents and 1 cent in RMB. If you come to our transfer center to exchange it, I can exchange it with you at the rate of 1 U.S. dollar to 4 yuan and 2 cents! This is already

It’s the highest price.”

Ma Dexing paused and then said: "Last October, the state announced the maximum price for foreign exchange adjustments, which was 4 cents and 2 cents, so we really can't increase it for you."

"I understand, thank you, Director Ma." Li Weidong said.

According to the exchange rate of 4.2, Li Weidong's four million in foreign exchange can be exchanged for 16.8 million yuan. After deducting various costs of the garment factory and paying personal income tax, Li Weidong can personally get at least 10 million. In other words, Li Weidong now,

Have successfully become a multi-millionaire!

In the two years of 1987 and 1988, the exchange rate of RMB against the US dollar did not fluctuate at all. The central parity rate was 3.722 yuan per US dollar, and the maximum price in the foreign exchange adjustment market was 4.2 yuan per US dollar, which has not changed.

It was not until 1988 when the country announced the lifting of the price ceiling in the foreign exchange adjustment market that the exchange rate of the RMB against the U.S. dollar began to fluctuate.

Therefore, the 4 yuan and 2 cents given by Ma Dexing is already the highest price stipulated by the state.

Li Weidong then said: "Director Ma, do you think it is possible for our factory to apply for foreign exchange retention?"

Ma Dexing thought for a moment and shook his head with an embarrassed look on his face: "Now that the country's foreign exchange controls are so strict, it is impossible for you to retain a foreign exchange commission. As far as I know, the policy of retaining foreign exchange is only for enterprises in the special zone and foreign-invested enterprises.

According to the policy, foreign-funded enterprises can enjoy 1 yuan of foreign exchange retention for every US dollar of exported goods. State-owned enterprises do not have this kind of treatment."

"Sure enough, we still have to wait another year!" Li Weidong sighed softly.

After all, the policy in 1987 was relatively strict. In 1988, the policy was loosened, and only companies that earned foreign exchange through exports could get foreign exchange retention.

Ma Dexing continued: "Director Li, although I can't get you foreign exchange, I may be able to help you with other policy matters. For example, if you need any raw materials that are difficult to obtain, our Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Bureau can still help you."

If we can help you solve it, even if it is raw materials controlled by the state, our Department of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation can find a solution."

"Are all the materials controlled by the state available?" Li Weidong was slightly surprised. He didn't expect that the Department of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation was really powerful.

"Of course, if you ask me to enrich uranium to make an atomic bomb, we won't be able to do it," Ma Dexing said half-jokingly.

"Director Ma, I really have something I want to ask you for help with." Li Weidong then said, "Can you help me approve a car?"

"Aren't you from the tertiary industry of the transportation company? Why do you still need me to approve the car for you?" Ma Dexing asked with a smile.

Li Weidong immediately replied: "What I want is not a commercial vehicle, but a small car that I drive myself."

"Is it a car?" Ma Dexing asked.

Li Weidong nodded: "Yes, if you have a car, it will be much more convenient to go out and discuss business."

"No problem." Ma Dexing thought for a moment and then asked, "Can you wait?"

"Can't we find a car in the hall?" Li Weidong asked.

"There are existing cars, but they are not very good. The only ones we can get now are Ford's Sierra." Ma Dexing replied.

"Ford Sierra? To be honest, it's a bit ugly." Li Weidong said with some disgust.

The Ford Sierra is a car specially launched by Ford for Europe. As an American car, its 2.6-meter wheelbase is considered small among B-class cars.

The performance of the Ford Sierra is still very good, especially the 2.8-liter displacement model, which is equipped with a V6 engine. It is very powerful when placed in a B-class car. There is also a perverted version of this car that was once launched in South Africa, equipped with

The 5.0-liter V8 engine dares to compete with the Porsche 911.

However, this car has a major drawback, and that is its ugliness!

The front design of the Ford Sierra is called "avant-garde". In fact, it is ugly and completely inconsistent with the aesthetic vision of the time. Therefore, after this car was introduced to China, it was mostly used as a taxi.

Li Weidong felt that Ford Sierra was a bit ugly, so he asked: "Director Ma, if I wait, how long will I have to wait?"

"Then we have to wait until next year. According to the department's plan, in the first quarter of next year, the department will introduce a batch of Nissan Bluebirds, including high-end models with electric windows." Ma Dexing said, lowering his voice: "This

I’ll tell you the news, but don’t spread it outside, otherwise people from various units asking for the car will annoy me to death!”

"That should be the seventh-generation Bluebird. This is the originator of front-wheel drive cars. It's a good car!".

Thinking of this, Li Weidong said: "Director Ma, then I will wait a few more months. Then you have to leave one for me."

"Don't worry, as soon as the car comes, I will approve the note for you first, and then you can choose from various colors!" Ma Dexing promised, patting his chest.