Chapter 325
The elderly carpenter looked at Jiang Yexun and said, “The carvings on these pieces are more intricate than those on a single cabinet. I originally planned to keep them for my grandson’s marriage, but since he hasn’t made any progress with his own match, I’m willing to sell them to you. But the price has to be doubled.”
Jiang Yexun neither nodded nor refused. Instead, he asked about the price of regular cabinets. He had experience with pricing from his work at Hong Feng Production Team, so he was familiar with the typical costs for standard pieces.
The old man’s prices weren’t high, with each cabinet priced between one or two yuan. However, considering that this was Shanghai, and that Hong Feng Production Team was in the countryside with more favorable pricing, the cost was reasonable.
“Let me know the cost for six large wardrobes, six desks, six two-meter beds, six chests of drawers, and one Eight Immortals table,” Jiang Yexun requested.
The carpenter was initially pleased but then shook his head. “I’ve only made two sets for my grandsons. The rest are six sets per unit, and I can’t make them in bulk.”
“I’ll take your two sets. For the remaining four sets, can I use standard ones?” Jiang Yexun proposed.
The old man nodded with a smile. “The large wardrobes are thirty dollars, desks are twenty, beds are fifteen, chests of drawers are twenty. Each set totals eighty-five dollars. Four sets will cost three hundred and forty dollars, and the additional two sets will also be three hundred and forty dollars, making a total of six hundred and eighty dollars. Adding the Eight Immortals table for twenty dollars makes it seven hundred dollars.”
“Alright, please write me a receipt, and I’ll give you the address for delivery,” Jiang Yexun agreed.
He Xingzhi watched Jiang Yexun agree without haggling and couldn’t help but wince at the thought of the expense.
The old man suggested a compromise. “I can only deliver three sets now and the remaining three before the New Year. You give me three hundred now and the rest after the delivery, once you’re satisfied.”
“Deal. We’ll go with your plan,” Jiang Yexun agreed.
Together with the old carpenter’s son and grandson, they loaded the cabinets onto a cart and delivered them to Jiang Yexun’s newly bought home. They even carried each piece upstairs, placing them carefully in each room.
Once that was done, Jiang Yexun hurried to the Friendship Store nearby. Though the items he needed were also available at the supply co-op, he felt those options were too ordinary and wanted to get something special to show his dedication to Xiaoxiao. This wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision; he’d prepared by exchanging for a significant amount of foreign exchange certificates before arriving.
Inside, he bought a washing machine costing over two thousand yuan, a television for over a thousand, and plenty of foreign chocolates, candies, and wafer cookies. Unfortunately, refrigerators weren’t available at this time—just freezers for popsicles at the co-op.
After delivering his purchases, he headed to the supply co-op for more everyday items: a desk lamp, a new thermos, an electric fan, and fresh fruits to bring with him. However, he didn’t bother with common things like malted milk powder or sugar—he’d already sent a lot of these essentials to Xiaoxiao’s family in his luggage yesterday. Knowing they wouldn’t stay fresh for long, he chose not to buy more than they’d actually need.
Time flew by, and before he knew it, it was already 5 p.m. Jiang Yexun quickly washed his face, tidied up his clothes and hair, and gathered all the necessary documents—receipts, property deeds, as well as gifts like cigarettes and liquor—then set off with his mother to Su Xiaoxiao’s home for their visit.
Naturally, He Xingzhi didn’t tag along this time. He planned to treat himself to a nice meal at a state-owned restaurant that evening.