Chapter 28: The Ultimate Seductive Dance

On page one, Wei Dong found himself unexpectedly back in the glorious moments of the 1980s, but this time aboard a cargo ship. Just like a private vehicle, he parked the large truck next to the dock's freight department without a second thought, as there were no parking fees, and someone even promised to watch over his vehicle. Climbing aboard with a backpack containing a few changes of clothes and a pack of Mountain City cigarettes, he awoke to the noisy cabin, already navigating the river. It wasn’t the engine noise that filled the air but rather the sound of a group of cargo owners who had quickly settled in, skillfully laying out their cards for a game of poker.

A recent high school graduate, he pretended to be studious, glancing at a Russian language book outside, as his relentless grandmother emphasized the importance of early reading, a lesson he had almost internalized. Yet, within ten minutes, he found an excuse to escape the cold wind and instead joined the crowd to watch the game. After all, playing cards was far more entertaining than studying.

In an environment fraught with pressure and the risk of being reported, gambling was out of the question. However, players exchanged cigarettes as stakes, with varying odds based on the brand. After observing for a few minutes, someone nearby urged, “Let’s play another round; I have a good hand, and we need one more player.” Wei Dong rolled up his book and tossed it aside, declaring, “Three can play; we have a simple version of Landlord that’s much more fun than this.”

Indeed, just a couple of rounds were enough to attract a crowd of onlookers, including those previously engaged in playing another card game. What set this young man apart was his exceptional skill; no matter if he was the landlord or not, he could accurately predict his opponents' cards when only a few remained. Moreover, he had a bad habit of displaying his cards when the game neared its end, confidently proclaiming, “You can’t win; if you play like this, here’s what I’ll play, and you’ll definitely lose. Hand it over, let’s shuffle!”

The losers could only sheepishly hand over their cigarettes. This may have been the one skill honed over a long career in security. After countless night shifts and years of being single, this was a rare hobby. He even fashioned a set of rubber band chopsticks, skillfully holding the cards inside, using his left elbow to support his hand while deftly dealing with his right thumb. When there were no games, he spent hours playing on his phone, depleting his mental energy for the sake of honing his skills.

With an IQ sufficient for university, he found a sense of superiority despite his physical limitations, instinctively pouring more energy into this pursuit. The atmosphere was exhilarating, filled with exclamations of surprise and admiration from various dialects around him, fueling his growing confidence. Over the past six months, he had earned a considerable sum but had to keep it hidden, leading to a sense of repression. Suddenly feeling liberated, he exclaimed, “Who’s up for a game? If you win, this pack of Mountain City cigarettes is yours. No need to worry about losing anything; come on, let’s light up and play!”

With money in his pocket, he didn’t care about the stakes, reveling in the rare moment of abandon. His simple playing style and clever strategies drew crowds, and a group formed nearby to practice their own games, eager to challenge him. After all, they had nothing to lose, and winning meant more cigarettes.

The entire cabin erupted with an atmosphere of excitement and competition. Even the non-working sailors and officers stretched their necks to catch a glimpse. Wei Dong, generous with his winnings, shared his cigarettes with others, including two visibly struggling local cargo transporters whom he offered cigarettes to.

Having observed for so long, he began to engage in conversations, imitating the casual banter he’d seen from others. It was evident that he was honing his communication skills, practicing the ability to quickly capture desired information from others' expressions. Having secretly listened to the lively conversations of others, he now understood the challenges of participating himself. Fortunately, his card skills were so refined that it became instinctual, freeing his mind to strategize against others: “Hey, don’t talk, I can’t think when you do!”

Laughter filled the air as various commercial exchanges took place. One man transporting specialty glass spoke of delivering along a river tributary, mentioning how a few local optical military factories had shifted production to cameras, only to struggle with sales after a trademark law was enacted. Wei Dong noted this information carefully. Another man shared news that a leading local military enterprise had finally finalized a collaboration with Japan on a new van model, though they questioned its market viability. Wei Dong discreetly jotted this down, knowing that a good memory is no match for a poor pen.

Thus, the cargo ship journeyed for seven days, with the group mostly confined to the cabin playing cards, only stepping out briefly to glimpse a now expansive river that had once felt narrow. Arriving at the dock near the steel plant, workers eagerly awaited delivery, and the unloading process was much smoother than the last time. However, as he received payment, Wei Dong suddenly realized a significant issue: he had too much cash!

With sixty-six thousand yuan in mostly ten-yuan notes, it amounted to a bulky bundle. If he concealed it on his person, it could form a sort of armor, making movement cumbersome. Even tightly bundled, a mere ten thousand yuan represented a sizable load. His backpack was completely full. The financial staff at the metal plant cautioned him about safety, aware of the dangers of carrying such a hefty amount. Wei Dong quickly bid farewell and vanished.

His card-playing companions had shared numerous tales of unfortunate incidents involving merchants being tempted by money. Wei Dong thought he should bring along his friend Dog Egg next time, as having a companion would offer some comfort.

As for the sixty to seventy thousand yuan, he already had a plan. After delivering his goods, he had spent several days exploring the area. He took a taxi from the dock to the city center, where he found a major bank to deposit sixty thousand yuan. Though it didn’t offer universal withdrawals or inter-city transactions, it served as a temporary holding place. Such a large sum would draw attention at other banks, but in this area, it was relatively common. He stashed the remaining cash and his two hundred yuan along with the deposit slip and set off to find goods.

Each time he traveled from Shanzhou to the provincial capital, he made it a point to bring back cured meats, but he didn’t dare transport goods from Jiangzhou to sell, especially since Yu Qili had yet to be released. However, it was unwise to return empty-handed from Hu Hai to Jiangzhou. This time, he was clear about his objective.

Behind the bustling Sujing Road, he found a modest electronics factory’s sales department, where he requested, “I need a hundred portable tape recorders. What’s the lowest price? Delivery to the Yangtze River freight station, cash on delivery.” This drew the attention of everyone from salespeople to the department head, who were thrilled to have such a significant customer.

As a manufacturer from northern Jiangsu, their tape recorders couldn’t compete with local factories in Hu Hai, let alone with high-end imported products. The sudden influx of a large customer was a delightful surprise; they hurried to place orders while inquiring about Wei Dong’s requirements and how he had learned of their product.

The portable dual-band single cassette tape recorder featured a glass-topped radio tuner, a left-side cassette deck, a large speaker on the right, and a small tweeter, all in a compact size with a handle for easy outdoor use. Many young people on the street loved to carry it on their shoulders, dancing to the music. With flared pants, sunglasses, and an afro, they epitomized fashion.

As a quality product invented and produced by a renowned Japanese brand, it retailed for around three hundred yuan. Domestic state-owned factories sold replicas for one hundred fifty to two hundred, while more audacious local factories managed to push wholesale prices down to eighty-five. However, consumers were hesitant to pay such prices for electronics, fearing that the expensive items would break after a few months of use, leading them to consider purchasing insurance instead. Thus, only consumers willing to buy from state-owned enterprises left this northern Jiangsu factory pondering how to expand its market.

Wei Dong had noticed this during his previous visit; he didn’t inquire about quality or price but recognized the brand name on display in the office, knowing it was a viable product. Anyone who had experienced the 1980s in the cities would remember this crazy brand, which pioneered the trend of advertising on national television. “Yanwuwu, flamboyant dance, let’s sing together with passion,” just hearing those words made him involuntarily shudder. He didn’t quite understand what was so alluring, only knowing it preyed on the gullible.