Although Jiang Tao and Xiao Liu and the others aren't as tight with Wang Lianming,
they are still good friends with a decent relationship, occasionally getting together for a meal.
One person treats this time, and another will do next time.
They take turns, not bother with who gains and who loses.
After inviting a few people inside, everyone chatted and laughed, making the atmosphere lively.
After a few rounds of drinks, Jiang Tao felt it was the right time and said:
"A friend of mine who does fruit wholesale told me there's going to be a huge market wave for sugar oranges in a few days.
This friend of mine has always had a keen market sense and is already a millionaire young tycoon.
This time they mentioned it to me, perhaps out of pity because I've had a tough year.
I've got a lot of confidence in this friend's analysis and am planning to get in on it; do you guys want to join?"
"What? A big market wave for sugar oranges?"
"We've been selling sugar oranges daily for the past month and haven't heard anything about it."
"Brother Jiang, is this trustworthy?"
After hearing Jiang Tao's words, Xiao Liu and the others looked somewhat skeptical.
You can't blame them.
Primarily because the three fruit vendors, selling sugar oranges daily, hadn't heard of any such news.
Now Jiang Tao, an outsider, claims he has insider knowledge of a sugar orange market trend.
Isn't this turning the tables?
"If it weren't reliable, I wouldn't have gathered everyone here. Having hit upon such a wave, of course, I want to bring you all along to make money."
Jiang Tao didn't waste too much breath convincing Xiao Liu and the others; actions speak louder than words.
"Whether you believe it or not, I'm planning to invest about 250,000 yuan and will hit the fruit wholesale market to stock up tomorrow."
"If you don't want to do it, you can help me sell the oranges, and I'll pay you a salary, which guaranteed won't be less than what you're earning now."
Jiang Tao's words shocked Liu Zhiyuan and the others.
"Invest 250,000 in sugar oranges? Brother Jiang, are you serious?"
Liu Zhiyuan stared wide-eyed, full of surprise.
For those present, all migrants from rural areas, 250,000 isn't a small amount of money.
To invest such a large sum in one project requires immense courage!
"Yes, it's almost New Year, so let's make one final push to earn money and happily return home for the festivities!"
Jiang Tao's expression was calm and relaxed, his confidence clear in his smile to all present.
Still, everyone was apprehensive.
If this investment fails...
The New Year might be unfeasible!
Investments and business decisions aren't made on a whim.
After outlining his firm stance, Jiang Tao didn't try to persuade Liu Zhiyuan and the others but rather urged everyone to eat and drink.
Whether they join or not is up to them.
After all, the opportunity is there; it's up to them if they can seize it.
Jiang Tao gave them the night to think it over and asked them to let him know by morning.
The dinner gathering lasted from after 7 PM until after 9 PM.
After eating and drinking their fill, Liu Zhiyuan and the others went downstairs together.
Liu Zhiyuan and Shan Yufei went straight home.
Zhang Chao took several turns in the urban village before heading down a different alley near his home to a foot spa massage shop.
After seeing off Xiao Liu and the others, Jiang Tao video-called Xu Li for a while.
Today, her mother bought Jiang Xue a red dress for New Year's, and the little girl put it on specially to show Jiang Tao.
Jiang Xue inherited her mother Xu Li's slim and tall physique and loves to eat without gaining weight.
Her features came from Jiang Tao: big eyes, high nose bridge, a perfect oval face—a real beauty.
In that beautiful dress, she looked every bit like a little princess straight out of a fairy tale!
"It's hard to find another girl as pretty as my daughter across the whole universe~"
Jiang Tao never holds back on praise for his daughter, saying whatever comes to mind.
Jiang Xue giggled, "That's because Dad is also the most handsome dad in the universe, which is why I can be so pretty~"
"Hey Jiang Xue, I gave birth to you, okay?"
"Dad deserves a lot of credit too!"
"Who taught you these things?"
The three of them laughed and chatted until after 10 PM, when they finally ended the video call.
After a quick wash, Jiang Tao, thinking about the 0:00 intelligence update, wasn't sleepy.
So he opened today's intelligence about the sugar oranges and reread it word by word.
[Today's Intelligence]: Yesterday, you and Yu Dongdong reached a collaboration agreement, acquiring relevant intelligence—
Due to meteorological reasons, in three days, sugar oranges will face a price surge.
The increase will exceed 100%, lasting a week, and it's suitable to hoard some.
...
This intelligence update was different from the past hits indicating a product and location.
It's about the future price trend of a product.
It also specified the start and end of this market wave.
Such detailed intelligence handed to him on a silver platter.
If he can't handle it right, then as Teacher Xiao Yan commented, he might as well go home and be a pig.
"Based on 250,000 as the capital, a crate of 10 kg of large sugar oranges is wholesaled at 35 yuan."
"250,000 allows for wholesaling about 7,000 crates."
"The current market price is 5 yuan per kg; a 100% increase means 10 yuan per kg, so a crate could sell for 100 yuan."
"7,000 crates would be 700,000 yuan!"
"Subtracting the 250,000 cost leaves 450,000 in net profit!"
"Wow, that's a lot!"
Seeing the result on the calculator, Jiang Tao was taken aback.
He hadn't calculated it carefully before, and now, realizing just how profitable this sugar orange project was, he was surprised!
This wave will likely last a week at most, and Jiang Tao planned to wrap up within that time.
Even after giving Xiao Liu and the others a share, some for their hard work, he'd at least net over 350,000 himself!
And that's excluding the initial 250,000 capital—a pure profit!
"7,000 crates of sugar oranges need a storage place!"
"Given that the room temperature outside is just right, I don't need to rent a cold storage; a detached house in the urban village will do."
"In the urban village, a detached house's rent is at most 2,000 yuan per month, more suitable than renting a warehouse."
After calculating the profit of this wave, Jiang Tao considered the storage space and future sales.
For the sugar orange project, entering at the right time and securing as many goods as possible is the first step.
Getting the low-cost goods and selling them at a high price for cash is the key step!
Jiang Tao took a ledger notebook and a ballpoint pen from the drawer.
Whatever ideas popped into his head, he'd jot them down.
Better good notes than a good memory.
Many fleeting thoughts may vanish if not noted down promptly.
Writing and sketching in the notebook for over an hour,
soon, it was 0:00 again, and a new day had started.