Chapter 138: The Power of Connections (Part I)

For Zhang Wenhao, opening an office supply store was no problem at all. It simply required obtaining the relevant business license and registering a company to begin operations. As for the source of inventory, that was not much of an issue either; after all, this industry relied on connections. Success had little to do with the size of the storefront or the specific wholesale channels, and everything to do with the quantity and quality of one's clients.

Zhang Wenhao did not intend to rush into negotiations with the executives immediately. In his view, securing these major clients was a foregone conclusion; the channels were already established, and he simply needed to prepare the supply.

The following day, Zhang Wenhao scouted rental prices at Zhongxin Plaza and found a space of about forty square meters. The rent was four thousand yuan per month, payable annually, with a minimum lease term of two years. However, subletting was permitted should he need to move out early, provided he found a successor.

The management of the mall was firm on the price. Having researched the market beforehand, Zhang Wenhao knew this was standard, so he didn't hesitate to sign the lease.

With monthly management and sanitation fees totaling just over a hundred yuan, the overhead was negligible. Aside from that, the mall charged no other fees—a simple "one-and-done" transaction that pleased him. Once the contract was signed and the payment made, the mall would not bother him again.

Zhang Wenhao paid the rent and miscellaneous fees in full. Regarding inventory, he learned that nearly every office supply vendor at Zhongxin sourced from the same company. He contacted them, requested a price list, and compared it with market rates, discovering a profit margin of roughly thirty to thirty-five percent.

In other words, a monthly revenue of one hundred thousand yuan would yield a net profit of around thirty thousand. With at least ten large companies already within his reach, Zhang Wenhao felt very confident about hitting hundreds of thousands in monthly turnover.

He spent the next two days working alone to set up the shop. Business and tax registration processes were notoriously slow, often taking over half a month for a license, but Zhang Wenhao didn't bother calling anyone for favors. He quietly prepared a two-thousand-yuan red envelope, and within two days, his paperwork was approved.

He named his company Haoyu Office Supplies Sales. The name had no special meaning; he simply told his parents he was partnering with a friend, so he plucked a character from his own name and combined it with another, providing a plausible excuse if they asked.

Since he was dealing with corporate clients, invoices were essential, so he purchased and installed a tax-control machine. With his initial capital of five hundred thousand yuan—supplemented by fifty thousand borrowed from his parents—he was set up to issue VAT invoices, a requirement for many of his target firms.

Everything in order, he began ordering stock. Office supplies were the core, and per the supplier’s advice, he stocked up on the most frequently used consumables. The relationship between suppliers and distributors was tight and flexible; unsold items could be returned or exchanged, and the supplier promised same-day delivery for any shortages.

With everything ready, the only task left was to leverage the connections with those executives.

Given the groundwork Chen Feng had already laid, Zhang Wenhao decided to simply invite the bosses to a dinner, present his new business cards, and finalize the deals without needing Chen Feng to intervene further.

He decided to host the dinner at the Hanlin Ecological Garden, using a VIP card given to him by Zhang Zhi. That morning, he called Zhang Zhi to arrange a banquet, specifying the same standard as the previous gathering. Zhang Zhi immediately assured him everything would be handled by 6:00 PM and thoughtfully suggested, "Wenhao, just tell those bosses to meet in the same private room as last time so they know exactly where to go."

Zhang Wenhao nodded, finding this even more convenient. He proceeded to call each executive from the numbers on his contacts. Upon hearing his name, they were clearly impressed and enthusiastic, readily accepting his invitation.

Zhang Wenhao knew they were honoring Chen Feng’s influence, but he had already come to terms with this. It wasn't shameful to use such connections; rather, it would be foolish not to utilize the resources at his disposal.

Lately, Zhang Zhi had been raking in money. Every one of the ten bosses from that previous dinner had opened membership cards with him, each worth at least a million yuan. These men also brought their own friends, and in just a few days, Zhang Zhi had netted tens of millions. Consequently, he placed both Chen Feng and Zhang Wenhao in a position of high importance, ready to fulfill their requests at a moment's notice.

Zhang Wenhao arrived at the Hanlin Ecological Garden just after 5:00 PM. Meeting with Zhang Zhi, he was told, "Everything is set, Wenhao. I’ve even arranged the entertainment for after dinner. You have nothing to worry about."

"Thank you for being so attentive, Brother Zhang," Zhang Wenhao replied.

"What are you talking about?" Zhang Zhi said, feigning annoyance. "You call me brother, so you are my own flesh and blood. If I don't handle your affairs with full effort, where would I hide my face?" He added, "The bill for tonight is already cleared. Don't even think about paying; the front desk won't accept your money or your card."

Knowing this was a drop in the bucket for Zhang Zhi, but feeling the pinch in his own wallet, Zhang Wenhao didn't insist.

He then realized that even an ecological garden required office supplies. Never one to overlook an opportunity, he pulled out his new business card and handed it to Zhang Zhi. "Brother Zhang, I’ve just finished high school and have some free time, so I started a small company to gain some experience. I hope you can look after me."

Zhang Zhi took the card with curiosity, smiled, and said, "Office supplies? That’s perfect. From now on, all my needs will go through you. I’ll call my procurement manager later and tell him to contact you directly."

"Thank you for the support, brother," Zhang Wenhao smiled.

"Don't mention it," Zhang Zhi waved his hand. "We’re family. Besides, this is a necessary expense for me anyway. I have to buy it from someone, so why not give the business to my own brother?"

Zhang Wenhao agreed. It was like eating; one had to eat regardless, and it made no difference if it were at a friend's place. Unlike a restaurant where tastes varied, office supplies were standardized.

Zhang Zhi tucked the card away and continued, "I know many people running companies in Jiangcheng. Most aren't giants, but they are numerous. I’ll put in a good word for you with them. I guarantee your business will be booming from day one."

He then asked, "Is this why you invited those bosses tonight?"

Zhang Wenhao nodded, seeing no need to hide it. "Since this is my first business venture, I want to do my best. Those bosses are like gods of wealth; if they can offer some support, it would be a tremendous help."

Zhang Zhi patted him on the shoulder. "Don't worry. I guarantee not one of them will refuse you."

Though he was already confident, Zhang Wenhao laughed. "I hope so."

The guests arrived one by one. Upon seeing Zhang Wenhao, they were as respectful as if they were meeting Chen Feng himself. Despite being twenty years younger than most of them, Zhang Wenhao kept his composure, behaving naturally—polite, but never subordinate. He knew that no matter how much wealth they had, he could not lose his nerve.

At the start, he didn't state his purpose. However, these men were sharp; they knew there was no such thing as a free lunch. They understood that Chen Feng’s previous dinner was meant to pave the way for Zhang Wenhao, placing him at his right hand and calling him "brother." Since they were willing to spend millions on membership cards for Zhang Zhi, they would certainly be willing to bleed a little for Zhang Wenhao.

After a few rounds of drinks, one of the bosses spoke up. "Wenhao, we are all your elder brothers here. You don't need to be formal. Why don't you tell us the real reason for this dinner?"

Zhang Wenhao offered a bashful smile, stood up with his glass, and said, "Gentlemen, I am young and inexperienced. Having just graduated from high school, I’ve spent my life in school and don't know the hardships of society. I wanted to try my hand at business, so I registered a small company. I hope you can all look after me."

The reaction was exactly as he had hoped. If he had asked them for a handout, they might have felt uncomfortable, but by starting a business, he was creating a path for mutual benefit—something they were very willing to support.

A real estate developer laughed, "Don't keep us in suspense, Wenhao. Since you've opened a company, why don't you give us your card?"

Zhang Wenhao handed them out. The men looked at the cards and exchanged knowing smiles. The developer sighed, "Zhang Wenhao, your vision is truly excellent!"

"Compared to you all, my little business is barely worth mentioning," Zhang Wenhao replied humbly.

"Not at all," the man insisted. "While the business is small, your insight is sharp. We here are in all sorts of fields—real estate, clothing, energy, logistics. But your business is the common denominator: every company needs office supplies. This business is destined to succeed!"

"Then I’ll take that as a promise," Zhang Wenhao smiled. "Please look after me. This is my first attempt at business, and I really want to make a success of it."

"Rest assured! Absolutely!" one said. "Starting tomorrow, all of my group’s office supplies will come from you!"

Another nodded. "Indeed, Wenhao. Consider it done. I'll arrange it when I get back. My procurement person will come to you directly; you won't even need to worry about delivery—I'll have them pick it up themselves."

Zhang Wenhao laughed. "That’s too kind, but I can't let your support lower my service standards. I promise the price and quality will be top-tier."

"Good lad," one praised. "I like your approach." He leaned in and whispered, "By the way, I’ll tell my procurement staff not to worry about formal invoices—just give them a receipt with your company stamp. It’ll save you some tax."

Zhang Wenhao smiled. "I appreciate the thought, but I think it’s best to pay the taxes. It’s what a good citizen should do."

The man shook his head with a laugh. "Wenhao, you’ll learn eventually. In business, the more strictly you follow the rules, the harder it is to make money. But fine, do as you please."