The village market came alive like a hungry beast every weekend — carts creaking in, vendors shouting over each other, children weaving through crowds with wide eyes and empty pockets. For Zheng Wei, it wasn't chaos. It was opportunity.
He stood at the market's edge, a wooden crate at his feet with two refurbished radios resting on top. Beside him stood Chen Rui, arms crossed, scanning the crowd.
"I still think this is risky," she whispered.
He adjusted the old cap on his head.
"It's not risk. It's testing demand. Every business starts with a question: Will they pay for what I offer?"
She smirked. "You don't talk like a rice loader."
"And you don't look like one," he said, half-smiling.
Rui rolled her eyes, but she didn't leave his side.
---
BUSINESS PRINCIPLE #3: "Test the market before scaling"
Zheng Wei wasn't interested in quick money. He wanted data. Reactions. Resistance. Curiosity. Price sensitivity. Buying behavior.
He knew that a product isn't what you sell — it's what the customer understands and values.
---
The first hour was slow.
People glanced. Some stopped. No one bought.
Too expensive. Too unknown. Too risky.
An old man examined the radio, poked at it, and walked off. A mother asked for a lower price, then left when he held firm.
Chen Rui leaned in.
"Maybe they don't trust something that looks used."
Zheng Wei didn't reply.
He pulled out a small notebook and quickly made notes:
Time: 8:20 AM to 9:45 AM
Inquiries: 11
Touch/Inspect: 4
Price complaints: 3
Interest level: Low-Medium
He looked at Rui.
"Tell me what we're doing wrong."
"You're asking them to buy without proving the value," she said.
Zheng Wei smiled. That was it.
---
The next customer, a middle-aged farmer, picked up the radio. Before he could speak, Rui stepped in.
"We tested the signal yesterday — it caught the Beijing station from 40 kilometers away. You can hear news, music, even market prices."
The farmer paused.
"My neighbor said those old models use too much battery."
Zheng Wei answered this time.
"This one's modified. Lower power draw. I replaced the capacitor manually. I'll even give you a two-day guarantee — bring it back if it fails."
The farmer's eyes narrowed.
"Thirty yuan. Not more."
"Done."
Zheng Wei handed him the radio with both hands, hiding the excitement in his chest.
Their first village sale. A proper sale. Not a favor. Not pity. Pure value.
---
That night, as they walked back to the warehouse, Rui finally spoke after a long silence.
"You know... this is different. I've seen men sell. I've seen them lie, cheat, yell. But you…"
She hesitated.
"You teach."
Zheng Wei looked at her, genuinely surprised.
"No one's ever said that to me before."
"Maybe no one ever paid attention."
They kept walking. No words for a while. Just the rhythm of two pairs of tired feet chasing something bigger than rice sacks and rust.