Chapter 104: Arrival of the Home Appliances

Chapter 104: Arrival of the Home Appliances

On July 22, after nearly a week of waiting, the first batch of home appliances from the Yin family finally arrived!

At the time, Li Yi was having a meal at home when he suddenly heard a loud knocking at the door.

Curious, he walked over and opened it, only to find Da Chu standing outside, panting heavily and gripping the door frame for support.

"Brother Yi," Da Chu gasped, trying to catch his breath. "The home appliances... they're here! The delivery team is waiting for you to sign for them in person!"

Hearing this, Li Yi's eyes lit up with excitement. Without wasting a second, he grabbed his coat, informed Xu Qingyao, and hurried out of the house.

Home appliances were not ordinary goods—they were high-value items. Without Li Yi's presence, the delivery personnel wouldn't release them. If anything went missing, the transporters would be held responsible.

By the time Li Yi and Da Chu reached the warehouse in front of the clothing store, a large truck was already parked outside. The vehicle bore an unfamiliar emblem, but Li Yi instantly recognized it—it was the official mark of the Yin Family Home Appliance Company.

As he approached, the driver, clad in a work uniform and a cap, gave him a once-over before speaking.

"Our chairman specifically instructed that Mr. Li Yi must sign for the delivery in person. Otherwise, we cannot hand over the goods."

Li Yi smiled and stepped forward. "I am Li Yi. Yin Dongrui sent you, correct?"

The driver visibly relaxed at his words, nodding with a friendly smile. "Apologies, Mr. Li. Company policy requires your signature; otherwise, we wouldn't be able to explain ourselves when we return."

Li Yi nodded in understanding, taking the freight list from the driver and signing without hesitation. "I completely understand. Alright, open the truck. Let's start unloading!"

Pleased by Li Yi's respectful attitude, the driver responded with enthusiasm. "Alright, let's get started!"

At his signal, the other drivers jumped down from their vehicles and began unloading the appliances.

Li Yi took a moment to review the inventory list in his hands. The Yin family had been incredibly sincere in their business dealings. The delivery included 20 televisions, 20 air conditioners, and 40 washing machines—all from the well-known brand, Little Swan.

In this era, the most sought-after household goods were known as the "Three Revolutions and One Sound"—watches, bicycles, sewing machines, and radios. However, as times changed, new symbols of wealth and modern living emerged. Now, color televisions, air conditioners, and refrigerators were the most desirable household items.

This was only the first batch of stock, yet it had already cost a small fortune.

The unloading process was no small feat. Several of the drivers, along with Da Chu and the burly Weizi, were left sweating and gasping for air after hauling the heavy appliances into the warehouse. Home appliances of this era had one defining characteristic—they were massive, bulky, and incredibly heavy. Refrigerators and washing machines, in particular, required multiple people to move them carefully, ensuring they weren't damaged in transit.

Now that the store was fully renovated and the stock had arrived, everything was falling into place. The only thing left was the grand opening.

However, the success of a home appliance store wasn't just about having quality products—it was about the customer experience.

Unlike regular appliance stores, Li Yi wanted to introduce an experience-based sales approach—allowing customers to personally test the products before purchasing. This was his biggest competitive advantage.

Jiangcheng already had numerous home appliance stores, making competition fierce. However, none of them had Li Yi's keen business sense and innovative ideas.

The biggest challenge now was how to promote the store effectively.

Distributing flyers was an option, but he had already used that strategy when opening the clothing store. Repeating the same method wouldn't be as impactful this time.

Then, an idea struck him.

Back in his original timeline, there was a common marketing strategy—mobile advertising using loudspeakers on vehicles.

His plan was simple: rent a vehicle, place promotional posters on its exterior, and drive it around Jiangcheng while playing advertisements over a loudspeaker. This would be far more effective than simply handing out flyers.

But then another issue arose—where could he find a vehicle?

Buying one was out of the question. He still needed to invest his remaining funds into acquiring a meat processing plant.

Moreover, he didn't have a driver's license, meaning even if he bought a car, he wouldn't be able to drive it legally.

Frustrated, Li Yi sat down on the warehouse doorstep, deep in thought.

At that moment, the drivers who had completed the delivery approached him, preparing to take their leave.

Just as they were about to depart, an idea flashed through Li Yi's mind.

He immediately stood up and called out, "Wait! Don't leave just yet!"

The drivers exchanged confused glances.

"Is something wrong with the goods?" the lead driver hesitantly asked.

Li Yi chuckled, shaking his head. He then pulled out a pack of cigarettes, offering one to each driver before replying with a smile, "No, the goods are in perfect condition. Don't worry about that. I just need a small favor from you all."

The drivers visibly relaxed. "A favor?" one of them repeated. "Boss Li, just tell us what you need. We'll help however we can."

Li Yi nodded and gestured for them to follow him into the yard. He then leaned in and spoke in a hushed tone, explaining his idea.

As the drivers listened, their expressions shifted from confusion to shock.

The lead driver, now fully understanding the plan, looked at Li Yi with amazement. "Boss Li, how did you come up with such a clever idea? I've never heard of anything like this before!"

Li Yi simply shrugged. How could he possibly explain that this was a common marketing tactic in the future?

"Just follow the plan," Li Yi said with a smile. "I only need you guys to help with this for a couple of days."

"Don't worry, I won't let you do it for free. I'll make sure you're well compensated!"

The driver grinned, nodding in agreement. "Alright, we'll stay in town and wait for your instructions."

Li Yi watched as the trucks drove away, a satisfied smile on his face.

His plan was coming together.

Trucks had large surface areas, making them ideal for eye-catching advertisements. More importantly, these drivers already had valid licenses, so he wouldn't have to drive himself.

With the promotional campaign now in motion, all that remained was to finalize the store layout and prepare for the grand opening.

However, what Li Yi failed to notice was a shadowy figure standing some distance away, watching the warehouse with an unreadable expression.

Something about the home appliances seemed to have piqued their interest...

—End of Chapter—