Shi Gui

Biodata

Background / History

Restaurant and Meal Deliveries

Shi Gui ran a five-table restaurant in Xibao Town with his wife, having borrowed money from relatives to open it. The business struggled to attract regular customers and competed with the state-owned People’s Restaurant, whose better storefront gave it greater prestige. Shi Gui’s establishment accepted cash without requiring grain coupons, which was Yang Rui’s main reason for eating there 16 19.

Recognizing an opportunity in Yang Rui’s improved spending power, Shi Gui offered to deliver lunch without an additional charge. Yang Rui requested more careful cooking and daily beef, then paid a thirteen-yuan deposit toward a month’s meals. Shi Gui quoted three yuan fifty per beef meal and subsequently delivered one meat dish and one vegetable dish to the school gate at 12:30 each day 16 17.

When Hu Yanshan’s companions questioned Yang Rui’s income, Shi Gui disclosed that it came from magazine manuscript fees. He had personally seen a remittance slip and accompanied Yang Rui to collect payment. His loose talk led to a public examination of Yang Rui’s letters, after which he apologized 17 18 19.

Entry into Study-Material Sales

Yang Rui nevertheless valued Shi Gui’s initiative and offered him the sales side of a college-entrance-exam study-material venture. Yang Rui would supply the questions and organize production; Shi Gui would take the finished materials directly to schools 19.

All three arrangements were discussed before Shi Gui chose commission; Yang Rui agreed that a later investment remained possible, but its profit split would require fresh negotiation 19.

After discussing the decision with his wife for half the night, Shi Gui recruited Liang Wei to handle odd jobs and deliveries while his wife took over cooking. He fitted his bicycle with a large bamboo basket for transporting papers 22.

County-School Breakthrough

Yang Rui supplied an initial batch of 150 sets and paired Shi Gui with Wang Meng, a class mathematics representative at County No. 1 High School. Each set contained twelve test papers and an answer sheet, sold for twenty fen, and earned Shi Gui four fen in commission 22.

Initially uncomfortable approaching teachers and worried about police attention, Shi Gui waited at the rear gate while Wang Meng promoted the papers inside. He mistook the small group that returned for a disappointing turnout, only to learn that teachers wanted entire classes supplied 22.

The first batch sold out, earning him six yuan. With another two hundred sets presold, he immediately telegraphed Yang Rui for stock. The following day, students delivered four hundred sets, exceeding his expectations and easing his concern that production could not support demand. The success also made him reconsider the earlier partnership offer 23.

As Shi Gui extended his route into surrounding counties and towns, Yang Rui reported total sales of five hundred sets per day 25.

Counterfeit-Paper Dispute

When Leopard began selling pirated papers, Shi Gui did not immediately send the telegram Yang Rui had requested for such emergencies. He said the situation was difficult to explain by telegram; Yang Rui suspected reluctance to spend money was the real reason 28.

Shi Gui warned the arriving students against fighting Leopard, citing his apparent police connections, criminal history, and intimidating tattoo. He suggested mediation instead. Yang Rui’s explanation that Leopard was only a small distributor helped settle his nerves 28.

Expecting Huo Laosi’s group to target the salesman, Yang Rui asked Duan Hang to arrange protection for Shi Gui. Yang Rui also proposed that, if an assault occurred, police should document witnesses and injuries before intervening; no such assault is established in the supplied account 30.

During the subsequent sales campaign, Shi Gui checked papers presented by students to distinguish genuine editions from counterfeits. After half a day’s practice, he could identify them by their paper and mimeograph marks 32.

Printing and Provincial-Capital Expansion

Shi Gui later became Yang Rui’s intermediary with the Liberation Printing Factory for New Concept English, Book One. Introduced by Duan Hang, he drank with the director twice and uncovered a demand for one thousand yuan. Further questioning revealed that the director wanted money to move his imprisoned son to a safer cell 50.

Yang Rui refused the bribe and instead sought Duan Hang’s help with the prison connection. The resulting printing agreement covered ten thousand copies, with a two-thousand-yuan deposit and five thousand copies held until the balance was paid 50.

For distribution beginning in the provincial capital, Yang Rui gave Shi Gui two hundred cloth wallets as promotional gifts. Shi Gui quickly understood that requiring a ten-book purchase would encourage customers to organize group orders. He also solemnly agreed to send telegrams promptly 50.

Appearance

• Around thirty, with a slight belly that he habitually pats and eyes that narrow to slits 16.
• Wears old black cloth shoes during his first county-school sales trip 22.

Personality

Shi Gui is entrepreneurial and eager for recognition. Dissatisfied with following the prescribed path of his parents’ generation, he opens his own restaurant and develops meal delivery to secure a regular customer. Yang Rui specifically praises his willingness to act on an opportunity rather than merely notice it 16 19.

His ambition is tempered by financial caution. Existing restaurant debt makes him reluctant to invest in the paper business, so he chooses commission over ownership. Even after strong sales, the cost of a telegram bothers him 19 23.

He is sociable but indiscreet: his disclosure of Yang Rui’s earnings creates an avoidable confrontation. He is also frightened by violence and apparent official connections, preferring mediation to a clash with Leopard. Although commercially perceptive, he relies on Yang Rui for broader strategy 17 18 28 50.

Abilities & Skills

Sales and Relationship-Building

• Secures Yang Rui’s regular custom through punctual, no-surcharge meal delivery 16 17.
• Uses Wang Meng’s school contacts to establish a market and leaves him responsible for recording further orders 22 23.
• Cultivates the printing-factory director through drinking sessions and learns the circumstances behind his cash demand 50.

Product Authentication

• Distinguishes genuine Rui Study Group papers from pirated editions using paper differences and characteristic mimeograph marks.
• Acquires this practical skill after half a day of checking copies 32.

Promotional Understanding

• Recognizes that a gift restricted to ten-book purchases can encourage group buying and recruit otherwise reluctant customers.
• Works under Yang Rui’s requirements for a consistent one-yuan-eighty book price, giveaway receipts, and no separate wallet sales 50.

Equipment / Items

• Modified bicycle — Fitted with a large bamboo basket coated in tung oil and black paint to transport study materials 22.
• Promotional wallets — Two hundred small zippered cloth wallets supplied by Yang Rui, offered at one wallet per ten books purchased 50.

Relationships

• Yang Rui — Initially his restaurant customer, later his business organizer and principal. Yang Rui values his initiative but criticizes his indiscretion and delayed reporting 16 19 28 50.
• Unnamed wife — Works alongside him at the restaurant and takes over cooking when he begins selling study materials 19 22.
• Liang Wei — Brother-in-law recruited to handle restaurant odd jobs and deliveries 22.
• Wang Meng — Student sales contact whose introductions secure Shi Gui’s first major school orders 22 23.
• Duan Hang — Arranges protection during the piracy dispute and introduces him to the Liberation Printing Factory 30 50.

Notable Quotes

“You can't be afraid of a little trouble if you want to make money.” 16