Li Facai was our middle school classmate, but unlike many of us who went on to university, he chose to start working right after graduating from middle school.
When I had just graduated from university, I went to Guangzhou with several classmates, and coincidentally Li Facai was also working there. After he learned I had arrived in Guangzhou, he came to visit me with a colleague. During our conversation, I learned that he had been working in a factory since graduating from middle school. When I asked about his salary, he said it was only a little over 800 yuan per month.
At that time, 800 yuan was quite low, especially compared to today’s factory wages. Later, I learned from his colleague that Li Facai had been an apprentice under a Hong Kong master, learning basic mold processing skills such as etching, sandblasting, and engraving. He had been doing this for more than three years.
What surprised me even more was his respect for his master. He would take care of many daily tasks for him, even washing his clothes, and their relationship was like that of father and son. Li Facai simply smiled and said, “He is my master after all.”
Three years later, I heard that Li Facai and several fellow villagers had started a small factory, so I decided to visit. However, when I arrived, I was somewhat disappointed. The facility consisted of a few old and shabby buildings. Two rooms were used as workshops, one as living space, and the working conditions were very rough with scattered equipment and products everywhere.
I was curious about how they managed to get orders. Li Facai explained that in the beginning, they spent their days visiting various mold and plastic factories to seek business, and at night they returned home to process the products themselves. Gradually, they built up a stable client base and no longer needed to actively search for orders.
What surprised me further was that Li Facai never set strict conditions for customers. Prices and payment terms were left entirely to clients, yet he always delivered on time without delay. When deadlines were tight, they would even work overnight. Even when some customers had small orders or delayed payments for long periods, he never pressed them for payment.
After leaving his factory, I shook my head, thinking that with limited capital and such a relaxed management style, the business would hardly survive for long. Over time, I gradually forgot about this classmate.
