I turned around and found a stranger, a guy of about thirty to thirty-five. I don't know how he got in, but he was standing in front of me. I guess he has something to say. But I didn't say a word, just staring at him. Soon he said, "I've come to talk to you about Walter Scott's works." He's a little strange.
He is a book agent. However, his manners and talks are not very good, and his appearance is also very ordinary. However, he does have a personality. He was talking while I was listening absently. I didn't listen to what he said at all, not a word. After he finished speaking, he handed me a pen first, then a blank form, and I signed it. This is a contract for Scott's works worth $500.
I woke up just after signing my name, but he had a contract in his pocket. I don't want these books, and there is no place to pile them up. It's of no use to me, and no one gives it to me. But I agree to spend $500 on this set of books.
I'm used to losing money. In fact, the problem lies in operation, which is also the reason why I made a mistake. I should know my thinking habits and limitations first, and then I shouldn't make the same mistake again. Only when a person has learned a lesson and benefited from it can he forgive his mistakes.
Alas, I lost 500 yuan at once, but there seems to be a chance to get it back. I have to watch him. First, I have to stabilize him. He stared at me with a knowing smile! As if reading my mind, I realized that I didn't need to explain anything to him. He knows what I will say if I don't talk. So I decided not to explain, put aside what happened just now and put forward the topic, "How much commission do you get for an order of $500?"
He shook his head at once and replied, "Sorry, I can't do that!" " "
"How much did you take?" I insist on asking.
"One third, but I can't do it!" He replied.
"One third of $500 is 166 yuan 66 points. If you return the contract I signed, I will give you 200 dollars in cash. " In order to prove that what I said is true, I took out two hundred dollars from my pocket.
"I said I couldn't accept it," he said.
"Do all your customers give you this price?" I asked.
"No," he replied.
"So, how did you know I would do this?"
"That's the style of people like you. You are a first-class loser, so you are a first-class businessman. I am very grateful to you, but I can't accept it. "
"Tell me, why don't you want to earn more money than your commission?"
"It's not a question of making a commission at all," he said. "I didn't just do it for the commission."
"So, what are you doing?"
"For commission and records," he replied.
"What record?"
My own.
"Then why are you fighting?"
"Do you just work for money?" He asked me.
"Yes," I said.
"That's not true," he shook his head. "No, you don't just do it for money, so you won't get enough fun from it. You must not just save money on a bank deposit slip. You didn't come to Wall Street because money is easy to get here. You have fun in other ways, and by the way, so do I. "
I didn't argue with him. I just asked, "How do you have fun?"
"Well, we all have weaknesses," he said frankly.
"What is your weakness?"
"Fame and wealth," he replied.
"By the way, you successfully let me sign it." I said to him, "Now, I want to erase my name. I will pay you $200 for your ten minutes' work. Can this compensate for your self-esteem? "
"No," he replied. "You know, many people have been busy on Wall Street for several months, but in the end they got nothing. They think it's a problem of the commodity itself, and it's a geographical problem, so the company sent me here to prove that the promotion is illegal, and it has nothing to do with books and sales places. Their remuneration is 25% commission. I have been to Cleveland, where I sold 82 sets of books in two weeks. People who come here to sell books are not only those who don't buy books from agents, but also some people who can't see other agents. So his company gave me a third commission.
"I simply don't understand how you sold me that set of books at that time."
"Oh," he comforted me, "I even promoted J·P· Morgan.
"No way".
He was not angry, but said, "It's true. I sold him a set."
"Sell a set of Walter Scott to J.P. Morgan, who is a famous collector and owns some novel manuscripts!"
"Look, this is his signature." He quickly waved a contract signed by JPMorgan Chase in front of me. Maybe it's not Mr Morgan's handwriting, but I don't doubt it. Didn't he also have my contract in his pocket? I just feel a little strange. So I asked him, "How did you get past the doorman?"
"I don't see any janitor. I saw the old gentleman himself, right in the office. "
"Stop it!" I said, as we all know, it is more difficult to get into Mr. Morgan's private office than to bring a package into the White House.
But he said, "I went in."
"How did you get into his office?"
"How did I get into your office?" He asked me.
"I don't know, you tell me," I said.
"Oh, the way I walked into Morgan's office is the same as the way I walked into yours. I just talked to the man at the door. His job is to shut me out. I asked Morgan to sign it the way I asked you to. You don't even look like you're signing a contract for that bookmark set. Take the pen I gave you and do what I want you to do. Morgan is no exception, just like you signed it. "
"Is that really Morgan's signature?" About three minutes later, I asked incredulously.
"Of course! . "
"seems to be true?"
"Of course," he replied. "I know what I am doing. This is the secret. Thank you very much. Goodbye, Mr. Livingston. " He began to walk out.
"Stop it," I said. "I'll let you earn two hundred dollars from me." I handed him thirty-five dollars.
He shook his head and said, "No, I can't do that. However, I can do this. " Then he took the contract out of his pocket, tore it in half and handed it to me.
I counted 200 yuan and handed it to him, but he still shook his head and refused.
"Isn't that what you mean?" I asked.
"No."
"Then, why did you tear up the contract?"
"Because you are not angry about it, but accept it from my point of view."
"But I gave you $200 voluntarily," I said.
"I know that money is not everything."
His words touched me. "You're right, money is not everything. What can I do for you now? "
"You are too impatient!" He said, "Do you really want to do something for me?"
"Yes," I told him, "I want to do something for you. However, whether I can help you depends on what you mean. "
"Take me to Eden Hatton's office and tell him I want to talk to him for three minutes. Then, let me talk to him alone. "
I shook my head helplessly and said, "He is my good friend!" " .
"He is fifty years old and is a stockbroker," said the bookbroker.
He is telling the truth, so he must be taken to Ed's office. After that, there was no news of this agent, and there was no news about him. However, one night a few weeks later, when I was in town, I met him unexpectedly in the Latin quarter of Sixth Avenue. He took off his hat as a gift, and I nodded back. He came to greet me. "How are you, Mr. Livingston?" How's Mr Harding? "
"He's fine. Why do you ask? " I think he seems to be hiding something. "On the day you took me to see him, I sold him books worth two thousand dollars."
"He didn't say a word to me," I said.
"Yes, people like them won't mention such a thing."
"What kind of people don't say such things?"
"The kind of person who never makes mistakes, because making mistakes is always not a good thing. People like him always know what they need, and others don't listen. Those people can educate their children and have love with their wives. Mr. Livingston, you've done me a big favor. When you can't wait to give me $200, I am looking forward to this happening. "
"What if Mr Harding doesn't order your book?"
"Oh, I know he will. I already know what kind of person he is. There will be no problem. "
"You are right, but what if he doesn't buy books?" I insist on my opinion. "I'll come back and sell it to you. Goodbye, Mr. Livingston. I'm going to see the mayor. " When the car stopped at the park station, he stood up: "I hope you can sell him ten sets," I said. "Your Excellency the mayor is an old hand in officialdom, and I am also * * * party member." As he spoke, he walked leisurely outside the car, thinking that the car would wait for him, and the bus did.