Beijing.
"Xiaoqiang, don't tell anyone else about my return yet." Lou Xiao'e warned a few words.
"Okay, Sister Lou, don't worry, I won't tell anyone about you."
"That's good. When I settle down, I'll treat you to dinner."
Wave goodbye.
Zhou Qiang went home.
Lou Xiao'e dressed up as a lady and went to the hotel.
A small courtyard near the large courtyard.
Zhou Qiang has renovated it here.
It was said that it was repaired, but in fact it was demolished and rebuilt.
A two-story small foreign-style building was built.
There is an indoor kitchen and bathroom.
Zhou Qiang's three children live on the second floor.
Zhou Qiang and Wang Meili live on the first floor.
"Brother Qiang is back!"
"Dad is back!"
Zhou Qiang went to Hong Kong Island for a few months, and it was inevitable to celebrate when he returned home.
"Here, here are your clothes. They are available for all seasons. Try them on."
"This is a specialty from Hong Kong Island. Let's see if it tastes good."
"Xiao Qian, go call your Aunt Fang and ask her to get the things." Zhou Fang still lives in the courtyard. The house they are to be divided into is still under construction.
"Yingying, go to the sub-district office and find your Grandma Wang. Call her and tell your Aunt Juan and Uncle Sheng to come over. Remember to bring your Grandma Wang over with you."
Zhou Qiang brought back a lot of things, not only from his family, but also from some relatives and friends.
At home and in the factory, there was a lot of excitement because of Zhou Qiang's return.
Zhouzhuang, Wangzhuang, and Zhou Qiang also took the time to send gifts.
In the next few months, Zhou Qiang was busy with business matters.
He was running forward in a broad stroke.
"Orders, there are many orders coming back from Hong Kong Island!"
“Milk powder is in short supply!”
“Beef and mutton are in short supply!”
Zhou Qiang's business is getting more and more prosperous.
After Lou Xiao'e returned to the capital, she was not idle either.
She investigated the market situation, went to the relevant departments, and asked for their house back.
Then, invest in other businesses.
this day.
noon.
Lou Xiao'e called Zhou Qiang to Lou's house.
"Xiaoqiang, I have chosen a good location. It will definitely be good to open a high-end hotel there. Should you call Shazhu over and let's discuss it together?"
"Okay, Sister Lou, do you have a phone here? I'll call Shazhu now."
Zhou Qiang got up and made a phone call.
"Hello, I'm Zhou Qiang, looking for the canteen director, He Yuzhu." At this time, He Yuzhu had become the canteen director, and he had been promoted and made a fortune.
"Hey, Xiaoqiang? What's wrong? You're such a busy man, why do you want something from me?" He Yuzhu knew that Zhou Qiang was very busy.
Zhou Qiang has changed a lot in recent years.
Zhou Qiang's living conditions have been changing.
If a person's thoughts do not change ten years ago and ten years later, then this person's life has been in vain.
Everyone in the courtyard admired Zhou Qiang.
Their common impression: Zhou Qiang is so awesome.
"Brother Zhuzi, do you know Lou Bancheng? Do you know where the Lou family is?"
"Lou Bancheng? Lou family? I know, isn't it?"
"Yes, it's right here. You should be free now. Come over here. I'll be waiting for you."
"Okay." He Yuzhu didn't ask any more questions.
Not long after.
He Yuzhu came on a bicycle.
His means of transportation is far inferior to Zhou Qiang's.
When Zhou Qiang was in the 1960s, he rode a motorcycle.
Now I drive a car.
In the future, Zhou Qiang plans to play with private jets and yachts.
"Are you Lou Xiao'e?!" He Yuzhu looked surprised. He didn't expect that someone from the Lou family would come back after many years.
"Si Zhu, long time no see." Lou Xiao'e was slightly excited to see the people in the courtyard again.
"Are you back?" He Yuzhu knew nothing about Lou Xiao'e. He seems to have never left the capital.
In this day and age, there are many people who have never been to any other place in their lives.
In later generations, this situation became much less common.
"Brother Zhuzi, Sister Lou has been in Hong Kong Island before and just came back some time ago." Zhou Qiang gave a brief introduction.
"Hong Kong Island? Xiaoqiang, when you went to Hong Kong Island for a lecture last time, did you meet Lou Xiao'e?" He Yuzhu made up his own mind.
"Yes, that's when we met."
A few people exchanged pleasantries and became familiar with each other.
"Silly Zhu, I want to invest in a high-end hotel and ask you to be the head chef." Lou Xiao'e invited.
"Being the head chef? I'm afraid I don't have time for this." He Yuzhu didn't know what was going on and didn't dare to agree.
"Shazhu, I've asked Xiaoqiang about your situation. You must be free in the afternoon. You also have many apprentices. It will definitely be no problem if you bring them over to manage the kitchen."
"I can squeeze out this time, but I can't resign at the steel rolling mill." He Yuzhu was reluctant to leave the canteen of the steel rolling mill where he had worked for many years.
"You don't need to resign, you are working two jobs, one salary from the steel rolling mill and one salary from my hotel every month.
And I guarantee that the salary in the hotel is at least three times the salary in the steel rolling mill. "
"The salary is quite high." He Yuzhu was a little moved. His two sons are older and want to get married, so they have more money to spend.
"Let me interrupt." Zhou Qiang spoke up, "Sister Lou, Brother Zhuzi, do you think this can work? Sister Lou will provide the money, Brother Zhuzhu will provide the technology, and you will open a hotel in partnership, and share the money earned every year according to your contribution. "
"Shared?" Lou Xiao'e was stunned and suddenly laughed, "Xiaoqiang, you are deliberately favoring Silly Zhu in front of me."
"There's no need to divide it, I'll just get the salary." He Yuzhu also understood what Zhou Qiang meant.
"Actually, the division is quite reasonable." Lou Xiao'e took over, "I didn't think carefully.
Nowadays, there are many rich people, but what is lacking are chefs with real skills.
Silly Zhu, in this hotel, you will invest in technology and I will provide capital.
Let’s calculate your annual share based on the proportion. "
"Is this appropriate?" He Yuzhu felt a little embarrassed.
"It's appropriate, so you should do this. From now on, you, Silly Zhu, will also be the owner of our hotel, and you will also be responsible for managing the hotel."
"I'm in charge of the hotel. I'm only responsible for the kitchen. I just need to manage the kitchen well."
"Then the kitchen affairs will be left to you."
"no problem."
Another year has passed in the blink of an eye.
Eighty-three years ago.
There has been a little change in the courtyard.
The eldest mother is gone.
He left suddenly and neatly without bothering anyone.
But after Auntie left, Yi Zhonghai had a problem eating. He can't cook.
Fortunately, Shazhu and Zhou Xiaoxia are there to help.
Silly Zhu and Lou Xiao'e's hotel has opened.
He packs meals from the hotel every day.
Go back and ask Yi Zhonghai to have dinner with him.
Silly Zhu can be regarded as providing for Yi Zhonghai.
Yi Zhonghai handed over his monthly pension to Zhou Xiaoxia.
Si Zhu refused to take it, but Yi Zhonghai had to give it to him, and Si Zhu couldn't stop him.
If nothing else happens, Yi Zhonghai's future house will be left to Silly Zhu.
In the end, Yi Zhonghai will have to rely on Shazhu for his retirement.
Since Si Zhu earned money by working in a hotel outside, the people in the courtyard finally couldn't sit still.
First there was Zhou Qiang, who opened factories and companies and made a lot of money.
Then there is Shazhu who works as a cook outside and is very prosperous.
People in large courtyards all want to go to sea and make money.
The first person to take action was Xu Damao.
Xu Damao and Silly Zhu are mortal enemies.
If there is any trouble with Si Zhu, Xu Damao must take action.
Silly Zhu works as a cook in a big hotel outside and earns a lot of money, which makes people in the courtyard jealous.
Xu Damao was even more anxious and angry.
He would never allow Silly Zhu to live a better life than him.
Xu Damao thought for a few days and finally thought of a way.
He found Liu Haizhong in the backyard and resold unplanned steel together.
Steel is in short supply, and many people want to buy it, but it is out of stock.
One of Liu Haizhong's apprentices was the director of a branch of a steel rolling mill. Through this relationship, he was able to obtain some unplanned steel.
Although it is not a long-term business, you can make a lot of money in a short period of time.
Within a few months, Xu Damao put on a big gold chain and a suit, and he started shaking.
The bangs were also put on, and I drank a little wine and ate a few dishes every day, which made me fatter.
Liu Haizhong's two sons, Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu, still live in the courtyard and are even more filial to Liu Haizhong.
It's just that Liu Haizhong's habit of hitting his son has not changed.
My son was beaten black and blue from time to time.
For the sake of their house, Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu continued to endure it. They were waiting to be divided into houses.
In the large courtyard, the second person to take action was Yu Li.
She is the daughter-in-law of Yan Bugui and the wife of Yan Jiecheng.
She wanted to open a small restaurant, but she had no money and no cook.
On this day, she and Yan Jiecheng asked Yan Bugui and the third aunt to borrow money.
"I can lend you money, but, I mean but, there must be interest." Yan Bugui calculated carefully and never let his son and daughter-in-law take advantage.
"Dad, what's the interest? You can invest in the restaurant Yu Li and I open, and you can get dividends every month." Yan Jiecheng said. He wanted Yan Bugui to contribute money together and bear the risks together.
"That can't be done. If we lose, your mother and I won't be able to drink from the northwest wind." Yanbu loves money, but he is not courageous and can never make big money.
"Dad, how much interest do you want?" Yu Li asked. In fact, she didn't want Yan Bugui to invest money in shares. If she made money, she would give a portion to Yan Bugui.
"It's not much, it's just a lot of interest." Yes, the noble lion of Yanbu opened his mouth. The interest rate is much higher than that of the bank. He was sure that Yan Jie would become a couple and there was no place to borrow money.
"10% interest? Dad, you are robbing money!" Yan Jiecheng was anxious. Yu Li was also dumbfounded.
They knew that Yanbu Gui was very scheming, but they didn't expect to add insult to injury and even plot to death.
"What's wrong? You don't want to? Don't ask me to borrow money if you don't want to?" Yan Bugui was not embarrassed at all, but rather proud. It seemed that he was able to scheme again.
"Let's think about it." Yu Li and Yan Jiecheng left.
"Dad, isn't the interest rate you want a bit high?" Third Aunt asked.
"It's not high. They are begging us, so we should pay more interest." Yan Bugui calculated that there was no family affection left.
Yan Bugui's initial plan was to survive.
Now that I think about it, it's obviously not the case.
In the past, 'calculation' was Yan Bugui's tool.
Now, 'calculation' has tied up Yan Bugui, making Yan Bugui a tool for 'calculation'.
Putting the cart before the horse.
But there are too many such things.
Many people have become tools.
Yan Jie became a family.
"It's very profitable. My father's calculations are too ruthless." Yan Jiecheng looked helpless and angry.
"Yes, it's very profitable. We can't afford this 'usury'." Yu Li was also helpless.
"How about we wait and open the restaurant?" Yan Jiecheng had no choice.
"No, now is a good time to open a restaurant. If we wait until later, others will open it first, and we will have no chance."
"What should I do if I have no money? Also, have you decided what restaurant to open?"
"If you don't have money, keep looking for someone to borrow money. As for the restaurant, let's ask Silly Zhu to see if he can recommend a chef."
"How about borrowing money from Shazhu?"
"Si Zhu's child is getting married soon. I'm afraid he won't have any money to lend us."
"Then who can I borrow it from?"
"Who else in our courtyard has money?"
"Xu Damao? Second uncle? But they won't lend us money."
"There's one more thing you forgot."
"Who?" Yan Jiecheng thought for a while, "Zhou Qiang? Do you want to borrow money from Zhou Qiang?"
"Yes, the richest person in our courtyard is Zhou Zhouqiang. I heard that he owns several factories and companies, and is currently building new factories."
"Can he lend us money?"
"I don't know, give it a try, maybe you can borrow it. If you really can't borrow it, then borrow our dad's 'loan shark' again."
"It can only be the."
Zhou Qiang’s family.
Yu Li is here.
She came to Zhou Qiang to borrow money. Yan Jiecheng didn't come. He felt a little embarrassed and didn't want to come.
"Beautiful, are you busy?"
"Yes, make some noodle soup." It was dinner time, and Wang Meili came back from get off work to cook. She is now working and studying for graduate school. She has stayed in school to become a teacher.
Wang Meili's major is mathematics, and she studies basic mathematics, which basically produces no research results.
"Is Zhou Qiang here?"
"Here, just came back."
"Sister Yu is here, please take a seat." Zhou Qiang heard the noise and came to the living room. He had just been tutoring his children with their homework in the study.
"What, I came here today because I want to borrow some money from your family.
Don’t worry, the interest rate will not be lower than that of banks. "Yu Li said it directly and openly, without any embarrassment.
"Borrowing money? I wonder if it's convenient for me to ask, why are you borrowing money?" Zhou Qiang asked casually.
"There's nothing inconvenient. I just want to open a restaurant and see if I can make money." Yu Li didn't hide it. She knew that Zhou Qiang looked down on this small business.
"It's a good idea." Zhou Qiang nodded, "How much does it cost?"
"Not much, maybe five thousand, or three thousand."
"Not much." Just as Zhou Qiang was about to agree, someone else came.
Yan Bugui is here.
When he heard that Yu Li came to Zhou Qiang to borrow money, his first reaction was, "It's bad, I can't earn any interest."
He hurriedly came to Zhou Qiang's house to see if he could lower the interest a little and let Yu Li borrow his money.
Although this means making less money, it is still better than making no money at all.
"Dad, why are you here?" Yu Li asked, figuring out what Yanbu Gui was going to do.
Yan Bugui nodded to Zhou Qiang and Wang Meili, and said to Li, "If you want to borrow money, just ask me. Don't bother Xiaoqiang and the others."
"But..." Yu Li wanted to talk about interest.
"There is no but, it is easy for us to discuss it as a family, and the interest can also be negotiated." Yan Bugui said in a low voice at the end.
"Dad, tell me the truth, how much interest is it?" Yu Li whispered without deliberately whispering.
"Well, how about eight points?" Yan Bugui had to continue because Yu Li had no intention of leaving.
"No, it's too many." Yu Li shook her head.
"What about six points?" Yan Bugui looked pained.
"Dad, if you deposit in the bank, the interest rate is about 4 cents. How about I give you 5 cents?" Yu Li said.
"This. This" Yan Bugui didn't want to agree. He felt that there wasn't much profit left.
Zhou Qiang looked funny, but did not interrupt.
Although Yan Bugui has principles and bottom lines, he has too many calculations and he doesn't want to have too much contact with Yan Bugui.
"If it doesn't work, I will..." Yu Li looked at Zhou Qiang.
"Okay then, I'll do as you say." Yan Bugui agreed helplessly. He looked at Zhou Qiang with a somewhat unhappy look. But it wasn't a look of resentment.
"Then you have reached an agreement? Do you still want to borrow money?" Zhou Qiang asked.
"I won't borrow it anymore. Zhou Qiang is sorry for bothering you." Yu Li felt a little embarrassed this time. She said goodbye and left.
"Sister Yu, the food will be ready soon, shall we eat together?" Wang Meili said politely.
"No, I have something else to do." Yu Li left. She wanted to go to Silly Zhu and ask about the cook.
Yan Bugui didn't leave.
He actually stayed to eat.
Zhou Qiang doesn't care about a meal.
He got some good wine and had a few drinks with Yan Bugui.
"Xiaoqiang, I wonder if Yu Li's restaurant can make money?" Yan Bugui asked. He is considering whether to invest in it.
"Third uncle, there are not many people opening restaurants now. As long as you work hard and work hard, you should be able to make money."
"I wonder how much money I can make?"
"It depends on how the cook is. If the cook is good, he can make a lot of money."
"Cook? I wonder if Zhu Zhu can find a good cook?"
"It should be okay. Brother Zhuzhu knows a lot of chefs, and those chefs also have apprentices. If you introduce anyone casually, he must be a good chef.
I just don’t know if Yu Li’s restaurant can afford to hire people. "
Yan Bugui nodded. He also understood that the restaurant was too small and could not afford a chef.
But if you want to open a big hotel, you may not have enough money.
"Xiaoqiang, if we don't have enough money to open a restaurant, can we borrow it from you?" Yan Bugui had the idea of opening a bigger restaurant.
"Okay, 10,000 to 20,000 is no problem." Zhou Qiang finally said the upper limit.
"The interest?"
"Repay the money within one year, and there is no need to calculate interest." Yan Bugui has had a good relationship with Zhou Qiang over the years. Although Zhou Qiang does not plan to have more contact with Yan Bugui, a matter of 10,000 or 20,000 yuan is nothing.
"That's good." Yan Bugui walked away with a smile.
"Brother Qiang, is the Yan family going to open a restaurant?" Wang Meili was curious.
"Yes, Yan Jiecheng's wife Yu Li has good vision and is considered a capable person. She knows that now is a good time to open a restaurant."
"Brother Qiang, Jiawen and the others said they also want to do business."
"What kind of business do you want to do? Do you want to borrow money?"
"They don't know what they want to do yet, so they probably have to borrow money."
"You can open a hot pot restaurant without a chef, and the business will definitely be successful."
"Hot pot restaurant? Sichuan hot pot?"
"That's right. Depending on the situation, you can adjust the bottom of the pot to add more flavor."
"Then I'll tell Jiawen tomorrow and ask them to hurry up and find a store."
"Okay. Meimei, please take the time to ask Aunt Wang if there are any shops that sell takeout, and if there are any courtyard houses for sale."
"You want to buy a shop and a courtyard?"
"Yes, these will definitely increase in price in the future."
"Then I'll ask tomorrow."
(End of chapter)
