Return to 1983 Hunting Xing'an Mountains

Chapter 742: A fight broke out between the investor and her brother-in-law over investing.
Knowing they had something to discuss, Liu Lizhen placed the melon seeds and hazelnuts on the coffee table and led her daughter-in-law and sisters to the west room, leaving only a group of men in the reception hall.

It was a little past 1:30 in the afternoon. Hu Zhibin had just returned from the city, stopped for a quick bite on the street, and then wandered around the neighborhood before coming over.

At first, everyone chatted about the past or interesting things, but after a couple of cups of tea, Xu Ning finally got to the point.

“I said in the city a few days ago that if repair shops want to develop and survive in this ever-changing society, they have to go all out and expand!”

Hu Zhibin nodded: "I heard about it, but they didn't explain exactly what it meant. I just heard that it would cost 20 yuan, and there's no guarantee that I could pay it."

"Let me start from the beginning. What I mean is to open a larger auto repair shop. The size of the place can't be smaller than a lumber mill. It needs to be at least 1,800 square meters to be barely enough."

Xu Ning took out two sheets of Xu Feng's math problem draft paper from the coffee table drawer, drew a few lines with a pencil, and said, "Build a repair shop, similar to a factory, at the back of this open space. It will mainly be used for the routine maintenance and repair of cars. Build a warehouse next to it to store parts and other items."

"The large open space in front is for parking cars. We can talk to car manufacturers and help them sell their cars, making a profit from the price difference. We can also buy cars. For example, what if someone has driven their car for four or five years and wants to buy a new one? What should they do with their old car?"

“Old cars can only be sold. How does the city handle old cars now? They are usually sent to agricultural machinery stations or logistics departments of various units. My idea is to make it possible for individuals without connections to buy cars, which would save the trouble of exchanging favors.”

Liu Xuemin chimed in, “We have quite a few tractors in our agricultural machinery station’s warehouse. They’ve been sitting there for two or three years and they’re almost rusting. If we could sell them, wouldn’t that help the organization and solve some problems? I think it’s a good thing.”

Old Qian nodded: "When Brother Liu was getting this old Jiefang truck installed, he asked a lot of people for help. It would be quite convenient if we could buy the truck without asking for favors."

Seeing that Lao Qian and Liu Xuemin both agreed, Hu Zhibin knew what was going on. As for Lao Jin? There was no need to look at him; he was single-mindedly determined to follow Xu Ning.

“I understand. It’s about the entire auto repair shop, which combines repair and car sales… Erning, I can’t get involved in this. How about letting Dayong take a stake?”

Xu Ning laughed and said, "Okay, I was thinking of telling you about this anyway. Just let my brother Yong pay for it. I'll take care of finding a place to build the factory. Lao Qian can go and talk to car factories about cooperation. Brother Liu can talk to various agricultural machinery stations or logistics departments about their idle used cars. How about that?"

"Yeah, this arrangement makes sense, it allows us all to contribute."

Hu Zhibin asked, "So how much money will it take to get this done? Is 20 enough?"

Liu Xuemin, Lao Qian, and Lao Jin were also quite curious about this matter. Although the Xu family is now well-off, no one would believe that they have 20 yuan.

Xu Ning said, "Take 20 as an example, we can take shares according to the proportion. For example, if I take 10, I will own 50%, and if you take 1, you will own 5%. But this car repair shop is definitely not something that can be started with 20. We have to invest as we go."

Hu Zhibin took a sip of tea and said, "You were the one who started this. If you take 10, you can't take 50%. You have to take at least 55% or 60%. Erning, we're all true brothers. Just give us a straight answer. We discussed this before we came because we're not exactly well-off. Taking 1 is like emptying our pockets. So just give us a fixed share."

Old Qian said embarrassedly, "I was the one who suggested this. I felt that taking a fixed share would be more reassuring. It's not that I'm afraid of losing money, because I actually made money when I was doing the 'reverse donkey' business before..."

Xu Ning glanced at Lao Qian, and the two exchanged a knowing look. He had spoken with Lao Qian privately and knew that Liu Xuemin, Lao Jin, and Hu Zhibin did not have much money. The auto repair shop would require further investment, so what could they do if they did not have the money to follow up?

The only option would be to reduce their shareholding, which would gradually dilute their shares. This is not a good approach, as it would be seen as discarding them after they have served their purpose. Therefore, Xu Ning suggested to Lao Qian that Lao Qian communicate with Liu Xuemin and the other two, allowing them to hold a fixed shareholding. In this way, even if they increase their investment in the future, their shares will not be diluted.

This wasn't because Xu Ning was soft-hearted, but because he didn't want to cause trouble when it came to making money in the future.

Xu Ning said, "Okay, then each of you will pay 1?"

Liu Xuemin nodded and said, "Yeah, Lao Jin is short of money, so I helped him pay it off. He can pay me back when he has the money."

Hu Zhibin said, "After I heard about this deal, I felt that you had to go big, but I only have so much money on hand. The main problem is that the money from the lengchang hasn't been settled yet, and I really can't come up with any more."

“Okay, then let’s discuss the shares you hold. If you only take a fixed share, it can’t be 5%, because I need to invest at least 20 more. This business can’t be done without 50, and the return on investment is quite slow. You have to sell the car before you can get the money. In addition, you have to pay the mechanic’s salary and purchase car parts, which all require money.”

Liu Xuemin rubbed his cheek and said, "I understand, Erning, you don't need to explain this. To be blunt, this business involves such a large investment, you were already at risk, and we've pushed all the risk onto you..."

"Hey, Brother Liu, don't say that."

Old Qian said, "We all understand. When we were eating on the street, Brother Liu and I discussed it. If this auto repair shop can be established, it will definitely make a lot of money in the future. Even if you give us 1% of the shares, the annual income should not be less."

"We're the ones who benefit and have the advantage."

Hu Zhibin added with a smile.

Xu Ning waved his hand and smiled, took a sip of tea and said, "1% is definitely not enough. Let's add another point. Each of you will take 2% of the shares, and I'll pay the rest myself."

"How are you going to take it out?" Old Qian asked.

"I have a plan, don't worry. We'll deal with this after the New Year. Let's relax before then..."

"Okay!"

Xu Ning asked, "When is my brother Bin leaving?"

"I can stay at home for four or five days, and then I'll go back home and won't be able to come back until the end of the year."

"Aren't you spending Laba Festival at home?"

Hu Zhibin shook his head: "I don't have time. There's an elementary school in the city that needs renovation, and I have to go and make arrangements."

"Then let's wait until the end of the year. I'll buy a pig and slaughter it, and then you can all come over for a pig-killing feast."

"Buy a pig? A domestic pig, you know."

"Yeah, wild boar meat doesn't taste as good as domestic pork. Only domestic pork has the right flavor."

"Okay, I'll definitely come."

Nowadays, the Xu family doesn't eat wild boar meat much. It's not that they're tired of it, but after eating beef and mutton, even a fool would know which meat tastes better when they go back to eating wild boar meat.

Xu Feng ate some yellow-haired pig meat yesterday and frowned, saying: "Ugh, it's really awful, it has a pungent, rancid smell."

If it were last year, Xu Feng wouldn't be picky about food at all. After all, she rarely had the chance to eat meat before. She would consider it delicious if there was a little bit of meat in a meal. If there were two more slices of meat, it would be an absolutely wonderful delicacy!

Hu Zhibin and the others were not in a hurry to leave. Since they had come all this way, they had to stay and have a meal. If they were to leave now, wouldn't that be disrespectful to Xu Ning?

In the evening, Liu Lizhen and others worked in the north kitchen for a little over an hour, preparing eight dishes. Just then, Xu Laonian and Wang Erli got off work, and Yang Jun also drove Liu Daming back. They gathered together for a couple of drinks.

Why hasn't Leizi come back?

Liu Daming said, "He said his wife wasn't home either, so she stayed at the farm for two nights to help with the work."

"Is the workload at the logging camp heavy right now?" "Well, it's almost Chinese New Year, and once all the workers go home, the logging camp will have to shut down. So we need to finish the work done before the New Year holiday. Also, I heard that the area our city is supporting is experiencing a disaster..."

As everyone drank and chatted, after several rounds of drinks and dishes, Xu Laonian learned about Xu Ning's plan to build a car repair shop. However, he didn't tell Xu Ning in front of everyone. He only brought it up after Liu Xuemin, Lao Qian, and Lao Jin went to sleep in the second room of Lao Wang's house and Hu Zhibin returned home. He was washing his feet in the living room when he was talking about it.

He looked up and asked, "Are you sure this car repair shop you've set up with them will work? Where are you going to get so much money?"

Xu Ning said, "You have to be willing to try anything, and you don't need to worry about the money."

Upon hearing this, Xu Laonian glared and said, "Hey, what do you mean by that? I'm your father, can't I even ask him?"

"It's fine if you ask, but the main problem is that we haven't even started yet, so how am I supposed to tell you?"

Just tell me how much money you need.

"At least 50 yuan is needed for the auto repair shop to operate normally."

"How much? No, didn't you tell them it was 20?"

"That's seed money; you'll have to keep investing as you go."

"...Didn't you say you'd stay in the village from now on, and not go to the city? What, you don't want to support me and your mother?"

"Oh, what does it have to do with supporting you two? When Old Qian takes over the car repair shop, nothing will happen."

"Do you think it'll work? You're talking so arrogantly..."

Liu Lizhen leaned against the door of the east room and said, "Your dad and I still have some money. You can take it and use it first."

"No need, I can figure it out myself. Besides, what can you two do with that little money?"

Xu Laonian pointed at him and said, "Look at Zhen, she's all grown up now, and this chatter is so hurtful."

Xu Ning smiled and said, "Dad, don't cause trouble. I know what I'm doing."

Liu Lizhen nodded: "As long as you have a plan, that's fine. If it doesn't work out, so be it. The little money your dad and I have is enough for our family to live on."

"Hey, you two haven't even started yet, and you're already thinking about living a miserable life after losing money? I'm speechless. I've failed at everything, and this little thing is warranting a three-way interrogation?"

“If it weren’t for a joint trial, why don’t you know what your parents are worried about?”

Xu Ning said, "I know what you two are worried about. Let me give you two definite answers. Even if this deal fails, I can still recover. At worst, I'll just make a few more trips to the mountains and hunt a few more bears."

"Wow, you're awesome!" Old Xu said, pursing his lips.

Liu Lizhen smiled and said, "Then do whatever you want. If you need money, just tell Mom. I can't give you more, but I have 20,000 or 30,000."

"Oh my god, you really spoil him! Hey Jane, do we have twenty or thirty thousand now? Where did it come from?"

Liu Lizhen glanced at him sideways: "My youngest son earned this by hunting livestock in the mountains, so what?"

Old Xu shrank back slightly: "Nothing, I was just asking..."

The following day, after seeing Liu Xuemin and the others off, Xu Ning, Wang Hu, and Li Fuqiang went to Lengchang.

Chang Danian went for a walk in the mountains with Ma Liu, Lao Zhao, and Lao Yang, so the task of cooking for the workers in the workshop fell to Guan Lei.

The crowd squatted around the steaming pot. Yang Jun took a couple of sips of corn porridge from his tea mug and said, "I'll have some money after the New Year. Can I invest some in the business you mentioned yesterday?"

Xu Ning was taken aback, then turned to look at Yang Jun and said with a smile, "Brother Jun, why are you getting involved too? Aren't you afraid of losing money?"

"So what if you lose money? In business, there are gains and losses."

Guan Lei said, "Brother Jun, you've thought this through quite thoroughly. Do you think my sister-in-law will agree to this?"

Yang Jun wiped his face and said, "I give her money, but she doesn't spend it. Last month I gave her 100 yuan, and yesterday when I asked her, she still had 98 yuan left. She only spent 2 yuan in a month. I asked her what she bought, and she said she just bought a few cans of food for the child."

"Haha, Brother Jun, you've got a great wife! Why are you still looking so gloomy?"

Yang Jun grinned and said, "Isn't this a comparison with before? The more comfortable life is, the easier it is to fall ill."

Xu Ning glanced at Li Fuqiang, Wang Hu, and the others, and asked, "Big brother, are you guys getting involved?"

"Go ahead and do it. If we make money, great; if we lose, we'll accept it. At worst, you can lead me to hunt livestock in the mountains again..."

"Hahaha... What you said is exactly the same thing I said to my parents last night."

Li Fuqiang grinned and said, "That's why we're brothers. Hu Zi, Lei Zi, what do you two do?"

"Okay! When we get back, I'll tell my mom, 'Second brother, how about we give her 2% of the shares for 10,000 yuan?'"

"Yeah, dry shares are shares that receive dividends but don't involve management. Stone, don't get involved. You'll be leaving sometime in the future, so keep some as capital."

Guan Lei said, "Brother, I'm not in a hurry to go out. Lianfang already has a child, why should I run around aimlessly?"

"Okay, as long as you know what you're doing."

Yang Jun grinned and said, "What did I tell you before? I said having children and not having children are two different things, right? You didn't believe me. How about it now? Don't you feel attached to them and have a sense of home?"

Guan Lei pouted and said, "Brother Jun, if you're talking about this, I won't argue with you."

At noon, Xu Ning helped serve meals to the workers at the workshop, and then went down the mountain with Li Fuqiang and Wang Hu.

As the car passed the convenience store, it spotted Aunt Bai, Aunt Zhao, Xu Feng, Li Jinyu, and a group of others hurrying along.

Where are you going?

Xu Feng saw Xu Ning jumping up and down and said, "Second Brother! Brother Feng and the Chang brothers are arguing."

(End of this chapter)