Starting with vegetable greenhouses in 1988

Chapter 285 Supermarket
Sun Tao immediately became worried: "Aunt Han, will our '365 Vegetable Store' in the Diplomatic Residence be affected?"

“That shop opened last year, and it’s the only one, so the impact won’t be significant. It should be fine,” Director Han reassured them, then changed the subject: “But if they open branches, more shops will make it easier to get investigated, and it might even implicate the Chongwenmen vegetable market.”

"Aunt Han, what kind of punishment will we face if we get caught?" Sun Tao pressed.

"A fine or license revocation," Director Han replied.

Li Zhe understood that Director Han had clearly refused to allow the branch to operate under his name. The 365 Vegetable Store could continue to operate, but its attempt to expand by leveraging the name of Chongwenmen Vegetable Market was doomed.

The two sat for a while longer, without discussing the branch store further, but chatted about the daily life at the market before getting up to say goodbye.

Once inside the Volga sedan, Sun Tao couldn't help but complain, "Aunt Han used to take such good care of us. She helped us set up the 365 Vegetable Store. Now that she's the director, she's become timid and doesn't even dare to let us open a branch."

Li Zhe smiled and started the car: "It's not her fault. It's just that her position determines her perspective. Now that she's the director, she has to be responsible for the entire Chongwenmen vegetable market. She can't just think about our store like she did when she was the deputy director."

Director Han's refusal to allow the new branch to operate under his name did affect Li Zhe's plans to open a new branch, but in the long run, it may not be a bad thing.

The stricter the government's management of individual businesses affiliating with state-owned enterprises, the more it indicates that the market is developing and opening up, which is actually a good thing for individual businesses.

After a year of accumulation, he was capable of opening his own branch store even without being affiliated with Chongwenmen Vegetable Market. However, this meant his new vegetable store would not be eligible to accept foreign exchange certificates, and he would have to readjust his customer positioning and location.

Seeing that Li Zhe hadn't spoken for a while, Sun Tao asked again, "Brother Li, are we still going to open a branch?"

"Yes, of course we'll open it," Li Zhe answered decisively. "However, this time we need to change our approach and do something different."

“What’s different?” Sun Tao frowned. He thought the current “365 Vegetable Store” model was great, and opening branches based on it would definitely make money.

"The first issue is location selection," Li Zhe analyzed. "Now that we can't collect foreign exchange certificates, there's no need to specifically choose places where foreigners congregate. Of course, foreigners are still our customers, but we need to expand our customer base from foreigners to all wealthy people in Beijing."

“I understand what you mean.” Sun Tao nodded. “The domestic economy has developed rapidly in the past two years, and there are indeed more wealthy people whose spending power is no less than that of foreigners.”

"Another thing is that I want to change the store's business model," Li Zhe continued.

"How should I change it?" Sun Tao asked hurriedly. He felt that he could learn something new every time he chatted with Li Zhe. As he spoke, he rummaged around in his pocket and pulled out a small notebook.

"What are you doing? Let's just chat, there's no need for this." Li Zhe felt he was exaggerating a bit, and inexplicably recalled a scene of a certain post-80s bigwig giving a speech.

"Brother Li, please speak, I'm listening!" Sun Tao showed no intention of putting down his notebook.

"I want to look into whether I can open a supermarket," Li Zhe said.

"Huh?" Sun Tao hadn't heard of this term before and looked completely bewildered. "Brother Li, what's a supermarket?"

Li Zhe organized his thoughts: "A supermarket is a store where you can choose your own products."

"Brother Li, which store doesn't have customers choosing their own products?" Sun Tao scratched his head, even more confused.

Li Zhe thought for a moment and patiently explained: "When you go to a state-run grocery store to buy things, do you have to tell the salesperson 'I want soy sauce' or 'I want cabbage' first, and then pay the bill after the salesperson brings them to you?"

Supermarkets are different from this. They are large stores where you can "pick your own food". They not only have vegetables, meat, eggs, grains and oils, but also daily necessities such as soap, towels and stationery, all of which are clearly priced and displayed on the shelves.

You can grab a basket and browse around, taking whatever you want from the shelves. Finally, go to the designated cashier at the entrance, calculate the total cost, and pay. You don't need to deal with salespeople at each counter; it's quick and convenient.

It's similar to our '365 Vegetable Store,' but with a wider variety of products and a more convenient shopping experience.

Sun Tao pondered for a moment and said, "Isn't that just a self-service supply and marketing cooperative?"

"Your understanding isn't entirely wrong, but their positioning is still different," Li Zhe said with a smile.
"The products of supply and marketing cooperatives are mainly to meet basic living needs, and the categories are relatively fixed and simple; while the products of supermarkets are closer to the needs of surrounding consumers and can adjust the categories according to market response. For example, supermarkets in residential areas will stock more daily necessities, while those near schools will stock more stationery and snacks."

"Brother Li, how big is this supermarket you mentioned?" Sun Tao asked again.

"I estimate it to be around 300 to 500 square meters," Li Zhe replied after thinking for a moment.

"This is huge!" Sun Tao swallowed hard, completely stunned by Li Zhe's idea.

In truth, Li Zhe wasn't entirely confident about this idea. He knew it represented a future trend, but he wasn't sure if it would adapt to the current market. Further detailed research and careful study were needed before making a decision…

……

At eight o'clock in the evening, No. 7 Courtyard in Suzhou Hutong was quiet, except for the lights on in the front garage.

As soon as Li Zhe parked the white Volga sedan and opened the car door, he saw Wang Jianjun walk out of the back room, carrying a bottle of Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor).

Wang Jianjun stepped forward and asked, "Zhezi, where did you go today? Why are you so late?"

"I went to Director Han's house to discuss some things." Li Zhe yawned; he had been running around all day and was indeed quite tired.

Wang Jianjun quickly said, "You're back just in time! I just set out the food and drinks, let's have a drink together, and I have something to discuss with you."

"Okay." Li Zhe locked the car door and followed Wang Jianjun toward the rear building.

Upon entering, you'll see four dishes on the square table: glistening peanuts, crisp cucumber salad, shredded smoked chicken, and a large platter of sliced ​​donkey meat. Clearly, it was prepared in advance, not just "freshly placed."

Li Zhe sat down with a smile, first picking up two pieces of donkey meat and stuffing them into his mouth, instantly relieving his hunger.

Wang Jianjun opened a bottle of Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor), filled two glasses, and smelled a pungent aroma even before taking a sip. "Let's drink this today, to relax," he said, raising his glass. "Come on, let's have a drink!"

Li Zhe picked up his wine glass, lightly clinked it against his, tilted his head back and took a sip, the spicy liquid sliding down his throat. Setting down his glass, he picked up his chopsticks and took a bite of smoked chicken, asking, "Brother, you said you had something to discuss with me, what is it?"

Wang Jianjun took a bite of food to suppress the smell of alcohol before speaking: "Second brother, I heard from Manager Tan that you're thinking of opening a branch of Shuxiangju in the second half of the year?"

“That’s the idea,” Li Zhe nodded. “Now that Shuxiangju’s business is stable, we need to take advantage of the scarcity of off-season vegetables to expand as soon as possible. You usually go out to purchase goods and see a lot of shops, so if you find any suitable ones, please keep an eye out for them for me.”

"How large an area? Which location are you looking for?" Wang Jianjun put down his wine glass and picked up a peanut.

"At least 300 square meters, the more central the location the better, either a commercial area or a residential area with high foot traffic is fine, and convenient parking is preferred," Li Zhe said.

Wang Jianjun nodded: "I've got it. I'll keep an eye on it when I'm out in the market in the future."

The two took another sip of wine, and the atmosphere at the table suddenly quieted down.

Seeing Wang Jianjun frequently raising his glass but barely eating anything, with a hint of worry in his eyes, Li Zhe put down his chopsticks and asked, "Brother, you're acting strange today. Is something on your mind? If you have something to say, just say it. Don't keep it bottled up."

Wang Jianjun gave a wry smile, put down his wine glass, and gently rubbed his fingers on the edge of the table: "Hey, you really can't hide anything from me. There is something I've been thinking about for several days and I want to discuss it with you."

"Go on," Li Zhe leaned forward, listening attentively.

“In April, my aunt invited Xiaoyan and me to her house for a meeting.” Wang Jianjun’s voice lowered. “Now, three or four months have passed, and we’re getting along quite well. I’m thinking that it’s not good to keep it a secret forever, so I’m planning to find some time to tell my dad and aunt about our relationship…”

“This is a good thing, we should have said so sooner.” Li Zhe nodded, but he knew in his heart that Wang Jianjun’s concerns went beyond this.

Sure enough, Wang Jianjun picked up his wine glass again, took a sip, and frowned even more deeply: "What I'm worried about now is that Xiaoyan's matter is easy to handle, but what about my aunt's matter? And what about my mother and my sister's matter..."

Li Zhe's heart sank; he knew Wang Jianjun's worries.

During a special period, Wang Jianjun's mother took her younger sister to Hong Kong Island, and they have been out of contact for many years. Wang Rongsheng has always missed his mother and daughter, and has not remarried all these years.

Last year, Wang Jianjun reunited with his aunt Wu Fanghua and learned that his mother had remarried and started a new family in Hong Kong.

He had never dared to tell his father about this, and he had even kept his reunion with his aunt a secret. Now that he was going to bring up the matter of dating Bai Xiaoyan, his aunt, as the matchmaker, would inevitably be brought up, and by then, the reunion and his mother's remarriage would probably be impossible to hide.

"Does Officer Bai know about these things in your family?" Li Zhe asked.

“She asked me about my family situation, and I told her the truth. My mother and sister went to Hong Kong Island and haven’t been in contact for many years,” Wang Jianjun said helplessly. “But I didn’t tell her that I had kept my reunion with my aunt a secret from my father.”

I'm afraid she might accidentally let something slip when she meets my dad and aunt. Besides, my aunt is trying to help me find a partner, so I can't leave her out.” Li Zhe nodded; this was indeed a tricky matter.

Wang Jianjun's desire to get together with Bai Xiaoyan is inseparable from the help of Wu Fanghua and Director Wei, but once Wu Fanghua is involved, even more trouble will arise.

Wang Rongsheng had waited for his wife for so many years. If he suddenly found out that she had remarried, he probably wouldn't be able to bear it.

“Since you and Officer Bai have gotten to this point, you really can’t keep it a secret any longer,” Li Zhe said slowly.

He was not only thinking of his cousin, but also of himself.

If this matter is kept secret, and it is suddenly exposed one day, he, as someone who knows the truth, will inevitably be implicated.

“I know I can’t hide it, but the key is how to bring it up!” Wang Jianjun sighed, his voice full of helplessness. “My father had two wishes in his life: one was to see me get married and start a family, and the other was to find my mother and my sister.”

For these two wishes, he has lived alone for so many years without finding a partner.

If I suddenly told him that my mother had remarried long ago and had a new family, what would all his years of waiting and perseverance mean? I'm afraid he wouldn't be able to handle the blow..." Wang Jianjun's voice trembled as he said this.

Li Zhe remained silent; he knew of Wang Rongsheng's stubbornness and deep affection.

If this matter is not handled properly, it could really lead to a major disaster.

He thought for a moment before speaking: "Brother, people are very adaptable. No matter how difficult things are, they can be gradually accepted given time. I think the best way is to talk to Uncle in stages and give him enough buffer time."

"In stages? What do you mean? Explain it to me in detail." Wang Jianjun's eyes lit up, and he leaned forward.

"My idea is that, as a first step, you should tell your uncle about your reunion with your aunt," Li Zhe said slowly and clearly.
"Don't rush to talk about your mother's remarriage. Just say that you accidentally found your aunt, and your aunt knows about your mother and sister. She also says that they are doing well in Hong Kong. This will put your uncle's mind at ease."

First, let him accept the news that he has 'found his family,' so he has a sense of security."

He paused, then said, "In a few days, after your uncle has slowly processed the news of your reunion, you can tell him about your relationship with Officer Bai. By the way, your aunt helped to set you up."

After thinking about it, he realized that you and your aunt had been reunited for some time, and he was able to prepare himself.

Once he's more or less accepted these things, then talking about your mother's remarriage will be much less of a shock. Spend more time with him during this period, talk to him, and let him process it gradually.

Wang Jianjun frowned, pondered for a while, and then asked uncertainly, "Will this... will this work? What if he starts asking me about my mother as soon as he hears that I've reunited with my aunt?"

“Then tell him that your aunt just got in touch with your mother and hasn’t figured out the specifics yet. We’ll talk to him about it once we’ve sorted it out,” Li Zhe replied. “Let’s hold things back for now, give him something to look forward to, and also give ourselves some time to adjust.”

It's better than throwing everything out at him all at once and catching him off guard.

Wang Jianjun took another sip of wine, remained silent for a moment, and nodded heavily: "Okay, we'll do it your way! I've been thinking about this for several days, but I haven't come up with any good ideas. Your method will at least lessen the blow to my father."

“In a couple of days, after I’ve finished my business in the capital, let’s go back to Langfang together.” Li Zhe raised his glass and clinked it with his. “I’ll go with you to talk about this, and I can help smooth things over if anything goes wrong.”

Wang Jianjun's eyes were a little red, and he nodded vigorously: "Okay, let's go back together, brother." The two clinked glasses again, and the spiciness of the Erguotou seemed to have faded a bit...

……

The next evening.

The heat of Chongwenmen West Street had not yet dissipated. The Shuxiangju Restaurant was bustling with activity, with the first-floor hall full of customers. Waiters carried trays and moved among the guests, and the air was filled with the unique spicy aroma of Sichuan cuisine.

The private rooms on the second floor are quieter, and the air conditioning dispels the stuffiness outside, making people feel comfortable.

Four dishes and a soup were laid out on the rotating round table in the private room. The lemon chicken feet were bright in color, the white soup of the sauerkraut fish was topped with red oil, the spicy chicken was coated with golden chili peppers, the Yongzhou blood duck was glistening with oil, and the hot and sour soup was steaming hot.

Li Zhe and Lin Weimin sat side by side. Li Zhe picked up the wine bottle, filled Lin Weimin's glass with wine, and said with a smile, "Brother Lin, these are all new dishes that our kitchen just developed. Why don't you try them and give us some suggestions for improvement?"

Lin Weimin, wearing a blue shirt, picked up his chopsticks upon hearing this and first took a piece of lemon chicken feet. The chicken feet were stewed until tender, and when bitten into, they had a light lemon fragrance. The sour and spicy flavor was just right, both refreshing and appetizing.

He nodded: "These chicken feet are good. They're soft but not mushy, and the sourness of the lemon doesn't overpower the natural flavor of the chicken feet. They're very refreshing to eat in the summer."

Then he took a bite of the pickled fish. The fish was snow-white and tender, melting in his mouth. The salty and savory flavor of the pickled cabbage and the spiciness of the pickled peppers blended very well. However, at the end, there was a faint earthy taste.

Next up was the spicy chicken. The chicken was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with the aroma of chili peppers fully permeating the meat. However, the pieces were a bit small, so you had to search through the chili peppers to eat the meat.

Finally, he drank a spoonful of hot and sour soup. The soup was rich and flavorful, with sour, spicy, fresh, and fragrant tastes.

Lin Weimin put down his chopsticks, picked up his teacup and took a sip. "These new dishes are quite unique, and the hot and sour soup is very appetizing. No wonder your Shuxiangju restaurant is doing so well."

Li Zhe laughed and said, "Brother Lin, don't just say the good things, give us some feedback too."

Lin Weimin thought for a moment, then tapped the table lightly with his fingertips, speaking sincerely: "If there are any shortcomings, there are two. First, although the fish in the sauerkraut fish is tender, the earthy taste hasn't been completely removed; second, the chicken pieces in the spicy chicken are too small, making it inconvenient for guests to eat."

“Being stingy with meat is an old habit that Chef Han in our kitchen developed while working in a state-run restaurant.” Li Zhe joked with a smile, “Brother Lin, I’ve noted down both of your points. I’ll talk to the chefs in the kitchen later and have them work out an improvement plan.”

Lin Weimin smiled and said, "Brother, no wonder your restaurant is doing so well. Your attitude alone is something other restaurants should learn from."

After saying that, Li Zhe picked up his glass and raised it to Lin Weimin: "Brother Lin, thank you for your suggestion. I'd like to toast you."

The two drank their wine in one gulp. Lin Weimin put down his glass, looked at Li Zhe, and asked, "Brother, you're a very busy man. You specially invited me to dinner today, not just to let me try the new dishes, right? Just tell me what's on your mind, don't be shy."

Li Zhe didn't beat around the bush and said frankly, "Brother Lin, there is something I'd like to ask you for help. I'd like you to keep an eye out for suitable shops and residences for sale in Beijing recently."

Lin Weimin paused for a moment, then laughed and said, "Shops and residences are not the same thing; their uses are vastly different. Do you want a shop or a residence?"

"I want to buy both," Li Zhe said.

Lin Weimin raised an eyebrow and gave him a thumbs up: "You're really rich and powerful. Your wealth probably even surpasses that of my second sister."

Li Zhe waved his hand: "I'm not very capable. I just feel more at ease buying property and land after making money. Only when I have something tangible in my hands can I feel at ease."

“Tell me your requirements, and I’ll keep an eye out for you. What kind of shops do you want? What are your requirements for residential properties?” Lin Weimin took out a cigarette, offered one to Li Zhe, and lit one for himself.

"For shops, the more bustling the location and the higher the foot traffic, the better. The area needs to be over 300 square meters. I plan to buy two at once." Li Zhe lit a cigarette and took a puff.
"For residential properties, the environment should be nice, preferably near shops for easy business management. The size doesn't need to be too big, two bedrooms and one living room or three bedrooms and one living room are fine."

Lin Weimin then asked, "Do you plan to rent out the shop, or will you use it yourself?"

"It's mainly for our own use, and to open a branch of the restaurant," Li Zhe explained. "Now, Shuxiangju's business is stable and there are many customers. Sometimes we can't even book a private room. Opening a branch can both divert customers and expand the business."

“That’s true. Your restaurant has great food and service. It’s sure to be a hit if you open a branch,” Lin Weimin said. “I’ve noted down your requirements. I’ll call you as soon as I find a suitable shop or residence.”

"Thank you, Brother Lin." Li Zhe raised his glass again. "Let me toast you one more time."

"Hey, we're all friends, no need to be so polite!" Lin Weimin smiled, raised his glass, and the two clinked glasses again, drinking it all in one gulp.

The two chatted for a while about the housing price trend in Beijing and which areas had the greatest potential for appreciation. Lin Weimin also revealed to Li Zhe that there might be a shop for sale near Wangfujing recently. The location was very good, but the price was a bit high, so he should be prepared.

After finishing his meal, Li Zhe drove Lin Weimin to the restaurant entrance, took a paper bag from his car and handed it to him: "Brother Lin, this is just a small token of my appreciation, please take it and smoke."

Lin Weimin glanced down at the bag, which contained two cartons of Marlboro cigarettes. He quickly waved his hand and declined, saying, "Brother Li, you're being too polite."

Li Zhe shoved the bag into Lin Weimin's hand, his tone sincere: "Brother Lin, this isn't just me being polite, it's just a small token of my appreciation. You've already gone to so much trouble for me by keeping an eye out for the house, so please don't refuse this little something."

Seeing Li Zhe's attitude, Lin Weimin knew he couldn't refuse, so he took the bag and patted him on the shoulder with a smile: "Okay, then I'll take it. Don't worry about the house, I'll call you as soon as I have any news."

"Thank you, Brother Lin!" Li Zhe nodded with a smile, watched Lin Weimin turn and leave before returning to the restaurant.

In those days, state-owned enterprises had to register the sale of properties with the housing management bureau. With the help of Lin Weimin, the section chief of the housing management bureau, Li Zhe could obtain firsthand information about property sales…

(End of this chapter)