Starting with vegetable greenhouses in 1988

Chapter 299 A Few Happy Families
Lin Weimin walked to the shop and greeted the man in the Zhongshan suit with a smile, "Manager Zhao, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."

"Section Chief Lin, you're too kind. I just arrived too." Manager Zhao walked down the steps, shook hands with Lin Weimin warmly, and when he turned to Li Zhe, his eyes showed a hint of surprise.

Lin Weimin quickly introduced, "Manager Zhao, this is Mr. Li Zhe, also my friend, who wants to take a look at this shop. Brother Li, this is Deputy Manager Zhao of Xidan Commercial Services Company."

Li Zhe stepped forward and shook hands with Manager Zhao, "Manager Zhao, it's a pleasure to meet you."

Manager Zhao said with a smile, "Mr. Li is so young yet has the ability to buy a shop. He is truly a promising young man!"

"Manager Zhao, you flatter me. I just want to start a small business and find a way to make a living," Li Zhe replied politely.

After exchanging pleasantries, Manager Zhao took out his key and unlocked the door to the ground floor shop.

Pushing open the faded wooden glass door, a faint musty smell wafted out.

Li Zhe entered the shop and examined it carefully: the walls were covered in mottled white plaster, with the paint peeling off in many places, revealing the bricks underneath; the floor was cement, full of cracks, and had several obvious dents. In a corner of the first floor stood two old-fashioned cast iron radiators.

Li Zhe walked around the first floor twice, noticed four cement pillars in the middle, and asked, "Manager Zhao, how big is this shop?"

"The first floor is 260 square meters, the second floor is 220 square meters, and the total is 480 square meters," Manager Zhao replied. "There are a few small rooms with wooden partitions on the second floor. If they are not needed, they can be demolished and replanned."

Li Zhe went up to the second floor to take a look. The wooden partition was indeed simple. It wobbled a little when pushed lightly and was easy to dismantle.

Li Zhe stopped and looked at Manager Zhao, asking his first question: "Manager Zhao, is there a problem with the property rights of this shop? Will the transfer of ownership proceed smoothly?"

Manager Zhao nodded immediately, his tone certain: "The property rights are absolutely clear, and all the procedures are complete. As long as the price is agreed upon, we can complete the transfer at any time. You can rest assured about that."

Li Zhe then asked, "Besides the house payment, what are the standards for charging for water, electricity, and heating? Are they paid to the company or directly to the water and electricity bureau?"

"Water and electricity are charged according to our company's internal standards, which are about 20% lower than the market price. You can settle the bill with the company directly, so you don't need to go to the water and electricity bureau," Manager Zhao explained. He then added about heating, "Heating fees are also standardized. There will be centralized heating in winter, with radiators on the first and second floors. If you need to install additional radiators, you can apply to the heating bureau."

Li Zhe pointed to the peeling white plaster on the wall: "I'd like to ask if there are any leaks in the water pipes and roof of these two shops?"

"No leaks have been found so far. However, if minor problems are discovered later, such as replacing faucets or pipes, you will need to handle those yourself," Manager Zhao explained clearly.

"If it's a big problem, like a leaky roof or a burst main water pipe, just let the company know and we'll coordinate someone to fix it. You don't need to worry about it."

Finally, Li Zhe stared at the window facing the street and asked the question he was most concerned about: "I also want to ask if restaurants are allowed in this area? Are there any restrictions on operating hours? For example, if we want to stay open longer in the evening, will there be any regulations?"

“There’s no problem with running a restaurant, but you need to register with the local street office in advance and complete all the necessary procedures,” Manager Zhao replied. “There are no restrictions on business hours. You can open early or close late as you wish, as long as you don’t disturb the surrounding residents in the middle of the night, no one will care.”

Li Zhe was generally satisfied with the shop's conditions, then changed the subject and asked about the most crucial price: "Manager Zhao, how much does your company plan to sell this shop for?"

"12," Manager Zhao answered readily.

Li Zhe frowned slightly and said, "Manager Zhao, this price is a bit high. A friend of mine recently bought a 500-square-meter ground-floor shop in the Asian Games Village for less than 100,000 yuan."

Your shop has two floors, and the facilities are outdated. Buying it would require a significant investment in renovations. Could you possibly lower the price a bit?

“Mr. Li, this location is different!” Manager Zhao quickly explained, “The Asian Games Village is still under construction. Although it will host the Asian Games in the future, its current prosperity cannot compare with Xidan. Xidan is now one of the busiest commercial districts in Beijing, with a large flow of people and good business. This price is already very reasonable.”

“That’s true, but the cost of renovation isn’t low either,” Li Zhe continued to argue. “The walls need to be repainted, the floors need to be renovated, and all the water and electricity lines need to be replaced. That will add up to a considerable expense.”

Lin Weimin chimed in, "Manager Zhao, Mr. Li is my friend. Please give me a fair price for my sake, so we can do business together in the future."

Manager Zhao pondered for a moment and said, "Since Section Chief Lin has spoken, I won't hesitate. I'll compromise on the price: 11."

Li Zhe wanted to further build a relationship with Manager Zhao and try to get the price down a bit more, so he suggested, "Manager Zhao, how about this, I'll reserve a private room at Tongheju, and we can sit together tonight. You can tell me more about the shop's situation, and we can also talk about the follow-up procedures."

Unexpectedly, Manager Zhao waved his hand and refused: "Mr. Li, I appreciate your kindness, but I have rules and never attend banquets hosted by clients."

Let's get down to business. I'll give you my bottom line: 108,000. If you think it's suitable, we'll proceed with the formalities; if not, you can look at other shops.

Li Zhe didn't expect the other party to be so principled, so he could only say, "Manager Zhao, I'm quite satisfied with the shop. I'll think about it some more and give you an answer tomorrow."

"Okay, once you've made up your mind, just come find me at Xidan Commercial Services Company." After saying this, Manager Zhao greeted the two of them, locked the shop door, and left.

Watching Manager Zhao's retreating figure, Li Zhe asked, "Brother Lin, this Manager Zhao is really... different from others."

Lin Weimin smiled and said with emotion, "No matter which unit you're in, there are always a few people who stay true to their principles. I admit I can't do what they do—not being greedy for small gains and following the rules—but I truly admire them."

He paused for a moment, then asked, "Brother, Xidan Commercial Services Company put him in charge of the sale, so I doubt the price will drop any further. What are you thinking?"

Without hesitation, Li Zhe said firmly, "I'll buy this shop." The location in Xidan is prime; it will only become more prosperous in the future, and the price is justified.

Upon hearing this, Lin Weimin gave him a thumbs up: "Brother, that's a real man!"

……

The backyard of the north room in No. 7 Hutong, Suzhou, is bathed in warm yellow light.

Tan Jingya brought the last dish, boiled meatball soup, to the table. Looking at the dishes on the table—Kung Pao Chicken, bright red and glistening with oil; boiled pork slices, floating with chili oil; celery and peanuts, refreshing and not greasy; and dry-fried potato slices, smoky and fragrant—all of which Li Zhe loved to eat.

She looked up at the wall clock; the hands were already past 7:30. She couldn't help but wonder: We made plans to have dinner together this morning, why hasn't he come back yet?

Just then, the sound of a car engine turning off came from the front yard.

Tan Jingya walked quickly to the door of the north room and peered out from the door frame.

Not long after, the hanging flower gate was pushed open, and Li Zhe's figure appeared at the courtyard gate. As soon as Jinzi and Huoyan saw Li Zhe, they immediately wagged their tails and surrounded him, rubbing against his trouser legs and making "woof woof" sounds.

Li Zhe walked up with a smile and said to Tan Jingya at the door, "Sister Tan, something came up today and I'm back late. I hope I kept you waiting."

Tan Jingya smiled gently, took Li Zhe's briefcase, and quickly said, "You rest in the room for a while, I'll reheat the food, and we can eat right away."

"Okay," Li Zhe replied, stepping into the living room.

In the afternoon, after looking at the shops on the ground floor, Li Zhe and Lin Weimin went to see a residential apartment—a two-bedroom unit in a low-rise building. The community was clean and pleasant, and the price was within Li Zhe's expectations, so he decided to buy the apartment on the spot.

Afterwards, Li Zhe wanted to invite Lin Weimin to dinner that evening to express his gratitude, but Lin Weimin said that it was his father-in-law's birthday and he had to go home to have dinner with his family, so he couldn't make the appointment.

Li Zhe didn't insist. He took two bottles of Moutai from the trunk of the car and handed them to Lin Weimin, telling him to take them back as a birthday gift for his father-in-law. Lin Weimin knew Li Zhe wasn't short of money, so he didn't refuse and readily accepted them.

Li Zhe quickly washed up in the room, then took out a bottle of Moutai from the cabinet, unscrewed the cap, and the rich aroma of the liquor instantly filled the air.

He poured two glasses of wine and had just set them down when Tan Jingya came in carrying a plate of heated dishes. When she saw the Moutai on the table, a look of surprise appeared on her face, and she asked, "Oh, why did you suddenly decide to drink Moutai today?"

Although Li Zhe makes money quickly, he hasn't been in business for long and his wealth isn't substantial enough to afford to drink Moutai casually.

He buys Moutai either to entertain guests or for business negotiations; he rarely drinks it himself on ordinary days.

"Something good has happened today, we should have some good wine to celebrate." Li Zhe picked up a wine glass and handed it to her.

"What good news?" Tan Jingya took the wine glass and asked curiously, then sat down next to him.

"I bought a ground-floor shop in Xidan today. It's about 480 square meters, a two-story building. The area has a lot of foot traffic and is very convenient to get to," Li Zhe said, taking a sip of his drink.
"I plan to sign the contract tomorrow. After I'm done with this busy period, I'll take you to see it. If the place is suitable for opening a restaurant, we'll open a branch of Shuxiangju."
If it's not suitable, I'll rent it out and that will provide me with a stable income.

"Really?!" Tan Jingya's eyes lit up, then she asked, "How much is the ground floor shop?" "A little over 100,000," Li Zhe replied.

"My god, it's even more expensive than the shops on the ground floor of the Asian Games Village?" Tan Jingya's eyes widened in surprise—she knew that Li Zhe had bought over 500 square meters of commercial space in the Asian Games Village for nearly 100,000 yuan, and now it was worth over 100,000 yuan more...

Li Zhe explained, "The Asian Games Village can only be developed after the Asian Games are held next year, and it is still quite remote now; but Xidan is now the most prosperous commercial area in Beijing, with a large flow of people, so the price is very worthwhile."

Tan Jingya nodded, poured Li Zhe a glass of wine, and raised her glass: "This is indeed great news, let's have a drink!"

She took a small sip, the spicy liquor sliding down her throat, and quickly picked up a piece of celery and peanuts to quench her thirst.

Then, she looked at Li Zhe and introduced with a smile, "Boss, this dry-pot potato slice is a new dish developed by the restaurant. Try it and see how it tastes and whether it suits your taste."

Tan Jingya and Li Zhe's relationship is no longer what it used to be, but she still habitually calls Li Zhe "boss".

The reason is simple: she was worried that if she started calling him that naturally, she might accidentally mispronounce it in front of others, thus revealing their special relationship.

Li Zhe picked up a potato slice and put it in his mouth. It was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with a spicy and fragrant flavor from the seasoning. He couldn't help but exclaim, "Delicious! Another dish that goes well with rice."

Tan Jingya was excited at the thought of opening a new restaurant of nearly 500 square meters and began to discuss the new store with Li Zhe: "If we want to open in November, we have to start preparing now, and time will definitely be very tight."

She frowned. "A 480-square-meter shop is more than twice the size of Shuxiangju. The renovation, equipment, and labor will all need to be doubled. I'm afraid we might not be able to finish in November."

Seeing her slightly anxious expression, Li Zhe comforted her, "We don't need to be too strict about the time. Let's prepare step by step. The more anxious we are, the more likely we are to make mistakes."

Tan Jingya nodded and followed Li Zhe's words, saying, "I think the decoration style of the new store can follow the current style of Shuxiangju. This way, we can maintain brand recognition, and we also have decoration experience."

However, the new store is more than twice the size of Shuxiangju, so the corresponding renovation costs, equipment purchases, and labor costs are estimated to be about double as well.

Li Zhe, however, had a different idea. He said, "The new store is larger and located in a more bustling commercial area like Xidan. I want to upgrade the decoration to a higher standard so that it can better attract customers."

We'll need to find a new, more professional, and experienced renovation team.

When Shuxiangju was renovated before, Li Zhe hired people from his hometown, mainly to save money. But this time, to achieve a more upscale effect, he needs to hire a professional construction team to ensure both quality and speed.

Upon hearing this, Tan Jingya immediately asked, "Do you have a suitable renovation team in mind? Should I help you inquire about them?"

“Not for now. I’ve already contacted a construction team from a home renovation company, and we’re in the initial stages of discussions. If their plans and quotes are suitable, and the quality of the renovation meets my requirements, I’ll entrust them with the renovation of the new restaurant as well,” Li Zhe said.

Tan Jingya then thought about the staffing issue and said, "The new store is large-scale and needs at least six or seven chefs to meet the operational needs. I will inquire in advance and look for suitable candidates, and recruit more good Sichuan cuisine chefs."

“Alright, let’s split up and prepare.” Li Zhe nodded. “You’ll be in charge of finding a chef, and I’ll be in charge of the renovations and restaurant paperwork.”

Tan Jingya thought for a moment and then said, "Let's not split the profits from Shuxiangju for now, and invest them directly in the new store. However..." Tan Jingya hesitated for a moment, "I estimate that the profits from Shuxiangju may not be enough to cover the investment in the new store."

"I'll cover the rest of the money first," Li Zhe patted her hand. "You can pay me back slowly once the new store is profitable."

"Thank you." Tan Jingya felt a warmth in her heart and hugged his arm.

Li Zhe casually put his arm around her waist and said with a smile, "Thank you, but you can't just talk the talk; you have to walk the walk." His hand slowly moved down and patted her plump buttocks...

Tan Jingya's face flushed instantly, and she said coquettishly, "You're so annoying, let's eat first, the food is getting cold."

The two chatted over their meal, discussing everything from the menu planning for the new store to the service process, from business hours to employee training, and before they knew it, it was late at night.

After dinner, both of them, slightly tipsy, went to the bathroom together.

In the steamy atmosphere, the intimacy intensified. From the bathroom to the bed, they made love until late into the night, with Tan Jingya being more passionate than usual, seemingly in response to Li Zhe's tenderness...

……

3pm.

In Yangma Village, Wan'an Town, the fields to the east of the village are bustling with activity.

The foundation for Ma Changhe's greenhouse has been dug, and several cement pillars stand straight in the ground, like the framework supporting the greenhouse. Ma Changhe, wearing a faded blue vest and holding a bamboo pole, is directing several villagers to set up the frame.

"Da Kui, how did you set up that bamboo pole? It's all crooked and twisted. Can't you put a little more effort into it?" Ma Changhe shouted loudly at a burly man not far away.

Da Kui was struggling to tie the bamboo pole to the cement pillar. He had wrapped the rope around his hand several times, but it was still not secure. The bamboo pole wobbled at the slightest touch.

Da Kui stopped what he was doing, scratched his head, and chuckled, "Brother Ma, these bamboo poles are too slippery, they're hard to tie. Let me try again, I promise I'll tie them securely!"

"What's the point of trying! Trying again is just a waste of time!" Ma Changhe strode over and snatched the rope from Da Kui's hand. "Watch carefully! First, wrap the rope around the post twice, then thread it through the bamboo pole, tighten it, and tie a knot so it won't come loose!"

As he spoke, he deftly worked, and in no time he had tied the bamboo pole securely. "You, who have worked for me for so long, can't even do this simple job properly. You're as dumb as a donkey!"

Da Kui wasn't angry. He just smiled sheepishly and said, "Brother Ma, I'm still learning. You're so skilled, please teach me more. I'm sure I can learn it."

Ma Changhe snorted and then turned to the other villagers: "Hurry up! The frame must be up before dark, don't dawdle!"

After saying that, he picked up a bamboo pole and placed it on the cement pillar. He was a bricklayer by trade, so he was strong and quick at his work. He placed each bamboo pole straight and stable, and the action of tying the rope was done in one go.

Inspired by his enthusiasm, the villagers also sped up their work.

Some handed out bamboo poles, some tied ropes, and some adjusted the angles. The only sounds in the field were the "crackling" of bamboo poles colliding and the "rustling" of ropes rubbing together.

As the sun gradually set in the west, around six o'clock in the evening, a neat greenhouse frame was finally completed—bamboo poles crisscrossed and supported on cement pillars, forming a huge arc. From a distance, it looked almost exactly like the vegetable greenhouse of Li Zhe's company.

This is also the first vegetable greenhouse in the entire Yangma Village.

Ma Changhe stood beside the greenhouse, hands on his hips, looking at his achievements with a smug smile on his face.

He waved to the villagers: "Alright, that's enough for today! Everyone's tired, go back and rest, there's more work to do tomorrow."

"Brother Ma, what are we doing tomorrow?" Da Kui asked while packing up his tools.

"Prepare for seedling cultivation tomorrow," Ma Changhe replied, his eyes full of anticipation—he had long envied Li Zhe for making money by growing crops in greenhouses, and now that he had his own greenhouse, he was thinking that he could make more money from it in the future to save some money for his newborn child.

But then he thought about it again, and the smile on his face faded, replaced by a hint of worry.

The villagers left one by one, leaving only Ma Changhe in the fields.

He walked around the greenhouse and tapped the bamboo poles lightly with his fingers—the frame was in place, but the most crucial part, the greenhouse film, was still missing.

With more and more people growing crops in greenhouses, greenhouse film has long become a scarce commodity. Not to mention buying it at a high price, even if you have the money, you may not be able to buy it.

"What should we do?" Ma Changhe sighed, feeling anxious and worried.

He had worked at Li Zhe's company for a month and learned some greenhouse technology. He thought he could make a lot of money by building his own greenhouse, but he got stuck on the greenhouse film.

He took out his cigarette case, lit a cigarette, and the smoke slowly dissipated in the setting sun. "No, I have to think of a solution quickly, otherwise it will be useless to raise seedlings."

(End of this chapter)