Spring Breeze Twenty Years

Chapter 1107 Horita

Xiao Wei said, "I hope so, I really hope so. I'm not afraid of government agencies, but I'm a bit hesitant about private companies. We can simply cut ties with government agencies, but what wouldn't we dare do with private companies?"

Chen Hui said, "Why think so much? We're not meat, just fight back and that's it, it's not a big deal."

Xiao Wei said, "Don't always think like that. There are many capable people over there, so try not to offend anyone."

Chen Hui said, "We have to keep a respectable appearance. I mean, we don't need to pay attention to those who are pretentious."

Xiao Wei said, "Won't it affect us if such a big shopping mall is built in the Cultural Building? The earliest we can get here is the year after next. If that building is demolished, we'll have to find another place."

Chen Hui said, "Let me ask." He took out his phone and made a call.

After talking for a while, he hung up the phone and said, "It's confirmed that it will be built. It's called East Asia Plaza. The city has approved the project. It's being developed by Agricultural Bank of China Real Estate Development, and there's also Hainan Bank Real Estate and other companies investing together. It's a private enterprise."

The Cultural Building belongs to the Cultural and Watch Company of the Commerce Bureau. I'll find someone to inquire about it. The Zhongfa Building next door belongs to the Food and Seafood Company. I inquired about it before, and wanted to buy it, but they wouldn't sell. I doubt they'll sell it now either.

Xiao Wei said, "Such a big project should be supported by the city and province, right? Can the local authorities just not sell it if they don't want to?"

Chen Hui said, "What do you think? A privately-owned shopping mall is lucky if the city gives it some investment incentives; they can't possibly coordinate this for it. It has to be negotiated by itself. Do you think the Commerce Bureau will back it up? Everyone's undergoing restructuring now; who doesn't want things to fall into their own hands?"

Xiao Wei said, "Isn't this all coordinated by the government? Did Uncle Chen find someone?"

Chen Hui said, "No. It's different. Here, it's all residential housing, just two small buildings on the street, and the property rights are still with the district. It'll be easy to handle. Look at how many buildings they have here, and the property rights are all in the hands of large entities like the Commerce Bureau, the Food Company, and the Department Store. No chance. I'll have someone keep an eye on it."

Xiao Wei said, "We need to keep an eye on it, so we don't end up caught off guard. If it's for sale, we might as well just buy it now."

Chen Hui nodded.

Xiao Wei's phone rang again, and he answered it.

Oguri Min's voice rang out: "Brother, when are you going to Xidu again?"

Xiao Wei said, "I'm going to Kyoto in a few days. It's almost the end of the year in Xidu. What for?"

Li Wen said, "They called me and said someone opened a cake shop, and the owners are a few people from Sichuan and Chongqing."

Xiao Wei asked, "What kind of store? The same as ours?"

Li Wen said, "Like us, they're not from the Jiangzhe region. The shop isn't small, and they sell fresh milk. What's it called? Holiland."

Xiao Wei asked, "Are all our stores open yet? How many have we opened?"

Li Wen said, "There are three stores, two of which haven't opened yet. I plan to open ten."

Xiao Wei said, "Where is he? Go get a big one next to him. Buy the house next to him, you go and negotiate."

Li Wen said, "It's not far from us, on Chongqing Road. Didn't I set one up behind the headquarters? It's only about 400 meters away. Our staff saw it when they went out shopping; they didn't know about it before. They said it would open at the end of June."

Xiao Wei asked, "Have you bought some to try? Is it the same as ours? What does the store sell?"

Li Wen said, "I bought it. They said the base is about the same, but the honeycomb pattern is a bit bigger than ours, and the taste is okay. They only sell cream cakes in their shop now."

Xiao Wei rubbed his chin and thought for a moment before saying, "Let's go take a look around. If there's a big enough place, we'll buy it and move this store behind the headquarters there, opening it next to it."

"Get all the supplies back on your end right away, and make sure the quality and hygiene are top priority, understand? Clothes must be clean and tidy, washed and changed daily. Keep an eye on everything in the house. This battle is all up to you."

Li Wen said, "How about we offer a discount? He's only been open for a few days, let's just let him stop making money."

Xiao Wei laughed and said, "Do you still remember that guy from Jiangsu and Zhejiang in Longcheng? What's the difference between us now? No discounts. Quality, product, service, and technology. Contact Master Li and have him go over there. How's their price?"

Li Wen said, "Three times two equals one hundred and twenty, and four times two equals two hundred and sixty."

Xiao Wei said, "The small one is cheaper than ours, and the big one is more expensive. His pricing is a bit suspicious. Never mind him, just do it my way. Have Chef Li go over there and adjust the design and make the wedding cake and multi-tiered cake look beautiful."

Li Wen said, "I want to sell glutinous rice strips. I see that the ones over here are selling quite well, as well as small cakes. The bread styles should be similar."

Xiao Wei said, "Okay, figure it out yourself, and discuss it with Master Li."

Li Wen said, "Just keep being lazy, you'll die of laziness." Then she hung up the phone.

Chen Hui said, "Who owns a cake shop?"

Xiao Wei said, "Yeah. They said it's run by a few people from Sichuan and Chongqing, not far behind our headquarters, about four or five hundred meters away. Oh dear, now all the competitors are here: restaurants, hotels, shopping malls, supermarkets, and now this cake shop."

Development is accelerating, and competition will only intensify. Do you feel a sense of urgency? I suddenly feel the pressure. Hey, don't you think we need to speed up our strategic planning here?

Chen Hui said, "Then let's do it. We have plenty of money and land, and building houses is quick. You know what? It was really the right decision to put the construction company in the military. You know what? As soon as construction started on Zhongjie Street, people started looking for us."

Sand, bricks, cement, steel bars—they have it all, they'll get you everything. You have to buy from him. They're all like that fourth brother, the kind of people who run the business. These guys take over the sand pits and stuff, they're serious, the kind that gets people killed.

Xiao Wei asked, "So what happened next?"

Chen Hui said, "Old Hou said, 'Okay, deliver it, but this is the last time we'll settle the bill together, so keep track of it. Do whatever you need to do over there, and we'll settle it once a week.'"

Old Hou said no, our rule is that we're all settled last. He added, "Don't worry, we won't run away. The Artillery Division's Infrastructure Regiment is in Tawan, you can't find us, can you?"

Xiao Wei laughed: "And then?"

Chen Hui said, "He'll give it to them, won't he? These people are all in trouble. If they get angry, he'll take them all in. They'll probably be crying their eyes out at home."

Xiao Wei said, "Then we'll just go to the army and ask for it. They can't really refuse, can they?"

Chen Hui said, "Would he dare? Besides, if he went to the military base, could he even get through the gate? Would he just stand at the gate and shout? In the government, you can at least try to find an official, but try rushing into the military compound and you'll have nowhere to complain even if you're beaten to death."

Xiao Wei shook his head: "We still have to give it to them, maybe just a discount."

Chen Hui said, "Don't look down on people who work with sand and bricks. That stuff is profitable, the profits are huge. These people make a lot of money all year round."

Xiao Wei asked, "Now that state-owned enterprises are undergoing restructuring, the government is cutting off IOUs for meals and drinks, and drinking is prohibited during working hours. Will this affect our restaurant?"

(End of this chapter)