Spring Breeze Twenty Years

Chapter 1301 Issuing a Challenge? (+431)

By dinner time, Qin Xuemei and Wang Jiwei had finalized their important engagement.

Wang Jiwei submitted a report to the military, requesting that after the report was approved, he and Qin Xuemei would return to Wang's ancestral home to visit relatives and friends and pay respects to their ancestors. They would not hold any events or accept any gifts.

Once Wang Xiuli starts school, the Wang family will move to Kyoto.

The backyard has already been partially cleared out; we can just find a street-facing spot, tidy it up, and give it to the family to use. It doesn't need to be too big. Xiaowei plans to help Wang's parents open a convenience store here; it'll be enough for their living expenses.

Xiao Wei's father, Uncle Wang, and Xia Maosheng stayed for two days before returning to Fengtian.

Wang Jihong started working at the company here, temporarily running errands for Ma San'er and his team, getting familiar with the environment and meeting the local people.

Wang Xiuli, Xiuer, and Zhang Bing went crazy together, running all over Kyoto.

Wang's parents and Xiaowei's mother take care of the child together, go out for walks when they have time, familiarize themselves with the area, and gradually adapt to the local environment and customs, laying the foundation for living here in the future.

In mid-August, Kyoto Company moved to the courtyard facing the lake at the back, and Chen Xiao also began to prepare to open her small shop.

Sister Xuemei's bookstore opened quietly in Doujiao Hutong, without any fanfare, just a wooden carved plaque. The courtyard has artificial hills, flowing water, fish ponds, small bridges, pavilions and towers. Half of the first floor of the main building is a bookstore, and the other half is a tea room or coffee shop where you can sit and read.

The second floor is not open to the public. One of the side rooms was converted into a garage, another into a warehouse, and the third into a kitchen, which is also a tea room. It can also be used to bake pastries and cookies, and cook meals.

Xiuer and Wang Xiuli were forced to work as waitresses. They'd had enough of their craziness over the past month, so they figured it was fine. The two girls are now very close and get along well, always chattering away together.

Zhang Bing also spends every day here, learning how to grind coffee and bake biscuits.

People started coming into the bookstore intermittently, and she could sell a few books a day, since there were several schools in the area. Qin Xuemei was happy; if any female students sat there for a while, she would treat them to coffee. She didn't consider the costs or profits at all.

The quiet days passed quickly, and before we knew it, school was starting again.

Wang Xiuli reluctantly left her sister-in-law's bookstore, turning back every few steps. Xiuer, on the other hand, didn't care; she could come every day anyway.

"Go back and study hard, study like crazy, and you'll pass the exam," Xiu'er comforted Wang Xiuli. Wang Xiuli looked at Xiu'er with a disgruntled expression: Is this how you comfort someone? Are you trying to make me despair?

Wang Jiwei and Qin Xuemei went back with Wang's parents, Wang Xiuli, to send Wang Xiuli back to school, to complete the marriage procedures, to transfer her household registration and arrange the move, and also to visit relatives and friends in their hometown.

Even though the event is over and no gifts are accepted, the proper etiquette still needs to be observed. People in the countryside are particular about these things; otherwise, they might gossip about you behind your back.

The whole family left, and Xiaowei's mother also had to take Beibei back. Geng Hui had already picked up Xia Gengsheng and taken him back. Zhang Bing also left with everyone, carrying the laptop that Xia Maosheng had bought for him.

The courtyard suddenly became quiet, leaving only Xiaowei and Xiaohong with Chen Hui, Chen Xiao, and Xiao Xiaohui. Xiao Xiaohui was a little listless; all his friends had left.

"Son, Yan'er will be back in a few days. Your eldest aunt is going back to get married, so it won't take more than a few days. Besides, your youngest aunt is still here," Chen Xiao said, holding Xiao Xiao Hui and trying to persuade him.

Little Hui looked up at his biological mother, then at his godmother: "Are you trying to comfort me?"

Xiao Hong said, "I won't coax you. I'll be back in a few days."

Xiao Xiaohui sighed, "Okay, I'll wait a few days."

Xiao Wei asked Chen Xiao, "How's the setup going at your shop?"

Chen Xiao said, "Don't even mention it. I used to think everything you did was pretty simple, but now that you've got to organize things, oh my god, there's so much to do! The ingredients are almost ready, but we still haven't found a chef. Your older brother said he'd help me find one."

Xiao Wei laughed and said, "Nothing is easy. Have you forgotten when we opened our first restaurant? You were also busy helping out."

Chen Xiao said, "That was nothing. Others did all the work. Now that I think about it, Sister Jin and Li Na are really capable. I can't compare to them."

Ma San's daughter-in-law said, "Here, give me the child. You two talk, and I'll take him for a walk in front."

Chen Xiao handed Xiao Xiao Hui to Ma San's wife.

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

"Hello Chairman Zhang, this is Meng from the Municipal Investment Promotion Bureau. May I ask if Chairman Zhang has any free time in the next few days?"

Xiao Wei was taken aback: "China Merchants Group? What's up?"

Xiao Meng across from him said, "That's how it is. Business is developing well in Fengtian now, and many foreign businesses are quite satisfied with our business environment and are preparing to invest in Fengtian. For example, several Korean food and printing companies have already settled in Fengtian. Chairman Zhang, you should know that."

Xiao Wei said, "I know. What's wrong? What does this have to do with us?"

Xiao Meng said, "That's right. There are two large multinational companies in South Korea that are in contact with the city. They are building the most advanced large supermarkets and shopping malls in the world. They have asked to meet with you."

The city's intention is that, since they are foreign businesses, they hope that Chairman Zhang can spare some time to meet with them. This would be a way of supporting the city's investment promotion efforts. If we're talking about a representative of private businesses in the city, then it's definitely you, Chairman Zhang."

Xiao Wei was puzzled: "They want to see me? What do they want to see me for? They can invest, so what does it have to do with me?"

Xiao Meng said, "We don't know the specifics either. The South Korean representative just made this request, and I've consulted with my superiors. They told me to contact you. When would be a convenient time for you?"

Xiao Wei said, "I've been in Kyoto all year; I'm studying here. Didn't they say specifically why? Around what time?"

Xiao Meng said, "I really don't know the specifics. If Chairman Zhang doesn't object, let's do it as soon as possible, okay? After all, this involves an investment of tens of millions, and it's foreign capital, so the leadership is quite anxious."

Xiao Wei frowned. Xiao Meng kept calling him "leader," and Xiao Wei found his tone somewhat offensive.

"Alright, I'll make the arrangements. I'll contact you when I get back to Fengtian."

"Mr. Zhang, could you please tell me the specific date? I'd like to report to my superiors."

"It's hard to say. School starts soon here, so I'll have to wait and see what the school's arrangements are. I'll contact you once they've finalized things. Okay, that's all."

Xiao Wei hung up the phone immediately and said to Chen Hui, "The Koreans are here to invest and want to see me. The implication from the investment promotion bureau is that I have to drop everything and go back right away. That's ridiculous."

Chen Hui shook his head: "Ignore them. They're probably one of those two companies Xiao Hong mentioned, the supermarket companies. What do they want with us? To issue a challenge?"

(End of this chapter)