Spring Breeze Twenty Years

Chapter 260 I Missed You So Much

Xiao Wei said, "It's definitely not enough to just target ordinary people and the general public. This mainly needs to be coordinated with restaurants and involve government agencies. It's fine if it's just for casual customers, but it's not essential. Let's leave it at that for now and adjust it later depending on the situation. You have to calculate it like this: if you want to rent this place, sixty or seventy thousand a year isn't much, right? And all the equipment and miscellaneous things are around ten thousand. The first year's investment is seventeen hundred thousand. Add heating, and you calculate how much that is per day, per hour?"

Huang Laowu blinked as he calculated in his mind, then frowned and said, "Damn, once you do the math, the cost alone is over forty yuan."

Xiao Wei nodded and said, "Add in the electricity costs, labor costs, taxes, and so on. We'll probably lose money in the first year, and we'll only have some income in the second year, but it probably won't be much. It'll mainly be for the restaurant's expenses and for our own people to enjoy. But I think this kind of thing should become popular in the next few years, and the cost definitely won't be this high in the future. Let's take it slow."

The popularity of karaoke bars in China arose alongside the widespread adoption of VCD players. Back then, a machine cost 3,000 yuan, while discs were practically worthless. All you needed was a large television to start a business, with a total investment of just over 10,000 yuan. Charging 2 yuan per song offered a considerable profit margin. In the mid-to-late 1990s, the price of projectors also plummeted, further boosting the industry's growth.

In the late 90s, KTV (Karaoke Bar) venues expanded from Hong Kong to mainland China and quickly became popular nationwide. By 2003, KTVs could be found even in remote small towns. This style of singing was invented by the Japanese, developed in Hong Kong and Taiwan, and then spread globally. KTV is an abbreviation for "Karaoke" (without singers or accompaniment), and its pronunciation is similar to "Kawaii OK-TV." In the early 90s, it was translated into Chinese as "Karaoke," omitting the "TV."

It's worth mentioning that the Japanese inventor of the Kawaii TV couldn't afford to register a patent, lived a life of poverty, and starved to death. His invention created astonishing wealth for countless people around the world. To this day, it remains unpatented.

Christmas Eve, the 25th.

In this era, Western cultural aggression against us was still in its infancy. There were no pro-government trolls or brainwashed sycophants. Foreign holidays had not yet become popular in China, and only a few places with foreign influence would have some celebrations.

Chen Hui, Xiao Wei, and Liu Hongliang took the train back to Fengtian, accompanied by three drivers borrowed from Jian'an Company and Lao Xu from the timber yard.

Xia Maosheng has obediently gone back to work; if he hadn't, Comrade Xia Xiaolan would have lost her temper.

The train arrived in Fengtian at 4:30 pm. A few of us strolled from the train station to the Cultural Palace. We were sure we'd treat Sister Jin and Li Na to a meal when we got back to keep in touch.

Upon arriving at the Cultural Palace, they found Sister Jin and Li Na in the underground kitchen, familiar with the place.

"Hello everyone, long time no see, how are you all?" Chen Hui became lively as soon as he entered the kitchen, as if he had been suddenly electrocuted. "Wave your hands so I can see you, tell me, do you love me? Have you missed me?" He waved his hands as he walked into the kitchen.

Xiao Wei and Liu Hongliang slowed down, trying to stay as far away from the mentally ill person as possible.

Li Na jumped up from Sister Jin's small bed, waving her hands and shouting, "Here, here, look here! Boss, I've missed you so much!"

Xiao Wei said, "Oh no, these two lunatics running the restaurant together is a real headache."

Liu Hongliang said, "If someone greeted you like that when they came to eat, would you turn around and run away or continue eating?"

Xiao Wei said, "If someone can still go in for a meal after saying hello like that, they must be willing to spend money."

Liu Hongliang asked, "Why?"

Xiao Wei glanced at him and said, "Do we even need to guess what the world of the mentally ill is like?"

Over there, Chen Hui and Li Na had a victorious reunion, high-fiving and jumping for joy. Liu Hongliang whispered to Xiao Wei, "Boss, why do I feel like there's something off about this woman and Boss Chen?"

Xiao Wei said, "They've already said two people are mentally ill, how can they be normal?"

Liu Hongliang said, "No, I'm not kidding, I think they both have that kind of... you know."

Xiao Wei turned to look at Liu Hongliang and said, "Really? How did you figure that out?"

Liu Hongliang said, "Feel it, look at their eyes, movements, and attitude. Pay close attention."

Xiao Wei frowned as he looked at the two people interacting. Upon closer inspection, he realized they did seem a bit different. Could Liu Hongliang have been right?

Sister Jin walked over cheerfully and asked, "When did you get back?"

Xiao Wei said, "I just arrived, just got off the train. I came over to treat you two to a meal."

Sister Jin pursed her lips and said, "Forget it, there's a table tonight, neither of us can leave, we'll probably be there until midnight."

Xiao Wei asked, "There are quite a lot of people here? Is your business very good?"

Sister Jin said, "It's almost the end of the year, so there are more people eating out than usual. The boss is treating everyone today, so there are six tables in total. We're going to be busy."

Xiao Wei asked, "Who are we inviting?"

Sister Jin said, "Liu Jingxian and his son, along with Teacher Lan and their group, and the Labor Bureau, have been running the chef training class for several sessions. We definitely have to treat these people to a meal and share some money at the end of the year, otherwise who will bother with us next year? There are plenty of people with connections who want to run the class."

Xiao Wei nodded and said, "Then forget it. When are you leaving? Working until the New Year holiday, right? In February."

Sister Jin said, "Li Na will quit this month, and I have to wait until the Chinese New Year holiday. After the holiday, we'll go straight to work there, but we need to get a lot of things done in advance."

Xiao Wei said, "Okay, let's get together again after the New Year. I might have to go back to my hometown for the New Year."

Chen Hui walked over and said, "Damn it, those two can't leave. What are we going to do?" Li Na followed behind Chen Hui and waved to Xiao Wei.

Xiao Wei said, "What can we do? Let's find a place to eat ourselves. Let's go, we'll get together again after the New Year."

Chen Hui said, "Alright, let's go then. Jin Jie, Li Na, we'll be off then." The group retraced their steps, and as they exited the Cultural Palace, Chen Hui asked, "Where are we going to eat?"

Xiao Wei said, "How about Donglaishun? It's been a long time since I've had mutton."

Chen Hui said, "Okay, let's go, let's take a taxi." The seven people and two cars drove to Donglaishun.

When they arrived at their destination and got off the bus, Chen Hui looked up at the Donglaishun sign and smiled, saying, "Just seeing this sign makes me feel excited from the bottom of my heart."

Xiao Wei pulled Chen Hui aside and said, "Alright, stop showing off. Go inside and warm up. I'll page Xiao Hong."

Once inside the restaurant, Xiaowei borrowed a phone from the counter to call Xiaohong, while Chen Hui led Liu Hongliang, Lao Xu, and the other two to a table to order. At that time, Donglaishun didn't have private rooms; it was all open seating.

A few minutes later, Xiao Hong called back. Xiao Wei said, "I'm back. I'm at Donglaishun. Are you coming over for dinner?"

Xiao Hong said angrily, "You only called me when you arrived? Do you want to die? Just wait till I get my hands on you. No food until I show up." Xiao Wei readily agreed and hung up the phone with a smile.

(End of this chapter)