Spring Breeze Twenty Years

Chapter 814 Renting a Building

Director Xu thought for a moment and shook his head: "It's not that easy. The issue of rebuilding the staff housing has been raised more than once or twice, and many teachers have expressed their opinions, but the school has not taken any action."

Xiao Wei said, "It's different. On one hand, it's just spending money, and on the other hand, it solves the problem and makes money. Do you think the school would disagree? If this whole area is replanned, the staff housing can be built higher up, with three stories at the bottom, do you calculate how much space can be rented for storefronts? How much commercial space can be rented? How much rent will be in a year? If an office building is built next to it, that's another source of rent, and you'll have decent office space."

Director Xu said, "Let me think about it. It makes sense."

Xiao Wei stood up and said, "You can think about it slowly. I'm leaving. Oh well, what a wasted trip."

Director Xu also stood up and said, "I'm really sorry, there's nothing I can do." He saw Xiao Wei out, and when they reached the door, Director Xu suddenly paused, clapped his hands and said, "Um, Manager Zhang, is it okay if it's not in the family area? It's a little further in. It used to be an equipment room, but it's been used as a warehouse ever since. It has three floors, but now only the first floor is in use. It's not a big floor, about 300 square meters."

Xiao Wei said, "Sure, I don't have to guard the street. People from outside can come in, right?"

Director Xu said, "Yes, cars can drive right downstairs. Just walk through this area. It's next to the cafeteria, and behind it are the dormitories. It's kind of next to the teaching area. As long as you don't open a restaurant, it's fine."

Xiao Wei said, "We do have a restaurant downstairs, but it doesn't open up to your area. Could you come and take a look?"

Director Xu smiled and said, "Okay, I'll take you there. Tell me more about your..."

The two walked and talked, passing through the faculty and staff residential area, past the canteen, and arriving in front of a detached small building. It was an old three-story building with a sloping roof, which looked like it had been unused for many years. Next to it was an annex building, which was smaller and only two stories high. It was occupied.

Director Xu said, "The gate is at the north end, so you have to go around it. This is an old Soviet-style building from long ago. It was originally a small auditorium, but it was later abandoned. There were some incidents here in those years, and the elderly people in the school didn't like this place. After it came under our management, it was basically used as a warehouse to store junk."

The two people walked around the side of the building to the north end, where there was a large brick building with a sloping roof. The main entrance was on the north gable wall, somewhat resembling a tank garage. The building was very tall, with the ridge roof reaching two stories high. It had a nearly square structure and was over two hundred square meters inside. The two-story annex next to it also had its own entrance, and judging from the sign, it seemed to be some kind of activity room.

Director Xu said, "This building is actually quite nice if it's properly cleaned up. There's enough space; the total area is over a thousand square meters, if not more."

Xiao Wei looked up at the upstairs and said, "I've spent some money on cleaning; everything inside needs fixing. How much is the rent? How much will the cleaning cost?"

Director Xu said, "The rent will definitely be the same as outside, there's no question about that, it won't be much less. I'll charge you a full 50,000 for the year, okay? The cost of cleaning is on me, I'll deduct it from the rent. I'll also give you a two-month rent break, starting from the month after next."

Xiao Wei said, "That's fine, but it's not cheap. I only make 160,000 a year in a 1,500-square-meter apartment at the intersection of Sanhao Street."

Director Xu said with a smile, "This is a school, and it's good to do business with students around. If it were a normal place, I would ask for at least 100,000 yuan to rent it."

Xiao Wei glanced at Director Xu and said, "If you could rent it out, would you have waited until now?" These days, businesses are all about short-term, quick profits. They want short inventory periods, small footprints, and quick returns. Not many people dare to rent such a large space, especially inside a school.

Director Xu chuckled a few times and patted Xiao Wei on the shoulder. Xiao Wei said, "Okay, rent it then, I can use it."

The two walked back to the office to sign the contract. When they reached the door, Xiaowei said, "My car is parked outside. I'm going to get something."

Director Xu said, "I'll go with you. Why don't you just drive in?"

Xiao Wei said, "I don't know what I'd be doing driving in here. I might as well come in and take a look around. It's right at the entrance."

The two reached the street corner. Xiao Wei went to the car, took out two packs of cigarettes, threw one to Director Xu, and then took the official seal and money. Director Xu said, "Drive in, drive in. I'll take a ride too. I hear people talking about Mercedes and BMWs all the time, but I've never ridden in one."

Xiao Wei put the money and the official seal back, got into the car, started the engine, and drove to the management office building.

Xiao Wei stood under the car for several minutes, holding the official seal and money. Finally, Director Xu reluctantly climbed down from the car, smiled at Xiao Wei, and said, "I don't have any other hobbies, I just love cars. I really do. It's a pity, but with my salary, I'd probably have to live a lifetime to afford a car like this. I've seen Mercedes before, but this is the first time I've seen one like this."

Xiao Wei said, "There will probably be more in the future. This is an off-road model that was just released last year. As far as I know, there is only one in China."

The two people went upstairs back to their office. The management office consisted of two rooms, one large and one small, housing a total of five people.

They signed and stamped the documents, paid the money, and signed a ten-year contract. Back then, renting a house wasn't as complicated and precise as it is in later years, and nobody cared about the term. Signing a ten- or twenty-year contract was normal. After 2000, no landlord would sign such long contracts anymore, except for large shopping malls and hotels, where even lifetime contracts were available.

Director Xu handed a cigarette to Xiao Wei and said, "This is the first time I've seen cigarettes like this. I've discovered that you live a truly enviable life."

Xiao Wei said, "Didn't I say I have a restaurant downstairs? These cigarettes are supplied to the restaurant; they're not sold here. We order them ourselves. Can I come in and start construction anytime? Are there any restrictions or regulations?"

Director Xu said, "No, just don't make it dusty, it's a school after all. Oh, by the way, what exactly are you trying to do?"

Xiao Wei said, "We'll be selling food and small general merchandise. We still need to think about the specifics. We didn't initially plan to make it this big. Okay, you're busy now. I have to go to Sanhao Street."

I took the keys and went downstairs. Just as I reached the street, I heard someone say, "Hey? You're still here? Still renting it?"

Xiao Wei turned his head and saw Yang Mingwei. "I rented it. I just signed the contract. Thank you!"

Yang Mingwei looked surprised: "Really rented? Which store? There aren't any available."

Xiao Wei said, "Inside, in the building behind the cafeteria."

"That haunted building? Dude, you're awesome. How much is it per year? Xu Dalong has ripped me off again."

Xiao Wei asked, "His name is Xu Dalong? How come you seem to know him so well?"

Yang Mingwei said, "No, it's a nickname. That's what the older students call him, so we just follow suit. Everyone says he likes to use 'one dragon' as a benchmark when doing things. This matter definitely requires three dragons. Or it's something that can't be resolved without two dragons. That's how it is."

Xiao Wei shook his head and said, "I have to go now. Let's chat again later."

Yang Mingwei said, "Let's go together. I'll go out and catch a ride too."

(End of this chapter)