Spring Breeze Twenty Years

Chapter 844 Rose

Xiao Wei asked, "How was it finally decided?"

Chen Hui said, "My idea is for the government to take care of it first, and then we can subsidize it a bit. Is that feasible? That would be the fastest way."

Xiao Wei thought for a moment and shook his head: "It's not easy. The government's standards are definitely low. How much should we subsidize? How should we subsidize? In the end, it will be even more chaotic. People's hearts are hard to fathom. In the end, they will feel that no matter how much you give, it is too little, it is all due. Even if you have spent more money, in the end, I guarantee that everyone will curse you and resent you."

Chen Hui asked, "So what do we do? Just wait?"

Xiao Wei thought for a moment and said, "We still need to talk to the government. We can't do this to ordinary people. Do those houses over there have yards?"

Chen Hui said, "Having a place to live is good enough, you want a yard too? Do you think this is your county town?"

The old man said from the side, "Hehe, there aren't any courtyards left in the county town. There aren't enough people to live in now, where are we going to find a place for you to have a courtyard? Only in the countryside is there more space, and land isn't worth much."

Xiao Wei's father said, "There is still one, a small courtyard in a remote corner of the city, but who knows what will happen in the future."

Xiao Wei asked, "How high can we climb over there? Are there any restrictions?"

Chen Hui said, "What restrictions are there? There's no airport, and it's far from Liming."

Xiaowei said, "Okay, you negotiate with the government. Try to negotiate the best possible terms for the demolition compensation. Then give it to us directly, not as compensation for the land. We'll pay for the land. We'll give you the demolition compensation, and after the buildings are completed, we'll provide replacement housing on a one-to-one basis. Dawei, organize some people to take measurements. We need to go with you and make sure each household is clearly documented and signs off."

Chen Hui said, "One to one? Wouldn't we lose money then?"

Xiao Wei said, "Where would we lose money? How many households are there in that area besides the shops and other businesses? We've already paid for the land, that's the government's business. If someone doesn't want the house and just wants to take the money and leave, it's the same. The government's money goes into our account first, and then they come to us to collect it."

Chen Hui said, "Why do we have to go through all that trouble? Isn't it inconvenient?"

Xiao Wei said, "First, we're afraid the government will drag its feet, you know? If things get out of hand, it'll affect us. Second, we'll try to persuade them to take the houses. How much does it cost to build a few more houses? It's just a matter of bricks and cement. Those houses will definitely become more and more valuable in the future. This way, no one loses out, things get done faster, and the government is also relieved of some worries."

Chen Xiao said, "I think it's a good idea. What Xiao Wei said makes sense. The house is only valuable if it's sold, and it only costs a few dollars to build. It's definitely worthwhile for the relocated households. We didn't spend much extra, and things went smoothly for the government. In fact, no one loses out."

Chen Hui asked, "But this is complicated. How do we sign the government's demolition contract? Do we have to sign another one?"

Xiao Wei said, "We'll sign a demolition compensation agreement with the government for the entire plot. The government will directly relocate the residents to new homes. But when it's announced, we'll have to say there are two options: one is relocation housing, and the other is compensation. Understand? We'll include this part directly in the investment agreement with the government."

Chen Hui thought for a moment, then nodded and said, "Okay, I understand. I'll go to Shenhe first thing tomorrow morning."

Xiao Wei asked, "Isn't it Da Dong?"

Chen Hui said, "That area spans two districts, and the place I've got my eye on is in Shenhe. I reckon that once we start working on Zhongjie, hehe will come knocking. Taiyuan Street has been wanting to be renovated for more than a year or two, but it's been stuck because the prices are too high and nobody dares to take it on."

Xiao Wei said, "Let's find them first. Our large investments have been in Shenhe. When the Shenhe government gets involved with them, we won't get involved."

Chen Hui said, "Actually, if we could get a big plot of land in Taiyuan, we could build another building. We're not afraid of building in Fengtian; there won't be any empty spaces."

Chen Xiao said, "My classmate said a hotel opened near the North Station, something like GreenTree, three or four stars, don't you guys want to go check it out?"

Xiao Wei said, "What's the use of looking? We've all stayed in hotels before, and they're all the same. The key is that we're going to open a business now, and we don't have any professionals."

Chen Hui said, "Actually, I have another idea. What do you think about buying the Zhongjie Rose Market? You've been to the Supply and Marketing Cooperative, right? You saw the Northern Trade City in Zhongjie? It's all run by the Supply and Marketing Cooperative. Their clothes sell well; they're all from the southern coastal areas."

Xiao Wei said, "They're selling? I think they might be able to buy the Wanquan Hotel over here, but the Rose Hotel is unlikely; it's a star-rated hotel. Its brand is even bigger than the People's Hotel. And there's also the Shengjing Hotel on Zhongjie Street, right? I remember?"

Chen Hui said, "Forget about the things from the Service Bureau. Don't even think about them. There's no chance. Buying the Zhongxing Building is a better option. The Service Bureau has all sorts of good stuff: the second largest joint-venture department store in the country, the first and largest sports and musical instrument specialty store in the country, the Shengjing Hotel, and the People's Hotel. These are all among the top five in the country."

Xiao Wei asked, "Who owns the ZTE Building?"

Chen Hui said, "The department store is under the jurisdiction of the Commerce Bureau. When it was built, they said it would be the largest shopping mall in the country, but it's no longer the case. You know what, buying Wanquan would definitely be a good idea. Our headquarters building is here, and Dongling District is eager for us to continue investing money. That's Dongling's doing."

Xiao Wei shook his head: "It's not suitable. The building is too small, and we're going to be operating on a satellite platform, so this place won't work. Who's managing Rose Hotel?"

Chen Hui said, "When the supply and marketing cooperative was building the building, the Northern Trade City and Rose were built together. There wasn't enough money, so they found a boss from Hong Kong to form a joint venture. The management and design were all done by people from Hong Kong, and the supply and marketing cooperative was the major contributor."

Xiao Wei asked, "Do you think it can be sold? How much would it fetch?"

Chen Hui said, "Now there are more and more private transactions, and the business of state-owned shopping malls is not as booming as it was two years ago. Do you know what it was like two years ago? In places like the Northern Trade City of the Joint Venture Company, steel frames had to be added to the counters, and they had to be welded with 6-point pipes, otherwise the counters would collapse. Look at it now?"

The clothing and footwear industry in Wuainan has boomed, with small private shops popping up everywhere. Electrical appliances are no longer in short supply, and there are wholesale markets for bicycles and motorcycles. Lighting fixtures and other similar items have all been snapped up.

State-owned department stores are declining day by day, and things are getting harder for them. The bigger they are, the harder it is for them to survive. Even ZTE is undergoing restructuring. It's only because it owns hotels and office buildings that it's still doing a little better.

I estimate we can sell them; it's just a matter of price. If we take over the shares from the supply and marketing cooperative and cooperate with Hong Kong, we can set up several hotels at once. It should work, since we'll be doing it ourselves. If we hire Sheraton or Hilton, I estimate we'll just be collecting rent.

"We'll move the department store from the Northern Trade City here, and turn the other side into restaurants and entertainment venues, like bathhouses, bowling alleys, and dance halls. We could probably get an upgrade. Right now, the place is a bit small; the department store takes up a huge portion."

(End of this chapter)