amaotonovel Chapter 1469 Real Estate?
Chapter 1469 Real Estate?
In May, Guangzhou already carries the scent of early summer. Sunlight streams through the office windows, casting bright dappled patterns on the floor. Outside, the sounds of cars and vendors hawking their wares mingle with the unique hustle and bustle of this southern city.
In the office of Burger King's Guangzhou headquarters, Qin Hao, Zhao Yajing, Xie Laozhuan, and Hua Mei sat around a desk. Thick ledgers and reports were piled on the desk, and the "beep" of calculator keys echoed incessantly.
The atmosphere in the office was somewhat awkward.
Old Xie flipped through the account books, occasionally glancing up at Qin Hao and Zhao Yajing, a meaningful smile playing on his lips. After a while, he finally couldn't help but speak:
"Something's not right between you two!"
His voice wasn't loud, but it was exceptionally clear in the quiet office.
Zhao Yajing was checking the accounts when she heard this. She looked up and gave him a disgruntled look.
"What's wrong with us? I think it's you and Hua Mei who's acting strangely, isn't it? Tell me, when did you get together?"
As she spoke, her gaze turned to Hua Mei, who was sitting next to Xie Lao.
Hua Mei was organizing documents when she heard this, and her face flushed red, like a ripe apple. She quickly waved her hand:
"Sister Yajing, I didn't do anything to you, why are you dragging me into this?"
“There’s nothing we can do about it.” Zhao Yajing shrugged and continued pressing the calculator with her head down: “Blame your husband, Lao Xie, for his loose tongue.”
Old Xie was speechless after being rebuked, but he was unwilling to give up. He nudged Qin Hao, who was sitting next to him, with his elbow, gave him a knowing look, and said in a low voice:
"Old Qin, you're amazing! You managed to snag Zhao Yajing so quietly? I thought you two would be dragging this out for ages!"
Although he lowered his voice, everyone in the quiet office could hear him clearly.
Zhao Yajing was immediately displeased and slammed her pen on the table:
"What do you mean 'he won me over'? Couldn't I be the one to win him over?"
The office fell silent for a few seconds after he said that.
Hua Mei covered her mouth in surprise, her eyes wide open. She looked at Zhao Ya Jing and then at Qin Hao, her eyes filled with admiration—Sister Ya Jing is so domineering!
Qin Hao's helplessness turned into a sigh, and he shook his head:
"Alas, one wrong step can lead to eternal regret. I wasn't careful enough, and she took advantage of my weakness."
His tone was half-serious, half-joking, as if he were making a remark.
"Pah!" Zhao Yajing spat. "You act like you've suffered some great loss! What, am I, Zhao Yajing, not good enough for you?"
"No, that's not it." Qin Hao spread his hands, his expression serious. "You're more than good enough for me. But..."
He paused deliberately before continuing:
"Anyway, you definitely won't lose out."
Zhao Yajing was amused by his logic, rolled her eyes, and said to Hua Mei:
"See? That's men for you! They turn their backs on you as soon as they're done with their pants, their attitude changes faster than flipping through a book. We women still have to rely on ourselves, don't expect men to be dependable."
Hua Mei covered her mouth and chuckled softly, nodding repeatedly, while stealing a glance at Old Xie.
Old Xie felt uneasy under that gaze and quickly waved his hand:
"Hey, hey, hey, don't make veiled accusations! I'm not like Lao Qin, my feelings for Hua Mei are genuine!"
"Hmph, a man's words are always deceiving." Zhao Yajing scoffed, ignoring him, and continued to check the accounts.
Old Xie shook his head for a moment, then patted Qin Hao on the shoulder with a sigh, deliberately exaggerating as he said:
"Alas, Old Qin! You, the all-powerful Monkey King, still couldn't escape the Buddha's Five Finger Mountain! Accept your fate!"
No sooner had she finished speaking than Zhao Yajing made a move to smash the calculator in her hand at him. Old Xie, startled, shrank back and quickly begged for mercy:
"Alright, alright! I was wrong! I can't afford to offend you, okay? Please forgive me this time!"
"Hmph, good to know." Zhao Yajing put down the calculator, but still had a smug smile on her face.
The office fell silent again, with only the clicking of calculator keys and the rustling of pages turning.
Soon, Zhao Yajing finished reviewing the accounts for Guangzhou in April. She wrote down the last item, closed the ledger, and let out a long sigh of relief:
"Alright, everything's done in Guangzhou."
She pushed the ledger in front of Qin Hao:
"Look. We've already opened 11 branches in Guangzhou. The business of the older stores has basically stabilized, with monthly turnover steadily increasing. The newer stores are not as profitable as the older stores because they are having opening events and discounts, but they are still making a profit. They should be back to normal next month."
Qin Hao took the ledger and quickly flipped through it. His eyes were very focused; the lines of numbers flashed before his eyes, and he quickly grasped the general situation.
"Not bad." He nodded. "It's increased by 5% compared to last month, which is a good growth rate."
"Of course." Zhao Yajing smiled. "Don't you even know who's in charge?"
She then turned to look at Hua Mei, her tone becoming serious:
"Hua Mei, you need to keep an eye on the clothing store too. It's not a big store, but the profit margin is quite high. Don't hang out with Lao Xie all the time; he's always doing nothing productive. Don't be like him."
Hua Mei was organizing files when she heard this. She shrank back shyly and whispered:
"I understand, Sister Yajing."
Old Xie was not happy about this. He put down the account book in his hand and said defiantly:
"No, who's been neglecting their duties all day? Ya Jing, you need to be clear about what you're saying! I, Xie Laozhuan, may love to have fun, but I haven't neglected any of my work! Lao Qin, I haven't been neglecting my duties either, have I?"
He looked at Qin Hao, hoping to get his support.
Before Qin Hao could speak, Zhao Yajing preemptively retorted:
"You have the nerve to say that! You've been here for over a year, and you still can't even come up with a decent event plan! Every time we need to organize a promotion, Lao Qin and I have to do it ourselves. And look at that idiot Mao—"
She paused, her tone clearly showing admiration:
“He’s only been here for two months, and he’s already opened six stores in Shenzhen! We helped him with the first two stores, but he’s handled everything for the remaining four, from site selection and decoration to employee recruitment and opening events! Lao Qin and I have discussed it, and we’ll hand over the Shenzhen business to him after he’s gained more experience in a month or two!”
She turned to look at Old Xie, her eyes filled with a hint of disappointment:
"Tell me, if we handed over the whole Guangzhou business to you, could you handle it?"
Old Xie was rendered speechless. He opened his mouth, wanting to retort, but didn't know what to say. In the end, he could only mutter softly:
"Sha Mao isn't stupid... he's quite smart. If his parents hadn't stopped him, he'd be in college by now. How can I compare to him..."
His voice grew softer and softer, revealing a hint of resentment, but mostly helplessness.
In front of Hua Mei, Zhao Yajing couldn't say anything more. Men, after all, have their pride. She shook her head helplessly and said to Qin Hao:
"Let's go, let's drive to Shenzhen."
"Okay." Qin Hao stood up and picked up the car keys on the table.
The two walked out of the office one after the other. Even as the door closed, Zhao Yajing's voice could still be heard:
"Remember to keep the ledgers safe and don't mess them up..."
Only Xie Laozhuan and Hua Mei remained in the office.
Old Xie remained seated, his face grim. He had been scolded by Zhao Yajing in front of Hua Mei, and he felt terrible. He wanted some comfort from Hua Mei, so he leaned closer and looked at her pitifully.
Unexpectedly, Hua Mei pushed him away and said seriously:
“I think Sister Yajing is right. You really need to step up your game. If you keep being so hopeless, you might end up becoming Yang Shumao’s lackey.”
"Follower?" Old Xie was taken aback, then said unhappily, "Why are you talking so rudely? What do you mean by follower? That's called brother! My relationship with Old Qin and Sha Mao is one of life-or-death bond! We're brothers who went to the countryside together and suffered together!"
"Brother?" Hua Mei curled her lip and scoffed, "You really have the nerve to flatter yourself. What kind of person is President Qin? I heard from Sister Ya Jing that Burger King will be listed in Hong Kong within three years. At that time, he will be the boss of a listed company, with a net worth of over 100 million. And you? You only earn this fixed salary all year round, how dare you call someone brother?"
She paused and continued:
"Besides, even if we're brothers, there has to be give and take. Mr. Qin helped you make money, so you have to be of some use, right? You can't just keep relying on the name of 'brother' to get by, can you? After a while, who will want to hang out with you?"
These words were blunt and cruel, like a knife piercing Xie Laozhuan's heart.
His face changed color several times, from red to white, from white to green. Finally, he stood up abruptly and said angrily:
"You guys are so vulgar! So incredibly vulgar! I can't be bothered talking to you!"
After saying that, he turned and walked away, his steps hurried, as if he were running away from something.
"Hmph, if you can't win an argument, you just run away." Hua Mei watched his retreating figure and pouted, "If you're so capable, then don't come back."
……
On the other side, Qin Hao and Zhao Yajing drove along the Guangzhou-Shenzhen Expressway towards Shenzhen.
In the 1980s, the Guangzhou-Shenzhen Expressway was just an ordinary two-lane highway with poor road conditions and many potholes. However, there were already quite a few vehicles on the road, including large trucks, buses, cars, and many tractors, making it a lively scene.
Zhao Yajing sat in the passenger seat, gazing at the scenery rushing past the car window, her eyes filled with amazement.
Shenzhen, a city recently designated a special economic zone, is developing at an astonishing pace. Construction sites are everywhere along the roads—some digging foundations, some pouring concrete, and some already with frameworks erected. Machines roar, dust flies. Workers, wearing hard hats, toil like ants on the sites.
"Shenzhen's construction speed is really fast!" Zhao Yajing couldn't help but exclaim. "We've only been away for a month, and it's completely changed. Look over there, last time we came it was a wasteland, now it's full of high-rise buildings!"
Qin Hao nodded as he drove:
"Yes. 'Time is money, efficiency is life'—this is not just a slogan in Shenzhen, but a real action. Everyone is racing against time and against money."
His tone was filled with emotion and excitement. This was Shenzhen in the 1980s, brimming with opportunities and vitality, undergoing tremendous changes every day.
Looking at the bustling scene outside the window, Zhao Yajing suddenly had an idea. She turned to Qin Hao and said:
"Hey, I heard from Sha Mao that the prices of these apartments in Shenzhen have been skyrocketing. What do you think, should we buy a few? In a couple of years, when the prices go up, we can resell them and make several times the profit!"
Her eyes sparkled, revealing the shrewdness and keenness characteristic of a businesswoman.
Qin Hao laughed:
"What? You think the restaurant business is too slow to make money, and you want to switch to real estate?"
“No, that’s not it.” Zhao Yajing waved her hand. “We still need to keep the restaurant business; that’s our foundation. But real estate is so profitable; it would be a shame not to get involved. Anyway, we have some money on hand now, so we can buy a few buildings and leave them there as an investment.”
She leaned closer, her voice filled with anticipation:
"What do you think? Is it possible to make money?"
Qin Hao glanced at her and smiled:
"Making money is definitely possible. But what you're talking about—buying a few buildings and waiting for them to appreciate—only makes a small amount of money. If you really want to make big money, you have to do real estate yourself."
"Start our own real estate business?" Zhao Yajing was taken aback. "You mean...we'll build our own buildings?"
“That’s right.” Qin Hao nodded: “Buy land, find a design institute to draw up blueprints, find a construction team to build the buildings, and then sell them yourself. That’s what real estate should be like.”
Zhao Yajing hesitated upon hearing this:
"But... isn't that too risky? We've never done real estate before, and we don't know anything about it. Besides, buying land, hiring construction teams, all sorts of heavy machinery... that'll cost a lot of money, right? Is what we have right now enough?"
Her concerns were not unfounded. While there were many opportunities in real estate in the 1980s, the risks were also immense. Capital, technology, connections, policies… all aspects had to be considered; one wrong step could mean losing everything.
But Qin Hao remained calm. He smiled and said:
"You don't understand, but I do. Real estate companies aren't as complicated as you think. The only difficulty is acquiring the land. As for the subsequent blueprints, construction, and funding, those aren't problems."
Zhao Yajing listened with skepticism:
"You're not kidding, are you? There's no way something like this could be so good."
"Do I look like I'm joking?" Qin Hao turned to look at her, his eyes serious.
Zhao Yajing stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly smiled. She hugged Qin Hao's arm, planted a big kiss on his cheek, and said excitedly:
"Honey, I knew you were the best! I love you to death!"
Her voice was loud, echoing in the car. Qin Hao was startled by her kiss, then laughed and scolded:
"You're such a money-grubber! You get this excited as soon as you hear you can make money."
"So what if I'm a money-grubber!" Zhao Yajing said without a care, stating confidently, "I just love the feeling of making money! Watching money make money, seeing my assets grow, that sense of accomplishment is better than anything else!"
Qin Hao shook his head and said nothing more. He knew that Zhao Yajing was just that kind of person—shrewd, pragmatic, and with a natural sensitivity and desire for money.
The car continued on its way and soon entered the urban area of Shenzhen.
The changes in Shenzhen are truly astonishing. Last time I visited, many areas in Luohu were still vast construction sites, with work underway everywhere. This time, I can see many buildings rising from the ground, and the streets are much wider. Although there are still many areas under construction, the city is already taking shape.
The Burger King Shenzhen branch is located on a relatively bustling street in Luohu District. The store isn't large, but its decor is eye-catching, with a red and yellow signboard that gleams in the sunlight. There's a queue of customers waiting to buy burgers, indicating that business is booming.
Qin Hao parked the car in front of the store and got out with Zhao Yajing.
Yang Shumo looked up and saw them. His eyes lit up, and he quickly gave a few instructions to the employees around him before walking over briskly.
"Old Qin, Ya Jing, you're here! The ledgers and everything are ready and in the office. I need to pick up a batch of goods to take back to the cold storage, I'll be right back."
As he spoke, he pointed to the office behind him, then hurriedly walked out, his steps quick.
Qin Hao and Zhao Yajing exchanged a glance and both smiled. This Yang Shumao is truly full of energy.
The two entered the office. The office wasn't large, only about ten square meters, containing a desk, two chairs, and a filing cabinet. But it was very clean, and everything was arranged neatly.
On the desk, several ledgers were stacked together, with a calculator and pen beside them. Each ledger was labeled with the date and branch name, making it easy to read.
Zhao Yajing walked behind her desk, sat down, and opened the top ledger to examine it carefully. As she looked, she couldn't help but sigh:
"This silly Mao is really a good business prospect. Look how clearly he keeps these accounts. Every transaction is clear and transparent. He's much more reliable than Xie Laozhuan."
Qin Hao stood behind her, looking at the ledger, and nodded:
"Yes. Damao is quick-witted, learns things fast, and is very serious about his work. I feel at ease letting him manage things in Shenzhen."
“Da Mao has his good points, and Lao Xie has his advantages. A smart person like Da Mao won’t be content to stay under someone else’s thumb for long. Maybe one day he’ll want to go out on his own.” Qin Hao smiled and handed the calculator to Zhao Yajing.
After taking the calculator, Zhao Yajing opened the ledger and said, "That makes sense. Lao Xie may not have many other merits, but he is quite loyal. He has never taken a single penny from the store in all this time."
She stopped thinking about it and lowered her head to start checking the accounts. The clicks of the calculator keys echoed in the quiet office, crisp and rhythmic.
Qin Hao walked to the window, looking at the bustling traffic on the street outside, and pondered his next plan.
An hour later, Zhao Yajing had almost finished tallying up the accounts. She put down the calculator and stretched.
"Alright, it's all done. The six stores in Shenzhen had a total turnover of 280,000 yuan in April, with a profit of 110,000 yuan and a profit margin of 39%, which is a bit higher than in Guangzhou."
Her tone was tinged with satisfaction.
Just then, Yang Shumo returned. He was covered in sweat, his T-shirt was soaked, but he was in good spirits and had a smile on his face.
"The goods have all been received and put into the freezer. How's it going? Have the accounts been reconciled?"
"All checked, no problems." Zhao Yajing closed the ledger: "Sha Mao, you've worked hard. You've managed things well in Shenzhen, even better than I expected."
Yang Shuma scratched his head sheepishly:
"No, it's because you guys laid a good foundation. I just did what you taught me."
"Alright, stop being modest." Qin Hao patted him on the shoulder. "It's getting late, let's find a place to have a meal? It's on me."
"That's great!" Yang Shumo's eyes lit up, and he grinned mischievously. "I can't let this opportunity to rip you off slip by! There's a newly opened seafood restaurant nearby, supposedly owned by a Hong Kong boss. I've always wanted to go, but I just couldn't bring myself to go. Today's the perfect day, let's go there!"
"You little brat, are you trying to rip me off like a rich guy?" Qin Hao laughed and scolded.
"Haha, who told you to be rich!" Yang Shumo said matter-of-factly.
The three chatted and laughed as they left the house and got into Qin Hao's car. Yang Shumo gave directions, and after about ten minutes, the car stopped in front of a luxuriously decorated restaurant.
The restaurant is called "Yuehao Seafood Restaurant." It has a large storefront and is decorated in a grand style. There are quite a few cars parked in front, so it looks like the business is very good.
Upon entering the restaurant, a waiter warmly greeted them. Yang Shumo requested a private room, and the three of them followed the waiter upstairs.
The private room wasn't large, but it was very elegant. Landscape paintings hung on the walls, the table was covered with a pristine white tablecloth, and the tableware was exquisite. It was clear that the owner of this restaurant had put a lot of thought into it.
After ordering, the waiter left. Only the three of them remained in the private room.
While the dishes were being served, Zhao Yajing finally couldn't contain herself and asked Qin Hao:
"When you came here, you said you wanted to start a real estate company. How do you plan to do it? What are your specific plans?"
Yang Shumo was drinking tea when he heard this and immediately perked up his ears. He put down his teacup, leaned forward slightly, and looked on with curiosity and anticipation.
He was different from Xie Laozhuan. Xie Laozhuan was content with his current situation, feeling that his life was already very good; he had food, drink, and money to spend, and nothing to complain about. But Yang Shumao was different. Although he was grateful to Qin Hao for giving him the opportunity, he didn't intend to work for someone else forever. He wanted to earn money, to earn more money. He wanted to prove to Shi Xiaona that even without going to university, he could still be successful and make a name for himself.
Qin Hao glanced at the two of them and said seriously:
"Real estate development is essentially about two difficulties: funding and land."
He paused, then continued:
"As for funding, we currently have over two million RMB on hand. We can't withdraw too much money from Hong Kong at once, as we need to expand 'Cha Yan Yue Se' there and prepare for an IPO. Therefore, we need to find a capable partner to develop together."
"As for the land," Qin Hao's tone became more serious, "that will require time and effort to obtain the necessary permits. Although Shenzhen is undergoing development everywhere, land is not something you can just acquire casually. You need connections, relationships, and to comply with the policies."
He concluded:
"So, my plan is to first register the company and set up the framework. Then, while looking for partners, I'll work on obtaining the necessary permits for the land. Once the permits are in place and the funding is secured, we can officially begin development."
Zhao Yajing rested her chin on her hand, seemingly lost in thought:
“That’s a good idea. Registering a company doesn’t cost much anyway. Let’s get the company up and running first, and then operate it slowly. Anyway, I’m here in Shenzhen, so I can keep an eye on things.”
She suddenly thought of something and looked at Qin Hao:
"How about this: you should stay in Hong Kong long-term, as the listing there is more important. I'll be based in Shenzhen. Once we get the approval, I'll call you, and then we can discuss the next steps."
Qin Hao joked:
"What? Aren't you afraid I'll have affairs in Hong Kong?"
"Hmph!" Zhao Yajing rolled her eyes at him: "If you're a womanizer, I can't stop you even if I tie you to my waistband. Besides, I've figured it out now—you can't control a man too tightly, the tighter you control him, the faster he'll run away."
As she spoke, her tone was somewhat open-minded, but deep in her eyes, there was still a hint of barely perceptible tension.
Qin Hao shook his head inwardly. He knew that Zhao Yajing's words didn't mean she truly didn't care. She simply valued her career more than love. In her heart, making money, achieving success, and proving herself were all more important than romantic feelings.
The dishes arrived one after another. Steamed grouper, boiled shrimp, steamed scallops with garlic and vermicelli, lettuce with oyster sauce... each seafood dish was prepared with perfect color, aroma, and taste, making one's mouth water.
The three picked up their chopsticks and began to eat and chat. The conversation ranged from real estate to the development of Shenzhen, from the expansion of Burger King to the success of Chayan Yuese, and the atmosphere was very harmonious.
Listening to Qin Hao and Zhao Yajing's conversation, Yang Shumo was secretly astonished. He had originally thought that Qin Hao and Zhao Yajing had only opened a few fast food restaurants and made a little money. Now it seemed that their ambitions went far beyond that. Going public, real estate... these were things he had never even dared to dream of.
Qin Hao had only been in the South for three years. To have achieved this much in such a short time, his ability and vision deeply impressed Yang Shumo.
He became even more determined—he was determined to work hard under Qin Hao, learn real skills, and make a name for himself in the future.
By the time I stepped out of the restaurant, it was already dark. Shenzhen at night is brilliantly lit, even more bustling than during the day. Neon lights flashed along both sides of the street, illuminating the passersby.
As they approached the car, Yang Shumo suddenly grabbed Qin Hao's arm, seemingly wanting to say something but then stopping himself.
Qin Hao turned to look at him:
"What's wrong? Is there anything else?"
After a long pause, Yang Shumo finally spoke in a low voice:
"Old Qin... if you have time when you go back to Hong Kong, could you please give Shi Xiaona a letter for me?"
His voice was soft, tinged with trepidation and anticipation.
Qin Hao was stunned for a moment. Before he could speak, Zhao Yajing next to him couldn't help but roll her eyes at him and snort coldly.
Qin Hao shrugged, a helpless expression on his face, as if to say: You see, it wasn't my idea to go, it was someone else who made me go.
"Hmph!" Zhao Yajing snorted again, turning her face away, but her ears perked up.
Yang Shumo had drunk quite a bit, his face flushed. Seeing Zhao Yajing's jealous expression, he couldn't help but tease her:
"Ya Jing, who are you jealous of? Don't tell me you've fallen for me?"
He was just joking, trying to ease the tension.
Unexpectedly, Zhao Yajing exploded upon hearing this. She turned around and glared at Yang Shumao with annoyance:
"Pah! You? Go look in the mirror before you speak!"
"Why are you still angry?" Yang Shumo scratched his head. (End of Chapter)