Meng Meiyun spent only one day clearing out the Buddha’s office at the Blueberry Nightclub, replacing all the furniture, including the carpets and curtains.
The office spanned over a hundred square meters, featuring not only a desk and chairs but also a reception area with sofas and a tea table, and a small conference room.
Additionally, there was a private lounge with an en-suite bathroom.
“Yang Jian, this is your office. Is there anything else you need added or improved?”
Yang Jian, along with Anan, Junjun, Ma Yuan, and Fang Hai, officially entered Phoenix Street. Meng Meiyun had arrived early at the Blueberry Nightclub to receive them, while Afeng had gone with Abao to handle the permit procedures.
Yang Jian toured the office and felt very satisfied. “Thank you, Meiyun.”
“What’s there to be polite about? I keep my word. From now on, you’ll have a thirty percent stake in this nightclub, making you a shareholder.”
“Don’t joke around. I can’t accept rewards without merit. I can’t just take your shares for free, and I don’t have any money to invest right now.”
“Why do you say it’s a reward without merit? With you here, this nightclub will be safe. Otherwise, it’ll be shut down in a few days. Those people from the Xichuan Gang won’t tolerate me.”
“That still won’t do. We’re fellow townsfolk and old classmates. It’s only right that I help you, and it’s a simple matter. If I take your shares, wouldn’t that make me a extortionist thug?”
Meng Meiyun became anxious. “Since we’re classmates, you should be even less inclined to refuse. I’m giving you these shares willingly, and no one will fault you for it.”
“Stop persuading me. I won’t accept them. Can you call Xiaosong over? I don’t know anything about the liquor business.”
Yang Jian didn’t want to get into a prolonged discussion with her and quickly changed the subject. He was here today to take over the liquor business.
Meng Meiyun felt a bit annoyed, realizing she had offered a warm welcome only to be met with a cold shoulder. This old classmate was truly eccentric; anyone else would readily accept such a generous offer, but he refused.
Within a few minutes, Xiaosong arrived. He was a young man of about twenty-eight or twenty-nine, of medium build, with a buzz cut, looking very capable.
“Manager Yang, I’m Xiaosong. I was previously responsible for the liquor business on Phoenix Street for the Buddha.”
Although Xiaosong was slightly older than Yang Jian, he appeared quite reserved in front of him. This was because Yang Jian had hit him with a stick when he went with Achao to Liuqiao Village. Fortunately, Xiaosong had run fast; the blow had landed on his back. If it had hit his hands or feet, he would still be in the hospital.
Yang Jian extended his hand to shake Xiaosong’s. “Hello, Brother Song. Call me Xiaoyang. I’m not a manager, so let’s call each other brothers. We’re both novices in the liquor business, and we’ll have to rely on you to manage it from now on.”
Xiaosong was stunned at first, then spoke after a pause. “Manager Yang, do you mean you want me to stay on Phoenix Street and help you manage the liquor business?”
“Yes, you were the Buddha’s brother, and now that he’s withdrawn from Phoenix Street, he still has shares in the liquor business. Didn’t the Buddha ask you to liaise with me? You should definitely stay here then.”
“I… I thought it was a handover. Manager Yang, I belong to the Buddha. Are you really willing to accept me?”
Phoenix Street was a goldmine, and Xiaosong was naturally happy to work here. He could tell that although Yang Jian had hit him, he didn’t seem to recognize him.
“Brother Song, what era is this? Everyone is equal now. You haven’t sold yourself to anyone, so how can you be the Buddha’s man? Everyone leaves their hometown to earn money. Where the money is good, that’s where you go. Do you have to be bound by someone?
If you work for me, you’re my brother. We’ll get rich together. I hold thirty percent of the shares in this liquor business.
If you’re willing to stay with me, the five of us brothers will split these shares equally. What do you say?”
Yang Jian wanted to bring Xiaosong on board because he and Afeng, along with the other two, knew nothing about the liquor business and desperately needed an insider.
As for Xiaosong’s loyalty, it wasn’t important at all. If the Buddha had been subdued, why worry about him causing trouble?
Xiaosong felt as if he were dreaming, looking at Yang Jian in disbelief. “Manager Yang, you want to give me a six percent share?”
“Yes. These are Anan and Junjun, and Afeng couldn’t make it today. Including you and me, there are five of us who will split thirty percent of the shares equally. You’ll be in charge of the specific operations, with Anan and Junjun assisting you. How does that sound?”
“This offer is too… too generous. I can’t believe it.”
Xiaosong’s speech became incoherent with excitement.
“No need to doubt. From now on, you are the manager of liquor operations. Whatever procedures you need to handle, however many people you need to recruit, it’s all up to you.”
“Manager Yang, since you trust me so much, from now on, I am your brother. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed with the liquor business.”
Xiaosong finally believed that a large pie had fallen into his lap. Before, when working for the Buddha, his treatment was only slightly better than that of ordinary henchmen, with a monthly salary of five thousand yuan.
The Buddha’s henchmen only earned one or two thousand yuan a month. This was still much higher than factory workers, who earned only seven or eight hundred or around a thousand yuan a month at that time, and even less than construction workers.
The liquor business on Phoenix Street generated at least two million yuan in revenue per month. A six percent share would amount to over a hundred thousand yuan, making him a millionaire within a year.
This was something Xiaosong could never have imagined before. If he didn’t accept such generous terms, he’d be a fool.
As for the Buddha, let him go to hell. Just as this Manager Yang said, he hadn’t sold himself to him. People strive for higher ground, and water flows to lower places. Manager Yang was the boss with vision, and he would follow him wholeheartedly from now on.
“Brother Song, since you’ve agreed to stay, discuss any matters with Anan and Junjun. They have money on hand, so use it as needed and don’t be stingy. We’re not short of money.”
Yang Jian was very pleased to see that Xiaosong had been completely won over. With an insider managing things, the liquor business would be much simpler.
“Manager Yang, there are over thirty nightclubs and entertainment venues on Phoenix Street, with a very large demand for liquor. To monopolize the operation, prevent other distributors from entering, or stop establishments from bypassing us to purchase liquor, we’ll need a large number of personnel for supervision and deterrence.”
“How many people do you think would be appropriate?”
“The Buddha previously had nearly two hundred people stationed on this street, but his business dealings were more extensive, and he primarily feared other gangs encroaching on his territory.
With you personally overseeing things here, Manager Yang, no one should dare cause trouble. I think twenty people would be enough, mainly to ensure that establishments don’t purchase liquor privately.
Additionally, the Buddha had a surveillance room on the first floor of this nightclub, monitoring the entire Phoenix Street.”
Xiaosong began to describe the actual situation on Phoenix Street, with Yang Jian to make the final decisions on the specific arrangements.