After taking the person to the dormitory, Li Weimin got busy again. He first fetched hot water, then bought food, and even washed the clothes Zhang Xue had taken off and hadn't had time to wash.
"The doctor said I need to get injections for another week. I have to work tomorrow, so you'll have to go by yourself. But I'll come over as soon as I get off work. Don't try to be tough; let me do whatever needs to be done."
Zhang Xue: "When have I ever been tough?"
Li Weimin: "..." It seemed she hadn't heard a single word of the long explanation he had just given.
After a few more words of instruction, Li Weimin turned and left.
Meanwhile, in a private room at the Swan Hotel, Jin Kun glanced at the man opposite him, took out a lighter, and lit a cigarette, puffing on it without saying anything, not in a hurry to speak.
The man: "Have you responded to my previous offer?"
Jin Kun flicked the ash from his cigarette. "I don't have such grand ambitions. As long as I and my brothers can make a living, that's enough."
A flicker of coldness flashed in the man's eyes, and then he said as if nothing had happened, "Is my sincerity not enough? If you have any other requests, you can state them."
Jin Kun finished the last puff of his cigarette, tossed the butt into the ashtray, and then looked up. "I'm just a rough fellow, used to being carefree. Honestly, I'm not used to taking orders from others. How about this? If you, Mr. Gao, really want to cooperate, you can invest and join our demolition team. I, Jin Kun, will keep my word, and by the end of the year, you'll get your share of the profits, no less."
"Boss Jin, you're really joking. What does your demolition team have besides those dozens of people and two old pieces of equipment that aren't worth much?" Gao Mingyuan's assistant, Xiao Zhang, couldn't help but interject.
In his opinion, Jin Kun and his men were nothing more than a mob, incapable of achieving anything significant. But for some reason, Mr. Gao felt cooperation with the other party was very necessary.
"Xiao Zhang," Gao Mingyuan called out, his brow furrowed slightly.
Although Jin Kun hadn't received much education, he had spent enough time in society to understand the situation. He stood up directly. "Then that's that."
With that, he left without looking back.
Only after watching him exit the private room did Gao Mingyuan's expression darken.
A mere street thug, not fit for polite society, dared to show him such disrespect.
Xiao Zhang: "I think there's no need for us to deal with people like Jin Kun..."
"Even a powerful dragon can't defeat a local snake. Jin Kun's influence in the provincial capital is not to be underestimated. Besides, we're new here, and our funds are limited. They are the most useful tools to pave the way."
Demolition is a lucrative industry with quick returns. The government allocated funds for their demolition and resettlement work. With some aggressive and less-than-savory methods, they could earn a lot from resettlement fees in addition to their due commissions.
Starting from scratch would be too slow; he needed to make money quickly.
Xiao Zhang: "Then what about us?"
Gao Mingyuan: "If he's unwilling, it's hard to say if someone under him will be. After all, money makes the mare go."
...
Chen Lishu took some time to visit the commercial street. In the chilly spring weather, many young men and women who cared about their appearance had shed their bulky winter clothes and were already wearing lighter spring attire.
She also noticed that in addition to the common bell-bottoms, she occasionally saw stylish girls wearing bell-bottom skirts, dressed attractively.
When Chen Lishu arrived at the shop, Wang Aixiang and Tian Lin were busy attending to customers. Zhao Xingwang and Wang Dazhu were not to be seen.
After the customers left, Chen Lishu asked curiously, "Where did Dazhu and the others go?"
Wang Aixiang: "They went to deliver goods. Zhao Xingwang contacted a department store, which ordered two hundred pieces and requested delivery today. So, the two of them took a bus and delivered them early this morning."
Chen Lishu nodded. "How many of this batch are left? Bring me the ledger so I can take a look."
Upon hearing her, Wang Aixiang quickly went to the counter and brought out the ledger she had been keeping.
"We still have over a thousand pieces in stock. Several people inquired about wholesale prices a couple of days ago, but they didn't follow up. I and Zhao Xingwang went to investigate and heard that the National Cotton Mill is also selling, and their prices are lower than ours. Many people are now sourcing from there, which is why Zhao Xingwang went to the county town."
It was precisely because of this situation that Chen Lishu always ordered only a small quantity of clothes each time. She had intended to create a time gap, but she had overestimated the shop's sales. Consequently, this time it had dragged on for quite a while.
It seemed that having only Zhao Xingwang as a salesperson was too few. She should consider hiring a couple more people.
"Let's try to sell them as best we can for now," Chen Lishu said, her gaze falling back on the ledger.
Wang Aixiang suddenly remembered something and reported to Chen Lishu, "Oh, right. The landlord came by a couple of days ago. From what I gathered, he wants to increase the rent."
Chen Lishu had originally rented the shop for twenty-five yuan per month, and considering the renovation and investment, she had signed an agreement that she could not change tenants for three years.
However, as the number of individual businesses increased over the past two years, the rental and sale prices of shops had risen with the market. The current rent for the shop had doubled from twenty-five to fifty yuan.
Chen Lishu frowned. "We just agreed on this before the Lunar New Year, and it's only been this long?"
Wang Aixiang: "I suspect it's because the three-year lease is nearing its end. After all, our shop is in a good location and does good business. The landlord might have other plans. I've inquired about the surrounding prices, and we're paying the market rate. It's a bit unreasonable for him to demand another increase."
Reminded by Wang Aixiang, Chen Lishu also remembered that it was indeed only a few months before the three-year lease expired. She really should find time to talk to the landlord.
After leaving the shop, Chen Lishu didn't rush home. Thinking that she hadn't heard from Zhang Xue for a couple of days and wondering how she was doing, she changed her direction and headed to the experimental middle school.
When Chen Lishu arrived, Zhang Xue was gnawing on a steamed bun. Seeing her enter, she pounced over with a cry, "Finally, I see family! You heartless thing, why did it take you so long to come? Do you know I almost died the other day?"
"Pfft, pfft, speaking of death and life in the new year is so inauspicious." Chen Lishu pulled her slightly away and looked her up and down. Seeing that she was not as haggard as she had been a couple of days ago and her complexion had actually improved, she couldn't help but laugh and say, "Judging by your condition, you're not in any serious trouble, are you?"
Zhang Xue said pitifully, "Acute appendicitis. I'm still getting IV drips these past two days."
Chen Lishu: "Why didn't you call and tell me? At least you could have had someone to take care of you. How are you now?"
Zhang Xue: "I'm much better now. Fortunately, Li Weimin has been taking care of me these past few days. There's a public kitchen next to the dormitory, and he cooks for me at night, and even helps me wash my clothes and clean up. I was too lazy to move today, so I'm just eating some steamed buns."
Hearing that she had someone to take care of her, Chen Lishu felt much relieved and couldn't resist teasing, "From what you're saying, have you made up? Didn't you make a strong vow before that you'd be a dog if you spoke to him again?"