Chapter Thirty-Nine: Securing the Textile Factory Agreement

Chen Huajiang’s tactic of retreating in order to advance worked flawlessly. The factory director hurriedly said, “If you’d just explained it like this earlier, everything would have been resolved much more easily! I thought there were no available buildings, and I was wondering how you planned to manage.”

“If you’re saying you want to build something yourselves, of course I support it. After all, everyone is encouraging young people to start their own businesses these days.”

Chen Huajiang and Liang Long exchanged a feigned glance before Chen spoke with apparent unease, “Director, are you really being serious? You mustn’t force yourself. After all, there are plenty of factories in all of Nanming.”

“How could my word not be good? Just tell me what you want to do, and I’ll cooperate in any way I can.”

Judging by the director’s attitude, it seemed the matter was as good as settled.

Liang Long could barely contain himself, stifling a laugh. Wasn’t Chen Huajiang just too good at deception? He’d managed to completely bamboozle the director, who hadn’t realized a thing even now.

“That’s easy to settle. We’ll sign an agreement for however much it costs, and I’ll pay you right here in the city. We’ll just rent the place from you.”

Chen Huajiang stated this calmly.

“What’s there to rent? Just use the space if you need it. It’s just sitting empty anyway.”

The director was rather generous.

“But that won’t do. Business is business. Director, name your price; otherwise, we’ll have trouble justifying it on our end.”

Given Chen’s insistence, the director was even more convinced this was all genuine.

“How much is the Hongqi Factory space renting for?” The director, shrewd as ever, wanted to avoid any trouble for himself in the future and first asked about the price over there.

“It’s ninety yuan for three years. Just say how much you want here; we’re fine with anything.”

“If it’s ninety over there, then let’s make it ninety here as well. These things are all negotiable.”

Now that the matter had come this far, it was time to strike while the iron was hot.

“Alright then, ninety it is. But we’ll need to sign an agreement. As it happens, I have one in my bag, so let’s settle it right now.”

Chen Huajiang took an agreement out of his bag and handed it to the director.

Without hesitation, the director signed his name, smiling as he said, “In future, I hope you’ll put in a good word for me with Director Chen whenever you can.”

“That goes without saying. You have nothing to worry about.”

With that, Chen Huajiang and Liang Long left the director’s office, the agreement—complete with the textile factory’s official seal—firmly in hand.

Even if the director caught on to something later, there’d be no way for him to go back on his word.

“Huajiang, you’re truly impressive. You settled the director in no time at all,” Liang Long said, full of admiration for Chen’s eloquence.

“There’s nothing special about that. You’ll see much more impressive things in the future. I’ve settled the location; now it’s your turn. Find some people and get a couple of small buildings put up as soon as possible,” Chen instructed.

“Don’t worry; I won’t let you down.”

When Chen Huajiang returned to the snack shop, he found Lin Guoshan already waiting for him.

“Brother, what did our parents decide?”

“They agreed. I came to learn how you make lamb soup. When I saw you weren’t here, I wondered where you’d gone.” Lin Guoshan was all smiles.

“I had a little business to take care of. This is easy enough to learn. For now, go get the place built. Here’s three hundred yuan; if it’s not enough, come back and ask me for more.”

Chen Huajiang took three hundred yuan from his wallet and handed it to Lin Guoshan.

He worried that Lin Jiayin’s parents might change their minds, so it was best to start construction right away. That way, even if they regretted it, it would be too late.

Lin Guoshan took the money and grinned, “Alright, I’ll go back and get a few simple buildings put up first.”

After Lin Guoshan left with the money, Wu De and Gou Weidong watched everything from their doorway.

They had no idea what Chen Huajiang was up to lately; he seemed awfully busy.

“What do you suppose that kid is doing? Why all the mystery?” Wu De asked Gou Weidong beside him.

“How should I know? Maybe he’s developing something new again?”

With their combined wits, they could never guess that Chen Huajiang was about to open two shops at once.

Wu De wandered down to the entrance of Chen Huajiang’s snack shop.

“Boss Chen, what big project has you so busy these days?” Wu De asked on purpose.

“I’m expanding, of course. Do you think one snack shop is enough? Before long, we’ll be opening more branches. I just wonder how long your shop can last,” Chen Huajiang replied, completely unconcerned. He knew these two were no match for him.

Apart from stabbing others in the back, there was nothing else they could do.

“You’re all talk. Let’s see how long you can keep bragging. Branches, you say? Once my new chef arrives in a few days, you’ll be out of business.”

Wu De had found a skilled chef from his hometown, a specialist in stir-fry, whose wages were reportedly quite reasonable and whose cooking, according to Wu’s father, was impeccable.

Whether that was true or not remained to be seen, as the man wouldn’t arrive for a couple of days.

“Really? Is he that impressive? I’d like to see who you can find to do business with you.”

Chen Huajiang looked at Wu De with utter disdain. Even if they did find a talented chef, Chen was confident he could handle them.

Recently, the sales at Weimeixian had fallen off. The owner once again sent someone to Chen Huajiang’s shop to buy several portions of braised pork to take back.

After tasting it, he found the flavor was indeed better than Lu Cheng’s.

Feng Weizhi was immediately displeased and called Lu Cheng into his office.

“Chef Lu, you’re disappointing me. Didn’t you say your skills were better than your son’s? But now, it seems that’s not the case.”

Hearing this, Lu Cheng felt embarrassed. He had tasted the braised pork they’d brought back and had to admit it was more delicious than his own.

“I tried theirs a few days ago and it tasted the same as before. But today, the flavor is suddenly different. Could it be they’ve hired a more skilled chef?”

Lu Cheng knew Da Guang very well and felt sure it wasn’t him cooking.

“Our people said it’s still your son in the kitchen. There’s been no change,” Feng Weizhi said with conviction.

“Then what could have happened? Why was his cooking not as good as mine a few days ago, but now it’s suddenly improved?”

Lu Cheng couldn’t make sense of it.

“I have no idea. Maybe they changed the recipe,” Feng Weizhi speculated. After so many years in the food business, he couldn’t think of any other possibility.

“How much could they change it? There are only so many seasonings. Changing them around won’t make much difference. I’ll ask about it tonight and see what I can find out.”