Chapter Seventy-Four: The Decision to Contract

“No matter who takes over, it’s still a contract. If you want to lease it, Brother Chen, I can help report it to the higher-ups.”
“It’s not a big issue, since our hotel has already decided to lease out the shop. The profits here are poor, and it overlaps with the hotel’s own restaurant.”
Zhao Tao had a good impression of Chen Huajiang. The man spoke foreign languages; though he wasn’t of high standing as a businessman, Zhao Tao still thought he was talented.
Besides, all this information could be easily verified, so he had no intention of hiding anything and spoke frankly.
Chen Huajiang nodded, took out a pack of cigarettes, and offered one to Zhao Tao.
Zhao Tao took it with practiced ease; Chen Huajiang lit it for him, then took one for himself and began to smoke.
Just now, Chen Huajiang had noticed Zhao Tao’s yellowed teeth—clearly a smoker. This small gesture quickly drew them closer.
“Manager Zhao, to be honest, your shop has its advantages, but you’ve managed it poorly.”
“The rent is so high because you cater to outsiders. But foreigners have different tastes, and perhaps your reputation has already been damaged.”
“I need to try it out first, to see if the reputation can still be salvaged. If it can’t, I can’t afford to lose money—you understand, right?”
Chen Huajiang carefully chose his words, smiling as he spoke to Zhao Tao.
“So what are you getting at?” Zhao Tao frowned, unsure of Chen Huajiang’s point.
“I want to rent it for a month first. Let me finish.”
Chen Huajiang spoke, raising a hand to stop Zhao Tao, who seemed about to object.
“I’ll give you four hundred yuan up front for a half-month trial run. If I think the shop’s reputation can be saved, I’ll then sign on for ten years.”
“If it can’t be saved, the four hundred is yours to keep, no need to refund me. In business, you have to test the waters; you can’t go all in at the start, right?”
Chen Huajiang smiled at him, though inwardly he was anxious.
The shopfront outside Nanhotel was prime property. In the future, the city’s only KFC would open right here, doing booming trade.
“In that case, it should be fine. I’ll ask for you.”
After thinking it over, Zhao Tao felt there was nothing wrong with Chen Huajiang’s proposal.
It was just half a month’s lease for four hundred—no matter how you looked at it, the hotel profited.
So Zhao Tao went to make inquiries. Lin Jiayin, who had been waiting anxiously, seized the moment to wave Chen Huajiang over.
“Are you crazy? It’s thirty-six hundred a year! Do you have that kind of money?”

The moment she got close, Lin Jiayin grabbed Chen Huajiang’s arm, her nerves taut.
“No, I don’t,” Chen Huajiang replied honestly.
“Then why bother? Are you just toying with them, or do you have money to burn? Let’s go, now.”
“If someone comes back and it actually works out, we’ll be in trouble.”
Hearing that her husband didn’t have the money, Lin Jiayin grew even more anxious. She picked up Huanhuan with one arm and tried to pull Chen Huajiang away with the other.
“Come on now, what are you thinking? Am I the kind of man who creates trouble for no reason?”
“I don’t have it now, but I will soon. Don’t worry, trust me on this!”
Chen Huajiang gripped her hand with confidence.
Looking into his clear, resolute eyes, Lin Jiayin hesitated but finally chose to believe him.
In times like these, a woman usually stood by her man unless life became unbearable.
Besides, Chen Huajiang had changed a lot lately; their family was doing better and better, which gave her more faith in him.
“Alright, have it your way,” Lin Jiayin muttered, setting Huanhuan down.
About a quarter of an hour later, Zhao Tao returned with a pot-bellied middle-aged man.
“Who wants to take over our Nanhotel shop?”
The man entered with an air of self-importance, hands behind his back, looking around as if he couldn’t find the target.
At this point, only Chen Huajiang’s family of three were present; the rest of the place was empty.
It was somewhat disrespectful, but Chen Huajiang just smiled, walked over, and offered his hand. “One look at you and I can tell you’re a man of distinction. Zhao, this must be your boss?”
In his previous business life, Chen Huajiang had met many such men, full of their own importance and arrogance.
But they were easy to handle—they liked flattery, and if you played along, things usually went smoothly.
“Yes, this is Deputy Manager Niu of our hotel.”
“Manager Niu, this is Chen Huajiang, the one I told you about.”
Zhao Tao made the introductions.
“Hmm, you have some discernment, young man. But do you have the money to take over this shop?”

Niu’s tone softened a little, but he still looked down on Chen Huajiang.
Chen Huajiang repeated his proposal, then offered Niu a cigarette and led him to the doorway.
Out of sight, he slipped two ten-yuan notes into Niu’s hand.
Niu’s eyes lit up; quick as lightning, the money vanished into his sleeve.
“You make a good point; our shop’s rent is a bit high.”
“Alright, I’ll agree to your terms. I can’t let you take a loss. But the contract must be clear: four hundred for a half-month trial lease, and the four hundred is non-refundable, no matter what. Even if you want to lease for a year afterward, it’s still thirty-six hundred, not thirty-two.”
Having benefited, Niu agreed to Chen Huajiang’s request. They arranged to sign the contract and exchange money the next day.
They chatted for a while longer. Under Chen Huajiang’s flattery, Niu was quite pleased and found him agreeable.
Thus, Chen Huajiang returned home with Lin Jiayin, who was still worried, and Huanhuan, who was full and sleeping in her mother’s arms.
As soon as they got home, Chen Huajiang sprang into action, calling Hei Hu, Er Mao, Lin Guoshan, Daguang, and Liang Long to the shop.
He explained his plan to lease the restaurant storefront at Nanhotel to them, and they were all shocked.
“What! Huajiang, are you crazy? You’re actually thinking of leasing Nanhotel’s storefront? You—you—you must be mad!”
Especially his brother-in-law Lin Guoshan, who was so agitated he pointed at Chen Huajiang in disbelief.
Chen Huajiang bristled at this—his brother-in-law was always more hindrance than help.
If not for the need to avoid future family quarrels, he wouldn’t have bothered telling him.
With Lin Guoshan’s outburst, the others all turned to Chen Huajiang.
“Huajiang, this is too risky. Thirty-six hundred a year—where are you going to find that kind of money? With that much, you could open seven or eight shops back in the residential compound!”
“Exactly, the risk is huge. To stake everything on Nanhotel just isn’t wise.”
“I agree. This isn’t a small sum. Luckily you’re just risking four hundred for now—don’t sign on for any more afterward.”
Everyone expressed their opinions, all sharing the view that Chen Huajiang’s plan was too risky.