Chapter 222 - 195: If You Have Wine, Who Needs Cigarettes?

Chapter 222: Chapter 195: If You Have Wine, Who Needs Cigarettes?

But for both parties, it was a gamble.

It all depended on how well the business would do.

"The profit-sharing is no problem."

Zhang Hui only mulled it over for a moment before agreeing to the plan. Although the profits would be shared, he wouldn’t have to bear the costs of rent and renovations. That was the deal.

"As for the last issue Brother Hui is worried about, let’s set a six-month limit. If the monthly profit doesn’t reach fifty thousand, Brother Hui can pull out at any time. But if it exceeds fifty thousand, we’ll need to sign a long-term contract. Barring any issues on my end, Brother Hui can’t just walk away."

Chen Yuan offered a solution to Zhang Hui’s final concern.

"Haha, if the monthly profit can hit fifty thousand, I’m not going anywhere unless you kick me out, my friend."

Zhang Hui let out a hearty laugh, pulling out a pack of cigarettes. He offered one to Chen Yuan before putting one in his own mouth and saying, "I accept your proposal, but I still have to run it by my wife. It shouldn’t be a problem. I’ll give you a final answer tomorrow."

"Okay."

Chen Yuan nodded.

Since it was getting late, the two didn’t talk for long. After quickly settling on the general plan, Zhang Hui drove off.

Chen Yuan glanced at the time. It was almost 11:30. The employees would be coming over soon to start closing up. He tucked the cigarette behind his ear and quickly went to redeem his Rebate Reward.

While he was redeeming the reward, the employees arrived one after another to prepare for closing. By the time he was done, the closing process was nearly complete.

Everyone made their last trip, and the work was finished.

"Sis, I have a new idea for recruiting tenants."

After closing up, everyone headed home. Chen Yuan walked back with Chen Li, explaining the new partnership model on the way: no rent, just profit sharing.

"That’s a pretty novel approach to partnership," Chen Li said. "Merchants won’t need an initial investment, so there’s no risk of losing capital. I’m sure many will be willing to give it a try."

Chen Li felt the model was very feasible.

But there were still some minor details to consider.

"Different types of businesses will have different profit margins. The sharing rates can’t all be set to a single standard."

Chen Li offered her advice.

A fish hot pot restaurant, a milk tea shop, a children’s playground—these were all different industries. Naturally, they couldn’t all use the same profit-sharing rate that Chen Yuan had discussed with Zhang Hui.

"Right. It’ll be a case-by-case basis. You can handle the profit-sharing negotiations with the merchants. Ask Sister Chunping what she thinks, and propose this partnership model to her."

By the time they got home, the siblings had more or less finished their discussion.

They ran into their dad, exchanged greetings, and went to their respective rooms.

Chen Yuan scurried upstairs, took a quick shower, and came out. He didn’t stay up late working on the proposal. Instead, he set his alarm and fell straight into bed.

The night before, he’d stared at the ceiling for a long time thinking about Chen Wenbin’s situation. He hadn’t rested during the day, so he was already exhausted. He couldn’t stay awake any longer.

Not two minutes after he turned off the light, the sound of steady breathing filled the room.

「The next morning.」

Chen Yuan woke up with his alarm. After washing up, he went downstairs and his eyes lit up when he saw his dad moving things around.

"Well now, lookin’ sharp today."

Chen Yuan chuckled teasingly.

Instead of his usual uniform of sandals, shorts, and a tank top, today Chen Jun was wearing long pants, cloth shoes, and a T-shirt. He had also shaved, making him look like a completely different person.

"What’s that supposed to mean? Are you saying I only look sharp today and not any other day?"

Chen Jun shot Chen Yuan a sidelong glance.

’Not bad, he’s learned how to turn the tables on me.’

"Hey, those are your words, not mine," Chen Yuan said with a laugh as he went to help.

Chen Jun lifted his leg as if to kick him, but Chen Yuan wasn’t about to let him succeed, nimbly sidestepping to avoid it perfectly.

"Just restock the Small Pond. We don’t have time for the Old Pond right now."

Chen Jun told Chen Yuan to grab less stuff.

Even waking up a bit earlier than usual was only enough time to restock the Small Pond. The Old Pond would have to wait until after the first wave of customers.

By the time they returned from restocking, Tang Ying had finished making breakfast, and Chen Li was helping her carry it to the main hall.

"Mom, you look really beautiful today," Chen Yuan said with a smile, sidling up to Tang Ying.

"Oh, stop your sweet-talking and go eat."

Tang Ying waved her hand dismissively, and Chen Yuan scurried away, leaving her grinning to herself.

What woman doesn’t like being complimented, especially by her own son?

Except for Chen Li.

When Chen Yuan ran into the main hall and started sizing up Chen Li with an appreciative click of his tongue, he didn’t even get the compliment out before a sudden whack landed on his head.

"That was a sneak attack!"

Chen Yuan clutched his head. ’Sis doesn’t play fair!’

"That’s what you get for running your mouth."

Chen Li shot Chen Yuan a reproachful glare.

’Women are perceptive and sensitive. Even though Mom and Dad were being very restrained and acting normal, not saying anything out of the ordinary, just by looking at how they were dressed today, plus a woman’s intuition, I knew Mom and Dad must have found out something. And who else could it be but that big-mouthed Chen Yuan?’

"Hey, you can’t blame me for this."

Chen Yuan pulled out a stool, sat down, and leaned close to Chen Li to whisper, "Next time you’re on a call, Sis, you should look in a mirror. The smile on your face is like a peach blossom in full bloom. You can’t hide it."

Chen Li wanted to smack him again, but Chen Jun and Tang Ying came in, instantly ending the conversation. She couldn’t help but wonder, though.

’Was my smile really that obvious?’

After breakfast, employees like Chen Guo, Lin Cuiju, and Chen Dequan arrived one by one. Customers started trickling in soon after, and the busy day began.

"I’ll watch the Small Pond this morning."

On his last trip over, Chen Yuan brought his laptop, planning to continue editing the proposal at the Small Pond.

"I’m going to restock then," Chen Jun said.

He went to handle restocking the Old Pond, and the others dispersed to either get busy with their tasks or take a break.

Only Chen Li remained, sitting on a tricycle and fiddling with her phone.

Curious, Chen Yuan crept over and peeked.

"You bought liquor, why would you need cigarettes too?" Chen Yuan commented with a laugh from behind her.

"Are you trying to get yourself killed?!"

Chen Li jumped, startled. She quickly covered her phone and whirled around to glare fiercely at Chen Yuan, her eyes practically shooting fire as she leaped off the tricycle.

Sensing trouble, Chen Yuan bolted for the office, only breathing a sigh of relief after he had slammed the door shut behind him.

Chen Li pounded on the door, threatening Chen Yuan to open up. But Chen Yuan wasn’t an idiot. ’Why would I actively seek death? You don’t mess with an enraged woman.’

"What outrageous crime did Boss Chen commit to get chased down by Miss Chen?"

"Haha, it’s a good thing he’s all grown up. Otherwise, he’d definitely be in for a beating."

"As the saying goes, ’Discipline your little brother early and often.’ See? It’s much harder once they’re grown up."

"Miss Chen, you want us to help? We guarantee we’ll drag Boss Chen out for you."

"Boss Chen, give me a membership and I’ll lead Miss Chen away for you!"

Chen Li’s shout had attracted the attention of all the anglers around the pond. Seeing the two siblings chasing each other, they started to joke around curiously, some siding with Chen Li, others with Chen Yuan.

Of course, the jokes were just jokes. The anglers were all talk; not a single one of them got up.

"You just wait! What goes around comes around."

Chen Li couldn’t push the office door open and eventually had to give up. She shook her fists at Chen Yuan inside and threw out one last threat.

But when she got back to the tricycle, she still took out her phone and edited a WeChat message.

"Get two cartons of cigarettes, too. Dad and my brother both smoke."

Originally, Chen Li hadn’t planned on this. After all, the visit was just to check out the location for a milk tea shop. But since her little brother had figured it out and their parents knew, she couldn’t neglect the proper etiquette.

Putting her phone away, Chen Li shot another fierce glare at the office before finally riding off on the tricycle.

Chen Yuan shrugged, put a cigarette in his mouth, and opened his laptop to continue editing his plan.

At 10:30, Chen Yuan got a call from Chen Jun, telling him that his sister had gone to the village entrance to pick someone up and that he should come back quickly.

’Looks like Dad is keeping a close eye on Sis’s every move,’ Chen Yuan thought with a grin. ’They must be really excited about their prospective son-in-law coming. They’re watching her like a hawk. Her going to the village entrance now must mean she’s picking him up. And Dad was even cautious enough not to use the walkie-talkie, since Sis is on Channel 3 too.’

Closing his laptop, Chen Yuan locked the office door, hopped on a tricycle, and rushed home. He had just jumped off the vehicle when he saw his sister returning on her tricycle before he could even step into the yard.

As expected, there was someone in the back.