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Chapter 293: Chapter 293: Touched the Reverse Scale.
Tong Yao and Lin Fengying exchanged pleasantries over the phone before hanging up. Talking to Gu Hongwei about loans to open branches resumed immediately after.
Since Gu Hongwei also intended to loan money for farming, he had researched on loan procedures. The government currently supports farmers’ entrepreneurship by offering interest-free loans without collateral - a golden opportunity.
Tong Yao planned to loan ten thousand yuan, a considerable amount. Given her current financial status, securing a loan shouldn’t be a problem. Opening a tea shop in a cinema would demand a higher investment. She wanted to hear Gu Hongwei’s opinions.
Gu Hongwei didn’t dismiss her inquiry. He earnestly responded to Tong Yao’s question, even sketching a crude map for her.
"There are two vacant shops across the cinema. One of them is rather large and unsuitable for a tea shop. The other one would be a good fit. I don’t know about its rental fees though. If you were to open a tea shop there, maybe you can also set up a snack stall at the entrance."
Tong Yao’s eyes lit up, "What kind of snacks would be good?"
"Grilled sweet potatoes and stir-fried chestnuts. Both are foods appropriate for pairing with milk tea while watching a movie, or for enjoying while out shopping. If business goes well, not only can you earn enough to cover rent and payroll, you’ll even have some extra. However, choosing your staff carefully is crucial. In business, attitude matters."
Gu Hongwei was poor and dressed plainly. His clothes were washed to the point of fading. He rarely shopped, and when he did go out with his friends, he often faced disdain.
Every time he encountered such situations, he would quietly think to himself that if he ever became a boss, he wouldn’t hire such employees. Not out of spite, but to maintain a positive reputation for his business.
"That’s a great idea. The cost price for both these items isn’t high." Tong Yao found Gu Hongwei’s advice reasonable and began planning in her mind. "My parents don’t have much to do at home. They’re longing to have a grandchild to play with. If I give them jobs, they’ll probably be happy."
Being action-driven, she quickly dialed Tong Yaohui’s number after some thought and roughly explained her idea of opening another branch.
As expected, Tong Yaohui fully supported her. He immediately hopped into a taxi and headed to the milk tea shop, eager to accompany his daughter to lease the property.
Having been a factory director for many years without catching the right wave to become an entrepreneur, he felt his daughter’s venture into business fulfilled his entrepreneurial ambitions, crediting it to her inheritance of his genes.
He was more anxious than Tong Yao, fearing the shop would be rented out by others first. Moreover, he brought yuan 1000 with him.
"Let’s secure the property first. As for taking out a loan, we can do that after we firmly have the shop in hand."
The rent for shops across the cinema turned out to be more than double the price of those near Kyoto University. Yet, Tong Yaohui didn’t complain. He swiftly signed a five-year lease and paid a year’s rent upfront. He made most decisions while Tong Yao hardly had a say.
Being a factory director for decades, Tong Yaohui had a management aura about him that commanded respect. Standing with him offered Tong Yao a sense of security.
After successfully renting the shop, Tong Yaohui was in high spirits, his face breaking into a wide smile. It was rare for Tong Yao to see him so happy.
Tong Yaohui walked around the property of over fifty square meters repeatedly, mumbling to himself. "Your mother and I get bored at home anyway. Helping you manage the shop will surely keep us occupied. You can focus on running the business near Kyoto University. Your mother and I will manage this place. I’ll take care of grilling the sweet potatoes and frying the chestnuts, and your mother will handle cash collection and accounting."
That was good news, but Tong Yao had another concern. "Dad, our house isn’t exactly close to this place. It’ll take over twenty minutes on a bike each way."
Tong Yaohui frowned, "Do you think I’ve become useless in my old age?"
Tong Yao: ...
Looks like she brought up a sensitive topic.
"Dad, I’m just concerned about you and mom. If it’s not too much trouble for you two, we can proceed. I’ll hire two more employees to assist you guys. You and mom should wrap up by five-thirty every day."
Tong Yaohui reassured her. "You don’t need to worry about all this. Your mom and I have it figured out. Your task is just to manage the other branches. We’ll handle the accounts meticulously."
Tong Yao: Ah, it seems her dad has caught the entrepreneurial bug and is ready to conquer the world.
Nevertheless, this is a good thing. Her parents won’t just spend their days yearning for a grandchild.
She smiled and said, "Dad, once money starts rolling in, I’ll buy a car for you to drive first so that you won’t have to worry about bad weather."
"A car will naturally be part of the plan once our businesses are thriving. I’m too old to bother getting a driving license. It’s essential to get a car for Xiaochen, though." Once Tong Yaohui’s immediate euphoria faded, he urged Tong Yao to leave, "Let’s go! We’ll head back for now. Tomorrow, I’ll come over again and we’ll proceed with the loan formalities together. Now that the shop has been rented, we ought to complete the loan process soon and commence the business."
Tong Yao trotted behind Tong Yaohui, thinking to herself. Her dad certainly had a special liking for her chosen husband – prioritizing a car for him first. She felt a hint of jealousy.
But now that the property is secured, they’re going to be occupied for a while.
As Tong Yao predicted, the following days were hectic. She visited the bank multiple times, rented another shop in the mall, and got busy with a month full of operational activities like renovation and procurement of tools. She was as busy as a top, sleeping like a log when Si Chen came home.
During this period, a surprising event occurred. Groups of doctors and their families visited the milk tea shop. As little dahlia cat later revealed, they were trying to confirm if she was indeed the owner of the milk tea shop.
This did not bother Tong Yao. She was busy making money and didn’t have the time to bother about it. Once she becomes rich, she can drive home to Li City whenever she chooses without hitching a train.
The scorching heat of July made you feel like you’d been roasted every time you set foot outside.
The milk tea shop across the cinema officially opened. Not surprisingly, business was booming on the first day. Despite Tong Yao’s help, everyone wished they could clone themselves.
Fancy a icy cold milk tea or refreshing fruit juice in the sweltering summer weather - which young woman or child could resist?
Originally, the plan was to only hire three staff members. However, after the shop opened, Tong Yao realized the busy city shop would need more help, so she hired another employee to help with miscellaneous tasks.
With tasks to keep them busy, Tong Yaohui and Wen Yun reveled in their daily routine. To ensure they were well taken care of, Tong Yao occasionally delivered meals to them and told them to rest whenever they felt tired. However, they thought she talked too much.
