Chapter 587: Shazhu Meets the Big Leader, Discusses Loans, Xiao Dang Returns Four

Speak bluntly.

If it weren't for the period sharing honor and disgrace with the big leader, the big leader could never have looked favorably on Shazhu; from start to finish he would have treated Shazhu merely as an ordinary cook.

Whether it was out of promotion, gratitude, or guilt, at the very least the big leader gave Shazhu an opportunity, making him the person in charge of the pilot unit Bai Xu.

Moreover, when people were scheming against Bai Xu, he openly backed Shazhu, helping Shazhu repel countless demons and monsters.

Past cause.

Present result.

Shazhu's feelings toward the big leader today were forged at the risk of his life, just like Factory Director Yang; many feared being implicated, yet Shazhu foolishly stepped forward.

He rose to power.

Naturally, we should be grateful for Shazhu's efforts.

This is the truth.

It became especially solemn.

"I took over Zhao Ge's position, becoming the big leader's secretary. Before Zhao Ge left, he specifically mentioned you to me, and I was wondering when to go to Bai Xu to visit you, but then you came to see the big leader, and I..."

Her clothing was noticeably different from those around her, extremely ill-fitting, looking as if she had thrown on a loose overcoat.

Such a thing never appeared in my previous life.

Equivalent to a monthly net income of over seven thousand.

"Yes, that's the right to choose. In the Capital City there are big and small restaurants, numbering over a thousand, some large, some small, serving similar customers. Yet some customers would rather walk five or six li to eat at Bai Xu than go to a restaurant just over a hundred meters or even tens of meters from home. The reason is that at Bai Xu, one can enjoy the food, enjoy the environment, and feel Bai Xu's care."

He examined her closely.

"Are you Xiao Dang? Qin Huairu's daughter? Jia Zhangshi's granddaughter?" Seeing Xiao Dang greet him, Yan Fugui, startled and speaking without filter, smiled and changed his address: "You've come back?"

That kind of statistical format, ordinary nowadays, shows daily revenue, costs, staff wages, net profit, and losses.

……

Upon hearing Shazhu say that.

Just said that.

He exclaimed in surprise.

"Head store?"

When leaving.

Placed before the big leader.

Yan Fugui felt a myriad of emotions.

He then added a few more thoughts.

Thus Yan Fugui's shout instantly blew those people in the Siheyuan apart.

Was revealed.

Or the woman spoke up, shouting "San Daye!"

Qin Huairu abandoned her livelihood.

It eased somewhat.

Xiao Dang's clothes and shoes were old, with patches in places, and she carried no luggage, giving an air of weariness and hardship.

This is Shazhu's plan for Bai Xu's future development.

"The right to choose also carries another meaning: over the past six months, many people have come to Bai Xu to eat—some are factory staff entertaining guests, some are friends gathering for meals. Initially the former were more numerous, but now the latter have gradually increased, showing that people's money has gradually increased. It's a simple principle: if you want to eat but have no money, you naturally won't go to a restaurant and will just make do; only when you have money will you choose to dine out."

One could allocate land to Shazhu by force, but that would give others a handle.

"Who is she?"

The answer came when Yan Fugui went out to pour water.

"Just come back, just come back—golden nests and silver nests are no match for your own home. Xiao Dang, hurry home; your grandmother and mother are here, and the neighbors are too."

"Do you have money?" the big leader glanced at Shazhu, "Just relying on those fifty thousand you turned over?"

"You are He Yuzhu, the big brother in charge of Bai Xu Restaurant, right?"

Only then did Yan Fugui recognize this woman in her early thirties; it was none other than Xiao Dang, who had left home years ago because of the Bangeng incident.

"Big leader, I think this way: Bai Xu has already made a name for itself, somewhat supply-demand imbalance, and I want to open a head store!"

At first Yan Fugui didn't recognize the woman; he just felt she looked somewhat familiar, her face resembling Qin Huairu's a bit, but she wasn't Qin Huairu.

"You mean the slogan posted on other restaurants that says not to casually scold customers?"

A data sheet.

"You just said you wanted to report on Bai Xu's future development?"

The neighbors still use Xiao Dang as a cautionary tale when educating their children, saying that under no circumstances should one emulate Xiao Dang, nor drive her away like the Jia family did.

"Then I'll be going."

Open a branch in the Magic Capital.

"Got it!"

Shazhu's answer seemed somewhat beyond the big leader's expectations.

Because of that matter, and also because of the incident where Huaihua ran away from home.

"Zhuzi."

Seeing Xiao Dang's miserable state, Qin Huairu felt as if her inner defenses had shattered, her whole person on the verge of collapse; she even stepped back several paces, her face showing disbelief and terror.

That Xiao Dang, dissatisfied with the Jia family selling her off in marriage, left a note and went alone to the northwest, has returned.

"Get lost quickly."

In his gaze.

"You little Shazhu, now you've learned to play tricks—when there's nothing going on, I want to eat your dishes and still send people to buy from Bai Xu; when something comes up, you rush to appear before me, so speak—what's the matter?"

The people around saw this scene.

They also no longer had the pleasure of joking with Shazhu just now.

"When the time comes, I'll have Xiao Liu find you."

Before Shazhu entered the office, the senior leader had just read a report on Red Star Machinery Repair Factory, an old factory with over three hundred workers; in half a year it had lost 46,000, and even paying wages required borrowing— that statement was an application for funding.

The senior leader's facial expression.

"Do you know the specific meaning of this report?"

Shazhu planned to build a grand hall on the first floor, ordinary private rooms on the second, and luxurious private rooms on the third to fifth floors, hoping to become a flagship of the Capital City's catering industry.

Shazhu handed over the planning report he had painstakingly devised overnight.

Xiao Dang.

Opening branches in major overseas cities.

The senior leader had never seen such a summary report before.

"Actually, you're right— people's wallets have grown fatter, but our country is still poor."

It gave him a fresh feeling.

"Let me report on Bai Xu's performance this half‑year; these are the figures I've compiled. Take a look, and after you've seen them I'll outline Bai Xu's future plans, so you won't have to worry about me wasting money."

Many matchmakers had designs on Xiao Dang, wanting to pick this flower of the Jia Family.

Establish branches in all first‑tier cities domestically.

"Are you Xiao Dang?"

A middle‑aged woman with short hair, not‑so‑great hair quality, a slightly thin frame, and a weathered look stood here dazedly.

He almost scared Yan Fugui to death, then noticed that the middle‑aged woman before him looked exactly like Xiao Dang, and thought the Jia Family was causing another scandal— Xiao Dang wasn't Qin Huairu's biological daughter but an adopted child, and her birth mother had shown up.

Except for age.

After taking a sip of tea,

Twenty years later.

Fully revealing it.

"Who?"

Xiao Dang!

A pause in his thoughts.

That gaze.

"Is this the freedom of choice you were talking about?"

Pointing at Shazhu.

He had warned Shazhu in advance.

The senior leader's remark hit the nail on the head.

Being carefree is human nature.

The Jia Family folks are no good— in the Siheyuan people dislike them and dogs bother them— but he had to admit Qin Huairu's genes were truly not bad; both her daughters were quite good‑looking.

He lifted his teacup.

He stumbled over to Xiao Dang.

"Bai Xu made a profit of over 45,300 in the past half‑year; many say it's thanks to He Yuzhu's efforts, that his cooking is delicious and customers love it—I admit that plays a part, but the bigger reason is that consumers now have freedom of choice."

Ten years later.

Siheyuan.

Qin Huairu's daughter.

The Jia Family's affairs— they, as longtime residents, naturally knew it; rather than saying Xiao Dang was forced out by Bangeng, it was more like Jia Zhangshi and Qin Huairu joined forces to destroy everything Xiao Dang had.

Address.

Seeing Shazhu thrown out, his face showed no contempt, only a hint of surprise, because the time Shazhu spent talking with the senior leader clearly exceeded his expectation.

"Qin Huairu, Grandma Bangeng, your family's Xiao Dang is back."

Opening branches is a later matter; the main thing now is to get the flagship store up and running.

A pure profit of over 45,300.

It could be considered a blossom within the Siheyuan.

He chose a spot east of the square, less than a hundred meters away.

Shazhu tossed a small bit of flattery at the senior leader in a joking tone, making the senior leader beam with delight, laugh a while, then suddenly ask about Shazhu's purpose.

He leaned his back as far back as possible against the chair.

With some consideration.

He could only sigh to himself, 'serves him right.'

The senior leader seemed doubtful, took off his glasses, rubbed his eyes, and checked the number again.

He shouted toward the inside.

Impatient, the senior leader shoved Shazhu out of his office.

"Senior Leader, the land for Bai Xu isn't free— you have to pay for it."

None of them are fools.

Shazhu handed over the data report he had prepared to the senior leader.

And Xiao Dang's attire.

"I'll say this up front: I won't help you with any illegal or disciplinary violations; if you bring them up, I'll deal with you severely."

This makes things a bit more comfortable.

The senior leader said to Shazhu some words that could actually be considered complaints, and at the same time expressed expectations for Shazhu and for Bai Xu, then shifted the conversation back to the earlier topic.

He also had enemies.

He sized him up.

The conversation shifted.

He knew Shazhu couldn't do those things; in the senior leader's eyes, Shazhu was always just the cook who made meals for him—diligent and responsible when in office, and meticulous even when out of office.

He just wanted to give Shazhu a warning.

He started talking about who he was.

An acquaintance grabbed Shazhu's hand.

"Self-choice rights!"

"Senior leader, you didn't understand my meaning; I want a loan, I ask you to help me connect, see which bank can give me a loan. I will use the loan to buy this plot of land and that five-story building, repay the loan within the agreed period; if I can't repay, the house and land remain and can be used to offset the debt. Not hiding it from you, senior leader, I'm seeking a loan of one million, I'm quite confident I can repay it all within five years, on the condition that no one interferes with Bai Xu's management."

But he didn't expect Bangeng to have slept with a widow; her family demanded a thousand yuan as betrothal money, and the Jia family, for money, forced Xiao Dang to flee.

Qin Huairu had just been washing clothes in the Zhong Yuan.

Upon returning.

What shocked him most was the half-year net profit shown in the lower-right corner.

"If you say that, I'll feel relieved; what is it?"

Shazhu's heart skipped a beat.

Shazhu was shaken, dispelling the thought of joking with the senior leader, he sat up straight properly, and replied solemnly: "Senior leader, rest assured, I will not let you violate principles, nor will I engage in illegal or disorderly conduct. I know that if I get into trouble, people will not say it's He Yuzhu; they will say you, the senior leader, lack vision and misjudged people. No matter what I say, I cannot let you lose face."

A hint of thought flashed across his face, as if he were pondering some problem.

After just a few years apart, he had become like this; the wrinkles on his face were far too many for Xiao Dang's actual age, and he couldn't fathom how he had turned into a yellow-faced woman.

It made all the bigwigs who came to the capital for inspection think of Bai Xu first when they ate.

Also because of this connection, some things could be spoken freely.

Over forty thousand, less than fifty thousand.

Xiao Dang's clothes, hat, and shoes were all half-new.

He got to the point.

Which newly arrived secretary was guarding the gate?

Upon hearing the commotion.

Xiao Dang, too, had become somewhat of a celebrity within the Siheyuan.

That place had a five-story building; Shazhu had walked around it many times recently, and it was the site he had chosen for a foreigner's restaurant in his previous life.

She's back!

No matter what, he had to take a look.

Shazhu nodded and agreed: "Same price, you hit me but not elsewhere—why should I pay to eat at your restaurant? There's no talk of earning more or less; Bai Xu's earnings and profits have nothing to do with its workers; all profits are turned over."

That weathered woman gazed silently at the Siheyuan, her eyes full of memories.

One year later.

Shazhu probably sensed the senior leader's concerns and said a few words.

Yan Fugui, full of feelings.

A restaurant with only twenty employees created a profit of less than fifty thousand in half a year.

The senior leader raised his eyebrows, signaling Shazhu to continue.

He vaguely felt they were relatives of the Jia family.

If no one checks them, they'll become like a broken kite's string, destroying themselves and others.

A quick glance at Xiao Dang's attire showed his life wasn't good; especially his cheeks, which made him look thirty-five or thirty-six despite being only twenty-four or twenty-five.

The senior leader looked at Shazhu's report; the feasibility was high, but the specific cost—how much would it be? Would it rely on the fifty thousand yuan net profit Shazhu turned over?

The senior leader knew that the place Shazhu had selected in his report was indeed a good spot.

This was what worried him.

His facial expression.

At this moment.

After all, they were doing it for Bangeng, treating Xiao Dang as a commodity to buy and sell without a second thought, completely ignoring that Xiao Dang was a living, breathing person.

I had thought the Jia family would lay low in the Siheyuan for a while.

I didn't expect Xiao Dang to return.