Chapter 240: A Guaranteed Profit

Zhou Andong pulled out a blue-and-white porcelain bottle: "Qi Qi Damin, take a look at what kind of liquor this is."

"Blue-and-white porcelain? I know this liquor. You guys really dare to set prices—Moutai 210 is already sky-high, and you're charging 238?"

Chen Chen Weimin sat down and took the bottle: "At this price, not a single bottle's sold, right? That's why you brought it over to treat me."

Zhou Andong smiled: "Don't care whether it sold or not—just taste it first."

"Fine!"

Chen Chen Weimin picked up the cup Yao Jun had just wiped, poured half a glass, and the delicate aroma of the liquor instantly spread.

"Did you add something to this liquor? Why is it so fragrant?"

Chen Chen Weimin lifted the cup to his nose and sniffed.

Zhou Andong said: "No additives at all—just blended."

Chen Chen Weimin nodded, took a sip, then his eyes lit up: "Tastes great—this is way better than the old sorghum liquor."

Yao Jun boasted: "Of course it is—otherwise how could we dare price it higher than Moutai?"

Chen Chen Weimin snorted: "No matter how good it tastes, it can't compare to Moutai. You've got the Fuguibing of Moutai but not the Fuguiming. I don't understand the baijiu market, but I know Moutai exports—even if it doesn't sell a single bottle domestically, it doesn't matter. Your liquor doesn't sell? That's pure loss."

Yao Jun stood on tiptoe, smugly saying: "Moutai exports? We've got Jiangzhou Imperial Tribute and Jiang Jiang Xiaobai. If Blue-and-White Porcelain doesn't sell, I'll just keep it in storage for the view—what's wrong with that?"

Chen Chen Weimin raised his thumb again: "You're a genius. I take it back."

Zhou Andong shook his head helplessly: "Alright, let's drink!"

The three drank and chatted. Chen Chen Weimin tried several times to bring up his transfer to the distillery, but couldn't bring himself to say it. Finally, he sighed inwardly and decided not to mention it—he couldn't make his brother uncomfortable.

Zhou Andong was in high spirits, drank quite a bit, and didn't notice anything amiss with Chen Chen Weimin: "Qi Qi Damin, I called you over for two reasons—one, to hang out; two, I've got something to discuss with you."

Chen Chen Weimin picked up a piece of clay-pot tofu, blew on it, and put it in his mouth: "What's it about?"

Zhou Andong said: "This morning, Wu Wu Xianping came to the distillery to see me…"

Chen Chen Weimin stared blankly at Zhou Andong: "Wu Wu Xianping's printing plant wants to expand—asking you to invest?"

"Right!" Zhou Andong picked up a small side dish: "You know the Dunkin' on Taiyang Square, right?"

"Of course!" Chen Chen Weimin nodded. "Your niece keeps nagging to go eat there, but it's too expensive, so we never went."

Zhou Andong said: "No need to hold back—it's our own store. Tomorrow night, bring your wife and your niece—we'll go together."

Chen Chen Weimin's mouth hung open: "Dunkin' is yours?"

Yao Jun grinned: "Yeah, I've got shares too. Your niece can eat free from now on—but you? You pay. Not a single cent less."

Chen Chen Weimin ignored Yao Jun—he was still stunned by the news.

Zhou Andong took a sip of liquor: "The distillery's been restructured. Da Jun bought a lot of shares. He also owns shares in Dunkin'. Even if he doesn't become rich beyond measure, he'll never go hungry. Now Wu Wu Xianping's asking me to invest—I knew I had to bring you in. I can't be drinking and feasting with Yao Jun while leaving you behind."

Chen Chen Weimin's eyes turned red. Brother Dong was now the factory director—and still called him out for drinks and a chat. That alone made him feel all these years of brotherhood hadn't been in vain.

Now, with an investment opportunity, he hadn't forgotten to pull him up. He was deeply moved—Wu Wu Xianping's printing plant had the distillery as its biggest client; this was a guaranteed profit. Brother Dong was literally giving him money.

"Brother Dong!" Chen Chen Weimin took a deep breath. "I know this is an opportunity, but my savings account only has a few hundred yuan. How can I invest?"

"Damn!" Yao Jun cursed. "I knew this would happen."

He reached under his butt, pulled out three bundles of hundred-yuan notes, and tossed them on the table in front of Chen Chen Weimin: "Lent to you. When you make money, pay me back with bank interest—principal plus interest."

These were the demolition compensation payments from Lishui Village. Yao Jun was now flush with cash—even Zhou Andong couldn't have pulled this much out.

Chen Chen Weimin stared at the thirty thousand yuan on the table, and nearly cried.

"Hey hey hey!" Yao Jun mocked: "You're a big man—look at you, about to cry?"

Chen Chen Weimin raised his cup: "Brother Dong, Brother Da Jun—I won't say a word. Everything's in this drink." He downed the entire cup.

Yao Jun grabbed a fried peanut, popped it in his mouth, and crunched: "Go home, borrow more if you can—get at least ten percent. Don't wait till I'm driving a car and living in an apartment while you're still stuck in that little flat, riding a tractor. That's embarrassing."

Chen Chen Weimin smiled, stuffed the thirty thousand yuan into his chest, and stood up: "Brother Dong, I'm heading home. When I've gathered the money, I'll let you know."

Zhou Andong waved: "Go on home."

Chen Chen Weimin left. Zhou Andong took his last sip: "Settle the bill. Let's go home too."

Bai Ying was watching TV. Seeing Chen Chen Weimin return, she leapt off the kang in one motion: "You're back? How'd it go?"

Chen Chen Weimin picked up the cold tea mug on the low cabinet and gulped it down: "What do you mean, 'how'd it go'?"

Bai Ying snapped: "Did you talk to Brother Dong about transferring to the distillery?"

"Huh!" Bai Ying suddenly noticed the bulge in Chen Chen Weimin's shirt. "What's that you're hugging?" She reached to grab it.

"Don't touch!" Chen Chen Weimin grinned, pulled up his shirt, and pulled out the cash.

Bai Ying gasped: "You… where did you get so much money?"

Chen Chen Weimin said: "Da Jun lent it to me."

Bai Ying asked: "Why would Da Jun lend you money out of nowhere?"

Chen Chen Weimin said: "I'm investing in a business with Brother Dong."

"What?" Bai Ying said in disbelief. "You're going into business?"

"What's so shocking?" Chen Chen Weimin said. "It's not just me—it's with Brother Dong. And this business is guaranteed profit."

"You're dreaming," Bai Ying scoffed. "There's no such thing as guaranteed profit. What fairy tales are you believing?"

"This one really is guaranteed profit," Chen Chen Weimin explained. "As long as Brother Dong is factory director, the printing plant makes money every day."

Bai Ying asked: "What if one day Brother Dong stops being director?"

Chen Chen Weimin smiled: "Didn't you see the news when the distillery became a company? Brother Dong owns shares. Even if he's not director anymore, he's still a major shareholder with real say. And if he's putting money into the printing plant, why should we worry?"

Bai Ying thought for a moment: "You've got a point."

Chen Chen Weimin added: "Also, the Dunkin' your eldest daughter keeps begging for? That's Brother Dong's store."