Chapter 814

Zhou Andong picked up his bowl and slurped the soup loudly: "If you want to do it, I'll take care of the arrangements."

Shen Qing looked at Yuan Hai: "What do you think?"

Yuan Hai said: "If Dongzi says it's good, it's good. Go ahead and open it."

Zhou Andong looked at his second sister-in-law Sun Hui: "Second sister-in-law, along with Xiao Ying, Xiao Mei, and Liu Chao—join in too. Your five families discuss how much to contribute."

"I've got my eye on a plot of land. I'll go see Uncle Reporter Guan these next few days to get the land approved. When we build the water plant, the steel, cement, and bricks will all be ready—have the construction team build the houses at the same time."

"Also!" Zhou Andong picked up another bun, "The restaurant's name will be Shiba Wan'r. No stir-fried dishes—only cold appetizers."

"We'll build eighteen stoves in the courtyard. Everything—chicken, duck, goose, lamb ribs, lamb offal, beef bones, beef tripe, beef, pig slaughter dishes—will be stewed in big iron pots, eighteen different kinds. When customers order, we just ladle it straight from the pot into big bowls and set them on the table."

In his past life, Zhou Andong often went to a farmhouse restaurant like this—mostly stews, only a few cold dishes—and the business was crazy busy. You had to call ahead to reserve a table, or you'd get there and find no seats.

Once the farmhouse is built, decorate it well, make the environment nice, keep prices affordable—it won't lack customers. When the water plant starts, the influx of outsiders will grow, villagers will have money in hand, and business will definitely be good.

Originally, Zhou Andong planned to run the farmhouse himself, but then he thought better of it. Even if he ran it, he'd have to hand it over to Yuan Hai and the others to manage—better to just give it to them outright.

His second aunt asked: "How much money does it take to open a restaurant?"

His uncles, aunts, and old aunt all turned to Zhou Andong. Opening a restaurant wasn't a small matter to them, but as Yuan Hai said, if Zhou Andong said it would work, it would work—definitely profitable.

Zhou Andong thinking of his siblings made them truly happy, but opening a restaurant cost money. Five or six thousand they could scrape together—even including the red envelopes Yuan Yuan Liying and Jian Qiu had given the kids.

Zhou Andong thought for a moment: "If we're doing it, do it big—with lodging. At least two or three hundred thousand."

"What?"

His third aunt exclaimed: "That much? How can we possibly come up with that?"

"Here's what," Jian Qiu spoke up: "Big brother, each of your five families chip in ten thousand. I'll lend you the rest. Pay me back when you start making money."

"No way!" Yuan Hongdang objected: "If your side puts up most of the money, why not just open it yourselves? Let them come help out as workers."

Jian Qiu smiled: "Big uncle, we don't have time to manage a restaurant. Let Big Brother and the others run it themselves. With me and Dongzi involved, this restaurant won't lose a cent."

Zhou Andong picked up the thread: "That's settled. Big uncle, stop worrying."

Yuan Hongdang was about to say more when Old Zhou spoke: "Big brother, let the kids decide their own affairs. Don't interfere."

Yuan Hongdang sighed: "Fine."

………………

In Qishi, Tan Tan Zongwei knocked on Meng Tong Huai Zhi's office door and walked in holding a file.

"Leader!"

Meng Tong Huai Zhi had been in good spirits these past two days, but seeing Tan Tan Zongwei, his mood vanished.

"Did you find out?"

Tan Tan Zongwei said nothing, placing the file folder on the desk: "Take a look yourself."

Meng Tong Huai Zhi opened the folder, pulled out the documents, and read for over half an hour, his face dark as storm clouds.

"These corrupt worms—they all deserve to be shot."

Tan Tan Zongwei said solemnly: "All evidence points to the provincial bureau chief."

Meng Tong Huai Zhi tapped his fingers rhythmically on the desk, then said: "Immediately place Meng Lin Xianggui and the others under 'liang gui.' I need solid proof before reporting to the province and bringing down that man in the provincial bureau."

"Yes!" Tan Tan Zongwei saluted and turned to leave quickly.

On Minhang Road, there was a famous flower-bird-fish-pet market, whose behind-the-scenes owner was Qishi's notorious big boss Sun Hexin. This man was even more powerful than Ma Huangshang, and even Ma Huangshang dared not provoke him when he was in a bad mood.

His legitimate businesses were the flower-bird-fish-pet market, a construction company, and a pawnshop. But his real wealth came from smuggling rare dog breeds and running casinos.

At this moment, he sat slumped on a sofa in his market office, a cigarette dangling from his lips, filing his nails with a military knife.

A man who looked just like him walked in: "Big brother, we found him. Zhou Andong is in Zhenxing Village in A Rong Banner—his grandfather and uncles live there. He came back to visit relatives."

He was Sun Hexin's younger brother, Little Boss Sun Hexin.

Sun Hexin lifted his eyelids slightly: "Now that we've found him, send Qi Damin to tell him—the shopping plaza and residential buildings project goes to us."

Sun Hexin hesitated: "Big brother, Ma Huangshang was executed, the crackdown is still ongoing, and that person keeps reminding us not to be too flashy right now."

"Afraid of this, afraid of that—how are we supposed to do business?" Sun Hexin sneered. "Besides, we're just talking business with Zhou Andong. What law are we breaking?"

Sun Hexin was far more low-key than his older brother, and had already cleaned up his own illegal operations. But his brother refused to let go of his underground businesses, leaving him helpless.

After all, they were blood brothers, both built their fortunes from the underworld. Even if he'd gone clean, if his brother ever got caught, he'd be dragged down too.

"I still think we shouldn't approach Zhou Andong. Such a big project will invite bids from several construction firms—we can just enter the bidding normally."

"Bidding? Piss off!" Sun Hexin cursed. "Tell Qi Damin to tell him—if he gives us the project, I'll handle the demolition for him personally."

Seeing his brother's mind was made up, Sun Hexin nodded: "Fine, I'll tell Qi Damin."

"Fuck, play your damn card."

In Wen Xin Construction Company, an office held three men playing poker, each with stacks of hundred-yuan bills piled before them.

"I throw my dick down," muttered a thin, short young man, tossing his cards. "Lost!"

"Pay up!" another young man said.

At that moment, the office door opened and Sun Hexin walked in. Seeing the three men playing cards, he smiled.

"Who won?"

The thin young man sighed: "Qi Damin, of course."

Qi Damin was in his early thirties, wore glasses, and dressed in a suit—impeccably groomed.

"Alright, enough playing."

The thin young man protested: "What? I lost over ten thousand! You just quit?"

"Play tomorrow," Sun Hexin said. "I need to talk to Qi Damin."