Chapter 398: Zhang Weiping

Xu Fugui was also a bit curious; he didn't have much interaction with Zhang Ping'an, only that his own son got along well with him.

"It's like this..."

Zhang Ping'an briefly stated his request, mainly wanting to recruit Damao and his apprentices and grand-apprentices; if that didn't work, he would ask Xu Fugui to help train a batch of people within a year who could operate film projectors proficiently.

After all, old items like film projectors required old hands to teach; Xu Fugui had been immersed in this craft for decades and was absolutely capable of handling it with ease.

"Is that so? I can ask for you, but I reckon it will be difficult."

"Fine, this matter cannot be forced, but you must come out of retirement to help me train a few skilled hands."

It is only 1984 now, and most people still value a respectable job, that is, an Iron Rice Bowl; entering a private enterprise to work is mostly a choice made when there is no other option.

"Done, anyway, I have nothing to do right now."

As his grandchildren grew up and got married, the side rooms were no longer enough; he also wanted to earn some money to build a larger courtyard, like the Jia Family or the Yan family. Thinking about it now, he felt quite regretful; if he had known, he would have traded it back then.

"Good, then it's settled, Brother Xu; I'll come find you again once I've found the people."

"Done."

Having resolved another matter, Zhang Ping'an left satisfied; the next step was to scout for locations and people.

Zhang Ping'an still preferred to choose people close to him; this could also be considered learning a skill. If the supermarkets were to spread across the country in the future, these people would be the backbone.

Currently, there are only ten supermarkets in Sijiucheng and Modu combined. Zhang Ping'an plans to train forty people in the first batch, then have them bring in new people, constantly expanding.

On the Xu family side, after Xu Damao got off work, Xu Fugui told him about Zhang Ping'an's idea, but Xu Damao wasn't very interested. He saw that he could advance further, so no matter what, he had to secure a position as a full Section Chief first.

"Fine, suit yourself. Also, tell the others that if they have difficulties at home, they can come over and help me run the tutoring classes."

Xu Fugui also felt that being a Section Chief had more prospects, so he didn't persuade him, but he still wanted to try for the others; after all, the salary Zhang Ping'an offered was truly high and hard to refuse.

"Alright Dad, I will tell them."

"Mm."

Zhang Ping'an quickly found a place; it was the fabric shop that his clansman Zhang Weiping had given him before, which was large enough to serve as a training venue.

Zhang Tiezhu and the other two were basically living in their hometown now, so this place had been left vacant.

Speaking of this clansman Zhang Weiping, he didn't know how he was doing now. He had been very generous when he gave him the land deed back then. Nowadays, this Daozuofang facing the street must be worth several thousand, though the land deed had already been changed to his name.

Zhang Ping'an also wanted to resolve this karmic tie; he didn't want any conflicts or disputes in the future.

If he wanted to do it, he would do it. The address Zhang Weiping left back then was Zhang Weizi, Quancheng, Lu Province; it should be easy to find.

Carrying ten thousand yuan, Zhang Ping'an took a flight straight to Quancheng, Lu Province. It was only ten o'clock when he arrived in Quancheng. After some inquiries, Zhang Ping'an found Zhang Weizi.

Zhang Ping'an thought about it and decided not to take out his pickup truck; it was better to keep a low profile, as one never knew if someone with ulterior motives might see it.

He took a Bicycle out of his space and brought along some Sijiucheng specialties, then Zhang Ping'an sped along the route he had inquired about.

Zhang Weizi—just by the name, one could tell it was a village primarily inhabited by the Zhang surname. Zhang Weiping was nearly forty back then; thirty years had passed, and he didn't know if the man was still around.

"Grandpa, let me ask you about someone."

"Go ahead, young man."

"Zhang Weiping, about seventy years old this year."

"Oh? You mean Weiping? Is it the one who used to do business in Sijiucheng?"

"Ah, yes, yes, yes."

"He long ago... *cough cough*."

Zhang Ping'an's heart skipped a beat. No way? Was he really gone?

"His family moved into the city a long time ago."

"..." That was quite a pause.

"His whole family are Workers; it's so enviable. Our village owed a lot to his family's help back then; otherwise, who knows how many people would have starved to death."

"Young man, what are you looking for him for?"

"Oh, I am his former... oh, my father was his business partner. We haven't seen each other for many years, so I came to visit."

Zhang Ping'an looked to be in his early thirties now, and he didn't want to explain himself to everyone he met, so he simply resorted to a white lie.

"Oh, oh, good. This is his current address; go find him."

"Textile Factory Family Quarters, Quancheng."

"Right."

"Good, thank you, Grandpa." Zhang Ping'an left half a pack of cigarettes and headed back to Quancheng.

Returning to Quancheng, the Textile Factory Family Quarters sounded like a place where employees lived. After a little inquiry, he knew where it was, and it took Zhang Ping'an only ten minutes to find it.

"Ping'an?"

"Huh?"

Zhang Ping'an didn't expect to run into someone he knew here in Lu Province. He turned to the side and saw an old man with a girl of about twenty behind him.

"Brother Zhang?"

One could still faintly see the shadow of the Zhang Weiping from back then in this old man. Zhang Ping'an hadn't expected it to be such a coincidence; he had been preparing to ask around, but hadn't expected to run into him first.

"Haha, good fellow, it really is you? You haven't changed much over these years, have you?"

When the two were doing business, Zhang Ping'an was only seventeen or eighteen, and there was a difference of over twenty years between them; now, they looked to be more than forty years apart.

"Hahaha, Brother Zhang, it's been thirty years since we parted. My trip here was specifically to find you."

"Good, it's just time for a meal. Let's find a place to reminisce. Qingwan, go back and tell your mother and the others that I and your Zhang, um, your Grandpa Zhang, will eat here at this dumpling shop."

Zhang Weiping's heart stirred slightly; he roughly guessed the purpose of Zhang Ping'an's trip, fearing it had to do with the shop he had given away.

"Oh, okay."

The girl named Qingwan pouted, looked at the two of them curiously, and then walked toward home.

"Let's go, little brother, and taste the dishes of our Lu Province."

"Good."

The two walked into a nearby dumpling restaurant; both sides were clearly very familiar with each other.

"Director Zhang, bringing a friend over today? What would you like to eat?"

"Hmm, arrange a private room for us. Ping'an, you take a look and see what you want to eat?"

"Alright." Zhang Ping'an didn't stand on ceremony and casually ordered four dishes.

"Done, and add the Nine-Turn Intestines and the three-delicacy soup."

"Very well, Director Zhang."

Afterwards, Zhang Ping'an and Zhang Weiping entered the private room, and Zhang Ping'an took out ten thousand yuan directly.

"Brother Zhang, here is ten thousand yuan, which is the current market price for that Daozuofang."

"Ping'an, what are you doing? I said back then that I was giving it to you; aren't you slapping me in the face? Besides, if you hadn't helped me clear my inventory back then, I wouldn't have been able to return so quickly."

Zhang Weiping looked at the ten thousand yuan; it would be a lie to say he wasn't tempted, but he had his own bottom line as a person, and since he had given it away back then, he would absolutely not take it back.

Moreover, he was not short on money now; his three sons and even his grandsons all held an Iron Rice Bowl, he himself was a retired Cadre with a decent pension, and his family wealth was very substantial—he was, after all, a famous person who had walked out of Zhang Weizi.

"Brother Zhang, listen to me. If it were a hundred or eighty, or even a thousand or eight hundred, I would keep it, but it won't do now."

"This is not a small sum; it took me a long time to bring myself to take it out. If you act like this again, I'll really regret it."

"Hahaha, Brother Zhang, just take it back. The fact that you could come over and explain the situation is already worth ten thousand gold."

Zhang Weiping waved his hand dismissively and pushed the money back in front of Zhang Ping'an.

"Brother Zhang."

Zhang Ping'an was also slightly moved; in this day and age, a "ten-thousand-yuan household" was very rare, yet Zhang Weiping could still remain steady.

Zhang Ping'an gave a bitter smile and pushed the money back over.

"Brother Zhang, let's not argue. You used to be in business too; let's keep things separate. Just accept it."