Chapter 21: Chapter 21 Unable to Spend It All Chapter 21: Chapter 21 Unable to Spend It All Chen Cheng walked into the bustling Sanqing Garden with a box of Rice Fragrance Village pastries in one hand and an empty birdcage in the other.
He paid the 380 yuan entrance fee and headed straight to the second floor.
On stage, Zhao Yunxia and Ji Jiuxiao from the eighth team of De Yun Society were performing “Selling Cloth Remnants”.
“In Beijing, the hawkers’ calls are different in each of the north, south, east, and west parts of the city.”
“Oh?
There are four kinds?”
“Yeah, to hawk in the north city, it’s quite troubleso.”
“How do they hawk?”
“Candied haws~ get your candied haws~”
As Chen Cheng stepped to the rhythm of the banter, he looked over and saw Jin Baogen sitting leisurely on the side, watching the stage performance with great interest.
He walked over, “Mr.
Jin.”
“Oh, Mr.
Chen has arrived.” Jin Baogen continued to address him in the usual manner: “Have a seat.”
Chen Cheng set down the items he was carrying, “Mr.
Jin, here’s your birdcage back.
And I’ve brought you so snacks.”
Jin Baogen smiled with eyes narrowed, “You shouldn’t have.”
Chen Cheng wasn’t in a hurry either.
He ordered a 10 yuan serving of sunflower seeds and a cup of floral tea, then also started to listen in.
The two chatted, and occasionally the skits on stage made them laugh, eliciting bursts of laughter.
Jin Baogen clearly had a deep interest and understanding of Beijing Opera and cody sketches, and from ti to ti, he would explain certain details and anecdotes about the performance to Chen Cheng.
“Mr.
Chen, you probably never heard such authentic hawkers’ calls when you were a child, huh?” Jin Baogen pointed at the stage and said.
Chen Cheng thought for a mont, “I did!
When I was about five or six years old, I encountered a man selling goldfish.
He carried a wooden basin in front of his carrying pole and a basket behind it, calling out as he walked, ‘Selling big and small goldfish~ hey~'”
Jin Baogen slapped his thigh and laughed, “Exactly, exactly!
Mr.
Zhai loved raising little goldfish when he was alive!
Back then, you always snatched the goldfish raised by your grandpa to feed to the stray cats outside.”
“Hahaha, Mr.
Jin, you rember that?” Chen Cheng couldn’t help but laugh as well.
“How could I forget?
You were such a rascal when you were young!
Climbing onto roofs to remove tiles, you did plenty of that, didn’t you?
Throwing firecrackers in the public toilets, weren’t you kept busy by that?”
Jin Baogen looked at the young Chen Cheng in front of him, his eyes brimming with mories, “And stealing the neighbor’s homing pigeons, together with your several close buddies, you didn’t eat them too seldom, did you?”
Chen Cheng shook his head with a smile, “Mr.
Jin, your mory is really sothing.”
“Ah, I’m old now, all that’s left are these mories,” Jin Baogen sighed, then changed the subject, “The tis belong to you young people now!”
The two were enjoying their conversation, and the climax part of the cody skit on stage reached its peak, with the audience’s laughter and applause rising and falling in succession.
Chen Cheng seized the opportunity to ask, “Mr.
Jin, I wanted to inquire about soone from you, is that okay?”
“Go ahead.”
“Xia Yubing.” Chen Cheng paused for a mont and tested the waters, asking, “Do you know her?”
Jin Baogen rolled the na around in his mouth three tis and eventually shook his head, “I don’t know her.”
Chen Cheng couldn’t help but feel puzzled, but seeing Jin Baogen’s expression was genuine, he let it go.
“What’s the matter?” Jin Baogen asked with concern, “Is there an issue?”
Chen Cheng smiled and shook his head, “Nothing much.
Wasn’t I going to Beijing credit company for so business today?
She ntioned the bird you were raising.”
“How old is she?” Jin Baogen asked again.
“She must be around thirty-three or thirty-four,” Chen Cheng replied.
Jin Baogen pondered for a mont but still shook his head, “I do know quite a few people from the Beijing credit company, but I’ve never heard the na Xia Yubing.”
“No worries, it was just a casual question,” Chen Cheng said with a smile.
Mr.
Jin then questioned, “Did you go to the bank to make a transfer to pay off debt?”
“Not yet, the debt has been paid off,” Chen Cheng replied: “I went there to apply for a loan.”
“Oh?
What loan?”
Chen Cheng answered, “A startup loan.”
“Mr.
Chen is starting a business?”
“I rented a place in Zhongguancun, planning to give it a try.” Chen Cheng said calmly.
Jin Baogen nodded in agreent, “Young people should have the spirit to venture!
Although working for others is stable, if you want to make a fortune, you still have to be your own boss.”
“Actually, I have another reason for the loan.” Chen Cheng hesitated slightly, then spoke straightforwardly, “Mr.
Jin, I want to discuss sothing with you regarding Wanbao Hall.”
Jin Baogen raised his hand, “Go ahead.”
“When my grandfather sold Wanbao Hall to you for 2 million, now I want to buy it back.
How much are you planning to ask for?” Chen Cheng asked directly.
“2 million.” Jin Baogen didn’t even think about it and replied straightaway.
Chen Cheng looked at the old man before him with gratitude and continued, “Mr.
Jin, my company has just started, and it’s quite difficult for to co up with 2 million all at once.”
“You want to pay in installnts?” Jin Baogen took a sip of his tea and prompted the conversation.
Chen Cheng had already roughly calculated on the way here, with a loan of 3 million, after a month, he would have nearly 13 million in his capital pool.
However, paying in installnts was not Chen Cheng’s first choice.
“Mr.
Jin, would a banker’s acceptance bill work?” Chen Cheng asked again, “A six-month banker’s acceptance bill, payable upon maturity.”
Jin Baogen burst out laughing, “You little rascal, so cunning!”
“Mr.
Jin, I really have no other choice.” Chen Cheng gave an embarrassed smile, assuring him, “But rest assured, it’s a genuine banker’s acceptance bill.”
Jin Baogen took out a key from his pocket and solemnly placed it on the table.
“Mr.
Chen, here’s the key to Wanbao Hall.” His eyes were piercing as he looked at Chen Cheng, “Take it, when you’re free, just give the banker’s acceptance bill.”
Chen Cheng was overjoyed inside, “Mr.
Jin, this…”
“Doing business, we value righteousness.
Since you have this intention, I’m naturally willing to give you a hand.” Jin Baogen interrupted him,
“Plus, I’ve started a business myself.
I know how important cash flow is to a company that’s just getting started.
You’re using a banker’s acceptance bill for paynt, I’m not losing a di, but the sentint is worth that much more.”
Chen Cheng was deeply moved as he looked at the key close at hand, yet he hesitated to take it.
“Mr.
Jin, as you said, this is a business transaction.
I can’t just take the goods without paying.” Chen Cheng, firmly and resolutely said, “I’ll co back for the key after I get the banker’s acceptance bill.”
“Ha ha ha, Mr.
Chen, you’re playing the long ga!”
“That’s what you taught last ti!
Give and take, isn’t that how relationships naturally build?”
“Mr.
Chen, you conduct business with the sa style as your grandfather did,” Jin Baogen praised, “Alright, then I’ll wait for you to co to with the banker’s acceptance bill.”
The two n shared a smile, and, substituting tea for wine, they sealed the wordless agreent.
“Go listen to crosstalk.” Jin Baogen set down his cup and said, “Listen more, for a good laugh.”
“Sure.”
When Chen Cheng left Sanqing Garden, it was almost dark.
After saying goodbye to Jin Baogen, he also got into his own car.
And the panel in his mind also refreshed as he was listening to the crosstalk during the ride.
[Current funds: 3,106,008.48]
[Expenses: 4,470.6/1,000,000]
[Current interest rate: 5%]
Chen Cheng gripped the steering wheel tightly, his heart swelling with emotion.
“Ti to hit up Beijing issuing to rake it in, the good tis are coming!” He started the car and thought as he drove, “I’m going to get 150,000 in interest tonight, how should I spend this money!”
Just at the thought, Chen Cheng couldn’t help but start laughing.
Shaking his head, he thought, “There’s no way to spend it all, absolutely no way to spend it all!”
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