After seeing off Grandma and Aunt, Li Si exhaled a sigh of relief. This second aunt's family still hadn't stopped scheming against her and even persuaded her honest aunt. But perhaps they also persuaded Uncle's family!
She shook her head, deciding to ignore all that for now. Opening a store requires finding a place quickly. Right, the internet, it's 2004 now, and quite a few people are online. Staff can be recruited through the internet.
"Xiao Guai, Xiao Guai, where are you?" Li Si suddenly realized that after the two arrived, she was so engrossed in conversation that she hadn't noticed Xiao Guai's whereabouts.
"Oooh..."
Xiao Guai's voice ca from the bedroom. Li Si hurried over to find that Xiao Guai had emptied her backpack, leaving snacks scattered on the bed, and was now fiercely tearing into a bag of chips with his teeth.
"You little glutton, I'm going out for a bit. Will you stay here or go to the space, huh?"
Xiao Guai imdiately abandoned the chips and leapt into her arms.
"Co along, but I'm going sowhere with lots of people, so you can't show yourself, okay? How about this, take these snacks and go into the space, and you can eat there!"
Li Si playfully winked at Xiao Guai, who nodded while holding several bags of chips.
After tidying up a bit, Li Si headed out towards the internet cafe outside the gate. At this ti, owning a computer with internet access at ho wasn't as common as it would be later, especially during holidays. Internet cafes usually did brisk business, often packed to capacity.
Li Si tried two internet cafes but found no available spots. Helplessly, she walked towards the main street. As she passed East Sun Road, a large, non-operational shop caught her attention.
The sign showed that it was forrly Hongyun Restaurant, and the glass door displayed a sale sign with a phone number. Li Si glanced around; one side was Donglai Hot Pot, and the other was a large hair salon. It was now 8 PM, and both businesses seed to be doing well. How strange, why wouldn't such a pri location continue operating?
Looking at the nearby communities — Dongyang District, Tieli District, Jade New Residence — these were known for being wealthy neighborhoods with high living standards. Two blocks further was Dongyang Primary School — quite a good consur area.
Li Si took out her phone and dialed the number. A middle-aged woman answered, her voice a bit hoarse.
"Hello!"
"Hello, may I ask if the shop on 37 East Sun Road is for sale?" Li Si asked while eyeing the number plate.
"Yes, are you interested? So family issues are forcing to sell this property. You've seen the location. Any business here would be profitable, and there's substantial value appreciation potential!"
"How much are you selling it for?"
"This house consists of two combined units, spanning two floors, 950,000. If you're planning to buy, sis, I can offer you so discounts and let you have so of the in-house facilities!"
The owner seed eager to sell, her voice carrying a hint of urgency.
"Let's et to discuss in detail. I'd like to see the place first!"
Li Si arranged to et the owner the following day.
Finally, she found an internet cafe on the opposite side of the street. The smoky environnt made Li Si cough. Enduring the sll of smoke, she found a recruitnt website, posted a job ad for a managent position, left her contact number, and quickly left.
Li Si sniffed her clothes, annoyed by the smoke sll, and made a ntal note to buy a laptop and wireless internet card soon, making things much more convenient.
The next day, as agreed, Li Si t the owner, a sowhat haggard-looking middle-aged woman nad Fan Xiajuan, a very elegant na. Fan Xiajuan liked Li Si very much, as if they had been friends for a long ti, and explained why she was selling the property.
It turned out that after divorcing her husband, she lived alone with her son. The business was great before, so she was busy and didn't pay attention to her son. Eventually, the boy got involved with so unsavory people and seriously injured soone in a fight.
The injured person is still hospitalized, accruing high dical bills, and they're financially strained. Her son is in a detention center, and she's too exhausted to run the business, hence selling the property to gather funds.
Li Si felt a bit sympathetic for this woman. It's hard enough raising a child alone, not to ntion managing a business to provide a good life. Hopefully, her son learns from this lesson!
They finally settled the deal at 950,000, and Li Si received all the store's contents. After learning that Li Si was looking for a capable and reliable manager, Fan Xiajuan recomnded a good friend.
His na is Cui Hao, a forr middle school classmate, who previously ran a hotel and had a wide network. After losing money in stock trading, he transferred his business to pay off so debts and now freelances for others.
Li Si was quite interested, and Fan Xiajuan genuinely wanted to help her friend. After completing the formalities, they went straight to et Cui Hao.
In the teahouse, Li Si observed Cui Hao sitting opposite her, a typical middle-aged man, slightly balding, a bit chubby, with a beer belly, not tall, yet with shrewd eyes.
Cui Hao was also observing Li Si. Regarding Fan Xiajuan's quiet remark upon leaving, "Though she's young, she's quite capable and determined; if you help her, benefits will co your way!" he remained skeptical.
After all, the girl was quite young. Even with the ans to purchase Fan Xiajuan's property, he wasn't overly impressed.
Cui Hao cleared his throat, "So, you're Li Si. It's our first eting, and we barely know each other. Fan Xiajuan has probably told you so of my background. Indeed, I had my glory days. Although I still have so debts outside, my abilities are unquestionable. I know many people in North City. ntioning my na, Old Cui, they'd recognize . What kind of business are you planning to do here?"
"You're roughly my father's age, so I'll call you Uncle Cui. Straightforwardly, my strength lies in sourcing top-quality fruits and vegetables, better than market standards."
Li Si was upfront, fully embracing the principle of trusting chosen people. If she decided to use him, she intended to place full trust.
Cui Hao rubbed his chin and pondered for a mont, "How about this: let's open a health-oriented private dining restaurant. Nowadays, people are increasingly health-conscious, and those with money particularly value this. With our unique offerings, we can maneuver successfully.
The two then discussed how to operate, staff recruitnt and managent salaries, store modifications and renovations, cold storage area improvents, and addressed obtaining business licenses, handling taxes, health, and fire safety issues. Li Si finally ntioned including a relative in the operation but requested that Cui Hao not disclose she was the hidden boss, which he understood.
Li Si drafted an employnt contract based on her previous work experience, hiring Cui Hao as manager, with an annual salary of 150,000, a 2% sales commission, and clauses binding both parties. They signed and executed it! Then to the bank to process a transfer. Li Si initially transferred him 100,000 as part of the initial expenses.
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