One More For Lunch:
The two of them ate their food
cautiously, or one could say – in a manner that was flattering to both of them.
Yin Ting tried very hard to solve
the lamb problem, Zhengqing took two spoons of the soup; she really wanted to
tell him not to force himself. But she thought that would be rude, so she sped
up her eating, taking from the mutton soup pot.
After eating so much, she became
somewhat embarrassed, ‘Oh dear, I eat too much,’ There goes her lady like
image. ‘The food here tastes really good ah.’ Honestly, it was just average.
Chou Zhengqing replied, ‘I’m
not really a big eater myself, but I do not like picky eaters.’ It was against
his principles; picky eaters were his pet peeve.
Yin Ting nodded in agreement,
‘Neither do I,’ she just liked her food tasty; she was not a picky eater.
‘This tastes good, we can come back
another time,’ he said testing the waters.
‘Sounds good,’ she said without
hesitation, then a thought, ‘Can you cook?’
Zhengqing hesitated wondering
whether to tell the truth, ‘I…can’t,’ he didn’t want to make any claims that
could be disputed later.
‘I can’t either,’ this could be
considered something in common; point to Mr Qiu. Although it was a bit
embarrassing, two blind persons can’t cook a romantic dinner in his house. It
might be necessary to go to a cooking class, Yin Ting thought. He was busy with
work and usually worked over time. If they really end up together, she should
learn how to cook so he can eat healthy. Having take-away all the time was not
good for one.
Zhengqing decided to check for
recipes on the internet to learn. She likes to eat, so he should be able to
cook some nice dishes.
As the two of them lost themselves
in their cooking fantasy, Zhengqing’s phone rang; it was Mao Huizhu.
Mao Huizhu told him that she was
near Zhengqing’s place and would he like to have a meal together?
‘Hmm, I’m having lunch with a
friend right now.’ He said
‘Zoe?’ Tin Ting asked. Zhengqing
nodded.
‘Invite her over. More people can
eat more!’ And the mutton soup, the pot was so big, it would be hard for her to
eat alone. In addition, she can make Mao Huizhu a friend, there by becoming a
common friend of both of them, a step in the right direction.
(Zuben: I must not be in a
lovey-dovey mood; all I can see is how this all falls apart. I should do some
smut before I do this, that gets me out of the sarcastic mood quick sharpish!)
So Zhengqing invited Huizhu to the
restaurant and told her he was eating with Yin Ting,
‘Is it convenient?’ Huizhu asked
when she heard Yin Ting was there.
‘Its fine, she said you should
come, she ordered too much food.’ Zhengqing said helplessly watching Yin Ting
laugh.
Mao Huizhu arrived shortly after.
‘Zhu Zhu Jie!’ Ying Ting called
sweetly.
‘What is this about too much food?
Let me tell you, my battle efficiency is very ordinary.’ Huizhu said jokingly
to Yin Ting.
Zhengqing rubbed at his forehead, feeling that
the two were more familiar with each other that with him. The wind was not the
same, ah.
‘I also bought a bike.’ Huizhu said
to Yin Tin, as Yin Ting handed her the menu. She wanted to pick a few dishes
that she might like,
‘If you have time, let’s go for a
ride together,’ Yin Ting said.
Huizhi smiled and said, ‘Okay.’
‘It is cold,’ Zhengqing said drily,
pouring cold water on their enthusiasm, they both stared at him, ‘It’s really
cold.’
Huizhi pointed at the food between
them and asked, ‘Are you on a date?’
Zhengqing and Yin Ting shared a
look, both look seriously thoughtful. Zhenqing remained silent, hence, letting
Yin Ting decide what they were doing,
‘Qiu Zhenqing adopted a stray cat I
couldn’t care for, and in turn today I helped him by a new camera, so just
having lunch.’
‘Oh.’ Huizhui drawled, and looked
at Zhengqing. To her, they should just say ‘Yes ah,’ such a long story…
Zhengqing cleared his throat and
changed the subject, ‘How are preparations for your company going?’
Huizhu gave a pained expression,
‘It’s been more trouble than I imagined it to be, it seems that I have to wait
to register after the New Year festival.’
Zhengqing frowned. ‘After the New
Year Festival? What about that contract that you were aiming for in March?’
‘If I can only register after the
New Year festival, I would not be able to catch up,’ Huizhu and Zhengqing started
chatting about her business plan; her American friends were launching a
business in March, the contract would help her start up. She would like to
fight to get her company registered in December, then it would take a month to
finalise all the procedures. Nothing can really be done in February because of
the New Year festival, but fine details could be set up and March she could go
ahead.
‘How come you can’t register? Is
there a problem? Is the capital not enough?’ Zhengqing said.
‘I was planning on using a paid
service for the procedures, but it is rather expensive. And then the need for
office address, the agency can provide, or pay service fees, but I really need an
office. I’ve been to a lot of places; they want half a year’s rent paid up
front. Their rent is too high and I would also like get an interior decorator
in but it is now the end of the year, getting people would be hard, and there
is the New Year festival. I’m having a hard time with recruitment because I am new;
experienced people think I am not a good move. I had a friend who was going to
start with me, but she says her company are reluctant to let her go and she
eventually decided to stay there. I would like to recruit at least an
assistant, but I still need an office. But I can’t justify resting an office in
vain. The final analysis was underestimating. It is so tiring.’
‘I do not have much money but I can
borrow you to tide you over.’ Zhengqing said.
Mao Huizhu shook her head, ‘Thank
you but I don’t want to throw money down the drain just to rent an office for
the registration. I don’t think I should force myself to beat the March deadline.
I want to recruit good people, and that would be hard to do. I should just wait
till after New Year, it won’t be a terrible loss. This is a long game, I can’t
be anxious, and with this I gain more understanding, and will be ready to be
better. So after the New Year Festival, I will rent an office, and the charge
d’affaires service fee can be less, I can used the money saved on something
else’
She sighed tiredly, ‘One really
doesn’t have to think about these things as an employee of a company. One doesn’t
have to worry, just think about making money for the company. Now I’m on my
own, I am finding out how hard it is; how much I have to calculate…’
Yin Ting who had been listening
quietly, asked, ‘What is your company specialising in?’ Though last time they
rode together, Huizu gave her a rough outline but Yin Ting didn’t pay very much
attention therefore, did not remember.
Huizhu explained it to her again.
‘That sounds very good, ah,’ Yin
Tin said after the explanation, ‘Will it make lots of money?’
Huizhu choked out a laugh, ‘I will
try,’ Once upon a time, she would have thought she was being despised. But she
knows Yin Ting well; she was easy going and did not care.
Yin Ting asked Zhengqing, ‘Is her
business promising?’
Zhengqing regarded Yin Ting for a
moment, then answered, ‘The direction is good. Zoe’s resources are also good,
but the first year at least would be hard.’ There is also a relatively large
competition in the market and acquiring funds would be difficult.
Yin Ting nodded and asked, ‘Can I
buy in?’
Huizhu and Zhengqing stared at her,
dumbfounded.
Yin Ting Ting sat up right, ‘I’m
not joking. I really do have money. Of course, I do not have such a long term
development, but the initial income does not matter. You are an elite and
intelligent lady, Zhengqing is optimistic about your prospects, so there is no
problem.’
Zhengqing had a sceptical
expression on his face, when he said optimistic he meant if there was a large
enough capital, optimistic.
‘I do not know the intricacies of
business, so I cannot help. But I have bought into stocks, regardless of the
type of business, and have gotten good returns. So I can invest in your
business.’
Huizhu’s expression was more
excited than Zhengqing. This girl and her broken bike is claiming to be rich and
would invest in her company?
Huizhu looked to Zhengqing, who
shrugged, he was clueless, ‘I don’t know how much money she has,’ or how much
her dad owned. He knew her dad ran a printing plant, but he didn’t know the
scale. He brother ran a bar, which he had been to, it look like it was
successful but he didn’t know her brother’s wealth either.
‘How large is the office you need
and how many people are going to be enough?’ Yin Ting asked eagerly.
‘One hundred and twenty square
metres,’ Huizhu said, still mildly flabbergasted, ‘This is a small company,
please don’t be impulsive and consider it clearly’
‘So you need a general manager's
office, but also a financial room, but also a meeting room.’ Yin Ting said
thoughtfully, ‘The façade is also very important,’ she picked up her phone, as
she dialled, she asked Huizhu, ‘Where would you like it to be located?’
Huizhu and Zhengqing’s mouths hung
open. She was now asking about selecting locations. It must be a cheap area,
most likely.
Yin Ting’s called was picked up by
the other party, they exchanged pleasantries, and she asked, ‘Du jingli, which
one of my office buildings is empty?’
Huizhu looked at Zhengqing; he
shook his head. He really didn’t know about all this. He did not believe this
girl has an office building.
‘Hmm, okay,’ Yin Ting looked to
Huizhu and said, ‘Willow Street, which is three-fifty square metres or so, the
lease expires in December. There is another on Jinsha Road that is five hundred
which is empty and you can move in next week.’
Huizhu’s eyes widened, ‘Not the
five hundred.’
Yin Ting looked at her, ‘Du jingli,
help me hold on to the Willow Street office and do not rent the other one. I
will come and see you about them later.’
She rang off and looked to see
Huizhu and Zhengqing staring at her. Yin Ting was somewhat embarrassed, ‘I have
lots of stock. I have the offices and and a few houses. I have readymade resources;
they can’t exist in vain right. And the rent would be cheap and we can add it
to the shares. I need to speak to my lawyers and accountants; we can come to a
deal and save money. See how we can deal with the cash flow situation and
calculation of the budget. What do you think?’
Huizhu was undecided; out of the
blue this pie dropped out of the sky. She did not know what to do, so she turned
to Zhengqing.
Zhengqing comes to a rational
point, ‘Don’t you need to talk to your dad or brother?’
‘No need. My dad has stopped
involving himself, once my mom has gone. Before he had several companies, he
sold them all. There were two he sold to Qin Shu; the shoes and leather goods
ones.’
Zhengqing was surprised, those two were their
key business arms; he did not know that they had been bought from Yin Ting’s
father.
‘My dad kept only the printing
plant. At the beginning, the printing plant did very well; the machines and other
technology are introduced from abroad and there was a lot of business
specifically looking up. Things went well, so he expanded to other businesses.
My mother ran the Indian factory and my dad was free to develop new businesses
and they were also successful. He and Qin Shu were entrepreneurial partners.
But sadly my mother left us, and my dad was very depressed. He decided to sell all his companies, leaving
the Indian factory. I wanted my brother to succeed it, but my brother refused.
He was fine with that and divided the assets between my brother and I. My
brother took his and tried to start a business. I was small and told my dad I
did not know what to do with the money so he helped me invest it.’
‘So your dad helped you invest in
property.’ Zhengqing said.
‘He bought a house for me, I went
to look at it and liked it so I decided to keep it. So I used the rest of the
money to buy other houses, a few office building and shops. I hired an agency
to help me look after thinks, as well as the accounting company and my legal
team. The building my brother’s bar is located is mine. He lost a lot of money
in is enterprises, so I helped him and finally things are going well. I also
invested in my friends fashion design company, and she’s also doing well. Lots
of gains!’
She turned to Huizhu and said, ‘You
see, I am very lucky so let me invest and get some shares in your company and
you will make money.’
Huizhu did not know what to say.
Was it okay for things to be this easy?
‘Business is business, you can’t
use superstition and luck.’ Zhengqing said sternly (Zuben: Zhengqing,
everything is luck my dear)
‘Oh,’ Yin Ting replied, ‘Anyway, I
have the resources to help Huizhu. My dad said too much money can cause
depression, and suicide among the rich is high and I should look after myself
and live fulfilling life. He is right. When I was in younger in high school, I
was scolded by a class mate of mine, she said I am not great, and all I had was
my parent’s money, I do not work hard or contribute to the community. All I do
is buy houses. At that time, I think she was lovelorn, and the mood is not
good.’ (Zuben: What societal contribution is an average teenager in China
doing, I would like to know.)
Zhengqing was silent; she was such
a weird girl, she was scolded yet she found an excuse for the person’s
behaviour. And what is young, how old is she now? (Zuben: Zhengqing, you want
to tap that. Stop being a judgemental so and so.)
‘But I was very said, and I didn’t
buy the house. I went home and cried and my father asked is what was wrong. I
told him about what she said, and my father told me not to let it get me down.
Why should I feel inferior, everyone has their own situation; we are all
different. Although I was not an outstanding student, I was not stupid; I
studied hard and graduated smoothly. I work at the printing factory everyday, I
accompany my father so he’s no lonely. I
love small animals, care for children, I earn money also help others. I am not
a criminal or a bad person. I like to exude positive energy and I do contribute
to the society. I would like to meet that girl again and show her that she
can’t look down on me.’ (Zuben: what an advert.)
Zhengqing and Huizhu did not say
anything, in truth; they were rather prejudiced towards rich kids, due to their
struggle filled backgrounds.
‘So please don’t think I would be
trouble, ah,’ she continued, ‘I am serious and I don’t invest randomly. I think
Zhu Zhu jie can do well, and you helped others who lost their jobs. My mother
said that good people will have a good report, just a good time to report, do
not see, do not miss this is not a chance now. I can help the busy, I will do
my best. And when the company is set up, we can work together. Isn’t there
Zhengqing with his ability as Yongkai's money tree he can also help us out with
ideas. For now, we should get the company registered, and recruit people. I can
find someone to help. With the funds, we can set up the offices and attract
people, and hopefully with luck, things would be ready for March!’
Huizhu laughed and looked to
Zhengqing, and back to Yin Ting, ‘Someone once told me that there are people
who can easily persuade others with their line of thinking, you are like this.’
‘I thank you for your kind praise,’
Yin Ting said very proudly
‘So what you are saying is that we
can get things sorted for a start in March.’
‘Of course, I’m not just bragging,
I am really a lucky star,’ Yin Tin boasted.
Just then, Huizhu’s phone rang, she
looked at it to see it was her old colleague, Wu Fei.
‘Zoe jie, I heard you were starting
your own company.’
‘Yes,’ Huizhu replied, her heart a
bit tickled.
‘I want to volunteer my ability and
attitude. You know my strengths. I also know that the initial start of a business
is not easy, so I can take a lower salary. I just want the opportunity to
continue to learn from you.’
Huizhu was surprised. Is today her
lucky day? She had just been in the area, and thought of having a meal with
Zhengqing, only intending on borrowing his ear to unburden her start up woes.
She did not expect before she’s finished her rice, she had funds and business
partners.
Yin Tin smiled happily and glanced
at Zhengqing. Zhengqing was also looking at her. Yin Ting got somewhat shy.
Truthfully, her reasons for helping Huizhu were not hundred percent altruistic.
It was so she could shorten the distance between her and Zhengqing and get an
entry into his friends circle. (Zuben: That is why we had a three page advert
of your strengths and weaknesses, eh?) She did not want to be seen as the rich
princess, who liked to play and despised work. She also had her own personal
matters that she wanted to pursue. Although her goals may not be lofty or
noble, the world was big, and we are not all the same.
What she wants right now, her ideal
was to find love with a proper gentleman. Yes, ah, and her hope is that after
the success of love she can happily get married.
Right now, she felt life was good
and she was full of energy.
Zuben: If y'all read ahead with the raws, you would notice a few differences and omissions. That is because I take out sentences that I don't feel are relevant, I re-word, revise and summarise. This is the way of the god; me!
There would be more Easy Marriage, just as soon as I get over the muddled hurdle that is Leandroth's POV, I can't let it beat me!
Thanks for the Chapter
ReplyDeleteThank you for the chapter~
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