Chapter 229: Chapter 141: 3 Little Sprites
In less than a week, the loan from China Construction Bank was approved.
With the money in hand, Qi Sheng could finally make his business empire take off.
Qi Sheng allocated four hundred million specifically for the Spicy King brand.
With a budget of 20 million per location, that was enough to open 20 new branches all at once.
Yuan Li had been working incredibly hard, dedicating herself to his business.
Qi Sheng spent an additional 95 million to upgrade Yuan Li from an Elite Level talent to Master Level.
With Master Level corporate management abilities, Yuan Li could now handle a company as large as Haidilao, which employed over a hundred thousand people, with no issue.
Qi Sheng specifically asked Lord Tong about the system’s fee deduction.
He received a definitive answer that there were no issues.
Only then did Qi Sheng relax and continue his spending spree.
When he was treating Zhou Yu at Xinrong Ji,
Qi Sheng had thought about opening a high-end private kitchen restaurant to entertain his friends.
But for a high-end restaurant with a per-person cost of over 1,000, just the site selection and renovation
would take at least half a year to complete.
If he had the means, Qi Sheng would have just acquired Xinrong Ji directly. Taking over something already established would be so much easier.
But Xinrong Ji’s market value was at least 3 billion, something he couldn’t even think about touching right now.
He couldn’t acquire Xinrong Ji now.
However, there was a local Chengdu catering company that had caught Qi Sheng’s eye.
Using the system’s forced acquisition authority, he spent 200 million to acquire it.
Zifei in Chengdu, and Yu Tu in Chongqing.
These two restaurants, which Qi Sheng had visited before, were both brands under this Zhuangyu Catering Company.
Of all the catering companies Qi Sheng could afford to acquire, Zhuangyu was the one he found most satisfactory.
Based in the Southwest, its main business was Sichuan cuisine.
Its slow development was also limited by insufficient financial strength and a lack of talent.
Coincidentally, the two things Qi Sheng didn’t lack were money and talent.
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Seeing the system’s notification, Qi Sheng paid it no more mind.
With the system on the case, all he had to do was wait patiently.
Less than half an hour later, his phone suddenly rang.
The caller ID showed an unknown number.
Qi Sheng guessed the system had completed the process and answered the call.
"Chairman Qi, this is Jie Chao, the General Manager of Zhuangyu Catering. When would be a convenient time for you to inspect our company or one of our restaurants? I’d like to brief you on the company’s development."
Jie Chao’s tone on the other end of the line was extremely respectful, even a little cautious.
"How about this, I’ll be at Zifei Restaurant in an hour."
Qi Sheng didn’t have much going on recently and was eager to take over his new business.
"Okay, I’ll be waiting for your arrival then."
Jie Chao waited until the other end hung up before letting out a sigh of relief.
’What a mess.’
Jie Chao gave a wry smile and rubbed the bridge of his nose.
He recalled the phone call he had received just over ten minutes ago.
The big boss had actually sold the flourishing company.
And there hadn’t been the slightest hint of it beforehand.
As the general manager, he had panicked the moment he was notified.
Given Zhuangyu Catering Company’s profitability,
an annual net profit of over 20 million was easily within reach.
Just a while ago, the boss had been ambitiously talking about building an organic farm during a meeting.
And now, forget about an organic farm.
Even the boss himself had skipped town.
Jie Chao rubbed his face, trying to pull himself together.
He organized the company’s files for the new boss to review.
As the saying goes, a new ruler brings new courtiers.
Whether he, an old hand, could win the new boss’s trust
would all depend on the upcoming meeting.
「...」
Kuanzhai Alley was bustling with tourists.
The clamor of the crowds rose and fell like crashing waves.
Zifei Restaurant, however, was hidden away behind high gates in a deep courtyard.
Qi Sheng, along with Gu Feng and Qiu Lei, arrived at the restaurant’s entrance.
Jie Chao, who had been waiting there early, saw that Qi Sheng was young and followed by bodyguards.
He immediately guessed his identity and hurried forward to greet him.
"You must be Chairman Qi?"
"I am."
Qi Sheng smiled and nodded. "Let’s talk inside."
"Of course. After you."
Jie Chao took a deep breath and quickly pushed open the large wooden doors.
Zifei’s entryway was somewhat dark and narrow.
Along the welcome path, the Eighteen Arhats showed expressions of either joy or anger.
Lanterns framed with bamboo strips and covered in colored paper
flickered above the path, creating a rather quaint, ancient atmosphere.
The group reached the end of the entryway, where a plaque inscribed with the words "Wander with a Free Mind" hung high above.
After rounding a thick stone screen, the courtyard scenery finally unfolded before them, serene and beautiful.
Qi Sheng had been to Zifei once before, when he had treated Du Xinxin and her dorm mates to a meal.
A few months later, he was stepping into this restaurant again, but this time as its owner.
"Chairman Qi, would you like to look around the restaurant first, or should I go ahead and brief you on the company’s current revenue situation?"
Qi Sheng pointed to a tea table in the courtyard and said with a smile, "No rush. You can brief me while we have some tea."
"Right away."
Jie Chao quickly pulled out a chair for Qi Sheng, showing great perceptiveness.
Qi Sheng didn’t stand on ceremony. After sitting down comfortably, he sized up Jie Chao.
Jie Chao had a round face and a short buzz cut, making him look quite honest and simple.
His face showed a degree of apprehension; he was clearly afraid of not gaining the trust of his new boss.
Qi Sheng instinctively had the system check his abilities.
In terms of corporate management, he was at the Elite Level.
Zhuangyu Catering Company wasn’t very large to begin with.
With only two restaurants under its banner, it wouldn’t be too difficult to manage.
"Chairman Qi, Zhuangyu currently has two restaurant brands under its umbrella: Zifei in Chengdu and Yu Tu in Chongqing."
"The company’s annual revenue is 120 million, with a net profit of 24 million. Our financial situation is currently sound."
Jie Chao watched Qi Sheng cautiously, seeing that the other man showed no signs of displeasure.
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