Chapter 120: Chapter 120: A welcome change
'A bank? Really!' Cai Hong said, "Two new banks have just opened near our factory on the old street.'
'But will banks do business with a company like ours?" Mei Yiliang was both happy and worried.
Yes, will a bank do business with a company like ours?
'We may be small, but we have our advantages,' Feng Yiping said. 'Have you noticed that, apart from anything else, the visual image of a bank, from the sign to the font and the light boxes, is different for each branch of the same bank? I can help them create a perfect image design, and that is our greatest advantage.'
Of course he is confident. Rich or poor, as someone who once had a stack of bank cards in his wallet, which bank has the best image?
'The problem is, we don't know anyone at the bank,' Mei Yiliang is still worried.
'Cousin, don't worry, we have now found our target customers, and we will then think of a way around this. Believe me, we will find a way. There are always more ways than problems!'
'Yes, first find my father, get in touch with the bank that opened the account for the factory, and then ask other people to find out. We have so many neighbours, colleagues, relatives and friends, and there must be someone who knows the bank,' Cai Hong patted Mei Yiliang's hand.
Now I realise that my uncle is just like my mother, both of them are impatient. "Yes, for something like this, don't expect to get it done in a day or two," Feng Yiping said.
'Haha, I was a bit impatient,' Mei Yiliang touched his head and said a little embarrassed.
'Have you decided on an office location yet?'
'We're still looking. So far, nothing's really suited us. We can't stand the run-down places, but we can't afford the nicer ones.'
This is indeed a very real problem. 'Uncle, I'd like to find something like this. It'd be best if it was a small, detached building, not too old, not too far out, and if it's for sale, all the better, we'll just buy it. The office location of a decoration company is different from that of other companies. It must be decorated with character. We want to make a good impression on our customers when they first come to the office.' Feng Yiping said, "Auntie, I'm afraid I'm going to have to trouble you with this. You know the area well, so could you help me look for something?'
'A single-family house, and you want to buy it? How much money is that going to cost!" Cai Hong looked at Feng Yiping doubtfully. She had a pretty good idea of Feng Yiping's family finances, so she was surprised to hear him talk so big.
'Haha, it's the same as with the bank. First you set a goal, then you figure out how to get there,' Feng Yiping said with a smile.
There aren't many office buildings yet, and many people set up their companies in hotels to make an impression. Whether it's an office building or a hotel, it's absolutely foolish to spend that kind of money on renting hundreds of square meters. Moreover, the interior decoration is restricted in many ways, but Feng Yiping plans to make the office a place to showcase the company's image.
Nowadays, commercial housing in the provincial capital costs less than 810 yuan per square metre. Later, the money spent on buying a bathroom could now buy a small apartment. The ideal small building he was talking about was not out of reach for him now.
In ten years, not to mention anything else, this small building alone will have increased in value by more than ten times.
'In addition, the designer must be hired first, even if it is just to make a good impression,' Feng Yiping said.
...
When his brother-in-law left, he was once again full of doubts. He once again realised that it would keep him busy for quite some time to implement some of the ideas Feng Yiping had written down and just mentioned.
As soon as they had left, Feng Yuxuan sat down next to him. 'Brother, tell me, how much money do you have? You're being so confident, talking about starting a company and buying a building.'
'How much money can I have? I only have a few thousand yuan from my grandfather. It takes more than a day or two to start a company and buy a building, so I'm counting on you to help me get the noodle shop up and running and make more money so I can do all this.'
Feng Yiping took a sip of water. He was a little excited now. He felt the same way as when he started his own business before, but at that time he only had one idea and the rest was not very clear. Now, the renovation company seems to have the right timing, the right location, and the right people. There is no reason it won't be successful. After ten years of hard work, when the real estate market really takes off in 2003, he hopes that his decoration company will be a leader in the province.
Feng Zhenchang and Mei Qiuping double-checked the kitchen before taking off their work clothes and walking out. 'How did it go with your brother-in-law?' Mei Qiuping asked with concern.
'We just exchanged some ideas. We don't have to rush things. The earliest we can start the company is after the New Year,' Feng Yiping said.
'I heard you want to buy a building?' Feng Zhenchang asked.
'Of course I do, just this shop,' Feng Yiping pointed to the noodle shop, 'it would be great to have the money to buy it.'
'An'an, let's go take a look at that shop together,' Feng Yuxuan was not going home with her parents, but instead took An'an to the shop.
'My sister has changed a lot,' Feng Yiping said to his parents.
'At first she was no match for An An, but now she's much better, and she'll jump at the chance to help out. In fact, when we were at home, among the girls in the neighbourhood her age, she was considered sensible and hardworking. It's just that she was on her own for a few years and didn't learn anything good. We also bear some responsibility for that, and we shouldn't have let her go out so young.' Mei Qiuping rested her hand on Feng Yiping's shoulder. After a busy day, most of which had been spent standing, she was quite tired.
'You are like the people you associate with,' Feng Zhenchang said. 'Now it's better, much better. Especially when I heard that they want to open a second store, they are more motivated than we are.'
In fact, everyone has a tendency to prefer ease to hard work. Feng Yuxuan has it, Feng Yiping has it too. It depends on your self-control. When self-control is not strong, having an authority figure to discipline you can be effective.
Another very effective method is to give people responsibilities. As long as they are not hopeless cases, they will definitely radiate an unprecedented sense of responsibility after being given responsibilities, and will then adjust themselves consciously.
This two-pronged approach, with parents on the one hand and responsibility pushing from behind on the other, will generally lead to change.
In the fourth grade of primary school, the class's most mischievous student was labelled a class leader by the homeroom teacher. Since then, although he hasn't studied very hard, he has never broken discipline again. His father repeatedly tried to correct him with sticks and other methods, but to no avail. This way, the prickly boy became a good student.
This is what happened to Comrade Feng Yuxuan. Although she picked up the bad habit of shirking work, she could slack off once or twice when she saw that the other three people in the shop, two of whom were her parents and one of whom was her friend of the same age, were all busy as bees. She would be embarrassed even when she slacked off for the third time.
'I think we should just leave the third store to my sister. If she likes it, she can do it. If she can manage several stores, let her open as many as she likes,' Feng Yiping said.
'What's wrong with that? We'll be happy to relax,' Feng Zhenchang said.
In their parents' minds, no matter how much of a mess their children are in, they are still their children. The success of their children actually makes them happier than their own success.
Now it seems that Feng Yiping doesn't need them to worry about him, but if only their son succeeds and their daughter never does, their hearts will surely be heavy. Their happiness will not be complete until their daughter also grows up together with them.