Chapter 53: Opening a Store

  Should we collect this 1.5 billion or not?

  Zhou Hao was deep in thought, indeed, the temptation of 150 million was great for him. However, Wen Xiangdong's target to win over was not him, but Zhao Dingzhou behind him, that big banner. If Zhao Dingzhou found out, it would be harmful and unbeneficial to both his relationship with Zhao Yuzhen and Zhou Hao's future development.

  Wen Dong seemed to have also noticed Zhou Hao's concerns, and he heard him laugh and say: "Xiao Hao, you don't need to worry about this. This money is purely me helping Shao Qiang apologize to you, it has nothing to do with Commander Zhao. Besides, we know what kind of people we are, and we wouldn't dare get entangled with Commander Zhao. I just hope that in the future if there's any trouble, Xiao Hao, you can help us out."

  Zhou Hao couldn't help but admire Wen Xiangdong's keen observation, and he said: "Uncle Wen, you're being polite. If there's anything I can do for you in the future, just let me know. Of course, I won't dare to do anything illegal."

  "That's natural, and we won't drag you down either." Wen Dong smiled: "Then what about this money..."

  Since Wen Dong has said so, Zhou Hao had no choice but to accept. However, he didn't want to appear ungrateful, so he said: "Such a grand gift, Xiao Hao really doesn't dare to accept it. But Uncle Wen, I can make a bet with you."

  Wen Dong immediately understood Zhou Hao's meaning. If others knew that he had given away 150 million to Zhou Hao for nothing, many people would come out and point fingers. But if he lost it to him at the gambling table, no one could say anything. Thinking of this, Wen Dong couldn't help but admire Zhou Hao's meticulousness.

  Two people walked into a private room with smiles, and didn't come out again until nearly noon. Meanwhile, Wen Xiangdong kept patting Zhou Hao's shoulder, sincerely praising: "Awesome, really awesome! I didn't expect young Hao to have such sharp and mature gambling skills!"

  "It's Wen Shu who intentionally let us win." Zhou Hao hastily modestly declined.

  They were playing no-limit "Texas Hold'em" in the private room. Wen Dongxi originally wanted to intentionally lose, so he could smoothly give that 15 million to Zhou Hao. He was an old hand at this game and did it naturally without a hitch. However, before two rounds were over, he discovered that Zhou Hao didn't need him to lose on purpose. On the contrary, the more they played, the more serious Zhou Hao became. In the end, Wen Dongxi used all his strength but still couldn't withstand Zhou Hao.

  "Shao Qiang had told me before not to let you come to our casino, and now that I think about it, it's really true." Wen Xiangdong said to Zhou Hao with a half-joking and half-serious tone: "Xiao Hao, in the future, if there's nothing important, don't come to our casino again. It's obvious that you're stealing business from us." Now he understood that giving Zhou Hao over 10 million was not a big deal at all, because as long as Zhou Hao was willing, he could win back the same amount of money from the gaming table at any time.

  Zhou Hao shrugged and smiled, Wen Xiangdong was very considerate in doing things, and had already converted the 15 million into a bank card and handed it over to Zhou Hao. In fact, Zhou Hao had asked Zhao Yuqin to help him make an ID card two days ago, after all, having an ID card would make things more convenient. Although Zhou Hao was not yet of age, with Zhao Yuqin's abilities, this matter was easy to accomplish.

  Xiang Dong personally escorted Zhou Hao to the entrance, "If there's a chance, Uncle Wen will take you to Macau or Las Vegas, we'll go win money from foreigners."

  "Alright, then Xiao Hao will obey orders." Zhou Hao smiled and said. He was still very much looking forward to Macau and Las Vegas, those two famous gambling cities. That's where the big money is won.

  Zhou Hao had just called Li Ruolan at Dynamic City to report his safety. On the phone, Li Ruolan heard that Zhou Hao was safe and sound, and she let out a big sigh of relief, asking repeatedly if he was injured. Zhou Hao smiled and replied, saying he would go to her place after lunch.

  Now Zhou Hao has naturally gone home. Yan Tong has finished work and come back, and has prepared lunch. She doesn't know about Zhao Yuqin being kidnapped, and Zhou Hao doesn't plan to tell her, so as not to worry her.

  "Mom, you should quit that sanitation worker job." Zhou Hao said to Yan Tong during lunch. With the 15 million he had just received from Wen Xidong, plus his money in the stock market, Zhou Hao was now a genuine multimillionaire and really didn't want to see his mother struggling with life anymore.

  Yan Tong simply looked up at Zhou Hao and said, "Didn't I tell you? Even if our family has money, we can't be idle and gluttonous. This is the principle of being a human."

  "Mom, I'm not letting you be idle, but I don't want you to work so hard either. How about we open a store?"

  "Open a store?" Yan Tong was taken aback by Zhou Hao's sudden suggestion.

  "That's right, we can open a fast food restaurant." Zhou Hao said: "Open a fast food restaurant at the school gate, not only for lunch but also for breakfast and midnight snacks." He remembered that in his previous life, the fast food restaurants and breakfast shops in front of every school gate were making a lot of money. Now, there was indeed a fast food restaurant next to the main entrance of Yuning Middle School, but it was dirty and expensive. According to Zhou Hao's memory, it was squeezed out by another fast food restaurant after a few years.

  There are more than 20 primary and secondary schools in the city, but there are few shops that sell fast food or breakfast in front of these schools. Nowadays, most students and teachers still get used to having meals in the school canteen, however, the food served in the school canteen is rarely satisfactory, although the price is relatively low, the taste is really not commendable.

  Moreover, most fast-food restaurants nowadays give people a dirty and messy feeling, as if they are just gathering places for migrant workers and drivers. Zhou Hao remembers that in the following years, Hong Kong-style fast food stores were popular near schools and extremely welcomed by students. If operated in this mode, fast-food restaurants have great potential. And it's easiest to make money from women and students in the world. With economic development, more and more students will consume at outside restaurants, while students who have been tortured by school canteens for a long time also need a fresh choice.

  "Mom, the dishes you make are so delicious. If we open a restaurant, we'll definitely make money." Zhou Hao said to Yan Tong: "Moreover, you don't have to do it yourself, just hire some helpers and waiters, what we need to grasp is the food hygiene issue."

  "Really?" After hearing Zhou Hao's words, Yan Tong was indeed a little moved, because one of her colleagues' uncles opened a fast food restaurant in front of a factory and heard that he had hundreds of thousands of income every month.

  Zhou Hao nodded seriously, "We not only want to open a fast food restaurant, but also make it a chain store, that is, become the industry leader in Chinese fast food, and best of all, take back the Chinese market from McDonald's!" His eyes shone brightly, he had always hated McDonald's and KFC, those fast food restaurants that sold garbage food, after creating countless obese people in their own country, they came to poison the Chinese people and make a fortune off them.

  Compared to food culture, Zhou Hao dares to say that there is no country or nation in the world that can compare with China, whether it's cultural heritage or flavor, a single Chinese dish can surpass the most famous French cuisine in Europe.

  Moreover, Zhou Hao thought that the funds he would make in the financial market in the future would ultimately be invested in various industries, and the catering industry was a very good choice.

  "Think about it, let's do it," Zhou Hao said to Yan Tong, "Mom, you're off tomorrow, so we'll go check out the storefronts in front of the school and come back to open a store. You can just focus on being the boss."

  "Me? Can I do it?" Yan Tong asked somewhat hesitantly, she had never been in such a profession before.

  "Of course, it's okay." Zhou Hao had full confidence in his mother. "It's just that starting anything is difficult, but as long as you're willing to do it, there's nothing that can't be done. However, if you have to bear the burden of the whole store by yourself, it would be too tiring. We need to find someone to help you." Zhou Hao thought for a moment, then said: "Right, isn't Lu Ayi working as a workshop director in a factory? She must have a lot of experience managing workers, let's make her the manager."

  Yan Tong smiled upon hearing this, "Our small fast food restaurant has no manager to speak of. Moreover, Po Ping is doing well in the factory and may not necessarily be willing to come help us."

  "That's not necessarily true." Zhou Hao said: "Although we've only just opened the first one, as things develop in the future, who can guarantee that our fast food restaurant won't become a chain group? At that time, Manager Lu will be rising with the tide."

  Before Yan Tong could speak, Zhou Hao stood up and said: "Take advantage of Lu Ayi still being at home in the afternoon, I'll go ask her now."

  Out of the door, Zhou Hao walked a few steps to the front of Wang Xijun's house, knocked on the door, and Wang Xijun opened it for him.

  When she saw Zhou Hao, Wang Xijun thought he had come to find her, so she blushed and said: "Zhou Hao, how did you get here so quickly? My mom is still at home." She thought Zhou Hao was bold and eager to secretly meet with her.

  Taking advantage of Lu Shi Ping and Wang Zhong Cai not seeing, Zhou Hao scratched Wang Xi Jun's straight nose, "I'm here to find Aunt Lu."

  "Oh, go find your mom." Wang Xijun's face turned red as she realized her previous thoughts were a bit too wishful.

  Wang Xijun invited Zhou Hao into the house, and Zhou Hao saw that Lu Shih-ping was just collecting bowls and chopsticks, while Wang Zhongcai sat on the sofa watching TV.

  Lu Shi Ping heard Wang Xi Jun say that Zhou Hao was looking for her, so she asked: "Xiao Hao, what do you want to find me for?"

  "Lu Ayi, now that you're in charge of the workshop, how much salary can you get per month?" Zhou Hao asked directly.

  Lu Shi Ping was stunned, "Including the bonus, it would be around 1,800 yuan a month." In this era, such a salary could already meet their daily expenses for a family of three, but in a few years, it wouldn't be enough. Zhou Hao also remembered that the Hong Kong man who eventually married Wang Xi Jun had given them one million yuan, and Wang Xi Jun's marriage to him was largely out of gratitude.

  Zhou Hao said: "Lu Auntie, if we give you 3,000 yuan a month, can you come and help us?"