“Haha! Qiu Jiu is truly an expert; there was no exaggeration at all.” Hearing this, Hua Jingxing felt extremely pleased.
Hua Yán had not expected that Qiu Jiu would execute the task so well.
When Chai Lu returned with Huā Yán, Hua Jingxing told him about this matter.
“Brother Chai, you have wide connections; could you help me find a larger warehouse nearby?” Hua Jingxing asked straightforwardly.
He felt this was currently the most important issue; once resolved, the department store could open.
“What for?” Chai Lu asked, eyeing Hua Jingxing with a measuring gaze.
“A friend has a batch of goods and nowhere to store them,” Hua Jingxing said, stealing a casual glance at Qiu Jiu.
“Alright! I’ll help you look around,” Chai Lu took on the task.
Over the next few days, Qiu Jiu did not set up his stall, focusing all his energy on learning how to keep accounts.
Finally getting the hang of it, Qiu Jiu came to sell vegetables again, just as Hua Jingxing was walking over from afar.
“Brother Jiu, why haven’t you come in the past two days? There has been some progress on the warehouse matter; would you like to go take a look?” Seeing Qiu Jiu, Hua Jingxing was eager to take him there.
Hua Yán knew that Chai Lu had already found the warehouse on the third day. She had even gone to inspect it and was very satisfied; it was large enough, cheap enough, and was an abandoned factory facility belonging to a work unit.
However, Hua Yán did not rush to find Qiu Jiu, as she knew he was busy learning to keep accounts.
“Ah? So fast! Alright, I’ll put the vegetables in Chai Lu’s courtyard and go with you right away.” Qiu Jiu hurriedly carried his carrying pole into the courtyard.
“Qiu Jiu, if the building is suitable, lease it. Just ensure the annual rent does not exceed five hundred, but it must be large enough,” Master Jiu’s voice rang out.
Qiu Jiu’s first reaction was to look around. The people there were as numerous as before, and no one was looking at him; only Huā Yán was playing with her hair in Hua Jingxing’s arms.
“Let’s go, Brother Jiu.” Seeing Qiu Jiu come out, Hua Jingxing walked ahead while carrying Huā Yán.
Qiu Jiu glanced back at Chai Lu’s courtyard, where only Chai Lu’s wife was doing laundry.
He thought to himself that this person was quite mysterious; knowing he was coming, they had been waiting here all along.
Just as Qiu Jiu was about to look again, Master Jiu’s voice sounded once more.
“No need to look. I am among these people. I am using Sound Transmission, which only you can hear. I do not wish to show my face, lest they come to me directly in the future—it would be too troublesome,” Master Jiu said with a trace of impatience.
Qiu Jiu nodded and stopped looking around.
So he was an expert who could perform Sound Transmission; he would have to work as hard as he could in the future. Qiu Jiu thought to himself.
Qiu Jiu followed Hua Jingxing to the place to be leased. It looked quite large and was not too far from Chai Lu’s house.
This used to be a cardboard box processing factory in the neighborhood. Business had been poor, the workers had gone to other factories, and the place had been left vacant.
Chai Lu knew the details, having spoken to the neighborhood committee director beforehand.
The building was sitting empty anyway, and since someone wanted to use it and pay money for it, the director had no reason to refuse.
Chai Lu was also a master negotiator. He said to the director, “Director, my friend wants to use this. Could you give a cheaper price? It’s too expensive, and he can’t afford it; I’d have to help him find another way otherwise. I see this factory has been idle for many years and is about to collapse. By the way, Director, it won’t actually collapse, will it?” Chai Lu wore a worried expression.
“What collapse? It’s just a bit dilapidated. Pay fifty yuan a month, six hundred a year,” the director looked at Chai Lu, sounding a bit uncertain.
“Director, I always think of you whenever there’s a good opportunity, why are you asking for such a high price?” Chai Lu was not satisfied with this price.
The director thought that the building had sat unused for years, not to mention generating any income.
“Then what price do you want to offer?” The director was an old hand; if the other party didn’t accept his price, he had no choice but to listen to theirs.
“Director, my friend can rent it for several years, so the neighborhood will have a steady income. Let’s make it three hundred a year. Otherwise, it’s just sitting there, and who knows if it might really collapse one day?” Chai Lu was shrewd, cutting the price in half.
“You rascal, that’s essentially using it for free.” Although the director said this, he thought that three hundred yuan was better than nothing.
“Director, for free? That’s three hundred yuan! Who can come up with that much money these days?” Chai Lu wore an expression that said, ‘stop joking.’
“Fine! Three hundred it is, but you must pay for a full year at once,” the director retreated one step and then advanced one.
“Director, as I just said, if you’re asking for a full year’s payment, who can come up with that kind of money? Most people pay quarterly, and most pay monthly—where would you find a one-year payment?” Chai Lu put on a look of great difficulty.
“Alright, then pay quarterly, but you handle the building repairs yourselves; we won’t bother with that,” the director only wanted the money and didn’t want to worry about anything else.
“Ah! It’s about to collapse; you must repair it before we can use it,” Chai Lu looked at the building; although dilapidated, it was not actually going to collapse, so it was fine for a warehouse.
“Are you going to use it or not? If not, forget it. The rent is less than thirty yuan a month, and you still want me to repair it? Do you want to fly to the sky?” The director had watched Chai Lu grow up and tapped him on the head.
“Use it, of course I’ll use it! But can you lower the rent further? Repairing the house will cost money too,” Chai Lu fully exercised his thick-skinned nature.
“I think you’re really begging for a beating. Are you using it or not?” The director was getting angry.
“Hey! Hey! If you won’t repair it and won’t lower the rent, there’s truly nowhere to reason with you. Then let’s sign a ten-year lease contract, and you aren’t allowed to raise the rent.” Chai Lu made his final effort.
The director pointed his finger at Chai Lu, unable to laugh or cry.
“Fine, no rent increase for ten years,” the director compromised.
It looked like a compromise, but the director was actually happy. A ten-year lease meant three thousand yuan in guaranteed income!
“Then in a couple of days, I’ll have my friend come and sign the contract with you. Make sure to stamp it with the neighborhood committee’s official seal! It won't count if anyone goes back on their word.” The consignment contract Chai Lu had signed with Hua Jingxing was very formal, so he had experience in this area.
After it was settled, Hua Jingxing said, “I'll bring the person over in two days to find the director directly, and we’ll sign the contract.”
The director and Chai Lu both nodded, indicating no problem.
Now, after seeing the building, Qiu Jiu was very satisfied.
Hearing the rent was only three hundred, within Master Jiu's budget, he immediately signed the contract with the neighborhood director, specifying no rent increase for ten years and stamping it with the official seal.
“Thank you, Brother Hua. When the goods arrive, you can talk to Chai Lu about the sources,” Qiu Jiu was very grateful to Hua Jingxing; he had found the warehouse without having to lift a finger.
“Brother Jiu, are these goods yours? I want to open a small department store in my village as well, can I get stock from you?” Hua Jingxing was thinking about his own small business.
“They aren't mine; I'm watching them for a friend. Don't worry, when I see him, I’ll ask for you. However, regarding Chai Lu’s business, he explicitly instructed that credit is allowed,” Qiu Jiu said honestly.
“Then many thanks, Brother Jiu.” Hua Jingxing was also an honest person.
Chai Lu had been asking for leave for the past two days, not even working his job properly, just thinking about how to renovate his department store and find sources for goods.
When Qiu Jiu returned, he took out his vegetables and started selling them again.
Hua Jingxing left Huā Yán with Qiu Jiu and went to the canning factory to see how things were progressing; he needed bottles to make canned goods.
“Is the warehouse secured?” Master Jiu’s voice sounded in Qiu Jiu’s ear.
This time Qiu Jiu did not look around, knowing it was an expert who did not want to appear.
“Yes! It’s settled. The annual rent is three hundred yuan, a ten-year contract was signed, the rent won’t increase, and it was stamped with the neighborhood committee’s official seal. It’s very official,” Qiu Jiu relayed everything in one breath.
Upon hearing Qiu Jiu’s report, Hua Yán knew this was someone who could be trusted.
“Good! Under the second brick to the left of the main gate of Chai Lu’s house, I have left ten yuan for you. Put a copy of the warehouse keys there; we shall each have one. I am responsible for stocking the warehouse with goods, and you are responsible for handing the goods to Hua Jingxing. Our goods are only provided to Hua Jingxing; we do not do business with others. Every time, ask them clearly what they need, and then I will prepare the stock.”
“Why shouldn't we do business with others?” Qiu Jiu asked, not understanding.