The twenty thousand for the entire set of equipment seemed like a bargain to Yu Zhou. After all, if this entire set of equipment were priced at market value, it would be difficult to acquire for less than several hundred thousand, possibly even over a million. While a hundred yuan might seem like a lot to ordinary people these days, to businessmen, especially those in the physical economy, it was hardly considered money. The fees for the reform of a factory's land alone could reach astronomical figures. Not to mention other costs like labor, various equipment, and management. This was truly not a venture that one could embark on impulsively and expect success. Even with the considerable confidence Yu Zhou possessed now, he was acutely aware that without Qin Siyue's involvement, opening a factory seemed impossible at the moment. At best, he could have bid for a storefront and started with a small business.
Signing the letter of intent and paying the deposit, the entire process went incredibly smoothly. After all, with Qin Siyue backing him, regardless of her motivations, the port authorities would not dare to be careless. Once everything was settled, Yu Zhou and his companions finally finished touring the location. Qin Siyue was also very pleased today; a preliminary cooperation agreement had been reached, and the next steps depended on Yu Zhou's actions. If things moved quickly, it would take one to two months, and if slowly, three to four months for everything to be finalized. Of course, few could predict with certainty that there would be no unforeseen circumstances. However, the possibility of issues was not particularly high for Yu Zhou. If any problems arose, they would likely be confined to the factory reform or the factory premises.
"I still think opening a new factory is the best option," Qin Siyue said, trying to persuade Yu Zhou on the way back. "Whether it's land or construction, I can help if you need it. I feel it's more stable than acquiring a state-owned enterprise undergoing reform." In her opinion, a factory built from scratch was truly one's own. Acquiring restructured enterprises would be very troublesome, as countless workers would need to be dealt with, which was not an easy task. Moreover, taking a bite out of such a cake was not easy. However, for some reason, Yu Zhou insisted on this path, as if he already had a plan in mind, leaving Qin Siyue perplexed. Could he be trying to seize this opportunity to help the struggling Textile Factory No. 2, which was also undergoing reform?
"If I were a Hong Kong or island businessman, I would definitely agree to your request," Yu Zhou replied. "But I'm not, am I? Not only that, but I'm still a pauper in your eyes. Besides, if we don't take a bite out of this cake, wouldn't that be against our style?" Yu Zhou looked at her speechlessly. If he were truly wealthy, he might have agreed to her proposal. After all, who wouldn't want fewer troubles? But he wasn't, was he? Tens of thousands of yuan might seem like a fortune to others, but compared to what he intended to do, it was like a drop in the ocean.
"Lack of money is an issue? You don't have it, but I do. And I believe you won't fail this time, so if you really want to invest, I can lend you funds proportionally." Qin Siyue was rich and indeed had the capacity to be so. However, Yu Zhou considered her words carefully. Even if he were the one benefiting from their cooperation, he still had his principles. If he relied on her for everything, what would be his purpose? To be her professional manager? He didn't oppose borrowing money, but he would never borrow a large proportion from her. He might as well take out a bank loan, which would be a better option.
As they chatted along the way, they arrived at the airport. This time, Yu Zhou did not opt for the train. Fortunately, this was Fu County Province, with direct flights to Jiangbei. After completing these matters, Yu Zhou had to return. Tomorrow was the twenty-ninth of the twelfth lunar month, and the day after was New Year's Eve. If he didn't return home on New Year's Eve, Yu Zhou couldn't imagine how worried his family would be. It was Wu Dabiao's first time flying, and everything seemed novel to him. Yu Zhou, on the other hand, had seen such scenes countless times in his previous life and had even gotten tired of flying. Thus, he remained calm and unaffected. As soon as he boarded the plane, he fell asleep and only woke up after sleeping for over an hour, just as they were about to land in Jiangbei. Taking a taxi, they went their separate ways, as this was not their first time, and both were familiar with the routine. Especially Yu Zhou, whose old house in the suburbs was located to the west of Jiangbei, so the taxi took only twenty minutes to get home. During the journey, he tried to give the money to Wu Dabiao, but the latter stubbornly refused, as if he had swallowed a lead weight. It was only when Yu Zhou lost his temper that he finally took it back. The rule of settling accounts at the end of the year could not be broken, even though they would continue to do business together next year, and Wu Dabiao even thought he might return the money. He returned to his old house with a large duffel bag containing a little over thirty thousand yuan. Similar to their house in the city, their old house in the suburbs was also dilapidated. It was a courtyard house with five rooms. Although worn down, it had been meticulously cleaned by his parents. It was now the twenty-ninth of the twelfth lunar month, and New Year's Eve was tomorrow. The entire courtyard looked brand new.
"Daddy!" As soon as he entered the door, Little Dou Ding, wearing a new set of clothes, leaped into Yu Zhou's arms. Yu Zhou did not mind her frozen red and runny nose or her dirty face. He tossed the duffel bag aside and picked up his daughter. "Did you miss your dad? You look like you've been playing so much, you probably didn't miss him." Yu Zhou teased her as he wiped her nose. Since his transmigration, his relationship with his daughter had only grown better. In his previous life, Jiang Jie was already gone by this time, and his daughter's listless eyes and the expression that her mother would never return always caused Yu Zhou's heart to ache. Now, it was good. Jiang Jie was still here, his daughter was becoming more lively and cheerful, and having a home and family was wonderful. "Don't spoil her any further. She's almost become the little tyrant of this area for the past few days, constantly showing off her new clothes to her friends. If it weren't for Yu Niannian from Big Brother's family protecting her, this little girl would have definitely gotten beaten up." Seeing her husband return, Jiang Jie, who had just put down her broom, also came forward, a smile blooming on her face. With their finances gradually improving and her mood lifting, Jiang Jie's smile became more frequent. This was perhaps the most comfortable New Year she had experienced since marrying Yu Zhou.