Xiao Xun had no mood for such things now and replied perfunctorily, "Good, very good."
"Can you be serious? I didn't come here today to listen to your flattery."
Xiao Xun thought for a moment, "Eating at your place costs tens of thousands, where are there so many rich people coming every day?"
"So I've decided to use the current store as a golden signboard, building a high-end luxury brand concept, and downgrading the branches, starting from mid-range. This way, it can also satisfy some face-conscious customers."
"Zhao Zong, your idea is good, I support you."
"Then let's talk about the money next!"
Xiao Xun had a bad feeling. "What money?"
"Your support can't just be verbal, can it!"
"The Zhao family of Qianxi Group, known as 'Zhao Half-City,' still needs me to invest?"
Zhao Yuman explained, "That's all my father's assets. This Fengming Tower is my private property. Whether it's listed or makes money in the future, it has nothing to do with Qianxi Group. So I don't want to use public funds. If my funds weren't tied up at the moment, you wouldn't even have the chance to invest."
Xiao Xun shook his head helplessly, "From your tone, I'm getting a bargain? Then how much do I need to invest?"
Zhao Yuman nodded confidently, "Of course you're getting a bargain. You give me sixty million, and I'll give you a thirty percent annual dividend. I guarantee you won't lose out."
Xiao Xun swallowed, "Sixty million? Are you opening a five-star luxury hotel! Didn't you say you were downgrading!"
"There are many places to spend money, just publicity itself is a money-burning project, not to mention decoration and salaries."
With at least two hundred million dollars as a buffer, Xiao Xun was not worried. "Then you do a good job, and please don't lose money."
Zhao Yuman smiled, "Don't worry, if I lose money, I'll give myself to you as compensation."
Xiao Xun waved his hand, "I wouldn't dare to accept that. President Mu would kill me!"
Zhao Yuman blushed, "From your tone, is your relationship with him a sure thing?"
Xiao Xun also blushed, unsure how to address this matter.
Zhao Yuman quickly said, "What are you thinking? I mean, if I lose money, I won't be the president of Qianxi Group anymore, and I'll come to work for your company to pay off the debt, okay?"
Xiao Xun drank some coffee to mask his embarrassment, "Alright, alright. When do you need the money?"
"No rush, let's go pick a place in the city center first."
"I think picking a place is unnecessary! The business district is only so big, as long as the area is suitable, that's enough."
"You have no business acumen at all. Don't you need to inspect the site?"
After speaking, she stood up and went out.
Xiao Xun drank some coffee and shook his head helplessly, "She's really impatient."
At noon, Zhao Yuman took Xiao Xun to the busiest and most prosperous commercial street in the city center.
Actually, Xiao Xun was not wrong. There were only a few shopping malls in the city center. It was good enough to find a place, let alone pick one. Anyway, it was just for dining, not accommodation.
After looking around, Xiao Xun felt a bit discouraged. It wasn't that there were no places to rent, but everywhere was for rent. Those busiest shopping malls only had a few with booming business, and the rest were deserted.
"Are you sure you still want to do catering in the next two years? Given the situation, let alone listing, it would be a complete disaster!"
But Zhao Yuman seemed determined, insisting on doing it, "I didn't say I would open inside the shopping malls. That would ruin my brand. I want to open outside."
Since it was not mealtime, many restaurants were not open. They passed a restaurant with ancient and elegant decor, which looked quite grand. Zhao Yuman walked in.
The lobby manager said, "Hello, the two of you. We haven't reached our business hours yet."
"I'm not here to eat, where is your boss?"
"In the office on the second floor. May I ask who the two of you are?"
"Just tell your boss that Zhao Yuman from Qianxi Group is here."
The lobby manager dared not neglect them, quickly beckoned a waiter to attend to the two, and then hurried to the second floor.
Xiao Xun looked at the luxurious decoration and asked Zhao Yuman, "You're not planning to rent this place, are you?"
"Yes, I inquired before I came. This restaurant has already let go of a lot of people. There are only five or six waiters left in the front, and only three in the kitchen. It's clearly failing."
A moment later, the boss himself came down, "So it's President Zhao, a great honor. Please come upstairs, please."
Entering the boss's office on the second floor, the lobby manager poured tea for the two and then left, closing the door.
The boss sat opposite them, "May I ask what brings President Zhao here today?"
"I'm looking for you, of course, for something good. I'm taking over this place, name your price!"
Upon hearing this, the boss was overjoyed, "Since President Zhao has spoken, even if I wanted to continue, I would have to make way for you! I won't ask for too much, ten million."
Xiao Xun asked, "Ten million for this shop?"
"This gentleman must be joking. This is prime real estate. Ten million is the rent for three years here, only a little over three million a year, which is a small amount for President Zhao. It's reasonable, isn't it!"
Zhao Yuman looked at the boss, "It's not easy to run a restaurant these two years, and more importantly, this property isn't yours!"
The boss nodded, "I know it's not mine, but I signed a five-year contract with the landlord, and this is only the second year."
"From your tone, you want to be a sub-landlord?"
The boss looked troubled, "President Zhao, you know it hasn't been easy for the catering industry these two years, so I really didn't ask for too much. You can inquire around; this price and location are truly not expensive."
"We've also looked around this area, and you're the first one. If you're sincere about transferring, give us a firm price. If not, we'll look elsewhere."
After speaking, he stood up and said to Xiao Xun, "Let's go."
Before they reached the door, the boss stood up, "President Zhao, let's negotiate, negotiate. You name a price."
"I'll only give you one million. You clear this place out, and I'll negotiate with the landlord myself."
"Miss Zhao, that's not fair. My renovation cost more than that initially."
Zhao Yuman looked at the boss, "What does that have to do with me? If I really rent this place, I'll have to tear down all your renovations and redo them." She then started to walk away.
The boss chased after her, "Let's discuss it further. One point five million, and I'll keep the chef here and let him sign a long-term contract with you."
Zhao Yuman stopped, "I'm hungry anyway, let me see if your chef has the skill to match fifty thousand."
The boss smiled, "President Zhao, you'll be satisfied."
After speaking, he quickly went to the kitchen to make arrangements.
Xiao Xun and Zhao Yuman were arranged in the largest private room, "This place is much smaller than your Fengming Tower."
"But the location is good! And it's backed by the building, with convenient parking, and it's easy to get here for dining."
Xiao Xun nodded, "But you're also really good at bargaining, cutting it from ten million to one million."
"He wanted to profit from my rent, I'm just giving him a transfer fee. It's nothing, I've seen it all before."
The entire restaurant had no customers for lunch. The boss personally served the dishes, "These are all signature dishes from our master chef."
Xiao Xun took a bite and could call it delicious.
Similarly, Zhao Yuman took a bite and nodded, "It's indeed good. But I'll only give you one point five million if he signs a contract with our Fengming Tower."
"No problem, no problem, I'll never do catering again. Why is their taste inferior to ours, their location not as good as ours, yet their business is so booming? Our master chef has such good skills, and the restaurant's location is also good, but no one comes to eat."
Xiao Xun asked, "Is it because the prices are set too high?"