hotmtlnovel Chapter 1457 Jing
Chapter 1457 Jing
Chapter 1457 Returning to Beijing
After witnessing firsthand the astonishing profits brought about by the continued popularity of Burger King, Zhao Yajing's mind began to race.
She runs a clothing store, working from dawn till dusk, running around to buy goods and dealing with various wholesalers and customers. The profit per garment is only one or two yuan, and she also has to worry about styles going out of fashion and inventory piling up. After a year of hard work, although she has made some money after deducting expenses, the net profit is far less than that of Burger King.
In its first month of operation, Burger King's daily revenue remained stable at around 3,500 yuan. After deducting all costs, the net profit was 1,500 to 1,600 yuan per day! After a month, the initial investment of over 2,000 yuan in transfer fees, renovation costs, equipment costs, and initial raw material costs were not only fully recovered, but a substantial profit was also made! It was as if the door to a gold mine had been opened.
So, Zhao Yajing devoted most of her energy from her clothing business to Burger King without much hesitation.
In her words, "The clothing wholesale business is all hard-earned money. Compared to Burger King, it's like heaven and earth. You work yourself to the bone and take all the risks, and you can't even scale up. Burger King, on the other hand, pays cash upfront, makes money quickly, and has a much better future!"
Qin Hao was naturally happy to have someone fully support him. Zhao Yajing not only provided investment but was also a highly capable partner, familiar with the local situation, efficient, and with strong execution skills. Having such a partner, without having to pay an extra salary, was undoubtedly an ideal entrepreneurial partner.
The two quickly established a clear division of labor. Qin Hao was mainly responsible for daily operations management and "core technologies"—including the formulation and maintenance of product standards, new employee training, service process optimization, and store operation supervision.
Zhao Yajing, leveraging her connections and local experience accumulated over several years in Guangzhou, was specifically responsible for the "tough nut to crack" of raw material procurement.
Although Burger King sells simple fried chicken burgers, in 1980, various supplies were still mainly subject to a quota system. Even in Guangzhou, the forefront of reform and opening up, where controls were relatively relaxed compared to the north, it was by no means easy to buy raw materials such as chicken, flour, cooking oil, sugar, and even packaging paper in a stable and sufficient manner.
First, one needs to purchase or exchange the corresponding vouchers through various gray or semi-public channels, and then often needs to use the names of some connected or quota-holding units to make the purchase.
This involves spending money, asking for favors, building relationships, and socializing. Zhao Yajing has a straightforward personality and flexible social skills, making her more adept at handling these matters than Qin Hao.
Zhao Yajing often spent her days running around the market and finding connections, and then came back at night to check accounts and discuss countermeasures with Qin Hao. Although it was hard work, she was full of energy when she saw the steady stream of income.
After a month of careful management, the Burger King flagship store on Beijing Road has achieved stable business and gained a good reputation. Daily turnover is generally maintained at around 3500 yuan, and occasionally it can reach over 4000 yuan on holidays.
With ample cash flow in hand, Qin Hao's mind started to work. His first three trained employees were already highly skilled and could even mentor newcomers. Seeing the booming market demand for Western fast food, and recognizing that while Beijing Road had high foot traffic, the service capacity of a single restaurant was limited, leading to long queues during peak hours, expanding, opening branches, replicating the successful model, and capturing more market share became a logical next step.
Zhao Yajing wholeheartedly supported this move; she was even more eager than Qin Hao to expand rapidly.
At first, everything seemed to be going smoothly. They quickly found a shop on another section of Beijing Road with a suitable location, size, and rent, although it cost them a transfer fee, it was within an acceptable range. The renovation team was readily available, and they only needed to make minor adjustments based on the main store's blueprints. The newly recruited employees also began receiving training at the old store.
However, just as they confidently went to the business administration department to apply for a business license for their new store, they ran into a problem. They submitted the materials, but waited and waited without receiving any response.
Zhao Yajing went through several connections to inquire before the other party vaguely revealed that although there was no explicit order "prohibiting" private individuals from engaging in chain operations, there was also no clear document "allowing" or "supporting" it.
When faced with such new developments, especially the private sector which appears to be expanding in scale, the staff are unsure of the risks and simply "slow down" the approval process.
"What should we do?" Zhao Yajing paced anxiously in the small office behind the main store. Every day the newly rented store was empty was a cost.
"The rent for the new shop is several hundred a month, and the transfer fee has already been paid! The renovations are almost finished! Isn't this a chance to make a fortune right in front of me, but I can't reach it? No way, I'll ask around again, give them more gifts, and I don't believe I can't get it done!"
Qin Hao, however, remained calm. He stopped the agitated Zhao Yajing, saying, "Don't waste your energy. In this kind of situation, unless there are clear instructions from above, the people in charge won't dare to open the door easily. They're afraid of taking responsibility. Unless you can find the district or even city leaders in charge of industry and commerce to give you direct instructions, simply offering gifts to the clerks won't work. They won't dare to accept them, nor will they dare to process them."
Seeing Qin Hao still looking unhurried, Zhao Yajing was both angry and anxious: "Then what do you suggest we do? Just wait like this? Wait for the higher-ups to suddenly issue a document saying 'private chain stores are allowed'? That would take forever! We're burning through money on rent every day!"
Qin Hao smiled and tapped his fingers lightly on the table: "Since the name 'chain operation' is not feasible for the time being, let's 'break it down into smaller parts' instead."
"Break down into smaller units?" Zhao Yajing blinked, completely confused. "What do you mean? You're not opening any more branches?"
“No, the stores will still operate.” Qin Hao explained, “Literally. Since the industry and commerce department thinks there are risks in ‘chaining,’ we won’t use the name ‘chain’ for now. When registering new stores, we won’t use the name ‘Burger King’ or the same business license entity. We can use different ID cards to register—yours or those of trusted relatives and friends. The store name can also be changed slightly; instead of ‘Burger King,’ it can be called ‘Burger King,’ ‘Fried Chicken King,’ ‘Delicious Burger House,’ or something like that. In this way, in the business registration, these are several completely independent individual businesses, operating independently and not subordinate to each other, so there’s no ‘chain’ involved, and the approval process will be much less resistant.”
He paused, then continued, "Moreover, this has another advantage: it can prevent some envious people from imitating us. When the policies become clear in the future and allow or even encourage chain operations, we can simply change the signs uniformly."
Zhao Yajing was stunned for a few seconds, her mind quickly processing Qin Hao's words.
"Oh my god! Lao Qin! How...how is your brain made?!" She was so excited that she was almost incoherent. She rushed over from across the table and gave Qin Hao a big, enthusiastic bear hug. "Amazing! So amazing! You can even come up with such a roundabout way! How come I didn't think of that! Your brain is just too good!"
Suddenly, a warm, soft body enveloped him, and Qin Hao could feel the heat and excitement emanating from Zhao Yajing. A slight smile played on his lips as he readily accepted the joyful and admiring embrace. "Hmm, this girl looks thin, but she's quite well-endowed..."
Unfortunately, Zhao Yajing quickly realized what was happening and let go. But instead of the usual girl's shyness, she puffed out her chest, looking at Qin Hao with a hint of provocation and mockery: "How about it? Not bad, right?"
Qin Hao looked her up and down and commented seriously, "Not bad. Just a little too thin."
Zhao Yajing was taken aback by his "serious" response. She paused for a moment, then snorted and spat, "Pah! You're getting the benefits and still acting innocent! Let's go, let's hurry to the Industry and Commerce Bureau!"
She grabbed her bag and rushed out. But as she reached the door, she subconsciously turned sideways, glanced quickly at her chest, and muttered almost inaudibly, "I'm not that skinny, am I? Could it be... he prefers someone a little chubby?"
Following Qin Hao's strategy of "breaking the whole into parts," things went much more smoothly. The new store was registered under the name of a distant cousin of Zhao Yajing, and the name was "Burger King."
The business license was approved quickly. The store's decoration style continued the bright, simple, and slightly "stylish" feel of the original store, with only minor adjustments to some decorative details and color schemes. An uninformed person might really think that this was another "knock-off" store opened out of envy of Burger King's good business.
However, these days, ordinary people care more about whether the food tastes good, is convenient, and is reasonably priced, and they don't care much about concepts like "authentic" or "chain".
After "Burger King" opened, it became a hit with the same high-quality products, fast service, and slightly different but still enticing aroma. Customers on Beijing Road, whether they were on business trips, running errands, or just strolling around, gradually got used to this fast, convenient, and novel "Western fast food".
Although the price is slightly higher than regular meals, it saves time and effort, and people can try something new every now and then. Overall, there is a constant stream of people willing to pay for it.
Of course, not everyone likes it. Some older customers, or those with more traditional tastes, might find fried chicken too oily, or that hamburgers aren't as substantial as rice or noodles, etc.
Qin Hao takes a relaxed view of this: "If they think it tastes bad, then it means they're not our target customers at all. Our target is young people, business people, and families who value efficiency, are willing to try new things, and have a certain level of spending power. It's impossible to please everyone; it's enough to focus on our core customer base."
Three months later, three fast food restaurants specializing in hamburgers and fried chicken—"Burger King," "Burger King," and "Fried Chicken King"—quietly appeared on Beijing Road and in the adjacent blocks.
Apart from Qin Hao, Zhao Yajing, and a few core employees, no one knew that the three thriving stores were actually owned by the same two people.
However, new problems arose. The foot traffic and spending power in and around Beijing Road were limited. After all three stores were operating stably, Qin Hao found that the daily turnover of a single store seemed to have hit a "ceiling," basically stabilizing at around three thousand yuan, and it was difficult to break through further.
This means that the market capacity in this region has been largely tapped in the short term.
Zhao Yajing also keenly noticed the problem. She took the account book to Qin Hao and said, "Old Qin, look, the turnover of these three stores has stopped increasing recently. Is this area almost saturated? Shouldn't we think of other solutions?"
Qin Hao nodded, put down the product cost details he was studying, and said seriously, "You're right. The bottleneck in single-store sales is the result of both regional market size and competition. It's time to expand to other regions."
"Expand to other areas?" Zhao Yajing's eyes lit up, then she hesitated. "Then...where should we expand to? Should we look for commercial streets like this again? Commercial streets in other parts of Guangzhou may not be as bustling as Beijing Road."
Qin Hao didn't answer directly, but instead asked, "Ya Jing, tell me, where in Guangzhou are the young people most concentrated? Where are the families with the greatest spending potential and the most receptive to new things?"
Zhao Yajing thought for a moment: "Young people are concentrated in...schools! University students, middle school students...family spending...families with children in school are generally more willing to spend money. The place with the most schools in Guangzhou...is Yuexiu District, of course! There are several universities and key middle schools there!"
“That’s right, Yuexiu District.” Qin Hao affirmed her idea: “We’ll open a shop near schools, especially around universities and key middle schools.”
Zhao Yajing was still somewhat hesitant: "But... our hamburgers and fried chicken aren't cheap. A hamburger costs three yuan, enough for a student to eat in the cafeteria for two or three days. Can those students afford it? Especially middle school students, they don't have much pocket money."
Qin Hao shook his head and patiently explained, "Whether students can afford to spend money or not cannot be judged solely by the amount of pocket money they have; it also depends on their families. There are quite a few wealthy people in Guangzhou, including families of government officials, overseas Chinese, and business people... These families don't skimp on their children's allowances. Moreover, the student group has its own unique characteristics."
He paused, then continued his analysis: "First, students, especially university students and high school students from well-off families, are the group most quick to accept new things and most willing to try them. 'Western fast food' has a natural appeal to them. Second, word-of-mouth among students is extremely effective. If one person in a dormitory or class thinks it's delicious, it can quickly influence a group of people. Third, and most importantly—"
Qin Hao's gaze deepened: "Opening stores near schools now isn't just about immediate profits; it's about 'cultivating' future consumers. Even if many children come from ordinary families and can't afford it right now, the sight of the brightly lit shops, the enticing aromas, and the conversations with their classmates will leave a lasting impression: 'Hamburgers and fried chicken' are good stuff, trendy and delicious. This impression will be planted in their hearts. When they grow up, start working, and earn their own money, that 'longing' planted in their childhood or adolescence will likely turn them into loyal customers. This is called 'early brand mindshare positioning.'"
Zhao Yajing was stunned. She stared at Qin Hao as if she were seeing him for the first time. "Old Qin...you...you've done an amazing business! You've even thought about things more than ten years from now? This...this vision is just too far-sighted!"
Qin Hao smiled and said, "This idea wasn't entirely my invention. International fast food giants like KFC and McDonald's focused on establishing a presence around schools and cultivating young consumers during their early development."
Zhao Yajing was full of admiration and nodded repeatedly: "I see! It seems that I also need to read more books and see more of the outside world to broaden my horizons! I can't just bury myself in work."
She then thought of something else: "However, what you said earlier is also true; there are definitely still many students who don't have enough money. Could we offer some more affordable set meals at stores near schools? Or smaller, cheaper individual items?"
“That’s right!” Qin Hao gave her an approving look: “We can design ‘student combos,’ such as a small hamburger with a small bag of fries, or two chicken wings with a small Coke, and sell them as a set. The price will be cheaper than ordering them individually. We can also launch ‘sharing packs’ so that several students can pool their money to buy together. This will lower the threshold for a single purchase and increase sales and popularity.”
"Great! Let's do it this way!" Zhao Yajing clapped her hands excitedly. Now she didn't want to use her brain at all, because she found that no matter what question she raised, Qin Hao seemed to have already considered the previous steps, and thought about it more deeply, more comprehensively, and more far ahead than she had.
All she had to do was carry out the instructions. This feeling of being "carried along" made her feel a little "clumsy" at times, but more than that, she felt reassured and admired the instructor.
……
Busy and fulfilling days always fly by. Under Qin Hao's overall planning and Zhao Yajing's full execution, the strategy of "breaking down the whole into parts" was used to perfection. Using different names and slightly modified store names, they successively opened new stores in several major commercial districts, university towns, and around key middle schools in Guangzhou.
Before each new store opens, Qin Hao personally participates in site selection and evaluation, and rigorously trains new employees to ensure that service standards and product quality remain consistent. Zhao Yajing, on the other hand, has established a more stable and efficient raw material procurement and distribution system to support the operation of multiple stores.
Before we knew it, the year was drawing to a close again. While the north was covered in ice and snow, the trees on the streets of Guangzhou remained lush and green, though the mornings and evenings were a bit chilly.
After reviewing the year's total accounts, even Zhao Yajing, who was used to seeing a steady stream of income, couldn't help but gasp in surprise.
Over the past year, starting with Burger King, they successfully opened and operated eight branches in Guangzhou using a "divide and conquer" approach. Although the daily revenue of each individual store is affected by the region and market size and is not as high as the peak of the main store, the total daily revenue of the eight stores combined is still an astonishing figure.
At the end of the year, after deducting all raw material costs, rent, labor, taxes, and other miscellaneous expenses, the books showed a net profit of 480,000 yuan! A full 480,000 yuan in cash!
According to the originally agreed 60/40 split, Zhao Yajing would receive 192000, while Qin Hao would receive 288000.
It's worth noting that just a year ago, when Qin Hao traveled south from Beijing to Guangzhou, he only had 153.86 yuan given to him by his mother.
In just one year, his wealth grew from a little over one hundred yuan to 320,000 yuan. In 1980, this was an absolutely astonishing and terrifying figure. Households with 10,000 yuan were already extremely rare, and Qin Hao was nearly thirty such households!
After the dividends were deposited into their respective bank accounts, Zhao Yajing dressed in a brand-new, fashionable winter outfit: a beige wool coat, black straight-leg pants, and calfskin boots. She wore a brightly colored silk scarf around her neck and a pair of trendy brown aviator sunglasses on her nose, which made her neat short hair and delicate face even more striking. In terms of temperament and style, she was in no way inferior to those stars who stepped out of Hong Kong magazines.
She jingled her car keys and walked into the office behind the Burger King flagship store. Qin Hao had just finished distributing year-end bonuses and holiday benefits to the employees of each store and was sitting down to drink water.
"Old Qin, want to come back to Beijing for the New Year together?" Zhao Yajing took off her sunglasses and leaned against the door frame to ask.
Qin Hao took a sip of water and nodded: "Okay, it's time to go back and take a look. But at this time of year, train tickets are probably hard to buy, right?"
"Hey! Why take the train!" Zhao Yajing waved her car keys with a hint of smugness. "I had someone buy me a car the other day. Let's drive back together! It'll be so much more comfortable!"
Upon hearing this, Qin Hao immediately shook his head: "Driving from Guangzhou back to Beijing? More than two thousand kilometers! There are no highways, only national and provincial roads, the road conditions are complicated, the weather is cold, and there might even be snow on the road. By the time we get there, the New Year will probably be over, and all that will be left is to see the Lantern Festival."
"Huh? It will take that long?" Zhao Yajing had clearly underestimated the difficulty of a long-distance road trip. She bought the car more because she thought it would be convenient and prestigious to have a car for doing business in Guangzhou, and she didn't really intend to drive it back to Beijing.
"What should I do?"
Qin Hao thought for a moment: "How about we try to find some connections and see if we can buy plane tickets? Flying back is faster, although it's more expensive, but we can afford it now. Anyway, I'm really tired of taking the train, and I don't want to suffer through that again."
Zhao Yajing's eyes lit up: "Airplane tickets? Oh right! I heard there are flights from Beijing to Guangzhou now! Okay, I'll call and see if I can get a ticket!"
She's a woman of action; as soon as she finished speaking, she rushed out to find a phone.
A little while later, Zhao Yajing ran back excitedly, a smile on her face: "It's all sorted out! I asked a friend who works in trade, and he knows people in the civil aviation industry. He managed to get me two tickets to Beijing for the day after tomorrow! But they're not cheap; one ticket is equivalent to two or three months' salary for an average person!"
"Money is not a problem, as long as we can go back." Qin Hao was also very happy.
“That’s perfect! Come on! Come with me to buy New Year’s goods! It’s not easy to go back home, so I should bring back some good things from Guangzhou for the neighbors and my mom!” Zhao Yajing grabbed Qin Hao’s arm and started walking out without saying another word.
"Don't buy too much. There are baggage weight limits on airplanes, and exceeding the limit will cause trouble," Qin Hao reminded him.
"Okay, okay!" Zhao Yajing readily agreed.
But when they arrived at the department store and Friendship Store, Zhao Yajing's shopping spree was completely unexpected. Cantonese sausages, chicken biscuits, wife cakes, various herbal tea ingredients, trendy polyester fabrics, brightly colored wool scarves, digital watches, calculators... filled two brand-new large suitcases.
Qin Hao also bought some gifts for his mother and friends. Sure enough, when they arrived at the airport to check in their luggage, both suitcases were overweight. In the end, Zhao Yajing used her connections again and paid extra to get them checked in smoothly.
The massive Soviet-made Il-62 passenger plane roared into the blue sky, leaving the warm and humid Lingnan land below. Outside the window stretched a sea of clouds. Zhao Yajing seemed quite excited; this was her first time on an airplane.
Qin Hao, on the other hand, was much calmer, closing his eyes to rest.
……
The plane landed at the Capital Airport. Stepping out of the cabin, a biting north wind, carrying fine snowflakes, hit them in the face, a stark contrast to the warm weather in Guangzhou. The two men wrapped their coats tighter, hailed a taxi, and headed straight into the city.
When the taxi stopped at the entrance of Jiudaowan Hutong, it was nearly dusk. The hutong was covered in snow, a pristine white landscape, with wisps of smoke rising from chimneys, exuding a tranquil and familiar atmosphere of the approaching year.
Qin Hao and Zhao Yajing carried large and small bags, trudging through the snow as they walked in. After a few steps, they saw a familiar, tall figure, wearing a bulky blue cotton-padded coat and a cotton hat, walking with his head down from the direction of the pickle factory at the other end of the alley, looking like he had just finished get off work.
Yang Shumo also saw a man and a woman walking towards them from the opposite direction. The man was tall and well-proportioned, wearing a well-tailored dark gray woolen overcoat, a wool scarf, and carrying a stylish suitcase. The woman wore a beige coat, a bright silk scarf, and sunglasses; her short hair was neat, and she was dressed like a movie star. Their outfits stood out conspicuously in the drab alley. Yang Shumo felt that the man's profile looked somewhat familiar, but he couldn't quite place it and couldn't help but stare at him for a few more moments.
The other person stopped, took off their sunglasses, and called out with a smile, "Da Mao."
Yang Shumo was startled and asked tentatively, with a hint of surprise and uncertainty, "Old...Old Qin?"
Qin Hao laughed and scolded, "I've only been gone for less than a year, and you can't even recognize me?"
"You have the nerve to say that!" Yang Shumo finally believed it and excitedly strode over, the snow crunching under his feet. "Dressed like that and wearing this thing, who would recognize you! If you don't believe me, go home and show it to your mother. I bet she'll be stunned for a long time before she'll recognize you!"
As he spoke, he pounced over and gave Qin Hao a tight bear hug, patting his back forcefully.
Qin Hao chuckled and patted the snow off Yang Shumao's shoulder: "Alright, alright, let go, you're choking me. How was your year? How did your studies go? Did you get into university?"
Yang Shumo released his grip, a familiar,憨笑 (a simple, honest smile) appearing on his face, but tinged with bitterness and helplessness: "Hey, don't even mention it. My parents... absolutely refused to let me take the college entrance exam. They said that since I've returned to the city, I should hurry up and go to the factory to earn money to support the family. So... I could only lie to them and say that I was attending night school at the factory to learn a skill, secretly studying for the exam. As a result, this year I didn't manage my time well and missed the registration deadline... I can only wait until next year."
He sighed, then turned his gaze to Zhao Yajing, who was smiling at them from beside Qin Hao, and asked in confusion, "By the way, Lao Qin, who is this...?"
Qin Hao and Zhao Yajing exchanged a glance and both revealed a playful smile: "Guess."
Zhao Yajing also deliberately straightened her back, raised her chin, and snorted.
Yang Shumo stared at Zhao Yajing for a long time, his brows furrowed, looking completely bewildered. Before him stood a capable, fashionable, and beautiful woman.
"I...I really can't guess."
"You silly Mao!" Zhao Yajing said, feigning anger. "You didn't even recognize me! I brought you a gift from so far away!"
When Yang Shumo heard the other person call him by his nickname in a familiar tone, he was even more confused. They must know each other, but who was it?
Qin Hao laughed and came to his rescue: "Alright, Ya Jing, don't make things difficult for him. If you keep making him guess, the three of us will have to stand here in the freezing cold until the New Year. Just tell him directly."
Zhao Yajing then took off her sunglasses and glared at Yang Shumao: "Zhao Yajing! We were classmates in elementary school! The one who sat behind you, have you forgotten?"
“Zhao…Zhao Yajing?!” Yang Shumo was completely dumbfounded, his mouth agape. He looked Zhao Yajing up and down, unable to reconcile the image of the snotty-nosed girl in his memory with the bright, cheerful, and stylish beauty in front of him.
"Ya Jing...you...you've changed so much!" Yang Shumo finally managed to stammer out, "I really didn't dare to recognize you! Don't even mention me, if you hadn't said anything, I bet no one in this Jiudaowan Hutong, except your mother, would have recognized you at a glance!"
Zhao Yajing smugly curled her lip: "That's you! How come Lao Qin recognized me at a glance in Guangzhou?"
Qin Hao laughed and said, "Actually, I only recognized her after I went to her shop, listened to her talk, and looked at her carefully. I wouldn't have recognized her if I had bumped into her on the street."
Yang Shumo finally recovered from his shock, then suddenly remembered something and slapped his forehead: "Oh right, Lao Qin! I heard from your mother that you went to Guangzhou to do business? How's it going there? Your outfit... looks like you've struck it rich!" He looked Qin Hao up and down at his fine coat and leather shoes.
Before Qin Hao could answer, Zhao Yajing stamped her feet and rubbed her hands, complaining, "Hey gentlemen, can't we find a warmer place to catch up? It's freezing cold here, my feet are practically frozen!"
Qin Hao joked, "This is nothing! It's only seven or eight degrees below zero. You grew up in Beijing, and you can't even handle this?"
“I went to Guangzhou with my dad when I was very young!” Zhao Yajing snorted and glanced at Qin Hao sideways: “The coldest it gets there in winter is only around ten degrees Celsius, unlike here, where the wind is like a knife.”
Yang Shumo quickly added, "Yes, yes, let's not stand here. There's a new restaurant that just opened at the intersection ahead. It has a stove and it's warm. Let's go sit there and have a seat. It's on me! I can also hear your stories from the south!"
The three of them chatted and laughed as they turned to leave. Just then, a fat man wrapped in a military overcoat sneaked out from behind a courtyard gate, his face plastered with a fawning smile, but his eyes were darting around Zhao Yajing.
"Hey! Silly Mao! Where are you going?" The fat man came up to him; it was Niu Tinggui.
Upon seeing him, Yang Shumo frowned and said coldly, "Niu Tinggui, what are you doing following us?"
Niu Tinggui seemed oblivious to the impatience in Yang Shumao's tone, his lecherous gaze fixed on Zhao Yajing's face and body: "This lady... looks familiar? Oh my! Isn't this... Zhao Yajing?! Zhao Yajing! Don't you recognize me? Niu Tinggui! We were elementary school classmates! You've come back from Guangzhou? Oh my, you've really grown up so much, becoming more and more beautiful! I almost didn't recognize you!"
Zhao Yajing didn't have a good impression of Niu Tinggui; she'd been bullied by him a lot when they were kids. She said irritably, "Oh, Niu Tinggui. I remember now, he was the one who always pulled my braids and stuffed caterpillars into my schoolbag when we were little. What are you doing here?"
“Me? I work in this factory! The same factory as Sha Mao, the pickle factory!” Niu Tinggui puffed out his chest, seemingly feeling that working in a state-owned factory was a glorious thing, especially in front of his “glamorous” old classmate.
"Where are you guys going? Take me with you! It's been so many years since we last met, let's have a good chat!"
Qin Hao had long since grown tired of wasting words with such a backstabbing, opportunistic scoundrel, and felt a surge of annoyance. He stepped forward, lightly shoving Niu Tinggui aside, and said coldly, "A good dog doesn't block the way. Get out of the way, I don't have time for you."
Niu Tinggui stumbled from the shove, feeling somewhat embarrassed, but seeing Qin Hao's imposing attire and icy gaze, he was also a little intimidated. He forced a smile: "Hey, Lao Qin, look at you... why are you still angry? It's just that little misunderstanding from back when we were sent to the countryside! It's been so long. If it really doesn't work... I'll kowtow to you? To apologize?"
Qin Hao crossed his arms and looked at him with a half-smile: "Fine. You kowtow once, and I'll consider forgiving you."
“You…” Niu Tinggui’s smile froze. Being ridiculed like this in front of Zhao Yajing was too much for him to bear. “Old Qin, you’re really getting cocky, aren’t you? You’ve only made a little money, why are you dressing like a pro? What’s with all the swagger?”
Qin Hao's face darkened. He took a half-step forward, closing in on Niu Tinggui. His eyes were sharp as knives. He lowered his voice and said, word by word, "Get cocky? Let me tell you, Niu Tinggui, if it weren't for the upcoming New Year, and me thinking beating you would bring bad luck, I would have killed you long ago! Don't get in my way! If you dare follow me again, I'll break your legs! Don't believe me? Try me!"
Niu Tinggui instinctively took two steps back, his lips trembling. He wanted to utter a harsh word, but ultimately didn't dare to. He could only spit out a resentful spit and mutter under his breath, "What's so great about him!"
He turned around and slunk back into the neighboring yard.
Qin Hao then turned his gaze away and said to Yang Shumo and Zhao Yajing, "Let's go, ignore this guy."
Zhao Yajing looked at Niu Tinggui's disheveled figure and sneered, "Still the same old Niu, bullying the weak and fearing the strong."
The three turned around and walked through the snow toward the warmly lit restaurant at the entrance of the alley.