sjar Chapter 637 Little Jew: This burden is too heavy!
Chapter 637 Little Jew: This burden is too heavy!
Around noon, the warm yellow lights illuminated the wooden tables and chairs in the tea restaurant downstairs from the office building, creating a lively and inviting atmosphere.
Fang Zhanbo and Xiao Youyi sat by the window. Two simple meals were laid out on the table—char siu rice with soup of the day, and a dish of garlic-flavored bok choy specially ordered for Xiao Youyi. Fang Zhanbo deliberately pushed the bok choy towards her, his tone humble yet tactful, fully considerate of her status.
"Little Jew, try this. This place makes really authentic garlic lettuce. You'll like it."
Outside the window, the bustling crowds of Causeway Bay mingled with the sounds of car horns and the clinking of bowls and chopsticks inside the restaurant, creating a vibrant atmosphere and adding a touch of relaxation to this deliberately slowed-down lunchtime.
The young Jewish man paused, his hand holding the chopsticks still, and whispered his thanks:
"I didn't expect you to still remember my tastes."
She lowered her head and picked up a piece of green vegetable with her chopsticks, but her gaze unconsciously drifted to her phone screen, which displayed the detailed renovation budget she had compiled that morning. She lightly tapped the screen with her fingertips, muttering to herself:
"The renovation budget can be reduced a bit more. For example, for wall decoration, we can use environmentally friendly latex paint instead of wallpaper, which can save 30% of the material cost, meet fire safety requirements, and avoid frequent maintenance later."
Seeing her so focused, Fang Zhanbo's eyes softened with a gentle smile, but he deliberately slowed his tone and spoke with appropriate respect:
“Little Jew, put down your work when you eat. Your health is the most important thing. Don’t rush the budget issue. We’ll refine it slowly. We need to save costs while ensuring the quality of the renovation. We absolutely cannot lower the standards to save money, lest we fail Brother Xuan’s trust.”
He paused, his tone becoming increasingly sincere, "To be honest, your sensitivity to numbers is our team's greatest strength. With you personally overseeing the finances, I feel much more confident. Once the Causeway Bay business expansion is complete, I'm thinking of proposing to Brother Xuan that we integrate the financial accounting of all of Hung Hing's businesses, with you taking the lead. What do you think?"
The little Jewish boy suddenly looked up, his eyes filled with surprise, then overwhelmed with joy, yet still retaining a touch of shyness and humility.
"I...can I do it? This is too much of a burden. I'm afraid I lack the experience and might delay Brother Xuan's plans."
“You’re the boss’s wife, don’t be so modest.” Fang Zhanbo quickly waved his hand, his tone respectful yet firm. “You’re not only good with numbers, but you’re also exceptionally reliable and meticulous in your work. This sense of responsibility is perfect for you. Besides, this is Brother Xuan’s business, so it’s only right for you, as the boss’s wife, to take the lead in managing the finances. I will arrange for the most professional legal team and financial experts to assist you in sorting out the financial structure of each business and gradually promoting integration. I will never let you fight this battle alone.”
The little Jewish boy nodded vigorously, a bright smile spreading across his face, his eyes filled with the warmth of being recognized and anticipation for the future.
"Okay, I will definitely do my best to live up to Brother Xuan's trust and your recommendation." She ate the meal with extra relish, not only because the taste was right, but also because the sense of belonging from being respected and entrusted with tasks gave her confidence for the work ahead.
In the afternoon, Jimmy and Daisy went to the shopping district in Causeway Bay. The street was lined with shops, hardware stores, grocery stores and small restaurants, and the atmosphere was lively.
The two visited each of the merchants who were reluctant to renegotiate their contracts. The first one was a hardware store that had been open for five years. The owner, Uncle Li, was a middle-aged man in his fifties. When Jimmy and Daisy entered, his face immediately showed some resistance. He still had the wrench in his hand heavily on the shelf, and his tone was wary.
“I’ve been running this shop here for five years, and it’s always been a verbal agreement. We’ve been working well together. Now suddenly we have to sign a new contract, and I don’t even know if the rent will go up. I don’t want to go through all that trouble, and I can’t afford to.”
Jimmy walked over with a smile, pulled up a chair and sat down, his tone sincere and friendly:
"Uncle Li, please don't overthink it. We're here today not to raise the rent, but to ensure everyone's business is more compliant and secure. Previous verbal agreements are not legally protected, and any future rent disputes or venue issues would be detrimental to both of us. Moreover, our rent standards are based entirely on the market prices of surrounding shops, and we will never arbitrarily raise them by a single penny. If you are willing to cooperate long-term, we can even offer you a three-month rent reduction, which is a significant benefit for you."
Daisy promptly handed over the printed lease agreement template and rent calculation sheet, adding in a gentle tone:
"Uncle Li, you can take a close look. Every clause in the contract is clearly written, including the rent amount, lease term, the rights and obligations of both parties, and liability for breach of contract. There are no hidden clauses. This calculation sheet compares the rent of ten similar hardware stores in the area, and the price we're offering you is five percent lower than the market price. Moreover, after you go through the compliance process, we will renovate the neighborhood environment, strengthen security patrols, and attract more customers. Your business will only get better and better."
Uncle Li took the contract template and calculation sheet, put on his reading glasses, and carefully examined them. His fingers repeatedly rubbed the rent amount, and he lowered his head to think for a moment. The resistance on his face gradually dissipated, and his tone softened considerably.
"So you weren't going to raise the rent, and you can even reduce it for me, which puts my mind at ease. Actually, it's not that I didn't want to sign, it's just that I was afraid of being ripped off. After all, running a small business isn't easy, and my whole family depends on this shop to make a living."
“Uncle Li, don’t worry.” Jimmy said with a smile, his tone firm. “In Hung Hing, we value integrity and win-win cooperation the most. Brother Xuan also specifically instructed us to take care of the interests of all the old merchants. From now on, we will manage the operation of the block in a unified manner. We will not only improve the environment, but also promote and attract customers in a unified way, so that everyone can make money and operate with peace of mind.”
Uncle Li nodded, a relieved smile appearing on his face:
"Okay, then I'll sign it. With your words and this clear contract, I'm completely at ease." With that, he picked up the pen, solemnly signed his name on the contract, and pressed his fingerprint on it.
The next few merchants also successfully signed new lease agreements thanks to Jimmy and Daisy's patient communication and sincerity. When some merchants raised questions, the two answered them meticulously, explaining the benefits of compliance and the details of the contract terms clearly. The long-standing issue of shop compliance was finally resolved satisfactorily.
Meanwhile, Cola was checking documents in a temporary office in the logistics park when his phone suddenly rang. It was a call from a staff member of the Planning Department.
He quickly walked to a secluded spot to answer the call, his face gradually lighting up with joy. After hanging up, he immediately dialed Jimmy's number, his voice filled with excitement as he said:
"Jimmy, good news! The Planning Department said that the acceptance process for the logistics park project has been arranged, and the official on-site inspection will be held next Wednesday. All the preliminary documents have been approved!"
Jimmy and Daisy on the other end of the phone both breathed a sigh of relief, their faces showing relieved smiles.
The compliance process has progressed to its current stage, undergoing countless refinements, and is finally nearing completion. Hung Hing's businesses are about to completely leave the gray area and embark on the road to legitimate operations.
In the evening, Fang Zhanbo and Xiao Youyi also completed the financial review of the Causeway Bay shop expansion project.
Xiao Youzi neatly placed the compiled budget details and fund allocation plan in front of Fang Zhanbo. The documents were categorized in an orderly manner, and the data was clearly labeled, making it easy to understand at a glance.
"Zhanbo, this is the final budget breakdown. The renovation, rent, brand entry deposit, and labor costs are all listed separately. The allocation of funds has also been planned, and 10% of the funds have been reserved as working capital to deal with emergencies. In addition, I have also calculated the return on investment for the project. Based on the current customer flow forecast, we can break even in six months. As more brands move in and customer flow increases, the revenue will steadily increase."
Fang Zhanbo carefully looked through it, nodded in satisfaction, and said:
“Little Jew, you’ve done an excellent job, considering every single detail. Tomorrow I’ll organize a project meeting to announce the progress plan and start the shop expansion work as soon as possible. Once this project is completed, the commercial landscape of Causeway Bay will be further consolidated, and we can also deliver a satisfactory result to Brother Xuan.”
As the sun sets, its golden rays fall upon the glass curtain wall of the office building, refracting a dazzling light.
Fang Zhanbo stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, looking down at the bustling Causeway Bay district, his eyes filled with longing.
Xiao You sat at his desk, tidying up the documents on it, a contented smile on his face.
Cola, Jimmy, and Daisy also finished their day's work and each methodically arranged the subsequent compliance acceptance and project progress.
Hung Hing's business empire is being consolidated and expanded step by step through their meticulous management and tacit cooperation.