Chapter 669: Opening a supermarket in partnership, seven years later
On the rest day, Zhou Chen accepted Mao Tu’s invitation and had dinner together in the hotel.
During the dinner, the two talked about some of their recent interesting stories. After drinking for a while, Mao Tutu revealed the real purpose of inviting Zhou Chen.
"Zhou Chen, you may not know yet, but Yang Huajian has already gone overseas and opened his own company."
"Oh, is it so?"
Zhou Chen was both surprised and not surprised.
He was surprised because Yang Huajian had already opened a company, but he didn't know it yet.
He is not surprised because he has known Yang Huajian for a long time. He is not the kind of person who can sit in the office all the time and work hard for his career. Yang Huajian is a man who has a good face, good scenery, and loves to show off.
The job within the system does not allow him to swing as much as he wants. The higher the position, the more scrupulous he is and the more he has to keep a low profile.
Therefore, Yang Huajian's entry into the sea is almost a certainty, it's just a matter of time.
Mao Tutu was surprised: "Looking at you, you don't seem to be very surprised. Aren't you curious about what kind of company Yang Huajian has opened?"
"What else could it be, import and export trade? He is familiar with this business."
Zhou Chen casually said that Yang Huajian had collaborated with Han Chunming on several import and export trades before, and had developed a lot of contacts.
When he went overseas to start a company, he definitely wanted to make a splash and make money, so he naturally chose the path he was most familiar with.
Mao Tutu gave a thumbs up: "As expected of you, you guessed it right, it is a trading company. To be honest, after I found out, I still wanted to cooperate with him, but this guy has no such intention at all."
Friends are friends and business partners are business partners.
Yang Huajian has already figured out the way and is familiar with the process. In addition, he also has money, so how can he still be willing to give up the opportunity to make money to others.
Even Han Chunming, who was a partner before, did not invest in the company, so how could Mao Tutu be allowed to invest in it?
Zhou Chen said: "Isn't this normal? He has people, connections, and no shortage of money for the time being. He can do it all by himself, so why do he need others to buy shares?"
"You saw Yang Huajian going into the sea and started to feel excited, right?"
He kept wondering what Mao Tutu wanted to do. Mao Tutu wanted to go to sea before, but he was forced by his family to go to work. After a few years, he became stable.
But now that I see that Zhou Chen's small commodity chain store is getting better and better, and that Yang Huajian has officially entered the market, I suddenly feel a little anxious.
"Zhou Chen, we two know each other well. You promised me back then that if I went to sea, I could cooperate with you. Does this still count?"
Before graduating from college, Zhou Chen had talked with Mao Tutu and Yang Huajian. At that time, Mao Tutu also said that he wanted to start a business partnership with Zhou Chen, but later due to pressure from his family, nothing happened.
At that time, Zhou Chen also thought that he would not have to work hard to make money, but could gain benefits by investing in Han Chunming, Yang Huajian, Mao Tutu and others.
However, over the past few years, he has not implemented this approach, and he has never cooperated with Han Chunming.
Because he felt that his original idea was too unrealistic. Whether it was Han Chunming or Yang Huajian, they all had their own opinions. Although they were good friends, in the business world, interests were still the priority in many things.
It's not something he can control.
He had long figured out that instead of investing in them, it would be better to invest in his own sister.
At least his sister is really good for him. As Lord Voldemort, Zhou Yi will definitely stand by his side no matter what.
That's why he has helped Zhou Yi open several stores in recent years, and also provided a small share of the equity.
Although many people think that it is difficult for a family business to grow, they have to admit that in most cases, family members are more trustworthy than outsiders.
"I always keep my word, but do you really want to go to sea? Can you handle it with your old man? I don't want your old man to come to your door just because I cooperate with you."
Mao Tutu rolled his eyes and said, "You don't want to drink or pick up the pot. I'm married now, and my son will be born soon. I'm the head of the family, the head of the family, do you understand?"
"Okay, just treat yourself as the head of the family."
Zhou Chen understood who Mao Tu was. Mao Tu was definitely capable, but his personality was not as decisive as Han Chunming's, and his connections and tact were not as wide as those of Yang Huajian.
However, Zhou Chen, who had worked with Mao Tutu on the supply and marketing cooperative business, knew that Mao Tutu had many advantages. He could listen to what others said and would not become dictatorial.
In layman's terms, from his perspective, Mao Tu belongs to the type who can share wealth and adversity, and he is also a very good executor.
Yang Huajian and Han Chunming are both too opinionated. No matter what they do, they want to control it by themselves, so Zhou Chen is reluctant to partner with them because he is also an opinionated person. Once he decides something, others will be very upset.
It's hard for him to compromise.
Mao Tutu could listen to his words, so Zhou Chen was willing to cooperate with him.
"Since you already want to go to sea, you must have your own ideas. Tell me, which career do you want to do?"
Mao Tu said: "I have a few ideas. What do you think of real estate?"
"Real estate, yes, you have a vision."
Zhou Chen was a little surprised. In fact, at this period, domestic real estate had not yet become a big hit, and there were not many real estate companies. Mao Tutu could see that the real estate industry was making progress, which showed that he was quite visionary.
"But real estate companies are not that easy to deal with, especially in this day and age. If you want to get land, you need to have quite a lot of connections."
Mao Tu asked: "Then which industry do you think we should be in?"
"supermarket."
"Supermarket? What is that?"
Mao Tutu looked confused. In China, food stamps and other coupons have not completely disappeared, and there are very few supermarkets.
Zhou Chen explained: "A supermarket is a supermarket. In fact, there are already supermarkets in our country, but they are not called supermarkets now, but are called self-selected shopping malls."
"Supermarkets generally sell mainly food and daily necessities. Their main characteristics are small profits but quick turnover. There are basically no salespersons selling mid- to low-end goods. The goods are packaged in small packages with weight, specifications and prices marked. There are trolleys or baskets for customers.
Choose your own products; settle and pay once you go out.”
"Isn't this just a shopping mall? I see there are many such shopping malls now, and the business seems to be just like that. Can we make a lot of money doing this?"
Mao Tutu also has a small amount of assets and often visits shopping malls, so he feels that there is absolutely no future in this industry like real estate.
Zhou Chen said: "You think too simply. No industry can guarantee you will make a lot of money, but no matter which industry you are in, as long as you can become bigger and stronger, you will definitely make a lot of money."
Mao Tutu had a look of disdain on his face: "Brother, I am not a young man who has just emerged from society. Can you tell me something truthful? Just tell me whether this supermarket you are talking about can make a lot of money."
"vulgar."
Zhou Chen was very speechless, this guy didn't play according to the routine.
"The reason why I say supermarket, not real estate, is not that real estate is not as good as supermarkets. It is because I am now a small commodity chain store. Supermarkets still have something in common with my small commodity store. We can get on the right track faster; and if
If you do real estate, everything has to start from scratch.”
"The most important thing is that the supermarket is a retail enterprise. Customers who come to the door will not have to default on their loans, which is conducive to the withdrawal of funds, and..."
Ten minutes later, Mao Tutu was moved by what Zhou Chen said.
"Okay, then I'll do as you say. You have experience in this area, so I'll listen to you."
"Since you have no objection, we will take action soon."
So the next day, the two started taking action.
…………
In a gorgeously decorated villa, a woman was chasing a little boy, and there was a dirty child sitting on the ground next to her.
"Stop, Zhou Xuanyu, I told you to stop, do you hear me?"
"I don't. If I stop, you will beat me to death."
"If you don't stop, I will beat you to death."
After hearing this, the little boy ran even happier, running around the hall on the first floor. His nimble steps made it impossible for the woman to catch up.
At this moment, the door of the villa was suddenly opened.
Zhou Chen walked in the door and looked confused when he saw the scene of you chasing me.
"What's going on here?"
Han Chunyan stopped, still holding the broom in her hand, panting: "You, ask your son."
Zhou Chen looked at his son Zhou Xuanyu, and when he glanced over, Zhou Xuanyu was immediately startled.
"Dad, I didn't mean it."
Zhou Chen saw white powder on Zhou Xuanyu's head, face and clothes, and white powder on the floor at home.
"Did you spill your brother's milk powder?"
Zhou Xuanyu answered carefully: "I didn't mean it. I was trying to mix milk for my brother, but I accidentally tipped it over. Then my brother made trouble and scattered the milk everywhere. I even made him fall down."
Han Chunyan said angrily: "This stinky boy spilled a whole can of milk powder everywhere in the house, and even broke his brother's head. I said a few words to him, but he still didn't admit his mistake. He insists today."
Teach him a lesson, otherwise he will go to heaven."
When Zhou Xuanyu just faced his mother, he dared to run away and play, but now when he faced his father, he stood there and did not dare to run at all. When he heard his mother's complaint, his face showed even more fear.
Zhou Chen's face darkened, he walked to the sofa and sat down, waving to Zhou Xuanyu: "Come here."
Zhou Xuanyu didn't dare not listen, and walked nervously to Zhou Chen: "Dad."
Zhou Chen said: "It's okay to do something wrong, but you have to know your mistakes and you can correct them, but why do you want to talk back to your mother?"
"I'm afraid of being beaten by my mother."
"This is not an excuse. As a man, you have to admit it when you do it, and you have to admit it when you are wrong, but it is wrong to talk back to your mother."
"I know, I'm sorry, Dad."
Zhou Xuanyu bowed his head and apologized. In this family, what he fears most is his father. Although his father basically doesn't beat him, he is still afraid. He dares to talk back to his mother, but as soon as his father's eyes change, he will give up.
"Instead of apologizing to me, go apologize to mom."
After hearing this, Zhou Xuanyu walked towards Han Chunyan aggrievedly and began to apologize.
Although Han Chunyan was very angry, it had subsided a lot at this time. After hearing her son's apology, she was no longer angry and took the nanny to clean up the matter together.
Zhou Xuanyu is eight years old this year and has started to go to elementary school. However, he has been pampered by many people since he was a child, so his personality is a bit arrogant, but fortunately it is not serious and Zhou Chen can handle it easily.
It's just that Han Chunyan can't control Zhou Xuanyu, mainly because she is doting on her and has been reluctant to beat or scold her since she was a child, so Zhou Xuanyu is not afraid of her.
In the evening, Han Chunyan coaxed her two children, and she and Zhou Chen leaned on the bedside to talk.
"Chunyan, Xiaoyu, don't spoil this kid anymore. You have to train him when it's time to train him."
Although Han Chunyan was very energetic today, Zhou Chen knew that she had never thought about fighting. Otherwise, how could Han Chunyan, an adult, not be able to catch up with an eight-year-old child.
"In the past, when he was still young, he could be spoiled a little bit, but now that he has gone to school and is sensible, he cannot be spoiled as before, otherwise he will form a habit, and it will not be so easy to control him in the future.
."
Zhou Chen does not object to his family pampering his children, but even if he does, he must look at the situation and do it in the right way, and he cannot spoil his children.
Han Chunyan said: "Xiaoyu is pretty good, look at my eldest sister's kid, he dares to fight with his father."
Zhou Chen covered his forehead: "Can you compete with good people? Why do you have to compete with such a bastard?"
"No, I am just making an analogy. You are a university professor and you know more than me. I will listen to you."
In fact, Han Chunyan is quite satisfied with her son. Although he is a little naughty, he is really smart and is better than the children of his three brothers and sisters.
"I put one million on your card. Didn't you say last time that you wanted to buy some new furniture for your mother? Just use this money."
When Han Chunyan heard this, she was immediately shocked: "Why did you save so much money for me? Don't you need to keep your money? Last time I heard that you were going to open a branch in Shanghai?"
"That's the company's account. The money I gave you is my personal money, not a concept. As for going to Magic City, I will only stay for a while, and Mao Tu will mainly open up the market."
In the past few years, Chenxing Supermarket has developed very well. It has three stores in Yanjing, each of which is a large supermarket with an area of more than 5,000 square meters. There are even two stores in Magic City that are under renovation.
Although the area of a 5,000-square-meter supermarket is much smaller than that of later large supermarkets that often exceeded 10,000 square meters, it was already considered huge in this era.
Zhou Chen holds 60% of the shares of Chenxing Supermarket, and the remaining 40% belongs to Mao Tutu. Zhou Chen is the chairman. He only cares about the general direction and does not usually participate in management. Mao Tutu is the general manager.
, all management of the supermarket is under his control.
The two have been working together for seven years and can be considered very close. Only occasionally they have some disagreements, but they basically develop in the direction specified by Zhou Chen.
At the beginning, Mao Tutu might have felt that he was not much inferior to Zhou Chen, but as Chenxing Supermarket became more and more prosperous, he began to admire Zhou Chen more and more.
This is what Mao Mao is good at: he can recognize his own shortcomings and will not be jealous or dissatisfied.
He is very clear-headed and knows that his current assets and status are entirely due to Zhou Chen. Zhou Chen should take more than 70% of the credit for the success of Chenxing Group.
Maybe he is confident that he can succeed on his own, but he will never be as successful as he is now. In just 1992, he was already worth over ten million, a completely successful person and a business elite.
"Zhou Chen, I also want to buy a mobile phone for my mother. Xiaowuzi is not at home all day long. My mother is old and is alone at home. I really can't worry about it. I can buy her a mobile phone. I can give it to her if anything happens.
Call up."
This year, compact mobile phones have been put on the market and gradually began to replace brick-like mobile phones.
But even in a capital like Yanjing, there are very few people who can use mobile phones now, because mobile phones are really expensive now, and the communication fees are also very scary. Ordinary people would rather use public phones than mobile phones.
.
"Of course there is no problem, but after buying a mobile phone, you may have to teach for a long time. Don't regret it then."
At this time, Han's mother was almost seventy years old. She was originally uneducated. It was definitely not easy for her to learn to use a mobile phone.
In the eyes of young people, there are only a few buttons, but for older people with more stubborn ideas, many people cannot learn even if there are only a few buttons.
Han Chunyan rolled her eyes at Zhou Chen: "Don't underestimate me, I don't have trouble raising two children. I just taught my mother to make phone calls. It's absolutely no problem."
"Didn't you agree to what Xiao Wu told you last time he came here? He called me several times and asked me to persuade you."
Han Chunyan changed the topic and talked about Han Chunming.
Zhou Chen sighed and said: "It's not that I don't want to agree to him, but I can't. If you transport things from the north, you will definitely make at least double the money, but the risk is also very high. Your brother's business is now very large, and it's
The hotel is owned by a real estate company, so it is actually most appropriate to keep it like this and develop slowly."
"But it's good for him. He is used to buying and selling, and now he wants to use trains to transport things. I can only say that Taijian has gone too far. If nothing happens, everyone will be happy. If something happens, it will be really troublesome. I promised you two
Uncle, I don’t do this kind of business, so I really can’t agree to Chunming.”
This period happened to be a time of turmoil in the north, where supplies were extremely scarce. A little bit of buying and selling could really make several times the profit.
Although a profit of more than 100% is enough for people to take risks, that is when there is no choice.
And now, Zhou Chen owns several large supermarket stores, as well as countless Zhou's small commodity market chain stores, with assets of over 100 million.
He still has countless business opportunities to make money in his mind, and there is really no need to take risks.
If it were Han Chunming, it would be okay if the scale of transportation was smaller. But the problem is that if Han Chunming wants to borrow his hand to make a big deal, the risk will be great.
He didn't want to do it himself, and he also didn't want Han Chunming to take risks. However, Han Chunming kept bragging in front of Han Chunyan about how much money he could make, which made Han Chunyan tempted and wanted to persuade Zhou Chen.
But on such a major matter, Zhou Chen would definitely not be disturbed by the pillow wind.