"We have plenty of money, and we also have all the items needed to make the store look impressive when it opens. The only thing we're missing is..." Zhang Jian pondered for a moment, then hesitated.
"What else is needed? Boss, you're not usually this indecisive. Just say so, I'll prepare it." Zhou Xuan playfully punched Zhang Jian, saying with a grin.
Zhang Jian's net worth has recently increased significantly, and his current attire is much more sophisticated than before. His clothes are all costing tens of thousands of yuan a set, which his wife specially bought for him, saying that since his status is different now, he can't afford to look down.
"On opening day, shouldn't we invite a few influential officials? And these shouldn't be like Wei Haihong. While Wei Haihong's status is different, he's not an official figure, and official figures are hard to invite. Besides, celebrities are purely for those who can be bought with money. If we're talking about prestige, we need to invite big names. Top-tier celebrities can cost tens of millions, and even those who are only moderately famous are incredibly arrogant, asking for tens of thousands. Just one visit, maybe only ten minutes, and that alone costs hundreds of thousands."
Zhang Jian had already inquired about the going rate. He even tried asking around, but those two trainee singers were asking for 600,000 yuan, with no room for negotiation.
Zhang Jian could afford the money, but he felt wronged and couldn't stand the agent in the celebrity's office, who had such an ugly face. Besides, the real owner of the store was Zhou Fu. Zhang Jian didn't understand how he could manage without Zhou Xuan.
Take big shots like Hong Song for example. Zhou Fu, the magistrate of Du County, has made friends with Qing, and Zhou Xuan seems to have even more powerful connections behind him. With these connections, Zhang Jian is incredibly arrogant. Therefore, this opening ceremony cannot be simple; we can't let Zhou Fu down.
Besides, Zhang Jian has been busy lately. He knows that Zhou Xuan has done a lot of other things. Just based on the stone cutting factory and jewelry company, Zhang Jian can roughly estimate that Zhou Fu's net worth is at least over one billion. That's something he never dreamed of. But Zhou Fu does have that ability. Take this antique shop for example. Wasn't it something that Zhou Xuan casually suggested and then just casually arranged?
As easily as throwing away a day's or two's allowance, Zhang Jianyi felt as if he were dreaming. From the beginning until now, his net worth had skyrocketed like a rocket, a rise he could never hope to reach. His net worth had actually exceeded 100 million!
Zhou Xuan hadn't really thought about what Zhang Jian was talking about. It's just opening a store, why put so much effort into it? After thinking for a moment, Zhou Xuan said, "Boss, our store is just a small antique shop in the county, a small shop. Why would we need to hire officials and celebrities? Is it really necessary?"
Zhang Jian frowned and said, "Zhou Xuan, you don't understand. In the business world, saving face and making a show of things is everything. That's all people care about. In the business world, they don't mind if you brag, they just want you to brag. Everyone's a braggart. Besides, in this industry, everyone cares about your connections. On opening day, who comes, and what kind of people they are, determines how much respect other businesses will have for you. If you don't have any influence, won't you be bullied?"
Zhou Xuan was taken aback. To be honest, he hadn't thought that much about these things. He just wanted to make a quick buck, so he was fine with whatever he could get by! But what Zhang Jian said made sense. Although he didn't like doing business or trouble, he wasn't stupid. He had been through so much and knew all about human relationships. In today's society, you can't ignore these things. If you don't follow the rules, you'll be isolated.
Zhou Xuan's support for Fu Yuanshan was essentially to find a protector for his family and career. Wasn't Zhang Jian's action, in essence, the same as his?
"Alright, boss, you prepare other things. Find a high-end restaurant to host the banquet. I'll handle hiring people." Zhou Xuan pondered for a moment, then said to Zhen Yiru, "It's indeed a bit difficult for Zhang Jian to handle this matter; it's beyond his capabilities."
Not long after Zhang Jian left, Zhou Ying and her brother Zhou Tao returned. Zhou Ying worked at the Gu Mi shop in the county, while Zhou Tao worked at a jewelry company. Li Wei and Ge Li also returned with them. Ge Wei, of course, was always with Zhou Ying. Since both families had approved the arrangement, he openly accompanied Zhou Ying to and from get off work and made a piece for the Gu Mi shop.
Li Li and Zhou Tao worked at the same company. Since Zhou Fu was a relative of Li Li, no one gossiped about them. Their relationship progressed rapidly, and Zhou Fu's family treated her exceptionally well, so she gradually got used to it. Over time, she even started to consider herself part of Zhou Fu's family.
Zhou Xuan pointed to the sofa, "Xiao Li, sit down!" Then he glared at Shan Li and scolded, "You brat, do I have to invite you to sit? Haven't seen you for a few days, and you've grown up so much."
Li Wei chuckled and sat down next to Zhou Ying. Zhou Ying twisted her body, got up, and sat down next to Fu Ying, saying, "Sister-in-law, I'll sit with you!"
Fu Ying smiled and took Zhou Ying's hand. Little Li Li, feeling awkward, sat down next to Fu Ying. She was fine being intimate with Zhou Tao normally, but felt embarrassed in front of his family.
Zhou Xuan smiled and looked at everyone in the living room. They were all from the Zhou family, except for Li Wei, who was too shameless. He went over and sat down next to Zhou Ying.
Zhou Ying blushed and snapped, "Go back to your house right now! Why are you staying at my house, you lazy bum?"
"I'm not leaving!" Li Weidan retorted with a stern face. "Even if you tell me to leave, I won't. This is my home, and I'm your family's son-in-law!"
"Pah, shameless!" Zhou Ying spat, her face flushed. She couldn't do anything about this person's seniority.
Li Wei's words made Jin Xiumei, Zhou Tao, Fu Ying, and the others all look incredibly thin.
Zhou Bin smiled, then sternly shouted, "Li Wei, hurry up and get married to Zhou Ju! What kind of behavior is this all the time? Hurry up!"
Li Wei, however, was not afraid of him. With a wronged expression, he said, "My dear brother, do you think I don't want to? Even if you said I'd marry Zhou Ying today, I'd agree without a second thought. But you're the head of the family. Zhou Ying also said that if her brother doesn't get married, then it's her turn. So I'm saying, my dear brother, you and that pretty prostitute should hurry up and get married! This is no good!"
Zhou Xuan was so angry that he was speechless!
Fu Ying blushed and couldn't speak. To be honest, it was indeed outrageous. Fu Lei was a girl who wasn't married, yet she spent all her time at Zhou Xuan's house. If it was unreasonable, then what she was doing was even more unreasonable!
Zhou Ying was so angry that she started punching Li Wei's back repeatedly, yelling, "You better disappear right now!"
Li Wei quickly raised his hands in surrender: "Okay, okay, I admit my mistake. I apologize. Fu Nong and Sister-in-law Piao Ting weren't being unreasonable, they were being very reasonable. Xuan Ge is right too. My grandfather and I really want Zhou Ying and me to get married soon, but they also said, 'Brother Shang Fang, you're the youngest in the family and you haven't even gotten married yet! How can you get married?'"
It was Jin Xiumei who stepped in to mediate; these guys had made the imperial family blush with embarrassment.
"Stop it, stop it! Now that you're all here, and Li Wei and Xiao Li are here too, let me say something!" Jin Xiumei suppressed a laugh and said seriously, "Ren, Cun is preparing for Zhou Xuan and Yingying's wedding, and then the second son and Xiao Li. And, little Xiao Li..."
Jin Xiumei then looked at Li Li and asked, "Li Li, what do your parents mean? If they don't object, let's choose a date, after your brother's wedding, and get it done. What do you think?"
Li Li blushed, lowered her head, and after a long while whispered, "Auntie... this... I haven't told my parents about this yet!" (To be continued)
Volume 1, Chapter 317
Both of them have reached this point, yet they still haven't spoken to their families. Zhou Xuan truly admires Li Li's patience, but thinking of Li Li's parents—two good people, and the fact that he himself saved her father's life—"Although he has no way to change the fact that she's trying to get away with it, people will definitely think that way. No wonder Li Li is hesitant to speak up. If she brings it up, her parents will definitely think she's paying off their debts."
Take it slow. Things always have to be done step by step. Things will fall into place naturally when the time is right.
The living room was a lively scene, with several girls laughing and joking. Zhou Fu felt gratified; this felt like a home, like a family. After enduring so many hardships outside, only at times like this did Zhou Xuan feel relaxed. He couldn't even sleep well outside, but now he suddenly felt tired. He stretched and said, "You guys play, I'm so tired, I'm going to sleep."
Jin Xiumei could see that her son looked exhausted, so she quickly waved Nianhao away, "Go on, go on. Go to bed early and get up early!"
Normally, Fu Ying would go upstairs with Zhou Shang and chat with him, but Ren Cun held back and didn't say anything. He sat on the sofa and didn't get up. He went upstairs with Zhou Shang and was laughed at by Li Wei. This Li Wei really can make anything go wrong.
Zhou Xuan went upstairs to his room, took out the crystal, absorbed its energy, circulated it throughout his body, and after practicing several times, felt that his energy had become much purer.
After many trials, Zhou Xuan was certain that each time he experienced a perilous ordeal, his use of the Ice and Jade technique became exceptionally powerful. The more severe the damage, the purer the Ice and Jade became after recovery.
He was initially exhausted, but after practicing the ice qi, Zhou Xuan felt much better. However, he didn't want to get up and go downstairs to play with his younger siblings. Instead, he took a book from his pillow and started reading.
He didn't feel tired from practicing the Ice Qi, but as soon as he opened a book, his eyelids would droop and he would fall into a deep sleep after turning only a few pages.
He went to bed early, and indeed, he woke up early too. After getting up, Zhou splashed some cold water on his face, clearing his mind. He remembered what Zhang Jian had said last night, and then, after a moment's thought, he called Fu Fushan.
"Brother, still in Hong Kong? When are you coming back? I'll have a good drink with you." Fu Yuanshan's words were full of joy.
Zhou Xuan chuckled and asked, "Brother, is there something going on? Hehe, I've gone back to the capital last night."
Fu Yuanshan was visibly taken aback. "You came back last night. I thought you were going to stay in Hong Kong for a few days. It's good that you're back. Let's go out and have a drink, haha. The appointment from above has come down."
"Okay, I'll be right out. I have something I want to discuss with you." Zhou Shang was happy for him, as he had also wanted to talk to him about inviting a celebrity. He wanted to see if the man knew anyone in the entertainment industry, since he was a police officer and inevitably had to deal with people in the industry. He figured he could make connections and act as a bridge. It wouldn't be difficult for him; after all, celebrities only need money, what does money matter to him?
"Little brother, just wait at home. I'll drive over myself, don't worry, I'll be there right away!" Fu Yuanshan hung up the phone after saying that, to avoid Zhou Xuan saying anything more about not letting him come alone.