Outsider: The Fifth Young Master of the Kang Family

Chapter 139 New Year’s Eve
Time flies and the Spring Festival is over soon.

On the eighth day of the Lunar New Year, Kang Qirui and a group of people held an annual meeting at Metersbonwe in Guangzhou. Although the meeting was held in the Metersbonwe office, it was not entirely about the clothing company, but about all business sectors of the Kang brothers.

"Third sister-in-law, please speak first." After everyone was seated, Kang Qirui was the first to cue Sachiko and asked Sachiko to tell about the situation of Metersbonwe in Guangzhou in her spare time.

"Okay, last year Guangzhou Metersbonwe developed quite fast. We now have five directly-operated stores and twelve franchise stores. Among them, there are five Qingjin Clothing stores, two Meiren Clothing stores and two Yiren Clothing stores. Last year, the total turnover of the directly-operated stores was 2001 million. Together with the franchise fees and the payment from the franchise stores, the company's total revenue was million. The gross profit for the whole of was million, and the net profit was million." As the general manager of Guangzhou Metersbonwe, Sachiko first reported on the company's operating conditions last year.

This business situation is already very good. After all, Guangzhou Metersbonwe was only established in June last year, and most of its direct stores and franchise stores were opened after September. Some people may ask why the gross profit margin in the clothing industry is so low? With a revenue of more than 15.6 million, the gross profit is only million, and the gross profit margin is only %.

In fact, this is very normal. Let's take a simple example: a piece of clothing costs 100 yuan when a customer goes to the store to buy it, while the franchise store buys it from Guangzhou Metersbonwe for 80 yuan, and Guangzhou buys it from the headquarters for 75 yuan. Therefore, this piece of clothing brings Guangzhou Metersbonwe 80 yuan in revenue and 5 yuan in gross profit. The franchise stores bring high revenue and low gross profit to the company. Although the huge cash flow brought by the high revenue must be repaid to the headquarters on time, it is very easy to get a bank loan for such a large amount of cash flow. The loan can be used to open direct-operated stores and increase gross profit through direct-operated stores.

"In 2002, our goal is to have 2001 directly-operated stores and 2002 franchise stores, with a revenue target of 2006 million yuan." After summarizing 1800, Sachiko began to describe the goal and specific phased steps for 40. In Kang Qirui's impression, Metersbonwe had 02 stores nationwide and a revenue of 06 billion yuan when it celebrated its tenth anniversary in . Their Guangzhou Metersbonwe obtained the full agency rights in Guangdong and Guangxi, and had the largest market share. To achieve one-fortieth of the revenue in in the original world in was not a very big challenge, so after listening to Sachiko's description, Kang Qirui just nodded and told her to work hard.

"Then let me tell you about the situation at Qingjin Clothing." After Sachiko finished speaking, the second sister-in-law, who is the general manager of Qingjin Clothing, immediately said, "We only opened three new stores last year. After the new store opened in March, most of the funds were used to invest in KS Investment Company in the middle of the year. Cash flow was tight, and we didn't open another store until October and December. Last year, our revenue was 3 million, gross profit was 10 million, and net profit was negative 12."

The main reason for Qingjin Garment's loss last year was that it invested a large amount of money in KS Investment Company. As the main body of the acquisition of Guangfu Metersbonwe and the establishment of Ruhao Catering Company, KS Investment Company's expenditure was far greater than its revenue. Therefore, Qingjin Garment not only failed to recover the cost of this investment, but also lost a lot of money. However, I believe that as time enters 2002, Guangfu Metersbonwe and Ruhao Catering Company will bring a lot of profits.

Then the second sister-in-law also talked about Qingjin Clothing's goal for 2002. Unlike Sachiko's aggressive and large-scale revenue increase, Qingjin Clothing is more conservative and mainly focuses on profit.

Finally, the second brother made a report on behalf of Ruhao Catering Company. Ruhao was only opened on November 11. There was nothing much to say about 23. The main goal in 2001 was to make a profit, and then to open branches. Kang Qirui chose a benchmark company for them, which was Ducheng Fast Food, a catering company also established in 2002.

In fact, Kang Qirui originally wanted to start a business like an electrical appliance city or a computer city with Er Lao, but plans cannot keep up with changes. Xianglan, who originally managed the tea restaurant, is pregnant and cannot continue to manage it. As for Da Lao Guang, there is no problem in keeping Ru Hao Tea Restaurant, but if he wants to compete with Ducheng Fast Food, it is impossible. Fortunately, this generation of Ru Hao Tea Restaurant follows the tea restaurant fast food model, and Er Lao, as the boss, is not so hard-working. In addition, Kang Qirui takes the whole family for a physical examination every year, which can be regarded as preventing Er Lao from getting sick to the greatest extent.

After the meeting, Zhang Yongfang found Kang Qirui. As one of the shareholders of Qingjin Clothing and the person in charge of the supply chain of Guangzhou Metersbonwe, she also came to the meeting today. "Come to think of it, I haven't wished you and Uncle Kang and Aunt Kang a happy new year yet. I heard that Uncle Kang and Aunt Kang went back to the countryside to visit their relatives. I will go to their home in a few days when they come back." Zhang Yongfang said.

"It seems they will be back next week, you can come to our house anytime then." Kang Qirui replied, and then asked: "Hey, how are you and Dalaogong doing? Is it a done deal now?"

Speaking of Zhang Yongfang, he sighed, "It's successful, but he is such a strong person. He doesn't want to go to my place with me and insists on living at his place. What can I do?" Dalaogong is a man with a strong self-esteem. After he knew that Zhang Yongfang was very rich, he did not try to curry favor with him, but continued to drive his own taxi.

Kang Qirui had no solution to this emotional issue. After all, whether two people were together depended on their own feelings, and no one else could persuade them. He chatted with Zhang Yongfang for a few more words and then went home.

After the meeting, the second sister-in-law and Xianglan returned to Kang's house. When Xianglan returned to Kang's house, she chatted with Diana, who had just got off work, before dinner time. The eldest brother was reading the newspaper, and the second brother was not sure what to do. When Kang Qirui returned home, he heard the second sister-in-law say, "Diana, what happens when you foreigners are dating and your love is strong?"

"Then it would be kissing." Diana answered as a matter of course.

"It's really unhygienic." The second sister-in-law and Xianglan whispered, but Diana still heard it. She said "Uh?" Kang Qirui also sat down and watched the show with Tianxiu. The second sister-in-law quickly made up for it: "I mean you are very open."

Diana didn't care and said with a smile: "The Chinese are also very nice and reserved."

Xianglan also asked Diana curiously: "I heard that when you foreign couples go out, you always kiss each other?" But Diana didn't understand, "What do you mean by kissing?"

"That's it." The second sister-in-law made a mouth shape with her left hand and kissed her lips. Diana understood now and nodded, "Not only when you go out, but also when you come back." When she said this, A-Zu just got home from get off work. "What are you talking about so lively?"

As soon as Diana saw A-Zu, she waved him over, "Darling, come here." Then she turned to her second sister-in-law and Xianglan and said, "This is the custom where we live. When the husband comes home, we have to kiss him." As she spoke, she kissed A-Zu on the mouth. Seeing this, the second sister-in-law quickly stopped her and said, "Hey, hey, hey, there's no need to demonstrate here. There are children here." A-Zu saw that there were so many people in the living room, including Da Lao Guang, Kang Qirui, and the second sister-in-law Xianglan and Tianxiu, and was frightened by Diana's behavior and shrank back. Diana frowned and said, "Come on, what's there to be embarrassed about? Don't you love me?"

"This has nothing to do with love or not. You know, we Chinese are very reserved. It would be awkward with so many people here." A'zu was overwhelmed, but Diana still didn't let him go, "So what? Come on, kiss here." She pointed to her lips.

Tianxiu was very excited watching the show and laughed very happily. "Hey, hey, what are you watching? Watching TV. Is the TV over there? Turn over here." The second sister-in-law wanted to turn Tianxiu over, but the smart little Tianxiu didn't want to do it, "Why watch a fake one when there is a real one?"

"You poor boy, what do you know?" the second sister-in-law scolded.

"What can't you do? I just haven't tried it." Tianxiu made Kang Qirui laugh. He took Tianxiu in his arms and patted his legs while laughing. At this time, Diana was still waiting for A Zu to kiss her, "I'm waiting for you, come on."

"Fourth uncle, what are you afraid of as a man? Go ahead." Tianxiu was a man who liked to watch the fun and was not afraid of trouble. Azu was so excited by Tianxiu that he also gave it his all and kissed Diana directly in the living room. The second sister-in-law quickly covered Tianxiu's eyes, and the scene was in chaos. Tianxiu finally got out of the second sister-in-law's hand, and Azu had already finished kissing him. He couldn't help but shake his head and sigh.

"When you have a girlfriend in the future, don't follow your uncle's example." Diana touched Tianxiu's head and said, "I won't follow him. I will take the initiative." Tianxiu understood, and A Zu was embarrassed. He pushed Diana and said, "You are just teaching children bad things."

Unexpectedly, Tianxiu continued to say: "Don't be afraid, I am immune." The second sister-in-law was really angry this time. A Zu keenly felt the change in the second sister-in-law's aura, and hurriedly pulled Diana up, "Why don't we go out for a walk." Then he quickly fled the scene, while Kang Qirui continued to watch the good show of the third sister-in-law teaching her son.

At night, when Kang Qirui was getting ready to go to bed, A'zu came knocking on the door. Kang Qirui opened the door with a puzzled look on his face, "A'rui, do you have a copy of "Dream of the Red Chamber"?" It was so late, A'zu went straight to the point.

"Ah? Dream of Red Mansions?" Kang Qirui was stunned. He came to him so late just to borrow a book?

"Yes, you don't know. Diana and I went out shopping tonight and met Kou Shuiwei. She insisted that Kou Shuiwei buy her a night tea because Kou Shuiwei said "let's have tea next time" when he met her last time, which made me very embarrassed." A Zu talked about his experience of shopping with Diana at night, but Kang Qirui still didn't understand what this had to do with "Dream of Red Mansions".

Seeing that Kang Qirui still didn't understand, A Zu continued, "I was thinking about the many women in "Dream of Red Mansions", all of different types, so I wanted her to learn about what Chinese women are like by reading "Dream of Red Mansions."

So that's how it is. Kang Qirui shook his head, walked in, took out the "Dream of Red Mansions" from the bookcase and handed it to A Zu. A Zu thanked him and went back. When Kang Qirui returned to the bed and told Zhu Wanling about it, Zhu Wanling was also stunned, "Learn to be a Chinese woman from "Dream of Red Mansions"?"

"Yes, that's what Grandpa said anyway." Usually when Kang Qirui and Zhu Wanling chat, they usually call each other Grandpa and Yao. Zhu Wanling laughed and said, "I can't even understand Dream of the Red Chamber. How can a foreigner like her understand it?"

"People don't have to understand it. A-Zu just wants Diana to learn the character of the women in it." Kang Qirui thought about it and it seemed that whether A-Zu achieved his goal or not had nothing to do with whether he understood it or not.

"Then who do you think she will learn from?" Zhu Wanling asked again.

"Lin Daiyu." Kang Qirui was very sure. Zhu Wanling didn't understand and asked in confusion: "Why? Diana and Lin Daiyu don't look alike."

"That's why she has to learn." Kang Qirui explained: "Think about it, which character in A Dream of Red Mansions is the most outstanding? Baoyu and Daiyu. Since she can't learn from Baoyu, she must learn from Daiyu."

"Well, it seems so." Zhu Wanling thought about it and was convinced. If you ask which character in "Dream of Red Mansions" is the most popular, most people would probably choose Baoyu and Daiyu.

(End of this chapter)