After rebirth, I became a great master

Chapter 537 Different ways do not work together

the next morning.

Jono called.

"Master, please come here. Someone is looking for you!"

"Find me?"

"Yes, it's Zhou Zhengqi. He's not a member of our group. He's being a bit unreasonable, saying he told you he wouldn't leave until he sees you."

Qiao Nuo heard from her senior sister that her master had some friction with this person.

"Oh, him..." Zhou Haoran wasn't surprised. "Tell him to wait. Make him a pot of tea, and I'll be right there."

Go and see what this person really means.

If someone wants to become a member of the Red Mansion Teahouse, there's no way to refuse.

If he wants to pursue business collaborations, then forget it.

Zhou Haoran had no interest in having any deep dealings with him.

We went to the teahouse.

They discovered that Zhou Zhengqi hadn't gone inside at all. His Mercedes-Benz was parked in the courtyard of Haoran Mansion. He was leaning against the car, wearing a casual suit, with a slicked-back hairstyle that was very characteristic of the era, and wearing sunglasses.

This guy is really handsome; he could totally make a living off his looks.

"Oh! The Master has arrived."

Zhou Zhengqi acted as if he had never had any grudges against him, and took the initiative to approach him and befriend him.

Zhou Haoran nodded slightly. "Why didn't you go in?"

Zhou Zhengqi laughed and said, "You guys operate on a membership system, only serving members. I can't just break the rules, so waiting outside for a while is fine."

"Okay, let's go in then."

Zhou Haoran remained calm.

"As expected of the young master, he has a deep financial foundation. This luxurious mansion must be worth at least tens of millions, right?"

Zhou Zhengqi looked around the old-style house with great envy; it was much more upscale than the luxury villa he had bought for a huge sum of money in Hong Kong.

"Many things lose their class when measured by price."

Zhou Haoran didn't give him any face.

"Too."

Zhou Zhengqi smiled broadly and took the initiative to make amends.

Zhou Haoran then understood that this person must have something to ask of him, otherwise he wouldn't have lowered himself so much time and time again. He just didn't know what he wanted to do.

We arrived at the teahouse.

We went straight to the third floor.

The Honglou Teahouse has undergone several renovations, and its current layout has changed. The first floor is a small tea room, the second floor is a large tea room, and the third floor is not open to the public.

The third floor is where staff members usually hold meetings, training sessions, and rest.

There is a private tea room for Zhou Haoran here.

Upon entering the teahouse, Zhou Zhengqi became very interested in the introductions hanging on the wall.

Some explanations cover the origins of the Red Mansion Teahouse, others introduce its achievements, and still others introduce the current managers of the Red Mansion Teahouse... but it's really just a gimmick.

Times have changed.

The worship of authority has long been broken. Forget about being a "gentleman" or even a scholar who passed the imperial examinations; nobody cares. Especially in business, what matters is tangible profit-making results.

The Red Mansion Teahouse now has only one person in charge, and that is Mr. Zhou Haoran.

Everything else is just a backdrop.

It exists as a form of intangible cultural heritage and has no medicinal value whatsoever.

"It has heritage, culture, and a long history... Great, excellent!"

Zhou Zhengqi stood by the wall, admiring it and praising it endlessly.

Because Cao Xueqin is the founder of the Dream of the Red Chamber Tea House, there is also a portrait of Cao Xueqin here.

Before Cao Xueqin's portrait, Zhou Zhengqi bowed respectfully and said earnestly, "I have met Mr. Cao before. I have read your novel 'Dream of the Red Chamber' many times. I never expected to have the opportunity to step into the teahouse you founded. It is a pleasure to meet you."

Zhou Haoran sensed that he was a bit obsessed. "Mr. Zhou, please!"

"Oh, okay!"

Zhou Zhengqi bowed to Cao Xueqin's portrait again before following him upstairs to Zhou Haoran's private tea room.

It's quite spacious, easily 100 square meters.

It's spacious and bright, right by the window.

From here, you can see the world outside the courtyard walls, and you can also see which guests are coming and going inside.

After taking their seats, Zhou Haoran ordered a pot of Biluochun tea and asked directly, "Mr. Zhou, what brings you here?"

“It’s nothing serious.” Zhou Zhengqi smiled slightly. “Many years ago, I heard about it from a friend in the Hong Kong government. He said that there is a place called Red House Teahouse in the harbor with a very good historical heritage. I have always longed to come and see it.”

Zhou Haoran nodded. "Yes, the Red Mansion Teahouse is a form of intangible cultural heritage. From the late Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China, it played a pivotal role in the development of commerce in Jiangnan."

"I'm so envious!"

Zhou Zhengqi's gaze was intense.

"envious?"

Zhou Haoran raised his eyebrows.

Zhou Zhengqi laughed and said, "Sir, then I'll be frank. You may have heard that I made some money by speculating in stocks a few years ago. Recently, I established a group company, mainly engaged in futures trading and other financial businesses."

"sorry."

Zhou Haoran was not surprised at all; financial means were the most convenient way for him to become a top tycoon in the harbor in just a few years.

“I’ve realized something now: money isn’t enough!” Zhou Zhengqi sighed. “When I was poor, I always thought that money could make the world go round. Now that I have money, I realize that money isn’t everything. Money that can be spent is money; money that can’t be spent is just a number on a balance sheet.”

"Oh."

Zhou Haoran didn't want to delve into it further.

Zhou Zhengqi said with great distress, "I want to transfer all the funds from the mainland to the Hong Kong government, but the country disagrees, saying that it needs to go through the State Administration of Foreign Exchange. It's really baffling. Hong Kong has already returned to China, yet the Hong Kong dollar is still considered a foreign currency? And exchanging Hong Kong dollars still requires going through the State Administration of Foreign Exchange?"

Zhou Haoran was too lazy to listen to his rambling. "Mr. Zhou, you came to see me because you want me to do something, right?"

"Mr. Zhou is indeed clever." Zhou Zhengqi laughed heartily, then looked around. "I think this place is quite nice, Haoran Mansion... Zhou Haoran's mansion, right?"

"what do you mean?"

Zhou Haoran narrowed his eyes.

Zhou Zhengqi sighed, "Having money isn't enough; you also need fame. Without enough reputation, money can't control things! Sir, I'd like to join the Red Mansion Teahouse. What do you think?"

"Huh?" Zhou Zhengqi was taken aback for a moment, then refused, "President Zhou is joking."

The job posting for the Red Mansion Teahouse does not require male employees.

Zhou Zhengqi said in a serious tone, "I hope the Red Mansion Teahouse can give me an identity."

"Identity?" Zhou Haoran finally understood the other party's purpose, his eyes widening. "You want to be a teacher at the Red Mansion Teahouse?"

Zhou Zhengqi said, "I don't want to be a teacher, I want to be a great teacher."

"Mr. Zhou must be joking, right?"

Zhou Haoran's expression turned cold.

Zhou Zhengqi quickly said, "Don't misunderstand, I didn't mean to take your position, nor did I intend to compete with you for this Red Mansion Teahouse. I just want a nominal title. We are both great masters, you are the actual controller, and I'll just be a figurehead."

"impossible!"

Zhou Haoran flatly refused.

Let alone the great master, even if this person were to become an ordinary scholar in Dream of the Red Chamber, Zhou Haoran would never agree.

Different road non-phase plan.

Zhou Zhengqi, however, was very confident and said with a smile, "Don't be in such a hurry to refuse, sir. Listen to my terms first."

"No need to listen."

Zhou Haoran was very determined.

“As long as my name is on the list, as long as my portrait is on the wall, I’ll be listed alongside you in the ‘Master’ column. Also, please include me in this arts performance for private entrepreneurs in the harbor, so I can also become a leader in the local private economy.” Zhou Zhengqi held up one finger. “Every year, I will sponsor the Red Mansion Teahouse with 1000 million yuan!”

"1000 million?" Zhou Haoran's lips curled up, his tone somewhat sarcastic. "Mr. Zhou may not know that this one teahouse alone could generate more than 1 million in revenue each year."

"Huh?" Zhou Zhengqi was stunned, quite surprised. "It's that profitable?"

Zhou Haoran said calmly, "The Red Mansion Teahouse will not sell out its traditions, nor does it lack 1000 million. Mr. Zhou, please leave!"

"Hey hey..." Zhou Zhengqi said anxiously, "Then name your price!"

"This isn't about money."

Zhou Haoran's attitude was firm, leaving no room for compromise.

Zhou Zhengqi was silent for a moment, then his attitude softened further. He sighed and said, "Sir, don't be fooled by my current success and the fact that many friends support me. But actually... sigh! Sir, you really have to help me this time!"

(End of this chapter)