Courtyard House: Inheriting the Restaurant, the Jia Family Wants to Get It for Free

Old Zhao held his teacup, gently blowing on it without saying a word. He wanted to see how Cheng Shuhai would respond to this most direct, status-based provocation.

Cheng Shuhai wasn't angry; in fact, his expression didn't change at all.

He simply and calmly pulled out a stack of reports from the file bag that Qin Huairu handed him.

"Officer Liu, you're right, I really am just a restaurant owner." He distributed the reports to everyone present. "So, I don't understand any grand principles, I only know how to do accounting."

"These are the production data of the North China Cannery over the past year," he said, pointing to the report. "As you can see, for every 10,000 cans we produce, the sealing error rate due to inconsistent thickness of the packaging sheet is 0.3%. This means that out of every 10,000 cans, 30 are defective. Based on the export price to the Soviet Union, those 30 cans are worth 9,000 yuan. Over the course of a year, we lost nearly a million yuan from this alone."

"Let's look at this next item: transportation losses. Because there are no uniform standards for the size and material of packaging boxes, the damage rate of cardboard boxes during long-distance transportation and loading and unloading is as high as 5%. Last year, we exported 100,000 canned goods, which means that 5,000 cans were damaged or crushed on the way. How much money does that cost?"

"There's also the equipment utilization rate. This can-sealing machine we imported from the Soviet Union can theoretically seal 3,000 cans per hour. But because the tin cans produced domestically are not well-matched with the machine, the actual efficiency is only 2,400 cans per hour. This 20% efficiency loss, over a year, equates to a huge waste of production capacity."

Cheng Shuhai did not utter a single rebuttal or argument.

He simply and calmly presented the cold, yet shocking data to everyone, item by item.

He used the most direct method to tell everyone present a fact: he wasn't there to fight for power and profit; he was there to solve problems. He was there to help the country save that real money that shouldn't have been wasted.

The meeting room was deathly silent.

Just moments ago, the aggressive clerk, Liu, was now flushed red and speechless. Those figures were like resounding slaps across his face.

"good!"

Old Zhao finally put down his teacup and slammed his hand heavily on the table.

"In my opinion, Comrade Cheng Shuhai's plan is not only well-structured and visionary, but also supported by data and detailed information! I think it's settled! This plan will serve as the key pilot direction for the next stage of our project!"

He looked around, his tone becoming unusually stern.

"I don't care about your previous procedures or rules. From today onwards, all relevant departments must readjust their work plans according to this plan! Submit your new plans to me within three days! Anyone who drags your feet and affects the progress of the entire project, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

Old Zhao's words were the final word.

No one dared to raise any objections anymore.

After the meeting, Mr. Zhao made a point of keeping Cheng Shuhai behind.

"Shuhai, you did a good job today," Old Zhao said with satisfaction. "However, as you can see, some people are still unconvinced. Some have already been asking around about your role as 'Chief Consultant,' wondering what exactly your position is and why you have the authority to manage so many things."

Cheng Shuhai smiled faintly.

"Old Zhao, don't worry. My identity isn't important." He looked out the window, his gaze deep and thoughtful. "What matters is whether what I create can ultimately bring the country what it truly needs."

"As long as the canned goods can be sold, the equipment can be shipped back, and the workers' wages can be paid, what does it matter what my name is, what my status is, or anything else?"

Old Zhao looked at him, speechless for a long time, and finally sighed heavily.

That night, Cheng Shuhai returned to the courtyard house late at night.

The two children were already fast asleep.

Chen Xueru and Qin Huairu hadn't slept; they sat in the living room waiting for him.

When he returned, neither of them said a word of blame. They simply brought him the hot food that had been kept warm on the stove.

"Eat up, you must be starving."

Looking at the sumptuous meal on the table and the concern in the eyes of the two women, Cheng Shuhai felt a warmth in his heart.

He knew that from that day forward, returning home late at night like this would likely become the norm. He would no longer have much time left to himself.

He picked up his chopsticks and began to eat heartily. He had to finish quickly because his mind was still preoccupied with the site selection and budget for the new factories.

There is not much time left for him.

With Mr. Zhao's support and the city's clear instructions, the construction of the new factory was launched at an unprecedented speed.

A huge and sophisticated machine began to spin rapidly around Cheng Shuhai.

He's like a chief architect; his daily work involves breaking down the grand blueprint in his mind into concrete, actionable tasks.

Old Zhao acted as a top coordinator, responsible for securing all approvals and resources from higher authorities. When Cheng Shuhai needed steel, he went to the Ministry of Metallurgy to request quotas; when Cheng Shuhai needed land, he went to the planning bureau and argued vehemently. He used his position and influence to clear all obstacles from within the system for Cheng Shuhai's plans.

Chen Xueru and Qin Huairu became Cheng Shuhai's most capable right-hand women.

Leveraging her keen market sense and experience gained at the silk shop, Chen Xueru took the initiative to prepare for the textile project. From factory design and equipment selection to the colors and styles of future products, she handled everything personally. She even dragged Xu Huizhen along, and the two women traveled all over Beijing to all the fabric shops and garment factories to study the latest fashion trends.

Qin Huairu became the project's chief steward. She was responsible for all budget preparation, accounting, and preliminary personnel recruitment for the new factory. She spent her days sitting for over ten hours a day, abacus in hand, surrounded by piles of drawings and reports. Every expenditure and every purchase of materials had to be approved by her. Her meticulousness and rigor left no room for those who tried to take advantage of the project's early stages.

The entire team is like a high-speed gear set, with everyone in their own position exerting their maximum energy.

However, the big tree attracts the wind.

When the news that the "Sino-Soviet Industrial Cooperation Project" would build three large export factories in Beijing was officially announced, countless eyes immediately set their sights on this lucrative opportunity.

As soon as the project started, troubles began to arise one after another.