Returning wealthy individuals develop their hometowns and become rich in the 1980s

"It's okay, a car is just a means of transportation. If it gets dirty, wash it; if it breaks down, fix it; if it's completely unusable, just replace it!"

Huang Bingkun looked at Chen Zaixing and felt that this kid was really different now. He used to be a troublemaker in the village, but now he owns the largest supermarket in the county and everyone has to curry favor with him.

It's true that when people have money, they speak and act with a different kind of confidence!

Chen Zaixing drove his Mercedes-Benz 450 with Huang Bingkun in tow along the county road toward the state-run restaurant in the county town. Along the way, Chen Zaixing did not ask Huang Bingkun what he wanted to see him about, but waited for Huang Bingkun to say it himself.

Huang Bingkun was also struggling with how to bring it up. He had originally planned to invite Chen Zaixing to his house for drinks, and after a few rounds of drinks, he would take the opportunity to ask Chen Zaixing to help him find a job.

But now he was the one in the "he who eats another's food is bound to him" situation. Huang Bingkun was still clinging to his peasant mentality, feeling that if he didn't treat Chen Zaixing to a meal, it would be hard to say anything nice.

The two chatted idly in the car until they arrived at the county state-run restaurant. Manager Fang Zhentao of the state-run restaurant was an old acquaintance of Chen Zaixing. Upon seeing the silver Mercedes-Benz 450 with the license plate "15-10086", he greeted Chen Zaixing with a smile.

"Brother Zaixing, what brings you here today? And who is this gentleman?"

Chen Zaixing got out of the car and smiled as he offered Manager Fang a cigarette, introducing him, "This is Huang Bingkun, the production team leader of our village. It's been a long time since he's had a meal at your place, Brother Zhentao. Today, he brought my brother Kun here to treat himself to a meal."

Fang Zhentao warmly invited Chen Zaixing and Huang Bingkun into the restaurant and led them to the private room where Chen Zaixing and Chen Dong often frequented. Chen Zaixing didn't order any food but said to Fang Zhentao in a familiar manner, "Brother Tao, just bring out the dishes. First, open the Moutai I have here and bring it up. I have something to discuss with Brother Kun."

"Okay, then you all sit down for a while. I'll go tell the chef in the kitchen that the wine will be here soon," Fang Zhentao said with a smile, closing the door of the private room as he left.

Chen Zaixing often needed to entertain people in the county, and it wasn't appropriate for him to bring alcohol every time he came. In the entire Nanshan County, only the state-run restaurant could host such events, so he simply took some Moutai liquor from his own supermarket and stored it at the state-run restaurant beforehand. Whenever he invited people over for a meal, he would just give the order, which made him look very respectable.

Seeing how familiar Chen Zaixing was with the restaurant manager, and how the wine was pre-stored there—especially Moutai—Huang Bingkun couldn't help but exclaim enviously, "Zaixing, you've really struck it rich now!"

"Hey! Bingkun, what's the big deal? I only get ahead here in Nanshan County. Outside of Nanshan County, even in the city, my wealth is nothing!"

Chen Zaixing was still somewhat self-aware. After being turned down by several television factories in Shanghai, he realized that his success today was entirely due to his cousin Chen Dong's connections.

He was very tactful in dealing with people and things, and he didn't dare to be too arrogant. If it were someone who didn't know their place, they would probably start to boast and brag after Huang Bingkun flattered them like this.

Just then, the waiter knocked on the door and came in to deliver the wine. Chen Zaixing took the opened Moutai and poured a full glass for Huang Bingkun. "Brother Bingkun, the dishes will have to wait a while. Let's have a couple of peanuts and go ahead."

Huang Bingkun picked up his glass and said to Chen Zaixing, "Zaixing, I was supposed to treat you today, but you've ended up spending money, which makes me feel bad! I'll drink this one first, you can drink as you like!"

After a few drinks, Huang Bingkun stopped worrying and started talking more. "Zaixing, I'm having a tough time right now. I want to ask you for a favor, but I'm too embarrassed to even ask!"

After a few drinks, Chen Zaixing was completely unaffected, unlike Huang Bingkun, whose face was already slightly flushed. Hearing this, he knew that something was about to happen, so he smiled and casually said, "Brother Bingkun, you're eating the government's food at the village brigade headquarters now, what difficulties could you possibly have?"

"Hey! You know Nanshan has been changed from a county to a district now. Today I heard Secretary Tian say that all the cadres are going to be reformed, from an appointment system to something like that... oh right, a contract system," Huang Bingkun sighed. "I'm going to be laid off!"

"I've heard my second brother mention the contract-based system, but that's something for officials. How could it be implemented in our village?"

Seeing that Chen Zaixing didn't believe him, Huang Bingkun had to explain to him, "Our village is now going to be called a street. Think about it, the cadres will all be replaced. How can a roughneck like me with no education continue to coast along in the village brigade? Sooner or later I'll be kicked out. I have to find a way out for myself in advance."

Having said all that, seeing Chen Zaixing still squinting and smoking, Huang Bingkun decided to get straight to the point, raising his glass to Chen Zaixing and saying, "Zaixing, I just wanted to ask you for a favor, to see if you could help me arrange something..."

Before he could finish speaking, the waiter knocked on the door again and came in to serve the dishes: two meat dishes, one vegetable dish, and a soup. After the waiter closed the door, Huang Bingkun wanted to continue the conversation, but Chen Zaixing picked up his chopsticks and placed a piece of braised meat in Huang Bingkun's bowl.

"Brother Bingkun, eat some food first. Drinking alcohol is bad for your stomach," Chen Zaixing said, starting to eat as well. "We can talk about this later. Try this braised pork from the state-run restaurant. My son loves this meat. Every time I come, he begs me to bring some for him."

"Okay," Huang Bingkun picked up his chopsticks and started eating the braised pork that Chen Zaixing had put on his plate. But at the moment, he was in a hurry to get Chen Zaixing's help, so he had no mind to savor the food. He just swallowed it in a few bites and didn't even taste the saltiness.

After they had eaten almost all of their food and finished their drinks, Chen Zaixing put down his chopsticks and said to Huang Bingkun, "Brother Bingkun, how would you like me to help you? Would you prefer me to arrange a job for you, or would you like to start your own small business?"

"Zaixing, I know my own limitations. I'm not cut out for business, and I'm not as eloquent or thorough as you. I was just thinking of asking you to arrange a job for me. You know, all the boys in the family are still in school, and they're counting on my salary!"

Chen Zaixing tapped his fingers on the dining table, handed him a cigarette, and then smoked it while thinking about Huang Bingkun's whereabouts. "Brother Bingkun, a while ago, when I was having dinner with Dai Weiguo, the director of the county's urban construction bureau, he talked to me about the housing shortage for cadres in the county."

Chen Zaixing suddenly brought this up, and Huang Bingkun didn't know how to respond. He just quietly smoked his cigarette, waiting for Chen Zaixing to continue. "After listening to him, I was thinking, with the housing shortage for county officials right now, if the shantytown next to Huaxingsheng Supermarket were demolished and replaced with a residential area, how many more houses do you think would be created!"

"I told Director Dai Weiguo, 'Director Dai, you're begging for food while holding a golden rice bowl!'"