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

Chengnan Street, Nanshan District, Chengnan Avenue

Today, No. 18 Chengnan Avenue was brightly decorated and bustling with activity. The state-owned restaurant, which had been closed for a month and a half, was about to reopen. Fang Zhentao, the restaurant manager, was wearing a black suit with a corsage on his chest and was directing the staff to arrange the flower baskets sent by the guests.

A red cloth still hangs above the main entrance of the restaurant. The original iron gate has been replaced with a glass sliding door, and even the walls have been freshly painted. The previously uneven areas at the entrance have all been leveled, hardened with cement, and then tiled, making the entire entrance of the restaurant look much more grand.

The interior decoration was completely different from the previous state-run restaurant style. All the old tables, chairs and benches were thrown away by Fang Zhentao. The old red floor tiles were all pried off and replaced with white ceramic tiles. The wall paint was all scraped off and repainted white. Various food signs and menus were hung up.

During the month and a half of closure for renovations, Fang Zhentao, the hotel manager, also took the opportunity to conduct a major reshuffle of the staff. Those who were disobedient or lazy were all dismissed by him.

Lin Ruiqing also fulfilled her long-cherished dream of becoming the hotel owner. Chen Zaiguang accepted Chen Zaixing's suggestion and opened a company called "Zairong Catering". He fully acquired the state-owned hotel, gave Fang Zhentao 5% of the shares, and also let him take over the management of "Nanyuelou".

Lin Ruiqing is the chairman of "Zai Rong Catering" company. On the surface, she is in charge of the company's overall direction, but in reality, the company only has one restaurant, "Nan Yue Lou". Fang Zhentao has a veto right over the management of the restaurant at the board meeting. Lin Ruiqing will gradually find that even if she wants to interfere in the daily operation of the restaurant, she will not be able to.

Chen Zaiguang stood with his hands on his hips, smiling, in front of the newly renovated restaurant. Looking up at the plaque covered with red silk, he felt a mix of emotions. From learning to flip woks in the kitchen of the state-run canteen, to being transferred to the meat processing plant, opening the "Kende Chicken" fast food restaurant with Chen Dong's help, and finally taking over this building, Chen Zaiguang felt like he was in a dream.

Now the restaurant is about to open, and the signboard still bears the three characters "Nanyue Lou" written by his master Ye Daqiu himself, in gold-stamped clerical script, neat and upright, just as the saying goes, good ingredients only need simple cooking.

Chang Liangming and Lin Depeng arrived at seven o'clock. One of them was in the kitchen doing a final inspection of the stove, while the other was looking at the ingredients delivered by the vegetable vendors and meat processing plant that morning. Chen Zaiguang went in, first took a look at the back kitchen, and then went to the front hall. He saw that the tables were covered with red cloths, the bowls and plates were shiny, and the water signs were wiped so clean that they could reflect a person's image. He nodded in satisfaction.

"Boss, the auspicious time is set at 9:18. The flower baskets have been delivered and placed on both sides of the entrance. Would you like to check if they are placed correctly?" Fang Zhentao noticed Chen Zaiguang at this moment and hurriedly came to greet him.

"The flower baskets are fine," Chen Zaiguang said, offering a cigarette to Fang Zhentao. "Has the lion dance troupe arrived yet?"

"It's on its way. The firecrackers and ribbons are all ready. We're just waiting for the auspicious time to unveil the plaque, light incense, set off firecrackers, and start the banquet," Fang Zhentao said, counting on his fingers as he spoke, afraid of missing anything. "As for your sister's engagement banquet, eighteen tables have already been prepared. I was worried that there would be too many people, so I added twenty tables. If that's still not enough, we can quickly add one or two more tables."

"Okay, good," Chen Zaiguang asked, "What about the kitchen?"

"Master Chang is overseeing things. The main ingredients were delivered last night, the seafood arrived at 3 a.m. and is very fresh. The vegetables and meat were delivered this morning and are still covered in dew. As for the dim sum, cold dishes, and braised dishes, they are all prepared," Fang Zhentao answered one by one.

Chen Zaiguang patted Fang Zhentao on the shoulder. "Old Fang, you and my two senior brothers have made great contributions to the smooth opening of this restaurant. After today, I, Chen Zaiguang, will host a real thank-you banquet for you and your two senior brothers."

"Boss, you're too kind," Fang Zhentao said with a smile. "Today you're both the boss and the brother-in-law, you're quite busy. Why don't you go to the private room on the second floor to rest for a bit? I'll have someone notify you when Uncle Chen and the others arrive."

"No need, no need. I'm in high spirits today because of this happy occasion. There's no need for me to rest," Chen Zaiguang said with a smile, waving his hand. He was woken up early this morning by his wife. To be honest, Lin Ruiqing was even happier than him. He went to bed early last night, but Lin Ruiqing tossed and turned in bed for a long time before finally falling asleep, and then woke up even earlier than him.

Just after eight o'clock in the morning, the lion dance team came over with gongs and drums. The Yingge dance team followed closely behind the lion dance team, dancing to the beat. Many people on their way to work were attracted by the excitement and realized that today was the auspicious day for the restaurant's reopening.

Today is Tuesday, August 14th, the 8th day of the seventh lunar month. It is an auspicious day for weddings, sacrifices, prayers, religious ceremonies, the Ghost Festival, moving, moving into a new house, groundbreaking, opening a business, and trading. Chen Xiangui chose this day, which can be described as an auspicious day.

As soon as the gongs and drums sounded, guests arrived. Zeng Weiqiang, Chen Zaiguang's former boss and the former director of the Nanshan District Meat Processing Plant, walked over with a smile and clasped his hands in greeting. "Zaiguang, this is incredible! You're doing incredibly well in the catering industry now, running fast food restaurants and hotels. You're practically flying off the ground! Even I have to call you Boss Chen now, hahaha!"

"Mr. Zeng, you're too kind," Chen Zaiguang said with a smile, welcoming Zeng Weiqiang through the gate. Then, other guests arrived one after another, and Chen Zaiguang greeted them with a smile throughout. Fang Zhentao arranged everything for the guests perfectly, leaving no room for complaint.

Ye Daqiu sat in the "Zhaoyebai" and was pulled by Chen Zaiguang's driver, Xiaolin, to the main entrance of the restaurant. When Chen Zaiguang saw that it was his master Ye Daqiu, he quickly ran forward and helped open the back door of the car.

"Master, please be careful with your head, take it slow," Chen Zaiguang helped Ye Daqiu bend down and get out of the car. Ye Daqiu was already looking up at the restaurant's entrance decoration and said to Chen Zaiguang with a smile, "Zaiguang, not bad, the decoration is quite impressive. It seems you put a lot of thought into it."

"Master, it was mainly designed by people hired by my cousin. It's all based on the style of restaurants in Hong Kong, and the interior decoration is the same. They even installed a false ceiling. It's very grand. You can go in and take a look later," Chen Zaiguang said, helping Ye Daqiu walk into the restaurant.

Lin Ruiqing, who was talking to a waiter not far away, saw Ye Daqiu arrive and walked over with a smile, "Master, you've arrived! Please come in!"

"Ruiqing, you're practically a boss's wife now, hahaha!"