Reborn in 1991, I opened supermarkets all over the world.

There is a saying that idle state-owned assets cannot be rented out, but can be sold instead.

At this point, the country was already planning to shed some burdens and move forward with a lighter load.

If idle properties can be utilized by the public, it will benefit economic development. However, the proceeds from the sale of these properties must be turned over to the treasury in full, because they are state-owned assets, not the property of any individual or small group.

However, if it is rented out, the rent money does not go to the government.

Some companies will use joint ventures to indirectly lease out properties, and the rent or management fees received can be put into the company's slush fund.

Therefore, the policy at the time was to encourage sales but not to allow rentals.

Of course, there are rules for selling as well.

If a state-owned enterprise intends to sell its real estate, it must first inform all its employees.

Internal employees have priority in purchasing.

If none of the internal employees are willing to buy it, then it will be sold through an auction, with the highest bidder winning.

This approach takes into account the priority rights of state-owned enterprise employees while ensuring fairness and impartiality.

However, judging from Song's father's reaction, both of these steps were skipped.

Lu Zifeng asked, "Does Uncle Song know about that warehouse? How much are you selling it for?"

Mr. Song shook his head: "These are all talks between officials; how would we ordinary workers know?"

"No," Lu Zifeng looked at Song's father solemnly, "This is state property, not just the station chief's personal property. Ordinary employees have the right to know, and even the right to preferential purchase. If you know nothing, aren't you afraid the station chief signed a dual contract and lined his own pockets?"

Seeing Song's father's astonishment, Lu Zifeng continued, "As the market economy opens up, more and more people will go out to do business, and the shops along the street will become more and more valuable. Selling now would be a huge loss."

Mr. Song glanced at his watch and chuckled awkwardly, "I have to go to work this afternoon. I'll ask about your matter for you later."

Lu Zifeng nodded and handed another cigarette to Song's father: "I'm so sorry to have troubled Uncle Song."

Mr. Song glanced at Lu Zifeng, then said to Song Zheng, "You two chat a little longer, I'm leaving now."

Watching Song's father leave the teahouse, Song Zheng asked, "Brother Feng, do you also want to buy that warehouse?"

Lu Zifeng refilled his and Song Zheng's bowls with tea and said with a smile, "I don't have the money to buy it right now. I just want to see who's after that warehouse. Since their procedures are flawed, let's sabotage them first."

Song Zheng glanced at the surroundings, leaned closer, and whispered, "How are we going to cause trouble? Should we get a few of our brothers to go and make a scene?"

Lu Zifeng shook his head: "None of our own brothers should get involved in this matter. You go back to the grain station first and spread the word about the irregular operations I just mentioned, especially to the more troublesome employees at the grain station. Make sure they know and let them cause trouble."

Song Zheng nodded and said, "I understand, it's spreading rumors!"

Lu Zifeng asked with a smile, "Is this a rumor?"

Song Zheng chuckled, "That's right, it's not a rumor at all."

Lu Zifeng took a sip of tea and said, "Once they've ruined things, I'll have a new strategy to talk to the stationmaster."

Before the grain depot incident escalated, Lu Zifeng continued to honestly run his grocery store and clothing stall with Qiao Ling.

Although neither of these businesses was particularly profitable, under Qiao Ling's management, both their reputation and profits were quite good.

However, due to limited manpower, Lu Zifeng's street thugs couldn't offer much help in the business, which left Qiao Ling running around and exhausted.

Qiao Ling finally couldn't help but say, "Zifeng, can't we just stick to doing one thing—grocery or other food products—honestly?"

Lu Zifeng asked her, "If you had to choose, would you rather be a food vendor or a clothing manufacturer?"

Qiao Ling thought for a moment and said, "The profit margin of the clothing business is significantly higher than that of the food business, and you have more autonomy in product selection. However, the food business has a faster turnover; you can just sit in the store every day and customers will come in. I guess you'll choose the clothing business; it's more challenging."

Lu Zifeng laughed and said, "I'm letting you choose, what are you guessing for!"

Qiao Ling rested her chin on her hand, looking at Lu Zifeng: "What's your choice?"

Lu Zifeng sneered: "Only children choose; I want them all."

Seeing Qiao Ling's overwhelmed state, Lu Zifeng chuckled and said, "I know you've been working very hard lately, but once we take over the warehouse in the residential area and convert it into a storefront, you won't have to work so hard anymore. Just imagine, a warehouse of nearly 300 square meters—we'll not only sell groceries, but also daily necessities and clothing, all with clearly marked prices. You won't have to worry about anything; you can just sit at the counter and collect the money. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

"What? Like a supply and marketing cooperative? How many people would that require?" Qiao Ling still didn't understand.

"Just have one or two sales assistants walk around, and let the customers choose the rest themselves. That's called a supermarket, or simply a supermarket."

"Wow, they've even started using English now?" Qiao Ling was taken aback.

"However," Qiao Ling asked with some concern, "wasn't that warehouse already targeted? How are you going to take it over?"

Lu Zifeng closed the ledger in his hand and said, "Don't think about it too much now. Come on, let's go out for dinner tonight and treat our great hero to a good meal."

"That's only right!"

This was Qiao Ling's second time sitting on the back of Lu Zifeng's bicycle, but her movements were much more skillful.

God knows how many times she rehearsed it in her mind since the first time.

As Lu Zifeng passed by the Kang Le Game Center, he happened to see Gu Quan coming out of the game center.

He pressed the bell and asked Gu Quan, "Call Jiang Ce and the others, and Chef Wang."

"Great!" Gu Quan's face was beaming with joy. He was starving, and someone was calling him to eat.

Qiao Ling's warm heart was immediately doused with cold water.

Behind Lu Zifeng's back, she secretly gave Gu Quan a wink.

Gu Quan saw it too and nodded vigorously at her.

When Chef Wang from the hospitable restaurant saw Lu Zifeng, he warmly stepped forward and offered him a cigarette.

In the past, this would have been a nightmare for everyone.

But recently, when Lu Zifeng comes to eat, he not only pays but also doesn't ask for change.

Lu Zifeng ordered a large table of dishes and even asked Chef Wang to bring over a case of beer.

Qiao Ling was stunned: "Do the two of us really need to drink this much?"

Lu Zifeng glanced at Qiao Ling: "Who asked you to drink? Aren't you supposed to be taking care of them?"

Qiao Ling said with a hint of smugness, "What if they don't come?"

As they were talking, several brothers, led by Gu Quan, filed in.

Gu Quan casually pulled out a seat and explained, "I was worried you guys would go hungry, so I only found these few brothers. How about that? Quick enough, right?"

As he spoke, he tilted his head back at Qiao Ling with a smug look.

While Lu Zifeng and Chef Wang were in the kitchen weighing the fish, Qiao Ling tapped Gu Quan's hand with her chopsticks: "Are you sure you understand what I mean?"

Gu Quan mimicked Qiao Ling's head-shaking and winking from the back of the bicycle, saying, "Isn't this telling me to hurry up?"

Qiao Ling: "..."