1994: Starting with unpaid leave

"Borrow money? How much?"

"Fifteen thousand..."

This amount of money wasn't much for Dong Jianguo.

Although he wasn't exactly well-off, he invested most of the profits from reselling eggs, aside from paying off Director Wan's mortgage, into the food factory.

But the wholesale egg business hasn't stopped every day. Relying on cash sales and credit purchases, they're not short of money.

Dong Jianguo was just a little curious as to why his second brother would suddenly decide to borrow money.

It seems this didn't happen in my past life.

However, since I was a disappointment in my past life, my second brother probably wouldn't ask me for money even if he wanted to.

When there was no reply from the receiver, the second brother, Dong Weiguo, spoke again:

"Jianguo, I know you're not well-off right now, and you still owe money on a house. If it's difficult for you, just let it go, I'll think of another way."

Hearing his second brother's hesitant voice on the other end of the line, Dong Jianguo smiled:

"Second brother, it's alright. I've paid off the mortgage. It's not convenient to talk on the phone. Where are you now? I'll come find you..."

……

Noon, Lao Liu Barbecue.

It was lunchtime, and business was good both inside and outside the store.

Although many factories have implemented the policy of allowing employees to stay home and wait for work, there are still many people going out to eat.

Thick smoke billowed from the grill outside the barbecue restaurant, and the meat skewers on the grill sizzled and dripped oil into the grill, creating another cloud of smoke.

The seven or eight tables set up outside the barbecue restaurant were already full of people, with men enjoying their meat skewers and beer, savoring the cozy atmosphere before winter.

Dong Jianguo locked his bicycle, circled around outside but didn't see his second brother, and then stepped into the store.

"Founding the Nation, here!"

The second brother, Dong Weiguo, was sitting at a table by the window. When he saw him arrive, he waved to Dong Jianguo.

Dong Jianguo walked straight over, put down his backpack, and plopped down opposite his second brother.

I haven't seen my second brother for more than half a month, and he looks much darker and thinner.

Dong Weiguo smiled and pushed the menu over:

"I haven't ordered yet. What would you like to eat? Order for yourself..."

Dong Jianguo didn't stand on ceremony. He ordered twenty skewers of beef, ten skewers of grilled tendon, four skewers of fatty pork belly, two bowls of hand-pulled noodles, and two bottles of Mingyue Island beer.

Seeing his second brother's pained expression, Dong Jianguo smiled:

"What's up, second brother? Want something white?"

"No, no, beer will do."

Dong Weiguo waved his hands repeatedly, and as soon as he put his hands down, he started rubbing them on the table.

The loan is still pending, but judging from the current situation, a large sum of money is about to be spent.

Dong Jianguo noticed his second brother's little tricks and knew that his brother was a quiet person who didn't like to talk about things, so he wanted to tease him.

While waiting for the skewers, Dong Jianguo asked his second brother about borrowing money.

The two had mentioned it briefly when they had a banquet at their new home.

With the overall economic situation getting worse, the workshop of the First Machine Tool Factory, where my second brother works, also has to give its employees a long holiday, just like the precision weaving factory, and let them go home and wait for work.

A workshop that used to have three to five hundred people was suddenly reduced to only 100.

My second brother is also on the list of those waiting to be laid off.

However, before that, he had thought of some ways to make money.

For example, delivering goods by tricycle or carrying large bags...

But this money is all hard-earned; although it's enough to live on, it comes too slowly.

Ever since learning that his younger brother was making tens of thousands of yuan a month trading eggs, Dong Weiguo's mind inevitably started to wander:

"Recently, I heard from your second sister-in-law that before National Day, the things sold at their junior high school store were not clean, and several children ended up in the hospital."

One of the children happened to be the principal's nephew.

This incident infuriated the school principal, who has already fired the previous owner. The school's convenience store is currently seeking new tenants, and I'd like to try running it…”

"The goods themselves don't cost that much... but I heard from your second sister-in-law that Director Bai, who's in charge of logistics, is quite greedy; he's asking for 10,000 yuan for a two-year contract..."

"Director Bai Jie?" Dong Jianguo was taken aback.

Seeing his second brother nod, he couldn't help but feel happy.

Before he could even speak, steaming hot hand-pulled noodles and meat skewers were served on the table.

The hand-pulled noodles in Hecheng are different from the nationally famous Lanzhou noodles.

The noodles typically have a unique triangular cross-section, giving them a chewier texture. The broth is usually made with a flavorful beef soup base, often accompanied by a peppery flavor.

It tastes much fresher and more fragrant than Lanzhou ramen.

Paired with large, perfectly marbled meat skewers and ice-cold beer, it's an absolute must-try!

While slurping his noodles, Dong Jianguo asked his second brother:

"Have you discussed this with your sister-in-law? What's her attitude?"

"She did want me to do it, but she said she didn't have any money at home..."

"You can't really blame your sister-in-law. Yangyang is getting older, and there are more and more expenses. Our income is limited, and we haven't saved much money over the years..."

The second brother picked up a meat skewer and ate it while talking.

The meat smelled delicious, but when he tasted it, it had an indescribable bitterness.

Dong Jianguo smiled and gave his second brother a thumbs up:

"That's great, Second Brother! You've improved!"

"What progress have I made?"

"Last time we had dinner, I was worried that you'd have to handle things on your own. Now you can talk to your sister-in-law and discuss things with your brother. Isn't that progress?"

"Alright, stop making fun of me!" Dong Weiguo gave a wry smile, his face full of the bitterness of a middle-aged man.

"This isn't sarcasm. It's a good thing to express yourself positively when you encounter problems."

Dong Weiguo raised his glass and came over:

"After all that, what's your situation? If you have the money, lend me some; I'll pay you back in a few months when I've made some!"

"Brother, stop messing around. Running a convenience store at school and earning 15,000 yuan in a few months? I'm afraid you'll feed the students at No. 3 Middle School to death..."

"What are you talking about? Do you think I'm that kind of person?!"

Dong Jianguo pointed to the travel bag he had brought:

"I have the money from your brother. But I don't plan to lend you that much..."

"What? Are you deliberately trying to annoy me?"

Dong Weiguo leaned back in his chair and glared with his bull-like eyes.

"Look at you, so impatient! You're about to be a boss, and you're still so restless?"

Dong Jianguo picked up the grilled fat patties and handed them to his second brother:

"I don't think that Director Bai Jie from No. 3 Middle School is necessarily that greedy. Look at her name, it sounds so pure and innocent, she must be a good person. How could she ask for ten thousand right off the bat?"

"We should be kind and considerate, and not think so badly of others."

Dong Weiguo stared blankly at his younger brother, thinking to himself, "How can this silly brother, who earns so much money a month, still be so naive?"

Can a person's character be judged solely by their name?

"Why not? Want to make a bet with me?"

"What are we betting on?"

Dong Jianguo smiled mysteriously:

"Let's go to No. 3 Middle School this afternoon and have my sister-in-law take me to see Director Bai. I want to have a good talk with her."

"If I can get her to agree to the deal, I'll only lend you 5000 of the remaining 10,000 commission as start-up capital."

"Besides, at the next family gathering, you have to admit to everyone that I'm amazing."

Dong Weiguo nodded: "It's great that it can save me ten thousand yuan. But what if we don't manage to negotiate a deal?"

"If we can't reach an agreement... I'll just give you this 15,000!"

Dong Jianguo patted the travel bag next to him, looking very serious.