Courtyard House: A Prosperous and Joyful Life

Luo Yong laughed heartily: "The whole village is here! How could there not be a large number? Our Qianjin Village has over 2,100 people!"

Wang Jun was shocked. It was just a feed mill, yet they moved the entire village here. This was too audacious.

Luo Yong patted his chest and said, "This feed mill is the village's only hope! I don't even need to call them; everyone comes on their own. Our Qianjin Village may be poor, but we're united, and no one from the surrounding villages dares to mess with us. Jun, if anyone bullies you in the future, just say the word, and I'll send hundreds of men to help you!"

Wang Jun felt a chill run down his spine; he couldn't even bear to imagine the scene of hundreds of people coming to fight.

"No, no, I'm doing just fine, no one's bullying me," Wang Jun quickly waved his hand.

After watching for a while, Wang Jun asked, "Approximately how long will it take to build the factory?"

Luo Yong waved his hand dismissively: "With the whole village pitching in, what are a few factories! I reckon ten days will be enough."

Wang Jun nodded. Ten days to build a factory entirely by hand, that's quite a speed.

Suddenly, a thought occurred to me: "With the whole village coming to work, how will we get lunch?"

Luo Yong chuckled, "Let's all go home and eat. The factory isn't even built yet, we don't have the money to provide meals."

Wang Jun was speechless. So these villagers came to work not only without wages, but they weren't even getting a meal? He paused for a moment, then said, "It's unacceptable to let everyone work on an empty stomach. Here's what we'll do: I'll take out 20,000 yuan, you buy some grain, meat, and vegetables, and get everyone some food."

Twenty thousand yuan, calculated over ten days, is enough for food expenses of two thousand yuan per day.

Upon hearing this, Luo Yong waved his hands repeatedly, "Jun, no need, no need, we can just eat at home. How could I let you pay for this?"

"Even the emperor doesn't need starving soldiers," Wang Jun waved his hand. "I can't bring myself to make people work on empty stomachs. Alright, this little bit of money is nothing to me, so don't be polite."

Before long, the village loudspeaker started blaring.

"Attention, villagers! Attention, villagers! I have some great news to share!"

"Boss Wang Jun, please contribute ten thousand yuan for food expenses!"

"Starting today, the construction site will provide two meals a day, both with pork!"

"Let's all work harder and get the factory up and running as soon as possible!"

"Also, those whose names are called, come with me to town to buy grain and pork!"

The construction site instantly erupted in chaos.

"Good heavens! Boss Wang is providing meals?"

"Two meals a day with meat? This is like celebrating the New Year!"

"Really?! Pork every meal? I can't even imagine it!"

"Great! I haven't had any meat for two weeks, my mouth is so bland!"

"I'm in an even worse situation. I haven't seen meat for almost half a month. My kids are all pale and thin, and they're constantly asking for meat."

"Brothers! Boss Wang is so generous, we can't be sloppy. Let's roll up our sleeves and get to work! The sooner it's finished, the sooner we'll make our fortune!"

"Dry!"

The entire construction site was like a pot boiling with excitement. With hope in sight, everyone was like they'd been injected with adrenaline, their work enthusiasm soaring, and their hands and feet moving as nimbly as if they were flying.

Wang Jun stayed at the construction site for most of the day before driving back.

According to the plan, Qianjin Village would build the factory, connect water and electricity, install machinery, recruit and train workers, and then purchase raw materials within ten days, and production would begin within a month or two. In the 1980s, setting up a factory in a few dozen days was considered remarkably efficient.

With the current relaxation of national policies, the most direct way for farmers to make money is by raising pigs, chickens, and ducks. Many places have already established collective breeding farms on a large scale. The overall demand for feed will only increase—once these farms are up and running, money will flow in like water; a mere million-yuan investment can be recouped in no time.

Wang Jun had a plan in mind: when Hope Group was founded in 1982, its initial capital was only one thousand yuan. He was investing one million yuan, giving him far more capital. If things continued to develop at this pace, he might very well contend for the title of the domestic feed giant. No matter the industry, being number one is incredibly profitable; if he truly became the feed leader, earning hundreds of millions a year would be a breeze. And when the market fully opened up in the 1990s, the scale would be even larger.

Back in the courtyard house, I had barely sat down and hadn't even brewed a cup of tea when I heard a knock at the door. I opened it to find Xu Damao there.

This guy changed his outfit today. He was dressed in a sharp black suit, his leather shoes were polished to a shine, and his hair was slicked back. He looked incredibly energetic.

Wang Jun wondered, what did this guy want when he came to visit?

Xu Damao beamed, clearly delighted by some good fortune. A couple of days ago, he opened a sunflower seed shop, specializing in roasted sunflower seeds, and business was booming, netting him over two hundred yuan a day. While it wasn't as lucrative as reselling antennas, that business was short-lived; this shop was a steady, long-term income, enough to last for years. He'd calculated it himself: two hundred yuan a day, six or seven thousand a month, sixty or seventy thousand a year! That was countless times better than working in a factory.

To thank Wang Jun for his guidance, Xu Damao brought several fat fish with him and a nice gift in his bag when he visited.

Wang Jun sized him up and down: "Hey, Xu Damao, judging by your appearance, you've been doing well lately? Made a fortune?"

Xu Damao nodded repeatedly, his eyes narrowing into slits with a smile: "Thanks to Brother Jun, I opened a small shop, and business is doing quite well. I came here today specifically to thank you, and I even brought something nice with me."

As he spoke, he pulled a thick photo album from his briefcase, lowered his voice, and said mysteriously, "Brother Jun, take a look at this."

Wang Jun took it and flipped through it, his eyes almost popping out of their sockets—good heavens, the whole album was full of photos of girls, each one more beautiful than the last.

Seeing his surprise, Xu Damao chuckled, "I've been going to the park to take photos every day lately and have met quite a few girls, all of them beautiful. If you're interested, Brother Jun, I can put in a good word for you?"

Wang Jun was stunned. This guy, he even drove his wife away by taking photos, but he still doesn't learn his lesson and keeps going to the park every day. His persistence is unparalleled. What's even more amazing is that he somehow managed to get the contact information of so many girls. It has to be said that Xu Damao has quite a skill when it comes to dealing with women.

Wang Jun casually flipped through a few pages, not really interested in the matter, and handed the album back: "Forget it, I'm thinking about how to make money right now, these things aren't urgent."

Xu Damao looked regretful, thinking to himself that this kid only knew how to make money and didn't know how to enjoy life. His eyes lit up, and another idea came to him: "Brother Jun, just making money isn't enough; you need a balance between work and rest! How about I call a few girls over and have a dance party in the yard?"

These days, young people love to throw dance parties. They'll just grab a tape recorder, put it in the park, turn the volume up to the maximum, and start dancing. Before 1987, disco was all the rage, imported from America. Disco music was incredibly popular, and young people danced like clockwork. Then, in 1987, the movie *Breakdance* was released, and everyone switched to breakdancing, dancing all day long. Decades later, this group didn't stop; they moved to a different place and continued dancing—square dancing. That's right, the disco dancers and the square dancers are essentially the same group.

Wang Jun wasn't interested in dancing either, and waved his hand, "Forget the dance, I don't have time for that. But I do have something I'd like to ask you for help with."

Upon hearing this, Xu Damao was overjoyed—Wang Jun needed his help, this was a golden opportunity! Everyone knew that Wang Jun was a golden goose, and if you got on his good side, even a casual remark could make you rich.

Xu Damao patted his chest, his voice rising eight octaves: "Brother Jun! Just say the word! Anything is possible! I guarantee I'll get it done perfectly!"

Seeing his enthusiasm, Wang Jun found it amusing and, without much preamble, said directly, "I'm looking to collect a batch of antiques and artifacts, as well as old furniture from the Ming and Qing dynasties—huanghuali, golden nanmu, and zitan, I'd like to collect them all. But I'm not very knowledgeable about these things. Could you help me find some experts in antiques and artifacts, and hardwood furniture, in Beijing?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Damao thought, "This isn't difficult at all. What kind of place is Beijing? It's an ancient capital city with hundreds of years of history. There are plenty of people who understand antiques and historical artifacts. You can find them everywhere in Liulichang. Anyone sitting in any old shop could be an expert."

.

"No problem! Leave it to me!" Xu Damao patted his chest loudly. "There are plenty of experts in antique furniture in Beijing; I'll definitely find you a reliable one!"

Wang Jun nodded: "Okay, then thank you for your hard work."

He figured to himself that antique furniture hadn't been hyped up yet, and prices were ridiculously low. Collectors from Hong Kong and Taiwan had already started flocking to the mainland, where they could acquire good pieces for tens or hundreds of yuan, which would then fetch astronomical prices overseas.

The best course of action is to quickly acquire a batch of these items before mainland Chinese react. This is especially true for Ming and Qing dynasty furniture made of huanghuali and zitan wood. In the early 1980s, there was practically no market for these pieces on the mainland; local antique dealers had no idea what their international prices were. In a few years, once Wang Shixiang's two books are published, Hong Kong and Taiwanese collectors will flood the mainland to buy them, and prices will skyrocket. By then, it will be too late.

Antique Auction Scam: 4 Yuan Cost, 100 Million Yuan Sold | Auction | Antiques_Sina Collection_Sina.com

Did the "Panjiayuan Market in Beijing," which captivated the Chilean president, spark a collective frenzy among millions? | Cultural Relics | Jade | Bronze | Antique Markets_NetEase Subscription

: Hupingyazi - Sogou Encyclopedia

Ming and Qing Dynasty Furniture (Furniture Types) - 360 Encyclopedia

The appreciation rate of Ming and Qing dynasty furniture is astonishing, from ten yuan to tens of millions. (Market, China, Impact)

Xu Damao had barely left when Wang Jun remembered he hadn't fished for several days. "Alright," he thought, "I'll just go for a big catch today."

"System, 500 beginner fishing attempts!"

One hundred yuan each time, five hundred times would be fifty thousand yuan. With his current wealth, he wouldn't even blink an eye.

[Instructions received.]

[The 500th beginner fishing session is about to begin.]

[50000 yuan has been deducted.]

Fishing begins.

A semi-transparent fishing line flew out, landing in who knows which dimension.

The next second, a series of notification sounds rang out.

Congratulations! You have acquired a second-hand cosmetics production line.

Congratulations on obtaining the patent and related production materials for your handheld game console.

Wang Jun was taken aback, then laughed. It was exactly what he'd hoped for! With a cosmetics production line already in place, the process of setting up a factory was already a huge step away.

"This is great stuff!" Wang Jun was increasingly satisfied as he looked at it. "This route has saved me at least three or four million US dollars, plus two or three months of shipping time."

In the 1980s, buying a production line from abroad would take two or three months just for sea freight, and with negotiations and procurement, half a year was considered fast. Now, getting it directly is like winning at the starting line.

He then looked at the second item.

[Handheld Game Console: Compact and portable, fits in your pocket, and lasts for half a day on two AA batteries. This design originates from a parallel universe, and all internal electronic components are sourced globally.]

Wang Jun's eyes lit up immediately after reading it.

These days, if you want to play games, you either go to an arcade or connect a machine to a TV, like the Famicom. Handheld game consoles? Something that lets you carry the whole game in your pocket and play it anywhere—there aren't any on the market!

Strictly speaking, someone created something similar in 1976, but that hardware was practically electronic junk, and nobody bought it. The real handheld console didn't appear until Nintendo released the Game Boy in 1989. That little machine sold from 1989 to 2000, a staggering 120 million units worldwide in just over a decade!

120 million units!

How much wealth is hidden inside this tiny game console?

"Handheld consoles were a game-changer in the 1980s!" Wang Jun became increasingly excited as he calculated. "If we could just manufacture them and sell them all over the world, we could conservatively make two or three billion US dollars!"

Garment factories and canneries are already impressive enough, making a net profit of one or two million dollars a day. But if an electronics factory were to open and handheld consoles were to be mass-produced and released to the market, the daily profits wouldn't be in the millions; they would be in the tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars!

Moreover, building an electronics factory meant he was officially entering the electronics industry. Clothing factories and canneries were, in the end, small-scale operations; the electronics industry was the real gold mine of the 1980s. Radios, televisions, telephones, computers, mobile phones... these electronic products began to become widespread in the 1980s, entering thousands of households, and the business opportunities within them were boundless.

"First, set up the cosmetics factory, then immediately move on to the electronics factory to produce handheld consoles!" Wang Jun already had a complete plan in mind.

He watched TV for a while to calm himself down before driving to Yu Li's hot pot restaurant.

The two of them had agreed last time that Wang Jun would invest in a hot pot restaurant. Today they're here to discuss how many stores to open and how much money to invest.

Inside the hot pot restaurant, Yu Li was busy preparing. As soon as Wang Jun entered, he noticed that the woman looked even more beautiful, radiant and youthful, as if she had become ten years younger.

As the saying goes, women need nourishment. Yu Li's life has been getting better and better lately. Her hot pot restaurant is making money every day, and she has someone who loves her. Her whole demeanor has changed. No wonder Yu Haitang noticed it at a glance.

"Yu Li is really beautiful," Wang Jun muttered to himself. "I wonder if Yan Jiecheng regrets divorcing her."

When Yu Li saw Wang Jun arrive, she greeted him with a smile. She was now content; on the one hand, she wanted to expand her hot pot restaurant and open more branches; on the other hand, she wanted a child.

She's not getting any younger; it's time to think about it. A woman needs children to feel secure. She doesn't expect to marry Wang Jun; she just wants to have a child. However, she hasn't dared to mention this to Wang Jun yet, afraid he won't be happy.

Wang Jun sat down and got straight to the point: "Have you thought it through? How many stores do you plan to open?"

Yu Li said, "We'll open eight more stores."

Now that the shop's business is stable, bringing in two to three hundred yuan a day, she feels more confident. With eight new shops and one old one, a total of nine, she can easily manage by hiring more staff. If each shop earns two hundred yuan a day, that's eighteen thousand yuan for all nine, and fifty to sixty thousand yuan a month—it's exciting just thinking about it.

Wang Jun made a decisive move: "Let's do it. Just let me know how much it costs. By the way, it's best to buy the shop directly, don't rent it. As for the shares, we'll split them 50/50."

These days, courtyard houses are cheap, and shops are cheap too. Take advantage of the low prices to buy a batch of shops, and you'll make a fortune just from the appreciation in value later.

Yu Li nodded, agreeing to whatever Wang Jun said.