Rebirth: Fan Debiao rises from the Liaobei land

Fan Debiao led Yu Fen home. The nights in Kaiyuan in March were still quite cold. Yu Fen followed behind, her hands in her pockets. Fan Debiao walked quickly, and Yu Fen kept pace.

Upon reaching the door of the small house, Fan Debiao took out his key and opened it. Inside, Ma Xiaocui was organizing her study materials for the day. Hearing the door open, she looked up.

"Uncle is back..." Upon seeing Yu Fen behind him, he paused, then exclaimed, "Aunt Yu Fen?"

Yu Fen forced a smile: "Xiao Cui."

"What brings you here?" Ma Xiaocui stood up. "Where's my dad?"

"Your dad..." Yu Fen didn't finish her sentence.

Fan Debiao closed the door: "Your Aunt Yufen is coming to the city to find work, so she'll stay here for now."

Ma Xiaocui glanced at the injuries on Yu Fen's face: "Did Niu Er hit you again?"

Yu Fen lowered her head and remained silent.

"Alright, Xiao Cui, stop asking," Fan Debiao said. "Go get a glass of water."

Ma Xiaocui poured water, her eyes glancing at Yu Fen. Yu Fen sat on the edge of the bed, her hands on her knees.

There was only one bed in the room. Fan Debiao glanced around and said, "Yufen, you sleep in the bed with Xiaocui, I'll sleep on the floor."

Yu Fen waved her hand: "No, I'll sleep on the floor."

"Listen to me." Fan Debiao pulled out a mattress and spread it on the ground.

Before going to bed that night, Yufen washed all three of their socks. Fan Debiao squatted by the door, smoking and watching.

After the lights were turned off, Ma Xiaocui said in the darkness, "Aunt Yufen, is Niu Er out?"

"……Um."

"He hit you, didn't you run away?"

Yu Fen whispered, "Where did you run off to?"

Fan Debiao coughed once: "Go to sleep."

The next day, Fan Debiao took Yu Fen to Victoria. Wu Derong was making tea in his office when he saw Fan Debiao bring a woman in, and he was somewhat surprised.

"Mr. Wu, this is Yufen," Fan Debiao said. "She's from the same fort as me and is looking for work."

Wu Derong sized up Yu Fen: "What do you want?"

"Cleaning is fine," Fan Debiao said. "I can endure hardship."

Wu Derong thought for a moment: "The cleaning department is short-staffed. It's 500 yuan a month, and lunch is provided."

"Okay," Yu Fen quickly replied.

"She can start work today," Wu Derong said to Fan Debiao. "Arrange for someone to take her to get her work uniform. You stay behind, I need to talk to you about something."

Fan Debiao told Yu Fen to wait outside the door and then closed it.

Wu Derong lit a cigarette: "I've thought about those things you mentioned yesterday, and they seem promising."

Fan Debiao sat down: "Then let's do it."

"Let's deal with the suppliers first," Wu Derong said. "Old Liu's beer is always a dollar more expensive, what a load of rubbish."

"I'll go negotiate," Fan Debiao said. "I'll find a few companies to compare prices."

"We also need to hurry up with the children's play area," Wu Derong said. "There are many children in the bathing area, so setting up a slide and ball pit won't cost much."

"I know someone who does this, and their prices are reasonable."

Wu Derong nodded: "Where's the membership card?"

"Print cards, recharge 500 and get 50 free, recharge 1000 and get 150 free," Fan Debiao said. "The front desk puts up signs, and the waiters push them around. They're given quotas, and then they get commission based on those quotas."

Wu Derong chuckled: "Wow, Debiao, are you out of your mind?"

People always need to improve.

"Then let's do it this way." Wu Derong flicked his cigarette ash. "There are three things you need to focus on."

Fan Debiao stood up: "Mr. Wu, there's something else."

"explain."

"Security needs to be strengthened," Fan Debiao said. "There's a mixed bag of people here, and the group that got into a fight a few days ago might come back."

Wu Derong frowned: "What do you want to do?"

"We need to hire a few people," Fan Debiao said. "Young and strong, preferably with training. Pay them a bit more. Also, provide them with riot forks, shields, and the like."

Wu Derong stared at Fan Debiao: "You're quite capable now, you've thought things through very thoroughly."

"A fall into a pit, a gain in your wit," Fan Debiao said.

"Okay, you're in charge," Wu Derong said. "You handle the hiring."

After leaving the office, Fan Debiao led Yu Fen to her work uniform: a blue cotton jacket and trousers, and a white hat.

"Looks quite energetic," Fan Debiao said.

Yu Fen tugged at her sleeve: "De Biao, I'm a little scared."

"What's there to be afraid of? It's just mopping the floor and wiping the table."

Upon arriving at the cleaning department, Supervisor Wang looked at Yufen and asked, "Have you done this before?"

"I've done housework."

"That's about right," Sister Wang said. "The table must be wiped three times, the floor must be dry, and the toilets must be inspected every half hour."

"I've got it," Yu Fen said.

After settling Yufen in, Fan Debiao returned to the security room. Da Liu and the others were chatting.

"I need to talk to you about something," Fan Debiao said, sitting down. "We need to recruit a few new people to strengthen security. Do you know anyone reliable who can be recommended?"

Da Liu's eyes lit up: "How many do you want to hire?"

"Four to start," Fan Debiao said. "Young, strong, and skilled. Salary 1200."

"1200?" Old Wang clicked his tongue. "I've been doing this for three years and I only make 1000."

"New people, new methods," Fan Debiao said. "We need a few people to keep things under control now."

"I have a cousin," said Da Liu, "twenty-two years old, who studied Sanda (Chinese kickboxing) at a martial arts school."

"Call them over to take a look," Fan Debiao said.

Fan Debiao remembered the supplier and called Lao Liu.

"Brother Biao!" Old Liu's voice boomed, "Why did you remember me?"

"Hey Liu, what's the price of beer these days?"

"The old price, forty-eight per piece."

"It's 45 on the market," Fan Debiao said. "Yours is three yuan more expensive."

Old Liu chuckled dryly: "Brother Biao, my quality is good..."

"Okay, Brother Liu," Fan Debiao interrupted, "I'll get quotes from two companies tomorrow. If you can match their price, we can still cooperate. If not, then there's nothing we can do."

"Brother Biao, this..."

"Bring the price list tomorrow morning at 10:00 AM." Fan Debiao hung up.

At noon, Fan Debiao went to the cafeteria, where Yu Fen sat at a table with several cleaning ladies. Fan Debiao took two dishes with him.

"Eating?"

Yu Fen looked up: "De Biao."

Fan Debiao sat down and gave Yu Fen two pieces of meat from his lunchbox.

"You eat it, I can't eat it."

Yu Fen declined, saying, "You eat it yourself."

"Just eat what I tell you to eat."

The women nearby exchanged glances. Fan Debiao pretended not to see it.

After dinner, Fan Debiao looked for Awei. Awei was at the front desk checking the accounts.

"Brother Biao, is something wrong?"

"It's about the membership cards," Fan Debiao said. "Design a style, print the logo on the front, and the rules on the back. Print five hundred first."

Avi put down her pen: "Really?"

"President Wu has agreed," Fan Debiao said. "Get it done quickly."

"Any sales pitches or guidelines?"

"You get five yuan for each card you promote," Fan Debiao said. "There are extra bonuses for the larger the deposit."

Avi laughed: "The waiters have to be eager to push it."

"That's exactly the effect I wanted."

In the afternoon, Fan Debiao went to the building materials market to find a manufacturer of children's playground equipment. He ordered a set of slides, ball pits, building blocks, and wooden tables from Boss Zhao for 7,800 yuan and paid a 500 yuan deposit.

"Can it be installed in fifteen days?"

"Yes, we can," said Boss Zhao. "We'll take the measurements tomorrow, and deliver and install it the day after."

"pay close attention."

The next morning at ten o'clock, Lao Liu arrived at the security room on time. Two other suppliers also arrived. Fan Debiao asked them to sit down.

"Hey, three bosses, let's get straight to the point," Fan Debiao said. "Victoria needs two thousand cases of beer a month. We'll use whoever offers the lowest price."

Old Liu quoted the price first: "Forty-six per piece."

The other two companies quoted 44 and 43.5 yuan respectively.

Fan Debiao looked at Lao Liu and said, "Brother Liu, you're not being sincere."

Old Liu wiped his sweat: "Brother Biao, forty-six is ​​really the bottom price."

Fan Debiao stood up: "Okay, then we'll take it forty-three yuan and fifty cents."

"Wait!" Old Liu grabbed Fan Debiao. "Brother Biao, let's talk in private."

The two left the security room, and Lao Liu lowered his voice: "Brother Biao, I'll call it forty-six, and I'll leave you three yuan."

Fan Debiao looked at him and asked, "What do you mean?"

"It's a kickback," Old Liu said. "You get three yuan per item, and if you sell two thousand items a month, that's six thousand. You don't have to do anything, you just get paid monthly."

Fan Debiao laughed: "Brother Liu, you know how to handle things."

"So, what does Brother Biao mean?"

Fan Debiao thought for a moment: "Keep it."

"Alright!" Old Liu chuckled. "Then let's go with forty-six?"

"It's forty-three yuan and fifty cents," Fan Debiao said. "Give me the remaining three yuan in cash."

Old Liu was stunned: "This..."

"If it doesn't work out, then forget it." Fan Debiao turned to leave.

"Fine, fine, fine!" Old Liu gritted his teeth. "We'll do it your way!"

After finishing with the suppliers, Fan Debiao remembered the matter of hiring security guards. His cousin, Liu Xiaolong, arrived; he wasn't tall but was sturdy. Fan Debiao asked him to demonstrate his skills, and he was indeed quite capable.

"Okay, come to work tomorrow," Fan Debiao said. "One-month probation period, salary 1,000. 1,200 after probation."

"Thanks, Brother Biao!" Liu Xiaolong grinned.

Three more people are needed. Fan Debiao pondered for a moment, then suddenly remembered someone—Simalu Gangzi.

In his past life, Gangzi and Ma Xiaocui were dating, causing quite a stir. But he's a real fighter and very loyal. If we could recruit him, he'd be a great help.

Fan Debiao asked Da Liu, "Do you know Gangzi from Fourth Road?"

Big Liu glared: "I know! That kid's from the underworld, a ruthless one!"

Do you know him?

"I've met him a few times," Da Liu said. "He runs a billiards hall on Fourth Road; he doesn't earn much money a month."

"Take me to him."

In the afternoon, Fan Debiao and Da Liu went to Fourth Road. The billiard hall was in the basement, and the smell of smoke was pungent. Gangzi was playing billiards with someone, wearing a black vest and a dragon tattoo on his arm.

"Gangzi!" Da Liu shouted.

Gangzi turned around, saw Da Liu, and then looked at Fan Debiao: "What's up?"

"I need to talk to you about something," Fan Debiao said.

Gangzi put down his cue and walked over. He was half a head taller than Fan Debiao and had a fierce look in his eyes.

"You're Fan Debiao?" Gangzi recognized him. "The one from Victoria?"

"Yes," Fan Debiao said, "I'd like to invite you to work as a security guard. The salary is 1,200."

Gangzi chuckled: "Invite me? I heard your place got wrecked a few days ago."

"So we need to hire someone who can keep things under control," Fan Debiao said. "Your name, Gangzi, works in Fourth Road, and it will work in Victoria as well."

Gangzi smiled, turned around, picked up his billiard cue, and continued playing.

Fan Debiao asked, "Gangzi, what do you mean?"

Gangzi said, "It's pointless. I'm willing to work for Victoria, but I'll have to pay more!"

"How many?"

"Five thousand, I'm taking my brother Xiao Wu with me!"

Fan Debiao gave an OK sign, "I'll start work tomorrow."

Watching Fan Debiao's retreating figure, Gangzi muttered, "Damn it, they didn't take enough!"

On the way back to Victoria, Da Liu said, "Brother Biao, Gangzi is a wild guy, can you control him?"

"Wildness has its uses," Fan Debiao said. "What we lack right now are ruthless people."