"Alright, I'll do as you say. Have your people come over. I'll talk to the current owner here, and if it's suitable, I'll take it." Guo Xuyang hung up the phone.
He hadn't tried to hide his call from Wang Shiping.
"Boss Wang, my friends on the other end have agreed. What do you think of my proposal just now?"
"General Manager Guo, I can co-manage this jewelry store with you. However, I won't be involved in the day-to-day operations. I'll just be a shareholder and take dividends. If it's just temporary help, I can come, but I'm usually very busy," Wang Shiping replied.
"No problem. As long as you're involved in the management, that's enough. After all, I'm unfamiliar with this place and need your support. How much are these two shops? I'll transfer the money to you." Guo Xuyang said.
"Since you're letting me invest in the jewelry store, eighty million yuan is fine. Twenty million will be my share."
"Alright. Twenty million for a twenty percent stake. Since we're going to co-manage, we should establish some guidelines, shouldn't we? I have three other people here who will invest another eighty million yuan, holding an eighty percent stake. We'll handle the specific profit distribution according to the guidelines."
"Agreed. Then, happy cooperation." Wang Shiping extended his hand.
"Happy cooperation."
"General Manager Guo, it's a pleasure to meet you. Tonight, I'm hosting a banquet. Please do me the honor of attending." Wang Shiping said.
"Then I'll impose on you." Guo Xuyang did not refuse.
He called Xu Liping, informing her that he was going to dinner with Boss Wang and that she didn't need to wait for him.
"Should we invite Miss Xu too?" Wang Shiping asked.
"Is it convenient? You can invite her," Guo Xuyang replied.
He knew they knew each other, but he didn't know how familiar they were.
"Miss Xu, I've just made plans with General Manager Guo to go to the Anran Grand Hotel. I've already mentioned it to General Manager Guo, so you can head there directly. Okay, goodbye!" Wang Shiping hung up the phone. "General Manager Guo, I've told Miss Xu to go directly to the Anran Grand Hotel from her shop."
"Anran Grand Hotel?" Guo Xuyang murmured, then asked, "Does this hotel have any special features?"
"The hotel's specialty is beautiful people, a complete menu, and delicious food.
Beautiful people are because the service staff here are said to be selected from all over, masters of their craft, singing and dancing, it's unparalleled.
A complete menu means all eight major cuisines are available here. I don't know how the owner found such chefs.
Delicious food means that whatever you wish to eat, the hotel can make it. Sweet, sour, bitter, spicy, salty, steamed, braised; anything that flies, swims, or runs, they can prepare it for you.
Don't ask why the government doesn't intervene. Anyone who can open such a hotel must have extraordinary connections, be influential in both legitimate and illegitimate circles, and be capable of anything," Wang Shiping explained.
"And another attractive feature is that these beautiful ladies are waitresses by day and companions by night. As long as you can afford it, you can have whatever you desire at night. This is only accessible to members, and strangers are not entertained."
"Oh, no wonder," Guo Xuyang remarked. "Then let's go. Let me, this country bumpkin, experience this place of beautiful people, a complete menu, and delicious food."
The two drove to the Anran Grand Hotel.
The Anran Grand Hotel was actually the same hotel where Guo Xuyang and Jiang Qixin had eaten lunch. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been so surprised to hear the name.
Jiang Qixin had mentioned finding a distinctive hotel during lunch, and Wang Shiping recommended this hotel in the afternoon, which piqued Guo Xuyang's curiosity about the Anran Grand Hotel.
During lunch, he had heard the greeters mostly mentioning local dishes, and they were indeed delicious.
He wondered what dishes Wang Shiping would recommend tonight.
When the two arrived at the Anran Grand Hotel, Xu Liping was already waiting at the entrance.
"General Manager Guo, I'm sorry. I originally intended to treat you. Since Boss Wang is in the mood, I'll treat you and Boss Wang tomorrow."
"There's no need to be so formal. It's just a meal. Moreover, General Manager Wu appreciates you so much," Guo Xuyang said.
The three chatted and laughed as they entered the lobby, and the greeters led them to the upstairs restaurant.
"General Manager Guo, what would you like to eat? Please choose." Wang Shiping pushed the menu towards Guo Xuyang.
"As the guest, I defer to the host. You can choose. There's no need to make it complicated; just pick a few specialty dishes."
"Then I'll choose the Braised Goose Feet, Stir-fried Shrimp, Scallion-Sautéed Sea Cucumber, Chopped Chili Fish Head, Preserved Meat Combination, One-Grade Tofu, Nine-Turned Intestines, and Braised Chicken Cubes. Miss Xu, would you like to add anything?"
Wang Shiping ordered several dishes from the menu and then pushed the menu back to Xu Liping.
"Boss Wang has ordered quite a bit. Let's add a Lotus Seed and Tremella Soup," Xu Liping said.
"Certainly, please wait a moment." The waiter took down the order, poured tea for the three of them, and left.
"Boss Wang, Miss Xu, from now on, we are all on the same boat. Although this is our first meeting, I feel a strong connection with both of you. When you get to know me, you'll understand.
My role here is solely investment, similar to Boss Wang's. I won't be involved in operations; the specific operational matters will be handled by General Manager Wu Youzhi. We still have three shareholders who haven't arrived yet. We'll arrange another time for everyone to meet and get acquainted," Guo Xuyang said.
"I have other matters to attend to during this trip. General Manager Wu will be here early tomorrow morning, and you can discuss things in detail then. I won't be too involved in operational aspects."
"Boss Wang, I'd like to understand our gold procurement channels and any taboos in sales. Please explain them to me in detail. Since I've taken over these shops, I want to operate legally and earn money within the bounds of the law and regulations."
"As the saying goes, people walk on two legs, money on four. It's better for money to generate money than for people to chase it. As long as we operate legally, with Boss Wang's three shops, it should be possible to make one to two billion yuan a year."
Wang Shiping looked at Guo Xuyang, feeling that this person wasn't bragging. However, in his years of management, the profit had never exceeded one hundred million yuan annually. He wondered where Guo Xuyang's confidence came from.
Xu Liping, on the other hand, was somewhat surprised. She had only met Guo Xuyang today, and from his bold move in taking over the department store shops to his current words, she subconsciously believed he could achieve it.
It was a genuine trust, a very peculiar feeling. She didn't think Guo Xuyang was bragging.
Seeing their expressions, Guo Xuyang used his perception to briefly sense their thoughts and understood them.
"As long as you two work diligently, I guarantee your dividends by the end of next year will not be less than thirty million yuan. If it falls short, I will make up the difference. Of course, the prerequisite is to operate legally and never cross the legal red line."