Chapter 332: Preparations Before the Journey

Chapter 332: Preparations Before the Journey

Beijing.

Tsinghua University.

In a male dormitory, Deng Yunsong was organizing the first dorm gathering. He looked at his five roommates and said, "Brothers, National Day is coming up soon, and we've been at school for a while now. We haven't gone out together yet. Why don't we take advantage of this festive time and go out and enjoy ourselves?"

Zuo Chuanfeng, from Henan, was the first to respond, "I agree. We're in the capital now, and if we don't go out and explore, when we go back home for the Spring Festival, how will we answer the villagers when they ask what Beijing is like?"

Qiu Yongnian, from Fujian, laughed and said, "I also agree with Yunsong's suggestion. We both come from remote areas, so we should definitely go out and broaden our horizons."

Yu Zhenping, from Sichuan, smiled and said, "I have no objections."

Tan Chuan, from Zhejiang, said, "I also agree."

Hua Haiyang, from Shaanxi, hesitated slightly but then nodded, "I also agree."

Seeing everyone in agreement, Deng Yunsong happily discussed further, "So, where do you think we should go? Should we see the majestic Great Wall, experience the grandeur of the Forbidden City, or feel the grandeur of Tiananmen Square?"

Zuo Chuanfeng excitedly said, "I suggest we climb the Great Wall. The Chairman said that he who has not been to the Great Wall is not a true man. I've been looking forward to it for a long time!"

Tan Chuan said, "The Great Wall is definitely worth a visit, but we won't see its most beautiful scenery at this time. I heard from my elders that the snow scenery of the Great Wall is the most beautiful."

Deng Yunsong nodded, "Tan Chuan is right. A few years ago, my older brother went to climb the Great Wall with his classmates during a snowy winter. He said the snow scenery was truly beautiful."

Qiu Yongnian asked in surprise, "Yunsong, your older brother also studies in Beijing?"

Deng Yunsong smiled and replied, "My older brother is at Peking University."

Upon hearing this, the five roommates from different provinces were all taken aback.

As roommates, they all knew that Deng Yunsong had scored the highest in the science section of the college entrance exam in Guangxi. Now, to learn that his brother attends Peking University, these two brothers were truly impressive.

Yu Zhenping couldn't help but ask, "Yunsong, is your older brother still studying, or has he already graduated and started working?"

Deng Yunsong replied, "He graduated and started working last year!"

Hua Haiyang, full of admiration, praised, "Yunsong, you and your brother are truly amazing!"

The other roommates also showered them with praise. Having one brother at Tsinghua and the other at Peking University, such a feat would be legendary anywhere.

With this news, Deng Yunsong's standing among his five roommates became even higher.

Deng Yunsong smiled and said, "We're getting off-topic. Let's get back to the discussion. If we don't go to the Great Wall now, where should we go?"

Zuo Chuanfeng said, "If we don't go to the Great Wall, we can visit Tiananmen Square or the Forbidden City. They're not far from each other."

Qiu Yongnian said, "Then let's visit both. They are both famous places."

Tan Chuan said, "If we decide to visit these two places, we should ask local classmates for advice. Otherwise, we might be clueless and waste a lot of time."

Deng Yunsong smiled and said, "Don't worry, I've already asked my older brother. I'll be in charge of leading the way."

Hua Haiyang spoke frankly, "Yunsong, I don't have the same financial conditions as you guys. How will the expenses for the trip be handled?"

Despite the short time they had known each other, the six roommates had a general idea of each other's financial situations.

Currently, Hua Haiyang had the poorest financial conditions in the dorm. After receiving his monthly allowance at school, he would send part of it home, leaving only a small amount for his living expenses. If the expenses for the trip were too high, he wouldn't be able to afford it.

Next, the financial conditions of Qiu Yongnian and Zuo Chuanfeng were better than Hua Haiyang's.

Qiu Yongnian came from a family of fishermen. His living conditions weren't great, but they weren't as bad as Hua Haiyang's. His university allowance was sufficient for his own use, and he didn't need to send money home. As long as he didn't spend extravagantly, it was enough.

Zuo Chuanfeng's parents were workers, and their financial conditions were slightly better than Qiu Yongnian's. Similarly, he could use his university allowance for himself and didn't need to send money home.

Next, there was Yu Zhenping. According to him, his father was a township leader, and his mother was a middle school teacher. Their family conditions were much better than Zuo Chuanfeng's and Qiu Yongnian's. Not only could he use his allowance, but his family could also provide additional financial support when needed, which was quite good.

At the top were Deng Yunsong and Tan Chuan. Both claimed their families were in business and had no financial issues with their daily expenses. It wasn't clear who had the better financial situation, but no one had seriously compared.

Deng Yunsong smiled and replied, "Don't worry about the expenses. We just need to pay for the bus fare, and I'll take care of the rest."

Tan Chuan added, "That's not right. I should contribute as well!"

Yu Zhenping said, "Yes, we should all contribute. We can't let Yunsong bear the burden alone."

Deng Yunsong waved his hand and said, "Brothers, we are all still students, and apart from the school's allowance, we don't have any other income. Everyone's family conditions are different. I'm relatively lucky, with a good family background. The cost of this trip is not a big deal for me, so you don't need to be polite. We will be living together for a few more years, and there will be plenty of opportunities for you to contribute later."

Hua Haiyang sighed in relief, "Alright, then I won't be polite!"

The other roommates, hearing this, also didn't say much more. As Deng Yunsong said, there would be other opportunities to contribute.

Thus, the matter was settled!

...

Next year, his younger daughter would be graduating from high school. Based on her current academic performance, it was unlikely that she would continue her education.

Following this, as planned by Deng Shirong, she would start a hotpot restaurant.

Although people from Guangdong and Guangxi are not as accustomed to spicy food as those from other provinces, it has been proven that Sichuan-style hotpot has a huge market in Guangdong and Guangxi. The appeal of this dish is truly significant.

The hotpot restaurant would definitely include Sichuan-style hotpot.

To make Sichuan-style hotpot, dried chili peppers, Sichuan peppercorns, and Pixian broad bean paste are essential ingredients.

Deng Shirong, with his excellent culinary skills, understood that even the same type of ingredient can have vastly different flavors depending on its origin.

For example, the dried chili peppers produced locally in Guangxi are far inferior in taste to those from Sichuan.

Pixian broad bean paste, known as the "soul of Sichuan cuisine," is a crucial ingredient for making Sichuan-style hotpot.

The selection of these ingredients is directly related to the taste of the hotpot, so Deng Shirong took it very seriously.

As the saying goes, "army marches on its stomach," and Deng Shirong felt it necessary to make a trip to Sichuan and Chongqing to purchase or pre-order a batch of Pixian broad bean paste. If possible, he would establish a long-term partnership with the suppliers.

Originally, Pixian broad bean paste was abundant, and there was no need to purchase or pre-order it in advance. However, Deng Shirong intended to buy only the traditionally produced variety, not the industrially produced one.

The traditionally produced Pixian broad bean paste has a much richer flavor compared to the industrially produced version.

However, the quantity of traditionally produced Pixian broad bean paste is limited, and its production cycle is long. If he didn't pre-order it in advance, it might not be available when he needed it.

At the same time, he would also look for some highly skilled Sichuan cuisine chefs. Once his daughter's hotpot restaurant opened, he would hire them with high salaries.

With this in mind, the idle Deng Shirong took a bus to Nanning and then a train to Chengdu, Sichuan.

...

Chengdu has long been known as the "Land of Abundance," one of the first national historical and cultural cities, and the birthplace of ancient Shu civilization. It is also considered one of the best tourist cities in China. The Jinsha Site in the city has a history of 3,000 years, and it is named Chengdu because it took "one year to form a settlement, two years to form a town, and three years to form a city."

Chengdu is one of the few ancient cities that have remained prosperous from ancient times to the present. During the Western Han Dynasty, Chengdu was the second-largest city in the country, and during the Eastern Han Dynasty, it was one of the five major cities in the nation.

In the Tang Dynasty, Chengdu and Yangzhou were the two most economically prosperous cities in the country, known as "Yang first, Yi second," with Yangzhou being the first and Yi Prefecture (now Chengdu) the second.

During the Song Dynasty, Chengdu and Hangzhou were the most prosperous cities, with a population exceeding a million.

Even in modern times, as a first-tier city, Chengdu remains one of the top-ranked cities.

When people think of Chengdu, the first things that come to mind are hotpot and beautiful women.

After arriving in Chengdu, Deng Shirong wandered around and noticed that hotpot restaurants were already becoming popular in the city.

Feeling hungry, Deng Shirong entered a hotpot restaurant called "Hot Landscape Hotpot Hall."

The restaurant was not very large, and it was the dinner rush hour, so business was booming. The area in front of the restaurant was filled with tables and chairs, and diners were enjoying their hotpot while chatting with friends and family.

As he approached, Deng Shirong caught a whiff of an extremely enticing aroma, one he had only experienced in his previous life and not since he was reborn.

Due to the high number of diners, the waitstaff was busy, and the service was not as attentive. Deng Shirong noted this in his mind, vowing to hire more waitstaff for his daughter's hotpot restaurant to ensure every customer received the best service.

However, there was no need to go to the extreme like Haidilao, just better service than other hotpot restaurants would suffice.

After about forty minutes, Deng Shirong finally got to enjoy his first Sichuan-style hotpot in Chengdu.

The taste was indeed excellent, no wonder this hotpot restaurant was so popular.

Of course, the price was quite expensive. He spent over twenty yuan on this hotpot for one person. If a family or a few friends were to come out to eat, it would easily cost forty to fifty yuan, which was considered a high expense in this era.

Despite the high prices, the business was still booming, which proved the charm of hotpot was truly significant. Opening a chain of hotpot restaurants for his younger daughter was definitely the right strategy. Whether she could succeed would depend on her management skills.

In the same business, some people could make it thrive, some could only maintain it, and others would end up closing down. It all came down to individual ability.

He had already provided the best conditions for his younger daughter. If she couldn't succeed even with these advantages, then it would be better for her to stay at home and enjoy a comfortable life as a little rich second generation.

After finishing his hotpot, it was already quite late. Deng Shirong asked a local for directions and found a high-end hotel to stay in.

...

In Pixian County, there were two famous brands of broad bean paste: one was "Yifenghe," the inventor of broad bean paste, and the other was its competitor "Yuanfengyuan." These two sauce gardens each had nearly 10 acres of drying fields, 25,000 jars, and nearly 40 craftsmen during the Republican era, producing about 400,000 pounds of broad bean paste annually, which was quite impressive.

In recent years, with the rapid development of Sichuan cuisine, the demand for Pixian broad bean paste from the catering industry and ordinary households has increased significantly. This has forced the manufacturers of Pixian broad bean paste to adopt industrial production to increase output.

These two sauce gardens were no exception. If they didn't adopt industrial production and continued using traditional methods, they wouldn't be able to meet the demand and would not be able to develop further.

Deng Shirong first approached the founder of broad bean paste, Yifenghe Sauce Garden. After explaining his purpose, he met with the current head of Yifenghe.

The founder of Yifenghe was surnamed Chen, and the current head of the sauce garden was a descendant of the Chen family.

After a brief exchange, Deng Shirong explained his purpose: "Mr. Chen, I came here mainly to entrust your sauce garden to produce a batch of high-quality broad bean paste using traditional methods. Can your sauce garden accept this commission?"

The Chen descendant was slightly surprised and asked, "Mr. Deng, could you tell me how much you mean by a batch?"

Deng Shirong replied, "How much your sauce garden can produce, I will take it all."

The Chen descendant was taken aback. This was indeed a significant order. He immediately said, "Mr. Deng, we can accept your commission, but I need to mention one point. Producing high-quality broad bean paste using traditional methods not only takes a long time but also involves complex processes and a lot of manpower, which will make the price significantly higher than industrially produced broad bean paste."

Deng Shirong nodded and said, "I understand. How long does the production cycle take?"

The Chen descendant replied, "At least one year, and if you want the best quality, it might take three to five years."

Deng Shirong thought for a moment and said, "Mr. Chen, how about this: I will take the broad bean paste produced in one year, three years, or five years. We can sign a contract, and I will pay the required deposit in advance. When the time comes, I will come to collect the goods."

The Chen descendant said, "Of course, that is acceptable."

Although the sauce garden now produced broad bean paste using industrial methods, they still had the traditional techniques. However, the cost-effectiveness of traditionally produced broad bean paste was low compared to industrial production, so they had only been producing small batches in recent years.

Now, since a businessman was willing to pay a high price, there was no reason to turn down the business.

Thus, the two parties began discussing the purchase price.

In the end, the price for broad bean paste with a one-year fermentation cycle was set at 0.16 yuan per pound, 0.22 yuan per pound for a three-year cycle, and 0.28 yuan per pound for a five-year cycle. This price was not a problem for Deng Shirong, so he agreed without hesitation.

They signed the contract, and Deng Shirong paid a 5000 yuan deposit in advance.

With everything settled, Deng Shirong bid farewell and left.

...

Although the main purpose of his trip had been achieved, Deng Shirong did not return immediately. Instead, he toured Chengdu and then visited Chongqing, the birthplace of spicy hotpot.

During this time, Deng Shirong ate hotpot at least ten times, each time at a different hotpot restaurant. Some had excellent taste, while others were relatively ordinary, but none were bad, as he chose popular restaurants.

He recorded the names of the hotpot restaurants with the best taste, so he could recruit their chefs if needed in the future.

After thoroughly exploring both places, Deng Shirong took the train back to Nanning.

...

Nanning.

Architectural Design Institute.

Deng Shirong was looking at the renovation design renderings for Wuyue Square provided by Director Huang.

Let's start with the exterior renovation. The architectural design institute proposed to use large-scale glass mosaics, which were the most fashionable and popular in this era, with partial marble inlay. Although the effect can't compare to future standards, it is indeed considered high-end for this time.

For the first-floor supermarket renovation, the architect had seen the Yongjia Supermarket in Bobai County and made certain innovations based on that. From the renderings, it already has the initial form of future supermarket designs.

The second-floor hotpot restaurant renovation primarily followed Deng Shirong's suggestions, with a very reasonable overall layout.

Especially, the design of each table and chair is far ahead of this era, using the embedded hotpot tables from the future, which are not only safer but also more aesthetically pleasing.

Of course, there is still a safety hazard with the use of gas cylinders, but while induction cookers exist in this era, they are not yet widely used, and their versions are far inferior to those in the future. Therefore, the current design still primarily uses gas cylinders, with plans to switch to induction cookers after the year 2000.

As for safety issues, as long as the boss pays attention and conducts regular inspections, safety accidents can be minimized.

There are no immediate plans for the renovation of the third and fourth floors, while the luxury renovation of the fifth floor was personally designed by Director Huang. After their previous discussion, he clearly understood Deng Shirong's requirements. The renderings he produced were very satisfactory to Deng Shirong.

The design truly integrates traditional cultural elements with modern design concepts.

Deng Shirong, increasingly satisfied, praised, "Director Huang, I am very satisfied with your design. I have only one request: for the fifth floor of Wuyue Square, please continue to use the three types of wood: Hainan Huanghuali, Zitan, and Jinshinan."

Director Huang, knowing that this major client had a particular fondness for these three types of wood, readily agreed, "Of course, no problem."

Deng Shirong continued, "For the first and second floors, you can decide on the wood to use, but my only requirement is that it must be sturdy and durable."

Director Huang smiled and said, "No problem, please rest assured, Mr. Deng. We will definitely follow your requirements."

Deng Shirong nodded in satisfaction and then asked, "Director Huang, could you calculate the total cost for me?"

Director Huang had already calculated the cost and smiled, "The total cost is 32.8 million yuan."

Deng Shirong was not surprised. The seven-story Ye Deng Residential Area has a total area of 4,480 square meters, and it cost 20 million yuan to renovate. The first floor of Wuyue Square alone is 3,000 square meters, and now renovating the first, second, and fifth floors, which total 9,000 square meters, plus the significant cost of the exterior renovation, the total cost is reasonable.

The renovation of the first and second floors is relatively simple, otherwise, the cost would be even higher.

It must be said that, whether now or in the future, renovation is a bottomless pit. If it's a simple renovation, a few million yuan would be more than enough, but if it's a more meticulous renovation, the cost can be endless.

After knowing the cost, Deng Shirong asked, "Director Huang, does your architectural design institute have enough construction personnel?"

Director Huang smiled, "Mr. Deng, you can rest assured. Our institute's business covers the entire autonomous region, and we have ample construction personnel. Moreover, as a major client, your project will definitely be given priority in personnel allocation."

Deng Shirong said, "That's good. I hope you can ensure the quality of the renovation while accelerating the progress of the Wuyue Square project. Even the renovation of the Ye Deng Residential Area in Bobai County can be paused to prioritize Wuyue Square, aiming to complete the renovation before next year's New Year's Day. Is that possible?"

Director Huang nodded, "No problem. If the renovation of the Ye Deng Residential Area is not urgent, I can reallocate the personnel to focus on Wuyue Square, ensuring it is completed before next year's New Year's Day."

Next, the two discussed some detailed aspects of the renovation.

After everything was clarified, Deng Shirong signed the renovation contract with the architectural design institute and paid a portion of the renovation funds in advance.

"Director Huang, I'll leave it to you from here on!"

"Mr. Deng, it's our duty. Thank you for your trust."

Deng Shirong stood up and smiled, "I'll take my leave now."

Director Huang also stood up, "Mr. Deng, it's getting late. Let me treat you to a meal?"

Deng Shirong politely declined, "Thank you, Director Huang, but I need to return to Bobai later. I'll treat you to a meal next time I come."

Director Huang, seeing that Deng Shirong was not interested in staying for dinner, said, "Alright, take care, Mr. Deng. No need to see you off."

"Goodbye!"

"Goodbye!"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end