Chapter 0167: Unexpected Turn

Some people, if they appear at the right time, might lead to a passionate romance or a deep devotion, but if the timing is wrong, it might just be a greeting, a turn away.

For many, perhaps in a certain moment, one more word, one more action, or even a turn, a phone call, a plea to stay, that person would stay with you for life.

But you didn't.

That's life.

That person might still be there, as your friend, or an acquaintance, or someone you don't even speak to. No one but you may know that at some moment, a ripple could have passed between you, and if you had reached out then, it might have been a different life.

But once missed, it can only be missed.

In his past life, Zhao Fusheng missed too much, so in this life he is actually very greedy, striving to grasp everything.

Including the family and friends around him, including certain people he once missed.

Regarding the relationship between himself and Fan Baobao, Zhao Fusheng didn't think too much about it. In his view, it was still too early, after all, both of them were still young.

"Brother, sister says you earn a salary now, is that true?" Fan Beibei hugged Zhao Fusheng and asked curiously, "What is a salary?"

"Salary is something that can buy you delicious food."

Zhao Fusheng smiled, looking at his mother and Li Yuan: "Mom, Auntie, you really don't need to calculate this."

"Huh?"

Li Yuan and Zhao's mother looked up, full of confusion. Clearly, in their view, this was a cost issue that needed consideration. How could it be something not worth calculating in Zhao Fusheng's words?

Zhao Fusheng carried Fan Beibei to the sofa and sat down, speaking as if to himself: "In our advertising studies, we learned that the sales philosophy of a supermarket is different from that of an ordinary market. At the very least, we don't need to consider the issue of stocking, and similarly, we don't need to worry about the source of goods."

Thinking of this, he suddenly realized that he should have a serious talk with the elders. Perhaps due to differences in mindset, or because Zhao Fusheng hadn't had time to advise them, his parents and Li Yuan had clearly fallen into a misunderstanding.

"Mom, where's Dad?" Zhao Fusheng asked his mother.

"Well, he went out to discuss with Uncle Chen and the others about borrowing money..." Zhao's mother hesitated but still honestly told her son.

Ever since Zhao Fusheng brought home tens of thousands of yuan, although his family status was still at the bottom of the food chain, he at least had some say.

Zhao's father had privately said several times that his son was no longer a child he could just spank whenever he wanted; the one who could earn money for the family was the pillar.

To this, Zhao's mother retorted that her son was still her son, born from her womb, and she could hit him whenever she wanted, no reason needed.

If Zhao Fusheng knew what his mother had said, he would surely cry and ask if he was picked up from a trash can.

"Borrow money?"

Hearing his mother's words, Zhao Fusheng was completely stunned. According to his calculations, the money he gave his parents plus the family's original savings should have been enough to open a supermarket, even if his father had planned to buy the land at the east gate of the university.

He had inquired about it; it was originally a factory warehouse, now abandoned and unused for many years. Logically, the price shouldn't be too high.

"Yes, the money you gave and the family's savings were all used to rent the place. Now the renovation is being done by your father and Uncle Chen themselves, but we still don't have enough for the remaining things, like the cash register..." His mother rambled on, in short, the renovation funds were insufficient, even with free labor.

Zhao Fusheng smiled bitterly, speechless. After all, it was his fault for not saying enough.

"Mom, please call Dad back. No need to borrow money." Zhao Fusheng said seriously.

"Ah?"

Zhao's mother was puzzled but still obediently called Zhao's father. Soon, Zhao's father hurried home, followed by two middle-aged men. Zhao Fusheng had seen them before; one was Chen Hai, the other Hou Liangping, both his father's comrades.

"Uncle Chen, Uncle Hou." Zhao Fusheng greeted them politely, then said to his father, "Dad, did you forget what I told you last time?"

"What?" Zhao's father looked blank.

Zhao's mother and Li Yuan had already put away their calculations and taken Fan Beibei to the bedroom, leaving only Zhao Fusheng and the three men in the living room.

"What is a supermarket? It's a platform, a platform we provide for merchants. Those people want to sell things in our supermarket, so we give them that opportunity. When did it become our job to renovate for them?" Zhao Fusheng looked at his father helplessly. He had omitted just one sentence, and his father had stubbornly interpreted it as opening an independent supermarket—how was that different from a small grocery store?

In Zhao Fusheng's eyes, what his family needed to handle was simple renovation like shelves; the source of goods was not something they needed to worry about.

"Fusheng, do you mean that those who want to sell goods in our supermarket have to pay?" Chen Hai, quick-witted, asked Zhao Fusheng in surprise.

Zhao Fusheng nodded: "Exactly. Tomorrow I'll find some connections, and we'll advertise in the city's newspapers and TV stations to attract investment!"

"Attract investment?"

Zhao's father, Chen Hai, and the others looked at each other, clearly unfamiliar with the term, and couldn't understand how attracting investment related to their supermarket.

Seeing the bewildered expressions on his father and the two comrades, Zhao Fusheng sighed softly. This was the gap in mindset. Although it was already the end of 1999, on the verge of the new century, and although concepts in Beijing, Shanghai, and coastal areas had changed greatly, with people increasingly willing to accept and try new things, in the Northeast, backward thinking meant most people still didn't understand what changes reform and opening up had brought to the country.

"Yes, attract investment, and on a large scale." Zhao Fusheng said to his father, "Our supermarket can accept their investment and occupancy. All merchants must settle accounts with goods first, payment later."

Thinking that the idea of raising funds through shares was too shocking, Zhao Fusheng didn't bring it up immediately. Instead, he asked his father, "Dad, I haven't asked you yet. Mom said you didn't buy that warehouse but rented it. What's going on?"

This was something he noticed later. His father hadn't bought the warehouse but rented it, which really surprised him.

Hearing Zhao Fusheng's question, Zhao's father's expression changed. He hesitated and didn't answer immediately.

Zhao Fusheng was stunned. He knew something must have happened that he didn't know about.