Chapter 63 It's all because of money (complete)...

The warehouse was completely emptied, as were the store shelves.

He Changyi waved his hand, closed the shop door, and led Geng Zhi, Zheng Xiaowei, the cleaning lady and her daughter, and the security team straight to the nearby Georgian restaurant.

Because Su Cizong was Georgian, Georgian cuisine was once very popular in the Union. In addition, the cuisine uses high-quality ingredients, has a rich flavor and is rich in oil, and is highly praised by the people of the Union. Therefore, even after Su Cizong went to report to Marx, Georgian cuisine became more and more popular in the Union.

Upon hearing that they were going to eat at a Georgian restaurant, the foreigners Geng Zhi and Zheng Xiaowei didn't seem to care much. However, the uncle and young man from the local security team got excited first, and the cleaning lady's daughter was so happy that she grabbed her mother's arm and shook it.

"Great, Mom! We're going to eat Georgian food!"

The cleaning lady touched her daughter's face, her voice hoarse and unable to speak, yet her face was still full of smiles.

The security team captain joked:

"Miss He, if we eat so much that the restaurant can't serve any more food, you'll regret treating us!"

He Changyi raised an eyebrow and said, "Oh? Just for dinner?"

She pulled out a case of Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor) hidden under the counter, and the security guards cheered immediately after seeing what it was.

Seeing the frenzy at the store today, they originally thought that all of Zhong Guo vodka had been sold out and there were no more left.

Without He Changyi having to lift a finger, the young security guard immediately stepped forward, took a case of Erguotou liquor and carried it on his shoulder, walking with a light and quick gait.

He Changyi said to the security captain, "How about we make a bet and see who can stay sober until the end?"

Security captain: Theoretically it should be him and his great lads, but why do I have this unsettling feeling...?

The group escorted He Changyi to a Georgian restaurant a street away. It was already dark, and there were few pedestrians on the street. Occasionally, a malicious glance would be cast from the shadows, but it would quietly move away after seeing a group of tall and burly security guards.

He Changyi carried a suitcase full of cash in one hand and held a gun in her pocket with the other. She only relaxed when she entered the restaurant.

The money in the box was only a small portion of today's turnover. He Changyi took some time in the afternoon to deposit most of the cash into Eguo Bank. Since the bank had already closed, she had to carry the rest with her.

He Changyi's cash is now divided into two parts: domestic and foreign. The payments made by domestic steel mills are transferred to the suppliers after passing through one intermediary, and both are settled in RMB. The surplus is used for investment, mainly in real estate and gold. The rubles she receives from her shop in Emirates are used in situations where only the local currency is accepted, such as paying taxes and transportation fees. The remaining portion is used for foreign exchange speculation to profit from the exchange rate difference between the US dollar and the ruble.

He Changyi's assets are growing at a steady and rapid pace, breaking through the one million dollar mark in a short period of time, and are still rising.

However, to outsiders, He Changyi was no different from before, and it was impossible to associate her with nouveau riche.

Even Geng Zhi and Zheng Xiaowei, who had spent a lot of time with He Changyi, couldn't tell. Zheng Xiaowei even whispered to Geng Zhi:

"Why did the boss order so many dishes? Lamb chops, roast chicken, and stewed beef. Do these Russians even know what they're eating? It's a waste to give them all this food."

Geng Zhi said, "What's the waste? The boss ordered the food, so it's your turn to decide? You should be secretly happy. If it were someone surnamed Zheng ordering, you'd be better off eating vegetables and tofu!"

Zheng Xiaowei muttered under his breath, "Forget vegetables and tofu, at least there should be a fish..."

Geng Zhi scoffed, "Ten people sharing one fish, you won't even get a chance to slurp the head."

Zheng Xiaowei retorted, "Bullshit! The moment the fish was served, I would definitely grab the belly first, while you would be sucking on the head!"

Seeing that they were about to start arguing again, a thick cookbook was thrown between them.

Geng Zhi and Zheng Xiaowei looked over at the same time, and He Changyi gestured with his chin towards them.

"Let's order. One dish per person. Eat as much as you want today. Even if you want fried fish scales, that's fine too."

Zheng Xiaowei said with a fawning smile, "Boss, I knew I could make the right choice working for you!"

Geng Zhi had already opened the menu and pointed out the names of the dishes to the waiter with great seriousness.

"I want this one."

The waiter spoke a string of unfamiliar words in Ethnic language, which Geng Zhi couldn't understand, but he nodded as if he understood.

"Yes, that's right, that's it."

Seeing this, Zheng Xiaowei hurriedly grabbed the menu, first choosing the most expensive dish. Just as he was about to call the waiter, he thought for a moment, then secretly flipped to the front and chose a dish with a moderate price.

This Georgian restaurant has a very homey and unpretentious decor, giving you a warm feeling as soon as you enter.

Outside, the streetlights were dim, but inside the restaurant, the lights were bright and the atmosphere was filled with laughter. A plump waitress carried a huge tray in one hand and nimbly moved between the tables.

He Changyi leaned back lazily in her chair, watching everyone laugh and chat with a slight smile, occasionally taking a sip of the wine served with the restaurant's food.

As the birthplace of wine, Georgian red wine has a unique flavor, rich fruitiness, and a refreshing, non-greasy taste. When served in a clear glass, it resembles a liquid ruby.

The restaurant served the food quickly, and soon several appetizers were brought out, including assorted cheese, vegetable and potato salad, walnut and eggplant rolls, and fried cornbread cubes.

The little girl had already eagerly grabbed her knife and fork, eyeing the cheese with predatory intent. Her mother gently patted the back of her hand, and she lowered her hand somewhat embarrassedly, revealing a shy smile.

He Changyi smiled and pushed the cheese plate towards the little girl. Since they were all family, she was too lazy to give any pre-meal speeches or toasts and simply told everyone to start eating.

The security captain was a man of principle. He poured himself a glass of Zhongguo vodka, raised his glass to He Changyi as a gesture, and took a sip without saying a word.

When he entered the restaurant, he asked the waiter to put the liquor in the refrigerator to chill it. It was the perfect temperature, and the cool liquor went down smoothly, leaving a lingering fragrance on his lips and teeth, without any burning or spicy taste.

The security captain drank three glasses in a row, a blush of happiness spreading across his face. He repeatedly said to He Changyi:

"You're my best friend, I'd take a bullet for you! Cheers to our Jong-guk vodka!"

Zheng Xiaowei was dumbfounded and kept shaking Geng Zhi's arm.

"Wow, these Russians can really drink?!"

Geng Zhi asked, puzzled, "What's so strange about it? It's just a few drinks. I think they drink just as much as this every day."

Zheng Xiaowei shrieked, "But that's 52-proof Erguotou! Who drinks baijiu chilled before drinking it?!"

He Changyi smiled and drank a glass of baijiu with the security team, then let them fight amongst themselves.

A moment later, there was a sudden thud on the table. Everyone looked over and saw that the security captain had buried his head in his plate. A moment later, he started snoring loudly.

The little girl stared in disbelief. He Changyi patted her on the shoulder and pointed to the chicken tabbaka that had just been served.

"Don't worry about him, just eat more, you're still growing."

The little girl nodded obediently, picked up a piece of chicken, dipped it in the white sauce, and continued happily eating.

Seeing the little girl eating with relish, Zheng Xiaowei quickly grabbed a piece and copied her, dipping it in a large amount of sauce. Only when he put it in his mouth did he realize something was wrong.

"What does this taste like?!"

Geng Zhi also ate a piece of chicken tabbaka, tasted the sauce, and said, "It tastes like walnuts."

Zheng Xiaowei: ...Why would anyone eat chicken with walnut sauce?!

He then dipped it in the red sauce, which only made things worse.

"What kind of sauce is this?!"

He Changyi interjected with a smile, "It's plum sauce."

It's sweet and sour with a rich plum flavor, and when paired with chicken tabbaka, it has a truly exotic taste.

He Changyi added, "We can't waste food."

Zheng Xiaowei burst into tears: ...He might as well eat chicken on its own.

As dish after dish was served, the atmosphere at the table grew increasingly lively. Everyone let loose completely, singing, drinking contests, and competitions to see who could eat the most chili sauce straight from the table—it was almost like the roof was about to be lifted off the ground.

The little girl, like a little hamster, held the boat-shaped cheese tart and ate it from bow to stern, getting butter and cheese all over her face.

The cleaning lady looked at her daughter tenderly, occasionally brushing her long hair behind her ears.

The security guards, one hand holding a fried lamb chop and the other a fried potato, ate with their mouths full of oil, their faces flushed and slightly drunk, displaying a blissful, dreamlike expression.

Geng Zhi and Zheng Xiaowei argued about whether the mushroom and mutton buns on the table called "Khinkali" had anything to do with the soup dumplings in China.

Geng Zhi: "There must be a connection. Look, the way they eat it is the same. Maybe it was passed down from ancient times."

Zheng Xiaowei: "Hey, you failed your history exam and you're talking about ancient times? Did the Silk Road pass through Russia?"

Geng Zhi: "You're still accusing me? You cheated on your history exam! I saw your cheat sheet!"

Zheng Xiaowei: "I cheat because I'm capable. If you're so capable, why don't you make a cheat sheet too?"

Geng Zhi: "Hmph! If I fail the test, it's because I'm not smart enough; if you cheat, it's because you have a moral problem!"

These two have completely veered off-topic, and neither of them cares about the Georgian dumpling anymore; they're practically ready to start fighting.

The security guard, who couldn't understand Chinese, took advantage of the chaos to stir up trouble.

"Charge! Charge! Real men decide victory through battle!"

He Changyi leaned back in his chair, sipping his wine absentmindedly, watching the chaotic scene on the table, and felt a rare sense of lazy peace.

That's great.

She picked up two nuts from the plate and accurately smashed them onto Geng Zhi and Zheng Xiaowei's foreheads.

The two were arguing heatedly when they were suddenly hit. When they saw that the person who hit them was the boss, they were so frightened that their anger vanished.

He Changyi said, "Why don't you two just fight it out? Men should use their hands instead of their words. You're making a racket in my eyes."

Geng Zhi and Zheng Xiaowei: ?

What kind of boss encourages employees to fight?

Furthermore, they were arguing, which is one thing if it bothered their ears, but how did it end up bothering their eyes?!

The plump waitress slammed a soup bowl the size of a washbasin onto the center of the table and said loudly:

"Khashi (beef offal and garlic soup)! Perfect for sobering up these drunks!"

The soup is seasoned with a generous amount of minced garlic, and you can smell the strong aroma of garlic even before you take a sip. It's perfect for having a bowl after drinking to clear your head.

He Changyi had someone shake the security captain awake and force-feed him a bowl of beef offal and garlic soup. The captain's dazed eyes cleared for a moment, and he slammed his hand on the table, saying:

"Give me another bottle! I'm not drunk! I want to stay sober until the very end!"

After a hearty meal and drinks, most of the dishes on the table were eaten, and even the last dessert, the nut stick candy, was finished.

He Changyi took out the cash he had prepared in advance to pay the bill, and then arranged for the drunken security guards to help each other back to the building.

When drunkards go out on the street, unless they encounter another group of drunkards of similar size, even robbers won't want to mess with them.

The cleaning woman and her daughter were taken back to their rented house by He Changyi.

It's too late. I'm not comfortable letting them go back with the security team. It's better to keep them under my watchful eye and bring them back to the building together tomorrow.

He Changyi rented a detached two-story house in Vladimir.

This building is a newly built prefabricated structure. The homeowner hired a black market construction team to build his suburban vacation home, which resulted in a lot of debt. He had to rent out the house to pay off his debts.

He Changyi was not very satisfied with the location and quality of the house, but unfortunately she could not find a more suitable house in Vladimir.

Firstly, due to the local housing shortage, the national welfare housing allocation policy during the Union period meant that many people had to wait for several years to get their own house. Before the housing allocation, the whole family had to squeeze together, with a dozen or so adults crammed into a 40 or 50 square meter house. Where were there any extra houses to rent out?

Secondly, we must attribute this to the misdeeds committed by our predecessors who were profiteers.

He Changyi found a large house in a government building that was available for rent through a local friend. It had three bedrooms and a maid's room, and all utilities (water, electricity, and heating) were free.

Everything was agreed upon, but when He Changyi went to the landlord's house to sign the contract, the landlord saw that she was from China and immediately backed out.

“My relatives in Moscow told me that Chinese people are like rats; once you put one in your house, your house will be full of rat holes!”

He Changyi patiently said, "Perhaps you need to get to know the people of Zhongguo yourself, rather than learning about a completely unfamiliar country through other people's accounts."

The homeowner replied, "No! I don't want to pay that outrageous phone bill!"

It turns out that some middlemen took advantage of a loophole in the rental system. Seeing that the phone bills in the room were still charged to the landlord, they thought it was a fool not to take advantage of the situation and made as many calls as possible, whether domestic or international. As long as they could get through, they would chat on the phone for hours. When the lease ended, they would just pack up and leave, leaving the landlord with a huge phone bill.

And that's not all.

Some landlords restrict the number of people allowed in a room, so these middlemen send a representative to sign the contract. After receiving the keys, the number of guests suddenly surges, and the living room floor is filled with people sleeping.

Desecrating furniture, poor hygiene, making noise at night, fighting, gambling, soliciting prostitutes...

To put it simply, these middlemen have ruined their own reputations and, incidentally, tarnished the image of Chinese people overseas.

This resulted in He Changyi being unable to rent a good house and having to barely afford to rent this two-story building in the suburbs.

The local housing market was destined to have no hope of rising, and she had no interest in wasting money. He Changyi would rather rent a place and save the money to buy a room in a tenement in Beijing than buy a house in Fuzhou.

The group returned to the small building, where He Changyi arranged for the cleaning lady and her daughter to stay in the unused second-floor bedroom, and found a brand new set of bedding.

The little girl's eyes lit up when she saw the narrow bed with the old mattress on it.

"Mommy, it's a bed! We have a bed to sleep in!"

The cleaning lady was both happy and reserved, and tried to stop He Changyi from opening the bag of bedding.

"Having a bed is enough..."

He Changyi was slightly drunk, and his strength was uncontrollable. He pulled out a new bed sheet and draped it over the girl like a big cloak.

"Don't mention it, it's an employee benefit, you're just using it ahead of time."

After settling into her sleeping place, He Changyi seemed to remember something and said before leaving:

“If you don’t mind, this will be your staff dormitory for now—well, I still don’t like this house, and I’ll have to move when I have the chance.”

After He Changyi left, the little girl clutched the bed sheet, suppressing her excitement, and said:

"Mom, do we have a home again?"

The cleaning woman's eyes welled up with tears as she knelt down and hugged her daughter, as if making a promise:

"I will never let you live in the bathroom again, never..."

The little girl hugged her mother tightly, and said like a little adult:

"Mom, I'm willing to live anywhere as long as I can be with you. The house doesn't matter, what matters is you."

As night deepened, the small building quieted down, filled with a drowsy atmosphere.

Zheng Xiaowei tossed and turned in bed. Finally, he couldn't resist any longer and sat up abruptly, leaning over to pat Geng Zhi on the next bed.

"Wake up, wake up!"

The straightforward man, half-asleep, was woken up and mumbled a curse:

"Are you crazy? Why aren't you sleeping?!"

Zheng Xiaowei said heavily, "I've been thinking about this all night, but I really can't sleep until I figure this out."

Geng Zhi said irritably, "Spit it out if you have something to say!"

After much deliberation, Zheng Xiaowei finally spoke: "How much money do you think the boss made today?"

Geng Zhi jumped out of bed and stared at Zheng Xiaowei.

"You've been thinking about this all night without sleeping?"

Zheng Xiaowei said, "Do you know how much money I counted today?"

He lowered his voice and gestured with one hand: "At least this much! The boss earns in one day what the factory makes in half a year, not even counting the money from exchanging color TVs for scrap steel. Tell me, how much money does she think she makes?"

Geng Zhi lay back down on the bed and covered his head with the blanket.

"sleep!"

Zheng Xiaowei was unhappy.

"Hey, hey, how can you be like this? Putting everything else aside, just look at the suitcase she brought back today—it contained thirty million rubles, all in 1,000-yuan notes! That's about 260,000 to 270,000 yuan! And that's just one suitcase; she's taken it out at least five times! Five times!"

A muffled, straightforward voice came from under the covers.

"None of your business! None of my business!"

Zheng Xiaowei was speechless for a long time before finally saying angrily, "You're destined to be a shop assistant your whole life, you're not cut out to be a boss!"

Geng Zhi was already snoring.

Zheng Xiaowei buried his face in the bed, fuming for a while before falling into a fantasy—if he could earn a million a day, he would definitely make Director Zheng toast him…

He Changyi lay lazily on the bed, patted the edge of the bed, and soon a huge dog head was stuffed into her palm, exhaling warm breath.

Looking at the moon outside the window, half asleep, she thought about going to Mosk the next day to find a famous doctor to come to Vitalie's house for a diagnosis.

Just as He Changyi was about to fall asleep, her hand suddenly went empty, followed by a loud, thunderous bark.

"Woof woof woof woof woof!"

As He Changyi awoke with a start, she heard a familiar engine roar outside, as well as the sound of the downstairs door being pried open.

It's a thief!

He Changyi rolled over, pulled out the pistol from under his pillow, and rushed out.

At the door, they encountered a cleaning lady who had also come out to check the situation. Without having time to explain further, He Changyi asked her, "Do you know how to use a gun?"

The cleaning woman, bewildered, first pushed her daughter, who had followed her out, into the room, and said with a pale face:

“Yes, I can. My father used to take me hunting.”

He Changyi took a rifle from beside the bedroom door and handed it to the cleaning lady; it was a spare gun she had prepared for any emergencies.

She only gave one instruction: "Stay on the second floor and aim at everyone you don't know."

The cleaning woman took the gun; although her hands were trembling, her voice was calm.

"Don't worry, I won't let them come up."

Even for her daughter.

He Changyi walked to the corridor near the main entrance, turned to look out the window, and sure enough, it was the group of thieves she had seen before.

They probably had informants near the store, but it was too crowded during the day to make their move, so they watched helplessly as the color TVs and other goods in the warehouse were taken away.

The cooked duck flew away right before their eyes. Unwilling to leave empty-handed, the thieves decided to switch from stealing to robbing, directly taking the money from He Changyi!

However, after renting the house, He Changyi replaced the door with a new one and used a new lock brought from China, and sealed all the windows with iron bars, leaving no blind spots.

This was beyond the capabilities of the thieves from Emei. They were helpless against the solid iron door, let alone the advanced locks they had never seen before.

The group of people were poking at the door lock with a wire, and the barking of the large dog was also making people feel irritable.

"Open the door now! Do you want the whole street to wake up?!"

"Damn it, is it that I don't want to open this broken door?!"

Just then, gunshots rang out, and bullets struck the truck, making a crisp sound of penetration.

The thieves were all startled and looked up at the same time.

It's that damned Jong-guk woman!

He Changyi held a Remington rifle, its long barrel resting on the windowsill, the dark muzzle aimed at the thief downstairs.

"I've said it before, who wants to taste the bullet?"

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Author's Note: I originally wanted to introduce someone in this chapter, but that person said they're still on their way, so we'll have to see them in the next chapter.