Lin Minjun was stunned for a moment, and began to calculate silently in his heart.

She has never renovated a house, but she has renovated a rice noodle shop, so she probably has some ideas.

Labor is not expensive nowadays; it’s mainly the materials that are expensive.

“If I really rent it, I estimate it will cost a lot of money to renovate it, because I plan to rent it for five years at a time, and I will also have to renovate it properly,” said Lin Minjun.

Zhou Ran continued, "How do you plan to decorate it?"

"It's not a renovation. I think the original appearance of the house is good, so I just renovated it and restored it to its original appearance."

The house was originally beautifully renovated. Although it is now mottled and faded, its former appearance can still be seen, which is elegant and beautiful.

Lin Minjun said: "The small building is being renovated, the ground of the back yard is being paved with cement, and several bungalows are being renovated. I don't know the price of materials in the current decoration market, how much do you think it will cost?"

Zhou Ran took out a pen and paper from his pocket and quickly wrote down the bill. He added it up and said, "I've been to that hotel before and am familiar with its structure. I estimate it will cost 800 yuan to renovate it the way you want."

He made the number eight gesture and continued, "You know the housing shortage in the capital is tight right now. Everyone is trying to expand and redecorate. Cement and putty are hard to come by. Also, the floor in the small building is completely ruined and has warped due to water seepage. It also needs to be replaced. I calculated the lowest price, and that doesn't even include labor costs."

This is a considerable expense, but that’s not all, there is also labor cost.

Lin Minjun said: "When the rice noodle shop was renovated, I asked around and found out that skilled workers were paid two yuan a day and unskilled workers were paid one yuan a day. After paying the rent and materials, I had nothing left."

She said with a bit of helplessness, "So I've been considering whether to rent it or not. I really don't have enough money, and I can't keep up with my spending."

As they were talking, the boss who had just been yelled at by Zhou Ran came out again, looking at this place impatiently, "Have you finished eating? You just know how to slack off all day long. Did I pay you to come here to chat? Hurry up and get in and work, you two lazy guys, you are dawdling after doing a little work."

It had only been ten minutes since he last came out. It was already very expensive to even boil a pot of water, let alone have a meal.

Lin Minjun was angry. This man was simply the reincarnation of Zhou Paopi. Zhou Ran just said that they had been working since five in the morning until now and had no time to eat.

She stood there and chatted with them for a while, and the boss urged her twice.

Even an iron man needs a break.

Lin Minjun was about to speak when Zhou Ran suddenly pulled off his newspaper cap. Seeing his brother still squatting beside him, he also pulled off his cap. He turned around and yelled, "You should get out. Get out now. I quit. I quit."

The boss was startled and glared at them, "I'm in need of people, and you're just going to quit? I guess you don't want to be paid anymore, right?"

This means that if I quit now, he won't pay me.

Zhou Ran took out a cigarette, lit it, took a deep puff, and grinned, "Okay, you don't have to pay me, then I'll let my brother come here every day to mess around, scribble on the walls you painted, and water your cement. This should be enough to compensate us for our wages. Boss Huang, my brother and I have worked for you for such a long time. You can say that we have been lazy, but the work we have done is definitely worthy of the wages you have given us. Now we are leaving. If you are polite to me, I will be polite to you. We can settle the wages politely and nothing will happen. If you insist on being a rogue, then we brothers will give you a big one. How about it? Have you thought it through?"

After all, he had been in society before, and when he said this, he revealed the habits of a gangster.

The boss glared at me, but finally gave in.

What else can he do? He still has to make money. If he loses two people, he can just find two more. If he gets entangled with them, the loss will be too great.

He said nothing at the moment, turned around, went back to get his bag, counted the entire amount, and then settled his wages.

Before the two brothers left, the boss sneered and said, "If you leave now, you won't be able to ask me for work in the future. You two will have to go out and beg on the street."

"Don't worry, we can't get anything from you even if we beg for food." Zhou Ran said nonchalantly, "Besides, what kind of job am I asking you to give me? I have my own skills, so I'll go out and contract jobs myself instead of working like a dog for others." Working for this boss means being a dog for him, being called around for money, Zhou Ran is really fed up with it.

Lin Minjun, who was standing outside and listening to the entire conversation, was simply dumbfounded. She just stopped to talk to the two brothers for a few words, so how could they lose their jobs?

Lin Minjun saw Zhou Ran coming out smoking a cigarette and didn't know what to say for a moment.

Zhou Ran did have something to say. After coming out, he said to Lin Minjun seriously, "Ah Jun, my brother and I went to the countryside to find someone to learn how to build houses and do renovation work. My grandmother's house was renovated by us. I can paint the walls, install the floors, and pave the yard. Do you think I can take over your renovation project? My brother and I will do it. Outside workers are paid two yuan a day, and they are responsible for these jobs. We only charge one and a half yuan. If you don't have enough money, you can settle it once a week. You don't need to pay a deposit, and I can help you check the materials."

Lin Minjun took two steps back and looked at Zhou Ran seriously. Seeing that there was no joking in his expression, she began to think in her heart, "In addition to what you said, the ceiling needs to be re-suspended. In fact, I also want to find someone to help make tables, chairs and benches. Do you know anyone who can do that?"

"I can also make suspended ceilings and install lights for you, but I can't do carpentry work. I can help you find someone in the village to make custom ones for them. When the time comes, I can just draw a blueprint and they can make anything."

So the two of them talked in detail again, from how to renovate the house to how to choose the renovation materials, Zhou Ran explained everything very clearly.

Lin Minjun was very straightforward when she made up her mind. "Okay, let's do as you say. I'll go buy the restaurant now and pay the rent, and then you can prepare to move in."

She went to see Director Zhao and said that she had made up her mind to rent it, but she didn't have enough money.

"What should we do if we don't have enough money? We really can't reduce the rent any further, Comrade Xiaolin, this is already the lowest price for you." Director Zhao said, spreading his hands.

Lin Minjun: "How about this, we can sign a five-year contract, I'll pay the rent year by year, and if the business is good after the store opens, I can pay it all at once. I'll renovate the store, and even if I really can't pay the rent, you can still get the renovation, so it won't be a loss anyway."

Across the desk, the bald director Zhao frowned and said, "We have never had such an example before."

"That's why we need innovation and reform. Now that the country has reformed and opened up, Director Zhao, don't you have to improve your way of doing things? Everyone is poor now. I dare say that there are very few people who can pay five years' rent in one go. How about we both take a step back? I'll give you a guarantee. If I can't pay the rent in the future, you can clear out my things at any time and earn a renovation fee for free." Lin Minjun can be said to have wasted her breath.

Director Zhao scratched his head, stood up and said, "Then I'll go discuss this with the leader."

After a while, he came back, smiling, "Comrade Xiaolin, our leaders have agreed to sign a five-year contract with you, and the rent can be paid year by year."

The stone in Lin Minjun's heart fell to the ground, and she laughed belatedly.

"Then when can we sign the contract?" Director Zhao asked, rubbing his hands.

Lin Minjun looked at the clock hanging outside and said, "We can do it today. The post office is still open. Wait a minute, I'll go to the post office to get the money, and then we can sign the contract."

She immediately walked out of the office, rode her bicycle back to the courtyard, took out the deposit slip from the post office, and hurried to the post office again. She withdrew 1,500 yuan before the post office closed, then hurried back to the office and handed the 1,500 yuan to Director Zhao.

A large group of people came together. Even though Director Zhao was a leader, he was paid a fixed salary and had never seen so much money before, so he immediately handed over the contract.

Sign and seal the contract in duplicate.

In the next five years, the restaurant will officially belong to Lin Minjun.

…

After leaving the office, Lin Minjun still had a feeling of unreality, and felt dizzy all the way.

The decision to open a restaurant was made in a hurry, and no one was informed, so now I have to go back and report the good news.

When they returned to the store, they ran into Aunt Cao. Lin Minjun said, "Aunt, we need to move to another place and open a restaurant."

"What?" Aunt Cao was holding an enamel basin in her hand and was about to pick vegetables when she let go in fright. The enamel basin fell to the ground and bounced everywhere with a bang, like firecrackers.

Lin Minjun picked up the enamel basin and announced with a smile: "I just rented a restaurant and will be able to open it soon."

It took Cao a long time to come back to her senses. She said in surprise, "You are really capable. How long have you been planning to open a restaurant? When can I go? What will I do in the restaurant? Will it still be these jobs?"

"Which of these questions should I answer first? The restaurant is still under renovation and will not be officially open for business for several months. Then we will move over as a whole." Lin Minjun said, "But your job at the restaurant will be more detailed. You can either be in the kitchen or serve dishes. Where do you want to be?"

"Why should an old lady like me serve dishes? I'm sure everyone prefers young girls to serve. I'll go to the kitchen." Although Aunt Cao was smiling, the inferiority complex in her bones emerged again. She was really happy.

Lin Minjun deliberately said, "As long as you are clean and friendly to customers, I don't believe that people will not come just because the person serving the dishes is an old lady. When the time comes, I will work in the kitchen and you will be responsible for serving the dishes."

Aunt Cao opened her mouth wide, "You are the boss, but you still have to cook in the kitchen? Why don't you hire a chef?"

"The restaurant sells Yunnan-style food. There are too few chefs in Beicheng who can cook, so I have to do it myself." Lin Minjun fell into deep thought, "But you are right, we do need to find someone to cook in the back kitchen."

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