Chapter 39
Because of his live streaming career, Zhan Mu has some spare money, not much, just a few dozen or a few hundred yuan to maintain a simple life. The homestays he currently stays in are all overnight, so he has been looking for a suitable house for long-term rental these days.
Lu Chao actually didn't quite understand his persistence.
In Lu Chao's opinion, Zhan Mu has a father and a mother, his family has a car and a house so they won't starve to death, and he also has his own room. Even if his sister has an accident and falls into a coma, it won't be a big deal for him as her brother to stay at home and take care of her.
But Zhan Mu was only thinking about making money and trying desperately to get away from his parents, which seemed to be a hatred for his current living conditions.
In fact, Zhan Mu is currently away from his parents and has no quality of life at home.
Lu Chao couldn't understand it. In his opinion, Zhan Mu's resentment was completely inexplicable. Where in the world would there be parents who eat their own children?
"But my mental state at home is very bad." Zhan Mu lowered his head and spoke calmly and coldly, and his tone was completely emotionless.
"It's hard to explain." Zhan Mu frowned. "If they say yes, then providing food, clothing, and shelter is definitely good. If they say no, I think my parents really like to pua me and humiliate me."
Lu Chao laughed. "I think you're really willful. It's just, how should I put it, you're too self-motivated. You're a very disobedient and unruly person."
Zhan Mu smiled and said, "You don't understand. You are very happy. My family's problem is definitely not poverty. It's a mental problem. They want to control me mentally. It's the king-king, minister-minister, father-father, son-son system."
"I talked to my mom about respect and equality. I said a good parent-child relationship is like that of friends, but that's impossible in our family. My parents really like to be the boss at home. Their so-called teaching me means that if my hair isn't combed properly, if I don't dry the dishes thoroughly, I have to pick up any hair that falls on the floor, and I'm not allowed to dirty the white walls of the house."
Zhan Mu twisted his lips, his expression sinister and even disgusting, and said, "My family has strict rules and regulations, it's a feudal autocracy. Apart from not adhering to the Three Obediences and Four Virtues, they are pure descendants of the Qing Dynasty."
"Besides, there's no right or wrong in family conflicts. You're not my parents' child. You don't live with them day and night, and you don't have personal experience. You can't understand."
Zhan Mu raised his eyes, raised his eyebrows, and said with a deep expression: "Yeah. I have a dirty mouth, but a clean heart. I don't like to pretend. I never say that I am a good person."
Obviously, such a person was quite special. Lu Chao stared at him, his gloomy and nonchalant temperament making him feel that Zhan Mu was really different from anyone he had ever met.
The two of them walked side by side on the street. Zhan Mu wanted to open a physical store, so he was looking for a good location.
He blinked his eyes, flicking back tears, and suddenly said, "I want to make money, but more importantly, I don't want to have to worry about other people's feelings. I want to control my own life. I don't want anyone to tell me what to do, including my parents. I refuse their interference in my life."
The words were neither light nor heavy, but they carried an absolute and unquestionable tone. Lu Chao discovered that he really had the airs of a boss, and his words were final and he acted arbitrarily, ignoring everyone.
"What if you fail in the end?" Lu Chao looked at him with a dark look. In his eyes, Zhan Mu was really overestimating his own abilities. You know, he didn't have many cards.
She has an average appearance and is not photogenic; she has an average figure and loves to eat too much and cannot control her mouth; she has a low level of education and her professional employment prospects are very limited; she wants to start a business, but her family won't even give her 500 yuan.
"I'm not as ambitious as you think." A chill flashed across Zhan Mu's eyes as he said, "I'm not going to other provinces to develop. First, I'm too lazy to get familiar with the new environment. Second, the opportunities for starting a business during the reform and opening-up period have passed. Third, if something happens to my parents, I can be there for them."
The last sentence seemed quite human, but Lu Chao read his sneer. What a beast! He wanted to live long enough for his parents to die so that he could inherit the inheritance, right?
"Master Gu, you've seen too much of that." Lu Chao finally smiled lightly and changed the subject. He didn't think it was a big deal and seemed to admire him. He said, "I find you're quite dark. You don't have any sense of benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, or trustworthiness at all."
"Because my world isn't about truth, goodness, and beauty." Zhan Mu took two quick steps, spun around as if to absorb the sun, and turned back: "Have you forgotten? I used to be an ugly idiot. I haven't been that popular since my school days."
"Okay, I support you." Lu Chao replied with a smile.
Zhan Mu was bathing in the scorching sun, it was very hot, he stopped jumping and turned into walking. The temperature was too high, so Lu Chao put away the fluid, leaving him alone to walk forward under the scorching sun.
His mom sent him a text: "Where have you been? You just left without a second thought and haven't even called in days. Why are you in such a rush to make money? We're not asking you for money. Have your dad and I treated you unfairly since you were born? What did you eat to grow up?"
Mom: It's so hot, won't you get heatstroke if you stay in those rental houses? I really want to start a business. Let's make plans. I'll open a braised food store and you can come back and help me.
Mom: I told you business is tough right now, but you're always livestreaming, aren't you? How much money have you made?
Mom: Liu Xdong is in his forties and still delivering food. He works so hard, running such a big company with so many employees waiting to be paid. Isn't it hard for him? He's under more pressure than you! You just dance around with your phone all day long. I'm telling you, you're crazy. You can't make any money, so you're just a fool.
Zhan Muqi laughed and just typed: Is Li Xqi an idiot? What is he doing live streaming all day...
Then he deleted this sentence.
In the end, Zhan Mu clicked on the Do Not Disturb button for the message. He didn’t delete it, but he also didn’t read it.
At noon, he had a simple meal of noodles, vegetables and eggs, and drank a sip of iced black tea. Then Zhan Mu looked at the small shop next to the milk tea shop in the town. It used to sell Cao's duck necks, but it went bankrupt and the storefront was for rent.
Zhan Mu wrote down the phone number, dialed it, and asked, "Hey, boss, hello, how much is the rent for your store?"
"One thousand? No way, this is a rural town, not a big city, and it's not a prime location."
"I'm planning to make some snacks. Didn't your shop originally run a restaurant? The sewer is clogged with grease... No, no, I work with less oil. I'll definitely keep it clean for you. Okay, can you come this afternoon? Sure, we can talk in person. Open the door and let me see the layout inside."
After hanging up the phone, Lu Chao was curious: "What have you decided to do?"
"No, let me ask first." Zhan Mu said with an unruly look on his face, "The minimum payment should be half a year."
"You haven't thought about inviting people here yet?" Lu Chao was really impressed.
"What's wrong? I'm really determined to do it." Zhan Mu chuckled: "The money has been paid, the shop has been booked, and with the pressure from the landlord, I have the motivation to push myself to work hard every day."
...This is a pure lazy guy!
Zhan Mu estimated his five or six thousand yuan and was actually very worried. After all, he had to buy the internal infrastructure after finalizing the store, and he also had to buy ingredients, tableware and cooking tools to make snacks.
That afternoon, Lu Chao saw Zhan Mu scratching his head and looking through various loan apps. He immediately advised him, "Stop it! What do you think of doing business with online loans?"
Lu Chao was mopping the floor in the rental house when Tailiang attacked.
Fluids are really precious things. They can't be used for any gravity work. They are ornamental robots that provide emotional value and cannot be used as labor.
Zhan Mu tutted his words and said, "You, a househusband who can't even cook, are not allowed to refute me."
At the appointed time, Zhan Mu waited for the very thin landlord at the door of the store. He was a man without glasses and dressed very simply. He looked a little timid and stingy.
Zhan Mu stepped forward and smiled, saying in a gentle voice, "Hello, boss. I'm the one who called you at noon."
Pretending to be mature and steady is Zhan Mu’s forte.
The boss didn't expect him to be so young and was a little surprised. He smiled, took out the key to open the door, and pushed up the shutter door. After a cloud of dust, Zhan Mu waved and saw the interior layout clearly. It was a bit like a milk tea shop, with a front desk and a small table.
There is a junior high school and an elementary school nearby. If the target audience is students, the consumption level does not exceed 20 yuan. There are also several snack shops and milk tea shops. In fact, Zhan Mu knows in his heart that if he sells food, he will not be very competitive.
Also, it’s not profitable and it’s not easy.
The catering industry is too hard for the lazy Zhan Mu.
"Where are these tables, chairs and benches?" Zhan Mu walked in and looked around.
The skinny landlord was also looking at him. He was wearing a T-shirt, jeans and sandals, and looked very impressive. He looked to be in his early twenties and not at all stage-frightened. He looked like a rich second-generation who was sent out by his family to exercise.
Landlord: "One thousand for the whole set. Since you run a snack shop, you don't need to redecorate. Just adapt it to the local conditions."
"It's too small. I actually had two plans, but I saw that there were too many competitors on this street, so it would be better to open a whole printing shop or something like that." Zhan Mu held his chin and touched the dust on the table with his fingertips. It seemed that this room had been idle for a long time.
"Printing shop?" The landlord said "Oh", then realized it belatedly and said, "You mean for photocopying and ID photos? Indeed, there is no such place on this street. You must have connections with the school teachers, otherwise..."
As soon as he finished speaking, he shut up. Zhan Mu's eyes flashed and he smiled: "Is that so? Got it, haha, I'm half a local, my grandparents live in Village 37, and I also have relatives who run a barber shop in town."
"Zhan Bing?" The landlord immediately recognized the man. It couldn't be helped; this town was just that small. He clapped his hands in agreement, "So you're his son? Oh no, the age doesn't seem right. If you're a local, that's easy."
"I don't want these tables, chairs and benches. How about 600 a month?" Zhan Mu said nonsense and bargained boldly.
"Well...how long will you rent it for?" The landlord seemed embarrassed. He reminded me, "I've installed the electricity meter too. It's behind the house. Check it out."
Zhan Mu nodded and followed him around the backyard. Unexpectedly, there was a small courtyard facing someone's pond, which was very elegant.
The landlord explained: "Honestly, I don't want to use this shop as a place for people to cook. The oil soup is so dirty, and the sewer smells after being used for a long time. But I have to say that this business makes money quickly, and it's cash flow."
"I don't do catering, I just do printing and copying. 650 is the deal? I don't need the tables, chairs and benches here." Zhan Mu said. To be honest, he really liked the atmosphere of this small backyard.
"Then, will you pay a year's rent first?" The landlord said, "This business is also very fast, right?"
"Half a year." Zhan Mu chuckled dryly and said, "Business like a printing and copying shop..." He took out a pack of Yuxi from his pocket and put it in the landlord's chest pocket. "Business is not good these days, boss. If you agree, I will transfer the money immediately and help you move these tables and chairs."
"Okay, okay, locals don't cheat locals." The landlord was impressed that the man was easy to get along with and spoke openly and honestly, so the deal was done.
-
In the evening, when the temperature dropped, Lu Chao popped his head out and saw his boyfriend working hard to clean the house. Tables, chairs and benches were placed on the street, and other people were loading them into a car, as if they were going to take them somewhere for disposal.
"You're so awesome." Lu Chao looked over and saw Zhan Mu taking off his T-shirt. With his bare chest, he was dismantling the original front desk and hammering it hard. His muscles were clearly visible due to the sweat on his body.
You are such a boyfriend, bro.
The dust was too heavy. Lu Chao covered his nose, appearing reserved. He asked, "A printing and copying shop. They need to buy equipment, do you understand? And people usually cooperate with photoshopping photos for ID photos, do you know how to do that?"
"I can't, but even if I haven't eaten pork, I've seen pigs run. Besides, don't I have you?" Zhan Mu smiled at him, wking cutely, and said, "Since you can't do hard labor, then sitting in front of the computer and drawing pictures is no problem."
Just treat yourself as free labor.
Lu Chao was speechless. He picked up a handkerchief and slammed it across his face, saying, "There's no business without dishonesty. If I didn't have any integrity, you'd definitely be a black-hearted capitalist who's exploiting me to death."
"How could that be? You're a core technical employee." Zhan Mu stood up and showed Lu Chao the small, narrow shop. He said, "Come here. Look, there's a small courtyard and a pond in the back. Look closely, there are lotus flowers and fish in it. What's wrong with these conditions?"
"Running a printing shop is not hard work. It's a technical job that requires your brain. If you're tired, go out for a walk. If you're sleepy, go back to your charger and take a nap..." Zhan Mu successfully coaxed Lu Chao into a coma with his eloquent tongue.
To be honest, no matter what suffering Lu Chao has gone through, he has become an immortal digital life, completely transcending the material world and a true demigod.
"You're a nice person." Lu Chao looked back with a smile and kissed Zhan Mu's lips as a reward for the good dog.
"Fuck, you're so flirty." Zhan Mu murmured in a low voice. Unfortunately, when he turned around, he saw a familiar brother and sister.
It’s Zhan Changmei and Zhan Changjian.
"I have a stye." said the high school student brother with a bitter face.
"You're blind. That's a fake electronic doll, a boss in a game. If you're really rich, you can even afford to buy fluids. No wonder you opened a shop to do business." Zhan Changmei, a surfing expert who knew Lu Chao and was a college student, said this.
"Sure, I didn't expect our brother Zhan to eat so well."
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