Chapter 342 Going to meet Mr. Dong
After arriving in Boten, our entire team felt a little depressed.
Life is lifeless.
It got off to a bad start. Less than a month later, an attempted murder occurred. As for investment directions, no one has found one yet.
We drove around an area of more than 30 square kilometers every day to understand the market.
Every morning when we ran out, we seemed full of hope, seeing a prosperous construction scene everywhere. But every night when we returned to Ginkgo Residence, we felt a little lost.
Those tall buildings rising from the ground change every day, and we feel strange.
The only feeling is that no matter what kind of store it is, it is longing for tourists to come, and tourists have become the only hope of this small town.
It’s the end of the month in a flash.
Lao Xiao decided to hold a month-end summary meeting.
When I walked in, everyone had arrived.
Lao Xiao said: "We have been here for so many days and have seen everything we need to see. Let's express our opinions."
The meeting room was silent. Ning Jing was the first to break the silence: "I don't think the hotel industry has much hope. Boten seems to have a lot of people coming in, but they're just passing through. There's more dining in than staying overnight."
From the duty-free shops to the jewelry hall, it looks crowded, but in reality, tourists are just treating it as a tourist attraction. They just take a look and leave.
Chun Yazi feels the same way: "This place is too small, just over 30 square kilometers, which is equivalent to a small county town in a backward inland area, not to mention a town in an economically developed area.
We already have two hotels. Opening another hotel that combines accommodation and dining doesn't seem feasible to me. Of course, this is just my intuition as a relatively uneducated person."
Lao Xiao gestured for me to speak.
I said, "Let's not jump to conclusions. In any business, there are gains and losses. Mr. Chen has given us a six-month probing period, but I suggest we still conduct a thorough market research."
Of course, what I said was just to reassure the troops.
Lao Xiao asked: "Tell me about your specific investigation methods. How do you think we can get to the truth?"
I said, "First, the hotel is unreliable. Second, other people's recommendations are also unreliable. The two major hotels will definitely not tell us the real occupancy rate. Who wants to have an additional competitor?"
As for the introductions from others, such as Li Quande, he would certainly encourage us to invest. His goal was to get as much of a share of the infrastructure as possible.
How many Li Quande are there in Boten? I don't know. But I do know that the suppliers of steel, mortar, and sand, the suppliers of electrical appliances and kitchenware, the suppliers of office supplies... they are all Li Quande. So, apart from our own firsthand information, which is objective, everyone else's is not objective.
Lao Xiao asked: "Then how can we obtain objective data?"
"We can go to the two major hotels and copy the license plates. We'll see how many buses and cars came in. And how many will be left the next morning."
Those who leave at night are mostly passing groups or self-driving tour operators. We'll calculate the figures for a month and report back to Mr. Chen. Having facts and data shows that we've done a solid job.
Lao Xiao said: "You have explained it quite comprehensively, so let's calm down and investigate further."
After the meeting, Lao Xiao stopped me, gave a wry smile, and said, "I've always felt this place is too small for a hotel business. But Mr. Chen is very superstitious about your master. He did a divination and got the word 'Ning'. Your master said we can expand southward and add a member to the business."
I thought about it and said, "Lao Xiao, my master is right. He said we can develop southward, but he didn't say we can develop towards Boten.
Perhaps we've come to the wrong place. We clearly wanted to add a 'ding' to the Rising Sun, but this place turned out to be called 'Moding'."
Lao Xiao said, "If you don't say anything, it's fine. But now that you've said it, I think there's something fishy going on. Let's investigate for another month, and then we'll return to China and give Mr. Chen a detailed report."
We chatted for a while and were about to leave when I suddenly remembered something and said, "I need to take a day or two off on July 2nd."
He asked, “What to do?”
I didn't want to tell him I was going to see the boss, so I said, "There's an acquaintance of mine who's waiting across the street and wants to meet me."
Lao Xiao said: "Be careful."
"Don't worry. Didn't I still knock down those four guys?"
After coming out of Lao Xiao’s office, I returned to the tea room and thought: Mr. Dong originally said that he would meet me in four years, why did he meet me earlier?
After sitting for a long time, I still couldn't figure it out.
At this time, I received a call from Mr. Deng. After a few pleasantries, he learned that I had arrived in Boten. He asked about my situation in Boten, and I told him the truth.
He didn't express his opinion, but instead discussed something with me. The house was completely finished. Because it was a light steel villa, it didn't need to be renovated after it had dried out, so we started decorating in June. We were going to welcome Master back to Wuxiang in August.
I said, "That's great news. I can't come back right now, so please donate 200,000 yuan as a contribution. I'll definitely be back in early August, because Xiaolin's due date is also around that time."
After hanging up the phone, a feeling of anxiety settled over him. He'd thought that coming to Boten would be just as Murong had said, with money to be made everywhere. Unexpectedly, his first business deal went awry, forcing him to flee back to Thailand in disgrace.
Judging from the current situation, no one in the working group has any confidence in building a large restaurant. Are we ultimately forced to withdraw in disgrace?
My mother was very thoughtful - I can't leave Xuri easily - after all, Xuri will pay me a salary on time every month.
I feel like something is shattering in my heart.
Why did Mr. Chen, who is always so steady, have to invest in Boten? I hope to meet Mr. Dong soon. Perhaps he can help me solve some of the problems in my life.
I was depressed for several days.
July 2nd, the day finally arrived.
I got up early in the morning and exercised in the yard for half an hour. Lao Xiao, Ning Jing and Chun Yazi also came to the yard, stretched their arms and ran along the yard.
Because this place is so small, life is extremely monotonous. Unlike in Xu Ri, where you can see acquaintances every day, work is busy every day, and there are always various activities.
So, everyone started morning exercises with the yard as the center.
After morning exercise, I said to Chun Yazi, "After breakfast, you take me to Boten Port. As for when I want you to pick me up, I'll call you."
Chun Yazi was no longer as active as he was back home, and replied, "Okay."
After breakfast, Chun Yazi sent me off.
No conversation along the way.
At about nine o'clock, I got off the bus and Chun Yazi left.
After completing the border crossing formalities, I headed towards the Mohan Hotel where we had agreed to meet.
Yes, we can walk there. No need to take a car. Let me share some geography tips. From Boten to the Mohan Hotel in Mohan Town, it's only a little over a mile.
I walked quickly, feeling very anxious.
When I stood in front of the Mohan Hotel, I looked up and saw it was only four stories high. My heart sank. Is this a hotel? It's not even as good as a guesthouse.
I walked into the lobby and called Mr. Dong.
He said, "301, come up."
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