To Ma Yiqun, this was a good thing. At the very least, there would be no unnecessary padding for the plots that were being written.
As the saying went, ‘a slow artisan produces skilled work’. There was no guarantee that they would write better if they wrote slowly. However, if they wrote any quicker, their writing would most definitely be flawed.
Repent and be Saved’s plot was meant to be a service to the game. Their aim was not to hit any number of words. The fewer the number of words, the better.
[1] This is a famous Chinese painting which does not actually contain a temple despite its title.
Chapter 208 - Who is This, Harming Himself and Others?!
Chapter 208 Who is This, Harming Himself and Others?!
At Fish-Catching Internet Cafe’s branch at Ming Yun Villas…
Pei Qian was with Ma Yang and Zhang Yuan, visiting and surveying locations for the new high-end restaurant. In fact, they had already surveyed all the shop spaces in this area once before. They also generally understood the business environment in the area.
All in all, the place was cold and deserted. Boss Pei was very happy with it.
The original plan for Ming Yun Villas was for there to be shops in the vicinity. However, since the place did not become popular and the occupancy rate of the villas was, the traffic in the shops was low as well. No shop could recover their capital. One by one, they closed down.
Now, the rent for many shop spaces was cheap. Basically, one could rent a space for about seventy percent of the average price in the market.
A few days ago, Pei Qian picked two or three spaces which he liked. All of them were located further in from Fish-Catching Internet Cafe.
These shops had several points in common. First, all of them were big, with large areas, this satisfied Boss Pei’s requirements for a large restaurant. Second, they were all in the center of a bunch of closed shops. The surroundings were particularly cold and deserted, and the restaurant wouldn’t draw attention on normal days. Third, it was not exactly convenient to get here.
There was a lot of parking nearby. However, one would have to walk a long distance to the restaurant after parking.
Thus, Pei Qian planned to visit the locations for the last time today. After finalizing the location, he could sign the contract and begin renovations. If all went well, perhaps he would be able to bring his employees here for a good meal next month.
Zhang Yuan continued to follow behind Boss Pei and Ma Yang in silence. He found it sad that it was getting harder and harder to predict what Boss Pei would do next.
The locations he chose for the restaurant were really ridiculous.
When he first heard that Boss Pei would open a high-end restaurant, Zhang Yuan felt quite happy. He thought he had finally managed to predict what Boss Pei would do next.
While Fish-Catching Take-Out covered low-end daily meals, the high-end restaurant would take care of those with more high-class taste. The two would complement each other – it was perfect! Zhang Yuan thought that the high-end restaurant would be opened at the city center. There, it would surely become popular and busy!
However, what Boss Pei did next utterly confused him.
He picked a location close to Fish-Catching Internet Cafe’s branch at Ming Yun Villas even though that branch was doing the worst of all?
Ming Yun Villas was located in the south-east region of Jingzhou City. It was already a deserted location to begin with.
If Boss Pei had opened the restaurant in the city center, he would be able to cover all of Jingzhou City. Even if one lived in the outskirts, it would only take them about an hour to drive down to the city center.
Of course, this was provided that there was no traffic jam.
Yet, setting up the restaurant in the south-east region of the city would mean that those in the north and west regions would have to drive across the city if they wanted to visit it. That would take them more than an hour… or close to two.
After they finished eating, they would have to drive for another two hours back, in the evening peak-hour traffic.
The thought of that alone would be too suffocating
What’s more, the business environment there was no good. There were no entertainment facilities; why would people travel all that way for a meal?
From any angle, this plan seemed ridiculous.
However, Boss Pei had already explained his reason for selecting this location. He predicted that the Ming Yun Villas area would become Jingzhou City’s next commercial district. That was why he was making these moves in advance.
On this point, Boss Pei was being consistent.
However, no matter how Zhang Yuan studied the area, it did not look like a commercial district. It was too cold and deserted. The three of them walked and scanned the area.
All of a sudden, Zhang Yuan’s eyes lit up.
He saw a shop being set up and renovated! It was a two-story shop, and it looked quite cool. Zhang Yuan remembered that the last time he came here, the shop had been closed. What’s more, it looked abandoned.
Had someone taken over the shop in just a few days?
Zhang Yuan arrived at the front of the shop and approached one of the construction workers to ask some questions. After that, he realized that a coffee shop was being opened here! From the looks of it, the owner of this shop was hoping to attract the high-income residents of Ming Yun Villas!
It was obvious that the coffee shop would steal some of Fish-Catching Internet Cafe’s customers and affect its sales. After all, it was much closer to Ming Yun Villas. It would only take the residents ten minutes to get there on foot.
However, the place immediately looked less abandoned!
Boss Pei remained expressionless and kept walking. Then, they arrived at the first location which he chose. At first, Pei Qian chose this location because it was in the middle of many closed shops. It was cold and deserted, and the perfect hiding spot for his new high-end restaurant.
However, along the closest road, another big shop space was being renovated!
Zhang Yuan went to chat with the construction workers again and found that someone was opening a bar here. What’s more, from the size of the shop space and the extravagance of the renovations, it looked like this bar was not going to be a small one!
Zhang Yuan could not help but glance at Boss Pei with utmost respect. Boss Pei’s eye for business was indeed amazing!
A few days ago, he had said that the business environment in this place would develop at rapid speed and that it would become Jingzhou City’s next commercial district. Now, someone had indeed invested in this area! Although the place still looked deserted and nobody was walking around here, once the facilities were completed, the place would become livelier for sure!
When the high-end restaurant opened here, customers would have a place to have their meals. They could then head to the nearby bar for a drink or two. This place would immediately look much more attractive!
Boss Pei had a sharp eye indeed. Everything was in the palm of his hand!
At that moment, the corners of Pei Qian’s mouth twitched slightly.
Who is this?!
It took me such a long time to look for a deserted place like that. Why are you creating trouble here?! This place is so abandoned, and you still want to invest in it. You’re even setting up a coffee shop and bar. Aren’t you afraid of losing money?
Even if I lose money, I have the System to make up for the losses. You don’t, do you?
You’re harming others and yourself. You’re crazy!
Pei Qian was speechless. All I wanted was to find a quiet place where I could incur losses. Why is someone joining me?
The most important thing is that the person is setting up a bar and a coffee shop. Once they are completed, people from Ming Yun Villas would really be attracted to this area.
If I open my high-end restaurant here, it would be too exposed! If people came here to drink alcohol, there is a chance that they would stumble upon
my restaurant when they walk around.
For no reason, the traffic flow in this area would increase!
Who the hell is so bored as to invest money in a place like that…?
Pei Qian suddenly recalled something. A realization dawned upon him.
Oh, it must be the person who bought information on Fish-Catching Internet Cafe! He really took my false information to be true! He might have thought that the area around Ming Yun Villas would really become popular. That was probably why he chose to invest in the region; he wanted to earn from it in the future.
Pei Qian could not help but feel sorrowful. Guys, you’re reacting so quickly…
I only released this false information a while ago, and you’ve already taken the bait. How much do you trust me…?
Pei Qian’s confused expression turned into a joyful one all of a sudden.
Since that’s the case, I couldn’t ask for more!
You’re burning your money by opening shops here and pulling Fish-Catching Internet Cafe’s customers over to your shops. You’re setting yourself alight and spreading the glow to me
Although this would cause a disturbance to my high-end restaurant and increase the chances of it being exposed, it wouldn’t matter. I haven’t decided on a location for my restaurant. I can always choose somewhere else!
Pei Qian decided to give up this location and continue walking.
Ma Yang followed suit, but Zhang Yuan became confused. He studied the bar under renovation and then glanced at Boss Pei, who was now walking away. Suddenly, he did not know where to go.
After a moment, he chased after Boss Pei.
What’s this?
More shops were being opened here. Wouldn’t that be good for our restaurant? Shouldn’t we choose it right away? Why is Boss Pei walking away without turning back?
His mind was full of questions, but he dared not ask a single one. Instead, he silently followed behind Boss Pei.
Chapter 209 - It Doesn’t Sound… Too Expensive
It Doesn’t Sound… Too Expensive
Pei Qian looked around as he walked. At the same time, he thought hard.
Many shops were being renovated in the area. This meant that if he opened the high-end restaurant here, there was a significantly higher chance of people finding it. Thus, all the locations that he chose a few days ago had become void immediately.
Pei Qian walked and walked and subconsciously arrived near the Ming Yun Villas residential area. When he saw the faintly discernible villas halfway up the hill in front of him, he fell into deeper thought.
Ming Yun Villas’ was built at the base of a nameless hill (or a little bump) in Jingzhou City’s outskirts. Most villas were at the foot of the hill, but some were built halfway up the hill. These were referred to as ‘hilltop villas’. Based on Pei Qian’s understanding, not many of the Ming Yun Villas were sold. This was true especially for the ones built halfway up the hill.
There were two main reasons for this.
First, the villas had no investment value. They were too expensive, and few people would have been able to afford them.
Ming Yun Villas was considered the outskirts of Jingzhou City. In order to buy a place here, most people needed to have a similarly-priced property in the city. What’s more, most people were not willing to live in the outskirts.
If they only bought a villa as a holiday home to stay in occasionally, the quality-price ratio would be too low.
Thus, it was easy for the villa to completely lose its value after being purchased. Unless they were extreme ballers who had too much money and who only wanted to spend it all, people would not be inclined to buy a villa here.
Second, the hilltop villas in Ming Yun Villas were built based on the standards of hilltop villas overseas. All of them were designed by top designers who personally led the renovations. Thus, they were much more expensive than the villas at the foot of the hill. There were even infinity pools and gaudy decorations in the hilltop villas.
After they were put up for sale, most people had no idea how to foot the bill.
On one hand, they were too expensive. On the other hand, ballers who bought villas normally had specific requirements for the renovations. Some hated the designers’ work and insisted on having things done their own way.
The plans that many ballers had were indescribable. Some wanted Baroque architecture with old-fashioned square tables that could seat eight; some wanted French-style villas with red, wooden furniture; some wanted Mediterranean-style villas with stone lions at the entrance; some wanted courtyard cottages with Koi ponds; and some wanted Chinese-style villas mixed with European neoclassical styles.
These were just the more basic ones.
After buying their villas, the first thing many ballers did was to knock down the walls and institutions and change the structure of the house. Then, they got their own designers to turn the villas into self-built homes. They even insisted on adding a bunch of prohibited structures in the process.
After all, not all ballers and rich people would have good taste; but all of them would have unique requirements for the villas they bought.
That was how these hilltop villas in Ming Yun Villas ended up in this awkward situation.
They had all been renovated and uniquely designed, so that they were being sold at sky-high prices. Yet, ballers still did not like them.
After buying these villas, ballers would have to undo all the renovations and spend another one or two million yuan renovating everything from scratch. Instead of doing that, they would much rather buy semi-finished products.
Based on these considerations, the quality-price ratio would be as good as zero.
Thus, these hilltop villas did the worst out of all of Ming Yun Villas. One could say that they were ultimate failures.
This was the most ridiculous thing: a plot of land in the residential area was to be used for commercial and residential purposes. Thus, a small portion of the villas was to have commercial qualities as well. According to the original plan, these semi-commercial villas were to be placed in the north-west region. What’s more, they were to be separated from the other purely-residential villas. This was even more unappealing.
Yet, Pei Qian thought that this was not a bad location.
If he could set up the restaurant there, wouldn’t it be even more difficult for people to find it? Compared to the previous shop spaces he chose, this one would be even more hidden!
In terms of practicality, the semi-commercial villas could be used for purely commercial purposes, as long as he fulfilled the fire stations’ and hygiene authorities’ requirements.
Since Pei Qian was starting a high-end restaurant, he would definitely work according to those standards. On top of this, he would pay attention to the effect he would have on the surrounding residents.
The restaurant could create noise pollution, disturbance to residents, and problems with parking management. This might affect the residents’ daily lives.
However, this should not be much of a problem.
This was because the semi-commercial villas had already been separated from the purely residential villas. What’s more, the hilltop villas stood alone. There were no surrounding buildings either.
According to the plan, semi-commercial villas had their own entrances. This would make it convenient for cars to come in and out.
The restaurant would not have too many customers as well. At the very most, Pei Qian would bring his employees here for a meal. They would only have meals here and would not engage in other activities like singing. By 8 PM, they would be gone. That would ensure that they did not disturb the residents.
Compared to the shops he chose earlier, this place was located much deeper in the area as well. It would be much harder for people to find it!
Who would expect a restaurant to be hidden among a bunch of villas?
Pei Qian was overjoyed. See, this was a blessing in disguise! I had to give up the few shop spaces that I found, but I ended up stumbli
ng upon an even better location!
The only question is whether I can rent a villa and how much that rent is. If I can’t, I wonder if I can buy it.
According to the System, Pei Qian could not purchase and invest in property on a large scale.
However, he wanted to use System Funds to buy a semi-commercial villa in order to open a high-end restaurant under his business name. He would not be purchasing properties in bulk, and he would not be investing in the property market either. There shouldn’t be a problem, right?
At that thought, Pei Qian led Ma Yang and Zhang Yuan straight into Ming Yun Villas.
Zhang Yuan was even more confused.
What is Boss Pei doing?
Was he hoping to buy a villa for himself just because they accidentally stumbled upon Ming Yun Villas and he suddenly felt like it?
Yes, given Boss Pei’s income, it should not be that difficult for him to purchase a villa here.
Zhang Yuan did not think too much and continued following behind Pei Qian.
When they arrived at the sales building, Pei Qian explained the purpose of their visit. The lady at the front desk made a call and then offered drinks to the three men. About half an hour later, Manager Cui rushed over.
While rushing over, Manager Cui had felt confused. Why was a customer taking the initiative to approach the sales building today? This was mysterious!
This was like people taking the initiative to approach insurance companies, wanting to buy insurance. It’s unheard of.
From the get-go, Ming Yun Villas has been up for sale. Almost a year has passed since. Interested ballers would have bought their villas a long time ago. Why would they wait until now?
Yet, whatever it was, it was a good thing that customers were coming of their own accord. Even if they were not sincere about buying a villa and merely wanted to take a look, Manager Cui still had to host them.
After greeting Manager Cui, Pei Qian got straight to the point.
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