Chapter 44

Wu Di hung up the phone with a bitter smile, feeling for the first time the benefits of being a rich kid. After thinking for a while, he couldn't help but burst out laughing, which made his mother, who was cooking in the kitchen, run out and roll her eyes. "This kid, he's really different this time! Is he burning his money? I'll take him to see an old doctor tomorrow!"

Zhong Qi called with a fierce tone, demanding an explanation. Wu Di silenced him with just one sentence:

"Mom just called."

"Oh..."

Zhong Qi was clearly taken aback, and after a moment, he cautiously asked:

"Did Mom tell you everything?"

"What do you think?"

"Hehe, actually, actually, it's just that..."

Good kid, there really is something! Wu Di remained silent, continuing to apply pressure with his silence.

"It's just that from now on, you'll have to call Uncle Laochang 'Grandpa,' nothing else..."

"Go on."

Wu Di was secretly puzzled but showed no sign of it.

"Linlin is actually quite gentle... Damn! If Mom and Dad aren't afraid to drop a level, what's so great about making you call me 'Grandpa'! Get your ass back here! Mom has already arranged a whole battalion of well-bred girls for you to date!"

Zhong Qi was determined and shouted loudly.

Wu Di was so surprised he almost swallowed the phone. What's going on? It seems Zhong Qi and Chang Linlin... Wow, Old Mom is really something! How did she manage this in just a few days?

"You go to hell, from now on we're not the same kind of people! Want me to go to the grave with you? Go to hell!"

"Hehe, you'll see, what it means to be sweet and gentle, what it means to be..."

"Cut the crap, let's talk business. Do you know any big bosses? Introduce me."

"Plenty! Who do you think I, Zhong Shao, am? What's up?"

"I've thought about it. Dad has to work, my sister has to study, and although Mom has nothing to do, she has to take care of them. She can't come to the capital city in the near future. I've been thinking, I don't know what kind of business to find for Mom. Being idle all day can make her sick, right?"

"Doing business is too tiring. Let me think, I'll find something easy and profitable. I'll call you back."

Wu Di browsed online ads promoting wealth, shaking his head. The phone rang.

"Opening a 4S store is the easiest. As long as the brand is well-known, people will come to buy. The mayor of Yudu is a classmate of my second brother. The land will be easy to get, and we can even think about government cars. We have connections with Audi, Volkswagen, and Ford. Which one do you think is suitable? Personally, I think Audi is better..."

"Wait, wait, let me think. A 4S store? I only have Mom here!"

"Are you going to let Auntie do business alone? You're not filial! Think fast, don't you have any childhood friends? Just a little help, the car market is hot these days, and 4S stores are making a fortune."

Childhood friends? How could I forget the Pang-Zhu duo? Wu Di made up his mind and said:

"Let's go with Ford for now. The place is small, and the cars are too expensive to sell. Volkswagen stores are everywhere, and the competition is fierce. Wait a moment, I'll call you back when I gather the team."

"Alright, I'll talk to my second brother and see if there's suitable land in your area."

Wu Di thought through the plan and found it feasible. He called Pang Kuan and Zhu Ziming, confirming they were free in the evening. He told his mother, ignoring her warnings about drinking, and ran off.

He picked up Pang Kuan at the factory gate and drove to where Zhu Ziming worked in the city.

"What's up? So urgent? Finally decided to treat us to a big meal?"

"No, it's serious. How do you feel about your current job?"

"Neither here nor there, just hanging in there. What's up, you got an idea?"

"Exactly. I'm planning to open a car dealership and hand it over to Mom. I'll give each of you 15% of the shares. You'll handle overall management and after-sales, and Zhu will focus on sales. What do you think?"

"Not good. A dealership requires at least a few million in investment. We have no money, how can we invest?"

"You don't need to invest money, just help Mom. What do you say? Want to play?"

"Are you serious?"

"Damn, am I that boring? Quick, are you in or out? I have to go back to the capital in August, we need to decide today!"

Not speaking, I'll take your silence as a yes! Fatso, come with me to see Mayor Wang tomorrow."

"Once I had a sincere invitation, but I didn't cherish it. When I lost it, I regretted it... Damn, don't hit me, I'm in! Not being in would be stupid! How much are you planning to invest? I'll calculate 15% and run away with the money..."

Zhu Ziming was currently working, and he wouldn't let go of the chance to be a boss. He was much more composed than Pang Kuan, having worked in sales for two years. He was already worried about sales.

"The location must be good, and we need to do good advertising. Ford? Not many people drive it. But it's better than Volkswagen, which is everywhere!"

Wu Di received a call from an unknown number. As soon as he answered, a hearty laugh came through.

"Little Wu, are you not close to your second brother? You have to go through Little Four to get things done?"

Wu Di immediately sat up straight. It was Zhong Zhengdao, the vice mayor of a city in the south!

"Second Brother, it's just a small matter, how could I trouble you?"

"Kid, you've learned to talk smooth from Little Four. I'll deal with you when you get back! I have a meeting soon, so I'll be brief. You'll meet Mayor Wang tomorrow to choose some land. Don't worry about the rest."

"Alright, I'll go early tomorrow. Please say hello to your wife and Little Long for me!"

Wu Di hung up and looked at the two who were eavesdropping, smiling.

"You heard it. Fatso, come with me to see the mayor tomorrow to choose the land. Zhu, go resign and research Ford online. If it doesn't work, we'll change the brand!"

Wu Di brought the somewhat nervous Pang Kuan into the government compound. He was very calm, not noticing his own transformation. In the past, he would have hesitated for a long time before visiting a project manager.

Mayor Wang was very friendly, his large, strong hand welcoming.

"Welcome, welcome to invest in Yudu, this ancient city with a thousand-year history! You're from Yudu, right? Great! It's important to have a sense of hometown! As the third largest city in Yu Province, Yudu is the site of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project, the host city of the 2012 Farmers' Games, and the Zhang Zhongjing Medicine Festival and Jade Carving Festival are gradually gaining international recognition. The city is developing rapidly. The Baihe National Urban Wetland Park in the city center is almost complete, and the Yudu New District, Ecological Industrial Park, Longsheng Industrial Park, Guanzhuang Industrial Park, and Yaque Industrial Park are under vigorous construction. It's our luck to be part of this historic transformation!"

"That's all thanks to Mayor Wang's leadership! Hehe."

Seeing Wu Di and Pang Kuan a bit confused, Mayor Wang, thinking of their background, changed his approach.

"Bullshit! They laid a good foundation. I've only been here for a few years. Come, Little Wu, I've thought about it. Choosing land in the new district is definitely the right choice. It's the future city center, it will appreciate quickly, and the infrastructure will be complete."

Wu Di and Pang Kuan looked at the map, and Mayor Wang had already circled three areas, one of which was by the Baihe River, marked in red. Wu Di immediately liked it and said:

"Mayor Wang, that's the one!"

"Ha, great minds think alike. I hear you're in a hurry. Here's what we'll do. I'll send someone to show you the land. If it's suitable, start drawing up the plans and contact the construction team. When you're ready, give me a call, and you can start. Next month, there will be a land auction, and we'll sign the contract and complete the procedures after the meeting."

The plot was about 10,000 square meters, already leveled, and planned for urban commercial facilities, which included car dealerships. Wu Di waved his hand.

"Let's go, find someone to register the company!"

The three of them started working non-stop. On Thursday, they reached an agreement with Ford to invest 13 million yuan (with the land valued at 9 million) to establish a flagship Ford dealership in Yu Province and the Central Plains region. Once Wu Di's company was registered, they signed the contract immediately. They then reviewed several dealership design templates. Wu Di, after looking at them, proposed that the dealership be large and grand, built as a cluster of buildings, which aligned with the vice president of Ford's vision. The vice president promised to revise the plans within a week and left hurriedly. Wu Di also hired a design institute, gave them his ideal functional area plan, and paid a 400,000 yuan advance, requiring the plans to be ready within a week. He also gave them the vice president's contact information.

On Friday, they met with the construction team introduced by Mayor Wang. After seeing the plot, the team leader, Mr. Liu, suggested designing two showrooms, as the plot was too large, and selling only Ford would be a loss. They needed to leave room for future development. Wu Di was surprised that someone shared his thoughts. He guessed that the vice president, after hearing about the cluster of buildings, had some idea.

On Monday, they received the new business license. Next, they signed contracts with Ford, the construction team, the design institute, and the supervisory company, and visited the city management, industry and commerce, construction committee, and land bureau... The three of them were busy non-stop. Finally, at the end of July, the 4S store quietly began construction.

Mom finally noticed something was off with Wu Di and started asking questions. Wu Di called Pang Kuan and Zhu Ziming to give the future chairman their first formal work report. When Mom heard that Wu Di had invested over 10 million yuan in a car dealership, her first reaction was not shock but to ask where the location was and whether the land was bought or rented. When she heard it was bought by the Baihe River, she patted her chest and sighed with relief.

"At least the location is good. If the store fails, the land appreciation will make up for it."

Wu Di was speechless.

"Mom, have a little faith, will you? The dealership hasn't even opened, and you're already talking about failure!"

"I'll beat you, you little brat! A little money and you get cocky! How dare you keep such a big thing from us? Wait until your father comes back and deals with you!"

Wu Di laughed.

"Dad has a longer-term vision. Besides, you're still young, and earning some money will let Dad take care of you, right?"

Mom's eyes twinkled.

"Don't tell Dad yet, it'll scare the old man to death!"