Chapter 25

A store specializing in second-hand home appliances?

Annual profit of 500,000?

Still tinkering with second-hand phones with friends?

The whole family looked at Hao Meng in disbelief, unsure if what he said was true, because in their eyes... Hao Meng wasn't that kind of person!

"Wow, bro, you've made it big!" Xiao Yuxue was the first to recover, exclaiming in surprise.

Hao Meng shook his head with a smile, "What big deal? Just a small business. If I can save some money by the New Year, I'll buy a house and a car." His tone carried a hint of pride. As the saying goes, wealth and honor not returned to one's hometown are like fine clothes worn in the dark. In fact, Hao Meng also deeply desired the recognition of his family!

Hao Fu didn't say much, but the smile on his face showed that he was very happy. Who wouldn't want their son to be successful!

In the afternoon, Xiao Yuxue insisted on going to Hao Meng's store. Seeing Zhang Fang and Hao Fu's expressions, they also wanted to go and see if Hao Meng's words were true, after all, seeing is believing!

Hao Meng felt there was nothing to hide, so if the family wanted to go, he would take them.

"Alright, let's go together!" Hao Meng agreed with a smile.

Hao Fu and Zhang Fang both had cars, not high-end ones, but decent for middle-income people, costing over 100,000 each.

On Chaoyang Road, Xiao Meng Second-hand Home Appliances.

"Bro, this is your store? It's not small at all." Xiao Yuxue clung to Hao Meng's arm, standing outside the store, curiously examining it.

"Yep!" Hao Meng nodded. The store had two floors, three rooms, and was nearly 200 square meters. Not too big, but not too small either.

Wei Shufen and her neighbor, Chang Mei, who ran a clothing store, were chatting at the store entrance. Seeing Hao Meng and the others get out of the car, Chang Mei lowered her voice and asked, "Shufen, have you made a move yet?"

At first, Wei Shufen didn't understand, but after a moment, she realized what Chang Mei meant. She blushed and shook her head, whispering, "No, I can't bring myself to do it, let's just let things take their natural course!"

Chang Mei pouted and said, "My dear sister, look, your young boss has brought someone back. How can you just let things take their natural course? You have to be proactive. If you're not, and he's shy, how will anything happen? Look at that cute little girl, hugging him so closely, even in this hot weather, she doesn't mind getting heat rash!"

She was, of course, referring to Xiao Yuxue, who was with Hao Meng.

Hao Meng brought his family in, and Chang Mei greeted him with a coy smile before leaving. Her store didn't have air conditioning, so she often came to cool off, and Hao Meng's store had WiFi, which she could use. However, she wasn't the type to overstay her welcome, so she returned to her own store when she saw Hao Meng had company.

"This is Sister Shufen, my employee, and that's Guoguo, Sister Shufen's daughter. Sister Shufen, this is my sister, my older sister, my father, and Aunt Fang, all family!" Hao Meng introduced them with a smile.

Guoguo sat on the sofa, her eyes wide, sitting obediently and looking very well-behaved.

"Wow, such a big TV! Bro, can this TV work?" Xiao Yuxue asked curiously as soon as she entered, spotting the 110-inch super LCD TV.

"Of course it works. Guoguo, turn on the TV for your sister." Hao Meng smiled and went to the standing beverage cabinet on the east wall to get some drinks.

"Everyone, please sit down!" Wei Shufen smiled and invited them, feeling relieved that they were all family, not like what Chang Mei had suggested.

"This big TV costs 750,000?" Zhang Fang asked curiously, looking at the price tag on the TV.

Hao Meng smiled and said, "Yes, a new one costs over a million. This one is almost new, only used for two months."

"Such an expensive item, in such a remote area, will anyone buy it?" Xiao Yuyun asked coldly from the side.

"If someone buys it, I'll sell it. If not, I'll just enjoy it myself." Hao Meng chuckled and handed her a can of cola.

Hao Fu walked around the store and asked curiously, "Are all the appliances here new?"

"No, they're all second-hand. Some are factory surplus, almost as good as new, but much cheaper. Aunt Fang, do you need anything for home? I can deliver it for you!"

Hao Fu and the others stayed for less than an hour, during which the store sold two refrigerators, one air conditioner, and four phones, proving that the store had a steady stream of customers.

"How did you come up with the idea to open a store selling second-hand appliances?" Xiao Yuyun pulled Hao Meng aside. Everyone else stayed downstairs, and Hao Meng didn't take them upstairs, as Wei Shufen and her daughter lived there, and it would be inconvenient for the family to go up.

Hao Meng scratched his head and smiled, "Xiao Yuyun, can't you smile once in a while? Always putting on a cool face, aren't you tired?" In front of others, he called her sister, but when they were alone, he called her by her name.

Xiao Yuyun rolled her eyes and ignored him.

"Opening the store was a recent idea. At first, I collected scrap, and most of the money I saved was from that. Hehe, at least we started from scratch, right?"

"You're just showing off!" Xiao Yuyun glanced at the busy Wei Shufen and asked in a low voice, "How did you get such a beautiful woman to work for you?" Her tone seemed a bit jealous.

"By hiring her, of course!" Hao Meng smiled. He wasn't sure what their relationship was—lover? Definitely not. Siblings? Only partly. It was complicated.

"Why did she bring her daughter to work?" Xiao Yuyun asked, finding fault.

"Isn't Guoguo a sweet girl?" Hao Meng didn't answer directly but smiled. No one could dislike Guoguo, who called Hao Fu "grandpa" so affectionately.

"Don't change the subject!" Xiao Yuyun frowned.

If it were anyone else, Hao Meng would have ignored her. He smiled bitterly and said, "Actually, Sister Shufen is a pitiful woman. Her husband died, and she has no home to return to. So..." He had to explain Wei Shufen's situation, not hiding anything, as it would be hard to explain to Xiao Yuyun otherwise.

Xiao Yuyun was silent for a moment and didn't ask anything more.

"Grandpa, why don't you stay for dinner? Mom's cooking is really delicious." Guoguo, like a little adult, held Hao Fu's hand.

"Thank you, Guoguo. Grandpa has some things to do later, but next time, I'll invite you and your mom to my place, okay?" Hao Fu picked up Guoguo and smiled.

Guoguo pouted, "Okay, let's make a pinky promise!"

As they were leaving, Xiao Yuxue clung to Hao Meng's arm and whispered in his ear, "Bro, don't forget about your little sister. It's so yummy, so yummy, so yummy, don't forget, okay?"

Hao Meng tapped her forehead and laughed, "All you think about is eating. Be careful you don't turn into a little pig and can't find a husband!"

"Bad brother, if I can't find a husband, it's your fault."

Watching the family drive away, Hao Meng felt a sense of relief. Family harmony brings success in all things. He wasn't a child anymore, and after thinking things through, he felt it wasn't a big deal. He and Hao Fu were father and son, and there was nothing that couldn't be resolved. As for whether to return home, now that he had his own business, it wasn't as important.

In the car, Zhang Fang, sitting in the passenger seat, looked at Hao Fu and smiled, "Xiao Meng has really grown up!"

Hao Fu didn't say anything, but he must have been very happy.