34: Chapter 34 Research Building Acquired

One week later.

Jinghang University, lecture hall.

The bell rang, and the professor tucked his lecture notes under his arm and left.

Chen Hao leisurely packed his backpack.

The Nokia 8850 in his pocket vibrated.

He glanced at the caller ID and a smile appeared on his face.

It was the landline from Director Zhao's office at the Haidian District State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Bureau.

Chen Hao pressed the answer button, held the phone to his ear, and said, "Hello," while walking out with the crowd.

"President Chen! Good news!"

Director Zhao's hearty laughter came from the other end of the line; he sounded in an excellent mood:

"The approval from the Municipal State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Bureau has come down!

The Electronics Technology Group has also passed the board resolution.

That building at Lihua Radio Instrument Factory can be sold!"

Chen Hao didn't stop walking, passing through the noisy corridor.

"Thank you for your hard work, Director Zhao."

Chen Hao said with a smile:

"When can we process the paperwork?"

"The sooner the better!

That old guy Factory Director Sun Jianguo is in such a rush that he's practically on fire; he wishes you could wire the money today."

Director Zhao laughed, "Your funds are fine, right?"

"I can pay at any time."

"Alright! Tomorrow at 9:00 AM, we'll head straight to the Municipal Property Rights Exchange.

I've already had the appraisal report expedited, so we can sign and get it notarized on the spot."

"Great, see you tomorrow."

Hanging up the phone, Chen Hao walked out of the teaching building.

...

Two weeks later.

Xueqing Road, the research building of Lihua Radio Instrument Factory.

The once-rusty large iron gate had been removed and replaced with temporary construction hoarding.

Clanging sounds echoed from inside the building, and dust filled the air.

Chen Hao stood in the center of the first-floor lobby, with uncleared brick debris under his feet.

Behind him stood three people.

Zhao Gang, Wang Jun, and a middle-aged man wearing work clothes covered in white dust, holding a tape measure and blueprints.

It was Zhang Meng, the boss of Hongda Decoration who had previously renovated Huaqing Jiayuan for Chen Hao.

Since this was a big job, he had come in person.

His team had done the renovation for Huaqing Jiayuan, and since Chen Hao was used to working with him, he brought him along for this project.

"President Chen."

Wearing a hard hat and holding a small notebook, Zhang Meng looked at the mottled walls and exposed pipes overhead with a troubled expression.

"About the plan you mentioned earlier, did I hear that right?

You aren't scraping the wall plaster?

No suspended ceiling?

You're just leaving these concrete pillars exposed?"

Zhang Meng had been in the renovation business for over a decade; the clients he'd met either liked grand, opulent European styles or cozy, homey vibes.

This was his first time meeting someone like Chen Hao, who requested to "preserve the original, dilapidated aesthetic."

"Doesn't that just look like it hasn't been renovated at all?

When customers come in, won't they think they've walked into an illegal workshop?"

Zhang Meng couldn't help but advise.

"President Chen, you're not short on money; let's just install an aluminum buckle plate ceiling; it'll look brighter."

Chen Hao smiled, took a cigarette from his pocket, and lit it.

"Old Zhang, this is called industrial style."

Chen Hao pointed to the thick fire pipes and ventilation ducts overhead:

"Don't cover these pipes; paint them all black.

Scrape off the white plaster from the walls to expose the red brick underneath, then apply a layer of clear varnish to seal and prevent dust.

For the floor, just use self-leveling cement; I want that cold, gray texture."

In the Long Kingdom of 2000, people's aesthetic sense was still stuck in the "more is beautiful" and "new is good" phase.

The 798 Art District hadn't become popular yet, and Starbucks hadn't sprung up everywhere.

No one knew that this style, which looked like "no money for renovation," would become synonymous with high-end in the next twenty years.

It was both cost-effective and full of style.

"The first floor is the main area for the internet cafe.

Don't use solid walls for partitions; use black-framed glass or wire mesh throughout."

Chen Hao continued to express his ahead-of-his-time aesthetic:

"The lighting should be dim. Use those old-fashioned factory pendant lights above each station, with warm yellow light shining on the keyboards.

I want that cyberpunk atmosphere...

Forget it, you wouldn't understand if I told you.

Just do as I say."

Zhang Meng was confused, but he had one advantage: he was obedient.

Since the boss wanted to save money, it made things easier for him too.

"Alright, you're the boss; I'll listen to you. What about the second floor?"

"The second floor will be a non-smoking area; the renovation should be a bit more refined.

Leave a section for a showroom; this is where leaders will primarily look when they come for inspections.

Set up some display racks, put a few servers out, and hang some slogans on the walls."

Chen Hao flicked the cigarette ash and turned his gaze to the stairwell.

A woman was standing there.

She was about thirty-five or thirty-six, wearing a beige trench coat with her hair simply tied back.

She held a black notebook and was recording something seriously.

Su Jing.

This was the finance manager Chen Hao had just hired two days ago.

She was the former deputy section chief of finance at the Jingmian No. 3 Factory; after the factory closed down, she was laid off and staying at home.

Chen Hao had discovered her in a corner of the job market.

At the time, she was being harassed by an intermediary hiring cleaners, yet she still maintained a dignified, composed demeanor.

Chen Hao chatted with her for a few minutes and found that she had excellent professional skills, was very clear on tax policies, and had a calm personality, unlike the clumsy, inexperienced girls who had just graduated.

Most importantly, she had experienced the glory and decline of state-owned enterprises, understood the rules, and knew how to cherish opportunities.

"Sister Su."

Chen Hao called out.

Su Jing closed her folder and walked over quickly, her high heels making crisp sounds on the concrete floor.

"President Chen."

"Have you looked at the budget Old Zhang reported earlier?"

"I have."

Su Jing pushed up her glasses, opened the folder, and pointed to a line of data.

"In Boss Zhang's quote, the labor cost is 15% too high.

Also, he calculated the material wastage rate at 8%; for this simple renovation style, 5% is actually sufficient.

And this brand of cables—although it's a famous brand, for a high-load electrical environment like an internet cafe, it's not as cost-effective as Jincheng cables. I suggest replacing them."

Zhang Meng's face turned red instantly.

He had originally thought this woman was just a pretty face, not realizing she was an expert.

"Oh my, Accountant Su, you really are an expert."

Zhang Meng rubbed his hands awkwardly.

"Alright, alright, since you've spotted it, we'll adjust it according to your suggestions.

But I'll say this upfront: with such a tight schedule, the price can't be lowered any further."

Chen Hao nodded with satisfaction.

This was professionalism.

This was the kind of person he wanted who could guard his purse strings.

"The third and fourth floors will be the office area."

Chen Hao continued to arrange.

"Make the third floor an open-plan space for incubator workstations, and configure two public meeting rooms.

The fourth floor is for our own use.

Set up a larger office for me, with a lounge and a bathroom. Also, partition off a VIP reception room and a meeting room, plus a small office.

Sister Su, your finance office will also be on the fourth floor; I want an anti-theft door of the level used for bank counters."

Su Jing was stunned for a moment, then nodded: "Alright, President Chen.

However, do we need such high-spec security in the beginning?

The internet cafe mainly deals with cash flow; we can just deposit it in the bank every day."

"There will be a lot of cash in the future."

Chen Hao pondered to himself that he needed to deal with that money as soon as possible.

His expression became serious:

"Also, Sister Su, although this is an incubator base and we enjoy tax incentives, we cannot pay a penny less in taxes than what is owed.

I don't want any problems with taxes.

The accounts must be clear and able to withstand an audit."

Having experienced everything in his past life, Chen Hao knew this too well.

Doing business in this country, you can be wild, arrogant, and play games.

But you must never play smart with taxes.

That is the bottom line.

"Understood." A glimmer of appreciation flashed in Su Jing's eyes.

She had worked for many bosses, and most were thinking about how to evade taxes.

It was rare to see someone so young yet so clear-headed like Chen Hao.

"Alright, let's get to work."

Chen Hao clapped the dust off his hands.

"Gangzi, you keep an eye on the site.

Da Jun, drive me back to school."

"Yes."