Return to 1983 Hunting Xing'an Mountains

Chapter 473 Share Ratio Another visitor came to the house
Zhang Jinbao was a little stunned when he heard this. He didn't expect Xu Ning to be so generous. 1000 yuan was nearly two years' salary for a worker nowadays. However, when he thought about Xu Ning strangling the old leopard to death and beating so many black blind cats, he felt relieved.

Wealth is something you can touch but you can’t see. Some people earn money by working, some by starting a business, some by making money through their skills, and some by picking up money in the mountains…

Meng Quezi sat on the edge of the kang, smoking with his eyes narrowed. He glanced at Zhang Jinbao and said, "I'll pay 2000 yuan. No more than that. I have to save some for the cigarettes as a dowry."

Zhang Jinbao rubbed his face and was very moved. He said, "Dad, since I came into our family, you have supported me in everything I do. You raised me as your own son, but you have thrown all your savings over the years to me. What if I lose it? It's too much, I really don't know. How about this, you pay 1000 yuan, Erning pays 500, and I pay the remaining 3000 yuan myself..."

The three of them did not argue over it and agreed readily. As for the shares, they talked about it for half an hour. Zhang Jinbao was a person who remembered favors, and people who knew how to be grateful were afraid that the other party would suffer losses. In fact, such a person was not cut out for business because he was too real. Business can only be done well if you mix the real and the fake.

However, Xu Ning had a long-term vision. He knew that Zhang Jinbao was not cut out for business, but he had strong skills and good character. Many old masters were willing to find Zhang Jinbao to make custom furniture, and many of these old masters were in the building materials and furniture business...

So the three of them finally decided on the shareholding ratio. Xu Ning provided the blueprints and 500 yuan, and helped to run ties, accounting for 28% of the furniture workshop. Meng Quezi paid 1000 yuan and did not participate in management and production, accounting for 17%. The remaining 55% was paid by Zhang Jinbao, who paid 3000 yuan, plus a cutting machine, an electric planer and his tools, as well as management and production...

"Then it's settled! Bao'er, when we do business together, the worst thing we fear is a quarrel over money. If that day ever comes, Dad is willing to withdraw his shares for free."

Let me be frank with you. Xu Ning expressed his understanding of Meng Quezi's thoughts. He is an experienced person. Having lived to such an old age, he has witnessed many friends and relatives quarreling and even fighting over money.

Not to mention that Meng Quezi didn't want to see this scene, in fact, Zhang Jinbao didn't want to see it either. He was a very sentimental person. Just imagine that he had lived in old Meng's house for nearly ten years. He learned the craft from Meng Quezi, and he was provided with food and shelter. Although he was slapped many times by Meng Quezi, he now has no worries about food and drink, and can support his family. He is much better off than other orphans, not to mention that his wife is Liu Fenfang's niece, and he has two relatives here. He has to think twice before doing anything.

"Dad, don't worry. Even if we make a million or eight hundred thousand in the future, we will still distribute the dividends according to this share ratio. I mean if we make money... If we really lose money, then I will find a way to return the money to you and Erning. I absolutely cannot..."

Xu Ning raised his hand to stop him when he heard this, and said, "Brother Bao, don't say that. It's unlucky. We invested money in you to set up a workshop because we value your ability. No matter what you think, this is our business. Whether we make a profit or a loss, it's just like that. Don't think too much about it."

At this time, Liu Fenfang lifted the door curtain and entered the room, saying, "Bao'er, although our family is not rich, we are not poor either. If you have any ideas, just tell Erning. He has many ideas... His father, shall we clean up and set the table for dinner?"

"Eat! Yinhe, go set the table."

"Eh!"

Meng Yinhe dragged the kang table onto the kang, Meng Ziyan went to the outer room to get the bowls and chopsticks, and brought the dishes to the table.

Meng Quezi was in a good mood today, and he took out two bottles of Daqu and said, "Bao'er, Erning doesn't drink, Dad will drink with you."

Zhang Jinbao smiled and said, "Okay! Come on, what are you two looking at? Hurry up and come to the table and sit on the edge of the kang."

Nowadays, the relationship between master and apprentice is really like that between father and son. His two apprentices are less than 20 years old, only a dozen years younger than him, but whatever Zhang Jinbao says is an imperial decree. If the two apprentices dare to disobey him, they will be kicked out and made to behave themselves.

"You have heard that I am going to open a furniture workshop. In two years, do you want to become an apprentice or stay in the workshop to work? Go home and discuss this with your parents. After you become an apprentice, if you want to stay in the furniture workshop, you will be paid according to the standard of a second master. After you become fully skilled, you will be paid according to the standard of a master."

The two disciples nodded: "Got it, Master."

Meng Quezi said with a smile: "Look how scared you are to the two kids. Hurry up and get on the bed! Have a good meal."

Zhang Jinbao waved his hand: "Dad, let them eat on the edge of the kang, and then go out and pack up the tools. Hey, Erning, where are we going to work?"

"You can work wherever you want. We'll build a shed for you at the north end construction site. If you want to work at home, that's fine, too... By the way, you can stay at my brother's house at night. It's just two yards over. His doors and windows are leaking, so you can stay there first. When he comes back, we'll do some research and fix up his doors and windows."

Meng Quezi continued, "Lei Zi is also getting married this year, right?"

"Well, Lianfang's parents are a little anxious, so this trip back is to prepare to meet the in-laws and set a date first."

"Ah..." Zhang Jinbao poured wine for Meng Quezi and said, "Okay, let's go over and take a look after dinner. Is the yard big? If it is, we can work there."

"The front and back yards are quite big. You can go over there to eat in the evening. My aunt will also have to go over to help. We will cook for ourselves today."

"Hahaha, okay!"

All the dishes were served, but Liu Fenfang and Meng Ziyan were not at the table. They had almost finished eating in the outer room, so only Meng Quezi and Zhang Jinbao were drinking. Xu Ning picked up some dishes while chatting with Zhang Jinbao.

The two apprentices quickly ate two bowls of rice and left the table. Meng Yinhe took them to Guan Lei's house, unloaded the electric planer and tools first, tied up the donkey and fed it some grass, and then parked the donkey cart in a corner of the back garden.

What Zhang Jinbao meant was that when making beams and purlins, they could go to the Beitou construction site, directly pile the finished beams and purlins under the shed, and the job would be done in a few days by laying bricks, so the purlins and beams would be ready for use.

There is no need to go to Beitou to make cabinets, wardrobes, tables, chairs and benches. They can be made in Guan Lei's yard. The finished products can be piled up in the house without worrying about rain. Besides, the new house still needs to lay terrazzo floors, and finally the furniture can be put in...

Meng Quezi and Zhang Jinbao only drank two glasses of wine and hurriedly ate two bowls of rice. Just after putting down their chopsticks and before Meng Quezi could light a cigarette, Zhang Jinbao rushed to check on Guan Lei's house. After they went down to the fields, Liu Fenfang and Meng Ziyan cleaned the table, and then they walked towards the door. The two houses were very close, and they walked into Guan Lei's courtyard in two steps.

"This courtyard is quite big, Dad, are we going to work here?"

Meng Quezi nodded and said, "You three can work here. I'll take care of Yinhe at home. We're close by, so just let me know if you need anything."

"Okay, then I'll take them to check out the beams. The purlins need to be thicker, right? Do we need to pour cement on the roof?"

"Before pouring, you have to lay down a layer of waterproof cloth and put tiles on top."

Zhang Jinbao asked: "What should we do if it snows? Is it easy to clean up?"

"I'll tie a rope to the roof. If it snows heavily, I can pull the rope and the snow will fall down."

"Ah, you have some tricks up your sleeve."

It’s not that Xu Ning has a solution, but that he has no solution. If there are two snowfalls in Qing'an in winter, the snow will be 30 centimeters thick. If there is a heavy snowfall, it may even be half a meter thick. This is no exaggeration. Basically, the whole winter is filled with snow.

Of course, there is another way to clear the snow, but it is too troublesome. It is better to tie two ropes on the roof, and then you just need to pull the snow and it will fall naturally. But there is no need to clear the roof when it snows lightly, as it can keep warm with the snow covering it.

After Zhang Jinbao's two apprentices put the tools in order, Xu Ning drove the donkey upside down, pulling the cutting machine, planer and other tools, and took Zhang Jinbao, his two apprentices, and Meng Quezi to the Beitou construction site.

After Liu Fenfang, Meng Ziyan and Yinhe cleaned up the outer room at home, they came to Guan Lei's house to clean the kang, sweep the floor, and add some fire to the stove to heat the kang...

At the north end, Zhang Jinbao saw Xu Laonian and Wang Erli as soon as he got off the car. Without Xu Ning's introduction, he quickly took out a cigarette from his pocket and ran over to greet them warmly.

"Uncle, second uncle!"

"Hey, Jinbao? Why did you come here?"

Of course Xu Laonian knew that he arrived first in the afternoon, so this was just a way to start a conversation.

"I arrived in the afternoon, and had lunch with Erning at noon..."

Afterwards, Xu Ning and Meng Quezi walked up and introduced him to Yu Kaihe, Lao Wei and others. However, he had a pack of cigarettes in his pocket but he hadn't finished it yet, so Li Fuqiang took out two packs of economic cigarettes from his pocket and stuffed them into his hands.

"This is my eldest brother, Li Fuqiang."

Zhang Jinbao is two years younger than him because he got married late and his child is only 8 years old, while Jin Yumantang is already 13. After everyone greeted each other and chatted for a while, Zhang Jinbao came to the pile of wood, rubbed off the dust on the surface of the wood, glanced at the growth rings, and said, "These are all good woods for making furniture."

Meng Quezi smiled and said, "Of course, your uncle has been collecting them for many years."

"Haha, you have to use good wood to build a house for your own family." Xu Laonian said with a smile.

Xu Ning said, "Brother Bao, while we have a lot of people and a tractor, you can find out what kind of wood is suitable for furniture and bring it to the village."

"Well, isn't the tractor placed here? I'll fix the beams and purlins first. They should be done quickly, in two days. Then I'll make the windows..."

"Okay!"

Meng Quezi also took on the work of building beams, purlins and furniture, but he rarely takes it now. Why? He is old and can no longer do it.

Moreover, now that his family has no worries about food and clothing and lives a happy life, he is not so motivated anymore. People are selfish, and he still wants to live for a few more years to take care of his grandchildren.

"Bao'er, there's an electrical socket here. You can figure out where to put the cutting machine. We can build a shed next to it."

Zhang Jinbao waved his hand and said, "No need to build a shed. It will only take two or three days. Building a shed is too troublesome. Let's just do it this way! Dad, you go back and have a rest. I will take Yinhe and the other two to start working."

Li Fuqiang pinched his cigarette and smiled: "Jin Bao is really fast."

"Of course I have to. How can I not be active in my family life?"

"Hahaha..." Everyone looked up and laughed.

At this moment, Sun Lianfang stopped on the other side of the stream on another donkey. She got off and shouted, "Brother!"

Xu Ning glanced and walked over quickly, "What's the matter?"

"There are guests at home! They are Zhao Lu's brother-in-law Li Tielin, his wife Zhao Yu, and his brother-in-law Zhao Wang."

"Ah? Why is he here?"

Xu Ning was completely unprepared for Li Tielin's sudden visit, so he was a little surprised.

"The three of them brought a lot of things and said they came here specially to thank you."

Sun Lianfang said as she walked over while carrying the thermos on the donkey.

Liu Daming modified this donkey. Next to the foot brake, he twisted six iron wires into a thermos rack so that they could have hot water to drink when they went to collect and sell meat.

Xu Ning turned around and said, "Brother Bao, I'm going home to take a look. Uncle Meng, will you come with me?"

"I'm not going back. I'm just going to stay here and see how the cutting machine works."

Xu Laonian waved his hand: "Go back quickly, I'll stay here."

After Sun Lianfang placed the thermos under the shed and put the empty thermos on the thermos rack, Xu Ning drove the donkey backwards while Sun Lianfang sat on the guardrail, and the two of them staggered back to Old Xu's house.

"Uncle San will come to pick you up soon. Please pack your things tonight."

Sun Lianfang twisted her face and said, "Ah, I haven't had enough fun yet."

"What's the big deal? Don't you understand? Do you want to live with stones?"

"I do. Hey, brother, what do you think if I ask my dad for some dowry?"

Xu Ning shook his head: "You'd better not ask for too much. Shitou is under pressure. A second-hand four-wheeler will be enough."

"That won't work. Little Stone wants to go toe-to-toe with you, so you have to pay something. How can I let you take it all..."

"Haha, you're quite cunning. As I said before, don't ask for too much."

"I know."

He rode his donkey backwards to the gate of Old Xu's yard. There was an old Liberation truck parked next to the fence of Old Wei's house. He turned his head and jumped over the fence, and saw Li Tielin, Zhao Lu and Zhao Wang standing under the eaves of the house, and Liu Lizhen standing at the door with a helpless look on her face.

Xu Ning stood up straight and rode the donkey backwards, stepped off the donkey and walked into the courtyard, saying, "Why don't you go into the house?"

"Hey, come on and tell them. I asked them to come in and have some tea, but they insisted on waiting for you to come back. They are so polite..."

Such politeness made Liu Lizhen feel very uncomfortable.

In her opinion, when people get along with each other, they can be polite, but not too polite. If they are too polite, it will easily make both parties embarrassed, so Liu Lizhen prefers to be open and generous...

"Brother Xu!" Li Tielin greeted him with bared teeth.

Xu Ning waved his hand and said, "Brother Li, come in quickly. What are you doing standing here? We are already home. Lianfang, go in and get some tea."

Liu Lizhen said: "Your sister-in-law has made tea, girl, come in quickly... This girl looks blessed, look at her big earlobes..."

Zhao Yu smiled and said, "Aunt, I'm fat. My face is swollen."

"Oh my god, this girl is really good. She's not fat at all. It just means our family is well-off."

Xu Ning took Li Tielin and Zhao Wang into the house. The three of them were carrying a lot of things, including rice, flour, oil, tobacco, alcohol, sugar and tea, as well as biscuits, trough cakes, canned food, malted milk, and a bag of eggs.

These things cost quite a bit of money; Xu Ning estimated that they cost around 40 or 50 yuan.

"Why are you so polite? Just come, why do you need to bring anything? It's not easy for you either."

Li Tielin's life is indeed not easy. He can't bear to be greedy for such a sister-in-law and mother-in-law, and his wife is also very powerful. His brother-in-law Zhao Wang has no idea what to do when encountering problems, and the whole family relies on Li Tielin.

Li Tielin said with a smile: "I was thinking that it was thanks to your presence that day, otherwise the three of us would not have been prepared and would have caused you a lot of trouble."

"Oh, isn't that all in the past? To be honest, I didn't even think you could come."

(End of this chapter)