73: Sisters in one pot

"Cheers!"

Crystal-clear glasses clinked as Chen Qiu and Xu Jia drained their glasses of fresh-squeezed orange juice.

This was the first meal to celebrate the official launch of the company.

Normally, alcohol would be served, but considering they both had to drive later, they substituted it with juice.

Don't be fooled by it just being juice; the price was anything but simple.

A 1.5L bottle of fresh-squeezed juice cost 108 yuan!

This restaurant was the same private kitchen where he had gone on the blind date with Lü Shuang.

The name was: Zhiwei Pavilion!

Previously, because he was short on cash, he hadn't tasted the culinary level of this restaurant, and Chen Qiu hadn't felt particularly curious.

However, now that he was the landlord of this entire street of shops,

He was somewhat curious about the taste of this private kitchen.

Just what level was it to dare charge this price!

So, Chen Qiu directly ordered a table of five dishes and brought Xu Jia along to sample them.

After Xu Jia looked at the menu, she was also a bit startled.

The food alone cost 2,123 yuan, not even counting the 10% service fee!

"Are our tenants all this high-end?"

Xu Jia observed the environment inside the shop.

It was very exquisite and bourgeois; both the decoration and the atmosphere exuded an air of laziness and light luxury.

Two or three years ago, this would have definitely been a holy land for young women to flock to and check in on social media!

But it was 2025 now. In any case, she wouldn't come to eat and check in just because a restaurant's environment was bourgeois.

In fact, besides them, there was only one other table of guests in the restaurant.

"Can they make a profit like this?"

Xu Jia asked with some concern.

"President Xu, entering work mode so quickly?"

Looking at her observing and pondering face, Chen Qiu said with a light laugh.

"If they go bankrupt, this shop space will become vacant."

Xu Jia said quite seriously.

"Let's eat first, no rush."

Chen Qiu said leisurely.

Looking at his posture, Xu Jia felt both helpless and a bit envious.

Is this the life of a wealthy person with financial freedom?

Always in such an unhurried and relaxed state.

At that moment, Xu Jia suddenly remembered something and asked curiously.

"Isn't it busy over at the Cultural Industry Group?"

"It's busy!"

Chen Qiu nodded.

Then he said as if it were only natural.

"That's why I hired so many capable secretaries!"

"I just need to spur them on to work!"

Xu Jia was speechless.

"Then on my side..."

"That's right, I won't interfere too often in the future either; otherwise, why would I need you!"

Chen Qiu glanced at Xu Jia, placed a piece of food in her bowl with his chopsticks, and said slowly.

"You'll have to slowly deal with these headaches yourself in the future!"

Xu Jia's movements paused slightly, then she naturally put the food Chen Qiu had given her into her mouth.

"Then can I call Yiyi over to be my secretary?"

As soon as she finished speaking, she heard Chen Qiu's voice.

"No way!"

He said jokingly.

"What if you two sisters commit a crime together and take my family fortune all at once? Who would I cry to then?"

Xu Jia immediately curled her lips and gave a light hmph.

She was worried that Chen Qiu would take both of them down together... by then, working for him like an ox or horse, and also being his... wouldn't that be losing the lady and the soldiers?

"I have to give Yiyi a good reminder when I get back, tell her to be careful and not be bewitched by this guy!"

Xu Jia thought secretly to herself.

Given how much Xu Yi had idolized Chen Qiu since she was a child, she was worried that with a flick of Chen Qiu's finger, that girl wouldn't know which way was up.

After finishing the meal, Chen Qiu accompanied Xu Jia for a brief stroll along this commercial street.

This was the center of the old city district, and the shops were of all kinds.

From the outside in, the place with the highest foot traffic was the Auntea Jenny milk tea shop on the street corner.

The further in one went, the lower the foot traffic became.

However, this 'low' was only relative.

Xu Jia often shopped here. According to her, during evenings and weekends, this area was considered a commercial street with quite good foot traffic!

Finally, the two of them stopped at the innermost, currently vacant shop.

Looking at the decor, one of them seemed to have previously been a 24-hour unmanned adult products store.

And the closest one currently open next to it was a Business KTV formed by two shops joined together... Opening an adult products store next to a Business KTV, that person was truly a genius.

Chen Qiu suspected there might be 'cub-extinguishing shields' left over from ancient battlefields inside, so he had Xu Jia choose another slightly further shop as the office location.

Of course, it was only for temporary use.

These were all means of production; they would have to be rented out later.

"Then I'll head out first. You get familiar with things, and hire people when you need to!"

Xu Jia heard this and nodded.

She had quite a lot to do next. Fortunately, she had received special approval from Feng Ye at China Merchants Bank, so she could also devote herself entirely to this side... After Chen Qiu left, he drove straight home and took a nap.

After waking up, a refreshed Chen Qiu happened to see a message from Liu Qi.

He raised an eyebrow and called Liu Qi directly.

"Hello, President Chen..."

It was still that slightly magnetic mature beautiful woman voice, but it sounded a bit tired.

One could tell she hadn't taken a midday nap.

Poor worker.

"Liu Qi, what's the deal with the seminar the day after tomorrow?"

"Secretary Zhou called me at noon. It's a special seminar on the Cultural Industry Park hosted by Minister An of the Propaganda Department. They want to discuss the future development planning of the Cultural Industry Park with the Culture and Tourism Bureau and our Group in a three-party meeting."

Minister An of the Propaganda Department... Hearing this name, a sharp glint immediately flashed in Chen Qiu's eyes.

Compared to the Culture and Tourism Bureau, the status of the Propaganda Department was much more transcendent!

And this Minister An was also An Wan's father!

The next top leader of Gannan!

"What time is it?"

"3:00 PM."

"Okay, you and Song Xiangtong come with me then."

On the other end of the phone, Liu Qi hesitated slightly upon hearing this, then finally spoke up.

"Should we bring An Wan along?"

Others might not know An Wan's background, but as the person who personally recruited her, Liu Qi certainly understood it clearly!

"No need."

Bringing someone's daughter along to attend her father's seminar?

That would be a bit provocative.

Even if the man himself didn't say anything, he couldn't stop others from seeing it and spreading gossip.

After hanging up the phone, Chen Qiu's expression was calm.

The Cultural Industry Park was destined to be inseparable from the Propaganda Department; Chen Qiu had long been prepared for this, so there was no need to worry too much.

He just needed to follow the steps and have the Cultural Industry Park built according to the progress in the system's planning document!

Before long, Luo Jinglan and Chen Zhide also returned.

The old father's face was glowing with health. After getting out of the car, he immediately found a clean rag and carefully wiped the seats.

Luo Jinglan watched and rolled her eyes.

When she saw Chen Qiu, she hurriedly stepped forward and said,

"About that blind date I asked for you before, that doctor has been very busy lately and has no time, but that primary school teacher said she's free the night after tomorrow!"