Chapter 128: Expanding Operations

Please, I beg for some recommendation votes... I've been running naked for four weeks in a row; I'm dying here...

"How is business lately?" Zhang Ye asked with a smile as he picked up a bottle of mineral water from the counter and took a one-yuan coin from his pocket to put into the cash box.

The shop was small. Although there was a small counter, the inventory was quite limited: a few boxes of instant noodles, some cigarettes, and a selection of drinks and snacks.

"It’s reached a stable stage now. We get a decent amount of people every day, though not overwhelming. The mornings are the emptiest, usually leaving about half the machines free. The busiest times are the afternoons and evenings, where it’s basically packed. We even have many people staying overnight. There have been several days where it was completely full, and we couldn't keep up. I feel there is still room for growth, but unfortunately, the space is too small to fit any more machines," Wu Dongjun said with a flash in his eyes, nodding as he spoke.

"How much is in the account right now?" Zhang Ye thought for a moment before asking.

"You brat, you finally decided to show up." Zhao Haidong, only just snapping out of his game, noticed Zhang Ye. He quickly set the game aside, walked over, and gave Zhang Ye a friendly punch on the chest.

"Xiao Ye, you're here." As he spoke, Liu Wentao emerged from the back room, his face glowing and brimming with joy.

"Brother Tao, Sister Mei," Zhang Ye greeted them with a smile.

Zhou Hanmei was wearing a long pink dress and high heels, making her only slightly shorter than Zhang Ye—likely around 1.65 meters tall. She had delicate, pretty features and large eyes, and she was wearing a red hairpin that Zhang Ye recognized; it was the one Liu Wentao had bought for her during their last trip to Guangyang City. She was still wearing it, clearly fond of the gift.

"So you’re Zhang Ye. Not bad, you’re quite a handsome fellow. Do you have a girlfriend? Would you like me to introduce you to one?" Zhou Hanmei hadn't met Zhang Ye often. While he knew who she was, this was their first formal introduction.

"No thank you," Zhang Ye replied, feeling somewhat embarrassed.

Truth be told, he didn't even know if he should consider himself taken or not. His relationship with Wang Mengzi was ambiguous; sometimes they were intimate, sharing close moments, but other times she would turn cold and fickle, which frustrated him greatly. As for Li Qianqian, whenever he thought of her shy nature, the words of confession he had rehearsed countless times would get stuck in his throat, and he dared not act rashly.

"I know you have business to discuss as soon as you arrive. Let's go inside. Xiao Mei, you go ahead and play in the small booth for now. We have something to discuss with Guangxiang," Liu Wentao said, smiling as he changed the subject.

"Heh, I really do have some thoughts. But Sister Mei isn't an outsider; it's fine if she listens," Zhang Ye said with a smile before heading into the room.

Despite what was said, Liu Wentao still didn't let Zhou Hanmei come in.

The interior of the back room remained unchanged, save for a wooden board placed on the floor where they would rest when tired. During the initial startup phase, they couldn't afford to be too particular about such things.

"After more than a month, even after deducting the initial dividend, we have 110,000 in the account," Wu Dongjun answered, picking up from their previous conversation.

Even though they had anticipated that an internet cafe would be a lucrative business—a fact they could infer from the prospects Zhang Ye had laid out—they were still stunned by the sheer speed at which it raked in money once they officially opened.

Marx once said that if there is a 10 percent profit, capital is employed everywhere; at 20 percent, it becomes eager; at 50 percent, it grows daring; for 100 percent profit, it will trample on all human laws; and for 300 percent, it will commit any crime, even risking the gallows.

While they weren't trampling on the law, the profits the internet cafe could generate were easily over 300 percent, and its ability to turn a profit into cold, hard cash was astonishing.

Zhang Ye’s gaze flickered as he looked at Zhao Haidong and Liu Wentao. Although they were excited, they didn't seem surprised, clearly having expected this outcome.

"This place is still too small," Zhang Ye suddenly sighed, looking around.

The building was old; even the walls had turned gray over time, losing their original white color. The space was so limited that fitting fifty computers had been the result of constant, exhaustive squeezing. However, this was where they had started their venture. It was impossible not to have an emotional attachment to it.

"Are you thinking of..." Liu Wentao asked.

"The potential of an internet cafe is far beyond just this. The derived profits are equally staggering. Therefore, finding a larger space is our next order of business," Zhang Ye nodded, confirming Liu Wentao's suspicion.

"I actually have a place in mind—one located between the commercial street and the factory district. It used to be a library, but business was poor, so they're looking to transfer it. The only drawback is that the library is on the second floor," Wu Dongjun said suddenly, revealing that he had already made preparations.

"Great, it seems you've been planning this for a while. How’s the price for that place?" Zhang Ye was slightly taken aback, and remembering that in his past life, his partner had risen to success precisely through computer rooms and internet cafes, he couldn't help but smile.

"The rent isn't expensive because the owner owns the entire building, so the transfer fee can be pushed down significantly. We should be able to get it for 3,000 a year. However, it seems the owner wants to sell the whole building, and I feel it would be very difficult for us to afford that with the money we have on hand," Wu Dongjun said, shaking his head with a bitter smile. "That’s exactly why I didn't bring it up earlier, even though I was tempted."

"If the location is right... even if it's not perfect, we must acquire this building." Zhang Ye knew all too well the massive profits to be made in real estate.

Properties that could be bought for tens of thousands now might be worth hundreds of thousands or even millions in five or ten years. If he had the capital, Zhang Ye would absolutely consider buying multiple properties for long-term appreciation. At this moment, while he didn't have the intention—or the capacity—to pivot into real estate, he certainly didn't want to miss an opportunity to acquire property at such a low price. Furthermore, this building would allow their internet cafe to expand, making it a move that achieved several goals at once.

"But if we use all our money to buy the property, where will we get the extra cash to buy more computers? Are you suggesting we move all the computers from here?" Zhao Haidong asked, stopping the overeager Zhang Ye.

"That's right. Property prices aren't cheap these days, and the 100,000 we have might not be enough. Besides, I don't think it's a good idea to move the business away from here," Liu Wentao added, also discouraging the idea.

Zhang Ye rolled his eyes and said, "Who said anything about moving the internet cafe away? Even if this space is a bit small, it can still continue to operate and generate income. I wouldn't consider moving it rashly. What I have in mind is simply to expand our operations and open a branch."