Chapter 602: Sly Old Foxes
Chapter 602: Sly Old Foxes
"It’s a place where there would be a selection of curated shops that would allow the patrons to buy whatever they need in a single location.
"Groceries, clothes, food, equipment, and even furniture.
"You name it and the shopping mall will have it."
Lin Xuan Qi explained to them what it was.
Old Heng glanced at his friends and their business minds already got to thinking about what Lin Xuan Qi had just said.
While they did so, Lin Xuan Qi took a sip of his tea.
He wouldn’t mind if they wanted to rent some of the stores and shops in the shopping mall when it was done.
And from their expressions, they were looking to be convinced by him.
All of them nodded their heads at each other and added a few remarks when they thought of something new.
"The young masters and young mistresses living around the area would be glad to have someplace that’s so convenient near their mansions."
"Yeah, think about how we can centralize our logistics to deliver our goods there when it is completed."
"Centralized logistics, that’s a great idea."
These businessmen with many years of experience were already thinking about cutting down the cost of selling their goods.
They chatted among themselves until the excitement died down.
And Old Heng gave Lin Xuan Qi a smile before asking the most important question, "We are willing to invest in the shopping mall if you ever need the capital, and if not, we would also like to be able to be part of it in any way possible."
His friends nodded in unison and said, "Yeah. We have faith in you."
"I feel so flattered by all of you." Lin Xuan Qi cupped his hands at them but added on, "However, I do not need any capital for this but I am more than happy to rent out the available shops and storefronts to you when it’s completed."
"That’s great news for all of us. Here’s a toast to the success of the shopping mall." Old Heng quickly raised his teacup and proposed a toast to him.
His friends also did the same.
Lin Xuan Qi raised his teacup, returned the toast, and downed the tea in a mouthful.
But before he could continue, one of the guards came into the main hall.
"Master Lin, there’s young master Chew and his friends requesting a visit." The guard cupped his hands at him and said.
That got Old Heng and his friends to give out an awkward smile.
Thankfully they were here earlier. They thought silently to themselves.
Young master Chew and his friends might have taken over all the shops and storefronts if they weren’t here already.
Lin Xuan Qi saw their expressions and he glanced at Old Heng.
If he could get them to see how some of the shops and storefronts would be much more valuable due to their location in the mall, he might use it to his advantage for them to offer him a higher price for the rental.
It took a moment before Old Heng broke out of the awkward smile he had on his face and said, "It’s fine, we are friends with young master Chew too."
"Let them in." Lin Xuan Qi glanced over to the guard and said.
The guard gave him a nod and turned around to do as he was instructed.
It didn’t take long for them to hear some chatter approaching the main hall.
And the familiar faces of young master Chew and his friends appeared.
They too were surprised to see Old Heng and his friends already in the main hall.
"Master Lin, I’m so sorry for not informing you of our visit earlier.
"If it’s inconvenient, we can visit you again on some other day." Young master Chew cupped his hands at Lin Xuan Qi and said.
His friends were also feeling the same, with their smiles frozen on their faces.
These old sly foxes could really sniff out a good deal much faster than they could. They thought while they cupped their hands at Lin Xuan Qi.
"It’s fine, we were talking about the new project I’m busy with right now, which I presume is the reason you are here for." Lin Xuan Qi said and young master Chew together with his friends nodded their heads at him in unison.
Lin Xuan Qi continued and briefed them on what he had told Old Heng and his friends earlier.
After which, he got one of the servant girls to bring the map of the shopping mall to him.
The servant girl came back after a moment and handed him the map.
Lin Xuan Qi unrolled it, held it up for all of them to see.
Then, he went on to brief them on the different areas to be allocated specifically to a specific purpose.
"First, there will be what we call an anchor tenant, the stores and shops selling things that pull in the crowd.
"And in this case, it will be my soap and franchise food businesses.
"There aren’t many shops selling the soap right now in Hong Feng City, and this shop here would help cater to the rich folks living around the area.
"Next, there would be shops for daily essential items, and in this case it would be for the servants to run their errands for their masters and mistresses.
"Lastly, there would be shops that are for different lifestyle items."
Even while Lin Xuan Qi was briefing them, all of the businessmen could already see how some of the shops were located in a better location due to their accessibility.
And all of them were eyeing these locations for their own businesses.
They waited eagerly for Lin Xuan Qi to finish before asking, "How do you intend to allocate the shops to us?"
Lin Xuan Qi glanced at them with a smile and said, "If your business fits the purpose, you might try to make the best offer for the rental against your competitors."
Old Heng, young master Chew, and their friends frowned and glanced at each other, while they pondered on how much they could offer for the shops they wanted.