In a private room of a distinctive Beijing-style Chinese restaurant, the atmosphere was lively.
"I propose we toast with our drinks for a great start today!"
"Cheers!!"
"Cheers!!"
The clinking of glasses merged into a symphony, and everyone's faces were lit up with brilliant smiles.
The outcome of their morning visit to CCTV had been exceptionally smooth, clearing away a significant portion of their work and making everyone extremely happy.
This meant their trip to Beijing wouldn't be too demanding.
With less work, everyone would naturally have more free time to enjoy.
Since they were in Beijing, the sacred land in the hearts of all Chinese people, they naturally wanted to experience its scenery.
Therefore, no one drank alcohol, as they were already prepared for an afternoon of sightseeing.
The lunch was incredibly lavish, featuring almost exclusively authentic Beijing specialties.
The golden, crispy roast duck, with its lingering aroma and tender meat, was so delicious that everyone almost bit their tongues.
Braised pork with fried dough, secret recipe lamb, imperial eight-treasure chicken, stir-fried tripe, fried liver… and finally, a bowl of authentic Zhajiangmian noodles.
Each dish was so delightful that it left them wanting more, with flavors lingering on their tongues.
After the meal, everyone leaned back in their chairs, holding their full stomachs.
"I think I've gained at least two jin from this meal. I must never binge eat like this again; it's the biggest poison to the body!" Ye Meiyun sighed lazily, leaning back in her chair.
"Beautiful women like you have to maintain your figure; we guys never even think about that," Liu Kaihe said with a smile.
"How can men and women be the same?" Ge Lan shot Liu Kaihe a look, then turned her gaze to Qin Chuan. "Boss, are there any work arrangements for the afternoon?"
"If not, we'd like to go out and take in the magnificent scenery of old Beijing."
Instantly, all eyes converged on Qin Chuan, full of anticipation.
"There shouldn't be much work in the afternoon. You're all free to do as you please!" Qin Chuan said with a smile under their expectant gazes.
"Yay!!"
"Long live the boss!"
In an instant, excited shouts erupted in the private room, and everyone danced with joy.
"Director, I heard your family is from Beijing. You'll have to be our guide this afternoon!" a staff member suddenly said to Ye Meiyun.
"I'm afraid I won't have time this afternoon; I need to go home with my brother," Ye Meiyun replied.
The crowd blinked in surprise, then nodded in understanding.
"Then what about you, boss? Are you going to join us?" someone else asked Qin Chuan.
Qin Chuan smiled slightly, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "If I go with you, won't you feel restricted? Won't you be unable to relax?"
The employee who asked immediately froze, looking awkward.
"Haha, I'm just teasing you!" Qin Chuan burst into laughter. "I also have to visit a friend this afternoon, so I won't be joining your little group!"
He had suddenly thought of someone, and since he was in Beijing, he might as well pay them a visit. Whether it was because of his relationship with their father or because they had experienced hardships together…
About fifteen minutes later, everyone parted ways temporarily at the entrance of the restaurant. Ye Meiyun took Ye Huai'an's Wrangler, while Qin Chuan drove his own "Tiger Head Benz." Ge Lan and Liu Kaihe, along with two others, drove the van.
The Tiger Head Benz drove smoothly on the asphalt road, and Qin Chuan's thoughts drifted. He was no stranger to Beijing; he had attended various events here many times in his previous life. Although it was 1998 and many places felt both familiar and unfamiliar, he had a general understanding of the overall situation. Before long, his Tiger Head Benz arrived at a location.
At the entrance of a not-so-wide street, a large iron frame stood, bearing three large characters – Zhongguancun! This was the early prototype of what would become the renowned Zhongguancun Software Development Park, famous both domestically and internationally. Everything looked so primitive, a far cry from the later era of towering skyscrapers, hailed as the magnificent "Silicon Valley of China."
But once inside, the scene was completely different. On both sides of the narrow street were shops of all sizes, each selling the trendiest technological products of the time. These included CDs, LCD screens, tape recorders, video cameras, cameras, printers, computers, and various other electronic items. Of course, there were also many high-end, large stores with various names: so-and-so market, so-and-so company, so-and-so product, accompanied by attention-grabbing slogans.
The street was bustling with people coming and going, and every store seemed to be doing very good business. Countless small vendors bought suitable products from here and then resold them in various places to earn the price difference.
Qin Chuan walked alone on this street of technology, absorbing the market atmosphere of the era's famous "Electronics Street." His Tiger Head Benz had long been parked outside, as it couldn't enter at all.
No one knew that it was on this unassuming street that many future e-commerce giants and thousands of billion-dollar conglomerates, renowned both at home and abroad, would emerge. These individuals would amass fortunes and become idols for countless people. And all of them had established their foundations around 1998, the present time. In just a few years, they accumulated unimaginable wealth.
Qin Chuan had an idea: once his electronic storage cabinet product started making money, he could find a suitable opportunity to make contact with those "big shots." He might not understand the technology, but he had the money. Could he invest? That way, he would have a money-making tree, and even if his business failed, he would have a very solid fallback. Ideally, he would become a shareholder in the companies founded by the "big horse," "little horse," and "Liu Moumou," the three future e-commerce giants! That would be perfect! Then, Teacher Yang wouldn't have to worry anymore… Qin Chuan mused with some fantasy.
Thinking of Liu Moumou, Qin Chuan immediately took out his phone, found a number, and dialed it. Now was a very good opportunity, if the news was accurate!
After a few rings, the call was answered, and a pleasant female voice came through: "Hello? Brother Qin Chuan!"
"Honglian, what are you doing?" Qin Chuan asked gently, standing by a sun-drenched wall. The winter sun was so lovely, evoking a completely different feeling from the summer.
"Working!" Shang Honglian replied crisply.
"Are you still working at that company called Jingxi in Zhongguancun?" Qin Chuan asked.
"Yes, I'm still here. What's up, Brother Qin Chuan?" Shang Honglian asked.
"Nothing much, I just came to Beijing and I'm currently in Zhongguancun. I was thinking of stopping by to see you. Do you have time?"
"What? You're in Beijing, and you're in Zhongguancun right now?" Shang Honglian's voice rose several decibels in surprise on the other end of the line.
"Yes, I'm in Zhongguancun right now… um, just outside the entrance of a place called Sitong Electronics Market." Qin Chuan looked up at the building opposite.
"Sitong Electronics Market… this… this is where I work! Wait for me, I'll be right out!" Shang Honglian sounded genuinely surprised. Qin Chuan could hear something fall to the ground, and then he heard Shang Honglian tell someone else that she was going out for a bit and asked them to look after the business.