Chapter 167: The Vision for the Carriage Business

"Drink! Drink!"

Old Zhang’s face flushed red. With a look of innocence, he stammered to Zhang Rui, "I’ll drink it."

"That’s more like it. That’s my good Old Zhang."

Zhang Rui happily pulled Old Zhang into a bear hug, then shouted to Liangzi, who was standing nearby, "Stop standing there like a statue! Let’s get some late-night snacks and drinks for the brothers!"

"Where to?" Liangzi picked up his phone, ready to make a reservation.

"No need. Just go to the night market stall next door and tell them to bring over plenty of food. Start with twenty cases of beer. We’ll eat right here in the security office."

Zhang Rui knew his men had been exhausted from searching for Jiaojiao these past two days. He wanted them to have some meat and drinks to regain their strength. At the same time, he wanted to have a chat with his core group—Liangzi, Taozi, Daquan, Ye Bing, and now Old Zhang—about their future development plans.

Whether it was a big matter or a small one, there had to be rules and a plan. Only then could there be growth and a future. If they just swarmed around like a headless mob, doing whatever came to mind, they would never amount to anything.

Zhang Rui was a man who valued discipline. During his time in the military, he had learned the importance of following plans and obeying orders. He hoped to pass on that rigor to his brothers, warning them about what could be done and what could not, and teaching them when to be ruthless and when to be lenient—everything had to be handled with ease and balance. They were neither gangsters nor moral crusaders; pursuing their interests was fine as long as they didn't violate their core principles. Using a few methods to get there was nothing to be ashamed of.

Old Zhang downed a large glass of beer, feeling much better in his chest. He took a bite of the grilled squid delivered from the stall and said, "Zhang Rui, that punch of yours was damn brutal, but I don't blame you. I lied to you and to your brother Taozi; I deserved it. I never expected the atmosphere here to be so great. With a group of brothers like this, there’s nothing you can’t accomplish!"

"Haha, I don’t have much, Old Zhang, but I do have loyalty and sincerity. Since the brothers give me the respect to follow me, I can't let them down. As their leader, I have to ensure they have a good life and a steady job. Am I right?"

Zhang Rui finished his drink, but it didn't feel like enough. He shouted to a brother near the door, "Go, get some large bowls—the kind where you can pour a whole bottle into one. Let’s drink to our hearts' content tonight!"

"You got it!" The brother replied and ran off to fetch the bowls.

"You're right, you're absolutely right. This is what it feels like to live comfortably. Back when I was working solo, even though I made decent money, I was always living in fear. There are so many powerful competitors now who hate my guts and want to make trouble for me. I’ve managed to dodge them a few times, but I can't keep doing that forever. Most of my business has been snatched away by them; they work in groups with their fellow townsmen, and I’m just no match for them on my own!"

Old Zhang had already downed five or six bottles, mostly in two gulps each. Not having a high tolerance for alcohol, he was already starting to ramble. "Brother Rui—I’ll call you brother even though you’re twenty years my junior—I have a favor to ask."

"Speak," Zhang Rui said, snacking on some cold tofu.

"I helped you settle the score with Jiang Shunfa, so could you help me watch my back? Whenever I run into trouble, I’ll call you guys over. Just by standing there, those bastards will understand and be scared off. My life will be much easier then."

Old Zhang also wanted to expand his business. With the reputation he had built over the years, he certainly had the qualifications, but he lacked a group of people to hold his ground. His competitors had been suppressing him, preventing him from rising, and he felt incredibly stifled.

"Is that all? Just give the word when you need us. My dozens of brothers can be there within half an hour! Whoever dares to cause trouble, we'll deal with them directly." Zhang Rui rolled up his sleeves and said dominantly, "I won't speak for elsewhere, but within the Bohai district, I can guarantee it'll be handled."

"That’s great, that’s great! Thank you, Brother Rui." Old Zhang was so thrilled he hurriedly raised his glass to toast Zhang Rui.

"However..." Zhang Rui hadn't intended to bring up the idea of building the largest second-hand car base in the Bohai region tonight, but since Old Zhang had opened the door, he figured he might as well strike while the iron was hot.

"However, what?"

"However, I’ve been thinking about getting into the second-hand car business myself. Want to do it together?" Zhang Rui asked tentatively.

"Huh?" Old Zhang was stunned, his expression souring instantly. He stammered, "This lousy second-hand car business, what's there to play with? It’s not profitable. A big man like you, Brother Rui, shouldn't be messing with such small-time trade."

"Haha, if you don't want to partner up, just say so. I'll do it on my own." Zhang Rui set his full bowl on the table, lit a cigarette, and moved to get up.

"No! No! What do you mean? Are you serious?" Seeing that Zhang Rui was not joking, Old Zhang scrambled to stop him. "Sit down, let's talk, sit down."

If Zhang Rui really started a business on his own, Old Zhang would be finished. He was already struggling with his current competitors; if Zhang Rui entered the mix, he might as well close up shop for good.

"What's the matter? Do you look down on me?" Zhang Rui kept a stern face. "To be honest, I've been thinking about this for a long time. Of course, I don't just want to sell second-hand cars. I want to build the largest car culture base in the entire Bohai region. It would include precision car washing, deep maintenance, repairs, modifications, second-hand sales, and even a few race tracks for competitions. I want to make the dealership vibrant and bustling! Many of the brothers under me studied auto repair at technical schools; they are more passionate about that than anything else. With them, I have peace of mind."

Cars are something every man with a bit of spirit loves, just as women love designer bags and beautiful clothes. Currently, Bohai City didn't have a decent car dealership; the industry was a disorganized mess. When Zhang Rui was on a mission in Northern Europe, he had spent time at a massive car dealership that was perfection itself. It was built into the mountains, regularly hosting custom car shows and racing events. Over time, it attracted media attention and televised broadcasts. As the primary organizer, the dealership raked in money through advertising and various sponsorships. That was real wealth—far better than Old Zhang selling one or two cars a day. Most importantly, the people in Bohai City had money, and many were car enthusiasts, especially the young heirs from the oil fields, yet there wasn't a single professional dealership in the three cities and seven counties surrounding the Bohai Sea.

"My god, I never imagined you had such big ambitions! There are plenty of people with ideas like that, and I thought about it years ago too, knowing there was a market, but I never had the nerve or the courage. It requires a lot of talent and capital."

Old Zhang was deeply impressed by Zhang Rui's vision. He hadn't dared to touch that field in twenty years of business, and he hadn't expected this young man to have such an appetite right out of the gate. It seemed he really had the strength to back it up.