Once everyone spoke plainly, negotiations became easier.

Liu Yong had anticipated this – why else would Xiaolan call him here if she didn’t want him as a shareholder?

After discussions, they finalized the investment and shareholding proportions:

Xia Xiaolan: 50,000 yuan investment, responsible for initial strategic planning, 25% shares.

Bai Zhenzhu: 50,000 yuan investment, responsible for daily store operations, 25% shares.

Kang Wei: 50,000 yuan investment, supporting role when needed, 20% shares.

Liu Yong: 30,000 yuan investment, liaison between Yuan Hui and the store, 18% shares.

Shao Guangrong: 20,000 yuan investment, maintaining supply channels, 12% shares.

Purely by investment amount, only Xia Xiaolan and Bai Zhenzhu’s shares matched perfectly. Kang Wei took a slight loss, but he wanted to learn from the experience. Unable to provide strategic direction or participate in daily management, he accepted 5% less. Liu Yong and Shao Guangrong invested less but got proportionally more shares. Yuan Hui Decorating Company would bring substantial initial business, and even customers not using Yuan Hui might be influenced to purchase materials here.

Shao Guangrong claimed he could manage factory suppliers. Normally, someone with such connections could open their store – whoever could secure scarce goods won half the battle. But building materials weren’t as hot as home appliances. If not for Peng City’s rapid development and foreign investment, why would Xia Xiaolan bother opening a building materials store? Only this special location at this particular time made pioneering the industry possible. Shao Guangrong couldn’t go solo without Xia Xiaolan’s team.

He lacked the energy and time to manage alone, and who could he trust more as partners than his childhood friends?

These “permits” only worked for a few years. Later, manufacturers would compete for distributors, and getting goods on credit wouldn’t depend on anyone’s “permits” – that was the market trend!

Xia Xiaolan had her considerations. One must stay vigilant – her and Uncle Liu Yong’s combined 37% stake meant they were unlikely to fall out. If others had ill intentions, she still held the largest controlling share.

Of course, Bai Zhenzhu, Kang Wei, and Shao Guangrong were unlikely to unite against her unless she and Zhou Cheng not only broke up but ended things terribly, becoming enemies instead of lovers. By then, who knew if the store would survive or if she’d moved to another industry? Xia Xiaolan planned but didn’t worry needlessly.

For now, everyone was satisfied with the investment ratios.

The total capital of 200,000 yuan would be paid in two installments:

First before renovation, and second before stocking inventory.

From the 200,000, they’d deduct Bai Zhenzhu’s advanced 5-year rent payment of 17,500 yuan, leaving 182,500. Liu Yong would sacrifice profit on this job – renovating such a large space couldn’t cost less than tens of thousands. This wasn’t just a hardware store with disorganized merchandise. To convince customers to buy everything from paint to high-end tiles, the store’s layout itself was a showcase.

Like future IKEA or other furniture showrooms, even small custom closet shops would have “model rooms.”

They couldn’t display all goods in-store – they needed a separate warehouse for inventory.

Keeping appropriate stock levels was key. They could reorder popular items, and even with credit terms, Xia Xiaolan didn’t want excess inventory taking up space. Shao Guangrong couldn’t manage every manufacturer – some might extend credit, but who would finance imported materials? They’d need some capital for inventory, and Xia Xiaolan hoped Shao Guangrong could get lighting fixtures on credit… a crystal lamp cost over 1,000 yuan, consuming too much capital!

A floor of lighting displays couldn’t have just a few lonely lamps.

“Wall finishing materials don’t need much space. One floor isn’t necessary – I suggest combining them with flooring materials. You’re right about dedicating a floor to bathroom fixtures.”

Kitchen and bathroom renovations were expensive – how could they not sell those materials?

Bai Zhenzhu caught the key point, “What about the remaining floor? Leave it empty?”

“That floor will be for our expensive items.”

The top floor would have model areas with comfortable sofas and stylish designs. Customers wouldn’t decide to buy a thousand-yuan crystal lamp after just standing and looking – they needed somewhere to sit, think, and let sales staff gradually persuade them… Big spenders deserved good service.

This space would retain customers for the building materials store and bring business to Yuan Hui.

Yuan Hui and the store would benefit each other.

With shares and plans settled, they finally realized the store needed a name.

“Sister-in-law, you name it.”

Everyone looked at her expectantly, not just because she initiated the partnership, but because her recent top-scorer status made them hesitant to display their cultural knowledge before her.

“An Jia Building Materials?”

Why complicate the name? Would stacking several “gold” characters bring wealth?

No need to challenge people’s literacy – not everyone buying materials would know how to pronounce the complex character “xin.”

Simple, memorable, and easy to say was the principle!

An Jia Building Materials’ renovation couldn’t be rushed. Each floor’s layout needed consideration, like integrating kitchen and bathroom displays with their materials section.

Liu Yong couldn’t renovate without seeing the goods.

Xia Xiaolan figured having a basic layout before school started would suffice.

Meanwhile, everyone would search far and wide for suppliers!

She assigned tasks to everyone. Shao Guangrong eagerly went to manage relationships, while others prepared for “business trips.” Only Liu Yong stayed to oversee the guesthouse renovation, and Xia Xiaolan herself would travel.

She’d forgotten about her birthday on July 23rd when Kang Wei mysteriously said he’d take her somewhere.

He brought her to customs.

“Sister-in-law, Brother Cheng couldn’t get leave to accompany you in Peng City for your birthday, so he asked me to bring you to choose a gift.”

That sounded normal, right?

But Kang Wei led her to a yard full of cars – all customs seizures. Confiscated smuggled goods were sold at low prices, with proceeds going to the state. What was Zhou Cheng thinking? It was just a birthday – was he suggesting she pick a car?!