Chapter 655: Chapter 360: Chen Cheng’s New Year Atmosphere
On the afternoon of New Year’s Eve, the once silent courtyard finally came to life.
Xiao Meier and Chen Cheng had cleaned the courtyard thoroughly in the morning, waiting for the invited guests to arrive.
Fresh couplets were pasted under the eaves, and a few pots of kumquats and New Year’s flowers were placed in the courtyard, adding to the festive atmosphere.
But before that, the two of them did something they hadn’t done in a long time.
“Xiao Cheng, does this lantern look straight?” Xiao Meier stood on the ladder, holding a lantern in her hand, and turned to ask Chen Cheng.
Chen Cheng stood below, looked up, and said with a smile, “It’s straight, it’s straight, a little to the left… good, just like that!”
Xiao Meier happily hung the lantern, came down from the ladder, and clapped her hands, “Now it really feels like the New Year!”
“I said I’d hang it up, but you insisted on doing it.” Chen Cheng laughed.
“I’m just afraid you’ll get tired!” Xiao Meier rubbed her hands together and exhaled a puff of white breath, “I’ll go to the kitchen to prepare the dumpling filling, they’ll be here soon…”
Before she finished speaking, Ding Zhaohui arrived first with Du Yuan.
“Sis-in-law, Brother Cheng.”
Du Yuan walked in front, “Happy New Year~”
Li Dinger followed with a basket of fruit, “Brought some fruit, let’s share it later.”
When the two met, they couldn’t help teasing each other. Chen Cheng saw it and said, “Wow, during the New Year, you’re already tired carrying so few things?”
“Isn’t it? If Xiao Yuan hadn’t asked, I wouldn’t have bothered to buy these few things.” Ding Zhaohui didn’t want to be outdone.
“You two, you really are something, can’t see each other without a jab.” Xiao Meier laughed heartily, pulling Du Yuan, “They are like that, it’s fine as long as they come, come inside, it’s cold outside.”
Du Yuan nodded repeatedly, “Yes, yes, is there anything I can help with?”
“Tonight we’re having hotpot and making dumplings.” Xiao Meier said as she walked, “We have pork and scallion, chive and egg, and shrimp and corn dumplings, all favorites.”
“Do you know how to make dumplings?” she asked.
“I do.”
“Great, lend a hand, it will be lively.”
Chen Cheng and Ding Zhaohui walked behind, Ding Zhaohui bumped Chen Cheng’s shoulder, “Your life is getting more and more cushy, huh? I heard you made some big deals again?”
“This is just the beginning. Bigger ones are coming up.” Chen Cheng took out a cigarette, “And you? How’s the new job?”
“Haven’t started yet, said to report after the New Year.” Ding Zhaohui took out a lighter, “Life is getting better too.”
“I say you’re lucky, marrying a wife who brings you good fortune, you’re really climbing up the ladder.”
Ding Zhaohui raised his eyebrows, “Aren’t you the same?”
“Hahaha…”
The two laughed as they walked to the front yard, and Chen Cheng prepared to brew some tea.
Just as the teapot was placed on the stove, Feng Biao and Liu Ying arrived.
“Hey, you’re here earlier than me.” Feng Biao swaggered over, “Eh? Where’s your wife?”
“In the kitchen, helping Xiao Er with the dumpling filling.”
Liu Ying also brought a gift and placed it on the table, “Didn’t know what to buy, brought two bottles of wine, drink some tonight, fellas.”
She continued, “I’ll go help out.”
“Sure, go ahead. Let us guys chat for a bit.” Feng Biao gestured with his hand.
“Dacheng, you see, ever since Shu Biao became Mr. Biao, he’s been getting more and more domineering~” Ding Zhaohui said with a smile.
Liu Ying slapped Feng Biao’s solid shoulder, “Stop bragging here.”
She then looked at Chen Cheng, “Dacheng, I’ll go over first.”
The tea was brewed, and Chen Cheng poured three cups, “That Xia Bao guy isn’t here yet? Really arriving just in time for dinner?” Feng Biao asked.
“Eh? You mentioning Xia Bao just reminded me.” Ding Zhaohui picked up, looking at Chen Cheng, “What about the basketball training camp you and he set up, how’s it going?”
Chen Cheng put down his teacup, “Should be okay, I haven’t really been involved.”
“Then he probably hasn’t told you yet.” Ding Zhaohui smiled knowingly.
“Told me what?”
Just as Chen Cheng finished his sentence, Xia Gaoqiang arrived, “Dacheng.”
“You’re here.” Chen Cheng said with a smile, “We were just talking about you.” He poured the fourth cup of tea.
Among the brothers, Xia Gaoqiang was the one with relatively tougher conditions, if not for Chen Cheng’s help, this year’s New Year might have been difficult.
“Well.” Before Xia Gaoqiang had even sat down properly, he took out a thick stack of papers from his bag and handed them to Chen Cheng, “This is the camp’s revenue for the past two months, take a look.”
Chen Cheng didn’t open it, “You handle it.”
“No, Dacheng.” Xia Gaoqiang was very persistent, “You’ve invested so much money, you should see.”
Chen Cheng couldn’t refuse Xia Gaoqiang, so he reluctantly took the stack of financial reports.
“From this report, the training camp’s total revenue for the first two months reached 370,000.” Xia Gaoqiang began to report, “Among them, course revenue was the main part, about 250,000. Our basic and advanced courses are both well-enrolled, especially on weekends when they’re almost full.”
Ding Zhaohui and Feng Biao leaned in curiously to look at the report.
“Wow, didn’t expect the training camp to be so profitable.” Feng Biao exclaimed, “Earning several hundred thousand in two months, couldn’t have imagined it before.”
“Thanks to Chairman Wen’s help, not only did she invest money but she also introduced quite a bit of business.” Xia Gaoqiang said truthfully, “Just from those moms she introduced, they charged over a hundred thousand on cards.”
Seeing this, Chen Cheng handed back the document, “Show it to her later. After all, she’s also a shareholder.”
“Chairman Wen is coming?” Xia Gaoqiang asked in surprise.
“Yeah, and a few others.” Chen Cheng casually asked, “Li Dinger, what did you want Xia Bao to tell me just now?”
“Now that everyone’s here, of course, he’ll have to tell you in person.”