enjoyebooks Chapter 29 Starry Sky Internet Cafe is About to Open
Chapter 29 Starry Sky Internet Cafe is About to Open
Lingyun stood opposite the north gate of Shandong University. The two-story building along the street, which was originally a bit old, now looked brand new.
The original mottled wooden door has been replaced with an aluminum alloy door inlaid with frosted glass, and a large signboard with blue background and white lettering reads "Starry Sky Internet Cafe".
The key is inserted into the lock and turned, making a crisp click sound.
Even though Ling Yun was mentally prepared, a glint still flashed in his eyes the moment he pushed open the door.
The blueprints he provided to the renovation team were almost identical to those design styles that seemed rather "strange" in 1996!
The entire space uses a predominantly cool color palette. The walls are painted a light gray, and the ceiling features a black grid design with recessed downlights that emit soft light, rather than standard incandescent or fluorescent bulbs. These downlights are arranged in a staggered pattern, outlining different functional areas and creating a tranquil atmosphere.
The reception desk is the visual center of the entire space. It is not a traditional wooden or marble structure, but is constructed with acrylic panels and a dark gray metal frame. The lines are clean and smooth, and the shape has a geometric cut. The light strips that emit a faint blue light are embedded under the countertop.
Ling Yun carefully inspected the details; the walls were smooth and the paint was even. He crouched down and tapped the light-colored anti-static flooring that covered the entire floor with his fingers; the sound was solid. He found a movable floor panel, forcefully pried open the latches, and lifted it up.
Beneath the floor, instead of a tangled web of electrical wires, were neatly arranged metal cable trays. Power cables, data cables, and network cables were all categorized and meticulously threaded through the trays, secured with utmost care. The pre-installed connectors were precisely positioned, and the edges of the cable trays were smooth, without any burrs.
"Boss Ling, are you satisfied?" Wang Defa, a member of the renovation team, rubbed his hands nervously beside him. He had been in this business for over a decade and had never taken on a job with such "strange" requirements. The hidden wiring, the lighting at specific angles, and the bar counter made of strange materials all gave him and his workers a lot of headaches. But the finished product surprised even himself.
Ling Yun stood up, brushed off non-existent dust from his hands, nodded, and said with certainty, "Very good, Captain Wang, thank you for your hard work. It completely meets my requirements, especially these cable trays, which are handled very professionally and neatly."
Captain Wang immediately breathed a sigh of relief, his face beaming with joy: "I'm so glad you're satisfied! I'm so glad you're satisfied! To be honest, we didn't quite understand your blueprints at first, but after it was built... wow, it's really impressive! It's like something out of a science fiction movie!"
Ling Yun smiled slightly and paid the remaining balance. After seeing off the profusely grateful Captain Wang, he remained alone in this space that had been completely shaped according to his will.
The empty hall was decorated with a futuristic aesthetic and dim blue lighting.
Without lingering, Lingyun locked the door and headed straight for the technology market.
Ling Yun headed straight for the largest stall where he had previously ordered ten computers. The owner, surnamed Sun, was a lean middle-aged man with sharp eyes who immediately recognized Ling Yun as his "big customer."
"Boss Ling! You've finally arrived!" Boss Sun greeted him warmly. "Your ten machines have been prepared for you long ago! They're all the highest configurations you requested: Pentium 100 CPUs, 16MB RAM, 1.2GB hard drives, and 14-inch monitors. I guarantee top-notch performance!" He pointed to the ten large cardboard boxes neatly stacked behind him, his tone proud.
Ling Yun checked the configuration list, then randomly opened a computer case, inspected the internal wiring and the quality of the components, and nodded. Boss Sun was honest in his business; he hadn't cut corners.
"Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Sun." Ling Yun closed the computer case. "I'll settle the payment with you now."
"Alright!" Boss Sun quickly took out a calculator and receipts.
Just as Boss Sun was engrossed in calculating the accounts, Ling Yun looked around the bustling and vibrant market, his gaze sweeping over the workers who were busy assembling computers. Then he thought about his own 500-square-meter, newly renovated premises, and the fame that was about to be ignited by the campus basketball tournament...
Ten computers are far too few for an internet cafe with dozens or even hundreds of seats. It's impossible to achieve economies of scale or establish a sufficiently strong market barrier in the early stages. They need to go all out from the start, creating an overwhelming advantage!
Mr. Sun had just calculated the total price to be 90,000 yuan and was about to make his offer.
"Boss Sun," Ling Yun's voice wasn't loud, but it instantly drowned out the market's noise, "I'll take all ten of these. And I'll add another thirty!"
"How...how many?" Boss Sun's hand holding the calculator froze in mid-air, his eyes wide, thinking he had misheard. Thirty units? Adding the original ten, that's forty units! For him, this was definitely a huge deal that could shake up the entire market!
"Thirty units. Exactly the same configuration." Ling Yun repeated, his tone leaving no room for argument. "And I'm in a hurry. What's the fastest you can deliver?"
The overwhelming surprise stunned Boss Sun. His face flushed with excitement as he frantically counted on his fingers, assessing inventory and manpower: "Thirty...thirty units! Boss Ling, you're truly...generous! The configuration is fine! I have enough parts in my warehouse! It's just that assembly and testing will take some time..." He gritted his teeth, looking at Ling Yun, "If you're really in a hurry, I'll have the guys work overtime tonight, all night long! Tomorrow, at the latest tomorrow afternoon, I guarantee forty computers, not one missing, all tested and delivered to your location!"
"Okay!" Ling Yun replied without hesitation. "We'll do it your way. I'll settle the payment for these ten units first, and for the additional thirty, I'll pay half as a deposit. Tomorrow afternoon, once all the computers are delivered to the location in perfect condition, I'll pay the balance and give you an extra two thousand yuan as a bonus for the workers!"
Encouraged by the huge order and Ling Yun's straightforward manner, Boss Sun slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "Boss Ling, don't worry! If I delay you by even a minute, I, Old Sun, will quit this market! I'll arrange it right away!"
He practically ran to greet the staff, instantly igniting the atmosphere at the entire stall.
Looking at the bustling stalls, Ling Yun calculated in his mind: forty computers, while still not enough to fill the entire internet cafe, would be a very impactful start. This would be not only the first large-scale, high-end internet cafe in Shandong University, but even in the entire provincial capital!
His decision to make additional purchases at the last minute was not just to meet demand, but also a precise strategic move. He wanted to establish "Starry Sky Internet Cafe's" unshakeable leading position from the very beginning.