The Path to Empire: A Strategic Vision for Golden Arch
Rent collection had become one of the biggest profit drivers for McDonald's. In addition to the blocks IL left behind, future franchisees would be required to establish their stores at specific locations designated by the company. The land under these stores had already been purchased by Golden Arch. Before even completing the store's interior decoration, the headquarters would collect both the franchise fees and rent. Simultaneously, the value of the land continued to appreciate.
This was the strategy that McDonald's had successfully implemented in Charlie Lee's previous life. As someone who had studied The Founder, Charlie was determined not to miss out on this opportunity. "Had I only focused on fast food and not real estate, McDonald's would have eventually shut down," was a statement from Ray Kroc, the man who transformed McDonald's into a hamburger empire. This profound insight stuck with Charlie Lee.
Golden Arch, in the future, would comprise various departments, including franchise management, market research, training, and real estate. All of these departments would play critical roles in ensuring the success of each franchise. The franchisee selection process would be rigorous, with centralized training programs and regular evaluations of store performance. Site selection for new stores would remain a priority, as Charlie Lee firmly believed that only those who strived for excellence would stand out.
With this ambitious vision in mind, Charlie Lee instructed Lawrence to retrieve the contract Mahdi had drafted for their upcoming partnership. They decided to cooperate in what was, at the moment, a somewhat modest room.
"Lawrence, you'll be thanking me soon," Charlie Lee said with a knowing smile.
"Of course, I trust my own judgment," Lawrence replied, his upbeat and confident laughter filling the room.
Things were moving forward as planned. Meanwhile, Wang Dagou had successfully identified the person responsible for the shooting incident. The shooter's actions were driven by dissatisfaction, a sentiment rooted in what could be described as the "revenge society" mentality.
Charlie Lee had not initially considered this explanation, but after hearing it, he simply shrugged. "Handle it as you see fit," he said, and dismissed the matter from his mind.
"Mahdi, have you finished selecting the builders?" Charlie Lee asked, as he idly played with the handlebar of a bicycle he had recently purchased from the wise store.
"The think tank suggests that Golden Arch should buy a construction contractor to handle future building projects. It's easier to recruit workers from outside now," Mahdi replied.
"Do you have a specific target in mind?" Charlie Lee was already considering the immense business potential Golden Arch would generate.
"Bechtel in San Francisco has a good reputation and solid operations. It would make a good acquisition," Mahdi stated, citing the think tank's analysis.
"Alright, I approve," Charlie Lee agreed. The only thing left now was to wait for the store's decoration to be completed.
After a moment of relaxation, Charlie Lee asked, "What about the Ace project?"
"The restructuring is underway and should be completed by the end of the year," Mahdi reported.
"How long will it take?" Charlie Lee inquired further.
"About a month," Mahdi responded.
Charlie Lee then asked, "Is the Chicago Grand Theater part of the acquisition?"
"Of course," Mahdi confirmed. "There are other shareholders, but the think tank recommends not buying them out entirely. It's better to wait until spring, when the situation is more favorable for a joint investment."
Charlie Lee smiled, his tone firm. "Buy it all. I'm determined."
Mahdi rolled his eyes internally but dutifully noted down the instruction. "As the boss wishes."
"What's the situation with Aegis?" Charlie Lee asked, shifting topics. He had been preoccupied with Golden Arch and hadn't checked in on Aegis for half a month.
"The business growth rate for this month is 143 percent," Mahdi replied with enthusiasm.
"And the developments with building 400 and Opera House 13?"
"Opera House 13 is nearing the final negotiation stage, with the final transaction price expected to be around 900,000 yuan. As for building 400, the negotiations are still in the early stages, but the other party has offered 26 million yuan."
Charlie Lee couldn't help but think to himself how different the valuation of a building could be.
"By the way, after we establish the new construction company, we should recruit more workers. After demolishing Opera House 13, they will help us build the new structures."
Initially, Charlie Lee had planned to find a construction company in country D, but now that they were setting up their own, it seemed prudent to manage the workforce internally.
"Recruit more Chinese workers and workers from D as well," Charlie Lee added, continuing to reflect on his plan.
"In addition, the acquisition of Pepsi has been finalized for 2 million, and we've secured the secret recipe from the owner," Mahdi shared some good news.
"Excellent. Let's have them redefine the product. I want it to appeal to the youth—'young and limitless!' How does that sound?"
Charlie Lee, bombarded by countless advertisements daily, effortlessly came up with catchy phrases.
"It sounds promising and exciting," Mahdi replied, though his mood was slightly mixed. "Is genius always tied to eccentricity?"
"By the way, what should we name the new company?" Charlie Lee mused, momentarily distracted.
Mahdi, already familiar with Charlie Lee's unconventional ideas, inwardly sighed. He had already been contemplating names like "China Railway," "China Construction," and even "Tiejian." However, none of these felt right. He even briefly thought of "Tsingtao Beer"—but that sounded more like a person's name than a company. "Perhaps Charlie Lee Enterprises?" he thought, but said nothing.
After thinking for a while, Charlie Lee concluded, "Let's just use the original name for now until something better comes to mind."
Mahdi internally sighed again, silently accepting his boss's unpredictable nature.
"Charlie, are you ready to head out?" Lawrence suddenly entered the room. He had resigned from his position at the First National Bank and now spent his days working closely with Charlie Lee.
Back at the club, Lawrence had been part of the think tank, and Charlie Lee, not one to ignore talent, had gladly taken him on board.
"Never mind. Let's go as is until I come up with a better idea," Charlie Lee decided, realizing his own limited knowledge was making the decision harder than it should have been.
"Charlie, your life is so monotonous, like a priest's," Lawrence complained on their way home.
"Monotonous? You don't understand. You eat, drink, and take out food, then save all the leftovers for months. It's been three months since I started a project here." Charlie Lee rolled his eyes, showing how little he cared about Lawrence's complaints.
"Hey, let's head to Hollywood tonight," Lawrence suggested enthusiastically.
"Man, you realize it's a five-hour drive from here to Los Angeles, and it's already 1 PM," Charlie Lee pointed out, checking his pocket watch.
"So what? Hollywood at night is magical!" Lawrence argued, not willing to give up on his idea.
"Night? Are you sure?" Charlie Lee raised an eyebrow, a sarcastic smile forming on his face.
"…We can take bodyguards," Lawrence suggested, his tone turning serious, knowing full well the risks that had been involved in the past. But he wasn't about to back down.
"Well, you've convinced me," Charlie Lee relented. After weeks of suffocating work, he was ready to blow off some steam.
"Who were the famous actresses in the 1930s?" Charlie Lee asked, struggling to recall.
Lawrence, looking at him with surprise, asked, "Are you really asking me that?"
Charlie Lee sat back, his thoughts drifting. "What can I do? I'm just desperate."
On the plane, most of Charlie Lee's earlier excitement had dissipated. Staring out of the window, he found only darkness outside, with an occasional light flickering in the distance.
"Charlie, we're going to find some hot girls and enjoy ourselves!" Lawrence yelled, his excitement undeterred.
"Maybe I should just buy a private jet," Charlie Lee muttered, irritated by the endless distractions. Once he returned, he would leave everything to the think tank.
As the plane touched down in Hollywood, Lawrence was the first to jump out with open arms, as if embracing the whole world.
"Do you have any money?" Charlie Lee asked, his voice low.
"Ka ~" Lawrence immediately realized his wallet was empty.
"Charlie, we're brothers! You can't leave me alone tonight," Lawrence pleaded, his face full of bitterness.
With a sigh, Charlie Lee decided to pay for the night's entertainment, knowing that Lawrence would never let him off the hook.
As he watched Lawrence sulk, Charlie Lee couldn't help but feel a mix of sympathy and amusement. He thought back to the second-generation rich kids he had encountered in his past life. They were worth millions, but never quite matched the real wealth that truly shaped the world.
Thinking of John D. Rockefeller, Charlie Lee was reminded of the legacy of family wealth, of the family's philanthropic efforts, and of their commitment to creating value for society.
But Lawrence's perspective was different. "Why wait to inherit wealth when you can create your own empire?"
As Charlie Lee listened to his friend, he realized there was much more to success than just inheriting wealth or living off the riches of the past. It was about forging your own path and creating your own opportunities.
"Pay for yourself tonight," Charlie Lee said with a smirk.
Seeing Lawrence's immediate collapse, Charlie Lee couldn't help but feel a sense of triumph. "If you want to believe me, you'll put up with my eccentricities."