Chapter 979: Ye Shu

Night Tokyo's business was average, and it didn't rely much on walk-in customers; plus, the space was limited. So on this Saturday when everyone was gathering for a meal, after barely managing two tables past the lunch rush, Seeing Lingzi simply closed up shop.

Ling Hong said, "Oh my, you really are the boss lady; you close the doors just like that, so carefree."

"I think you're just jealous and full of hate." Tao Tao had arrived early, standing aside with a cigarette in his mouth, mocking her. Without giving Ling Hong a chance to retort, he asked, "Teacher Ge, when is Wang Laoban coming over? Hey, you old rascal, why are you staring at my brick phone? I wouldn't dare make a call for no reason; Wang Laoban would tear me apart. He can take on a whole crowd by himself; he'd stuff me into a flowerpot."

Teacher Ge was speechless and choked up. He realized Tao Tao liked to hover around Little Northeast, yet he was also afraid; afraid yet still hovering—he just couldn't understand it, really couldn't. At most, he had just introduced the Jin Jin Meilin family's business to Tao Tao and given him a Longines watch.

"I ran into him this morning; he said he had matters to attend to and was going to check the factory in Pudong. We agreed on five-thirty. He's cooking today, making over twenty dishes including stews, so he'll definitely be back early. He should be here any minute."

Seeing Lingzi called out, "Alright, none of you just stand around idle. We bought all the ingredients this morning; hurry up, everyone lend a hand and prep things. Once Wang Laoban returns, we'll start cooking immediately."

Though they claimed to be working, not one of them was efficient. Of course, Seeing Lingzi used to work as a waitress in Japan, Ling Hong also worked at a ramen shop there, Tao Tao made his living selling seafood, and Teacher Ge had come through hard times; speaking of which, they were all capable of working.

But when this group gathered together, it was a disaster. One moment laughing, the next quarreling; it would be strange if they could get any work done properly. Although they did help somewhat, it truly wasn't much.

It still took someone to give orders. The shop's chef, Little Monk, along with the two waitresses, Little Wen and Little Qin—these three were the main workforce...

When Wang Yan returned a little after two o'clock, what he saw was Seeing Lingzi and the others gathered around one table, giggling and laughing, while Little Monk and the other two sat at another table. Seeing Lingzi's group had made little progress with their tasks, whereas the trio of Little Monk were working swiftly.

"Wang Laoban is back; hurry, hurry, people will be arriving soon," Seeing Lingzi called out.

"If you keep picking through that bunch of chives, there won't be much left."

"Oh my, I was so busy talking I forgot." Seeing Lingzi stood up and tossed the chives aside, showing not a shred of embarrassment, while continuing to urge, "As for the chives, if we don't have enough, we'll just buy more. Hurry and start cooking; Ye Shu is coming too. He's seventy years old; the stewed dishes need to be soft, tender, and flavorful."

Teacher Ge said, "You bought alcohol again, Little Northeast."

"Night Tokyo has wine thieves; if I leave a case of liquor here, it'll be empty within a month. Today there are many people, so we need plenty of wine."

"I'll help you carry it; you go ahead and start cooking. We agreed on five-thirty; it won't do to keep people waiting too long." Teacher Ge didn't care about any wine thieves; he pretended not to have heard.

Wang Yan placed the two cases of Moutai he was carrying onto the table and called out, "Little Monk."

"I've been waiting for this day, Wang Laoban," Little Monk said, extremely enthusiastic.

"Go chop the aromatics."

Master Wang rolled up his sleeves, and Tao Tao, acting quite obsequiously, fetched an apron and tied it for him...

There were indeed many dishes: Su Dongpo Pork, Braised Pork Elbow, Stewed Young Chicken, and so on, with both meat and vegetarian options, hot and cold dishes, frying, stir-frying, braising, and deep-frying—all complete. No help from others was needed; in fact, others couldn't help and would only cause more trouble. Wang Yan worked alongside Little Monk, placing the dishes requiring long cooking times on several stoves to begin simmering.

In a professional restaurant kitchen, the dishes Wang Yan cooked were naturally even more delicious. Just as he had explained to Miss Wang regarding heat control, it was partly a matter of time, and partly a matter of the intensity of the stove's flame. Restaurant stoves, compared to home stoves, reach higher temperatures and heat up faster; this is the key reason why restaurant food tastes better than home-cooked meals.

Ling Hong said, "Wang Laoban, we need to grill some lamb skewers. I've always heard them say that even though Night Tokyo's lamb skewers use the same marinating method as yours, the grilled result never tastes as good as yours. We've known each other so long, yet I've never once tried them."

"Yes, yes, yes," Teacher Ge strongly seconded, "Your skills shouldn't go to waste; you must grill some."

Seeing Wang Yan glance over, Seeing Lingzi said, "There are some frozen in the refrigerator; it's... oh my, Little Monk, when were the lamb skewers in the freezer prepared?"

"Skewered the day before yesterday; there are still several dozen left."

"Since they've been frozen, the taste will inevitably be somewhat inferior; even if I grill them, they won't be anything special. However, if you all want to eat them, then let's grill them. Take the meat out to thaw a bit."

Wang Yan did not refuse and continued working...

Busy time always passes quickly. Although the agreement was for five-thirty, it being a leisurely Saturday with nothing urgent to do, everyone arrived early. By four-thirty, the group had already started arriving one after another.

"Wang Laoban, the money is all here." Stamp Li, carrying a leather case in each hand, entered and headed straight for the kitchen.

"Long time no see, Boss Li."

"No, no, no; I'm not used to being called Boss Li. Just call me Stamp Li; that's fine." Stamp Li shook the two cases at Wang Yan. "Aren't you going to take a look, Wang Laoban?"

"No need; just find a place to put them. Thank you for your trouble."

"Oh my, no trouble at all, Wang Laoban. Look, isn't this the watch you brought back for me all the way from Hong Kong? And that bag; my wife loves it immensely. It was you who went to the trouble, Wang Laoban, thinking of me even while in Hong Kong."

"We're all friends; don't be so polite. You all take a seat first; I'll grill the lamb skewers and then start stir-frying the dishes."

"Don't you need my help?"

"Just wait to eat." Wang Yan waved his hand, picked up the lamb skewers, and prepared to go outside to grill.

As soon as he stepped out, he saw Ah Bao holding the shop door open while a bald elderly man wearing glasses entered first.

"You must be Wang Laoban, correct? Hello."

"They all call you Ye Shu, so I'll follow suit. Hello, Ye Shu." Wang Yan wiped his hands on his apron and shook the old gentleman's hand. The elder's hand was relatively warm; though withered and thin, it revealed strength, truly vigorous despite old age.

"I've heard about your affairs; you're doing very well in business. In just a few short months, you've amassed such wealth; remarkable."

"It is the blessing and protection of my ancestors; Ye Shu overestimates me. Ultimately, the money I make now still relies on selling the seasoning handed down through generations; one day it will inevitably be exposed. It is merely luck to have reached this point; it is difficult to last forever."

"You are being modest. I've heard about your moves: establishing a seasoning factory, diversifying products, and building a reputation. Whether or not you have an ancestral seasoning formula doesn't really matter. All you need is time. Before the formula leaks, even if you fail, you are already a millionaire with room to retreat. But if you succeed, from then on your path will lead straight to the heavens..."

"I borrow Ye Shu's auspicious words and will strive to walk that heavenly path." Wang Yan nodded again to Ah Bao behind him and said, "Please take a seat first. Everyone is clamoring for lamb skewers; I'll finish grilling them and then start cooking the dishes. It's currently four-thirty-five; I guarantee we'll be finished before five-thirty."

"No rush; take your time," Ah Bao said with a smiling nod.

"Slowness won't do; many dishes taste best when served hot."

After saying this, Wang Yan took the lamb skewers outside to grill. The indoor kitchen's ventilation was insufficient, not comparable to the September wind of Shanghai.

Little Jin Bao, being so young, didn't know so much; he only knew that strangers had arrived in the room, and he didn't understand the giggling and laughter. So he came outside, dragged over a small stool that Seeing Lingzi had specifically saved for him in the shop, and sat guarding Wang Yan who was grilling. Propping his chin with both hands, he waited in anticipation.

Although the frozen meat indeed affected the texture, the aroma of the grilling was not lacking in the slightest. This attracted quite a few people who spontaneously decided they wanted to eat barbecue. Whenever this happened, Little Fatty would stand up and say, "We're not open today," and each time, he would receive praise from Wang Yan...

Ever since the family became wealthy, Jin Bao's mother had become busy. On ordinary days, Jin Bao stayed with Teacher Ge, occasionally receiving some tutoring with his homework. At this time, a student's academic load wasn't heavy, especially for a second-grade little bean; the whole day was just for playing. Since he became more cheerful, his life could be described as rich and varied.

Occasionally he played with classmates living nearby; at other times, life in Teacher Ge's building was quite fulfilling. He could sit beside Teacher Chen, writing and drawing; he could also go to Teacher Kong's home to learn piano; similarly, he could follow Teacher Shi to learn music.

The people of Night Tokyo, due to their relationship with Wang Laoban and Teacher Ge, plus the fact that Jin Bao himself was not annoying, found his stay there very pleasant. Night Tokyo had become his little dining table; anyway, Night Tokyo had no business, so he felt quite at ease there...

Just as Wang Yan was chatting idly with Little Fatty, a taxi stopped on the opposite side of the street. Miss Wang wore a plaid shirt on top, loose jeans, and Warrior brand white sneakers; naturally, on her face were the glasses gifted by Wang Laoban.

Miss Wang did not rush over immediately. Standing on the opposite side of the road, she crossed one arm over her chest while supporting it with the other, her slender fingers stroking her chin as she watched Wang Yan grilling there, smiling at her.

She finally walked over, and Wang Yan perceptively asked, "What are you looking at?"

"I was imagining what it would look like if you wore the same outfit we had when we first met, grilling on the bustling Huanghe Road."

"It would naturally look just like this, except there would be many restaurant waitresses gathered around, all queuing up for the bosses who are eating. You've arrived just in time; here, freshly grilled lamb skewers. However, I must state beforehand: I didn't plan to grill lamb skewers today; Ling Hong and the others clamored to eat them. The meat was frozen, which somewhat affects the texture. If it doesn't taste good, it's the meat's fault, not my lack of skill."

Miss Wang took a few skewers, took a bite while hissing from the heat, and looked at Wang Yan in surprise: "It's really quite good; this is the best barbecue I've ever eaten, although I haven't eaten it many times."

"Eat less; there are other dishes yet to come." Wang Yan placed the grilled lamb skewers onto a plate and pushed the charcoal to one side.

"Whose child is this?"

"I am the son of the seasoning factory director; my name is Jin Bao. Jin Bao, greet everyone."

Just like the others, Jin Bao was eating lamb skewers with a hissing and huffing sound, his face already smeared; hearing Wang Yan's words, he looked up and mumbled a greeting: "Hello, Big Sister."

"Hello to you too; you are so polite." Young Lady Wang affected a childlike voice, rubbing the little chubby boy's head.

The little chubby boy looked up, revealing a simple and honest smile.

Wang Yan gently kicked the little chubby boy on the buttocks: "You eat a bit less too; the other dishes haven't been cooked yet."

"Understood, Wang Laoban." The little chubby boy had no intention of overeating; the moment the restaurant door opened, the aroma had wafted out, and he had been waiting for this all along.

"Let's go, Young Lady Wang; sit inside for a while, and we'll serve the meal."

"Wait, here is one thousand yuan; take it and keep it safe. I don't know how much the glasses cost, but I know for certain it wasn't six hundred yuan." Young Lady Wang pulled out money that had been set aside separately from her pocket, "I reported it upwards, but they didn't say not to accept it, nor did they say to accept it; they only said it's best to remain clean and clear. Hey, don't say you won't take it; this is my only one thousand, and I even had to ask my father for it; I don't have any more than this."

Wang Yan smiled and shook his head, accepting the money and tucking it into his pocket: "Later I will write you a receipt and send it to No. 27 via registered mail."

"That actually isn't necessary."

"Better safe than sorry; if you say you gave me money, and I say you gave me money, but someone else says you didn't give it, how can we make ourselves clear? Alright, let's go inside." Wang Yan clicked his tongue, "Is this really how you get by at No. 27?"

"What?" Young Lady Wang stood there, not understanding the meaning.

"I'll open the door for you, Wang Laoban." The little chubby boy understood perfectly; he trotted over and pulled open the great door of Night Tokyo.

"Look, you should learn from Jin Bao."

"You little rascal." Young Lady Wang laughed, went over, and rubbed Jin Bao's head, "Let's go inside."

"Young Lady Wang has arrived; come quickly, come quickly. Oh my, the lamb skewers are ready too; thank you for your hard work, Wang Laoban; come, come, come, everyone start eating first. Uncle, your teeth aren't good, so just take one skewer to taste the flavor and that will be enough."

Seeing Lingzi was extremely enthusiastic; she stepped forward to greet Young Lady Wang and also took the items from Wang Yan's hands, smiling so brilliantly that she was truly fulfilling her duties as the hostess.

"I arrived the latest; hello, Uncle." Young Lady Wang was also enthusiastic, speaking in a loud voice and exchanging greetings with everyone.

She was still very proud at the moment; the master who brought her in was her direct supervisor, and regarding business operations, she had quite a few orders from A-Bao's side, so overall things were quite satisfactory and pleasant. Therefore, even though she was not actually very familiar with the others, it did not hinder her from chatting lively; she simply did not pay much attention to other people.

Of course, everyone else gave Young Lady Wang plenty of face; nothing she ever said fell flat. Just as Uncle had said, no one was looking at Young Lady Wang; they were all looking at No. 27. On the other hand, everyone here was a friend of A-Bao, and since Young Lady Wang had helped A-Bao greatly and was a person from the public sector, even if Young Lady Wang was extremely self-centered, no one would say anything. Instead, they would only say that Young Lady Wang was genuine.

While everyone was here eating lamb skewers and chatting idly, Wang Yan entered the kitchen and began stir-frying dishes.

Night Tokyo did not have many customers, yet it possessed four stoves; having taken the stewed dishes off the heat to simmer, Wang Yan clattered and banged, operating all four stoves simultaneously, swinging the large ladle with a clang, as dish after dish of stir-fries came out of the wok in succession.

He then had the Little Monk bring up the stewed dishes; Wang Yan worked with swift hands and feet, quickly mixing four cold platters which were served directly. Having prepared over twenty dishes in this manner, it was only five twenty.

A group of people pushed several tables together to form one large rectangular table, with everyone seated on two sides. Those not drinking were at the back, and those drinking were at the front. Uncle was on one side, while on the other side sat Xiao Wen, Xiao Qin, the Little Monk, and the little chubby boy. No one was made to eat separately; everyone was at the same table.

A-Bao raised his wine glass: "Come, come, come; let us thank Wang Laoban for his generous hospitality; let everyone have a drink together."

Seeing Lingzi spoke as if slightly unwilling: "Oh my, it is Wang Laoban hosting everyone generously here at Night Tokyo, isn't it? Wang Laoban's culinary skills are indeed excellent, but we have also been busy running back and forth; Night Tokyo closed for business this afternoon, you know, turning away customers and all."

"Then we must toast to the boss lady's generosity; not only did she forego business, but all the food we are eating today was also purchased by the boss lady. However, if you ask me to pay, I certainly don't have any money." Wang Yan smiled, raising his cup to invite a toast, "Come, come, come; drink, drink; Uncle, drink slowly."

Everyone was lively and bustling; even the little chubby boy had gotten a soda to join in the fun.

Everyone had tasted the dishes prepared; the initial amazement had passed. The highest consistent evaluation everyone gave to Wang Laoban was that Wang Laoban could open a grand restaurant, and it would definitely be thriving. Uncle also said that this added another retreat path; with such craftsmanship, one need fear nothing wherever one goes.

Being fearless wherever one goes is correct, but 'such craftsmanship' is mistaken; after all, he, Wang Mou, traveling the Jianghu, has always adhered to the principle that having many skills does not burden the body; he possesses far too many crafts...

Wang Yan did not forget to thank those who ran errands; he raised his cup and said, "Boss Bao, Stamp Li, I toast you both; thank you for your help."

"Oh my, Wang Laoban is being so polite; just a moment ago you were telling me not to be polite, and now you are the one being polite."

Stamp Li smiled and said, "However, speaking of which, it is your luck that is flourishing, Wang Laoban. Which of us under Boss Bao has not paid tuition fees? I know that the first time Boss Bao bought Electric Vacuum, he bought it from my hands; at that time, he bought six thousand yuan worth for one hundred and fifty. Later, Electric Vacuum increased its shares, and within one week, the price was halved; Boss Bao lost three thousand yuan. That was in 1987, a time when one could hardly find a few ten-thousand-yuan households.

But Wang Laoban is formidable; while everyone was chatting idly, he directly wanted to buy one hundred thousand, and later added another one hundred thousand. From March to September, in half a year's time, it became one million. When luck is this good, one makes money doing anything."

A-Bao smiled and nodded: "Wang Laoban is indeed enviable."

"Hahaha, then let me share my luck with everyone; let us all get rich together; drink, drink."

Young Lady Wang laughed: "Oh my, Wang Laoban is so generous; even luck is to be shared with everyone."

"This thing is mysterious and profound; who knows if it truly exists?"

Wang Yan glanced at A-Bao and Seeing Lingzi, who were exchanging glances due to his words, and said, "If luck truly exists, I think that since I earned so much in these past six months, my luck should be quite thick; whether it is the blessing of my ancestors or not, there should be more than enough to share with everyone. Alright, alright, let's not talk about these mysterious things; hurry up and drink. Young Lady Wang cannot drink, so you should just eat more; I told you my cooking is incredibly delicious; look how happily you are eating; I didn't lie to you, did I?"

"You've been holding it up for so long; hurry up and drink." Young Lady Wang's mouth was full of many things; she mumbled, feeling slightly embarrassed, because at this moment she was not very elegant, yet following Wang Yan's words, everyone was looking at her.

Wang Yan laughed heartily and had another drink with A-Bao and the others.

A-Bao asked: "Wang Laoban, how are things over in Hong Kong?"

"Quite good, but in my opinion, extreme prosperity leads to decline; this is also the final peak. The place is small, so development is limited. It relies entirely on finance and the service industry for support. But in the final analysis, finance must ultimately land in reality; the game of capital requires the hard labor of the vast working people.

I think that in another ten years, Hong Kong will decline, or rather, its development will slow down. In contrast, our mainland has broader space for development; once the foundation is laid, the momentum will be even stronger, with a faster development speed. Now is an era of drastic change; in the future, such changes will only become greater and greater; it would not be an exaggeration to say the heavens and earth will be transformed. For us, this means a vast world where great achievements can be accomplished."

Uncle smiled and said: "Wang Laoban is very confident in us."

"Because I am not making a prediction, but stating a fact."

"From what you say, it seems you do not particularly like the financial market?"

"It's not a matter of liking or disliking; just as I said, finance is not a castle in the air; it must ultimately land in reality. Where did my one million this time come from? It did not grow out of thin air. It is money earned from those who know the stock market is good now, have heard some myths of creating wealth, understand nothing, and bring their family savings to chase the rising prices.

When I first met Seeing Lingzi, she told me that someone said to Boss Bao that climbing from the bottom to the top of the Empire State Building in New York takes one hour, but jumping down from the top takes only 8.8 seconds. I think this sentence was what Uncle told Boss Bao; those people chasing the rising prices are the ones jumping off buildings. In the final analysis, this money is stained with blood."

Uncle smiled without speaking, Boss Bao was slightly lost in thought, but Stamp Li held a different opinion: "Oh my, Wang Laoban, these words should not be spoken. If we don't do it, there are plenty of others who will. People who make money won't make money forever, and will people who jump off buildings keep jumping forever?

Moreover, now the country is carrying out financial reform; we have no experience, so what should we do? We can only grope our way forward; the leaders say we must cross the river by feeling the stones. What are we? We are the stones in the river. It is precisely because of our operations that those above summarized experience and learned what is good and what is bad.

This is a market economy; if one is greedy, one must bear the consequences. If one understands nothing yet still wants to dream of getting rich, then jumping off a building is no one's fault but one's own. This is also gambling; the winner takes all. If you cannot afford to lose, then don't come to play. If everyone were like you, Wang Laoban, saying, 'Here is one hundred thousand for you; if you lose it, it's only what I earned in a month, so it doesn't matter,' then that would be a good player, Wang Laoban."

Wang Yan nodded with a smile: "What you say makes sense; that is why I made money. We must also thank you for your hard work, running back and forth every day, selling some today and some tomorrow; it is not easy. Come, let me toast you again; today you must drink a bit more."

Stamp Li was very happy and drank lively with Wang Yan.

Boss Bao turned and asked: "Wang Laoban, how is your shoe and clothing factory progressing?"

"It is under construction; actual production won't start for another month. The shop on Nanjing Road also encountered a problem. I ordered double-layered, full-surface large glass from the glass factory, but when it was brought over for installation, there was some mishap, and it was all shattered; cleaning it up completely will also take a month."

"I heard from Young Lady Wang that you want to create a sports brand; this will not be easy to do."

Eating the dishes, Wang Yan nodded and said: "I know; what I sell is not cheap, so the audience is limited. Additionally, I have no distribution channels; currently, there is only one shop on Nanjing Road. Furthermore, there is zero brand awareness; whoever buys is a sucker. The road is tortuous, but I believe the future is bright. Let's do it slowly; eventually, we will build it up."

"Does Wang Laoban plan to rely solely on direct sales?"

"Yes, to guarantee service quality. Now there is one shop on Nanjing Road; in the future, I will gradually open shops in other cities: Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and so on, starting with major cities, followed by other prefecture-level cities.

"I told you before, I rather believe in future real estate appreciation; this counts as another kind of investment. I bought all my commercial shops in core locations across various places. Even if I can't make clothes, collecting rent later will be enough for me to live carefree. On this point, we should still learn from Teacher Ge. Look at how carefree that old rascal is!"

"Oh my, Wang Laoban, the money you spent buying a Western-style house on Julu Road is enough to buy an entire building of mine; what is there for me to teach you?" Teacher Ge, happily sipping his small cup of wine, shook his head repeatedly.

"I want to learn your relaxed attitude toward life from you."

"That's right. Speaking of which, among so many of us, only Teacher Ge is truly carefree." Boss Abao smiled, raising his wine glass. "Come, Teacher Ge, a toast to you."

"Oh my, every one of you is a big boss, envied by who knows how many people, yet you're talking about me, a lonely man with no family."

"People are always eating what's in their bowl while eyeing what's in the pot," Ye Shu also raised his wine glass, joining the group in their jesting.

Dining is meant to be relaxing; everyone here counts as a friend, so there's no need for excessive formalities. It was nothing more than chatting about future development plans and such, talking about all sorts of things, very lively.

Ye Shu came today mainly to see Wang Yan; secondarily, he had never visited before, so he also wanted to meet Seeing Seeing Lingzi. After all, since Night Tokyo opened, it had been losing money continuously. In his mouth, Seeing Seeing Lingzi had now become a debt-collecting ghost...

The liveliness sometimes paused; Tao Tao was drunk, Stamp Li was drunk, and Teacher Ge was also drunk. They were all in high spirits, drinking heavily without anyone urging them to drink.

Young Lady Wang, having drunk some wine, had a flushed face; if she still wore those original large-framed glasses, she would appear even more innocently charming. Seeing Seeing Lingzi, displaying the hospitality of a host, or perhaps because this was her first time meeting Ye Shu, felt somewhat like meeting a future in-laws' elder, so she inevitably drank a few extra cups, her eyes equally blurred. Ling Hong was also drunk; perhaps envying others, perhaps infected by the liveliness, anyway, she had drunk quite a lot.

Stamp Li went back with no one to attend to him, and Tao Tao went back with no one to attend to him either; they simply hailed a taxi, settled the fare, stated their destination, and that was that. Young Lady Wang, however, left together with Boss Abao and Ye Shu; Boss Abao escorted her to the downstairs of her home before feeling reassured.

Wang Yan and the Little Monk and others arranged for Teacher Ge, Seeing Seeing Lingzi, and Ling Hong to go back, and thus the group dispersed...

Only after escorting Young Lady Wang home did Boss Abao return and get into the taxi. He asked Ye Shu, who had drunk some wine and was comfortably squinting his eyes, "Ye Shu, what do you think of Wang Laoban?"

"He is more formidable than you."

"I admit that, but he relies on a secret ancestral formula; how could my family not have one? No wonder he can get rich."

Ye Shu sneered, turning his head to look at Boss Abao: "Just because he says it's ancestral, does that make it ancestral? Even if he gave you the formula, would you dare to confidently hand it over to someone else? People say he gives it away casually, wanting to help Little Jinbao's mother out of pity; how do you know he didn't first confirm that person was reliable and worth cultivating before giving it? Furthermore, what he said about finance needing to land and the domestic market needing to rise, I approve of all that.

You, however, should not be too obsessed with stocks. Look toward other places; the world is vast, and this world consists of more than just stocks..."

"And land," Boss Abao picked up the conversation. "I'll go buy some later."

Ye Shu shook his head; he also believed land would appreciate, but what he more wanted to persuade Boss Abao to do was to open a factory and solidly develop products. Speculating on stocks might inevitably lead to a stumble, and one stumble could mean eternal ruin; one must always have a way out. However, land was also a way out, so he said nothing.

"Ye Shu, do you think he can build up his clothing business?"

"He can."

"You are so optimistic about him?"

"With courage, vision, and methods, what can't he achieve? If he can't succeed now, he will succeed later; eventually, he will succeed."

"Should we get closer to him in the future?"

"He is a reliable friend." Ye Shu nodded, closed his eyes, and spoke no more.

Boss Abao looked out the car window; he wasn't thinking about anything else, but rather about Xuezhi, Seeing Seeing Lingzi, and Young Lady Wang...

On Nanjing Road, inside a spacious two-story commercial shop, Wang Yan, dressed in a suit and leather shoes with his hair slicked back, warmly held two cartons of Huazi cigarettes, distributing them one by one to the dust-covered workers inside the store. Finally, he opened a new pack for himself, lit a cigarette, and then went upstairs.

"Wang Laoban, this time we absolutely made no mistakes," said the small foreman who took the job, wearing a fashionable oversized suit, bending his waist and smiling obsequiously beside Wang Yan.

Wang Yan leaned closer, touching the edge of the window with his finger, then turned his head back to speak to the foreman with a smile: "Why are you so nervous? Am I bullying you? Why bend your waist so low? Look at you; there's still some carpentry work to be done later, with dust flying everywhere. Why did you wipe this window so clean?"

"I just wanted Wang Laoban to see that there are no scratches on the window."

"Such a huge piece of glass; how could I possibly inspect it all? A waste of effort."

Wang Yan waved his hand, patting the foreman's shoulder. "Enough. I said last time that you don't need to pay for it; I've already spoken my word, so how could I settle scores afterward? Besides, the Western-style house I bought on Julu Road hasn't been renovated yet; I'm waiting for you to finish here so you can go over there and tidy it up for me."

"Yes, yes, yes, but my heart is still uneasy. I specially ordered two large panes of glass; nothing went wrong during production, nothing went wrong during transport, but something went wrong under my watch, causing Wang Laoban to waste money. I feel terrible about it."

"Then will you compensate me?"

"Uh..."

"You see, when I ask you to compensate, you won't; yet you keep saying you feel terrible. Why not do something practical?" Wang Yan shook his head amusedly, pulled several stacks of cash from his leather briefcase, and weighed them in his hand. "See if this is practical enough?"

"Practical, too practical, Wang Laoban." The foreman's eyes seemed to grow into the money; he watched Wang Yan cautiously, tentatively extended both hands, gently took the cash from Wang Yan's grasp, and then swiftly pulled them back.

"Do you think I'd rob your money?" Wang Yan lightly punched the foreman's chest. "Tomorrow afternoon, go to number... on Julu Road; I'll discuss the renovation matters with you."

"Rest assured, Wang Laoban; I guarantee we'll make it beautiful, good enough to live in for a lifetime."

"You need to change this habit; don't make such exaggerated claims. What if you encounter someone who takes things literally? You'd be in trouble. Alright, you all clean up; I'm leaving."

Under the gaze of a crowd of workers, Wang Yan got into his car and departed. In the rearview mirror, he saw the workers clustering around that foreman, their faces full of joy.

The cost of the glass had been advanced by the foreman himself. Ultimately, this sum was to be shared equally by everyone who worked on the job. The money he had just given settled both the glass cost and the labor fees. He had also entrusted the house renovation to them...

Leaving Nanjing Road, Wang Yan drove toward Pudong. At this time, Pudong was not yet as prosperous as it would become later, but the development along the riverside areas was actually already quite good.

However, Wang Yan's factory was located even further inland.

After several months of construction, the factory buildings were already erected. The entire complex was not very exquisite, nor did it have high-rise structures; the ceiling height was simply somewhat greater, with the production workshop exceeding five meters in height. The remaining functional departments were normal single-story buildings, only much larger in area, occupying a vast stretch of land.

Thanks to Wang Yan running around everywhere, the machinery needed for production had been delivered, and a large batch of raw materials had been purchased. The employees were all locals, supplemented by some skilled workers recruited from other shoe and garment factories to lead the work.

Production capacity was definitely not an issue; he couldn't even sell that much, so where was the worry about capacity? He was not in a hurry to open for business but instead slowly produced some clothing first, passing the hurdle of stable output. After all, since the clothes were sold at a high price, the workmanship had to be excellent; having loose threads everywhere would be unacceptable. Thus, he would slowly accumulate a batch of goods before putting them on the shelves for sale when the time came.

The brand name, trademark, and so on had all been registered. The name was 'Shanghai Hongyun,' using the traditional character for 'Hong' and the simplified character for 'Yun.' The trademark was a black sketch of a crane, with a single red dot above it being particularly striking. 'Shanghai Hongyun' meaning good fortune arriving, topped with a dot of red, signified great luck and auspiciousness, carrying a good meaning. The characters were written by Wang Mou himself, the painting was drawn by Wang Mou himself, and the aesthetic sense was highly online.

Since he had no designers under him, the clothing styles were naturally handled by him personally. The designs could hardly be called very fresh, but for the current times, they were still considered leading. They were nothing more than some tracksuits, pullover hoodies, and so on; the shoes also copied designs from the future, with the main emphasis lying on color and highlighting aesthetics.

He had no intention of sending the clothes abroad again only to sell them domestically in reverse, packaging them with a bunch of messy letters to pretend they were foreign brand names. Although that worked very well, he disdained to do it anymore; it held no interest.

Feeling inexplicably that things with some English letters possessed a so-called 'high-class' quality was obviously incorrect, yet this was precisely what was unfolding...

The most important matter was that Wang Yan found time to make a trip to Beijing to find the National Team. As a sports brand, it naturally supported the sports cause and relied on sports stars to build the brand's reputation.

After detailed conversations and various contacts, even though not a single item belonging to 'Shanghai Hongyun' existed on the market yet, he successfully secured the clothing sponsorship for the National Team. He would specially design and produce clothing for the National Team, with the first batch of goods to be delivered after the Spring Festival.

This was a long-term investment; the initial effects might not become apparent until the 1992 Olympics. At that time, while they competed over there, Wang Yan would be behind the scenes buying up news coverage, generating an overwhelming momentum, and then it would be accomplished...

"Wang Laoban, what are you busily doing so mysteriously? This is the first time you've come to Night Tokyo since you treated us last time; it's been over a month, we can't find you anywhere; have you gone to make more money?"

Seeing Seeing Lingzi held a cup of beer, asking Wang Yan, who was eating and drinking in large mouthfuls.

"Oh my, that's right; let alone you guys, even I can't see him. Are you planning to move?" Teacher Ge was also nearby, nursing a cup of beer with small sips.

"Wang Laoban, several times I wanted to call you, but whenever I picked up the phone, I didn't dare to dial..." This was Tao Tao.

Ling Hong wore a face full of disdain: "Could Wang Laoban possibly eat you?"

"Oh my, if you were in my place, you wouldn't even..."

"Tao Tao." Wang Yan tapped his chopsticks. "If you had called me for anything serious, I wouldn't have said a word. Just look at what you're asking: whether women in Hong Kong are pretty..."

"Alright, alright, Wang Laoban, I was wrong, I was truly wrong."

"Oh my, Tao Tao, so I misjudged you before. Are you doing something behind Fang Mei's back to betray her?" Ling Hong wore the expression of someone who had caught a telltale clue.

"What nonsense? A man caring about beautiful women is perfectly normal. Things are getting more open nowadays; if you don't believe me, go out on the street and see. Any man you find, aren't his eyes following the beauties? As for Teacher Ge, don't let his age fool you; the old rascal may be old in body but young at heart. Oh my, the way he looks is quite delightful."

"Nonsense, I wasn't looking. Don't spread rumors; I am completely devoted to my old lady." Teacher Ge waved his hands repeatedly.

"You two, neither should criticize the other. I saw it all that day; someone just passed by outside..."

Seeing Seeing Lingzi waved her hand in irritation: "Oh, will you two ever finish? We were talking about Wang Laoban; how did the conversation drift so far?"

Teacher Ge quickly picked up the thread: "Oh, right, right, right. Little Northeast, what have you been busy with lately? Are you moving house?"

Gnawing on a chicken leg, his mouth greasy, Wang Yan shook his head and said, "Moving will have to wait until after the New Year. The house needs a complete renovation, and the courtyard needs new landscaping; it will take some time. I've been busy with the footwear and garment factory and the seasoning factory. The seasoning factory needs no worry; Little Jinbao's mother is doing an excellent job. But the garment factory is another story."

"I rented land, built the factory, bought equipment, recruited workers, provided training, and purchased various materials. I even bought a shop on Nanjing Road. Inside and out, I've spent over two million. I still owe the bank for the shop purchase and renovation costs, and I've personally put in over a million of my own money. Yet, not a single piece of clothing has been sold so far. How could I not be busy?"

"Oh my, we advised you back then. Boss Bao advised you, and Miss Wang advised you too. But you insisted on making garments, insisted on creating a brand name. Now look, you're reaping the bitter fruit of your own actions, aren't you?"

Seeing Seeing Lingzi counted people on her fingers, her face full of pity.

"It's too early to say that; we've only just begun."

"Oh my, the Boss Lady speaks interestingly. However, as I said before, the process is tortuous, but the future is bright."

"The future is you losing your entire fortune," Teacher Ge said, highly pessimistic.

Wang Yan raised an eyebrow: "Seeing Seeing Lingzi, this is the last bottle of Moutai I'm drinking, right?"

"Yes, it is."

"Oh my, Little Northeast, you can succeed at anything. Your clothes will surely sell all over the world, earning you pots full and brimming. Get rich, get rich. What is the name of your clothing brand?"

Wang Yan smiled: "Hong Yun."

"Good fortune strikes! Very good, very good. Just hearing the name tells me it will inevitably become a world-famous brand in the future." Teacher Ge suddenly became very optimistic again.

Ling Hong couldn't bear to watch: "Oh my, this old rascal has no integrity at all. If you want to drink, buy it yourself."

Tao Tao nodded along: "Exactly, exactly. You need to spend that coffin money of yours. Look, being this close to Wang Laoban, how many chances to get rich have you already missed?"

"Ling Hong doesn't drink often; she was just saying that. But with so much wine Little Northeast keeps at Ye Ye Dongjing, do you think I drink it all alone? Oh my, Little Northeast, I'm just an old man; how can I drink so much with just two taels per meal?"

"I am good friends with Wang Laoban; what's wrong with me drinking? Right, Wang Laoban?"

Wang Yan hummed in agreement and nodded, continuing to eat and drink on his own. He had arrived late; this group had already finished their meal. These dishes were prepared fresh by the Little Monk after Seeing Lingzi learned he was coming. Everyone knew Wang Laoban had a huge appetite and could eat a lot. Seeing Lingzi was indeed generous; she was simply treating everyone.

Truth be told, Wang Yan had never actually spent any money at Seeing Seeing Lingzi's place. The Moutai he gifted was consumed by Teacher Ge and Tao Tao, with occasionally some drunk by Ah Bao; others never got a taste. Besides that, he supplied the barbecue seasoning here, which was practically worthless; everyone knew his cost was merely twenty-seven fen.

The marinating method for the lamb skewers was nothing precious either. Seeing Seeing Lingzi didn't sell them often; even if she didn't have to grill or thread them herself, she found it too troublesome. They were only made when this group craved them. Perhaps the most important point was that Wang Yan had trained the Little Monk, whose skills had improved rapidly...

Teacher Ge and Tao Tao were arguing over who drank more, who shouldn't drink, who should pay, and who was the stingiest. Then the argument dragged in Ling Hong, resulting in the three of them bickering loudly. Next, they turned to Seeing Seeing Lingzi, who usually enjoyed watching the fun with Wang Yan, sipping wine in peaceful tranquility, accusing her of taking advantage of Ah Bao, mismanaging the shop, and always losing money. Seeing Seeing Lingzi joined in, furiously denouncing the bunch as Bai Yanlang (white-eyed wolves/ungrateful wretches), and so on, making for a very lively scene...

Wang Yan smiled cheerfully, continuing to eat and drink heartily on the side. Occasionally, they called on him to judge their disputes, to which he only responded with vague hums and ahhs.

To be honest, after enjoying silence for so long, one still needs to come sit at Ye Ye Dongjing occasionally. Only then does one realize how precious it is to have peace and quiet...