Chapter 981: Celebrating the New Year

Shanghai Hongyun's grand opening was a huge success; Shanghai's news outlets were flooded with coverage, TV stations rushed to produce special segments, primarily interviewing the lucky winner who received a car, and secondarily interviewing other prize winners who received refrigerators, color TVs, washing machines, and the like.

This successfully brought the Shanghai Hongyun brand into the public eye, and amidst the sustained hype, the direct-sale flagship store on Nanjing Road was packed with people every day. With such massive foot traffic, it was inevitable that some people, seeing styles they liked, would be willing to spend extra money to buy clothes, shoes, and similar items originally priced to match Nike but now sold at thirty percent off. After all, Shanghai Hongyun's clothing and shoe designs were truly good-looking.

Therefore, the performance since the opening has been quite good.

Not only in Shanghai; even if Wang Yan's clothes couldn't be sold elsewhere, he had purchased news coverage in Beijing, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and other economically developed regions, with local outlets reprinting the Shanghai news.

It was certainly impossible to make the name widely known, but the goal was to leave people with some impression, as if it were the brand that gave away cars in a lottery.

Of course, it was foreseeable that lotteries giving away cars would become more and more common. But for many people, the first time they heard of it, the impression would inevitably be somewhat deeper, and that was enough. By the time the direct-sale stores opened, people would have some recollection, achieving the objective.

Despite having only one store, and despite losing money every day, Wang Yan was still gradually expanding the factory scale and training skilled workers; he was arranging this according to a plan to cover all 297 prefecture-level cities and municipalities directly under the central government across the nation. Even in major cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen, it was impossible to have just one store.

Therefore, Wang Yan purchased three more commercial properties; two were located on Sichuan North Road and Huaihai Middle Road in Shanghai respectively, and the other was opened on Wang Fujing in Beijing, with plans to open two more subsequently in Xidan and Sanlitun in Beijing. This was what Wang Yan had agreed upon with the National Team; after all, he was a legitimate sponsor, but if no one knew about the shoes and clothing, that would be too unreasonable.

However, Wang Yan did not need to worry about these matters; although there was no one capable to use, he picked the best among the short and simply handed things over. The renovation blueprints for the direct-sale stores were kept on file, and the requirements were clearly written; it was merely a matter of making slight adjustments according to local conditions while maintaining overall uniformity. As for staff training, he had already created a model, continuously recruiting at the first store, and simply sending out old employees to serve as store managers.

As for the production work at the shoe and clothing factories behind the scenes, he needed to worry even less. Having nothing better to do, he had drawn up a huge number of designs; retaining the classic styles, he could release one new collection a year for thirty years into the future. Coupled with the output of newly hired designers, it was completely sufficient for a long time. Issues regarding production quality were merely matters of procedure and personal attitude; he would visit irregularly, impose wage deductions, carry out dismissals, and so on, so the problems were not significant.

Regarding management, he just asked finance to review the statements and wandered around the stores a bit, and he knew everything; it was very relaxing.

Over at the seasoning factory, Little Jinbao Mama had already completed her transformation from a housewife to a general manager, and she was very sharp. The barbecue seasoning was still mixed by hand, but the staff had expanded to several dozen people, yet not a whisper had leaked out; Little Jinbao Mama had truly got a firm grip on things.

She had specially set up an assembly line for these people; the first few individuals were trustworthy, while the others only knew two or three ratios of the seasoning ingredients, mixing them in this assembly line fashion until the final product was created and sent to the workshop for packaging. Moreover, the entire families of these people also worked in the factory, the wages paid were extremely exaggerated, and everything that could be done had been done to the best possible extent.

The money Wang Yan lost operating the clothing business, and the funds for opening new stores, all came from here.

Additionally, Little Jinbao Mama had already begun producing other seasonings, first launching chicken essence, sesame oil, and soybean oil. They were not bundled for sale with the other seasonings; generally, those purchasing goods would choose to try them, and sales were quite good. They were actively increasing production volume, distributing goods into cities, and selling to consumers.

Then there was Betty's side; the barbecue seasoning and herbal tea were selling exceptionally well. The herbal tea was especially popular; after all, the barbecue seasoning was specifically exported and distributed to Hong Kong and could not be resold to the mainland. But the herbal tea was different; people over there loved drinking it, and after a few months, they had earned a fortune in the Hong Kong, Macau, Guangdong, and Guangxi regions. Now, the factory in Shenzhen was nearly completed, and under Wang Yan's occasional hints, the beverages had also been developed.

Once the factory was completed and put into production, they could start selling the herbal tea beverages; at that time, the market would no longer be just Hong Kong, Macau, Guangdong, and Guangxi, but the entire nation and even the whole Asian market. If they researched buying a spring water source and became transporters of nature, the future would be very bright.

From Betty, Wang Yan also withdrew some money. However, he did not continue using it to buy commercial properties and open direct-sale stores; instead, he bought a warehouse in the suburbs and stockpiled various supplies.

The Big Brother was about to cease existing, and he had to see him off.

Although the situation had long been wrong, and internal economic problems had long been extremely severe, Wang Yan was not in a rush to pick up the money. As the saying goes, earn as much as you can, why ask for a bicycle; he planned to rest a bit and take action after the New Year...

At the entrance of Ye Ye Dongjing, Wang Yan adjusted the camera on the tripod, focused, set the delayed shutter, then ran into the crowd below the Ye Ye Dongjing storefront, squatted down to hug Little Fatty, and with a click-flash, the image was frozen.

"Alright, let's go inside, let's go inside."

"Oh my, Wang Laoban, taking just one photo isn't reliable. Who blinked, who had a crooked mouth, no one knows. Take two more, take two more, okay?" Seeing Lingzi waved her hand in disdain, urging Wang Yan to take the photos again.

Wang Yan smiled, said nothing more, ran over again to advance the film on the camera for a self-timer, took six photos, and only then was it done.

Tao Tao stood there, watching Wang Yan pack up the tripod and the camera, and sighed with emotion: "Wang Laoban is living comfortably now; every day he just takes his camera, walks around, looks, and snaps photos, lacking for nothing, truly making people envious."

"We should be envying you; during the New Year you still have family, unlike us, two of us with no father or mother, one getting on in years, and another whose biological father has a family."

The "no father or mother" Wang Yan referred to was himself and Ling Hong. The one whose "biological father has a family" was naturally Seeing Lingzi; her mother died early, her father remarried, and she was pushing from her thirties toward forty, so she was unwilling to go over there.

Teacher Ge nodded repeatedly, entered the shop, and said, "Little Northeast is right; you have a wife and family, why come to Ye Ye Dongjing to join the fun during the big New Year?"

"Oh my, I am a son-in-law living with my wife's family. During the New Year I'm not at my own parents' place; Fang Mei's family has seven aunts and eight uncles all coming over; just one Fang Mei is enough for me to suffer, so many Fang Meis, I would die."

Ling Hong said with disdain, "You are blessed but don't know it."

"What blessed but don't know it? I say, it's just that he neglects his proper duties. Every day he walks here, looks there, ignoring the family business; it's all Fang Mei handling everything single-handedly. Anyway, I've never heard Fang Mei complain about you; if I must say something, it's that she worries you're flirting with other women outside. And you, every day saying 'I'm going to die, I'm going to die,' I don't know what Fang Mei sees in you."

"Seeing Lingzi is right; Tao Tao, if you don't go back, Fang Mei will be heartbroken," Teacher Ge advised.

"It's only this year that I've known you guys; in previous years I was at home listening to them nag. As a result, good heavens, I come here and still have to listen to you guys nag, truly I'm going to die. Alright, alright, stop talking about me; I'll eat lunch with you guys and then go back, really... the world is so vast, yet there is no place for me to exist. I'd rather transform into a little bird..."

Ling Hong cut in, "A slingshot will shoot you down, throw you into the fire, and roast you to eat. No ink in your belly, yet you insist on pretending to be a cultured person, even composing poetry; get lost, get lost..."

"As if you're cultured; weren't you serving plates at a ramen shop in Japan?"

"I serve plates, I don't compose poetry; you fish seller, what elephant are you pretending to be?"

"I sell seafood, do you understand seafood?"

"I'm just asking you, is there fish in seafood?"

... Tao Tao picked up the Huazi cigarettes Wang Yan had left on the table, lit one, and slowly exhaled the smoke, actually becoming melancholy: "We are making noise and arguing here, but poor Ah Bao and Postage Stamp Li are still in Shenzhen, unfamiliar with the place and people, without a single acquaintance."

"Doesn't Boss Bao have parents? Even if he were in Shanghai, he wouldn't come here," Seeing Lingzi waved her hand impatiently. "Aren't you a fish seller? Come, come, clean up these fish for me."

"These are clearly seafood, okay?"

Today Wang Yan was the head chef; it was the New Year, after all. Although Ye Ye Dongjing wasn't busy, the chef Little Monk and the waitresses Little Wen and Little Qin still needed their holiday, so Master Wang naturally took charge, personally wielding the knife to prepare gourmet dishes for the New Year.

It was not yet the two-day weekend system, nor had the big-small week been implemented; the Spring Festival holiday was also just three days. However, as the boss, Wang Yan had always been very lenient. Usually, it was a two-day weekend; since most workers were locals and even those from out of town didn't go home, the New Year holiday was just seven days.

Of course, the main reason was also that the production tasks were not heavy; the shoe and clothing factory was losing money anyway, so strictly speaking, shutting down the machines for the holiday meant he would lose a bit less. The seasoning factory was the same; except for some necessary personnel staying on duty, basically everyone was on holiday. It was just that Little Jinbao Mama was worried and ran over every day to check for safety hazards.

As for Hong Kong and Shenzhen, Wang Yan didn't manage those; Betty was in charge there.

Wang Yan was chopping condiments; in the pot, things were bubbling and churning; these were items that needed frying, and the aroma had already spread.

"Wang Laoban's craftsmanship is excellent." Tao Tao took a deep breath, unafraid of the heat, came over to grab a piece of the fried food to eat, and not eating alone, he didn't forget to share a piece with Little Fatty beside him.

He said, "On the fourth day we welcome the God of Wealth; do you want to go out and have some fun then?"

"Can't go." Wang Yan shook his head. "I have to go to Hong Kong the day after tomorrow."

"What are you going to Hong Kong for again?" Seeing Lingzi asked, picking up the conversation.

Ling Hong said, "Have you given up? Wang Laoban has a company over there; if you haven't checked on it for so long, what if you get cheated?"

Wang Yan nodded with a smile: "That's about the meaning of it; furthermore, it's not good for me not to show my face; I also need to research how to develop in the future. After the New Year, I'm going to be busy."

"Busy losing money?" Teacher Ge asked sincerely.

Wang Yan didn't mind, shaking his head with a smile: "If one has no long-term considerations, one will have immediate worries. One must always pave the way for future development, so as to soon live a simple and unadorned life of collecting rent, just like you, old boy."

"Hey, speaking of collecting rent..." Seeing Lingzi nodded her head toward Wang Yan. "Wang Laoban, that western-style house you bought on Julu Road should be finished with renovations, right? Are you moving?"

"Moving tomorrow; new year, new beginning."

Teacher Ge said, "Let me say this first, the rent is non-refundable."

Wang Yan shook his head amusingly: "As if I ever asked you for money when you were drinking."

"Then tomorrow I'll come help you move, Wang Laoban; let's all go see your new home. Everyone knows you bought a house over there, but no one has seen it yet; let's recognize the door, so we don't lose track of you in the future, that wouldn't be good."

Wang Yan raised an eyebrow. "Oh really, Tao Tao? Grown bold, have you? Mocking me?"

"No, no, how would I dare? I just feared that if something happened in the future, I wouldn't be able to reach you by phone or find you." Tao Tao chuckled awkwardly, wearing a face full of ingratiating smiles.

"We'll see about the future. In your narrow heart, you only think that surname Wang gets rich and looks down on old friends; no matter how beautifully I speak, it's useless."

Wang Yan waved his hand, urging him on. "I'm such a big boss with a net worth of several million, yet I'm still here cooking for you lot, aren't I? Enough. Hurry up and work; I'm starting the dishes now. Clean up properly, don't dawdle."

Tao Tao went back to cleaning the fish, sighing as he muttered, "Wang Laoban, did you call Ah Bao? How are things on his end? Did he make any money?"

"You've been calling him every day again?"

"Ah... my small household can't afford to play such games. Oh my, Wang Laoban, you don't know; Fang Mei checks the passbook every few days. I secretly withdrew money to give Ah Bao for stock trading, and within three days Fang Mei found out. She immediately called Ah Bao; if he hadn't already left, Fang Mei would have gone to hack him to pieces."

Wang Yan nodded with a smile. "You've said this eight hundred times; I know it all. How many times must I say it? Making money cannot be rushed. Keep a calm mindset."

"Oh my, Wang Laoban, with your net worth of several million, losing a million is no big deal. My entire fortune is just one hundred thousand yuan, all blood-and-sweat money earned by selling seafood from dawn till dusk. If I lose it all, I'll truly die; even if I don't want to die, Fang Mei will hack me to death."

Tao Tao continued his nagging chatter; Wang Yan listened with a smile, working diligently.

Without the efficient little Monk and the others, this group from Night Tokyo worked somewhat faster. Wang Yan was naturally the most efficient; otherwise, eating with this crowd would be impossible.

Thus chatting and laughing until noon, the five finally sat at the dining table to eat.

"Come, come, everyone, let's have a drink; may we make great fortune in the new year." Seeing Seeing Lingzi bared her tiger teeth, smiling very happily.

Because everything had gone well for her this year: a man she had known for only half a day, upon hearing that he planned to open a restaurant named 'Night Tokyo' after returning to Shanghai in the future, had made this happen for her just over a year later. No one knew, no one understood, no one realized the immense turmoil in her heart when she received that letter from Shanghai, delivered via an intermediary.

Wang Yan and the others saved face generously, raising their wine glasses together, drinking boisterously, and naturally followed by eating the dishes and praising the great chef.

Everyone was happy, but if one had to name the happiest, Seeing Seeing Lingzi ranked first, and Teacher Ge second.

The old rascal had found a group of laughing friends; although there was indeed an age gap, a day of noisy arguing caused no harm. During the New Year, he was not alone, not facing an empty room with leftover cold food while the aroma of meals drifted from other homes.

Next was Tao Tao, because he had found a happy haven where he could escape the trivialities of home, as well as Fang Mei, whom he had once liked during their ambiguous days long ago, allowing him to relax.

As for Ling Hong, she was happy too, but her happiness stemmed from the liveliness and the stability. However, compared to the others, her situation was terrible. Among the group, she was the poorest, relying on Seeing Seeing Lingzi's support; thinking that after a whole year she was still so poor made it hard to be truly happy. But since everyone else was happy, she forgot many of her worries and joined in the joy.

The New Year is truly a good time for taking stock. Regardless of whether one intends to or not, upon realizing the year has ended, on this final day, one cannot help but look back at the gains and losses of the past year, and the flavors of sour, sweet, bitter, spicy, and salty all rush up together.

Originally, they had planned to make dumplings, boil tangyuan, and set off fireworks in the evening, but the group laughed and cried so hard that they ate from noon until night. In the end, only Wang Yan remained sober.

He had no choice but to fetch Little Jinbao's mother, who had finished eating earlier and gone home to enjoy parent-child time with her child, asking her to support Ling Hong, while he supported Seeing Seeing Lingzi and carried Teacher Ge on his back, escorting them all home.

After tossing Seeing Seeing Lingzi onto the bed and covering her with a quilt, just as he was about to leave, like in many film and television plotlines, Seeing Seeing Lingzi's hand grabbed Wang Yan's wrist: "Why do you always flee?"

Wang Yan shook his head with an amused smile, pried her hand open and tucked it back under the quilt, then brushed the hair covering her face to both sides to reveal her features, meticulously poured a glass of water and placed it by the bedside, before departing.

He returned to Night Tokyo, stuffed Tao Tao into the back seat of the car, and drove him back to Guling Road.

"Oh my, today is New Year's, and I drank so much wine; I'm truly going to die. Trouble you, Wang Laoban."

Fang Mei looked at Tao Tao, who lay collapsed in a heap in the back seat, first slapping him twice, and only then spoke to Wang Yan.

Wang Yan smiled. "Fang Mei, I know that Tao Tao took the one hundred thousand yuan from the passbook; he said he wanted Boss Bao to earn a van for him. But strangely, it's also my fault; Boss Bao didn't hide anything from everyone, directly pulling me into the partnership, so I invested some money too. As for Tao Tao, he trusts Boss Bao immensely; this time, Boss Bao is quite certain to make money. Rest assured; the money will return in another three months or so."

"Wang Laoban, you misunderstand. How could I not trust Boss Bao? I am angry that Tao Tao doesn't consult me; every time it's like this. Moreover, look at him; he's never at home all day, running around wildly playing. I just fear that if he has too much money, he'll go around flirting with every flower and grass he sees."

"That didn't stop him from secretly taking the passbook, did it? Actually, Tao Tao has his own sense of measure. When I first bought my car, I heard him say he wanted to buy a van and a brick phone, yet he didn't secretly take the passbook to buy a car or a brick phone, did he? Only this time, because Boss Bao is going to Shenzhen to trade stocks, did he take the money out. Don't look at his ignorance of stocks; he understands Boss Bao."

After comforting Fang Mei slightly and alleviating Tao Tao's family conflict a little, Wang Yan pulled Tao Tao out of the car, escorted him all the way inside, greeted Fang Mei's family members who were still there, and only then drove back...

Wang Yan had seen Fang Mei more than once; she was not ugly, but neither was she gentle; she was a very fierce woman. Perhaps because Tao Tao was not strong, she had to be stronger, which could be considered complementary. As a person, she was certainly fine; hardworking and willing to endure hardship, often very considerate of Tao Tao's feelings when outside.

However, Tao Tao had it hard too; his mind was active and unsettled, always provoking Fang Mei until she made him kneel on a washboard. Of course, Tao Tao would never say this aloud; it was Ah Bao who exposed Tao Tao's past, allowing everyone to know.

Additionally, worried that Tao Tao would flirt with other women, Fang Mei engaged in marital relations very frequently; she believed that as long as she drained Tao Tao dry, she guaranteed safety to the maximum extent. This was something Tao Tao himself said; of course, he might understand Fang Mei's intentions, but he couldn't say it openly, nor would he ever make lewd jokes about his own woman. It was just that whenever Teacher Ge complained about his old arms and legs, Tao Tao would often rub his lower back, sighing that time spares no one...

Wang Yan did not possess many belongings; he really hadn't bought too many things after coming here, nothing more than some custom-made suits, leather shoes, sportswear produced by his own clothing company, and additionally, some books he had casually bought and read during this period. He personally made two trips to load everything into the Santana.

The hangover from last night ultimately caused that noisy group from Night Tokyo, who had clamored to visit his new house with him, to wake up late; no one came to see him off. Yet, there was no need for a send-off. Wang Yan did not delay in the slightest; he simply drove away.

The new house was a typical garden villa that had seen some years, renovated inside and out; the first-floor living room was entirely converted into a study, featuring a large bookshelf as usual, a large desk, a set of comfortable sofas, and carpeting. Beyond that, there was nothing particularly noteworthy; merely arranging the garden and such, nothing fresh.

Around nine o'clock, the brick phone rang; it was Tao Tao calling, saying he had come over to help Wang Yan move and saw the room was empty, and so on. In short, the result was that this group from Night Tokyo all arrived at Julu Road again.

It seemed that the house, having transformed from Teacher Ge's original twenty-plus square meters into this exquisite, fresh, and high-end small villa, made people re-evaluate the true value of Wang Yan's multi-million net worth and the stark difference in their respective statuses. Although they had arrived in high spirits, Teacher Ge and the others departed with somewhat heavy hearts, even as Wang Yan remained as smiling as ever.

"Tell me, will Little Northeast really go to Night Tokyo in the future?"

Ling Hong said, "Weren't you quite firm before? You even asked me for one hundred yuan this morning."

"Our statuses are different now; Wang Laoban is no longer the man selling lamb skewers; he is a person with a net worth of several million. As for us, we have nothing; chatting and laughing every day, we can't really speak up anymore."

Tao Tao, with a face full of emotion, kicked a small pebble on the road. "Having money is truly good; look at Wang Laoban's house; if only I could live in such a house in the future. But don't worry about me; I'm definitely different from Wang Laoban; we will be good friends for a lifetime."

Seeing Seeing Lingzi waved her hand in disdain. "Look at you lot, talking east and west; don't you know what kind of person Wang Laoban is? With so much money, didn't he still celebrate the New Year with us? Didn't he cook for us? And he even escorted everyone home. Did you see just now? Has Wang Laoban changed in any way? Isn't he still the same?"

"Besides, how is he different now compared to two months ago? Isn't he still taking his camera out to shoot all day, then coming to sit at Night Tokyo in the evening? I say that when Wang Laoban isn't busy, he will definitely still come to Night Tokyo."

"That was when Wang Laoban lived on Jinxian Road; now he is on Julu Road. It's farther away, and he's busy with work; even if he thinks of Night Tokyo, he may not be willing to make the trip. If it were me, I'm afraid I wouldn't even remember."

Ling Hong pointed at Tao Tao. "Aha, you've spoken your true thoughts now, haven't you?"

Teacher Ge also condemned him: "Just now you told us to rest assured, saying you were definitely different from Little Northeast and would be friends for a lifetime. Two sentences later, and you're saying you might not remember Night Tokyo? Seeing Seeing Lingzi, make him pay the bill; count up all the food and drink."

"Oh my, I just spoke too quickly. I was thinking from Wang Laoban's perspective; why are you all being so serious?"

"Enough, enough; every day you just know how to argue; it's annoying to death. No more nonsense; Wang Laoban himself said yesterday that no matter how we think of him, it's useless no matter how beautifully he speaks. Do you know what that means? He is still coming. How about we make another bet?"

"No betting." Teacher Ge waved his hand. "Those two are scoundrels; neither will put up money."

"I truly have none; you know, when have I ever had more than twenty yuan on me?"

"Oh my, I'm also poor to death; I rely on Seeing Seeing Lingzi's support."

Unknowingly, the topic of their conversation went off track again; speaking of death during the New Year was considered unlucky, debating whether making a fortune was actually good or bad, all sorts of messy topics, with no central theme, just rambling freely...

Wang Yan did not hold a housewarming party; he didn't care about such formalities. Having just celebrated the New Year with the group from Night Tokyo yesterday, there were no fresh matters to warrant another lively gathering. Therefore, he did not keep anyone, nor did he trouble them to help clean up; everything was already tidied well, daily necessities had been purchased long ago, and the books on the bookshelf were already filled. He merely packed his luggage for Hong Kong once more, and the move was complete.

That evening, he did not go to Night Tokyo. Instead, he drove to Pork Ribs and Rice Cakes; come to think of it, he hadn't eaten there for several months. Since he was leaving tomorrow and would be away for a long time, he might as well come by to check; if it was open, he would eat, and if not, he would leave.

Coincidentally, the owner was a diligent person; even on the first day of the Lunar New Year, the place was operating normally.

Coincidentally, Wang Xiao was sitting alone in front of the display window.

Speaking of coincidence, including the three previous encounters, Wang Yan had indeed never specifically come here to wait for Wang Xiao. For people destined to meet sooner or later, there was no need to manufacture chance meetings.

"Happy New Year; may the boss make a fortune." Wang Yan pushed the door open, entered, and smiled while clasping his fists to congratulate the owner.

"Ai, it's Wang Laoban who should be making a fortune; hasn't he been here for several months? Did you have an appointment with Miss Wang today?"

"Fate; still the same as ever, Boss."

"I remember." The boss waved his hand; it was hard for him to forget someone who could eat so much yet was so wealthy.

Wang Yan opened two bottles of soda, placing one before Miss Wang, who had long been waiting for him to arrive, and asked with a smile, "Why has Miss Wang come for pork ribs and rice cakes on the first day of the lunar month?"

"Who ruled that one cannot come for pork ribs and rice cakes on the first day? The boss is still doing business, so of course I must come. If the boss hadn't opened late, I would have come sooner or later to eat."

Miss Wang took a sip of soda and laughed, "I know what you mean, but I don't like exchanging pleasantries with so many people. This one wants to introduce me to a boyfriend, that one pries into matters at my workplace; they are all elders, so it's awkward to say anything. It's utterly annoying, so I came out. What about you? I called Night Tokyo, and Sister Seeing Seeing Lingzi said you moved to Julu Road; why aren't you cooking at home?"

"Laziness. I originally intended to invite everyone for a housewarming, but since I just celebrated the New Year with them yesterday, there's little point in doing it today. I must say, we two truly share a fate, Miss Wang. I've come four times and encountered you four times."

"Indeed, there is fate; I even asked the boss earlier, saying you hadn't been here for several months. What made you think of coming today?"

"I'm going to Hong Kong tomorrow, and it occurred to me that I haven't eaten pork ribs and rice cakes for several months, so I came to have a meal; otherwise, the next time I eat it will be a long while away."

"Why will it be that long?"

"I still have some business over in Hong Kong, as you know, and I need to go there to make arrangements. There is another matter: I heard that the Soviet Union has been quite turbulent these past two years, and some people have made fortunes there. I don't particularly wish to make a fortune, but the big brother is still the big brother, and there are many good things. I want to see if I can bring back some cutting-edge equipment. I mentioned this once to Boss Bao, saying I wanted to work in semiconductors."

"This is real big business, where technology reigns supreme. If I have it and you don't, I dare to name a sky-high price; the added value far exceeds that of clothing brands."

"The higher the technology, the greater the investment; you will still lose money. Forget it, forget it; I won't say more, since you won't listen anyway. Go ahead and crash into your southern wall." Miss Wang pursed her lips, then suddenly leaned closer and whispered, "I heard it's quite dangerous over there, and the channels are all improper; it involves smuggling. You're not planning to do that too, are you?"

"Are you going to report me?"

"Nonsense; we are friends. How could I possibly do such a thing? I'm concerned about you, that's all."

"Mm, I feel it; my heart is warm." Wang Yan nodded with a smile, also leaning closer to whisper, "However others do it, I will do the same; if trouble arises, there are taller people to bear the brunt. Besides, I refuse to believe that if I bring back high-end equipment from someone else's home to my own, the parents will spank my bottom."

"What you said is absolutely correct; your awareness is quite high, Wang Laoban."

"Not that high; I'm merely shuttling back and forth, inevitably making some profit in the process."

"I can't dissuade you; just stay safe."

"Didn't you know? I'm very capable in a fight." Wang Yan raised one eyebrow.

"Yes, yes, yes, you are the most formidable."

"Although that was very perfunctory, I'll take it as praise; I'll bring you a gift when I return."

Miss Wang hastily waved her hands: "Absolutely not; you know full well that if you give me something, I'll have to spend money to buy it. I'm practically destitute!" Her voice was still just as loud, treating the pork ribs and rice cakes boss as no outsider whatsoever.

However, the boss had long grown accustomed to it; this young lady had been confident since childhood...

"Then do me a favor."

"No favor."

"Then I'll bring you a gift; if you refuse it, I'll deliver it to your workplace."

"Ai, so annoying!" Miss Wang tilted her head back, speechless and choking with emotion, then took a fierce bite of the pork rib. "Tell me first what it is; let me warn you, don't even think about using backdoor channels."

"How could I? I wouldn't harm you. It's simple: this trip to Hong Kong, I plan to find a suitable location to open a shop and sell my sportswear. This falls right within your expertise; later, you can just help expedite the procedures for me, which will also count toward your work performance. This isn't us doing OEM or private labeling; it's a genuine domestic brand going global. Although we're going through Hong Kong, it hasn't reverted yet, so entering and exiting still requires a passport."

"Is it really that simple?"

"With such a thick bond of fate between us, do I have so little credibility in your heart, Miss Wang?"

Miss Wang rolled her eyes and muttered, "You're about to go out smuggling..."

"Don't make it sound so ugly; I am purchasing urgently needed cutting-edge manufacturing equipment."

"Fine then; later, have someone come to find me at Number 27. But let me make this clear first: absolutely no gifts; I truly cannot afford to buy them."

Wang Yan did not answer, merely smiling broadly as he clinked his soda bottle against Miss Wang's, signaling their pleasant cooperation.

Miss Wang did not dampen the mood; instead, she clinked even harder, as if it were some fun game, and unexpectedly began to laugh without any apparent reason.

It seemed she was getting to know this man once again; four visits for pork ribs and rice cakes, and she had gotten to know him four times...