Chapter 972

Jian Qiu smiled; Guo Qizheng calling at this moment could only mean the Brazil negotiations had succeeded.

“Old Guo, the Brazil contract is signed, right?”

“Signed!” Guo Qizheng couldn’t help laughing: “I didn’t let you down. The news about China’s shortage of raw sugar has already spread—within three days, raw sugar prices will surge. You need to prepare.”

“Understood!” Jian Qiu said gratefully: “Thank you, Old Guo.”

“No thanks needed!” Guo Qizheng said: “When the nation needs me, I’m glad to contribute.”

After chatting a while, they hung up. Jian Qiu leaned against the bathroom doorframe.

“The Brazil contract is signed. International raw sugar prices will surge within three days.”

Zhou Andong was showering. Hearing Jian Qiu’s words, he turned off the shower and wiped his face with his hand.

“Notify Xiangjiang and Britain—don’t rush to sell.”

Jian Qiu hesitated: “We’ve invested too much capital. If we don’t sell early, we might not finish liquidating before prices peak.”

Zhou Andong smiled: “Don’t underestimate how greedy those capitalists are. Watch—raw sugar prices will rise to a height you can’t imagine.”

Jian Qiu nodded: “Alright, I’ll notify them right away.”

Zhou Andong turned the shower back on and continued washing.

He was nearly done when Jian Qiu came in.

Steam curled through the bathroom, the rush of water blending with faint singing—like swallows whispering in the wind, or cicadas calling for mates, a melodious sound radiating irresistible allure…

………………

October 4, 1993, Eighth Month Nineteenth, Lunar Calendar, Monday!

Zhou Andong, Jian Qiu, Wu Hongkang, and Zhang Shenghui stepped out of Yangcheng Airport.

Few people were outside—back then, few could afford air travel.

As soon as they emerged, they saw a young man holding a sign with their names on it.

“There he is.”

No sooner had Wu Hongkang spoken than a beautiful girl in a professional business suit, her hair pinned up, hurried over.

The girl was Cao Li, an event receptionist for the Entrepreneurs Forum. She recognized Zhou Andong the moment he appeared.

“Young Master Zhou, hello. I’m Cao Li, the conference receptionist.”

Zhou Andong shook her hand: “Thank you for your trouble.”

“No trouble at all—it’s my job.”

Cao Li then shook hands with Jian Qiu, Wu Hongkang, and Zhang Shenghui: “Young Master Jian, Factory Director Wu, General Manager Zhang, nice to meet you.”

Clearly, she had reviewed their profiles. But since these three weren’t as famous as Zhou Andong, they hadn’t been recognized immediately.

“The car’s over there—follow me!”

The group got in the car and headed straight for the Garden Hotel.

The hotel stood on Huanxiang East Road; the car stopped at the entrance.

They got out, and under Cao Li’s guidance, took the elevator to the 28th floor.

“Young Master Zhou, Factory Director Wu, General Manager Zhang—your rooms are 2818, 2819, and 2820!”

Cao Li used her key to open the doors, then handed each of them their keys.

“Dinner will be held at five p.m. in the banquet hall on the second floor.”

As she spoke, she pulled three name tags from her bag—each bearing the names Zhou Andong, Wu Hongkang, Zhang Shenghui, and Jian Qiu.

Zhou Andong took the tag: “Just carry this?”

“Yes!” Cao Li nodded: “Rest now. I’ll come get you at 4:40.”

“Alright!” Zhou Andong replied, turning to Wu Hongkang and Zhang Shenghui: “You two—rest, or go out for a walk?”

Wu Hongkang said: “It’s still early. Let’s walk around. I haven’t been to Yangcheng in two years.”

Zhang Shenghui added: “I came to Yangcheng a few months ago, but had no time to explore. Let’s take this chance.”

“Fine!” Zhou Andong took his luggage inside: “Pack up, we leave in half an hour.”

Inside the room, it was spacious—a suite with a bedroom inside and a living room outside, over fifty square meters total.

“Not bad. Yangcheng shows some sincerity.” Zhou Andong lit a cigarette and walked to the window, yanking open the curtains with a rustle.

Jian Qiu unpacked her suitcase, took out her clothes, and hung them in the wardrobe.

“This Entrepreneurs Forum is organized by the provincial government—high-level. The Secretary and Governor will both attend.”

After finishing, Jian Qiu washed her face in the bathroom: “Aren’t you washing?”

“No.” Zhou Andong crushed his cigarette in the ashtray, checked the time: “Let’s go.”

“Wait!” Jian Qiu found her makeup and dabbed a little on her face.

“Tap-tap-tap…”

At that moment, someone knocked on the door. Zhou Andong opened it—it was Wu Hongkang and Zhang Shenghui.

“Ready?”

“Ready.” Jian Qiu picked up her bag: “Let’s go.”

The four left the hotel and wandered aimlessly.

Jian Qiu pointed ahead: “There’s a mall—let’s check it out.”

The mall was large, with heavy foot traffic.

Outside, vendors sold everything, but the most common were shoe shiners—and the busiest were the shoe shiners.

About ten or twenty of them sat on small stools, each with a wooden box and a chair in front.

Wu Hongkang looked at the dirt on his shoes and smiled: “You guys go shopping. I’ll get my shoes shined.”

Zhang Shenghui waved: “I’ll get mine done too. You two go ahead.”

“Alright!” Zhou Andong laughed: “Wait here after you’re done—we’ll be out soon.”

Zhou Andong and Jian Qiu entered the mall; Wu Hongkang and Zhang Shenghui sat side by side.

“How much for a shine?”

“One yuan!”

The shoeshiner was a middle-aged woman who sprayed something from a small spray bottle—water or something else—onto the shoes.

Just then, a small aluminum basin appeared before Wu Hongkang, filled with a few coins, rattling as it was shaken.

“Sir, please, spare some change. May you have good luck every day and great fortune every year.”

Wu Hongkang froze, turned around—and saw a young man, clothes and pants filthy beyond recognition, hair long and matted, unwashed for who knew how long.

The woman glared and shouted: “Get lost! Don’t disturb my business!”

Though the beggar was unkempt, he looked young—and had a fiery temper.

“Old hag, this isn’t your yard. You do your job, I do mine—what’s it to you?”

Seeing the woman about to yell again, Wu Hongkang feared a fight and quickly pulled out a yuan coin and dropped it into the basin.

“Thank you, sir!”

The boy bowed to Wu Hongkang, then raised the basin before Zhang Shenghui.

“Sir, please, spare some change. May you have good luck every day and great fortune every year.”

Zhang Shenghui readily tossed a yuan into the basin and teased: “Kid, you’ve got a good business—no capital needed. When I can’t afford food, I’ll join you.”

The boy chuckled but said nothing, limping away.

After shining their shoes, Wu Hongkang and Zhang Shenghui squatted by the mall entrance, smoking two cigarettes, until Zhou Andong and Jian Qiu emerged.

“Wait a sec—we’ll get our shoes shined too.”

Zhou Andong and Jian Qiu sat down side by side, when suddenly someone shouted nearby.

“Sir, please, spare some change. May you have good luck every day and great fortune every year.”

“Huh?”

Zhou Andong turned, puzzled—why did that voice sound so familiar?