Chapter 243: I

On the second day Luo Runbo arrived in Yangcheng, several factories that had been counterfeiting Fenghua clothing removed their fake products from the exhibition stands, and no one interfered when Ning Pingping and others distributed flyers inside the venue anymore.

Merchants who had previously tried to drive down prices now suddenly became clever, rushing to Hao Jian to sign contracts.

The exhibits from Pengcheng Factory Seven, in terms of fashion alone, could stand shoulder to shoulder with those from any major fashion capital, let alone at such low prices.

But the Japanese merchant Inoshita Mugi was met with cold treatment from Hao Jian.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Inoshita, $7. 0 was the price two days ago; our current quote is $10."

"If you can't afford it—no, if you think the price is unsuitable—please turn west and have a good journey."

"But the contract signed by the Miles Corporation yesterday was…"

"Yes, yesterday it was $9, but today the price went up."

Hao Jian smiled without warmth, uttering words that meant "I'm going to rip you off with no room for negotiation."

Others haggled too, but Hao Jian just found this guy irritating.

Inoshita Mugi's face turned red with anger: "You… this is extremely unfriendly behavior. I will file a complaint against you."

Hao Jian maintained a calm, unyielding expression and said mildly, "I'll kindly explain to you a Chinese term—willing buyer, willing seller."

"If you're willing to buy and I'm willing to sell, that's a friendly business. If you want to buy cheap but we won't sell cheap, or if we insist on a high price but you won't buy—that's not business, that's robbery."

"."

"What a fine 'willing buyer, willing seller'—Factory Director Hao is truly a learned man!"

Hao Jian turned to see the three factory directors Jia, Yi, and Bing approaching with an official from the Foreign Trade Bureau.

Hao Jian quickly moved aside to offer them seats and ordered ErGou and others to serve tea and water.

Three days ago, the three factory directors had already approached Hao Jian, proposing to buy clothing from Pengcheng Factory Seven to fulfill their contracts with foreign buyers.

But their contracts offered low prices, and they intended to pocket the price difference, so Hao Jian had firmly rejected them.

But it seemed that after several days of negotiation, today might finally bring a result.

If no result came, the Canton Fair would soon end.

"Time is pressing, let's skip the pleasantries—Factory Director Hao, please review these contracts. If there are no major issues, could you help these brother factories through this hardship?"

Hao Jian didn't dare delay; he took the contracts and began reading.

After reading them, Hao Jian frowned and said, "These prices are too low—$6. 0 doesn't even cover costs, and these garments use high-end fabrics; we don't have much stock left."

"The fabric will be provided by them," the Foreign Trade Bureau official cut in decisively. "As long as you guarantee timely delivery, I'll handle all other issues for you."

The three factory directors' expressions changed visibly, but they quickly smiled and nodded vigorously.

"Then I agree—as long as we receive the fabric on time, we guarantee delivery."

Hao Jian's heart soared—he'd been most worried about the fabric problem.

The flaw of the planned economy was that even with money, you couldn't buy what you needed. Hao Jian had raised prices these past two days precisely to secure more foreign exchange, hoping to use that leverage to obtain sufficient fabric.

If this official promised to help coordinate, didn't that open up plenty of room for maneuver later?

After nearly a month, the Canton Fair finally ended. Pengcheng Factory Seven's Fenghua clothing became famous overnight, earning nearly three million U. . dollars in sales and securing a small column of lead type in the newspapers.

And in that column of lead type appeared Hao Jian's name.

Hao Jian's wife, An Xiaolian, carefully framed the newspaper and hung it on the living room wall of their new home, taking her daughter Hao Cuicui to read it aloud every day.

But after finishing his work, Hao Jian told An Xiaolian, "Pack your things, prepare clothes and daily necessities, and come with me to Jingcheng—we may stay there for a while."

"What? To Jingcheng?" An Xiaolian asked in confusion. "Cuicui has only just started going to the childcare center after all this trouble—now you're taking her to Jingcheng? What if she runs wild again and turns into a wild girl?"

"Your daughter's the wild girl? Wait—who are you calling a wild girl?"

Hao Jian, half-angry, half-laughing, said, "I'm going to Jingcheng to meet Jin Peng about business, and I'm bringing Cuicui along to see if we can get her a godfather."

"A godfather?" An Xiaolian asked, puzzled. "Make Cuicui adopt Jin Peng as her godfather? He's too young—he's not even married!"

"."

Doesn't being unmarried mean you can't be a godfather?

Hao Jian himself thought it absurd, but since the year before last, after everything he'd been through, which thing hadn't been absurd?

"Enough nonsense—pack her things quickly. Don't wait—by the time Jin Peng's child is born, what's left for us?"

…………………………

When Hao Jian's family arrived in Jingcheng, Li Ye was seeing off Huo Renqiang.

In the past month, Ah Qiang had not only studied Chinese history diligently but also visited the snow in the country's northernmost reaches, breathed the wind from its westernmost edge, tasted mushrooms from the southwest, and eaten sea cucumber with scallions from the east.

When Ah Qiang returned, he'd lost weight, but his spirit was exceptionally vibrant.

In his own words: "I never imagined China would be so vast, its people so numerous, and its compatriots so warm… Here, over a hundred million people love me."

Of course, Europe's total area is only 10. 6 million square kilometers, divided among forty-four countries.

Britain is one forty-fourth of that, and Hong Kong at the time was merely one of its dependencies—so imagine the awe China's 10. 5 million square kilometers must have inspired in Ah Qiang!

As for whether a hundred million people truly loved Ah Qiang, Li Ye didn't know—but the Beijing Youth Daily reporter Pan Xiaoqing seemed to have fallen for him.

Pan Xiaoqing conducted an extended interview with Ah Qiang, accompanying him from south to north; whether it was an assignment from her office or a personal initiative, Li Ye couldn't tell.

But watching the two of them reluctant to part, Li Ye didn't know what to say.

In his past life, Li Ye had watched a TV drama called "Just Once," where the female second lead was tricked by a foreign old man—he'd thought then, how could such a beautiful girl be so naive?

But now, looking at this… sigh…

"Ah Qiang, I must warn you—don't play love games on the mainland. If you do anything immoral, the consequences will be beyond your imagination."

Ah Qiang paused, then chuckled and said, "I won't. As long as she doesn't play games with me, I'll treat her with my whole life."

Li Ye: "."

Is this a Beijing-Hong Kong love story?

"Woo~ Woo~"

The train's whistle sounded repeatedly, urging passengers to board.

Ah Qiang and Pan Xiaoqing, suffering the pain of separation, finally embraced.

"Whoa~"

"Did they kiss? Did they kiss?"

"They kissed, they kissed, oh my~"

A chorus of exclamations rose from the platform; Hao Jian, just arriving, quickly covered his daughter's eyes—but tiptoed himself to stare hard at Pan Xiaoqing.

Then Hao Jian received a sharp step from his wife, An Xiaolian.

A kiss goodbye in 1983 was definitely not child-friendly!

Li Ye shook his head, feeling a pang of regret.

If only I'd brought Wen Leyu today—love's greatness has a guiding power; later, wouldn't my own… matter just naturally resolve?

………………

Hao Jian's family followed Li Ye to the Zaojunmiao sihe courtyard, just in time for the eight-person group's regular meal.

The eight-person group knew Hao Jian well—when everyone's stomachs were empty, Hao Jian and Jin Peng had constantly bought meat and fish from the market to supplement their nutrition, so they were all familiar.

Jiang Xiaoyan, Hu Man, Wen Leyu, and several other women gathered around Hao Cuicui the moment they saw her.

"Brother Hao Jian, this is your daughter?"

"So pretty—but she's timid, huh~"

"Come here, call me Auntie, and I'll give you a candy."

Hao Cuicui, always timid since childhood, saw a crowd of strangers and nervously clung to her mother's hem, not daring to move.

Hao Jian encouraged her: "Cuicui, be polite—these aunts all like you. What did your childcare teacher teach you?"

After hesitating a long while, Hao Cuicui stepped a few paces away from her mother and pulled out a candy jar from her small shoulder bag.

"I have candy—I'll share it with you."

With her small hand, she took out one candy after another and handed them to Hu Man, Han Xia, and others. Her sweet, well-behaved demeanor instantly awakened the maternal instincts of the women.

"Little Cuicui is so thoughtful—come, let me wash you an apple."

"There's fruit canned inside—I'll take you to taste some."

The women took little Cuicui cheerfully into the house; Hao Jian, left outside, felt a deep sense of relief.

Cuicui had been sick since childhood, and her timid, fearful nature had followed. Hao Jian had worried endlessly about her future.

But if she could adopt these "aunts," would she ever suffer again?

"Brother Jin, I'd like to ask you something."

"What is it?"

"Be my daughter's godfather!"

"Cough, cough, cough, cough~"

Jin Peng, who had been smoking, burst into a fit of coughing upon hearing Hao Jian's words.

He studied Hao Jian carefully, realizing he wasn't joking, then his eyes flickered—he understood.

"Hao Jian, you've got more tricks up your sleeve than anyone. But given our relationship, whether you call me godfather or not makes no real difference—you don't need these formalities."

"Still, formalities matter—it's a Chinese tradition," Hao Jian said seriously. "I'll talk to Ah Qiang too—we'll have you three become her godfathers together, to protect her as she grows."

"Hahaha~"

Jin Peng laughed heartily for a while, then lowered his voice: "Me and Ah Qiang have no problem being her godfathers—but Li Ye… you'd better not bring him up."

Hao Jian thought for a moment, then nodded silently.

Li Ye as godfather was easy—but the godmother…

One must know contentment. Others lifting you up is your opportunity, but if you think those wings belong to you, that's greed—and a grave mistake.

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(End of chapter)