Bai Zhen Zhu had just bid farewell to two customers. Having just passed the New Year, business in the small commodities market hadn’t yet reached its peak.
Before the New Year, Bai Zhen Zhu wouldn’t have had time to chat with Xia Xiao Lan – during busy times, she barely had time to eat or sleep. She had only started this business in December, just two months ago. While Xia Xiao Lan’s clothing store in Shangdu had sold out completely, Bai Zhen Zhu had also hit the year’s best business period.
Chinese people attach great importance to the Spring Festival. After working hard all year, even fishermen want to wear decent new clothes for the New Year.
This was especially true in Pengcheng Special Zone, with its many construction workers. The famous “Pengcheng Speed” was a phrase coined from these workers’ sacrifice of their holidays. The New Year break wasn’t long enough for them to return home, but fortunately, their wages were decent. They sent the bulk of their earnings home, using what remained to buy clothes for themselves, making the Spring Festival somewhat meaningful.
Before the New Year, Bai Zhen Zhu sold not just affordable trousers but complete suits as well. Though inexpensive, the sales volume was considerable.
When Xia Xiao Lan asked about her earnings, Bai Zhen Zhu thought for a moment and said, “About seven or eight thousand.”
Before Xia Xiao Lan could respond, Senior Brother Wan exclaimed in disbelief, “This small stall earned seven or eight thousand in just two months?”
In truth, Bai Zhen Zhu had earned more than that in two months, having already shared some with Xia Xiao Lan. Senior Brother Li tugged at Senior Brother Wan’s sleeve, but Wan’s curiosity couldn’t be contained.
Bai Zhen Zhu shared her market observations openly: “The most profitable businesses aren’t small vendors like me. Many goods change hands right here in the market, and those ‘gray market goods’ get bought up in the villages… But there are always many people here. Even the village grandmothers selling oyster omelets can earn several hundred a month. Senior Brother, if you want to start a business, you and your Sister-in-law could sell food together. With her cooking skills, you can’t go wrong.”
In Bai Zhen Zhu’s opinion, they didn’t even need to stay in the small commodities market. With a cart to sell around town, earning several hundred a month would be a conservative estimate. With skills, there would always be customers – as long as one wasn’t afraid of hard work, money could be made.
Senior Brother Wan remained silent. Having his wife sell food was beneath his dignity. Besides, his wife had a formal job in Yangcheng – how could she quit to become a private vendor?
Xia Xiao Lan had wanted to discuss something with Bai Zhen Zhu but kept quiet upon seeing Senior Brother Wan’s reaction. Unlike Senior Brother Li, while Wan was trustworthy, he had his ideas. Xia Xiao Lan wanted to partner with Bai Zhen Zhu for something bigger, but how could she refuse Wan to his face if he wanted to join?
This wasn’t a public company – why have so many shareholders? More people meant more opinions, and not everyone would pull in the same direction.
Moreover, this business required significant investment. Could Senior Brother Wan even provide that much capital?
Xia Xiao Lan decided to explore the Special Zone thoroughly.
She specifically went to see Donghu Li Yuan, the zone’s first commercial housing project. At this time, with the yuan strong against the Hong Kong dollar, the price of over 2,000 HKD per square meter translated to even more in yuan. Spending over 100,000 yuan on an apartment? This wasn’t even a consideration for Pengcheng locals. The hundred-plus units weren’t built for residents – they were all purchased by Hong Kong buyers who had caught wind of the opportunity.
After looking around, she hadn’t found any quick money-making opportunities.
Xia Xiao Lan felt quite disappointed. The legendary welfare housing at just a few hundred yuan per square meter was nowhere to be seen – buying property in Pengcheng would require patience. While she appeared to be wandering, Senior Brother Li remained patient. He was paid to protect Xia Xiao Lan, regardless of where she wanted to go.
That evening, Senior Brother Wan whispered to Senior Brother Li, “You think she came to Pengcheng just to play? I saw her lingering around construction sites. Could she be trying to compete with the construction companies?”
Senior Brother Li didn’t understand but offered no opinion: “I don’t concern myself with Miss Xia’s affairs. We follow when asked to follow.”
With construction everywhere in Pengcheng, Xia Xiao Lan wondered if she could get a piece of the action from large organizations. Though she couldn’t directly enter this industry, she could scout opportunities for her Uncle Liu Yong. However, her beauty held no sway at construction sites – workers would chase her away, fearing she might get hit by falling bricks.
“I’ll keep my distance, just want to look. Comrade, how long until this building is completed?”
As Xia Xiao Lan chatted with them, a group of people approached.
Several men wore construction safety helmets, with one holding blueprints and explaining. The site workers moved Xia Xiao Lan aside. Looking up, she broke into a smile!
The man leading the group wore glasses and had a refined, dignified air – wasn’t he the one who had helped her on the train?
“Leader, look here…”
The middle-aged man’s gaze swept over Xia Xiao Lan without any particular acknowledgment.
Others clustered around him, addressing him as “Leader.” Though Xia Xiao Lan now knew his position, she didn’t step forward to claim acquaintance, instead quietly retreating to the side.
Senior Brother Wan wondered why Xia Xiao Lan insisted on lingering around the dirty construction site.
Xia Xiao Lan didn’t mention recognizing anyone.
She knew him but wasn’t sure if he would acknowledge her.
Still, it was worth trying. Letting an opportunity slip by would waste the thick-skinned skills she had developed in her previous life. She wasn’t doing anything dishonest – having one more friend meant one more path forward. If he chose not to speak with her, she’d only have wasted a bit of time waiting.
He certainly carried himself like a leader – was this a site inspection?
She wondered whether he was from a construction company or a government agency.
Xia Xiao Lan waited nearly an hour before seeing the middle-aged man emerge surrounded by others, shaking hands with his escorts as a car approached. Someone opened the car door for him, and as the vehicle started down the muddy road, those who had accompanied him stayed behind, reluctant to leave, still waving.
Senior Brother Li sensed something – was Miss Xia waiting for someone?
But who could she know in Pengcheng Special Zone besides Sister Zhenzhu?
Xia Xiao Lan watched the car with disappointment – it seemed the aloof uncle still wouldn’t acknowledge her.
Tsk, despite being so well-behaved and pretty, there were still some connections she couldn’t make.
“Let’s go find somewhere for lunch.”
Senior Brother Wan felt Xia Xiao Lan was being mysterious, but he was smart enough not to show his dissatisfaction. As they followed her past another construction site’s wall, they saw the same car stopped there.
The window was half-lowered, with the distinguished-looking man studying blueprints.
Xia Xiao Lan gestured for Wan and Li to wait while she jogged forward: “Uncle, are you waiting for someone?”
The middle-aged man looked up. “Weren’t you waiting for me? I must have misunderstood. Little Wang, let’s go.”
Xia Xiao Lan wouldn’t let the car leave. She giggled, “I was afraid you’d forgotten me. I haven’t thanked you yet – if you hadn’t called the railway police that time, I would’ve surely been kidnapped and sold!”