When Xia Xiaolan found Chen Xiliang, the boss was preparing to go to Beijing to build connections.

Taking advantage of the post-New Year period before the wholesale clothing business peak, Chen Xiliang planned to explore opportunities in Beijing. When Xia Xiaolan mentioned a profitable opportunity, Chen Xiliang’s eyes lit up like 100-watt bulbs!

Setting aside his guilt toward his brother-in-law He Congsheng, Chen Xiliang knew he had to make this money before leaving.

Businesspeople aren’t restricted to single trades – even large corporate groups diversify. Though Chen Xiliang dealt in wholesale clothing, nothing stopped him from trading electronics. Who could ignore a chance to make money? Chen Xiliang knew many private business owners in Yang City and took Xia Xiaolan overnight to show the sample radio to friends in electronic products wholesale.

The friend examined the radio thoroughly.

“If you have them, I’ll take them all at 150 yuan each.”

Others who came to Yang City for electronic wholesale bought from them too. Getting them at 150 yuan, they’d wholesale them for at least 180 yuan, making 30 yuan profit per unit. He offered similar profit margins – such goods from Peng City usually cost at least 120 yuan.

Xia Xiaolan said they could get them for 90 yuan each, with 270 units secured and 230 remaining for Chen Xiliang to flip.

60 yuan profit per unit?

How could it be so profitable?

Chen Xiliang was nervous – he’d never done a deal with 14,000 yuan profit in one flip. Though his wholesale business moved a lot of goods, the profits weren’t as high as retailers like Xia Xiaolan. With her owning Shang City’s largest private clothing store, their monthly profits were comparable.

Xia Xiaolan was also surprised.

She knew the market prices for radios – an imported one cost two to three hundred yuan in Shang City. She’d expected maybe 30 yuan profit per unit selling to Yang City wholesalers, not 60! The batch was suspiciously cheap; both Chen Xiliang and Xia Xiaolan recognized the high risk.

She did the math: if Chen Xiliang’s friend would buy at 150 yuan each, the retail price must be over 250 yuan. Selling retail in Shang City would mean 160 yuan profit per unit, not 60 – faster than robbery!

Over 20,000 yuan profit at once!

Xia Xiaolan restrained her greed.

No – Shang City was her base, and such cheap radios must have questionable sources. As a legitimate businesswoman, she could make quick money in Yang City but couldn’t bring this back to Shang City.

Both had their concerns. Chen Xiliang knew the high profits but dared not retail them himself.

“Can you handle all 500 units?”

At 150 yuan each, 500 units needed 75,000 yuan.

Chen Xiliang’s friend hesitated, “As long as they’re all good quality, bring them – I have plans.”

Xia Xiaolan admired these middlemen.

While inland city workers earned dozens of yuan monthly, these Yang City middlemen each had tens of thousands in assets. These early wealthy ones would only get richer if they avoided irreversible investment mistakes and vices, widening the wealth gap with ordinary people.

After understanding the pricing, Chen Xiliang shared his concerns with Xia Xiaolan.

Both were uncertain, but as money-focused people, they couldn’t easily pass up profit opportunities. Chen Xiliang decided to gather money first and play it by ear.

“Sister Xia, you shouldn’t be present at delivery.”

Chen Xiliang hesitated – scared by Xia Xiaolan’s tendency to attract trouble. What if she’d attracted unwanted attention in Peng City, and someone was using 500 cheap radios as bait to get both her and the money? Chen Xiliang trembled remembering the man with the scar above his eye.

Losing money would be his greed, but losing Xia Xiaolan – how could he make up for that?

His reminder made Xia Xiaolan cautious too.

“Check the goods carefully during delivery. At these prices, if they’re water-damaged, we’ll all bleed money!”

They wouldn’t have time to test all 500 units, so Xia Xiaolan suggested random sampling. Not just checking outer or inner units, but random samples throughout to ensure quality.

Including Masters Wan and Li as investors was right.

Hired help versus profit-sharing partners showed different levels of dedication.

Banks were closed at night, so Chen Xiliang went to gather money. Many private businesspeople preferred keeping cash at home rather than banks – more convenient and less revealing. Chen Xiliang had over 10,000 yuan hidden at home but needed to gather more.

Master Wan brought 900 yuan from home. Hearing about 60 yuan profit per unit, he regretted not borrowing more.

If he’d borrowed from relatives for 30 or 50 units, he could’ve made two or three thousand at once!

Xia Xiaolan ignored his regretful looks.

Later, Brother Li brought his 900 yuan. Xia Xiaolan combined the three amounts. By the time Chen Xiliang gathered money for 230 units, it was 1 AM.

Delivery was set for 5 AM.

People are drowsiest between 4-5 AM. Xia Xiaolan gave the money to Chen Xiliang and waited at his place since he lived alone.

Chen Xiliang took Masters Wan and Li to meet Bai Zhenzhu at the checkpoint.

A 5 AM transaction meant returning around 7-8 AM.

Xia Xiaolan dozed in Chen Xiliang’s chair, washed up at 6:30, and prepared to go out for breakfast at 7.

A middle-aged man with slicked-back hair was about to knock when Xia Xiaolan opened the door, surprising him.

He stepped back, double-checking it was indeed Chen Xiliang’s door.

But why would a young, pretty girl emerge from Chen Xiliang’s home? So early – she must have stayed overnight.

“You… you…”

He Congsheng pushed past Xia Xiaolan, “Chen Xiliang, get out here, you shameless bastard! You’re a married man… I’ll kill you today!”

Xia Xiaolan was dumbfounded.

Chen Xiliang was married?

She’d thought he was single, though living alone despite being a Yang City local seemed odd.

“Comrade, this is a misunderstanding. Brother Chen wasn’t home last night, he just let me stay here.”

He Congsheng wouldn’t listen, searching the house but finding no Chen Xiliang. Looking at Xia Xiaolan skeptically, she explained she was Chen Xiliang’s “customer,” just borrowing the house. He Congsheng considered it unlikely someone as pretty and young as Xia Xiaolan would be involved with Chen Xiliang, and his attitude softened:

“Chen Xiliang is supposed to go to Beijing today – where is he?”