Xia Xiao Lan’s calculation of her savings didn’t include the unexpected windfall of 5,000 yuan.

This money came from Bing An Liang. While Xia Xiao Lan didn’t plan to return it or keep it for herself, she had decided to spend it all, using it to employ Dong Liang Li and Jian Ge. These two had proven useful, helping catch that pest Gang Zhao during the mock exam!

Upon arriving in Yangcheng, she had them take turns checking on her home. Estimating she had enough money, she planned to stay focused until after the college entrance exam before considering new business ventures. However, she still needed to visit Shenzhen to check on Zhen Zhu Bai and maintain her presence with “Uncle Tang.”

So far, Hong En Tang hasn’t offered her any special assistance.

But they had no particular relationship, to begin with, and she couldn’t expect extensive favors – he was surnamed Tang, not her actual father. Even her real father, Da Jun Xia, wasn’t much help, so she shouldn’t have excessive expectations of Hong En Tang. Relationships developed gradually through careful nurturing. If Xia Xiao Lan wanted to maintain this semi-visible connection, she couldn’t appear too eager or opportunistic!

After selecting enough summer styles from Chen Xi Liang and others, Feng Mei Li was anxious to return to Shangdu.

The weather was hot, with only a few spring items left in the store – wasn’t that wasting rent? Feng Mei Li worried customers seeking summer clothes would shop elsewhere if they found nothing. This wasn’t just her business; Xia Xiao Lan must be anxious too, as the mock exam had delayed their summer inventory.

Xia Xiao Lan arranged for Jian Ge to accompany Feng Mei Li back.

She worried about Feng Mei Li traveling alone with over 20,000 yuan in goods, especially with no one to meet her at Shangdu station.

Liu Fen wanted to help, but Feng Mei Li waved her off, “It’s fine, you’ve rarely traveled – go see the Special Zone with Xiao Lan!”

Liu Fen would just be helping with inventory, which Ma Wei could handle – there was no sense in making the boss work when employees could do the job. With Jian Ge accompanying her, Feng Mei Li felt secure, having witnessed his fighting abilities. Hearing the Special Zone was different, Feng Mei Li wanted Liu Fen to experience it.

After seeing Feng Mei Li off at the train station, Xia Xiao Lan headed to Shenzhen.

Without a border pass, Liu Fen had to use the “back route” again. Though many people slipped through the cut wire fence, Liu Fen remained extremely nervous.

“Xiao Lan, why is the Special Zone surrounded by wire fences?”

Liu Fen didn’t understand – it was all one country, so why restrict entry? Even the capital didn’t prohibit outsiders; Liu Yong, a farmer, was living there fine. Xia Xiao Lan struggled to explain that reform and opening up was like crossing a river by feeling for stones. As a reincarnated person, she knew these reforms would rapidly boost the nation’s economy, but such bold policies needed gradual implementation in such a large country.

In her previous life, Xia Xiao Lan had worked in the Shenzhen Special Zone, where border passes weren’t abolished until 2008.

The “second line” of wire fences wasn’t officially dismantled until 2015.

Border passes would be required for many years to come. Thinking of this, Xia Xiao Lan turned and said, “We should get you a border pass.”

Not just Liu Fen, but Liu Yong and Feng Mei Li – the whole family needed passes. Especially Liu Yong, since the future business would center on Shenzhen. As a renovation boss, however small, crawling through wire fences wasn’t appropriate! Though his company had just him, appearances mattered.

Xia Xiao Lan wanted Liu Yong to register a company – even small-scale operations needed credentials, especially for foreign enterprise renovation contracts in Shenzhen requiring proper qualifications. She brought local specialties again but couldn’t reach Wang, Hong En Tang’s driver, by phone.

Wang wasn’t at work – he was on a business trip.

As Hong En Tang’s driver, Wang must be traveling with him.

Xia Xiao Lan could only visit Zhen Zhu Bai first. She hadn’t asked her to meet her at the station this time – Zhen Zhu Bai had her own business, and a trip to the station would cost a day’s earnings.

At the small goods market, Zhen Zhu Bai’s stall had grown larger.

She now sold not just clothing but also small goods and leather items.

Surprisingly, Xia Xiao Lan saw Senior Brother Wan.

He was watching Zhen Zhu Bai’s stall and looked displeased seeing Dong Liang Li with Xia Xiao Lan.

Xia Xiao Lan felt no awkwardness – it was her money, her choice of bodyguard. Hadn’t Senior Brother Wan looked down on street vending? Why was he now working for Zhen Zhu Bai?

Senior Brother Wan hadn’t wanted to become a vendor.

Though his character was questionable, during these years of reform and opening up, some in Yangcheng had gotten rich first. Former unemployed people became self-employed entrepreneurs, bolder ones engaged in smuggling, and some he once despised had become “ten-thousand-yuan households.”

On Senior Brother Wan’s street, someone even owned a car!

A four-wheeled car driving by drew crowds of onlookers. But this prosperity didn’t extend to Senior Brother Wan. Previously respected locally for his fighting skills and fair conflict resolution, people had sought his help with troubles.

The money wasn’t much – respect was the main reward.

Yi Xiong Ke feared the Bai family martial arts school because, though officially closed, its disciples were spread throughout Yangcheng, many like Senior Brother Wan holding local influence. Had Zhi Yong Bai stayed instead of joining the army up north, Yi Xiong Ke wouldn’t have dared cause trouble.

But respect belonged to earlier years. Now common people both looked down on self-employed workers while envying wealthy “ten-thousand-yuan households.”

Senior Brother Wan had lost his former status, causing great psychological distress.

Being Xia Xiao Lan’s bodyguard paid, but protecting a young girl felt beneath him.

Too proud yet wanting success, Senior Brother Wan wanted to get rich but looked down on Zhen Zhu Bai’s small business – the radio incident had taught him a harsh lesson, forcing him to join her at the small goods market.

Instead of selling those ten radios to wholesalers, Senior Brother Wan tried retail.

He made twenty or thirty yuan more per unit – 900 yuan investment doubled in days, an intoxicating profit rate. This success clouded his judgment. Seeing how easily Xia Xiao Lan and Zhen Zhu Bai made money, he not only reinvested his capital and profits in radios but borrowed 3,000 yuan and took about 5,000 yuan in goods.

This time, he couldn’t find stock at 90 yuan per unit – his cost was 140 yuan each. He figured he could at least sell to Yangcheng wholesalers at 150 yuan each, making a small profit of a few hundred yuan even in the worst case.

However, the radio market had become saturated!