Xia Xiaolan never visited anyone empty-handed.

She wasn’t someone who only sought connections when needed, and she had maintained her relationship with Hu Yongcai – it was just that Liu Fen had been making the recent deliveries.

“I’m studying, but the school allows me to take exams directly. Brother Hu knows my family’s situation – I can’t slack off, so I want to continue doing some small business in the city.”

Nobody dislikes ambitious young people. Even though Xia Xiaolan’s connection to him was just through business dealings, Hu Yongcai would be happy for her success.

“You must seize good opportunities. With your natural advantages, if you get into university, that would be incredible!”

Zhu Fang had taken a liking to Xia Xiaolan, but his family didn’t approve.

Wasn’t it just because Xia Xiaolan had a rural household registration and her family couldn’t help? If she got into university, her household status would change, the state would arrange a job for her, and by then she might not even be interested in Zhu Fang!

Xia Xiaolan didn’t ask him for much help, only asking if Hu Yongcai knew anyone renting rooms.

“Renting? What are your requirements?”

“Somewhere safe, a single room is fine, preferably with a female landlord.”

Hu Yongcai promised to help inquire quickly, and Xia Xiaolan specifically added: “Comrade Zhu Fang’s mother has some misunderstandings about me. She doesn’t like me having much contact with Zhu Fang, so about me renting in Shangdu, you…”

Hu Yongcai understood, “Only I will know about it.”

Xia Xiaolan was delighted. She had originally planned to take the sweaters back for Li Fengmei and Liu Fen, but instead gave one directly to Hu Yongcai:

“This is the business I’m doing now, this one was meant for your wife! Could I temporarily leave these clothes racks with you?”

Hu Yongcai paused, making a gesture to pay, but Xia Xiaolan waved her hand and ran off.

Hu Yongcai laughed.

He had been small-minded, thinking Xia Xiaolan was trying to force him to buy the clothes. Xia Xiaolan had always been generous – just for this trait alone, Hu Yongcai felt this girl’s future wouldn’t be too bad.

Xia Xiaolan left the clothes racks and cart with Hu Yongcai.

The city government guest house was large enough that it could be stored in any corner, and Hu Yongcai had that authority. Feeling lighter, Xia Xiaolan took the bus back to Anqing County with the day’s sales money. The stretch from Anqing to Qijing Village had no bus service, but luckily a tractor gave her a ride part of the way.

Her sudden appearance at home delighted Li Fengmei and Liu Fen. Taotao wouldn’t let go of her leg – her little cousin had missed her terribly over these days.

“You girl, gone for days without any news!”

“Did everything go smoothly?”

“Quick, rest your feet – haven’t eaten yet, have you?”

Li Fengmei spoke quickly, while Liu Fen worked silently, bringing Xia Xiaolan a towel and water.

Only after reaching home did Xia Xiaolan notice her fatigue. Li Fengmei made her a big bowl of noodles, which Xia Xiaolan finished, including the soup.

She felt alive again. No one asked if she’d made money, but they wondered why she came back empty-handed after going to get goods.

No, Xia Xiaolan still had one sweater.

“The goods weren’t enough to meet demand. I originally brought sweaters for both of you, but only this one is left.”

Xia Xiaolan handed the sweater to Li Fengmei. Liu Fen had no objection – people have different levels of closeness, and in this situation, Li Fengmei naturally came first. Li Fengmei liked the style but wouldn’t accept it:

“First tell us how the business went. Did you sell all the goods from Yangcheng?”

Xia Xiaolan nodded.

“Taotao, go close the door.”

With only close family in the room, Xia Xiaolan pulled out all the money from her pocket.

The stack of bills of various denominations was substantial. She made at least 20 yuan profit per sweater, and 15 yuan per pair of pants, and the six wool coats brought her over 300 yuan in profit. She had taken 900 yuan to Yangcheng, spent 800 yuan on goods after expenses, and now counting the money on the table, there was 1,875 yuan.

“You earned all this in one trip?!”

“Yes, this is the principal and profit combined.”

Actually, she hadn’t counted the two sweaters she kept back – she could have sold those too if she wanted.

But Xia Xiaolan knew when to stop and hadn’t factored in the profit from those two sweaters.

Making such profit from one trip to Yangcheng… Her eye for goods and her courage were prerequisites for rapidly accumulating capital. If someone else went to Yangcheng for goods, forget making this much profit – they’d be lucky not to lose both money and goods.

Including selling the goods, a trip took about a week, so Xia Xiaolan could make four trips a month.

If 900 yuan capital could double, what about next time with 1,800 yuan worth of goods?

Being a mobile vendor wasn’t a long-term solution. Xia Xiaolan still wanted to open a store in Shangdu. As long as she controlled the supply chain, she could hire someone to watch the store.

“Aunt, why don’t we become partners?”

Xia Xiaolan divided the money into two parts. For Li Fengmei’s 300 yuan loan, she not only returned the principal but also shared one-third of the profit, totaling 625 yuan. In just a few days, 300 yuan had doubled – this was a huge shock to Li Fengmei!

Faced with such easily attainable wealth, who wouldn’t be tempted?

Li Fengmei was somewhat tempted, but she couldn’t make decisions alone for the family. The so-called partnership would be taking advantage of Xia Xiaolan – would her husband Liu Yong agree?

Having had a failed marriage before, Li Fengmei cherished her current life. For family stability, Li Fengmei firmly shook her head:

“You keep the money for now. About the partnership, I’ll listen to your uncle.”

Uncle?

Who knew when they’d hear from Liu Yong?

Li Fengmei told Xia Xiaolan to put away the money and repeatedly warned Taotao not to talk about it outside.

“If you dare brag about this to others, I’ll spank you until your bottom blooms!”

Taotao covered his little bottom, hiding from his mother.

He wasn’t stupid – why would he tell others about Sister Xiaolan making money? He got all the snacks to himself now; telling others would just mean sharing them!

In a Shanghai hospital, the pillar of the Liu family opened his eyes.

He and Zhou Cheng stared at each other for a long while. Liu Yong’s throat was dry and scratchy, and Zhou Cheng attentively helped him drink water.

His movements didn’t suggest someone used to caring for others, but Zhou Cheng’s attitude deserved full marks.

“Uncle, the doctor said once your fever breaks, you can leave the hospital in two days. Fortunately, it’s not summer, so the wound infection isn’t serious…”

“Zhou Cheng, listen to me.”

Liu Yong laboriously interrupted Zhou Cheng:

“I understand your feelings for Xiaolan, but in our line of work, though we make good money, our heads are always on the line! Just take this time – if you hadn’t saved me, I could have died on the road with no one knowing, right? Xiaolan is my only niece, and I can’t bear to let her live a life of constant worry with you. You’ve helped Xiaolan and saved me – we owe you our lives, not our people…”

Zhou Cheng quietly waited for Liu Yong to finish.

Liu Yong’s words were sincere but did not affect his emotions. When Liu Yong got excited and tried to sit up in bed, the movement pulled at his back wound, making him grimace in pain.

Zhou Cheng quickly pressed him back down: “Uncle, don’t get excited. I understand what you mean, but let me explain. I’m not a smuggler, I was just at home with some free time and helping Kang Wei… I see your expression, but what Kang Wei and I do isn’t smuggling.”

Liu Yong’s disbelief was written all over his face.

He was convinced Zhou Cheng was in the same line of work, and even a smuggling boss who had killed people and seen blood!

“Uncle, I’m not a smuggler, I work for a classified organization.”

— Who are you trying to fool?!