Strong connections?

In Pengcheng, Chen Xiliang did have some connections, but with Old Duan showing up unannounced, he couldn’t guess his intentions.

“Tell me what this is about first – I’ll need to hear it to know if I can help.”

Chen Xiliang kept his response noncommittal.

Old Duan spread out the newspaper he was clutching:

“It’s about this. With our years of friendship, I’m begging for your help just this once – I need to get a stall space here.”

Old Duan held a copy of the Yangcheng Morning Paper, opened to a full-page advertisement.

“Asia’s First, Pengcheng Cheng Rong Electronics Plaza, 30-Day Countdown.”

The “30 Days” was designed like a calendar – today was January 1st, one month until opening!

One month – Old Duan’s heart was burning.

Chen Xiliang smiled upon seeing it. “This?”

He might not have been able to help with other matters, but he knew about Cheng Rong Plaza – it was Du Zhaohui’s project, the young master of Hong Kong’s Cheng Rong Group. Chen Xiliang didn’t know Young Master Du, but he knew Xia Xiaolan.

Cheng Rong Plaza was Xia Xiaolan’s design – that’s how capable she was, skilled in the clothing business, real estate, and even architectural design!

Chen Xiliang had just handled an urgent order from Du Zhaohui days ago.

“There’s still a month left, Old Duan – why such a hurry?”

It wasn’t surprising to see the electronics plaza advertised in Yangcheng.

After all, Du Zhaohui’s urgent order to him was also advertising-related.

Old Duan grabbed Chen Xiliang, “What do you know! If I’m not quick, will there be any spots left? You’re a well-fed man who doesn’t understand a hungry man’s urgency. You used to run wholesale stalls, now you’ve got your clothing brand, you’re a successful young entrepreneur… Look at me, still just a middleman!”

Middlemen made money.

But they lived in constant anxiety.

Old Duan saw that Cheng Rong Plaza was seeking tenants – would they dare claim to be Asia’s first without official approval?

As a middleman, Old Duan had made good money but never knew when he could establish a legitimate business.

Cheng Rong Plaza showed him that opportunity – selling electronics legitimately through a plaza stall would be a proper business.

Chen Xiliang began to understand Old Duan’s urgency.

Truthfully, for someone who’d been a middleman for years without getting caught, Old Duan must be both brave and clever.

Chen Xiliang stopped teasing him:

“Come in and wait – let me change and make some calls.”

Old Duan nodded vigorously.

Zhang Xiao was still sleeping, so Chen Xiliang moved quietly, making Old Duan equally nervous.

Chen Xiliang felt confident about this – while others might not have the plaza’s contact number, he had business connections and knew it. After changing, he tried calling several times but couldn’t get through.

“Line’s busy?”

Old Duan grew anxious, “Why don’t you come with me to Pengcheng? I’m uncertain about this!”

Surely it wasn’t necessary – this was just the first day of advertising.

The Yangcheng Morning Paper had only started selling, probably not more than two hours ago.

Unable to refuse his friend, Chen Xiliang decided to accompany Old Duan to Pengcheng. Though Luna was doing well, he couldn’t look down on friends just because they had less wealth.

He went back to tell Zhang Xiao:

“I’m heading to Pengcheng – not sure when I’ll be back. Keep sleeping, and remember to eat when you wake up, don’t go hungry!”

Zhang Xiao, still half-asleep, “I heard you talking. Go ahead – if you can’t make it back tonight, just call.”

“Alright, will do!”

This was why he loved Zhang Xiao – open-minded and confident, never suspicious about his activities outside.

He had no time for fooling around anyway – Zhang Xiao was enough, and his thoughts were mostly occupied by business.

Old Duan waited impatiently while the couple had their moment!

This was the difference – young entrepreneurs could marry famous actresses, while middlemen like him couldn’t spend money openly no matter how much they made, fearing arrest. No matter how wealthy, actresses wouldn’t look at them… middlemen weren’t legitimate businessmen.

Lost in thought, Old Duan followed Chen Xiliang from Yangcheng to Pengcheng, arriving by noon.

“Should we eat first?”

“Let’s handle business first. Once that’s done, I’ll treat you to a feast. Good brother, please bear with the hunger for now!”

Old Duan felt uneasy, inexplicably anxious.

Influenced by him, Chen Xiliang dropped the topic of food and headed straight for Cheng Rong Plaza.

Many taxis were parked outside.

Though the area was quite remote, many people were coming and going today.

Old Duan’s heart sank:

“Are we too late?”

Surely not – they hadn’t delayed at all on the way.

These people were all inquiring about stalls.

“Small stalls have small prices, large stalls have large prices – depends on what you want.”

Chen Xiliang pulled Old Duan, eyes widening, thinking: Why does this feel like Jinsha Pool’s property sales, complete with a sand table model?

Though Chen Xiliang hadn’t bought property at Jinsha Pool, he’d seen their detailed miniature model.

Cheng Rong Plaza’s model was equally clear.

The interior layout was visible through the model.

Different prices were marked based on area.

The smallest stall was only 10㎡, priced at 30,000 yuan, while the largest was 60㎡ at 200,000 yuan. This pricing clearly considered not just size but location – larger stalls had more prominent positions. Chen Xiliang calculated that these prices weren’t too high, considering even the upscale Jinsha Pool complex only sold for 2,000 yuan per square meter.

“Old Duan, we can buy!”

“Buy? Are your eyes not working? These are for lease only!”

Someone nearby mocked them, hitting Chen Xiliang like a blow to the head.

“Lease?”

“Of course it’s lease – that’s the annual rent.”

Damn, this was brutal – just annual rent, not ownership?

“I’ll lease it, I’ll register!”

Old Duan pushed Chen Xiliang aside, desperately squeezing forward, but was blocked by others. “Have some manners! First come, first served – get in line at the back!”

Old Duan wouldn’t listen and kept pushing forward.

Chen Xiliang’s head hurt.

“Three thousand per year means 2,500 per month – that’s comparable to state-owned store counters on Beijing’s Wangfujing Street! Wangfujing has existed for years, with prestigious state-owned stores, while Cheng Rong Plaza hasn’t even opened…”

When Luna tried to enter department stores, Chen Xiliang learned about Beijing’s market rates.

In ’85, Beijing’s retail sector underwent “Reform and Opening” – allowing state-owned stores to lease counters or “bring in manufacturers.” A counter’s monthly rent was also 2,500 yuan. Cheng Rong Plaza’s pricing was precisely calculated.

But what justified it?

Hell, even if it seemed like arbitrary pricing, why were people like Old Duan scrambling for it?