Chapter 20 Catching the Eye

Chapter 20 Catching the Eye

When Jiang Luo brought Wang Chuang to Wencheng, they had a total of 3,500 yuan, not counting the few hundred Wang Chuang carried.

Of that 3,500 yuan, 3,000 yuan was money Jiang Luo had earned in the stock market in just a few days, leveraging the 20,000 yuan he borrowed from Lu Fuhua and the bespectacled man. The 100,000 yuan given by Huo Zongzhuo, including the profits from investing it in the stock market, Jiang Luo had not touched, returning it all to Huo Zongzhuo.

With only 3,500 yuan, a direct factory-to-resale model wouldn't work. Jiang Luo simply couldn't have secured a deal with Zhang Zhiqiang and Boss Li.

So, how exactly did Jiang Luo pull it off?

It wasn't complicated.

Jiang Luo exploited a time gap—

When Zhang Zhiqiang delivered the goods to the train station, the station would issue a "shipping order."

Armed with this shipping order, Wang Chuang was to rush back to Haicheng immediately, delivering it to Manager Guo, the general manager of Pacific Department Store. Upon seeing the shipping order, Manager Guo would issue a bank draft. Wang Chuang would then promptly return to Wencheng with the draft. This round trip was perfectly timed to coincide with the goods' dispatch from the train station.

This was precisely why Jiang Luo had always insisted on payment upon delivery.

This method allowed Jiang Luo and his team to act as intermediaries, facilitating the transaction between the Wencheng factory and the Haicheng buyer, all without spending a single cent of their own.

Jiang Luo had negotiated with Zhang Zhiqiang for 7 yuan per doll.

In Haicheng, Jiang Luo had settled on 15 yuan per doll with Manager Guo.

Thus, Manager Guo's bank draft was for 30,000 yuan.

This meant Jiang Luo could pocket an 8-yuan difference per doll.

For two thousand dolls, that amounted to 16,000 yuan.

The three quickly left the train station and took Zhang Zhiqiang’s car to a nearby bank.

At the bank, Jiang Luo cashed the draft for 30,000 yuan in cash. As soon as he had the money, Jiang Luo handed 14,000 yuan to Zhang Zhiqiang and had him write a receipt for the amount.

With the receipt written and the money in hand, Zhang Zhiqiang finally felt at ease.

Leaving the bank, Zhang Zhiqiang eagerly called out to Jiang Luo and Wang Chuang, "Come on, get in my car. You haven’t eaten yet, have you? Let me treat you to something."

Jiang Luo ignored Zhang Zhiqiang, walking ahead, with Wang Chuang following close behind.

Zhang Zhiqiang walked alongside them, apologizing in a placating tone, "Young Master Jiang, Young Master Jiang, it's my fault, I was wrong, truly."

"My apologies, my deepest apologies."

He even raised a hand and lightly slapped his own face a few times: "I deserve this, I deserve this. Let me help you vent your anger."

"Please don't be angry, really."

"Don't be angry."

Wang Chuang now realized that Zhang Zhiqiang must have had a falling out with Jiang Luo earlier when he hadn't received the money.

Otherwise, he wouldn't be acting like this now.

Wang Chuang felt indignant on Jiang Luo’s behalf and decided to put on a bit of a show, saying, "Boss Zhang, no offense, but really, was it necessary?"

"It's only 14,000 yuan."

"It's not like it's 200,000 or 2 million. Was it worth it?"

"Not worth it, not worth it."

Zhang Zhiqiang continued in a placating tone, "Young Master Jiang, Young Master Jiang, I was in the wrong earlier, I apologize."

"Please, a great man like you shouldn't hold a grudge against a small-timer like me."

"Let me make it up to you; I'll treat you to a meal."

"No need."

Jiang Luo ignored Zhang Zhiqiang and didn't even look at him: "Just make sure the remaining eight thousand dolls are done and shipped on time."

A cold smile touched his lips: "I dare not do business with you again, Boss Zhang."

"Don't, don't say that."

Zhang Zhiqiang continued in a placating tone: "I was wrong, truly wrong, my apologies, my apologies."

He began to ramble effusively: "You're from the big city; don't bother with us small-town folks."

"We're uncultured, you see."

"Running a factory, doing business, we only care about money and have no tact."

"Can't compare to Young Master Jiang."

"Really, not even a little bit."

"Young Master Jiang, please don't be angry."

Zhang Zhiqiang said, "How about this, I'll drive you back to the hotel to rest first. Tonight, I'll treat you to the best restaurant in the city for seafood."

He went to pull Jiang Luo’s arm: "Come on, come on, Young Master Jiang, I'll drive you back."

"It's hard to get a car here."

He also called out to Wang Chuang: "Boss Wang, come along, come along."

Only then did Jiang Luo head toward the car, but he still didn't pay Zhang Zhiqiang much attention.

Zhang Zhiqiang eagerly opened the car door, inviting Jiang Luo and Wang Chuang to sit in the back seat, then drove them back to the Crown Hotel himself.

Upon arriving at the Crown, Jiang Luo got out on his own and walked into the hotel without looking back.

Wang Chuang got out and was pulled aside by Zhang Zhiqiang, who had gotten out first: "Boss Wang, Boss Wang."

He offered a cigarette and also pulled a few bills from the kraft envelope containing the 14,000 yuan, stuffing them into Wang Chuang’s hand.

Wang Chuang also put on an act: "No, no, I can't accept this without reason."

"You can, you can."

Zhang Zhiqiang gestured toward the hotel entrance: "I'd really appreciate it if you could put in a good word for me with Young Master Jiang, help smooth things over."

"I really didn't mean to offend Young Master Jiang, truly."

"We're just small-town folks, we don't know any better."

"Please, a great man like you shouldn't hold a grudge against a small-timer like me."

Wang Chuang listened, feeling quite pleased with himself.

He stuffed the money into his pants pocket, held the cigarette, and trying to act grown-up, tucked it behind his ear. Then he raised his eyebrows at Zhang Zhiqiang and headed toward the hotel's revolving door.

Zhang Zhiqiang remained eager, even putting his hands together in a prayer-like gesture toward him.

Wang Chuang, with one hand in his pocket and the other raised in a casual gesture, walked with the swagger of a big shot.

Once Wang Chuang and Jiang Luo had left, Zhang Zhiqiang went to the front desk and asked the receptionist, "Those two who just walked past—yes, them, one surnamed Wang, one surnamed Jiang—how many nights did they book?"

As he spoke, he reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a wad of cash. "Until the day after tomorrow, right? Then I'll pay for another five nights. Yes, yes, I'll take care of it."

"My surname is Zhang. Just let them know later that I've paid."

Meanwhile, after stepping out of the elevator and onto the carpet, Wang Chuang reached into his pants pocket and pulled out the few hundred yuan Zhang Zhiqiang had given him. Amused, he said to Jiang Luo, "Boss Zhang gave me this and asked me to smooth things over with you, to put in a good word for him."

"If he knew we barely had two pennies to rub together, I wonder if he'd still say things like that."

He laughed again, excitedly. "Thirty thousand yuan! Thirty thousand yuan! We gave Zhang Zhiqiang fourteen thousand, and the remaining sixteen thousand is all ours!"

Jiang Luo also suppressed a smile. As they entered the room, he handed Wang Chuang the bag of money he had been carrying under his arm.

Wang Chuang took the money, entered the room, and tossed all the bills into the air, shouting, "Money's here! We're rich!"

Bills fluttered down like confetti. Jiang Luo thought the behavior was utterly ridiculous, but he was smiling.

As the money landed on the bed, Wang Chuang spread his arms and flopped down onto the pile of cash. "Sixteen thousand! Sixteen thousand yuan!!"

"This is the first time in my life I've ever seen this much money!!!"

He rolled over, lying on his back, and reached out to grab the falling banknotes.

As he gathered the money, he said, "We really have to stick with business!"

"Working a job, breaking your back for a month, only gets you a few hundred."

"But with business, one deal can bring in over ten thousand yuan!"

"Incredible! Just incredible!"

"Hahaha, money! It's all money!"

"Our money!"

Jiang Luo watched Wang Chuang, who was so excited he was beside himself, and smiled quietly to himself.

He went to the sofa, sat down, crossed his legs, and chuckled softly. "We're just getting started."

Wang Chuang was still lying there, covered in money, clutching bills in his hands, jubilant. "Sixteen thousand, sixteen thousand! We made sixteen thousand in one go!"

"Holy shit!"

"Business is where the real money is."

As he spoke, he grabbed a handful of cash, brought it to his lips, and planted a big kiss on it.

Jiang Luo couldn't help but find it funny.

He took out a peanut candy from his pocket, unwrapped the wax paper, and popped the candy into his mouth. A smile played on his lips, carrying an air of boundless confidence and natural authority.

That evening, at the finest seafood restaurant in Wencheng, in a private room, seven business owners—including Boss Li from the lighting factory—were present along with Zhang Zhiqiang, Jiang Luo, and Wang Chuang, completing the table of ten.

Dishes were served quickly one after another, of exceptional quality and high standard. Wang Chuang thought to himself, astonished by the extravagance: *Geez, is that lobster really that big?* He'd never even seen one before.

And there were things he’d never even imagined:

In a large bowl of seafood soup floated a paper boat folded from U.S. dollars, named “Smooth Sailing.”

Another large seafood platter featured a small plate floating on top, holding several watches, called “A Small Token of Our Esteem.”

When these two “dishes” were brought to the table, Wang Chuang stared wide-eyed in awe, while Jiang Luo remained composed, only allowing a faint, steady smile to curl at the corner of his lips.

Then, both “Smooth Sailing” and “A Small Token of Our Esteem” were placed on the lazy Susan and turned to face Jiang Luo, who sat at the head of the table.

Zhang Zhiqiang, seated beside him, stood up, picked up the dollar-folded boat with clean chopsticks, and placed it into Jiang Luo’s bowl. With earnest warmth in his smile, he said, “A small token of our respect. May Young Master Jiang’s future business ventures always enjoy ‘smooth sailing’.”

He then reached for one of the watches from the plate, bent down, and personally put it on Jiang Luo’s wrist: “This, too, is a small token of our respect.”

“It’s not the finest watch, but we hope Young Master Jiang won’t mind.”

Jiang Luo remained seated, glanced down at the dollar boat in his bowl, then briefly at the new watch on his wrist. He showed no particular expression—his composure was absolute.

And in that moment, he understood: the presentation of “Smooth Sailing” and “A Small Token of Our Esteem” meant that he had, to some extent, gained the recognition of these local Wencheng business owners.

Jiang Luo smiled slightly, picked up his glass filled with baijiu, raised it, and spoke with poised confidence and ease: “In that case, this first toast is to everyone here: may your business endeavors always enjoy ‘smooth sailing’ and ‘all your wishes come true’.”

The group responded warmly, raising their glasses in unison: “Smooth sailing, wishes come true.” “We appreciate Young Master Jiang’s kind words.”

Zhang Zhiqiang, in particular, smiled eagerly, even lowering his glass slightly to clink respectfully with Jiang Luo’s. He said politely, “Thanks to Young Master Jiang’s support, I’ve been able to do business in Haicheng.”

“I’ll continue to rely on your guidance in the future.”

Jiang Luo did not lower his glass but gently clinked it with Zhang Zhiqiang’s: “You’re welcome.”

He took a sip, letting the liquor warm his throat, and any previous unpleasantness was brushed away with a smile.

In the world of business, there are no grudges—only interests.

Author's Note: