Chapter 21 Reunion

Chapter 21 Reunion

Zhang Zhiqiang placed food in Jiang Luo’s bowl and asked in a familiar tone, "Is Master Jiang going to stay in Wencheng for a while longer?"

Jiang Luo replied with calm and poise, "Why, Boss Zhang, are you not welcoming me?"

"No, no, of course not."

Zhang Zhiqiang chuckled, "Master Jiang, you're joking."

"You came to Wencheng, and your first business deal was with me. How could I not welcome you?"

"I welcome you more than anyone else."

Jiang Luo hummed faintly and said casually, "I will be staying a few more days."

"I plan to acquire a few low-voltage electrical appliance workshops in Yueqing."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Zhiqiang’s eyes darted, and he whispered privately, in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Master Jiang, are you aware of the situation in Yueqing?"

Jiang Luo didn't say much, "I know a little, but not a lot."

Zhang Zhiqiang understood, "Then another day, when Master Jiang comes to the factory office, I'll tell you more."

"Sure."

Jiang Luo glanced at Zhang Zhiqiang, "Boss Zhang is a local, so you must know more than I do."

As he spoke, he raised his wine cup.

Zhang Zhiqiang picked up his own cup, tilted it lower to clink gently with Jiang Luo's, and said modestly, "I don't know that much more."

"But if Master Jiang wants to know, I'll certainly share everything I know."

During this dinner, Jiang Luo, who had eaten many delicacies, wasn’t particularly impressed—just some seafood and toasting with the bosses.

Wang Chuang, on the other hand, was ecstatic. He had never seen such large lobsters or crabs before.

It was also his first time at a feast. Flattered and drinking, he was almost dizzy from drinking and couldn't stop smiling.

After the dinner, Jiang Luo didn't ask Zhang Zhiqiang, who had been drinking, to drive him back, as the Crown Hotel wasn't far.

Saying goodbye to the bosses, Wang Chuang was thrilled on the walk back to the hotel.

As they walked, he gestured with his hands and said to Jiang Luo, "Holy crap, that lobster was huge! I’ve never seen anything like it before."

"And that crab—was it genetically modified? Its claws were so big."

He then rolled up his sleeve to show his watch, "It’s the first time I’ve seen a watch given as a gift during the meal."

"Something about 'expressing sincerity'—and they said they were just humble about their background."

"I think I’m the one with no experience."

Wang Chuang was on cloud nine—making money made him happy; being at the banquet, drinking, and receiving compliments made him happy.

He couldn’t be happier.

He had never been this happy in his life.

With a red, tipsy face, Wang Chuang walked with his arm around Jiang Luo’s shoulder, saying, "I’ve realized—it’s all about doing business!"

"Doing business! That’s the way to go!"

"Learning a skill like my parents, working a factory job forever, making just a few hundred bucks—it’s boring, so boring!"

"Doing business!"

"Gotta go into business!"

Wang Chuang let out a drunken belch, "We! We’re going to do business from now on!"

"Sell dolls, sell lights, sell anything!"

"Do whatever makes money!"

"Make thirty grand! Sixty grand! A hundred grand!"

"Make hundreds of thousands!"

"With money, we’ll live large!"

"Eat lobster every day!"

Jiang Luo was amused and walked with his arm around Wang Chuang’s shoulder.

Since his new beginning, today was the day he felt the most proud.

He believed that in the future, there would be many more moments like this.

In those moments, there would be no hassles or headaches—only success and everything he desired.

Yes, only success!

Jiang Luo felt pumped, his future seemed wide open, and he couldn’t help but burst into the song "A Game and a Dream."

Jiang Luo: "Oh~~ why say goodbye, why talk about being together…"

Wang Chuang joined in enthusiastically: "…Even without you now, I’m still myself…"

Jiang Luo also sang boldly: "What talk of eternal love, what talk of I love you, even without you now, I’m still myself…"

They sang all the way back to the hotel, ignoring the strange looks from passersby.

As they neared the hotel, Wang Chuang was in a playful mood. He suddenly bent over with his hands on his knees, back facing up.

Jiang Luo thought he was going to vomit, but Wang Chuang gestured to his back: "Come on, jump over me."

Jiang Luo instantly understood. With a laugh, he backed up, said "Wait for it," then ran forward, placed his hands on Wang Chuang’s back, and vaulted over.

After jumping, Jiang Luo also bent over, hands on knees, back facing up.

Wang Chuang stepped back, ran forward, and vaulted over Jiang Luo’s back.

As soon as he landed, Jiang Luo stood up and teased, "You’re like a pig, so heavy."

Then he went to jump on Wang Chuang again.

The two of them were jumping over each other on the sidewalk not far from the hotel, one jumping over the other, completely into it, getting that childlike joy, laughing heartily as they teased each other while jumping.

Not far away, a car slowly came to a stop, the window rolled down, revealing Huo Zongzhuo's face behind the glass.

Huo Zongzhuo watched with a smile as the two young men roughhoused, observing for a while.

Until Wang Chuang noticed the parked car and the man inside looking their way, he tilted his chin and nodded toward Jiang Luo: "Who's that boss looking at? You or me? What's so interesting to see?"

Jiang Luo turned his head and only then saw Huo Zongzhuo.

Seeing Huo Zongzhuo, he was surprised, thought for a moment, but wasn't that surprised.

He ran over, leaned down to the window, and greeted Huo Zongzhuo: "Hey, what a coincidence seeing you here."

The smile on Huo Zongzhuo's face visibly spread across his face as he asked Jiang Luo: "I should be the one asking, what are you doing here?"

He then added: "Done with stocks?"

"Not buying anymore."

Jiang Luo leaned his elbow on the car window frame, his tone casual: "Buying and selling, sitting there all day watching stock prices, it's no fun."

Then he asked: "What about you? Business here?"

"Yeah, here to handle some business."

Huo Zongzhuo was still smiling.

He noticed a faint smell of alcohol coming from Jiang Luo: "Been drinking?"

Then he tilted his head, gesturing toward the passenger seat: "Where are you staying? I can give you a lift."

"No need."

Jiang Luo pointed to the Crown hotel not far away: "I'm staying right here, no need for a ride."

Wang Chuang also walked over to the car at this point, looking at Jiang Luo and the man inside.

Huo Zongzhuo also glanced at Wang Chuang, estimating that Wang Chuang was about the same age as Jiang Luo.

The man's gaze returned to Jiang Luo's face, smiling: "What a coincidence, I'm staying at the Crown hotel too."

"You're a rich guy, huh."

Jiang Luo was clearly in a good mood, teasing casually.

Huo Zongzhuo then said: "Since you know I'm a rich guy, why did you give back all the money?"

Jiang Luo knew Huo Zongzhuo was referring to the 100,000 yuan principal and the money made in the stock market.

He didn't play dumb, just shot back: "When you're driving on the road, do you like to see anyone sleeping rough on the street and then give them a coat?"

"That generous, are you?"

"Yeah."

Huo Zongzhuo was clearly in a good mood too, the smile at the corner of his lips widened a bit as he teased back: "I'm a generous rich guy."

He followed up: "This generous rich guy will buy you some juice to sober up? Right in the hotel lobby."

"Sure."

Jiang Luo nodded: "Wouldn't want to turn down your offer."

Huo Zongzhuo tilted his head again: "Hop in the car with your friend."

"No need."

Jiang Luo pulled his arm back from the window frame and suggested: "You go park the car, my friend and I will walk back. See you in the hotel lobby."

Huo Zongzhuo: "Alright, see you soon."

"See you soon."

Jiang Luo straightened up.

After the car drove away, as they walked toward the hotel, Wang Chuang naturally grew curious and asked Jiang Luo: "Who was that?"

Then he added: "He looks really put together, and he drives. Totally a big-time boss."

Jiang Luo watched the direction the car had gone: "He's not just some regular boss."

"Who is he?"

Wang Chuang threw an arm around Jiang Luo's neck again.

"Huo Zongzhuo."

Jiang Luo raised his hand and gave Wang Chuang a tap with the back of his hand: "Remember this: offend anyone but him."

He didn't say anything more.

Wang Chuang exclaimed in surprise: "This guy's that big a deal?"

Then he added: "Only you, man. You're really moving up now, knowing someone this impressive."

Jiang Luo found it amusing, raised his hand, and pushed Wang Chuang's face away: "What's with the smooth talk?"

Teasing: "Did a meal and some drinks make you loose, huh?"

"I'm floating! I'm flying!"

Wang Chuang raised his arms, flapping his arms up and down, even jumping as he waved.

"Get out of here."

Jiang Luo laughed and scolded.

By the time they reached the hotel lobby, Huo Zongzhuo was already there, telling the Lobby Manager to bring over some fresh juice.

The juice was quickly served, and the three sat down on the sofas in the lobby. As soon as they sat down and took a few sips, Wang Chuang started feeling dizzy. The alcohol was hitting him, and the drunkenness set in. He raised a hand to his head: "I can't do it, I can't. I think I'm gonna be sick."

Wang Chuang went upstairs, leaving Jiang Luo and Huo Zongzhuo behind.

Jiang Luo was also a bit dizzy. After all, he was only eighteen in this life and couldn't hold his liquor well, especially hard liquor.

Fortunately, he hadn't drunk much that night, unlike Wang Chuang, who knocked it back every time someone toasted him.

Jiang Luo leaned back on the sofa, half of his body sinking into the cushion, quietly sipping juice to clear his head.

Huo Zongzhuo sat opposite him, looking at Jiang Luo with a gentle expression.

After a moment, Huo Zongzhuo spoke first: "You didn't come to Wencheng just for fun, did you?"

He guessed and asked, "Here for business?"

"Yeah, that’s right."

Jiang Luo placed the juice back on the coffee table in front of him, seeing no reason to deny it.

Huo Zongzhuo: "What kind of business?"

Jiang Luo replied directly: "I found a department store in Haicheng and help them source goods from Wencheng. I earn the price difference in the middle."

Huo Zongzhuo immediately understood that these goods couldn’t possibly be ordinary items—at the very least, they were likely imported products from Hong Kong or Taiwan.

Only with such goods would Jiang Luo come all the way to Wencheng to find factories and profit from the price difference.

True to form, Huo Zongzhuo easily figured out what Jiang Luo’s business was really about.

He didn’t say much, only offering a slight warning: "It's not exactly above board. Don’t do it for too long—you could get investigated, and others could easily cut you out."

He added: "The government's been cracking down lately on counterfeit and substandard products, especially low-voltage electrical appliances from Yueqing. Be careful."

Jiang Luo leaned back in the soft chair, calm: "I know."

Changing the subject: "What about you? Do you have business here?"

If he wasn’t mistaken, around this time, Huo Zongzhuo had already started preparing to deal in aircraft trading.

Huo Zongzhuo didn’t answer directly but instead said: "You and your friend, would you like to come work with me?"

Jiang Luo laughed at that.

For what felt like the hundredth time, he thought to himself, what was this, some kind of special treatment, being reborn only to have Huo Zongzhuo ask him to work together?

Seeing Jiang Luo laugh, Huo Zongzhuo crossed his legs and said steadily: "Working with me would definitely pay better than what you’re making now."

"I’m currently planning to acquire an aircraft from the Soviet Union and sell it to Chuancheng Airlines."

"If you’re interested and think it’s doable, come work with me."

"If we pull this deal off, I can’t promise much else, but the money's guaranteed."

After finishing his laugh, Jiang Luo didn’t answer directly but instead asked bluntly: "What makes you interested in me?"

Huo Zongzhuo looked at him: "You’re clever, sharp. I need people like you around me."

Jiang Luo sat up, picked up the glass of juice from the coffee table, raised it slightly toward Huo Zongzhuo, and said: "I’ll consider that a compliment. Thank you for thinking so highly of me and making me an offer."

But—

Jiang Luo leaned back again, holding the juice, curled his lip, and said with cool confidence: "I don't answer to anyone. Not for anybody."

"My path, I’ll walk it on my own."

"My business, I’ll run it myself."

Author’s Note:

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Song for this chapter: Wang Jie, "A Game, A Dream"