Chapter 111 Clan

Chapter 111: Family Clans

Jiang Luo didn't linger in Guangzhou. After two more days, he drove to inspect a few large garment factories, then bid farewell to Mo Wanzhen and flew back to Haicheng with Wang Junqing and his team.

On the plane, Jiang Luo was lost in thought.

The garment factories were all massive. Naturally, they didn't go inside, merely circling the exteriors for a brief look.

Guangzhou was bustling. Everywhere they went—streets, shops—was packed with people, mostly young.

The city itself felt new, with construction sites everywhere, roads being repaved, and traffic lights being installed.

Jiang Luo hadn't seen Guangzhou in 1991 in his previous life. Now, witnessing it, he felt it was no less impressive than Haicheng. From the restaurants and clothing stalls along the streets, he could glimpse its vibrancy.

Jiang Luo mused: Guangzhou is developing rapidly, and Shenzhen was designated a Special Economic Zone early on. This region is destined to become a preeminent southern city.

Such a place was perfectly suited for early business expansion.

If he hadn't known, that would be one thing. But now that he did, he couldn't possibly miss this opportunity.

How should he begin?

Upon landing in Haicheng, Jiang Luo first returned to Shengfei.

As soon as he arrived at the factory, Zhang Ningfu reported that they had secured workshops and factories in the surrounding area, and garment production had finally ramped up.

He added, "There's something else I just learned. I heard someone in town is planning to build another sizable garment factory. They're already scouting locations, and town government officials have been accompanying them these past few days."

Zhang Ningfu, viewing this as competition, was somewhat concerned. "This will affect us, won't it?"

Jiang Luo was unperturbed. He sat at the tea station, poured himself hot water from a thermos, and brewed a cup of tea. "Our factory is doing so well, and we've even boosted the local economy. People aren't blind—they can see it. They know there's money to be made, so of course, they'll follow suit."

"The town wants to develop and won't turn away more investors. It can't be just us here."

"Remember, in this world, money is never something only I can earn; others can earn it too."

"If I earn, I must also let others earn."

"If you want to earn alone, to monopolize, you must possess the ability to monopolize."

"Without that ability, just focus on your own work and don't meddle with others."

Zhang Ningfu asked, "Aren't you worried?"

Jiang Luo blew on his tea. "What's there to worry about? I wasn't the first to build a garment factory in this town, and I won't be the last."

"The world's money, the garment industry's money, won't be earned by me alone."

Jiang Luo thought to himself: The garment industry in the southern region shouldn't be monopolized by the existing players either.

That evening, Jiang Luo returned to Wukang Road. Huo Zongzhuo was also back, having brought takeout from a restaurant.

They set the dishes on the table and sat down to eat. Huo Zongzhuo asked with concern, "How was your trip to Guangzhou?"

Jiang Luo ate as he replied, "It was good. Guangzhou is bustling, with many young people working and doing business there."

"There's a very well-developed garment wholesale market, full of clothing stalls supplying cities around Guangzhou."

"I also visited a few factories, just walked around outside the walls. They're large and modern."

"It's just that the clothes are rather ordinary. Some styles are clearly imitations of foreign brands from Hong Kong or Europe."

"If I had to pinpoint a problem with the garment market there, I'd say the biggest issue is the design and styles—they're not attractive enough, and the materials and colors are too conservative."

Huo Zongzhuo understood immediately. "Thinking of expanding your business there?"

Jiang Luo nodded. "That's the idea. I'm considering how to get started."

"It feels like it could be challenging."

It wasn't often that Jiang Luo admitted something was difficult. Huo Zongzhuo looked intrigued. "What's the challenge?"

Jiang Luo got up, went to the sofa, picked a few items from a large bag of clothes he'd brought back, and returned to the dining table, handing them to Huo Zongzhuo. "Take a look."

"Huh?"

Huo Zongzhuo took them, set down his chopsticks, and examined them, but didn't understand. "What about them?"

Jiang Luo continued eating. "Look at the tags."

Huo Zongzhuo picked up the tags and examined them, then checked the tags on the other two items. He still didn't grasp Jiang Luo's point or see any pattern.

Jiang Luo explained, "Look at the factories they're from. See?"

"Aren't several of them from the same factory?"

Huo Zongzhuo looked again and realized it was true.

Jiang Luo said, "If I'm not mistaken, most of the clothes in the stalls come from Guangzhou and a few large garment factories nearby."

"Their production capacity is high, their output is huge, and they have a wide range of styles, almost enough to meet all the demands of the stalls."

Huo Zongzhuo set the clothes aside and resumed eating. "So?"

Jiang Luo said, "I initially considered approaching these factories to have them produce Shengfei clothes for me through OEM, then sell the clothes locally in Guangzhou by supplying them to the wholesale market stalls."

"Hmm."

Huo Zongzhuo nodded, finding the approach and idea perfectly sound.

Jiang Luo continued, "But do you know why I later reconsidered and felt it might not be feasible?"

Huo Zongzhuo didn't need to think twice. He said immediately, "There are too many local southern bosses in Guangzhou. They form cliques, and clan influence is strong there. They do business together, dominate the market, and are very resistant to outsiders coming in to compete."

"Exactly!"

Jiang Luo said, "I went to see for myself. Several of Guangzhou's large garment factories are clustered in one area. I couldn't help wondering if the owners of these factories are related, or perhaps even under the same owner or family."

"If I go there, initially just to have them produce a few designs for me, I might fly under their radar."

"But if Shengfei ends up selling as well there as it does here in Haicheng, they definitely won't tolerate my presence."

"At that point, not only would they refuse to make clothes for me, but they'd also copy my designs."

"I don't really mind if they copy—once a design is out, someone will always imitate it."

"What I'm worried about is provoking them. These clan-backed groups might resort to something underhanded."

Huo Zongzhuo nodded, admiration in his eyes. "You've considered this very well."

"Whether doing business in China or anywhere else in the world, local interests will always clash with outside ones."

"You're not running a small-time operation; it will definitely catch their attention."

"Without understanding the local situation, charging in blind would indeed lead to losses."

Jiang Luo also nodded: "That's why I chose Juxiang Town when I was selecting a location to build the factory."

He had memories from his past life, knew Juxiang Town and Mayor Wu Dayong, and was a local of Haicheng himself. Put simply, compared to outsiders, he was also part of the local forces in Haicheng.

Jiang Luo: "That's what I meant by it being tricky."

Huo Zongzhuo pointed to the clothing tags beside him: "Let me make some calls about these big manufacturers and see what their situation really is."

Jiang Luo's eyes immediately lit up, and he laughed: "Dad, you're the best, Dad."

Huo Zongzhuo also smiled, his look all but saying, "If I don't care about you, who will?"

Huo Zongzhuo worked fast. In just a couple of days, he brought back information about the major garment factories in Guangzhou and the surrounding areas.

The two sat by the sofa, and what Huo Zongzhuo laid out turned out to be detailed dossiers, complete with photos.

These materials were spread out on the coffee table in front of Jiang Luo. Huo Zongzhuo walked him through it personally: "The three largest garment factories in Guangzhou, along with six other large-scale factories in nearby places like Foshan—their owners, though not sharing the same surname, all hail from the same Zhou clan, as you suspected."

Jiang Luo looked at the different faces in the photos.

Huo Zongzhuo: "They're all connected by blood or marriage and are very close."

"It started with one or a few, who brought in others, and within just a few years, they built these large-scale factories."

"They almost monopolize the garment market in Guangzhou."

"Those market stalls you talked about are indeed filled with clothes from these factories."

Jiang Luo examined each face, thinking: "If I go there just to run small stalls or ordinary workshops, it won't affect them, and they won't pay me any mind."

"But if I bring Shengfei's clothing, get them to manufacture it, and sell it locally, affecting their market…"

Huo Zongzhuo then took out another document with a photo and placed it in front of Jiang Luo: "This person tried to set up a factory in Guangzhou two years ago with two million yuan."

"And then?"

Jiang Luo looked at the photo; it was a young man.

Huo Zongzhuo: "He's dead."

Jiang Luo: "…"

Huo Zongzhuo: "The official story is he lost control and drove into a river."

Jiang Luo looked up at Huo Zongzhuo: "And in reality?"

Huo Zongzhuo: "The Zhou clan held a meeting and picked someone out to be the 'trigger man.' They had him drowned in the river. The guy who did it was convicted and executed."

Jiang Luo: "…"

Jiang Luo sighed: "Dad, hearing this late at night is seriously creepy."

Huo Zongzhuo said calmly: "As I've told you, the path upward is either your heart bleeding or your body bleeding."

"But you don't need to worry."

"If you really go and have to confront these Zhou clan bosses head-on, I won't let them lay a finger on you."

Jiang Luo raised an eyebrow: "Dad? You have that kind of pull?"

"I thought you only threw your weight around Haicheng and Suzhou."

Huo Zongzhuo smiled: "Making fun of me?"

Jiang Luo asked curiously: "Do you have connections in Guangzhou?"

Huo Zongzhuo didn't answer and deflected: "Guangzhou is close to many other cities. You might want to look at other places."

"Like?"

Jiang Luo already knew the answer.

Huo Zongzhuo spoke, and Jiang Luo said at the same time: "Shenzhen."

Huo Zongzhuo laughed: "So you were already a step ahead."

Jiang Luo started gathering up the documents on the coffee table: "A state-designated special economic zone."

"This city is in a league of its own."

"It's not a place where those southern clan bosses can call the shots."

Jiang Luo: "I'll take another trip to Shenzhen in a few days."

Huo Zongzhuo: "We'll go together."

"Huh?"

Jiang Luo looked up at him while neatly straightening the stack of papers on the coffee table and setting them down.

Huo Zongzhuo: "I'll come along and show you a place while we're there."

This time, as the plane ascended, Jiang Luo wasn't zoning out. He leaned against Huo Zongzhuo beside him, talking in a low voice the whole time, occasionally asking Huo Zongzhuo to ask the flight attendant for a Coke for him.

Old Fourth, sitting in front, kept hearing Jiang Luo's voice and couldn't help turning around. He turned back and said to Wang Junqing beside him, "Hey, how come when Boss Jiang sat with you, he was completely quiet?"

"But with Boss Huo, he hasn't shut up."

Wang Junqing, reading a newspaper, ignored him.

In the back row, Huo Zongzhuo unwrapped a lollipop. Jiang Luo leaned in, opening his mouth: "Ah~"

Huo Zongzhuo put the candy in his mouth.

Jiang Luo closed his mouth and went, "Mmm! So sweet."

"The candy my dad unwraps just tastes better."

Huo Zongzhuo said: "They opened a McDonald's in Shenzhen recently. Want to go?"

Jiang Luo nodded: "Sure, I want a Happy Meal."

Huo Zongzhuo smiled, humoring him: "Okay."

In the front row, Old Fourth turned around again and nudged Wang Junqing beside him: "Dad, I want McDonald's too…"

Wang Junqing, still reading the newspaper, cut him off: "Get lost."

Old Fourth: "…"