Chapter 12

After finishing the meal, the afternoon schedule was set.

The vehicles for the outing, a professional local guide fluent in English, a photographer in charge of taking pictures, and so on were all arranged.

Several leaders who did not need to return to their posts for the time being, along with Li Shanshan, accompanied Xiang Hui, John, and other senior executives and aides as they departed from the Ronghua Hotel in a grand procession.

Xiang Hui was delighted, and so was everyone else.

The snow from last time had long since melted away, and the weather in recent days was exceptionally fine—perfect for an outing.

One of their destinations, Phoenix Mountain, was not very high. The mountain was covered with ancient pines and lush bamboo. At its base lay a lake, clear and bright as jade. The scenery was indeed exquisitely beautiful and indescribable. Since ancient times, countless poets and scholars had visited this place, and founding leaders had come more than once, leaving behind many treasured calligraphic works. Thus, the mountain was famous and suitable for climbing at this moment.

Li Shanshan realized that Xiang Hui’s stamina was truly lacking.

Despite his tall, burly, tough-guy appearance, he was already gasping for breath before reaching halfway up the 500-meter elevation.

She, on the other hand, had no fatigue at all, having walked to school every day for years.

Seeing the flush on Li Shanshan’s cheeks and the moist sparkle in her eyes that made her look even more charming, Xiang Hui took a bottle of Wahaha purified water that Assistant Wang handed him and offered it to her, presenting himself as gentle, cultured, and approachable.

“Shanshan, why aren’t you wearing the jade triangular melon pendant I gave you? There’s an old saying: ‘A gem suits a beauty.’ I think it’s perfect for you and will increase in value over time.”

Good grief!

So blatant.

Amid the astonished looks from the leaders, Li Shanshan tilted her head and smiled innocently.

“Mr. Xiang, I don’t know if the jade will appreciate in value in the future since I’ve never seen it before and can’t predict the future. But the necklace you asked Assistant Wang to deliver to me, I already asked Mr. Bush to return it to you last night. Didn’t you receive it?”

John’s surname was Bush.

Upon hearing this, Xiang Hui’s expression instantly changed.

What did this mean?

Hadn’t he instructed Assistant Wang to make sure that when handing over the gift to Li Shanshan, it was clearly explained to her that it was an accurate translation of the gift’s meaning?

It was like a red envelope in nature.

John was just twisting open the bottle cap, smiling and nodding.

“Indeed, I was asked to deliver it. Xiang, I originally planned to hand it to you today, but I was busy preparing materials for the noon meeting this morning, and then with the afternoon mountain climb, I forgot. But no worries, the jade piece is still in my room, and I’ll bring it to you when we return. Honestly, such a beautiful item—you should have given it to Josephine. She would have been very happy; she loves collecting jade and diamonds.”

Li Shanshan nodded repeatedly.

“Yes, yes! I read in books that jade is very precious, something only high officials and dignitaries can possess. A commoner like me is not worthy of it. It would look much better on Ms. Yang.”

Xiang Hui quickly regained his composure and provided himself with a perfect excuse.

“I was just testing.”

“Hm?” John’s voice was neither light nor heavy.

Li Shanshan also smiled.

“Mr. Xiang, you’re really interesting. We don’t even know each other. What’s the point of testing?”

Xiang Hui now acted very upright.

“I often hear from friends who do business in the mainland that many young girls there are very vain. A small gift or a few thousand yuan a month can make them recklessly give everything away. I don’t believe mainland girls are that bad, so I’m just testing a little to refute those claims when I return.”

The explanation was somewhat plausible, but none of those present were fools. No one believed him.

He was simply too blunt!

To be honest, he didn’t seem like a seasoned veteran of the business world.

Li Shanshan’s smile became even more forced.

“Mr. Xiang, you’re right not to believe it. Those girls your friends mention are rare and don’t represent the whole population. Our country has over a billion people; Hong Kong only a few million. Even if every person in Hong Kong, regardless of age or gender, encountered one such girl in the mainland, that’s only a few million girls—what proportion of over a billion is that? Besides, the total number of wealthy businessmen from Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan doing business in the mainland doesn’t even reach a hundred thousand. How many girls can they really meet? You represent Qilin Technology, a major investor in our Fengcheng, with a respectable image and extraordinary ability. You and Ms. Yang are a loving couple. Please don’t let a few bad apples cause you to hold prejudice against mainland girls.”

Those leaders who understood English wanted to applaud her.

Well said!

This young lady was sometimes so mature beyond her eighteen years, and sometimes refreshingly straightforward.

At this very moment.

Since Xiang Hui had spoken only English since getting off the plane, not using Cantonese or Mandarin, Li Shanshan also replied in English, all of which John heard clearly.

John smiled and asked Xiang Hui, “Are you satisfied with the results of your test?”

“Very satisfied, quite satisfied. Miss Shanshan’s response showed me what it means to have integrity: ‘wealth cannot corrupt, poverty cannot move, power cannot bend.’ Truly admirable.”

What nonsense!

Xiang Hui deeply regretted agreeing to have John come to the mainland with him as an assistant. He was nothing but Yang Hailin’s lackey!

It was all Assistant Wang’s fault for not explaining clearly.

If it had been said to be a reward initially, it would have been easier to handle.

Although he had the boldness of a man reborn, wielded substantial wealth, held the key to prosperity, and believed in a broader future ahead, he knew his foundations in Hong Kong were too shallow right now. He couldn’t afford to openly offend Yang Hailin.

The Yang family was an established old clan in Hong Kong, with deep roots.

Xiang Hui had originally planned to launch Li Shanshan’s career first, bring her to Hong Kong, and as her boss, manipulate her however he wished, easily deceiving everyone.

But unexpectedly, Li Shanshan was completely unmoved.

Xiang Hui was both angry and helpless.

In her previous life, two years later, she was willing to marry Zhou Yuqi, eighteen years her senior. Why wouldn’t she accept him now?

Where did he fall short compared to Zhou Yuqi?

Without marriage ties to the Zhanhong Group, Zhou Yuqi was just an ordinary heir of a wealthy family, far less renowned in business than Yang Hailin, who was empowered by Xiang Hui himself.

So far, Xiang Hui had hijacked many of Zhou Yuqi’s investments, which gave him considerable satisfaction.

Li Shanshan, so clever, immediately saw through him: all show and no substance.

In a word, he had the heart of a thief but no courage.

Of course, if she was willing to fall for it, he would count that as a success.

Xiang Hui had utterly lost face. Just as he caught his breath, he lifted his foot to continue climbing, trying to save face.

“I’m going to the summit to take some beautiful photos for Linlin.”

The leaders tactfully changed the subject, praising him for caring about Yang Hailin from a thousand miles away—a good man indeed.

Li Shanshan thought she had learned something.

Officials really knew how to lie with a straight face!

During the climb, while chatting casually, Li Shanshan took the opportunity to express her true feelings to the leaders and senior executives like John.

“My ID says I’m not even eighteen yet. I have a long way to go ahead. For me, the most important thing right now is to study well and get a good education. That’s the only way to have a bright future. I don’t want anything else.”

After a brief pause, she smiled brightly.

“Of course, if a legitimate money-making opportunity comes along, I won’t miss it. After all, my family is poor, and my dad still sells things on the street!”

John thought she was quite sensible and offered his advice.

“You could invest in real estate.”

Many Hong Kong citizens had made fortunes from property.

Li Shanshan replied bluntly, “Mr. Bush, do you know what ‘Why not eat meat porridge?’ means? I don’t even have capital. How can I invest in real estate? Although Mr. Xiang says housing prices will rise in the future, and I agree that with economic development and improved living standards, demand for housing will increase, pushing prices up, I have no capital! I only know how to run a street stall.”

John was unfazed.

“You can save up capital first. Want me to help?”

Li Shanshan’s eyes lit up.

“Really?”

“Yes.”

The jade piece she handed over was worth his support.

Yang Hailin had instructed John accordingly.

The English-speaking leaders found this amusing and listened attentively as Li Shanshan continued.

“I want to do wholesale business with leftover export clothing! My dad and I run a stall, and we’ve bought clothes and shoes before, so I know a bit about wholesaling. Unfortunately, I don’t have a suitable stall in Fengcheng, no capital to go to Guangzhou for goods, and I don’t know any reliable factories or transportation companies.”

John found this interesting.

“Can this business work? Can it make money?”

“Yes!” Li Shanshan’s idea was a copy of a boss who specialized in leftover export goods in her previous life.

“If done right, it can even promote Fengcheng’s economic development. Don’t underestimate Fengcheng—we have a population of over ten million.”

A leader specializing in economics sat up straight.

“Xiao Li, explain further.”

Li Shanshan pretended to be stingy.

“Leader, I’m telling you my hard-earned money-making idea. What if someone copies it and I can’t make money?”

The leader smiled.

“Those present wouldn’t do that, rest assured. Tell us more. If it’s feasible, I’ll find you a spot near our Fengcheng wholesale market to set up a stall and open the doors wide for you to grow big and strong.”

Li Shanshan had been waiting for those words.

She was really just talk!

Easy to say, but if she had to do it, it would be full of difficulties.

She spoke confidently.

“I used to buy stock at the wholesale market and found clothes and shoes quite cheap compared to retail prices. How cheap? Sweaters and wool pants were eight yuan each, jeans ten yuan a pair, down jackets only thirty yuan. Wholesalers have to make money too, which means their purchase price is even lower. But those weren’t leftover export goods. Leftover export stock fills warehouses, and their selling price must be even cheaper! I thought, if I could find reliable export garment factories, buy up their leftover stock, and wholesale it in Fengcheng for a few yuan a piece, I’d make money. Wholesalers buying from me would also profit when they resell, and the next level of merchants marking up for retail would still make money. The final prices for ordinary people wouldn’t be much higher than before. This is like a big pot of meat, where everyone gets meat and soup, makes money, and then spends. Doesn’t that mean economic prosperity?”

The boss she knew made an average annual profit of tens of millions this way, with the craziest day earning ten million.

That was around the turn of the millennium!

It made one envious to tears.

The economic leader’s eyes brightened.

“If your wholesale prices are very low, and the city can’t consume it all, wholesalers from surrounding cities will flock in. Transportation, accommodation, catering, and various industries will all grow to different extents. Coming to Fengcheng to buy stock is much more convenient than Guangzhou or Shenzhen. Also, compared to ordinary clothes, export garments use better materials and craftsmanship. Only flawed goods are diverted to domestic sales.”

Li Shanshan looked at John expectantly.

“Everything’s ready except for the crucial element!”

Xiang Hui was stunned.

Indeed, one should never underestimate the former wealthy lady from her past life. She was extraordinarily shrewd.

No wonder the gossip online often said that if anyone was truly smart, it was Zhou Li Shanshan. She smoothly married into a wealthy family, became a respectable lady of means, raised children, attended school, invested, socialized… everything she did was effortless, with no moral blemishes, and her methods were extraordinary.