“I can make any style of lamp you want.”
“The price is negotiable too.”
Meanwhile, Guo Ronghai, the manager at Pacific Department Store, had been feeling uneasy over the past couple of days. What was going on? He had been told by the counter downstairs that the latest batch of dolls was selling far worse than before.
At first, Guo Ronghai didn’t take it seriously. In a department store, some items sell well one day and others the next—it’s normal.
But over the past two days, those dolls that had previously sold like hotcakes were now moving only a few units per day. That’s when Guo Ronghai started to suspect something was off.
He called over the sales clerk at the doll counter, and she explained, “The same dolls are being sold outside already—at small markets and elsewhere. The expensive ones sell for 25 yuan, the cheaper ones for 20.”
“What!?”
Guo Ronghai was shocked.
The clerk continued, “I have a friend who sells at Yong’an. She said they now have the same dolls at Yong’an as well, priced at 68 yuan. But their dolls come with packaging boxes, extra dresses, a small comb… so many customers who would normally buy from our store have gone to Yong’an instead.”
“Ah, what!?”
Only then did Guo Ronghai realize what was happening.
At first, he didn’t fully trust the clerk.
But when he went to the small market himself, every stall was selling the same dolls as his department store—identical, with even more hair color options and dress styles. And yes, they were only 25 yuan, with room for bargaining.
Then he went to Yong’an. On the third floor, at the toy counter, the shelves behind the clerk were filled with boxed dolls—various hair colors, multiple outfits, small combs, dresses—and many customers were buying, leaving the clerk busy filling out sales slips.
This! This!?
Guo Ronghai almost jumped in frustration.
He quickly realized he needed to investigate. Back at the office, he called a friend to track the source of these dolls in Haicheng.
He thought of Jiang Luo, wondering if it could be him—but then doubted Jiang Luo had the capability. Probably not him.
That is, until someone gave him a string of BBM numbers.
Guo Ronghai dialed and waited for the return call.
Soon, the office landline rang. Guo Ronghai picked it up and heard a voice he recognized: “Who’s this?”
Guo Ronghai froze. “Jiang Luo!?”
The voice paused, then softly, almost teasingly: “Manager Guo of Pacific Department Store, right?”
A chuckle followed. “So, how’s the doll business at Pacific lately? Selling well?”
Slowly, deliberately: “Not so good, I imagine?”
Guo Ronghai’s anger flared. “Jiang! Luo! So it really was you!”
Jiang Luo’s tone was casual, bordering on arrogant: “Didn’t I tell you before? With me, your dolls sell. Without me, forget about your business.”
Guo Ronghai snapped, “It’s just dolls! Who do you think you are, acting so high and mighty? If they don’t sell, then they don’t sell—so what?!”
“Do you think you’re the sun, and the world revolves around you? How great do you think you are?!”
Jiang Luo chuckled again. “Then why are you calling my BBM? To place an order?”
Guo Ronghai stiffened. “I…”
Jiang Luo calmly continued, “Guo Ronghai, let me be blunt. I’m in Haicheng now, working the local market. For the time being, I’m only making money in Haicheng.
“You and I? If we can’t meet today, we can meet tomorrow. Tomorrow’s no good? There’s the day after, then the first, then the fifteenth, and then the thirtieth.”
“You can wait and see. Eventually, you’ll realize that your Pacific Department Store may be left with a single doll unsold.”
“Soon you’ll know how capable I am, Jiang Luo. And you’ll learn the consequences of crossing me.”
“Get lost! Get lost!”
Guo Ronghai, frustrated and humiliated, slammed the handset down.
Meanwhile, where was Jiang Luo?
At Hongqiao Airport, with Wang Chuang.
They were about to board a flight direct to Guangzhou Baiyun Airport, and then drive onward to Shenzhen.
“Thank you.”
At the service desk, Jiang Luo smiled at the ground staff and handed back the phone handset.
“You’re welcome,” said the female ground staff, dressed in the airline uniform, her voice soft and gentle. She reminded him, “Sir, have you picked up your ticket? Don’t forget to go through security ahead of time.”
“All right.”
Jiang Luo turned and walked away.
The young female staff couldn’t help but glance back at him, thinking he was handsome, young, and clearly wealthy.
Indeed, Jiang Luo was wearing a Pierre Cardin polo shirt. A few days ago, he had bought it while visiting Yong’an Department Store—it was simple, but expensive, over a thousand yuan.
Jiang Luo, a rich and carefree playboy, knew he shouldn’t skimp on himself.
Brand name? Buy it.
New clothes? Wear them.
Look sharp and stylish? Absolutely.
Jiang Luo thought: I’m the coolest in the world!
Not far off, Wang Chuang, pulling his suitcase, followed a female staff member toward the airline counter.
Since there were few airline counters and the terminal was small, they were quickly guided to the ticketing area.
“Here, sir, you can handle your ticket over there.”
“Ah, ah, okay.”
Wang Chuang smiled, friendly as ever. He wanted to say something more to the tall, beautiful staff member, but Jiang Luo tugged on his arm.
“Let’s go.”
“Ah, ah.”
Wang Chuang almost tripped, then smiled at the female ground staff and said, “Thanks,” pulling his suitcase along behind Jiang Luo. He even teased, “Why are you dragging me?”
Jiang Luo walked toward the counter. “If I didn’t pull you along, your eyes would have grown right onto that girl’s face by now.”
Wang Chuang chuckled and hurried after him, whispering, “She’s really beautiful.”
As they walked, Jiang Luo said, “In your heart, there should only ever be three women you think are pretty in your whole life.”
Wang Chuang misunderstood and brightened: “Three?”
Jiang Luo replied, “Your mom, your wife, your daughter.”
Wang Chuang went silent.
Jiang Luo reached the counter and told the staff, “Two tickets to Guangzhou Baiyun Airport, the soonest flight available.”
The staff, polite and professional, replied, “Hello, sir. Two tickets to Guangzhou, right? The next flight is in…”
Two and a half hours later, the plane carrying Jiang Luo and Wang Chuang took off into the clouds.
That afternoon, they landed in Guangzhou. From there, they drove straight to Shenzhen, arriving at night, and then traveled to Yantian District, where they stayed in a hotel for the night.
The next day, Jiang Luo and Wang Chuang took a taxi to Zhongying Street, used their ID cards to get the day’s special permit, and passed through security to enter.
Zhongying Street—a short street at the border of Hong Kong and Shenzhen—was duty-free and full of “foreign goods.”
At the entrance, a small stone monument read, “Zhongying Border · 24th Year of Guangxu.”
Many people were taking photos near the monument, and the street was bustling with activity.
Around the monument, numerous people with cameras around their necks called out in Mandarin: “Take a photo, take a photo! Come in, shoot now, develop now, pick up your picture on your way out.”
“Five yuan per photo, five yuan per photo!”
Jiang Luo gazed at the monument and felt a twinge of nostalgia—back in his previous life, it had been 95 years since he last came to Zhongying Street. At that time, people didn’t take group photos with this small “Zhongying Border” monument, but rather a newly erected black marker that read “Zhongying Street Boundary.”
He had taken a photo there too, alone, by that monument.
Jiang Luo tugged on Wang Chuang, who was looking around curiously. “Come on, let’s get a photo too.”
Soon, the two of them crouched by the small stone monument inscribed with “Zhongying Border · 24th Year of Guangxu.” Click, click—they took a group photo.
In the picture, Wang Chuang was crouched, smiling awkwardly at the camera, while Jiang Luo squatted with one arm on his knee, his handsome face looking confidently into the lens.
It was June 20, 1990. Sunny. Zhongying Street was crowded with people, and over three hundred shops sold all sorts of goods, making it lively and vibrant.
Jiang Luo and Wang Chuang went from store to store, browsing and buying.
By June 23, they had returned to Wencheng.
In the city’s largest and most luxurious seafood restaurant, in a private room, aside from Zhang Zhiqiang and the lamp-making boss Li, there were seven other Wencheng businessmen who ran factories—people trusted by Zhang Zhiqiang and known to Jiang Luo.
Jiang Luo and Wang Chuang each carried two large packages into the private room. The nine businessmen all stood up, greeting them: “Young Master Jiang, Boss Wang.”
“Gentlemen,” Jiang Luo responded.
Without a word, Jiang Luo set his two large packages on the table, signaling Wang Chuang to do the same. Wang Chuang placed his two packages on the table as well.
Everyone instinctively gathered around, and Zhang Zhiqiang took the lead, reaching to unzip the packages.
Jiang Luo leaned back in his chair, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and said calmly, “Take a look inside.”
The packages opened to reveal “foreign goods” of all kinds: cassette tapes, stylish radios, handheld game consoles, clothes, cosmetics, portable water bottles, handheld battery-operated mini fans, and more.