Chapter 46

Jiang Luo withdrew his gaze from the other side, tore open a lollipop, popped it into his mouth, and lifted his chin. “Move the boxes.”

He turned to unlatch the truck’s rear door.

Wang Chuang moved with him. “Some of the small-market stall owners are already over there getting their stock. Their prices are cheaper. How are we supposed to sell anything?”

Jiang Luo pulled up the door, climbed into the truck, and went about his work, completely calm. “You bring goods here to sell. Why can’t someone else bring goods here to sell?”

Wang Chuang jumped into the truck. “But—”

Jiang Luo started hauling boxes, still unfazed. “Move the boxes. Quit whining.”

So Wang Chuang shut his mouth and helped move the boxes, unloading them one by one.

On a normal day, the stall owners would already be crowding around with big plastic bags, helping themselves to whatever they wanted. But today, not only was no one coming over—everyone had run to the other truck.

As he worked, Wang Chuang kept glancing at the other side, stomach tightening in panic.

But Jiang Luo acted like he neither saw nor cared. Calmly hauling boxes, back and forth, then taking down their folding chairs once he finished. He strapped on his waist pouch, set up a chair, sat down…

…and pulled a handheld game console out of a box, unwrapped it, popped in some batteries, and started playing.

Wang Chuang: “……?”

Knowing Jiang Luo wouldn’t waste breath comforting him, Wang Chuang gave up and grabbed a console of his own. He unpacked it, inserted batteries, and started playing too.

He thought: If Luo-ge is this calm, he definitely has a plan.

Jiang Luo wasn’t anxious, so he wouldn’t be anxious.

And just like that, the two of them sat beside their boxes at the back of the truck, playing video games.

Interestingly, the three tank-top guys kept sneaking looks their way.

“Hey.”

The guy in the green tank top nudged the one in the white tank top—the one with the waist pouch. “Look at them.”

The man in white looked over from between the boxes, thoughtful.

Two trucks, not far apart. Jiang Luo and Wang Chuang playing games, the newcomers handling stall owners. Two separate camps.

After a while, maybe because they’d finished up or maybe because he truly had something to say, the man in the white tank top jogged over to them.

He walked up and said straight out, “We’re selling cheaper than you. You won’t be able to make any sales.”

Then offered, “How about we coordinate our prices? Same price for both sides. That way you can sell, and we can sell.”

Wang Chuang set down his console and glared at the guy, annoyed.

Jiang Luo kept playing, not even looking up. “Not necessary.”

The young man blinked. “You’re not selling anymore? If you price higher than us, how are you going to sell? Haven’t made a single sale yet, right?”

Wang Chuang rolled his eyes. Jiang Luo continued playing, tone steady and casual. “It’s your first day here. You wouldn’t bring much stock. Probably almost sold out by now, right?”

“Once you’re out, it’s our turn.”

And sure enough—right as he finished speaking, a few stall owners arrived. They headed straight to the back of Jiang Luo’s truck, grabbing big plastic bags and picking out their usual items.

But as they picked, someone said, “Boss, give us a discount. That truck over there’s selling cheaper today.”

Seeing that business had finally come, Jiang Luo set down his console and looked up. “Can’t go cheaper. If you want the cheap stuff, go buy from them.”

“They’re sold out. No stock left.”

“Then sorry,” Jiang Luo said, unwavering. “My price is my price. Either buy here, or wait for them to restock tomorrow.”

“Alright, alright…”

Only then did Wang Chuang set aside his console and get up to help the stall owners.

Jiang Luo tossed his game console back into the box, unzipped his waist pouch, grabbed his ledger, and got ready to start recording sales.

Seeing this, the guy in the white tank top walked away without another word.

Back at their own truck, the guy in green lifted his chin. “What’d they say?”

The guy in gray leaned in too.

White tank top glanced toward Jiang Luo. “They’re not idiots. They know it’s our first day and we didn’t bring much. We’re already sold out. They couldn’t care less about us.”

Gray tank top pushed up his glasses. “That arrogant?”

White tank top snorted. “With us here, they’ll be lucky to sell half their load.”

And indeed, after working for a while, plenty of boxes were still full.

Wang Chuang looked down, frowning. So little sold today?

All because of those tank-top bastards.

“Damn.”

He cursed under his breath, annoyed.

After earning easy money for half a month, even the slightest dip felt unbearable.

Scowling, he glanced at the other truck.

The three men were still there, eating watermelon and watching them. One of them even raised his slice at Wang Chuang like they were buddies—not competitors trying to steal their business.

Wang Chuang rolled his eyes and ignored him.

When he turned back, Jiang Luo was sitting and playing again.

Wang Chuang plopped down next to him. “Luo-ge, what do we do?”

Jiang Luo crossed his legs, still gaming. “Remember this: anything that’s for sale—unless you monopolize it—someone will always come to take a share. It’s only a matter of time.”

Wang Chuang scowled. “We’ve only been selling for half a month. They came way too fast.”

Jiang Luo shook one leg lazily. “Be glad they came after half a month. A day earlier and you don’t even know how much you’d have lost.”

“So what now?”

Jiang Luo never liked spelling everything out. “Do what we’re supposed to do.”

Just then, the guy in the white tank top jogged back.

“Hey.”

He came right up. “Let’s talk again.”

Jiang Luo didn’t look at him. “Nothing to talk about.”

“I know you source your stock from the factory in Wencheng,” the man said.

Jiang Luo tapped at his game. “Not surprising. You got the same goods.”

“Since we’re getting identical stock,” the man continued, “let’s unify the prices. You sell, I sell.”

“Otherwise, I sell cheaper today, you sell cheaper tomorrow, I undercut you the next day—we’ll kill the market and neither of us will make money.”

This time, Jiang Luo finally set down his console and looked at him.

White tank top went on, “I know about you, Jiang Shao—heard you’re famous around town. They say you’re some rich guy from Haicheng with your own department store.”

He smiled, mocking. “That true? If you owned a department store, would you really need to haul goods from the train station every day to sell them here?”

Wang Chuang’s eyes narrowed instantly, full of caution. He even stood up, defensive.

Jiang Luo stayed seated, legs still crossed, smiling lazily. “Ah, so you’re from Wencheng. No wonder—you knew where our goods came from, got the same stock, selling in the same place.”

“So?”

White tank top repeated, “Let’s sell at the same price. You sell, I sell.”

Jiang Luo snorted. “Who said I’d match your price?”

The man in white stiffened, thinking Jiang Luo was unbearably arrogant.

Then Jiang Luo spoke again, and his face darkened further.

Jiang Luo said, “I sell, you hear about it, you come sell—fine. Normal.”

“But why would I cooperate with you?”

“You came specifically to cut into my business, and now you’re talking about ‘you sell, I sell’ like we’re partners?”

“See those boxes?” Jiang Luo pointed at what was left. “You’ve already hurt my sales.”

“You pissed me off. Don’t come smiling like a saint.”

Only now did the fake good will vanish from the man’s face.

He stared at Jiang Luo for a moment. “Jiang Shao, no need to make it sound so harsh.”

Still seated, Jiang Luo lifted his eyes. “Young Master You, I should be the one advising you—not to burn bridges.”

“You came here to make money off this market? Fine. But you just had to set your prices lower than mine from the start. If that’s not trying to steal my livelihood, what is?”

You Junyu froze. “You… know who I am?”

Jiang Luo smirked. “Your dad is You Sen. Among the factory owners I work with, he’s one of them. The one who helps make my false eyelashes.”

Slow, unhurried: “What’s wrong? Those lashes earning half a yuan each aren’t enough, so you came to Haicheng to steal my business too?”

“……”

You Junyu hadn’t expected Jiang Luo to know his background so clearly. After a moment of silence, he forced a smile. “Impressive, Jiang Shao. You really know your stuff.”

He added, “I wasn’t trying to steal your business by selling cheaper. I just didn’t expect your prices here to be this high.”

“Those lashes cost fifty cents at the factory. You’re selling them for two yuan—pocketing one fifty each. The stalls here only sell them for two or three yuan. You’re making more than anyone else.”