Zhang Ningfu spoke while glancing at Jiang Luo across the coffee table, muttering to himself.
He felt that Boss Jiang looked far too young—so young, could he really be here for business?
Then he thought again: the man even had a car. Young as he was, maybe he really was a big boss, money to spare.
Yet Zhang Ningfu went ahead and explained the entire situation by himself. Boss Jiang then said calmly, “If you tell me everything upfront, how am I supposed to negotiate the price?”
?
Zhang Ningfu froze for a moment.
A man in his fifties, with that expression, looked just like a clueless, naive kid.
Jiang Luo found it amusing, curling his lips slightly, and said calmly, “Whoever wants to transfer a shop will immediately say it’s because business is bad?
If business is bad, who would take over? You think I’m an idiot?”
Only then did Zhang Ningfu snap out of it, hastily correcting himself: “No, no, it’s not that business is bad.
I just don’t know how to run a processing business, I really don’t.
In our town, clothing processing businesses are everywhere, and they’re all doing very well.
Really, I’m not lying.
If you take over this shop, you’ll surely run it better than me, and start making money immediately.”
Jiang Luo simply laughed.
Zhang Ningfu, ever earnest and naive, saw Jiang Luo’s laugh and thought he was mocking his excuses, and grew anxious.
A rare car-owning boss had come to discuss the transfer—was he about to ruin the deal by talking too much?
He sighed inwardly at his own incompetence.
Just then, the office phone on the desk rang loudly.
Zhang Ningfu hurried to pick it up, but no sooner had he hung up than it rang again.
He realized it must be his wife or son, glanced awkwardly at the sofa, and answered, lowering his voice: “Hello, I’m talking to a boss about transferring the shop. Whatever you need, we’ll discuss later.”
“Okay, okay, I understand…”
He didn’t hang up immediately.
Jiang Luo leaned against the sofa, silently observing Zhang Ningfu like an omniscient third-person perspective, quietly reviewing an ordinary life—a tailor in a small town for decades, barely making money to support his family, then attempting entrepreneurship in his fifties, losing at least half his assets, and causing his wife and son some resentment.
Even without the harshest tests, fate had been cruel enough to an ordinary man—last life, Zhang Ningfu had struggled to transfer the shop, barely managing it at a rock-bottom price, which displeased his family.
He quickly returned to tailoring, working day and night at his sewing machine to earn money.
He grew older, his back bent, his eyesight fading.
Almost all the money he earned went to his wife and son: raising children, supporting the household, buying a house, buying a car.
He never rested, nor dared to rest.
Even so, as an ordinary tailor, his earnings were very limited.
Trapped at the sewing machine, never slacking for a day, he felt numb and exhausted.
Later, Zhang Ningfu met Jiang Luo, now Boss Jiang.
Jiang Luo admired Zhang Ningfu, because his tailoring skills were genuinely excellent.
He valued talent, paid Zhang Ningfu well, had him train apprentices, manage factory employees, and create clothing samples.
Jiang Luo had also seen Zhang Ningfu’s wife, son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter in the previous life—they seemed a harmonious family.
He knew Zhang Ningfu loved his family.
A lifetime of hard work, never resting—not for himself, only for his family.
Now, seeing this honest man standing by the desk taking a call, Jiang Luo got up, not intending to tease this middle-aged man burdened with responsibilities any further.
Zhang Ningfu, however, panicked, thinking Boss Jiang was angry and about to leave. He hurriedly put down the handset: “Sit, sit, Boss Jiang, I’ll make you some tea.”
Jiang Luo looked at him calmly: “No need for tea. I’ll take the shop, including the machines and the workers—all stay.”
“Write a note, we’ll sign it. I’ll give you a thousand as a deposit.”
“You can tidy up the shop, and in a few days I’ll bring the money and hand everything over.”
So sudden, Zhang Ningfu froze in shock.
Jiang Luo continued evenly: “But before that, I have one condition.”
A condition?
Zhang Ningfu looked at him.
Jiang Luo met his gaze: “Boss Zhang, you must also stay on as an employee.
If you stay, I’ll take over the shop.
If you don’t, I won’t take it.”
Ah?
Zhang Ningfu was even more surprised, staring at Jiang Luo with complete confusion.
Jiang Luo found it amusing—Zhang Ningfu in his early fifties was far more interesting than the older man later bent by life.
An idea forming, Jiang Luo mischievously added: “Once I take the shop, you, along with these people and any new hires, will design and produce men’s and women’s lingerie—make it as sexy as possible.”
Zhang Ningfu: “…???”
Jiang Luo couldn’t help but laugh inwardly.
Having reunited with Zhang Ningfu in Jiading and roughly finalized the shop acquisition, Jiang Luo drove back to the city.
On the way, recalling Zhang Ningfu’s colorful, hesitant, and embarrassed expression when seeing him off, Jiang Luo laughed to himself while driving.
Everything was going smoothly.
Feeling pleased, he reached the city and returned to the Hilton. Using the front desk phone, he called Huo Zongzhuo’s mobile.
Huo Zongzhuo picked up quickly. Jiang Luo asked: “Where are you? Dinner together tonight?”
His voice on the other end was gentle: “Already back? I thought you went to Jiading.”
Jiang Luo: “Back now, just returned, I’m at the hotel.”
Huo Zongzhuo: “All went smoothly?”
Jiang Luo: “Let’s talk in person.”
Huo Zongzhuo: “Okay.”
Jiang Luo: “Huatin?”
Huo Zongzhuo: “You treating or me?”
Jiang Luo leaned on the counter, casual: “Of course Huatin treats.”
Huo Zongzhuo laughed: “Better I treat. If you let Huatin, they’ll seat us at the best spots or kick us out.”
Jiang Luo smiled: “Then you treat. I don’t feel like hosting today.”
Huo Zongzhuo: “No need when dining with me.”
Jiang Luo teased: “Are you a big boss selling airplanes or what?”
“See you later.”
Huo Zongzhuo: “Okay, see you.”
That evening at Huatin, after meeting and sitting, Jiang Luo, now the guest, took the initiative to choose dishes from the menu—he and Huo Zongzhuo were close enough now, no need for formalities, nor caution; Jiang Luo wasn’t a careful, restrained type anyway.
Huo Zongzhuo went along, pleased, refilling Jiang Luo’s glass from the water jug.
After ordering, the waiter left, and Huo Zongzhuo asked: “Looks like everything went smoothly today?”
Jiang Luo sipped water: “Smooth, of course smooth.”
With an air of self-assured confidence: “Don’t you see who I am?”
Huo Zongzhuo liked Jiang Luo just like that, immensely.
He sipped water too: “How smooth? Tell me.”
Jiang Luo said: “Juxiang Town in Jiading is full of clothing workshops doing fabric processing. Just happened, one shop was for transfer, I went to talk, and it’s basically settled. Deposit paid.
The previous owner is just over fifty, a tailor with good skills, and I’ve kept him on.”
Huo Zongzhuo’s expression softened: “Really going into clothing?”
Jiang Luo smirked: “Nope. I’m taking the shop to build houses. Once done, I’ll keep cows and chickens inside.”
Huo Zongzhuo knew Jiang Luo was joking, smiling: “What made you think of doing clothing?”
Jiang Luo sipped water, eyes bright in the restaurant lights: “High profits. Ordinary business? Only food or clothing. Food requires hard work, profits are limited, and it’s tiring. Clothing is better—profit depends on how much each piece sells and how many pieces you sell.”
Huo Zongzhuo could sense the implication: “You’ve done it before? You know this well?”
Jiang Luo laughed: “I’ve seen plenty of pigs.”
Huo Zongzhuo laughed too. Small, clever, young Jiang Luo—never to be underestimated.
He had thought to guide him, introduce him to friends in the clothing industry.
Now, seems unnecessary for the moment.
The boy had good ideas.
Still, Huo Zongzhuo asked: “Need my help?”
Jiang Luo: “Help? I do women’s clothing—you’re no model. Wait until I make menswear.”
Huo Zongzhuo laughed: “Teasing me?”
Jiang Luo: “Yes, you won’t get mad.”
Huo Zongzhuo feigned anger but sounded even gentler, smiling: “Of course I’m mad.
Tonight, you treat.”
Jiang Luo immediately turned and signaled the waiter: “Forget the dishes we ordered, we won’t eat…”
Huo Zongzhuo laughed so hard his chest shook: “Alright, you tease, we eat. I was joking.”
Jiang Luo withdrew his gaze, raised an eyebrow across the table, radiating confidence and flair.