Chapter 123: Willow’s Conversion (Special thanks to Cao XX for the ten-thousand-point reward)

After Old Yao finished speaking, he hurried away.

Old Zhu and Wang Qiang exchanged glances before bursting into laughter.

“Little Wang, you really know your stuff,” Old Zhu said. “Who would have thought Old Yao, such a shrewd man, would agree to pay forty thousand yuan for only thirty percent?”

The proprietress chimed in, “Exactly. Normally, he’s the only one taking advantage of others. When has anyone ever taken advantage of him?”

“I thought he seemed pretty generous,” Wang Qiang said. He had no habit of speaking ill of people behind their backs.

Old Zhu snorted. “Generous, my foot. I grew up with him—how could I not know what he’s like? Ever since we were in school, that old rascal has been finding every possible way to take advantage of me. When we were kids, I’d finally manage to get a roasted sweet potato, and he could still trick me into giving him half.”

The proprietress looked at Wang Qiang with a broad smile. “If you ask me, what finally made Old Yao decide to put up the money was probably the idea Little Wang came up with just now. Once Old Yao saw there was money to be made, he was tempted.”

“Then you clearly don’t know him,” Wang Qiang said casually.

The proprietress said, “Little Wang, I’ve never seen such a shameless idea. Spend money to get people to praise yourself?”

Old Zhu teased him, “I used to think you were an honest, simple young man. Now it seems you’re quite the clever one.”

Wang Qiang laughed. “Not at all. You’re both joking. By the way, I need to go back to Haitong later. I may not return until tomorrow morning. Please take good care of Ergou for me. Sorry to trouble you.”

“Why are you going back to Haitong?” the proprietress asked curiously. She rose and took the thermos to fill it with hot water, continuing as she did so, “I’ve noticed that you’re rather strange. You quietly went off by yourself and brought back a shipment, then quietly came up with another good idea. Come on, tell us—what else are you hiding from us?”

Without hesitation, Wang Qiang replied, “I’m afraid I’d frighten you.”

The proprietress froze. “Afraid you’d frighten me? Don’t tell me you’ve done something shady.”

“No,” Wang Qiang said. “Didn’t you just say that I went off by myself and brought back a shipment, then quietly came up with an idea?”

The proprietress nodded repeatedly. “Yes, that’s exactly what I said.”

Even Old Zhu was confused by Wang Qiang’s words.

“Think about it…” Wang Qiang chuckled. “Wouldn’t you be scared to death if I’d brought back half a person?”

The proprietress stared blankly for a moment, then burst out laughing. “You! You’ve got quite a sharp tongue.”

Old Zhu also roared with laughter. “Little Wang is dodging your question. What does it matter how he gets his goods or comes up with ideas? We know he’s capable, and that’s enough.”

As the three of them chatted, the telephone suddenly rang.

When the proprietress answered it, Wang Qiang took the opportunity to end the conversation. He said goodbye to Old Zhu and prepared to leave for Haitong. Cheng Weihong and Old Yao would not be able to bring over the money until tomorrow, so there was no need for him to hurry to Shenzhen. Besides, he was somewhat curious to see how well Old Yao could carry out his plan. Could the idea he had proposed really produce some results within such a short time?

He would think about that later.

For now, he would go back and get the bedding sets.

When he thought of the proprietress from Shenzhen’s clothing wholesale trade asking for a hundred four-piece bedding sets, Wang Qiang still felt rather excited. Unfortunately, she was the only one who wanted his goods. If only the other merchants at the Jiahua Clothing Wholesale Market would also buy some four-piece sets from him. But that probably would not happen for the time being. Only after the proprietress managed to build a reputation for the sets would the other merchants be tempted. Then he could launch another “passive” offensive, and perhaps the bedding business could really get off the ground.

He had just reached the counter when the proprietress suddenly called out, “Little Wang, it’s for you.”

My call?

Could it be someone from Shenzhen again?

Wang Qiang quickly stopped and turned back toward the telephone. He picked up the receiver.

“Hello?”

A hoarse female voice came from the other end. “Hello, is this Wang Qiang?”

The moment he heard that voice, Wang Qiang could hardly believe his ears. He asked the caller to confirm her identity, and only then did he realize that it really was her.

It was Liu Guiyi.

The woman with two golden-red peonies tattooed on her shoulders—the Fifth Master of Red Flag?

Wang Qiang hurriedly said, “Hello, Sister Liu.”

“Where are you? Tell me,” Liu Guiyi said in a tone that brooked no argument.

“I’m at my Brother Zhu’s guesthouse.” Wang Qiang was bewildered. “What’s wrong?”

“Give me the address. I’m coming to find you.”

After Wang Qiang repeated the address, a surprised voice came from the other end.

“The Friendship Guesthouse? Fine. I know where that is.”

The line went dead with a series of beeps.

Wang Qiang stood there, unable to react. You’re coming to find me? Why? He could not make sense of it. From the sound of her voice, Liu Guiyi seemed to know the Friendship Guesthouse.

…

About ten minutes later, a steady, unhurried rhythm of high heels striking the tiled pavement rang out from outside the guesthouse. Each step was powerful, as though she intended to trample everything beneath her feet.

Just as before, the first thing to enter their view was a red high heel. Then Liu Guiyi appeared in the doorway, dressed in a black women’s suit. She slowly turned her face toward them, her eyes utterly devoid of emotion. Her cold, rigid features were both exquisite and severe, and an icy force seemed to radiate from her very bones, making people instinctively want to retreat several paces.

Liu Guiyi sauntered into the lobby and glanced around. When she saw Old Zhu and the proprietress, she gave them a slight nod, parted her bright red lips, and said softly, “Brother Zhu. Sister-in-law.”

Only then did she look toward Wang Qiang.

“Little Wang.”

Her voice was hoarse, yet deeply magnetic.

Old Zhu, who had been standing there smoking, froze for a moment before frowning. “What brings you here?” He did not seem particularly pleased to see Liu Guiyi.

The proprietress reacted even more decisively. Pretending she had not heard the greeting, she turned and walked straight into the back room.

Liu Guiyi seemed unsurprised. Holding a small black handbag in her right hand—her nails painted emerald green but neatly trimmed—she walked up to the counter.

“I’m here to see Little Wang and ask whether anyone has caused trouble at the game room.”

Wang Qiang remembered that Liu Guiyi had once told him that anyone who dared lay a finger on him would pay dearly. He had assumed they would never have any further contact, so he was rather flattered and bewildered that she had come all this way to ask whether anyone had caused trouble again.

What a remarkable woman. Helping him was one thing, but she even cared about what had happened afterward?

Still, he knew that Liu Guiyi was probably doing this because of that mysterious Boss Wang.

“Nothing happened. Thank you for that day,” Old Zhu said coldly. Wang Qiang had told him about it earlier, so he knew what had happened.

Caught between them, Wang Qiang felt uncomfortable. He did not understand why Old Zhu and his wife were so unwilling to welcome Liu Guiyi, so he simply lowered his head and remained silent.

Before Liu Guiyi could say anything, the proprietress shouted from the back room, “Little Wang, didn’t you say you had somewhere to go? Hurry up and get moving.”

Clearly, she was trying to drive Liu Guiyi away by indirect means.

Understanding immediately, Wang Qiang hurriedly replied, “Yes, Sister. I’m leaving now.” Then he gave Liu Guiyi an apologetic look. “Sister Liu, I’m sorry. I have something to take care of, so I need to go out. I’ll buy you a cup of coffee when I have time.”

Liu Guiyi was not annoyed in the slightest. Still expressionless, she raised the car keys in her hand.

“Where are you going? I’ll drive you.”

Knowing that Old Zhu and his wife disliked Liu Guiyi, Wang Qiang politely declined. “No, no, that’s all right. I’m going to Haitong. It’s quite far, and I may not make it back today.”

Liu Guiyi turned gracefully and began walking toward the door.

“I have nothing else to do anyway. I’ll accompany you to Haitong.”

Wang Qiang felt as though his head had doubled in size. It was obvious that Liu Guiyi was deliberately provoking Old Zhu in her own way.

He was just wondering how to respond when Old Zhu, leaning against the counter, snorted.

“Little Wang, if she wants to drive you, let her. You’ll save yourself the fare.”

Unable to figure out what was going on, Wang Qiang could only give a vague acknowledgment.

…

Outside.

They walked along the narrow alley, Liu Guiyi in front and Wang Qiang behind. Neither of them spoke, and they seemed like complete strangers.

Before long, they reached the road at the mouth of the alley. The white Porsche 968 he had seen last time was parked there.

Liu Guiyi opened the door and patted the roof.

“Get in.”

Wang Qiang gave an awkward smile. “There’s no need. You should go about your business.”

Liu Guiyi looked at him and repeated in a commanding tone, “Get in.”

Her gaze was extremely sharp. Wang Qiang felt a chill run through him under her stare.

Forget it. She had helped him, after all. If she wanted him in the car, then he would get in.

He said nothing more, opened the front passenger door, and climbed inside. After closing the door, he saw Liu Guiyi take her seat as well. He turned toward her.

“Thank you for what you did last time.”

Liu Guiyi did not reply. She inserted the key and started the car.

Whether she was in a bad mood because of her quarrel with Old Zhu or simply had that kind of temperament, Wang Qiang did not find it particularly strange.

“You and Brother Zhu…”

“My father nearly killed him more than a decade ago. Why are you going to Haitong?”

“Uh… something like that happened?” Wang Qiang broke out in a cold sweat. No wonder Old Zhu and his wife had been so hostile. So that was the reason.

He was curious about what had happened, but on the principle that one was better off avoiding unnecessary trouble, he did not pursue the matter. Instead, he answered, “I’m going to buy some four-piece bedding sets.”

“Oh.”

The car sped along, but the two of them barely spoke. One reason was that Liu Guiyi was not talkative. Another was that Wang Qiang was occupied with his own thoughts. Even when they occasionally exchanged a few words, the conversation usually ended with one of them responding with a simple “Mm” or “Oh.”

About an hour and a half later, the car reached the ferry terminal, and Wang Qiang was already beginning to nod off.

People always said that riding in a fine car with a beautiful woman was one of life’s great pleasures. Why did he find it so torturous?

Then again, Liu Guiyi really was beautiful, with an appearance that was a pleasure to behold. Thinking of that, Wang Qiang no longer felt quite so miserable.