Chapter 131: Made a Small Fortune (Special thanks to Ring on Fingertip for the 100,000-coin sponsorship and becoming our Supreme Alliance Lord)

After persistent coaxing from Wang Qiang, his father finally agreed to buy two suits and two shirts.

Having finished the shopping, father and son discussed and decided to head straight to Die Shiqiao to restock.

They first returned the motorcycle to Old Zhu, then walked to the bus station and bought tickets for the 1:50 pm bus to Haitong. Unfortunately, without a driver’s license, Wang Qiang couldn’t borrow a van from Old Yao.

He pondered over when he might finally get his license.

Haitong, Die Shiqiao.

By the time they arrived, it was already 6:30 pm.

Night had fallen, the streets were dimly lit, and pedestrians were few and hurried, all rushing home to their small abodes. Even the birds hastened back to their nests.

Though nocturnal birds returned to roost, many home textile shops were brightly lit, including Boss Zheng’s store at the eastern end of the street.

Wang Qiang carried his suitcase, chatting and laughing with his father as they entered.

Boss Zheng was dozing off behind the counter, clearly bored with little business at this late hour. He didn’t even notice their entrance as he rested his head on the counter.

“Boss Zheng,” Wang Qiang called out.

Startled and groggy, Boss Zheng slowly lifted his head. Recognizing the young man who had recently bought a large batch of bedding sets, he immediately perked up, stood, and greeted them warmly, “Boss Wang, here to restock again?” Then, noticing Wang Qiang’s sharply dressed father, he asked with curiosity, “And this gentleman?”

“Oh, that’s my dad,” Wang Qiang said, giving his father a nudge.

His father, with an awkward expression, extended his hand with a smile. “Hello, Boss Zheng. I’m Wang Baoguo. Just call me Old Wang.”

Boss Zheng shook his hands with both of his. “Not at all, Boss Wang.”

They exchanged pleasantries for a while.

Boss Zheng brought two chairs for them to sit and brewed two cups of tea.

Wang Qiang sipped the hot tea, then set down the cup. “I’m ordering quite a lot this time. Will you help with delivery?”

“How much?”

Wang Qiang didn’t wait for an immediate yes. “Two hundred polyester-cotton sets, three hundred pure cotton sets at twenty-five yuan each, ten sets of forty-yuan satin, and ten sets of sixty-yuan brushed printed fabric.” He knew the prices well, having checked last time and knowing these were the lowest possible. He spoke openly without hesitation.

He added an extra hundred polyester-cotton and a hundred pure cotton sets, aiming to promote them in Shenzhen.

The total came to eleven thousand five hundred yuan—a considerable business. Boss Zheng did a quick calculation and asked, “Where to deliver?”

“To Shanghai,” Wang Qiang replied.

Without hesitation, Boss Zheng agreed. “Sure. Do you want it sent overnight, or...?”

“Today,” Wang Qiang said decisively.

“Alright, I’ll take you to the warehouse to pick out the sets.” Boss Zheng stood up.

Since business was slow and it was late, Boss Zheng didn’t call anyone else but personally led the father and son to the warehouse after pulling down the shutter.

Why did Wang Qiang always support Boss Zheng’s business?

Not because others charged more, but because Wang Qiang had other plans—provided his own bedding business could flourish. Otherwise, it was pointless. Nevertheless, he prepared ahead.

After selecting the bedding sets in the warehouse, Boss Zheng drove the duo back to Shanghai in his van.

At that moment, Wang Qiang had just over a thousand yuan left from thirteen thousand yuan, still needing to pay for transport and fares—almost penniless.

Having spent a fortune, he told himself to go all in.

That night, he and his father squeezed onto one bed. Perhaps from exhaustion, he even snored lightly, sleeping soundly.

***

The following day.

Bathed in sunlight and fresh air, Wang Qiang slowly opened his eyes. Outside, the street buzzed with lively noise. Stretching with a yawn, he woke up naturally, feeling the soreness from yesterday had vanished—pure comfort.

Life’s two great pleasures: waking naturally and counting money until your hands cramp.

Today he enjoyed one but frowned—not because he lacked money, but because he was short of funds.

Never mind, no use dwelling on it.

He quickly got up to head to Shenzhen.

Dressed and ready, Wang Qiang saw his father sitting idly at the table. “Dad, aren’t you going out for a walk?”

“Awake already?” His father smiled, wrinkles creasing his brow. “Nowhere to go, don’t know what to do.”

Wang Qiang sighed. He knew his father was never one to sit still. During past New Year visits, when others played cards, his father was busy with chores. After thinking a moment, he said, “I’m heading to Shenzhen soon, might be gone for days. Brother Zhu might go find business. Why don’t you tag along with him?”

His father brightened at having something to do. “Good, I’ll go with Old Zhu later.” Then he asked, “You just got back yesterday, and you’re off to Shenzhen again? Want me to go with you?”

Wang Qiang appreciated having company but his father didn’t know Shenzhen well and lacked the border permit. “You need a border permit to go to Shenzhen. Without it, you can’t.”

“I’ll get one then. Can’t just watch you weary yourself with all this travel.”

Knowing his father cared deeply, Wang Qiang said nothing sentimental, only promising to ask Secretary Li to help get his father a permit after this trip, so he could familiarize himself with the business. For now, his father was the only one he could trust. Wang Qiang had other plans ahead, so getting his father that permit was necessary.

Making money and running the company came first.

Other matters could wait.

After washing up and having some porridge, Wang Qiang and his father went downstairs and hailed a van to send the bedding sets to the train station for shipment.

Then they bought tickets for Shenzhen.

At 11:41 am, he boarded the train once more.

***

The train sped along.

Arriving in Jiaxing at 2:20 pm.

At 7:41 pm, reaching Jinhua West.

At midnight, entering Jiangxi Shangrao.

More than forty hours later, finally passing through Huizhou territory, the train whistle blew as it pulled into Luohu station early in the morning.

Once again, Wang Qiang felt the agony of long train journeys. After disembarking, he felt utterly broken but dragged his weary body to call a van. Retrieving the shipped bedding sets, he rushed to Huaqiangbei.

Upon arrival at Huaqiangbei, Wang Qiang found a decent hotel and, with the driver, moved one hundred polyester-cotton and one hundred pure cotton bedding sets into the room. Only then did he rush to Sister Xu’s store.

***

Jiahua Clothing Wholesale Market.

It was only 7:30 am, but nearly every store was still closed, making the market appear bleak. Occasionally, a diligent owner swept in front of their shop.

The van pulled up to Sister Xu’s store.

Noticing the door was locked, Wang Qiang and the driver unloaded the bedding sets, neatly stacking them on the concrete floor. Then they sat on the piles, leaning against the wall, waiting for Sister Xu.

Gradually, the golden sunlight pierced the gauzy clouds, casting unparalleled brilliance across the hazy city.

Without noticing, the haze disappeared entirely.

The wholesale market slowly awakened: doors opening, cars arriving, bargaining voices mingling in the morning air.

Sister Xu had yet to arrive, and Wang Qiang nearly fell asleep leaning against the wall.

Just as he drifted, a woman’s voice called out, “Oh, Wang, why are you here so early?”

Wang Qiang quickly opened his eyes, shielding himself from the bright sunlight with his right hand. He saw Sister Xu, clad in a red dress, sitting astride a women’s scooter. He patted his clothes and stood up, half-jokingly, “I got the time wrong.”

Sister Xu chuckled, dismounting the scooter. Taking out a small green bag to get her keys, she teased, “Good thing you didn’t mistake midnight for daytime, or you’d be sleeping on the street.” With that, she gestured for Wang Qiang to step aside and squatted to unlock the shutter.

Wang Qiang helped push the shutter up.

Once the door was fully open, the two carried the bedding sets inside.

Moving over three hundred sets was exhausting.

After finishing, Wang Qiang sat on a stool behind the counter, panting.

Sister Xu wiped the sweat off her forehead, took a thermos, poured hot water into a cup, and handed it to Wang Qiang. “Drink some water. I’ll count the inventory first.”

“Go ahead,” Wang Qiang took the cup, blew on the hot water, took a few sips, then put the cup down and asked, “Did the last hundred sets all sell?”

“Seventeen, all sold yesterday, eighteen, nineteen...” Sister Xu squatted on the floor counting the bedding sets.

Yesterday?

So the bedding sets sold well?

Though it was just a brief remark, Wang Qiang gleaned valuable information: according to Sister Xu, there must have been retail sales. Selling a hundred sets so quickly likely meant a combination of big clients and retail customers.

But he couldn’t be certain yet.

Wang Qiang planned to observe Sister Xu’s store business carefully to see if his guess was right. If so, nearby clothing wholesalers must have noticed, increasing his chances of successful sales visits.

While pondering this, Sister Xu stood up, wiping her forehead. “Exactly three hundred and twenty sets.”

“Good, the numbers match.” Wang Qiang took the initiative to ask, “And the payment?”

“Wait a moment. I’ll call my husband to bring it over.” Sister Xu turned toward the back, drew a phone from the drawer, dialed a few numbers, and made a call.

Wang Qiang didn’t interrupt, quietly waiting.

“Hello, Xiang Zhong, this is Qunzhen... Yes, the goods arrived. Bring fifteen thousand yuan to the store... Okay, that’s it.” Sister Xu hung up and told Wang Qiang, “Wait about half an hour. My husband’s on his way.”

“Alright,” Wang Qiang nodded.

Ten minutes...

Twenty minutes...

The two chatted casually. Although Wang Qiang was usually quiet, he had read many jokes online and occasionally made Sister Xu laugh heartily.

“Do you know Mu Tiezhu?”

“Of course, he used to play basketball and was quite famous.”

“Yeah, do you know what a reporter once asked him?”

“No, what?”

“The reporter asked if it was true he changed diapers for his kids.”

“What did Mu Tiezhu say?”

“He told the reporter, ‘Why don’t you lie down and try it? Honestly, I can change diapers and feed the baby with just one foot.’”

“Really? How’s that possible?”

“Yeah, the reporter didn’t believe him and asked how.”

“How?”

“Mu Tiezhu said he just kicks his wife awake with one foot.”

Sister Xu burst into giggles. “You’re hilarious. I’ve never heard you spin such tales.”

Just as Wang Qiang was about to reply, a short, stocky man in a black suit hurried in. Seeing Sister Xu laughing heartily, he asked, puzzled, “Honey, what’s so funny?”

“Xiang Zhong, you’re finally here. I was just listening to Wang’s jokes.” Sister Xu introduced him as her husband, Zhou Xiangzhong, and recounted the story Wang Qiang told.

Zhou Xiangzhong laughed too. “Wang, you’re quite the storyteller.”

“Just making things up,” Wang Qiang said modestly.

These jokes later spread widely; some people heard them so often they no longer found them funny. But Sister Xu and Zhou’s laughter showed their humor was more genuine.

After the laughter, Zhou pulled a bundle wrapped in newspaper from his black briefcase and handed it to Sister Xu. “I have some business at the department store. I’ll leave you to chat with Wang.”

“Drive safely,” Sister Xu said with concern.

“Will do.” Zhou grabbed his briefcase and left.

Hearing “department store” made Wang Qiang suddenly realize why Sister Xu’s bedding sets sold so fast—likely the “big client” was Zhou Xiangzhong. Pretending casual, Wang Qiang asked, “Brother Zhou runs a department store?”

“No way. If I could run a department store, I wouldn’t have to toil hard in the wholesale market every day.” Sister Xu, amused by Wang’s jokes, added, “He just works for someone else as a merchandise manager.”

Got it.

Wang Qiang shifted the topic, praising, “That’s impressive too.”

“Not bad.” Sister Xu beamed at the compliment, flipped open the newspaper bundle to reveal a stack of bills. After counting once, she handed them to Wang Qiang. “I just counted—fifteen thousand exactly. You can count it again.”

Wang Qiang took the money, carefully counting one hundred and fifty hundred-yuan bills, no more, no less.

Earlier, he had only thirteen thousand yuan total. After stocking up and arriving in Shenzhen, he had just over a thousand left.

Now, with fifteen thousand incoming, even if he couldn’t sell the remaining two hundred sets, he’d still have made a profit.

But selling them would be best. Wang Qiang wasn’t in a hurry; he planned to observe Sister Xu’s bedding business before making his next move.