Yu Xiang’an was interested in making money. Investing in this daily chemical business was no different from her other ventures—basically, she would contribute capital or other resources to secure a portion of the equity without being involved in day-to-day management. That responsibility fell to the majority stakeholder. However, she made sure to have oversight personnel and loyal representatives in place to avoid being swindled.
Not everyone in business operated with honesty.
Having a few people to supervise was far less hassle than managing everything herself.
At the moment, Yu Xiang’an hadn’t yet ventured into the daily chemical industry, but she was keen to stake a claim. However, if Li Zhimu joined, how much of a share would he demand?
Yu Xiang’an preferred Liang Yuan to hold the majority stake, not him.
She still didn’t know much about Li Zhimu’s background.
Her intuition told her she didn’t like dealing with him—whether due to some inexplicable sixth sense or because of Ke Manyun.
Liang Yuan smiled. “I personally hold 60%, Anran has 10%, and the remaining 30% is still up for grabs.”
Li Zhimu turned to Yu Xiang’an. “How about I take 20%?”
Yu Xiang’an replied, “Is everyone in such a hurry? I still don’t know enough about this project.”
She added, “Although we’ve only interacted briefly, my gut tells me you’re not the type to make empty promises. Still, I’d like to see the proposal first.”
“Hahaha.” Liang Yuan covered her mouth with a laugh. “You have a way with words. Let’s meet another day—I’ll bring the appraisal report and business plan. That’s only fair. We should all review the details before moving forward.”
Li Zhimu smiled. “Then I’ll wait for Mrs. Chen’s call.”
After Li Zhimu and Liang Yuan left, Yu Xiang’an examined Li Zhimu’s business card: *General Manager of Qiancheng Electronics*. “Is this his family’s business?”
Lu Anran nodded. “Yes, Qiancheng Electronics belongs to the Li family. I’ll have to check exactly who he is in the family hierarchy.”
“Why was he so deferential to Liang Yuan, calling her ‘Mrs. Chen’ repeatedly?”
Lu Anran explained, “Liang Yuan’s husband is currently overseeing a project that the Li family is trying to secure.”
That made sense.
“What’s he like?”
Lu Anran: “I’ll dig deeper. I haven’t dealt with him before. By the way, that university classmate of yours—I’ll find out more. I can’t remember if he was married before.”
After returning, Yu Xiang’an called Liu Mingyue to ask if she knew anything about Ke Manyun. Learning that Ke Manyun had appeared in the Special Economic Zone, Liu Mingyue was surprised. “I had no idea—we haven’t been in touch for ages. Let me ask around.”
Liu Mingyue later reported back, “She married a Hong Konger, resigned to focus on family life. So she’s in the SEZ now.” She sighed. “After all those years of education, just quitting like that—what a waste. I heard she’s had a child. Did you see the kid?”
Yu Xiang’an: “No, and her figure was well-maintained. If she’d recently given birth, it would’ve been noticeable. I was surprised—after all this time, her demeanor hasn’t changed. How did she even manage at work?”
That fragile, innocent, shy aura might be common among young girls and students, but after years in the workforce? It was hard to imagine how she got by. Not everyone would go out of their way to accommodate her—people were busy.
Liu Mingyue sighed. “Probably because someone always stepped in to help her.”
Yu Xiang’an: “…”
A knight in shining armor? Well, it wasn’t her concern. She sighed. “Still, I have a feeling she’ll come looking for me, her old classmate.”
Liu Mingyue laughed. “Let her come. It’s not like she’ll necessarily get what she wants. Would you even care?”
Yu Xiang’an shrugged. “You’re right. I really wouldn’t.”
She truly didn’t give it much thought.
Whether Ke Manyun showed up or not—it didn’t matter. Unimportant people weren’t worth the mental energy.
Just after hanging up, Yun Jing called. “You wanted me to keep an eye out for that property purchase, right? Are you sure? This isn’t a small sum.”
Yu Xiang’an: “I’ve made up my mind. Help me negotiate—what’s the discount they’re offering?”
This was Shanghai’s first batch of commercial housing, and Yu Xiang’an was determined to get in.
One residential unit as a backup was enough—her main target was storefronts.
Wuwei Restaurant hadn’t yet expanded to Shanghai, but she’d buy the shops first while her team prepared to establish a foothold.
“If I buy several at once, what’s the discount?”
Even Yun Jing was taken aback. “I negotiated an 80% discount for you, with basic renovations included. That’ll save you a lot.”
Yu Xiang’an: “No problem. I’ll take out a mortgage—just need to keep up with the monthly interest payments.”
She was dead set on this. Having visited Shanghai as a tourist, she knew these properties would be worth a fortune in the future.
Even if the business didn’t thrive, the real estate alone would be a goldmine.
Yun Jing was tempted. “You’re really that confident?”
Over 2,000 yuan per square meter—even with the discount, the total would still be in the hundreds of thousands.
Yu Xiang’an: “Absolutely. I’ll buy a ticket and come tomorrow. We can discuss in detail. If you’ve got some spare cash, you could buy a couple for your kids too. Future rent would be a steady income for them.”
Yun Jing was convinced. “Alright, we’ll talk when you arrive.”
Why ask Yun Jing for help?
The Yun family had local influence. The steep discount wasn’t just for bulk purchases—it was also out of respect for their name.
Once settled, Yu Xiang’an set off for Shanghai with Liu Sanbao (her assistant), Song Dong (her bodyguard), Sun Dongsheng (a top-performing store manager from the SEZ, soon to be transferred to Shanghai), and Wang Li (a chef).
They were the pioneers. Other staff—service and support personnel—could be hired locally later.
Arriving by train, they met Yun Jing, who had also traveled from Yancheng for the occasion. Normally busy with work, she’d delegated the property search to her relatives. Now that she was considering buying, she’d returned to Shanghai.
Yu Xiang’an’s stance was clear: “If you want my opinion, I’d say it’s worth buying. I know you and Elder Brother already have a home, but Qianjing will soon be marrying. Will there be enough space when grandchildren come along? If you buy storefronts, rentals in Shanghai are steady—monthly income could supplement your finances. If you set one aside for Yuejing as a dowry, she’d have security no matter where she married. Makes sense, right? And rental income could cover mortgage payments, easing the financial burden.”
At the sales office, the manager enthusiastically showed them around.
The newly built complex was still mostly empty—few could afford the sky-high prices, and many who could were waiting to see.
Yu Xiang’an’s plan to buy multiple units at once made her a VIP client, and they treated her accordingly.
With ample choices available, she focused on prime locations and larger spaces.
In the end, she bought three storefronts (totaling over 600 square meters) and one residential unit—all on mortgage.
The down payment alone was substantial. Watching her sign the contracts, Yun Jing’s hands trembled.
Previously, the wealth of her business-savvy sister-in-law had been an abstract concept. Now, faced with such extravagance, it hit her squarely.
She wanted in but hesitated—living on fixed salaries, the financial strain was real.
Still, she bought two small storefronts (around 10 square meters each), also on mortgage.
Seeing her unease, Yu Xiang’an reassured her: “Rent will rise faster than mortgage rates. The properties are already minimally renovated—just find tenants.”
Basic renovations meant leveled floors, whitewashed walls, and wired electricity. Move-in ready for residents (just add furniture), while storefronts would need customization based on business type.
Yun Jing smiled wryly. “I’ve drained our savings. If Qianjing announced a wedding now, we couldn’t even afford the betrothal gifts.”
The down payment had required borrowing from her family.
Yu Xiang’an: “Rent them out ASAP—income starts flowing.”
Yun Jing: “Since you’re setting up business here, help me scout tenants. I’ll post ads soon.”
Yu Xiang’an began renovations. Given the area’s affluent demographic, the restaurant couldn’t be budget-tier—it needed upscale decor.
For the other two storefronts, after surveying the neighborhood, she decided:
One would sell high-end fashion.
The other would house a beauty counter and eventually a luxury salon.
But these would come later. First priority: launching Wuwei.
Meanwhile, Lu Anran investigated Li Zhimu: third son of Qiancheng Electronics’ current CEO. His two older brothers were in the UK and Hong Kong, leaving him to carve his own path in the SEZ. He’d married in Hong Kong (had a son) and later took Ke Manyun as a second wife (they had a daughter).
Yu Xiang’an: “…”
“Does Liang Yuan want to partner with him?”
Lu Anran: “The Li family has financial muscle. He wants the remaining 30%, but Liang Yuan is hesitant.”
Yu Xiang’an: “If not this time, then next. My funds are tied up here.”
The SEZ was brimming with opportunities—she wanted to solidify her base first.
The daily chemical industry could wait.
Lu Anran: “Understood. I’ll relay that to her.”
*Boom! Crackle!* Wuwei Restaurant opened with fanfare.
Old tricks worked if they were effective: grand opening discounts, lucky draws—top prize: a pair of bicycles.
Though bicycles weren’t as coveted as before, pairing them with electronic watches and tape recorders as secondary prizes drew crowds.
The gimmick brought customers in; the food kept them returning.
Pleased with the turnout, Yu Xiang’an turned her attention to the clothing store.
Fashionable, tasteful decor was a must, with attentive, knowledgeable staff.
Positioned as high-end, it would also carry imported watches and handbags—customers could outfit themselves for galas in one stop.
Yun Jing rented out her two storefronts, finally breathing easier. Asking Yu Xiang’an to keep an eye on things, she hurried back to Yancheng.
Mortgages were stressful.
Yu Xiang’an stayed in Shanghai for over two months, returning to the SEZ only once. With trusted teams handling operations there (and Lin Chuanbai or Yu Qingshan stepping in if needed), she focused on Shanghai’s greenfield expansion.
Beyond establishing her businesses, she also began stockpiling share certificates. Though the major boom wouldn’t hit until the 1990s, starting early ensured she wouldn’t miss out.
Yu Mansheng, noting her moves (and trusting her business acumen), followed suit—investing tens of thousands, neither too much nor too little.
While some poured in millions and others mere hundreds, his mid-range bet reflected cautious optimism.
As for where all these wealthy people came from—reform-era profiteers, state asset plunderers, Soviet border traders, and “official profiteers” exploiting price dualism had all amassed fortunes.
Take Shanghai’s latest land auction: millions spent on what would become future gold.
Yu Xiang’an eyed it hungrily but held back.
*Patience.*
While in Shanghai, Liu Mingyue’s prediction came true—Ke Manyun did seek her out. But failing to find her (Yu Qingshan, overhearing earlier mentions, politely turned her away), Ke Manyun gave up after a few attempts.
Pride had its limits.
Lin Yuejing, with free time after classes, often visited.
Her aunt spoiled her with clothes and let her order whatever she liked at the restaurant. Observing the haggling customers became her peculiar pastime.
Yu Xiang’an: “…”
*What an odd hobby.*
As winter break approached, Yu Xiang’an returned to the SEZ. Lin Yuejing called to ask if the twins were free—she and Lin Yining were inseparable during summer training, their tearful farewells at term’s start a recurring drama.
Yu Xiang’an: “They’re going to Hong Kong this winter break.”
Lin Yuejing: “What for?”
“Your second uncle enrolled them in an auditing class there to learn how others teach.”
Lin Yuejing: “They’re going to Hong Kong, huh.” She sounded a bit envious—she had never been to Hong Kong.
Yu Xiang’an didn’t suggest going together.
If she couldn’t guarantee it, raising the child’s hopes only to disappoint them later would be worse.
Both her parents worked in the state sector, and with Hong Kong not yet returned, it was hard to say.
Lin Chuanbai sent the twins there to expose them to different educational approaches and broaden their horizons.
Yu Qingshan and Wang Yongle would accompany them, and they also had relatives like Yu Yegui in Hong Kong, so they wouldn’t be entirely alone.
Safety wasn’t a major concern.
After returning, Lu Anran approached her. She, Liang Yuan, and Li Zhimu had already started their partnership, with the final shares adjusted: Liang Yuan held 60%, while Lu Anran and Li Zhimu each had 20%.
Lu Anran: “Since you passed on this collaboration, how were your earnings in Shanghai?”
Yu Xiang’an nodded, satisfied. “Earning over ten thousand a month is no problem.” It easily covered the loans and left room to save for new shops.
She didn’t need to invest much more there.
Lu Anran was surprised. “Business is that good?”
“Yep.” In Shanghai, the main revenue came from clothing. The city had no shortage of wealthy clients, and high-end beauty services, though seemingly quiet, brought in substantial sums when customers did come.
Currently, Wuwei Restaurant had the lowest net profit. While business was decent, it fell short of expectations. But once Wuwei expanded, things would improve. Yu Xiang’an was already considering replacing it with a high-end Western restaurant if performance didn’t pick up in six months—better suited to the area’s pricing.
Wuwei’s menu was still more budget-friendly.
The profits made Lu Anran eager. “At this rate, you’ll pay off your loans soon.”
Yu Xiang’an: “Yeah.”
Lu Anran: “What’s next for you?”
Yu Xiang’an: “Saving up for something.”
Lu Anran: “Ah, so you’ve been holding back on new projects for this.”
Yu Xiang’an smiled. “There’s one in the works.”
Lu Anran: “Which industry?”
Yu Xiang’an planned to acquire Changyao Pharmaceutical Factory.
Qian San had worked at the factory for over a decade. Initially, it was a branch of a larger pharmaceutical company, but after becoming independent, it struggled.
The factory’s benefits had once been decent but had declined sharply in recent years.
He and his wife had five children, and their family of nine squeezed into a 20-square-meter home. His two daughters would soon marry, freeing up space, but his son would need a wife soon—who would marry into such conditions?
Qian San had given up on finding a daughter-in-law; survival alone was a challenge.
His parents’ pensions helped, but his wife was unemployed, and with rising costs, they barely scraped by. They scavenged for discarded vegetables at markets and rarely bought meat—a luxury they couldn’t afford.
His wife tried selling homemade food but failed—her cooking was too ordinary. She switched to selling tea eggs, but profits were meager.
Life grew even harder when the factory, lacking orders, slashed salaries by a third and forced early retirements.
They even sold machinery to stay afloat.
Qian San was devastated. How had it come to this?
A desperate attempt to boost sales by incentivizing employees failed. Then a fire destroyed raw materials, worsening the crisis.
Other factories in similar straits sold land, but Changyao’s plot was small and poorly located—unsellable.
Qian San agonized over the future. Would the factory ever recover? If they sold more assets, what would be left? What about the 200-300 workers?
Amid the despair, rumors spread: a foreign investor was considering an injection of capital.
Skepticism turned to hope when management ordered cleanup efforts and presentability checks.
If it was real, maybe new production lines and products could revive the factory.
On the day of the inspection, everyone was on edge. Qian San spotted the delegation—including a foreigner—and felt a flicker of relief.
It was true!
The factory director led the tour, but the investors’ expressions gave nothing away.
In the meeting, their first demand was shocking: dissolve the management team.
The director was stunned. How could they agree to that? What would happen to them?
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