The trading firm opened on the twenty-eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, and China's Spring Festival followed right after...
The Chinese had an attachment to the New Year etched into their bones, and with the firm's opening promotions coinciding with it,
Chen Fan had been run off his feet these past few days.
Fortunately, the money he had spent had been worth it. The sales clerks and sales representatives he had hired at high salaries learned the ropes quickly,
and everything proceeded at the pace he had planned.
The fifth day of the New Year was the traditional Chinese day for welcoming the God of Wealth.
Chen Fan returned to the shop early. Downstairs, the manager, Wu Ming, was gathering all the sales clerks for a meeting to assign the day's tasks.
Chen Fan took one look and went upstairs. A boss couldn't meddle in everything.
After all, everyone in their line of work knew that interfering blindly could sometimes cause trouble.
Outside the office, Long Wu had finished cleaning long ago and was inside sorting documents for Chen Fan.
Long Wu had always handled such matters in the Four Seas Gang, and within just a few days, she had quickly adjusted to the firm's rhythm.
She could manage a gang of several hundred people, so the firm's affairs were naturally no challenge for her.
Chen Fan entered the office and took off his overcoat. Long Wu took it from him and hung it on the coat rack nearby.
Then she placed the tea she had brewed on his desk, turned to leave, and closed the door behind her.
Chen Fan had only been looking through the accounts and sales reports for a short while when he heard a commotion outside.
He got up and opened the door to find Jin Xiangyu standing there.
Unlike their previous meeting, Jin Xiangyu wore a rouge-colored qipao with a snow-white rabbit-fur shawl over it. Holding a tiny sequined handbag, she was looking up at Long Wu.
She wore the hint of a smile, her gaze sliding from Long Wu's brows and eyes all the way down to her fingers, like some sort of scanner analyzing the person before her.
Long Wu stood in her way. Seeing Chen Fan come out, she hurriedly said, "Boss, this woman..."
"Oh, Boss Chen has finally come out." Before Long Wu could finish, a seductive smile blossomed on Jin Xiangyu's face. "This young lady you've just hired is quite formidable."
"I hadn't even finished speaking before she blocked me at the door and started questioning me like a thief."
"Don't tease, Miss Jin." Chen Fan smiled and smoothed things over, stepping aside. "Miss Wu was worried I hadn't tidied up in here and might neglect a guest. Come, please step inside."
As Jin Xiangyu squeezed past Long Wu, she deliberately turned sideways and brushed against her body.
Long Wu instinctively stepped back.
Jin Xiangyu covered her mouth and laughed. "Miss Wu has such a fine face and figure. If she spent a few years learning our trade, she'd make a promising performer of young male roles."
"What a shame. Following a businessman around is such a waste of that fine frame."
Damn, could she be bi too?
He had to admit that Long Wu was handsome. Playing young male roles... yes, that would suit her too.
"Boss Jin, what do you take me for?" Long Wu's expression did not change.
But her gaze noticeably chilled.
In times like these, opera was hardly a respectable profession...
Chen Fan shook his head slightly at her, signaling her not to continue.
Then he led Jin Xiangyu into the office, reached back to close the door, and showed her to a round-backed armchair by the window.
He went around behind the desk and sat down as well.
Jin Xiangyu was in no hurry to speak. First, she removed her shawl and draped it over the chair back, then took a handkerchief from her little handbag and gently wiped her fingertips.
"Boss Jin, surely you haven't come today just to look at my little trading firm." Chen Fan spoke first, his usual smile on his face.
The corners of Jin Xiangyu's lips lifted slightly as she said plaintively, "You men really are heartless. Last time, you called me your precious darling. What, a few days apart and you won't acknowledge it anymore?"
Chen Fan froze for a moment. Seriously? You took something said in bed as the truth?
At a critical moment like that, never mind calling you my precious darling-even if you said you were the Jade Emperor, I'd tell you the resemblance was uncanny.
Jin Xiangyu rose and walked over to Chen Fan, slipped her arms around his neck, and pressed herself against him. Leaning close to his ear, she whispered, "Boss Chen, let's speak plainly."
"I have a shipment that needs to come in through Shiliupu Wharf."
"But things have been tense at the wharf these past few days. The people who used to move goods for me have suddenly all backed off."
"I mentioned it to Sixth Master, and he said you used to move goods for him. Clean and efficient, with never a mishap."
"I came to you because I want your help getting the goods out. We can discuss the price..."
Chen Fan slipped his right arm around her waist, but said, "Boss Jin, I think you've come to the wrong person."
"I'm in legitimate business now. You'll have to find someone else to do your dirty work."
Jin Xiangyu was not surprised in the least. Covering her mouth, she laughed. "Boss Chen, going straight is a good thing."
"But I hear you've owed several trading firms quite a lot of money since you opened."
"All that stock you've been sitting on lately must be getting a little hard to bear, hasn't it?"
Chen Fan's gaze flickered as he said awkwardly, "Boss Jin, holding inventory is perfectly normal for a trading firm."
"I also have a sales team specifically handling bulk transactions."
"It's just that we've been doing more retail business over the New Year,"
"and once the New Year is over, we'll be able to move these goods very quickly."
"With your abilities, Boss Chen, I don't doubt that," Jin Xiangyu said gently.
"But don't you want to know how much I'm willing to pay?"
Chen Fan laughed heartily. "Boss Jin, I may not be particularly wealthy, but even if my business isn't booming, you could still say money pours in by the day."
"One or two thousand silver dollars is nothing to me."
Jin Xiangyu said slowly, "What about five thousand silver dollars, then?"
Chen Fan's expression stilled. "What sort of goods are you looking to collect, Boss Jin?"
Jin Xiangyu laughed. "Boss Chen, didn't you say one or two thousand silver dollars was nothing to you?"
Chen Fan said solemnly, "Yes, of course one or two thousand silver dollars is nothing to me. But five thousand is another matter."
Jin Xiangyu got up and walked back, her voice becoming soft and gentle. "Boss Chen, I can't tell you what the goods are right now."
"You understand. It's not that I don't trust you. It's the rule in this business."
"If you agree, you'll naturally find out everything on the day we move the shipment."
"All I can tell you is that the goods aren't heavy, but they can't see the light of day."
"You have connections at the wharf. Once you get past the Dongjiadu stretch and into Zhuhang Lane, you won't need to worry about anything after that."
"Five thousand silver dollars, and it's that simple?" Chen Fan asked doubtfully.
Jin Xiangyu spread her hands. "How complicated could it be? Boss Chen, just say the word, and my people will deliver the deposit to your counter tomorrow."
"I may not be someone who can summon the wind and rain in Shanghai, but I keep my word. Five thousand silver dollars for this job-that's as much as your shop would make in three busy months."
Chen Fan stood and offered his hand. "Then it's a deal."
Jin Xiangyu reached out and shook his hand, then chuckled. "Boss Chen, it's settled, then."
"I have other things to attend to, so I won't disturb you any longer."
With that, she put on her rabbit-fur shawl and turned toward the door.
At the doorway, she paused and looked back at Chen Fan. "Oh, and someone like Miss Wu is wasted as a secretary."
"If you ever really let her go, remember to tell me. Our opera troupe still needs someone who can fight and sing to play young male roles."