"Sleep now, I'm lending you my thigh." Li Yang looked at her and gently patted her delicate shoulder. He never had a younger sister, but at this moment, he felt a peculiar sensation of comforting one.
Lin Xiaoyu didn't say anything in thanks. This time, breaking her usual habit, she unceremoniously adjusted her position, using Li Yang's thigh as a pillow, and slowly drifted off to sleep.
Neither Li Yang, Boss Jin, nor the few employees nearby could have imagined that the words spoken earlier would have such a profound impact on this pure, beautiful proprietress who was already capable of independently managing a business with profits exceeding five million.
Jin Buchuan glanced at her, as if seeing his younger self from a long time ago, and gave a wry smile. "It's truly bizarre. They say the older you get, the more stable you become, but for me, the older I get, the more I'm haunted by the shadows of my youth."
Then he turned to his employees and said in a low voice, "Let's call it a night."
"Yes, boss." The employees were taken aback for a moment, then nodded.
Truth be told, they were all natives of Yunnan. They said Kunming, the capital of Yunnan, was the most beautiful city in the world, but it had little to do with them. As teenagers, they didn't even know about Kunming; they only knew their small hometown was vast, and the township was indescribably larger.
Many of their childhood friends had gone to big cities to work, and some familiar faces had even become flower sellers.
Their feelings at the time were complex.
But as time passed, people gradually became numb.
Now, seeing Lin Xiaoyu's situation, their numb hearts began to regain feeling. Even without Jin Buchuan's words, none of them would have wanted to sell flowers tonight.
The food was served quickly. Li Yang patted Lin Xiaoyu's shoulder and chuckled, "Did you sleep well?"
"Not very well. Brother Li, your thigh is so hard, it's all muscle, isn't it?" Lin Xiaoyu mumbled, rubbing her eyes. It seemed nothing had changed from before.
Li Yang laughed, "Consider that a compliment. Here, let me get you a papaya to quench your thirst and help with digestion."
"Papayas can be eaten? Isn't that an ornamental item kept in the study to give off a fragrance? Similar to quince?" Lin Xiaoyu asked in surprise.
Li Yang smiled, "I can't speak for other places, but Kunming people have a way of eating them. Try it, it's delicious."
"Mmm, it's so sweet! How did you do that?" Lin Xiaoyu's eyes lit up after taking a bite.
Li Yang chuckled, "I don't know. Boss Jin, you tell her."
"Haha, it's simple and complicated at the same time," Jin Buchuan said with a laugh. "People here know how to prepare a special kind of water. They soak the papayas in it, much like soaking glass in saltwater. Not only does it make the inedible papaya edible, but it also enhances its crisp texture."
"But the difficulty lies in the fact that this special water is a trade secret, usually not revealed. And the water used to soak the papayas is called papaya juice, which is very refreshing in the summer."
"So that's how it is. No wonder papayas can be eaten." Lin Xiaoyu took another bite of papaya, then reached for the papaya juice. After drinking some, she gave a thumbs-up and said, "Delicious!"
"This is just the beginning. These specialty dishes are even more delicious. Try them all!" Jin Buchuan said with a smile.
They all enjoyed the meal. After dinner, Jin Buchuan said a few words and returned to his room to do his accounts. After all, the interest on so much debt was not low.
If he couldn't repay it quickly, the interest alone would be enough to support him for a lifetime. Therefore, he had to be meticulous, calculating every penny.
Although his employees knew their boss was in financial trouble, they weren't idle. Not wanting to upset Lin Xiaoyu, they went to a nearby internet cafe to play games.
Lin Xiaoyu tugged at Li Yang's arm and asked, "Brother Li, do you have time?"
"Yes, tell me what's on your mind."
"I want to go for a walk. If I go back to my room right after eating, I won't be able to sleep," Lin Xiaoyu said.
Li Yang smiled, "Alright. You arrived here before me, so you must have been to some places. Why don't you lead the way?"
"Brother Li, you don't have to be so polite with me. Didn't you see I borrowed your thigh earlier without even saying thank you?" Lin Xiaoyu looked at him.
Li Yang tapped her forehead. "This isn't politeness, it's manners. Say thank you, or we're not going."
"Oh, Brother Li, you're messing up my hair."
"It looks good even if it's a bit messy."
"Hehe, Brother Li, you're so good with words. No wonder Sister Shui is collaborating with you," Lin Xiaoyu said, linking her arm through his as they walked forward.
Li Yang smiled, "We can collaborate too."
"That won't work. My jade shop is too small compared to yours. It's been trending lately, but it won't earn millions in a year. Your gem-cutting business probably brings in more than that daily, right?" Lin Xiaoyu shook her head.
Li Yang replied, "There's still a chance. Acting as an agent for our finished jade products would also be a form of cooperation. What do you think?"
"Wow, you're going to sell such high-end jade jewelry in my small shop? Aren't you afraid it will lower your status?" Lin Xiaoyu looked at him in surprise.
Li Yang laughed, "Not at all. The grade and craftsmanship of jade jewelry itself are the embodiments of status; brand effect isn't that significant. So, even if it's on the street, as long as the product is good, it can still sell for a high price."
"Then thank you," Lin Xiaoyu said happily. "I was debating whether to expand my shop's area this year. It's so timely that you guys are willing to let me be an agent."
"It's just mutually beneficial, no need to thank me," Li Yang replied with a smile.
Currently, the transaction volume of jade jewelry at the Fuhao Gemstone Trading Market had reached saturation. Even if some were sent to Li Hao Antiques Store for sale, the market remained saturated, with a lot of inventory piling up in warehouses.
Once Lin Xiaoyu agreed to be an agent, they could move the finished jade products from the warehouse, which were stagnant and even incurred storage fees, and find another channel to monetize them.
The ultimate goal of most businesses is profit and realization!
Most importantly, realization!
Only when products are converted into cash does their value transform into tangible wealth flowing into the hands of merchants. With money, merchants can expand their industries, increase their competitiveness, and earn even more.
Especially in today's commercial society, as more and more people enter the jade industry, some carvers, with just two or three people, dare to establish companies and create brands.
If the Fuhao Gemstone Trading Market remained complacent and self-satisfied, the result would be being overtaken by newcomers, and it would eventually go bankrupt.
Moreover, Li Yang had gotten to know Lin Xiaoyu's character earlier; she was a girl he could entrust with responsibility. Shui Xiang also had a very good relationship with her, so trust between them was not an issue.
Why wouldn't he want such a perfect collaborator?
That would be insane!
"Wow," Lin Xiaoyu suddenly looked up at the sky, exclaiming in amazement, "Look, Brother Li, someone has found Imperial Green!"