Xu Ying, oblivious to her cousin’s impending fortune, was now thoroughly engrossed in conversation within the foreign guest carriage. Yang Chuangang watched, dumbfounded. For years, he had witnessed the immense difficulty in engaging these foreigners, yet here they were, chatting animatedly with Xu Ying.
Xu Ying, with boundless enthusiasm, lauded the glories of China, from ancient times to the present. She praised everything imaginable – from the very necessities of life to the intricacies of food and clothing. Yet, her most powerful arguments centered on China’s rich heritage in textiles and cuisine. China, she passionately explained, was known as the “Kingdom of Clothing,” its garments a testament to the continuous inheritance and evolution of Chinese civilization, a “beauty of clothing” found in its sheer richness and vibrant colors. For millennia, China had revered clothing, and the profound essence of Chinese attire, she insisted, could not be captured in a mere few sentences.
“Xu Ying, do you want to work in our Ministry of Foreign Affairs?” Yang Chuangang asked, his voice tinged with admiration. “You are truly overqualified for simply selling these things here!” He mused silently, if this girl joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, would they ever fear being bullied by these foreigners again? Alas, Xu Ying, ever the pragmatist with a deep appreciation for money, politely declined Yang Chuangang’s offer, though she shrewdly secured his phone number.
After a productive conversation with the foreign guests, Xu Ying decided it was time to leave. Her third uncle, she knew, must be growing anxious by now. When the foreigners saw her prepare to depart, expressions of reluctance crossed their faces. Yang Chuangang was so deeply moved that he felt tears prick his eyes. He had tirelessly managed these individuals for years, yet his efforts paled in comparison to the fleeting appearance of this remarkable girl. Indeed, some people were simply more irritatingly impressive than others.
“Third Uncle!” Xu Ying called out.
“Where have you been, girl? I’ve been searching for ages!” Uncle Xu’s relief was palpable as he finally spotted his niece. He had been beside himself with worry. The train, a constant ebb and flow of humanity, contained all sorts, including ruthless human traffickers. Though his niece was intelligent, she was also strikingly beautiful. What if she had been targeted and trafficked? Uncle Xu’s heart had been lodged in his throat, convinced his niece had been abducted. He had been on the verge of calling the police. Now, seeing her, a profound sense of ease washed over him.
“I went to negotiate a big deal,” Xu Ying chuckled.
Uncle Xu rolled his eyes at her playful tone, then proudly pulled out a contract. “Your Third Uncle, I’m not bad either! I’ve negotiated a few deals and earned over a hundred thousand yuan!” He waited, expectant, for his niece’s praise.
Xu Ying, feigning exaggerated awe, cooperated. “Oh, Third Uncle, you’re so amazing! You’re so young, and you’ve already negotiated so much money!”
Uncle Xu puffed out his chest, placing his hands on his hips. “Hmph, you don’t even know who I am! How much did you earn?”
Xu Ying adopted a humble tone. “Not much, just a few million!”
Uncle Xu initially dismissed her words, not taking them seriously. But then the numbers registered, and his eyes widened in terror. He stumbled back, almost losing his footing. “What did you say? How much was it?”
“Third Uncle, please keep your voice down!” Xu Ying hissed, tugging at his arm. They were still on the train, surrounded by people, and his loud exclamation had drawn curious glances. “Several million! Please keep your voice down so that you don’t attract attention!” She patted Uncle Xu, fearing that if anyone overheard their conversation about the massive order, it would spell disaster.
Uncle Xu guiltily shrank his head, instantly falling silent at his niece’s warning. But internally, he seethed. He had thought he could finally impress his niece, only to discover she was far more formidable than he could have imagined! He’d been so proud of his hundred-thousand-yuan deal, but she had secured millions! “Oh my god,” he thought, “he’d never seen so much money in his life. Millions! How much commission would that even be?” Uncle Xu shivered, instantly conceding that he was no match for his niece.
As they returned to their seats, the young girl whom Xu Ying had given clothes to earlier saw her and immediately stood up, offering a heartfelt thank you. The girl still seemed a little nervous, feeling that receiving the clothes for free, after merely walking around, was too generous. Xu Ying simply nodded and led Uncle Xu to their seats. The reporter from before was no longer on the train, perhaps having disembarked at an earlier stop.
Soon, the station where Xu Ying and Uncle Xu were to alight arrived. They bought another ticket, their journey continuing. Relying solely on their publicity on the train, Xu Ying and her uncle had directly secured a million-dollar order.
“Third Uncle, are we being watched?” Xu Ying felt an unnerving sensation, as if someone was following them as they exited the last train car. She turned and saw several men trailing them furtively. These were clearly the same men who had been in the same car at the previous station. They had been discussing business, leading Xu Ying and Uncle Xu to assume they were also traveling further. Could it really be such a coincidence that these two groups happened to be on the same train, heading to the same next destination? The train was the same, from the previous station to the next. The men’s continued presence, however, felt highly suspicious.
A flicker of unease danced in Xu Ying’s stomach as she thought of the money in her pocket. If it were her own funds, she wouldn’t be so nervous. But this was the factory’s lifeblood. If the money wasn’t returned, who would work without wages? Without funds to purchase goods, how could they produce and deliver on time? This money could not be lost.
When Uncle Xu heard his niece’s ominous question, he was too terrified to look back, though he tried to sound reassuring. “Don’t be afraid. Let’s get in the car and find the police officer as soon as possible.”
Xu Ying nodded, observing Uncle Xu’s rising anxiety. She herself felt perfectly calm, but she worried her uncle might lose control in a critical moment. She turned to him, her voice firm. “Don’t run around when we get in the car. Follow me closely.”
Uncle Xu nodded, mistakenly believing his niece was scared. He puffed out his chest, attempting to sound manly. “It’s okay. Uncle Xu will definitely protect you later. Even if something happens to me, I won’t let anything happen to you!”
“Thank you very much, Third Uncle. Just try not to cause any trouble,” Xu Ying thought to herself.
Xu Ying led Uncle Xu towards the carriage. Before they could even find a seat, several men suddenly rushed forward, their eyes fixed on the bag in Xu Ying’s hand.
“Let go! Robbers!”
The train was already crowded, but the sudden, audacious robbery sent a wave of panic through the passengers. Everyone scrambled to escape, creating an immediate stampede. Xu Ying, her reflexes sharp, spotted the man lunging for the money bag and delivered a swift horizontal kick. Then, she leaped, executing a backspin kick that connected with another assailant. Uncle Xu, grappling with one of the robbers, was evenly matched. “Hurry, help! This person has robbed us!” he cried.
No sooner had Uncle Xu’s shout ended than the next second, he was enveloped in a chokehold. A glint of steel flashed as a knife was pressed against his neck. The man, his face concealed by a scarf, revealed only a pair of menacing eyes. “Shut up!” he snarled, then turned his gaze to Xu Ying. “Damn bitch, hand over the money, or I’ll kill your uncle!” With that, the man pressed the knife a little harder, and a trickle of blood instantly flowed from Uncle Xu’s neck.
“Ah! Don’t kill me!” Uncle Xu’s face contorted in pure terror.