Xu Ying’s heart skipped slightly.
Judging from the uneasy look on Manager Luo’s face, she sensed that something had gone wrong with the cooperation.
Still, she maintained her composure and smiled politely.
“What’s the matter, Manager Luo? Has something happened with the agreement?”
Manager Luo lowered his gaze, his expression full of apology.
“I’m very sorry, Miss Xu. Our director has already placed an order for new products from a local Shanghai food factory. I heard they’re producing fried items as well.”
He hesitated briefly before adding, “The taste is said to be quite good, and the price is lower. I truly apologize.”
Xu Ying frowned slightly, clearly puzzled.
Standing beside her, Uncle Xu grew visibly unsettled.
“Someone else has already started making fried food and braised dishes?” he blurted out. “How is that possible? Yingying, could there be a mole in our factory?”
Xu Ying shook her head slowly.
After leaving the department store, she gave it some thought. Fried food was relatively simple—anyone with some culinary sense could replicate it after tasting it a few times. But braised dishes (lu wei, a slow-cooked method using layered spices and soy-based broth) were far more complex. They shouldn’t have been so easy to imitate in such a short time.
Unless—
With that thought weighing on her mind, she returned to the guesthouse and immediately placed a call to Factory Director Sun.
“Xiao Xu,” Director Sun’s voice came through the receiver, bright with anticipation. “Did you finalize the cooperation with the department store?”
Hearing his cheerful tone, Xu Ying hesitated. She didn’t have the heart to crush his expectations outright.
“Director,” she said carefully, lowering her voice, “Shanghai already has factories producing fried food and braised dishes.”
“What?!”
Director Sun’s voice shot up several octaves, nearly piercing Xu Ying’s eardrums.
“How could that be?” he demanded. “Our products have only just entered the market. How could they already have the same things?”
Years of navigating the business world had sharpened Director Sun’s instincts. He did not believe in coincidences.
His expression darkened as suspicion took root.
“This is no accident,” he muttered before abruptly ending the call.
Director Sun immediately began investigating the matter.
Although the department store deal had fallen through, another opportunity arrived unexpectedly.
The Friendship Building came knocking.
The day before, Xu Ying had given Angel some braised and fried food to take back and share with her friends. The manager of the Friendship Building happened to see it.
After tasting the food and witnessing how much the foreign guests enjoyed it, the staff held an internal vote and unanimously decided to place an order.
“Hello,” a crisp female voice said. “I’m the manager of the Friendship Building. Our director would like to purchase a batch of braised food and fried goods from your factory. Who is in charge here?”
She paused briefly before adding, “Would it be convenient for you to come with us to the Friendship Building?”
Xu Ying stepped forward immediately.
“I am.”
The Friendship Building manager looked slightly surprised. Xu Ying was young—far younger than she had expected for someone leading such a team.
Uncle Xu, afraid that further complications might arise, urged softly, “Let’s go at once.”
Only after watching Xu Ying leave with the Friendship Building manager did Qiao Yuzhu finally let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.
Following the manager into the Friendship Building, Xu Ying was momentarily dazzled.
The interior was magnificent—gleaming glass cases, imported décor, and goods she had never seen outside this place.
(The Friendship Building was a state-run commercial complex in major Chinese cities during the reform era, specializing in imported and luxury goods, often catering to foreigners and high-ranking officials.)
Its guiding principle was clear:
What exists on the market must be the best here.
What doesn’t exist on the market must appear here.
And whatever is fashionable abroad must be sold here as well.
Xu Ying, however, found herself most drawn to the food and clothing sections.
“Manager,” she asked incredulously, “you even sell clothes here? And they’re all so beautiful!”
The manager couldn’t help but feel a flicker of pride. This reaction was typical of domestic visitors seeing the Friendship Building for the first time.
After all, the goods sold here were almost entirely imported luxury items, difficult—if not impossible—to find elsewhere in China.
Even if this girl was capable, she was still young. It was easy to be dazzled by fine clothing.
Xu Ying examined the garments closely. Her gaze stopped on a red, fluffy coat.
She frowned slightly.
“Isn’t this a coat produced by our textile factory?” she asked. “Why is it being sold here?”
The manager’s expression changed instantly, irritation flashing across her face.
“Young lady, you shouldn’t say such things casually. This coat was imported from the United States. It’s the latest trend—how could your textile factory possibly produce something like this?”
Xu Ying sighed inwardly.
The information gap was vast.
Without another word, she took out her design drafts and handed them over.
The manager flipped through the sketches—and froze.
Her eyes widened.
“How much would this outfit cost?” she asked.
Xu Ying quoted the price.
The manager was stunned.
These foreign traders were charging three times the original cost—a blatant markup bordering on exploitation.
She looked at Xu Ying anew, her eyes lighting up.
“You designed this yourself?” she asked excitedly. “Come—let’s go see the director immediately.”
She felt as though she had struck gold.
In fact, earlier, the director of a Shanghai food factory had approached her, claiming to have developed braised and fried foods. She had wanted to taste them, but the man insisted they were still in production.
How absurd.
If she couldn’t taste the product, how was she supposed to judge its quality?
She had rejected the cooperation outright.
Time was money.
While that factory was still “in production,” this girl’s goods were already market-ready. Every additional day these products sat on Friendship Building shelves meant increased revenue.
Moreover, most foreign customers preferred established suppliers. Choosing the wrong partner would cost her dearly.
Now, seeing Xu Ying, she felt certain of her judgment.
Still, Manager Li couldn’t help asking, puzzled,
“Aren’t you from a food factory? Why are you also involved with a textile factory?”
Xu Ying smiled calmly.
“I work in the R&D department of the food factory, and I also serve as a designer at the textile factory.”
Manager Li looked genuinely impressed. Such dedication and versatility at her age were rare.
She led Xu Ying to the director’s office. The moment they entered, Manager Li hurried over, leaned down, and whispered several words into the director’s ear.
The Director of the Friendship Building, Director Ma, immediately broke into a broad smile. His gaze toward Xu Ying warmed noticeably.
“So you’re Xiao Xu,” he said cordially. “Please, have a seat. I’m very interested in the food products from your factory and would like to purchase some for sale here. Shall we discuss the pricing?”
Xu Ying calmly introduced each product and its pricing, adding a small margin to cover transportation costs.
Director Ma showed little hesitation. Food was not his primary concern.
He agreed swiftly and signed the contract on the spot.
Xu Ying understood Director Ma perfectly—just as Director Ma understood what Xu Ying represented.
Neither spoke of it aloud.
With the cooperation finalized, the two sat quietly, sipping tea, each satisfied with what they had gained.