Lin Wanrong burst into hearty laughter, while the young lady suddenly realized, "Oh, this is exactly in line with his vulgar language." She became flustered, her face turning crimson, and tear drops swirling in her eyes as she exclaimed, "Is being bullied by you my destiny?"
The young lady was genuinely angry and ignored Lin San for the rest of the journey. Upon returning to the shop, everyone anxiously awaited. The young lady, disregarding the anxious glances of the others, immediately threw herself into the arms of Zhang Mama, saying, "Mama—" and couldn't say more, bursting into loud sobs...
The young lady returned unharmed, and of course, everyone was delighted. However, Lin San's expression was peculiar, hesitant to laugh. The young lady's demeanor was even more mysterious, as if she had tasted all seven flavors of life, baffling to anyone who looked.
The impact of the phrase "inferior to beasts" was evident. Until the day before the annual meeting, the young lady hadn't spoken a word to Lin Wanrong.
Lin Wanrong wasn't particularly concerned; teasing young girls was not a new endeavor for him. He would handle it as it came.
Upon leaving, the young lady had already entered the carriage early, seemingly unwilling to face this vulgar man. Lin Wanrong was content with the peace.
The venue for the annual meeting, Qingyu Building, was located next to the Su Causeway, a renowned restaurant in Hangzhou. Following the young lady into the building, Lin Wanrong glanced around and couldn't help but snort.
Qingyu Building's layout was remarkably similar to that of Shiwexian. What irritated Lin Wanrong most was that the various promotional methods displayed on Shiwexian's walls were shamelessly copied by Qingyu Building, almost identical. Displayed prominently, it seemed Qingyu Building had sent someone to personally inspect Shiwexian in Jinling.
Lin Wanrong didn't know whether to be happy or sad. The fact that these promotional methods had reached Hangzhou meant Shiwexian's reputation had spread far and wide. However, there was no patent protection at the moment, and these promotional methods couldn't be kept confidential. Others could copy and use them freely, and he couldn't do anything about it.
Regardless, facing this situation was far from uplifting. Lin Wanrong snorted heavily.
The young lady who had been talking to Lin Wanrong was walking ahead. Hearing his voice, she couldn't help but turn around, looking at him with a hint of disdain. She said, "The people you'll see later are all top figures in the Jiangsu and Zhejiang business circles. You better behave."
Lin Wanrong chuckled, "Rest assured, Miss. In front of strangers, I am absolutely serious."
The young lady snorted softly, "To say you're serious is like the sun setting in the west. After yesterday's words, you better not say them again, or I'll definitely stop talking to you."
"I know, I know," Lin Wanrong grinned. "I won't mention it to you again."
The young lady, however, sensed something in his words, hummed, and said, "Did you use those vulgar words to Miss Qingxuan?"
Lin Wanrong paused for a moment, and replied, "This matter is private and not suitable to be revealed to the young lady."
Xiao Yurou bit her lip and stopped talking to him. The two entered the building and saw a short and chubby old man approaching. He clasped his hands in salute and smiled, "Miss Xiao, forgive me for not welcoming you from afar. I have neglected my duty."
The young lady smiled in return, "President Yu, your words are too polite. Attending the annual meeting of the Jiangsu and Zhejiang Chambers of Commerce is a blessing for the younger generation. I can't afford the honor of being personally welcomed by President Yu; it's really killing Yurou."
This fat old man, around fifty years old, had a red face and a smile that didn't reach his eyes. Lin Wanrong glanced at him, and he should be the president of the Hangzhou Chamber of Commerce. Looking at his fat belly, it seemed that pretending might not be a good idea.
President Yu squinted and said with a smile, "Miss, don't be so polite. During these days, colleagues from both Jiangsu and Zhejiang have been talking about Miss everywhere, envying you greatly. There will be many colleagues eager to exchange thoughts with you later."
There was a hidden meaning in his words. In the eyes of President Yu, Lin Wanrong, as a mere servant, was not worth considering. Lin Wanrong wished he could kick this fat guy in the butt, but to avoid causing trouble for the young lady, he just grunted without saying anything.
The young lady said, "I only brought one person. Others are irrelevant and useless if they come."
President Yu smiled and asked, "Why didn't Master Tao come with you?"
Tao Dongcheng's pursuit of Miss Xiao was well known in both the Jiangsu and Zhejiang Chambers of Commerce. President Yu's words were teasing the young lady.
Xiao Yurou smiled and shook her head, "Master Tao might have something to do. We're just colleagues; I don't know much about these things."
President Yu laughed and invited the young lady inside.
There were quite a few people present, all wealthy merchants from Jiangsu and Zhejiang. The young lady greeted them with a smile. It seemed she was not meeting them for the first time.
Lin Wanrong followed behind the young lady, carefully observing the expressions of these people. They looked at her with a mix of envy and jealousy. Considering President Yu's words, it seemed these people were eyeing the two lucrative businesses of the Xiao family.
The young lady found a table and sat down. Sitting beside her was a woman in her thirties, tall and sturdy, with thick eyebrows and big eyes, looking very strong.
Seeing the young lady, she took her hand, grinned broadly, and said, "Younger sister, come sit here."
With a strong Shandong accent, Lin Wanrong couldn't help but want to laugh at the three words "younger sister." However, it felt so familiar.
The young lady sat down next to her, smiling, "Sister Liu, you came early."
"Of course!" Liu Sister said boldly, "Traveled all day yesterday, but those animals were disobedient, halfway through they kicked up their heels and had diarrhea, delaying the journey. Only arrived in the second half of the night."
This statement made the merchants at the table burst into laughter. The young lady blushed slightly and said with a smile, "Sister Liu, you still speak so straightforwardly."
Lin Wanrong felt extremely comfortable. This was such a friendly language of the working class. Although Sister Liu was a bit strong and her words were rough, her straightforward character was admirable in his eyes.
Miss and Sister Liu engaged in conversation. It turns out that this Sister Liu's name is Liu Yue'e. Originally from Peixian, Shandong (Note: Peixian now belongs to Jiangsu), she later married into an ordinary family in Jinling. From a young age, she had a robust appearance. After marriage, her husband turned out to be a simple fellow. However, Liu Yue'e was skilled, possessing the extraordinary talent of crafting and polishing jade and jadeite, a craft passed down through generations. Gradually, she became a unique figure in Jinling, expanding her business to Anhui and Zhejiang. Now, she had amassed a considerable fortune and successfully operated an antique shop specializing in jade and jadeite. Liu Yue'e managed the store and her husband proficiently, earning a reputation as a prominent and capable woman.
Both Miss and her had experiences as women, traveling between various provinces and often journeying together, fostering a good relationship.
Liu Yue'e said, "Younger sister, I heard that some time ago, you were abducted by those despicable people. Sister was extremely worried. Fortunately, you returned unharmed, a true stroke of luck."
Miss pointed at Lin Wanrong and laughed, "Fortunately, my family's guard, he, ensured my safe return."
Liu Yue'e glanced at Lin Wanrong and wondered, "This young man seems to possess considerable skills?"
Miss replied, "His capabilities are indeed not small. I'm afraid my family's resources may not be enough to accommodate such a big fish."
What big fish? Clearly, it's a dragon. This girl, what kind of look is that? Lin Wanrong thought indignantly.
Liu Yue'e suddenly said, "To receive praise from such an extraordinary person as my younger sister, this young man must be quite capable. Young man, what is your name, and how old are you this year?"
"I am called Lin San, and I am twenty years old this year," Lin Wanrong smiled. Among all the people present, only Sister Liu treated him differently, making him feel grateful. Although he was a bit plain-looking.
"Just twenty?" Liu Yue'e grinned widely. "That's even more remarkable. Lin San, do you have a sweetheart?"
This question was too crude. Hehe, Lin Wanrong "shyly" replied, "Not yet."
Liu Yue'e laughed heartily, "Young man, if you find a girl you like, tell me. You saved my sister's life, and I can introduce you to some good girls for work, whether they're from Yichun Court or Miaoyu Lane, I can find them for you."
Miss, covering her lips, smiled and said, "Sister Liu, don't listen to Lin San's nonsense. He already has someone in his heart, a celestial-like lady. In the entire Jinling City, there is no one who can compare."
Liu Yue'e wondered, "Even you cannot compare? In Jinling, I have not seen anyone more beautiful than you, my sister. Young man, is your sweetheart really more beautiful than my sister?"
This question was not easy to answer. Miss glanced at him, lowered her head, and remained silent. Lin Wanrong smiled and said, "Peach and plum have their own charms."
Miss snorted, but it was unclear whether she was satisfied or dissatisfied, lowered her head, and said, "Always saying flattering words to please people."
Liu Yue'e glanced at the blushing Miss and exclaimed. Suddenly, she approached Lin Wanrong and said, "Young Master Lin, you might as well give up on your sweetheart."
Lin Wanrong was stunned, before he could speak, Liu Yue'e continued, "My Xiao Jia girl seems to have taken a liking to you."