As they exited Jiahe Garden Community, their excitement was palpable. Neither felt the slightest hint of drowsiness. A hope so close it seemed tangible surged within them, their mood as clear and far-reaching as an autumn night's starry sky.
By midnight, the streets were nearly deserted. Feng Shijie drove smoothly on the empty roads, approaching an intersection, he asked, "Should I take you home, or do you want to come to my place and chat a bit more?"
Ye Xiaoming replied, "Going home won't help me sleep. Let's go to your place and talk some more."
Feng Shijie said, "It's almost midnight. Do you think Liu Bing will still be waiting at the shop?"
Ye Xiaoming answered, "He probably will be. In matters like this, you've got to act immediately; no one needs to teach him that."
Sure enough, as they drove onto Renmin Road, they saw the auto detailing shop's doors wide open, lights blazing inside and out. Liu Bing and two young workers were chatting at the entrance. Spotting Feng Shijie's car, Liu Bing stood up and walked to the roadside, anticipation written all over his face.
Before the car had fully stopped, Liu Bing was at the window. "Why are you back so late? How did it go?"
Feng Shijie engaged the handbrake and said, "We went with Brother Ding to Wangmiao Village. There might be something."
Ye Xiaoming added, "Have you been waiting here all this time?"
The mention of "Brother Ding" made Liu Bing take things more seriously. He replied, "I wouldn't dare leave. I promised to treat you guys to a late-night snack."
Feng Shijie glanced at Ye Xiaoming and said, "We got caught up talking there and didn't eat much. How about we head to the night market? Better than sitting here doing nothing."
Ye Xiaoming agreed, "Sure, but I'm treating."
Liu Bing immediately questioned, "What do you mean by that?"
Ye Xiaoming laughed, "I'm scared."
Feng Shijie told his employees to close up, and the three drove to the bustling Nanhuan Street night market.
The night market was in full swing. Aromas of various foods wafted through the cool breeze. Vendors called out to passersby while expertly tossing food in woks, the sizzle and roar of flames enhancing the appetite.
They sat at a small stir-fry stall, ordering two cold dishes, two hot dishes, and three beers.
Liu Bing asked, "So, how did it go? Tell us."
Feng Shijie lit a cigarette, took a puff, and said, "Brother Ding visited the village, chatted with a few locals, and we discussed shares before dropping him off. That's all. It's too early to say what exactly we'll do. Brother Ding is still gathering information, but it'll be related to audio equipment."
As the dishes arrived, Liu Bing poured himself a beer, took a sip, and said, "We've been friends for years. Don't forget to give a brother a chance if there's a good opportunity."
Ye Xiaoming joked, "That's why I'm afraid to drink your beer. We're still asking for help; nothing is set yet. You know Brother Ding well. Do you think it's appropriate for us to talk on your behalf?"
Feng Shijie chimed in, "Exactly. If anyone should talk to him, it's you."
Liu Bing, half talking to himself, half to the others, said, "I helped Brother Ding out when he was in a tough spot. I sold over 300 of his records, getting him more than 17,000 yuan."
Feng Shijie and Ye Xiaoming laughed, their meaning clear. Feng Shijie said, "If you bring that up to Brother Ding, it's off the mark. You call that helping? It's just business."
Liu Bing chuckled, realizing his mistake.
Ye Xiaoming, eating and drinking slowly, said, "No matter what we do, whether big or small, the major investor must hold the controlling stake. We can only contribute 49%. More people mean splitting the shares further."
Liu Bing clasped his hands in a gesture of understanding, "I get it, brothers!"
Ye Xiaoming suggested, "If you're unsure, here's a tip: do like Shijie and talk to Rui Xiaodan. She's a local and easy to approach."
Liu Bing hesitated, "What does she do? Can we even talk to her? She already bought back Brother Ding's records from me, so she probably doesn't think highly of me. Can she really help?"
Feng Shijie said, "Rui Xiaodan isn't petty. She might not handle it directly, but going through her could help."
Liu Bing said, "I trust you two. If this works out, I'll sell my shop and invest everything."
Feng Shijie said, "Your shop won't last much longer anyway."
Ye Xiaoming, after some thought, asked, "Shijie, if we do this, how much are you willing to invest?"
Feng Shijie answered without hesitation, "I started this, so I'll invest whatever I can, maybe over a hundred thousand. If they're helping us, we can't hold back."
Ye Xiaoming nodded, "True. But I've only got about 60,000 to 70,000 including my stock. It's not much, and who knows what kind of scale they'll need."
Feng Shijie smiled, "You always say the barefoot don't fear the shod. But if we end up being the shod ones, it'll be a joke."
Liu Bing, puzzled, said, "I don't get it. Is Brother Ding really that capable? He's so broke he had to sell records. What's he investing with? Could he be a fraud?"
...
The three of them ate and talked, spending an excited yet suspicious night together.