Chapter 195
“Sorry, Manager Xiang. My husband came to pick me up. Thank you for bringing me back today. Please give the partnership serious consideration. I guarantee it will bring you unexpected benefits.”
Song Nianchu assumed Xiang Tianyi was angry because she had neglected him, so she hurried to explain.
“Got it,” Xiang Tianyi replied before turning the car around and driving away.
As soon as he left, the light around them dimmed, leaving only the small flashlight in Mu Shi'an’s hand.
“You came back so late today. Were you with him?” Mu Shi'an kept staring in the direction Xiang Tianyi had driven off.
“I originally went to discuss a partnership with him, but he had gone out. I waited for him all day, and he didn’t come back until dark. By the time we finished talking, it was already this late,” Song Nianchu explained.
“What kind of partnership? Is it about the canning workshop?” Mu Shi'an asked, pretending to sound casual.
“Yes. I want to expand the workshop, and he’s the best person to partner with.” Song Nianchu hooked her arm through Mu Shi'an’s and walked home by the light of the flashlight.
“Why do you think he’s the best partner?” Mu Shi'an pressed the matter more than usual that day.
But Song Nianchu didn’t think much of it. She assumed he was simply making conversation to pass the time on the way home.
“He’s the director of the city’s supply and marketing cooperative. Nearly ninety percent of the canned goods produced by our workshop are sold through him.”
“Besides, he’s wealthy, and he definitely has powerful connections behind him. Naturally, we should hold on tightly to someone with money and connections,” Song Nianchu analyzed matter-of-factly.
From a business perspective, the more powerful a partner’s background, the safer the project would be.
After all, someone like that would have enough influence to protect their venture.
But those words sounded entirely different to Mu Shi'an.
Money and connections…
Even if Song Nianchu hadn’t said it, he could tell.
After all, how many people in this era could afford to drive a car?
His own family’s business had once been quite successful. They had not only owned a car, but also employed a dedicated driver. But that was all in the past.
Mu Shi'an’s gaze unconsciously fell on Song Nianchu. He suddenly wished they had met earlier.
Then again, meeting earlier might not have made any difference. He might have ended up being sent away with her.
“Why did you stop talking?” Song Nianchu looked up at him after receiving no response.
“Nothing. I just think he’s pretty impressive,” Mu Shi'an said slowly.
“You’re impressive too. You can build a weaving machine with the lowest possible cost and the highest efficiency. You’ve made the most convenient handcart and the finest engraved printing blocks. In your own field, you shine just as brightly.” Song Nianchu hadn’t noticed Mu Shi'an’s hidden insecurity, but she couldn’t stand hearing him belittle himself.
“Really? Am I that impressive?” The knot between Mu Shi'an’s brows instantly loosened, and a faint smile appeared at the corners of his eyes.
“Of course. My man is naturally the best.” Song Nianchu lifted her chin slightly.
Mu Shi'an’s expression softened at once.
“You haven’t eaten dinner yet, have you?”
“No, I didn’t have time.” Song Nianchu nodded.
“I kept some food warm for you at home. When we get back, take a shower first. I’ll heat up your dinner.”
“All right.”
“…”
The two of them chatted and laughed as they soon made their way home.
Meanwhile, Xiang Tianyi had also arrived home.
He had barely stepped through the door when the telephone rang.
Xiang Tianyi went over to answer it, and Sun Wenshi’s voice immediately came through the receiver.
“Did you see Comrade Song today?”
“You called me this late just to ask that?” Xiang Tianyi drawled, lazily lowering himself into a chair.
“I waited all day for you to call, but you never did, so I had to call you myself. How did the business discussion with Comrade Song go?” Sun Wenshi asked urgently.
“It was all right,” Xiang Tianyi replied evenly.
“What does ‘all right’ mean? Is it a yes or a no? And Song Nianchu still hasn’t told me what kind of partnership she wanted to discuss with you. Are you two planning to set up on your own behind my back?”
Sun Wenshi was deliberately teasing him.
“She wants me to invest in her canning workshop.” Xiang Tianyi did not hide it from Sun Wenshi.
“Invest in the canning workshop? Didn’t she refuse before?” Sun Nianchu was puzzled.
“I don’t know why she suddenly changed her mind. Are you sure you thoroughly investigated her background?” Xiang Tianyi asked again.
“I did. She really is a native of Qinghe Fishing Village. She’s never left Qinghe County from childhood to adulthood,” Sun Wenshi answered firmly.
“That’s strange,” Xiang Tianyi murmured.
“What’s strange?” Sun Wenshi asked, confused.
It was strange that Song Nianchu could speak about the partnership with such confidence and clarity, and that she seemed so certain about her business.
He dared to invest at this time because he had insider channels and knew that the leaders above had already begun to loosen their stance. Policy reforms would arrive soon.
That was why he had previously wanted to swallow up Song Nianchu’s canning business: he was preparing for the day policies were fully opened up.
Once the reforms arrived, many collective assets would become privately owned. Recently, he had been running around, looking for collective assets with development potential but poor current performance.
All he needed to do was invest a little money in them and acquire a share. Once the policies were relaxed, he could take advantage of the opportunity to buy up the remaining shares.
Then, by increasing production and expanding operations, he could revive even a dying business.
Song Nianchu had always refused to cooperate with him before. He had vaguely sensed that she seemed to know something.
Today, when she came to discuss a partnership, she had been willing to accept less investment rather than let him hold more than thirty percent of the shares.
Clearly, she was taking precautions against the possibility that he might one day try to swallow the entire factory.
But if she was truly just a simple fisher girl, there was no way she could know this information.
Could it really be a coincidence?
Or was she, as Sun Wenshi had said, simply someone with a calculating mind?
“I’m talking to you. Why aren’t you saying anything?” After waiting for a long while without receiving an answer, Sun Wenshi asked again.
“Nothing.” Xiang Tianyi pulled himself back from his thoughts.
“So, are you agreeing to it?” Sun Wenshi pressed.
“Why wouldn’t I agree to a business deal that makes money?” Xiang Tianyi replied coolly.
“That’s good. Comrade Song is a fine girl. If you work with her, she won’t let you suffer any losses.” Now that he had Xiang Tianyi’s assurance, Sun Wenshi finally relaxed.
“You’re always taking her side now. Have you forgotten who your friend is?” Xiang Tianyi snorted.
“You’re both my friends.”
Xiang Tianyi fell silent.
“All right, I still have things to do, so I’m hanging up,” Sun Wenshi said before ending the call.
But as Xiang Tianyi stared at the telephone in front of him, a dark, unsettled look surfaced in his eyes.
How was it that she was so well-liked?
Everyone seemed to be taking her side.