"Xiao Yu, what do you like? Why don't we go down and pick out a couple of items?"
"No, thank you. This was given to my mother by Guo Xu Yang's mother yesterday. I thought it looked nice, so I put it on. I never expected it to break."
"Did you run into some trouble last night? You have a big bump on your head too. Hey, where did the bump on your head disappear to?" Pi Xiao Qian said, then paused in surprise.
"I don't know what happened. It didn't hurt this morning. How did you lose weight? I remember you used to be over three hundred pounds."
"Brother Guo helped me. I can't explain exactly how. Anyway, I just slept and it became like this."
"Are you mythologizing him by saying this? How could it be like this after just one night? It's impossible."
"Do you know he has special abilities? Your special forces unit must have seen many incredible things by now, right? He is probably among the top tier of people with special abilities."
"Really? I know he has special abilities, but I didn't expect him to be that powerful."
"Otherwise, how could we specialty stores make money? These are all things he sourced from the Myanmar stores."
"That powerful?"
"Mhm. That necklace you're wearing was also cut from a rough stone. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been so generous as to give away something worth hundreds of millions. And they are all Imperial Green glass type, the highest quality jade. Jade like this is becoming increasingly rare. The price increase this year is precisely because top-grade jade is getting scarce. It's a matter of rarity, there's no helping it; every piece sold is one less."
"So, he must be making a fortune now?"
"Mhm. When they distributed dividends at the end of last year, I received less than a million, but his share was the largest, several hundred million."
"That doesn't sound like a lot for dividends, though."
"Don't you know how little time it's been? Less than two months. If you think about it that way, do you think it's a lot?"
"That impressive?"
"Yes. So far this year, we've already profited tens of billions. Every time we request materials, we ask for billions at a time. Of course, we make money ourselves too."
"Going by what you're saying, how much profit does this store make?"
"During the pre-holiday sales, business was booming, and we made over three billion. Normally, five hundred million to a billion is not a problem."
"You mean this store has a monthly income of no less than three hundred million?"
"Yes, and that's when business isn't good."
"What's the profit margin when you source these materials from the provincial capital?"
"Are you asking about the difference between the price here and the purchase price? Generally, we mark it up by more than half. Take that necklace you just picked up, for example. My wholesale cost is just over a hundred million, but the selling price won't be less than three hundred million. As you heard Master Yang say, Zhenbao Pavilion's price is three hundred and eighty million."
"So, your profit margin is over a hundred percent."
"You could say that."
"See if there's anything you like. I'll give it to you."
"No, thank you. I don't accept favors without reason. Your jade is too expensive for someone like me to afford."
"Do we still need you to pay? I'll give it to you."
"Thank you, but really, you don't have to."
"Xiao Yu, you know I've been waiting for you for a long time. I'm sincere about you. Look, why don't we try to get to know each other better?"
"We'll talk about that later. I'm very busy with my work and don't have time to go out. I'm on leave these past couple of days due to special circumstances."
"You can't neglect your future, can you? Besides, you're not getting any younger. You can't stay at home being an old maid, can you?"
"We'll discuss this when I get back. I'll think about it. I know your intentions, but sometimes feelings can't be forced. If you find someone suitable, you can prioritize them."
"I haven't taken a liking to any other girls. My heart belongs only to you."
"I have a sort of psychological潔癖 (cleanliness obsession). I know this might be hurtful to say, but I truly don't want to hurt you. You're a good person, really. But you're not quite suitable for me. I'm sorry."
When Li Min Yu said this, Pi Xiao Qian's face turned pale. He hadn't expected such a response.
"Don't be so sad. I'm not worth your sadness." Li Min Xi felt a bit guilty seeing Pi Xiao Qian like this, especially since he had waited for her for years.
"Then what kind of person do you like? Are you really not planning to get married?"
"My mind is quite confused right now. I need to think about it more."
"Alright then, I'll keep waiting for you. Until you get married."
"Please don't be like this. Really, it makes me feel bad. Besides, you're not young anymore. Your family must be urging you to get married and carry on the family line."
"My family is very tolerant of me. I'm not needed for carrying on the family line."
As they were talking, Master Yang entered.
"Manager Pi, this necklace has been repaired."
"Thank you, Master Yang," Li Min Yu said quickly. "How much will it cost?"
"This..." Master Yang glanced at Pi Xiao Qian.
"It's just a small favor, no charge. If I charged, Brother Guo and Xiao Xi would scold me to death," Pi Xiao Qian said.
"That's very kind of you. Thank you for your trouble this morning."
"If you really feel bad about it, you can treat me to a meal sometime."
"Okay, then. But my schedule is really unpredictable." Li Min Yu said, looking at Pi Xiao Qian's eager eyes.
"You can treat me whenever you're free."
"Alright. Thank you both. It's getting late, and I have to get to work. Goodbye." Li Min Xi said to Pi Xiao Qian and Master Yang, then got up and left.
On the way back to the provincial capital, Guo Yi Yu was still driving.
"Yang Zi, tell me honestly, where did you go on your business trip? Your Uncle Li said it was very dangerous." Wu Shang Qing asked.
"Mom, I can't say. There's a confidentiality order. If I could tell you, I would have told you long ago."
"You don't lack food or clothes, so why insist on participating in that kind of operation? If something were to happen to you, how would your mother live?"
"Mom, it's not as dangerous as you imagine. Besides, would I be willing to put you through that risk?"
"Mom, don't worry. Yang Zi knows what he's doing. If it were dangerous, he would have already run away. You wouldn't have to worry about him like this," Li Min Xi said.
"Exactly. Son knows what he's doing. You should just settle down and help me look after your grandchildren and daughters-in-law."
"Speaking of which, didn't your Uncle Li suggest postponing it until later? Why not handle your own marriage first?"
"I'm the main force of this operation. If I don't go, the danger my teammates face will increase exponentially."
"According to you, this operation can't be completed without you?"
"It's not that I can't be replaced, but my contribution accounts for more than half of it."
"Mom, didn't you hear what Dad said yesterday? He was even praised by his superiors and is noted in their records."
"You just keep defending him. If he really doesn't come back, you can cry then," Wu Shang Qing said resentfully.
"Mom, I believe Yang Zi will definitely come back. After all, he wouldn't abandon you, would he?"
"You know how to talk," Wu Shang Qing said, scolding him with a smile.