Volume One, Chapter 10: Rosang Factory Is Very Safe & Father's Mistress & The Great Bull Market

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Luo Xuan recalled that Zhang Dongyao was a doctoral student at Zhihé University. The reason he knew Luo Qi was because his research focused precisely on the clothing and textile industry cluster in Luosang County, using the Luosang Garment Factory as a typical case study. He spent every day there conducting field research.

Luo Xuan mentioned the factory’s openly stated admission thresholds: "How did Luosang Factory end up like this?"

Zhang Dongyao replied tactfully, "Once an organization becomes too large to manage effectively, with bloated staff, numerous hierarchical levels, and outdated management systems, problems like these inevitably arise."

Luo Xuan asked, "With Luosang Factory operating this way, are you sure there won’t be any issues?"

Zhang Dongyao shook his head, "No. Luosang County prides itself as the World Capital of Sportswear. The county, city, and province all place great emphasis on the planning and development of the clothing and textile industries. Current policies still favor industrial clusters." After a moment’s thought, he hinted cautiously, "As for the problems you mentioned with Luosang Factory, the county government is aware. Given the factory’s massive scale and its economic impact on the entire county, the local officials communicate directly with the Hong Kong management. You need not worry."

Luo Xuan said, "I hope so. My family’s Hongxing Factory still has outstanding payments owed by Luosang Factory."

Zhang Dongyao alluded subtly, "Luosang Factory recently acquired a 20,000-mu plot of land in Qingyuan, Guangdong."

This acquisition indicated that the factory’s financial chain was functioning well, that its qualifications were solid, and that it was preparing to expand.

Upon hearing this, Luo Xuan finally felt reassured and more lively: "Were you involved in the planning work?"

Zhang Dongyao smiled discreetly and cautiously said, "The Economic and Sociological Research Department at Zhihé University participated in the expert review."

Luo Xuan restrained herself, choosing not to press further on the industry planning issues.

Even though he was a valuable contact for the family business—her younger sister simply did not like him.

She had to stand with her sister.

The two fell silent for a long time. Zhang Dongyao lowered his eyes, his handsome face growing paler, lips tightening. He stared at the glass and finally resolved, "Do you think Luo Qi... about me, we..."

Luo Xuan interrupted him, "Zhang Dongyao, would you like some more water?"

Zhang Dongyao remained silent for a long while, then slowly shook his head, "I understand."

Luo Xuan immediately stood up and took her leave.

When she went to settle the bill, she found Zhang Dongyao had already paid.

Luo Xuan pulled out cash and insisted on handing it over to him.

…

Just as she stepped out of the restaurant, her phone rang.

She answered, and it was Luo Qi on the other end, immediately demanding, "Sister, Dad’s mistress is coming with her illegitimate child to negotiate with us today. Why are you out wandering now? Where are you?"

Luo Xuan asked, "Did you hurt yourself when Dad was gone?"

Luo Qi retorted, "Did Zhang Dongyao come looking for you?"

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Luo Xuan sighed, "Does it hurt?"

Luo Qi was silent for a moment, then stiffly said, "Come back quickly," and hung up.

…

Luo Xuan returned home to get her car and headed to the county hotel to pick up the mother and child.

As soon as the hotel room door was pushed open, shoes littered the floor.

A king-sized bedroom was cramped with three adults and one child. The curtains were half drawn, and the lights were off, releasing a strong, warm, lingering human odor.

Luo Xuan stepped back two steps.

A young woman was combing her hair in front of the mirror, introducing two wary-faced elderly people as her parents, who had rushed overnight to help take care of the child.

They came with ill intent.

Luo Xuan immediately sent a message to her younger sister. Minutes later, her sister replied with the address: the negotiation would take place at a familiar farmhouse inn, whose owner was an old acquaintance of Lin Zhaodi.

On the way, the woman sitting in the front passenger seat asked Luo Xuan, "Is this a reunion banquet to acknowledge Xiao Bao’s kinship?"

Luo Xuan coldly stared through the rearview mirror at the boy in the back seat, who was screaming incessantly. The boy, timid, shut his mouth but continued kicking the seat with his shoed feet. The two elders ignored it.

Finally, Luo Xuan could bear it no longer: "Stop kicking."

Only then did the woman in the front passenger seat hush the boy and turn to Luo Xuan with a smile: "Look at your little brother’s arms and legs—how strong! So sturdy! So adorable! He’s your real brother."

Luo Xuan mustered all her strength to restrain herself and said nothing.

…

Ten minutes from the farmhouse inn, the distant sound of drums and gongs filled the air. A crowd surged like waves, overflowing the narrow street in joyful celebration.

The young woman leaned out and asked, "It’s not New Year or festival season, what’s the celebration for?"

The car moved slowly through the crowd amid the pounding drums and gongs. At last, Luo Xuan saw a group holding up a bright red congratulatory banner nearly a person’s height:

"Congratulations to Luosang County’s student Wan Xiaoman for achieving top scores in the provincial unified examination!"

"Wow, Xiaoman! Bringing the top score to our county again, amazing!"

Luo Xuan rolled down the window and blurted out.

By the window stood a group of young female workers following the banner, their faces youthful, mostly seventeen or eighteen years old. They held sunflower seeds, turning their heads to spit the shells into their pockets. Their bright silk scarves fluttered in the wind, forming two pointed corners.

They chattered excitedly:

"Xiaoman is a big name in Luosang County."

"She’s always the top scorer every year!"

"Xiaoman will definitely get into Tsinghua University next year!"

"Secretary Zhao said Xiaoman is the hope of our county."

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The young woman rolled up the car window, turned her face, and curled her lips: "Just a girl, but acting all high and mighty. Why is your car trailing the procession?"

Luo Xuan said nothing, quietly drove on with the crowd, eventually arriving at the farmhouse inn.

The huge red congratulatory banner was hung prominently at the entrance of the inn, strikingly visible.

…

As soon as the car passed through the inn’s gate, Luo Xuan rolled down the window and loudly told the hostess, Jiao Jie, with a smile: "You’ve raised a good child, Jiao Jie! Xiaoman topped the exams again!"

Jiao Jie wore a full set of rose-red velvet fitted suit. The short, narrow jacket’s back was studded with crown-shaped rhinestones; the bell-bottom pants bore a line of sparkling "Juicy Couture" across the rear—samples of the new collection from Hongxing Factory.

She had just taken the congratulatory banner from Xiaoman and directed others to hang it at the door. Now, praised by the female workers, her face beamed with joy as she came forward happily: "Oh! Long time no see, Xuan, you’ve become so beautiful!"

Truthfully, Luo Xuan only ever heard the word “beautiful” from the sweet talk of restaurant owners.

Jiao Jie touched her waist: "You’ve put on weight, lucky you. How’s life in Shanghai?"

Luo Xuan silently vowed to lose weight. She twirled around a few times, sighing, "Too much overtime, no time to exercise, stress weight gain. If only I were as smart as Xiaoman, I wouldn’t have to work so hard!"

Jiao Jie playfully punched her, "Stop always praising Xiaoman. Your sister is amazing too."

"She’s even more amazing than my sister!" Luo Xuan gave a thumbs up. "Our Luosang County is about to produce a provincial top scorer! The top scorer can get into Tsinghua University! The hope of Luosang County!"

Jiao Jie smiled for a while, then, excitedly said, "I heavily invested in that stock you bought—it’s skyrocketed! Doubled already! Makes more than running the restaurant, and it’s not tiring! Got any other good stocks to recommend?"

Luo Xuan was puzzled, "My stock hasn’t doubled yet?"

Jiao Jie gave her the stock code: "Isn’t it this one, 600813?"

Luo Xuan looked carefully and laughed heartily, "Wrong one! It’s 600318!"

Jiao Jie gasped, then laughed: "Oh dear, oh dear, bought the wrong one, but it doubled anyway!"

Luo Xuan sighed, "The bull market."

Jiao Jie whispered mysteriously, "My uncle’s classmate works at a bank and has a way to ‘cut through the back door’ to buy funds. You can make a big profit, only a 1% ‘tea fee’ commission."