Chapter 106

 

January 1, 2008, New Year’s Day.

The five-year leadership transition conference of the Haigang Foreign Trade Association’s Standing Council was being held at the Scully Hotel in Haigang.

Boss Ming of Mingzhou Foreign Trade would attend as a council member and participate in the vote.

The election meeting was scheduled for the afternoon. In the morning—

Ming Xi went to Longmao Department Store and sat in Li Jian’s office.

Recently, the temperature in Haigang had been dropping day by day, occasionally falling below zero. Even a gentleman like Boss Liang, who usually maintained an elegant demeanor and seemed unafraid of the cold, had already started wearing sweaters early this winter.

It was clear that this year would truly be a cold winter.

As someone engaged in foreign trade, Miss Ming always paid attention to the climate toward the end of the year. Large volumes of container shipping could not tolerate even the slightest mistake, yet severe weather would inevitably have a serious impact on logistics.

This year as well, meteorological experts had predicted early on that because cold water in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific continued to develop, the entire autumn had remained in a La Niña state. Therefore, they anticipated that after New Year’s Day in 2008, the weather would become unusually cold.

“Unusually cold” sounded harmless enough. But no one had expected that January of 2008 would be that cold—cold enough for rain and snow to block the roads and for blizzards to besiege entire cities.

However—

The weather today, on New Year’s Day, was still quite good. It was cold, but the sun was out.

Ming Xi rose from the leather sofa chair in Li Jian’s office and walked to the window.

Nearly eight years had passed, yet the furnishings in the general manager’s office of Longmao Department Store had hardly changed. Only the view outside the window was different from before. She remembered that when she left in 2000, the locust trees outside had been blooming with clusters of pure white flowers—lively and elegant. Now, in the depth of winter, the locust trees along the street remained the same in form, but only bare branches were left. It was as though the years had stripped away their outer garments, leaving them with an added sense of rugged strength.

Ming Xi withdrew her gaze and turned back with a smile. Not far away, Li Jian was bending over, brewing tea for her.

Throughout their meeting today, Li Jian’s flattery had been relentless. Some of them were exaggerated, but he said them happily, and she listened happily.

When she had first entered society, the luckiest thing she encountered was Manager Li as her leader—shrewd yet generous. Back then they had worked together for only half a year, yet Li Jian had readily allowed her to leave. That kindness was something she still felt grateful for to this day.

Of course, if she hadn’t left Longmao Department Store in the early summer of 2000, and had instead continued working under Li Jian long-term, he certainly would not have treated her poorly.

Ding Xiao was a prime example; she was now the deputy sales manager.

“No, no, it’s a good thing I let you go back then. Otherwise I’d suffer heavenly punishment!” Li Jian said cheerfully while opening the tea tin. In recent years the department store business had been thriving, and Li Jian himself had been enjoying favorable times. Aside from some gray hair appearing at his temples, his appearance had not changed much.

If we’re talking about significant changes, who could compare to Ming Xi?

A woman reached a dividing line after twenty-five. Yet Ming Xi, now twenty-eight, seemed as if she had just reached the stage where flowers were in full bloom.

Whether it was money, career, or love that nourished her, Miss Ming still possessed such vitality! She radiated the vigorous spirit she had when she first arrived at Longmao at twenty, yet the earlier greenness and recklessness had disappeared. When she smiled, the corners of her eyes and brows appeared calm yet lively, blending confidence and charm in a natural way. No wonder Li Jian had heard at a recent business dinner that a powerful “second-generation” official had gone to great lengths pursuing Miss Ming—only to return in defeat.

Because she had to attend the association’s leadership transition meeting in the afternoon, Ming Xi had dressed relatively formally when leaving home today. Even though she had temporarily taken off her thick black coat and casually draped it over the sofa armrest, she was still wearing a well-tailored women’s suit in light gray. In recent years Ming Xi herself had not changed much. It was simply that she and Li Jian rarely met, which was why he felt so many emotions.

The only real change was that she had cut off the long wavy hair she had kept for many years. Now it was medium-long—just long enough to tie up, yet not requiring much time to maintain.

Today Ming Xi had come to Manager Li for a reason: to discuss placing Mingzhou Outdoor Apparel’s products on the counters at Longmao Department Store.

Her entire negotiation approach balanced personal goodwill with concrete value, leaving Li Jian unable to find any opening to bargain.

“Why didn’t Mingzhou come to the investment promotion conference in the first half of the year?” Li Jian brewed tea and personally handed it to Miss Ming. Though his tone sounded casual, there was still a hint of indirect probing.

Ming Xi smiled and frankly replied, “The brand was just established in the first half of the year; how could I dare to join the Longmao investment promotion conference? Even if Manager Li were willing to give me that face, I was afraid of ruining the event!”

Li Jian laughed heartily; this was indeed something Ming Xi would say. He shook his head with admiration, “Ming Xi, how come you haven’t changed at all? You still speak so… straightforwardly!” Intelligent and honest. Words that were impossible to defeat were often the ones spoken openly.

“How could I not have changed? Just now you said I had changed the most,” Ming Xi replied with a small smile, taking a sip of tea.

“I wasn’t talking about your appearance, but the way you talk. It’s exactly the same as when you were working under me.” Li Jian chuckled twice, teasingly added, “Luckily, I didn’t misjudge you back then, otherwise I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to cooperate.”

Ming Xi smiled modestly, yet responded playfully, “If you hadn’t been willing to let me go back then, how could I have had the chance to break out? If I don’t work desperately to move forward now, how could I live up to your ‘not misjudging’ me?”

“With that one charge forward, you rushed straight onto Longmao’s platform. If Longmao Department Store hadn’t secured the number-one sales position in Haigang this year, I’d almost suspect that I had fallen behind the times.” Li Jian laughed along, then added half jokingly, half with admiration: “Ming Xi, you’re practically a woman who creates legends.”

Legends are still a long way off. Ming Xi became more serious, speaking earnestly, “If the Bright brand can succeed at Longmao, then Manager Li can give me a proper compliment!”

Okay, okay! Li Jian readily promised to allocate the best counter space for Mingzhou.

Li Jian was always polite and enthusiastic when discussing cooperation with anyone—let alone with Ming Xi.

For Boss Ming to come personally today was something Manager Li truly appreciated. He did not expect her to remember every favor from the past; it was enough that she had not forgotten their former friendship.

How could she forget! Ming Xi always remembered the benefactors who had supported her in the past, especially since her benefactors were all outstanding people.

“Manager Ding, do you have time later to help me pick out a few sets of men’s clothes?”

When Ming Xi stepped out of Li Jian’s office, Manager Ding Xiao was already waiting outside the door. She wore Longmao’s new red uniform for the Spring Festival season, with a silver manager’s badge pinned to her collar.

Now that the cooperation was settled, she could conveniently fulfill someone’s “commission” by purchasing several new outfits.

“Boss Ming, the way you put it— even if I were so busy I couldn’t turn around, I’d still make time for you,” Ding Xiao grinned.

“Thank you!”

The warm lighting in Longmao’s menswear section made each garment appear luxurious yet understated. Ming Xi selected several outfits in different styles and designs, along with scarves and accessories, buying them all.

After filling several bags with her purchases, Ming Xi signed the receipt and left.

The driver was already sitting inside the business sedan, quietly waiting by Longmao’s back entrance. A young new sales assistant from the menswear counter carried the bags to the trunk. Along the way, Ming Xi could sense the look in the young saleswoman’s eyes—admiration, envy, and a hint of speculation.

Then the sales assistant quickly stepped forward and skillfully opened the car door for her.

“Thank you,” Ming Xi said politely with a slight nod before taking a seat in the back.

Life’s opportunities are truly wondrous. Back then, she too used to carry large and small shopping bags for customers like this, bending slightly with a smile as she opened the car door. She had experienced both the arrogance of the wealthy and the courtesy and refinement of rich people with good manners.

Now, judging by both her assets and her social status, she could also be considered among the ranks of the wealthy.

She once thought that if she became rich, she would also stand high above others—silent and aloof. In reality, she was still herself: shrewdness kept within her heart, a smile always properly given.

In the cold days at the end of the year, on the main avenues of Haigang’s central district, cars of various brands lined up closely one after another. The exhaust pipes at the rear of the vehicles puffed out smoke, which in the frigid air sometimes gathered into clouds and sometimes slowly dispersed, forming a different kind of worldly “human smoke and fire” of the era.

“Miss Ming, should we go directly to the Scully Hotel?” The driver held the steering wheel steadily as the car turned off the most congested Longmao Avenue and asked Ming Xi in the back seat.

Ming Xi, sitting in the back, used her spare time to check work emails on her phone.

She had bought the newest touch-screen phone released that year. As a first-generation smartphone, it already had the ability to connect to the internet and check email. In recent years, compared to foreign trade, electronic technology had been developing even more rapidly—changing everyone’s lifestyle and working methods almost every year.

“Yes. But I’ll probably stay at the Scully Hotel for a few hours this afternoon. You don’t need to wait for me. First deliver the clothes in the trunk to Tianxi… No. 2. Just leave them outside the door,” Ming Xi said without lifting her head, giving instructions in an orderly manner.

“Understood,” the driver replied.

Ming Xi continued reading her emails, and after finishing them she composed replies in English.

In the past two years, although work had been busy and her career had taken a significant leap forward, Ming Xi had actually become more relaxed.

It wasn’t the kind of relaxation brought by money. Rather, it seemed she had grown a little more.

Two days earlier she had met Jiang Meiqian. As soon as Maggie sat down, she immediately began complaining about Boss Liang: “My god, last time I ran into Liang Jiancheng at a government meeting, I still can’t believe it. Liang Jiancheng actually wore one of those administrative jackets! His aura was practically like my dad’s. If he hadn’t turned his head in the end—and the face was still that same face, still young and sexy—I wouldn’t even want to admit that this was the man I once desperately wanted!”

Ahem…

In truth, things were probably not as exaggerated as Maggie described. But Boss Liang’s current identity was different from that of private business owners like her. In addition, he had deliberately kept a low profile in recent years, so naturally his clothing style could no longer continue the refined British-elite look of his earlier days. Liang Jiancheng himself had realized this problem. Recently he had even asked her, somewhat pleadingly, to spare some time at the end of the year to help him choose a few younger, more casual outfits.

And sure enough, today, Boss Ming bought a whole bunch of things.

Their three-year contract was almost up. Whether it would be renewed or terminated was still unknown. But during the contract period, the financial strength of the contractor had doubled, and naturally the benefits for service provider had risen accordingly.

A smile tugged at Ming Xi’s lips as the car came to a steady stop in front of the hotel entrance.

The parking attendant quickly approached and politely opened the door for her.

The meeting was at 2 PM, and at noon, Ming Xi had also arranged lunch with a long-time overseas client.

No matter how high a boss’s rank, they still had to be courteous to clients. Even though the client arrived an hour late, Boss Ming maintained her warm smile and good temper throughout, hosting the lunch flawlessly. However, by the time lunch ended, it was almost 2 PM. Ming Xi arrived at the hotel’s third-floor conference hall just in time.

Outside, the wind was biting, but inside the hotel was warm and cozy.

A waiter stepped forward and pushed open the heavy conference doors with both hands.

Ming Xi held her coat over one arm and carried the newly signed contract in the other hand. With a pleasant smile on her face, she walked in gracefully. Because she was the last to arrive—even though she was not late—Miss Ming still gave everyone a slight apologetic smile.

Confidence combined with humility—this was the way of dealing with the world that she had learned from Liang Jiancheng over the years and now used with ease.

Director Sheng sat in the frontmost seat. Below him was Vice Chairman He Yuan.

Ming Xi’s seat was also near the front.

Over three years, as Mingzhou’s strength increased, Miss Ming’s seat at each meeting had gradually moved from the very back row to the front. Today, with only the status of a council member, she was already sitting directly opposite He Yuan.

However, after today, He Yuan would probably no longer be sitting opposite her.

Next to Ming Xi sat Kevin from Xinghai Foreign Trade. In recent years, Xinghai’s business had been handled by him. Compared with Liang Jiancheng, Kevin was only an acting manager. For him, maintaining Xinghai’s profit margin was far more important than expanding its performance. Precisely because of this, Mingzhou had been able to press forward and eventually surpass them.

Although Mingzhou and Xinghai Foreign Trade have always been competitors, Ming Xi and Kevin have a good personal relationship and were always courteous to each other when they meet. The reason was simple: until the first half of this year, Xinghai Foreign Trade had always been Mingzhou’s largest creditor.

Ming Xi sat down calmly, placed her briefcase beside her, and nodded toward Director Sheng. The meeting host beside him then began the official proceedings. The first half consisted mostly of routine official statements, until they finally entered the most important stage—the voting.

“This election meeting has two main agendas: first, to add a new deputy secretary-general; and second, to propose that Mr. Qian of Xinghai Foreign Trade serve as the association’s vice chairman. The list of candidates for deputy secretary-general and vice chairman has been distributed to everyone. Please raise your hands to vote shortly.” The moderator’s steady voice echoed in the meeting hall.

Ming Xi glanced at the ballot list. The names of He Yuan and Mr. Qian—Kevin—were both clearly listed, along with another senior and highly respected “old brother” in the association. Choosing two out of three was an easy decision for her today.

Miss Ming leaned back slightly in her chair, resting against the backrest. Her gaze did not deliberately fall on He Yuan; she simply looked straight ahead naturally.

But at the same time, He Yuan kept his gaze fixed on her with a heavy expression.

Over the past three years, Ming Xi could say without false modesty that Mingzhou had done very well. In comparison, Haiou had been somewhat disappointing. Originally Haiou had maintained its sales through American orders, but because He Yuan had a young wife by his side and his former wife had parted ways with him, his client connections were far weaker than before. Coupled with serious debts incurred three years ago, from the industry’s perspective, Haiou was now nothing more than a case of “a camel starved to death is still bigger than a horse.” A return to former glory was not very realistic.

Business was like a battlefield. Even when it was not literally life or death, most people still judged others according to the situation. Industry associations were the same. Five years ago, He Yuan had still been surrounded by followers like a big brother in the industry and had been elected vice chairman. Today, whether Boss He could even keep that vice-chairman position—it was hard to say.

The first candidate, the highly respected elder, passed without suspense—everyone raised their hands, and he was elected unanimously.

The second was Kevin, Mr. Qian. In daily dealings he was smooth and considerate. Although he was only the acting manager of Xinghai Foreign Trade, since joining the Haigang Foreign Trade Association circle he had been widely recognized for both his work ability and his personal character. In the end, although his votes did not match the elder’s, they still exceeded half.

Now it was He Yuan’s turn.

Kicking someone when they were down was something Ming Xi had never done before, and she would not do it now. But she was not foolish enough to kindly vote for He Yuan either.

When He Yuan’s voting began, the first person he looked at was inevitably Ming Xi sitting opposite him.

Since they were seated face to face, their gazes naturally met.

At that moment, He Yuan suddenly smiled at her. It was the kind of awkward smile forced by helplessness—one that thick-skinnedly asked for a favor.

Across from him, Ming Xi felt a trace of surprise. She raised her eyebrow slightly, and a faint, pleasant smile naturally appeared on her face.

Then, meeting He Yuan’s almost pleading gaze for votes, after thinking seriously for a second, Miss Ming tapped the table twice with the ballpoint pen in her hand—

Then, still wearing an extremely polite expression, she shook her head—very slightly.

Boss Ming never played games. With the most courteous and straightforward expression possible, she had already clearly conveyed her meaning to Boss He in advance: He should not place any hope in her. She would definitely not vote for him.

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