Rebirth 1983: Building My Business Empire

Chapter 92: Chapter 86 Secretary Wang

Swan Hotel was built on a tract of tidal flats, and opposite it was a dock. After enjoying a hearty breakfast, Lu Jiaxin walked out only to see many wooden boats moored along the river’s surface, while the opposite dock was bustling with people. There were vendors selling breakfasts, fruits, and even seafood and vegetables, all very lively.

Gu Wenfeng looked at the river’s old wooden boats as well as the crowded dock, busy as a market, then turned back to gaze upon the towering grandeur of the hotel, feeling quite mixed emotions.

Lu Jiaxin curiously asked, “Brother Gu, why aren’t these ships setting out to sea and all mooring at the dock instead?”

Fishermen live by catching fish; not going out to sea meant no income, and with no money, the whole family could likely face hunger.

Gu Wenfeng said, “It seems there’s a typhoon approaching, so they don’t dare go out to sea, it’s too dangerous. Miss Lu, are you planning to go over to the dock on the opposite side?”

Lu Jiaxin shook her head, “I’ve just eaten too much, taking a walk to digest the food.”

Gu Wenfeng did not understand; the scenery here was far inferior to the beautiful views of the hotel. What he didn’t know was that in Lu Jiaxin’s eyes, the blue sky and the emerald sea were incomparable to man-made landscapes.

After walking for more than ten minutes, with hardly anyone around, Lu Jiaxin asked, “Brother Gu, whom are you planning to find to act as the intermediary?”

Gu Wenfeng hesitated but then said, “Manager Chen from the hotel is the cousin of my comrade-in-arms’ brother-in-law, and it was he who informed me about Nie Zhan’s background.”

Lu Jiaxin thought his network was indeed vast, it was a pity he was not willing to venture into business; otherwise, he could have become a business partner, “Brother Gu, for my sake, you’ve incurred so many favors, I don’t even know how to repay you.”

Gu Wenfeng spoke frankly, “Miss Lu, I don’t need repayment; I just hope to return to the Forty-nine City after selling the paintings.”

Lu Jiaxin did not speak, her silence was effectively a refusal.

Gu Wenfeng knew that a few words would not likely change her mind, so he changed the subject, “Manager Chen agreed to pass on a word for us; if the secretary is not interested in our paintings, we will have to find another target.”

Lu Jiaxin, smiling, said, “Don’t worry, she will definitely be interested.”

One must plan based on their position, and being Nie Zhan’s secretary, she naturally would want to relieve his worries. With someone as old as Old Master Nie, his family would likely celebrate his birthday. A junior would surely want to show their regard for an elder’s birthday. Old Master Nie was the Nie Family’s authority, and to please him, one would certainly rack their brains to prepare a gift.

Gu Wenfeng did not understand the reason behind her confidence, “I hope it turns out as you say.”

On their walk back, Manager Chen found Gu Wenfeng and whispered, “I mentioned the painting to Secretary Wang, and she’s quite interested, wanting to arrange a time to talk with you.”

Gu Wenfeng felt any time would be fine.

Seeing that Lu Jiaxin had no objections, Manager Chen said, “Secretary Wang is out with President Nie, I’ll ask her when she returns.”

After finishing their discussion, Lu Jiaxin went upstairs to grab her bag and left the building. Walking along the clean and orderly street, she felt somewhat sentimental as she looked at the old houses. In a few years time, these houses would be gone, replaced by skyscrapers.

Gu Wenfeng walked along with her for a while, then asked puzzledly, “Aren’t you going to visit your aunt?”

Lu Jiaxin knew that according to current thinking, a senior’s disputes had nothing to do with the younger generation. Mrs. Lu’s falling out with Little Aunt Lu was their problem as sisters-in-law, but she should still respect her aunt.

After some thought, she briefly recounted the things Little Aunt Lu had done, “She doesn’t regard my mother highly, then I also don’t have such an aunt.”

Gu Wenfeng hadn’t expected Little Aunt Lu to side with Ding Jing and suppress her. He wondered what she was thinking, no wonder that girl didn’t even come to the door anymore.

Lu Jiaxin asked with a smile, “Brother Gu, you haven’t mentioned your family before, have you?”

Gu Wenfeng hadn’t been deliberately keeping it from her, he just didn’t think it necessary, but now that Lu Jiaxin brought it up, he spoke. He got married three years ago and had a child last year, a pair of twin boys.

Seeing his stern expression, Lu Jiaxin suppressed a smile and said, “You’re so fierce, not gentle or considerate. What did your sister-in-law see in you?”

Gu Wenfeng said earnestly, “Sweet nothings aren’t edible, the most important thing for a man is responsibility and commitment. Miss Lu, when you’re looking for a partner, you need to find someone like me.”

With a snort, Lu Jiaxin couldn’t help laughing out loud, “Brother Gu, I never realized you were so narcissistic!”

Gu Wenfeng felt he wasn’t being narcissistic, but believed that responsibility and commitment were the most basic qualities of a man; without them, one simply didn’t deserve to be called a man.

After laughing, Lu Jiaxin nodded and said, “Brother Gu, I think you’re only half right about that. When choosing a partner, you need someone with responsibility and commitment, but also someone who can sweet talk and make you happy. Otherwise, I wouldn’t marry them.”

“Right, from now on just call me by my name, no need for formalities like ‘Miss Lu,’ it sounds awkward.”

As they chatted, they strolled and, feeling hungry, randomly entered a roadside snack shop. Unexpectedly, the rice noodle rolls of this shop were exceptionally smooth and chewy.

Lu Jiaxin wiped her mouth and said, “No wonder those gourmets say that the real masters are among the commoners. I’ve had rice noodle rolls so many times, but this is truly the most authentic one I’ve ever tasted.”

“Do they sell rice noodle rolls in the Forty-nine City?”

Lu Jiaxin responded quickly, “I’ve stayed in Peng City a few times before. I’ve eaten wonton noodles, rice noodle rolls, boat congee, and shrimp dumplings, rotating through them every day. It’s because of all this delicious food that in just half a month, I gained almost nine pounds.”

Gu Wenfeng looked at her slender figure, “Then you should eat more in the future, aim to gain nine pounds before heading back.”

Lu Jiaxin knew he was concerned about her health, “Once everything here is taken care of and I’m back in the Forty-nine City, I will obediently follow the doctor’s advice. I won’t travel far until my health is properly restored.”

“You said so yourself.”

“A gentleman’s word is as good as a bond.”

Gu Wenfeng, remembering what Manager Chen had said, wanted to return early, but Lu Jiaxin was in no rush, “Right now the most important task for all departments is to attract investment. For a big investor like Nie Zhan, the relevant departments are definitely going to extend a warm welcome. They probably won’t return to the hotel until late.”

Unexpectedly, Lu Jiaxin misjudged this time, as Nie Zhan came back in the afternoon. Secretary Wang had planned to view paintings in the afternoon, but since the two were out, the meeting was rescheduled to nine o’clock in the evening.

Manager Chen said, “Make sure you don’t go out again tonight, or Secretary Wang will think you are unreliable and won’t buy your paintings anymore.”

Gu Wenfeng immediately promised he wouldn’t go anywhere but stay in his room.

At eight-fifty, Lu Jiaxin took the painting to Gu Wenfeng’s room, and at eight-fifty-nine, Manager Chen brought Secretary Wang over. Seeing the visitor, Lu Jiaxin was a bit surprised, having assumed from the name that it would be a man, but it turned out to be a woman.

Secretary Wang was dressed in a sharp white suit that made her look smart and efficient. In her past life, Lu Jiaxin had seen Hong Kong gossip stating that wealthy people in Hong Kong liked to hire beautiful secretaries. This secretary’s appearance wasn’t particularly striking, with a few small freckles on her face, but she had a very hot figure, voluptuous in all the right places.