"What's the big deal? You can all come along," Manager Li replied readily.
At these words, Wu Gang visibly relaxed.
"Thank you, Manager Li." His ease suggested this meeting was unlikely to involve anything shady.
Song Nianchu's gaze toward Wu Gang softened slightly.
"..."
Once Manager Li had finished preparing, the group set off together.
To Song Nianchu's surprise, they were greeted by a private car.
Wu Gang and Wu Chunsheng's eyes nearly popped out of their heads at the sight of the vehicle.
"Nianchu, let's get in," Manager Li said, opening the car door for them, assuming they might be unfamiliar with such luxury.
"Thank you, Manager Li." Song Nianchu recovered from her brief astonishment quickly.
Her surprise wasn't due to never having seen a car before, but rather the unexpected gesture of sending one to fetch them.
Whoever they were meeting must hold considerable status. If negotiations went well, this could mean another substantial order for the village.
Once seated, Song Nianchu remained deep in thought, while Wu Gang and Wu Chunsheng sat stiffly, barely daring to settle into their seats.
Such high-end transportation was something they'd only ever seen on the big screen during movie nights.
Never had they imagined they'd one day ride in a car themselves—the novelty was indescribable.
After about fifteen minutes, the car pulled up in front of a three-story Western-style house.
"Nianchu, we're here," Manager Li announced, stepping out first and moving to open the door for the others, assuming they might struggle with the mechanism.
But before he could assist, Song Nianchu had already exited the car, leaving Manager Li momentarily taken aback.
"Manager Li, what is this place?" Song Nianchu studied the elegant yet opulent villa before her.
A private car and now a lavish residence—her curiosity about their host grew stronger.
"This is their private home. They're someone of importance, so once inside, keep your eyes and words to a minimum. Answer only what you're asked, understand?" Manager Li cautioned before they entered.
"Mm," Song Nianchu nodded.
Wu Gang and the others, still reeling from the car ride, were now struck speechless by the grandeur of the villa.
Had they stepped into paradise?
Everything felt surreal—the plush carpet beneath their feet so soft that their dirt-covered shoes left visible prints, making them self-conscious about every step.
Manager Li led them into the living room, where a young man in his twenties descended the staircase.
Dressed in a tailored suit and sporting a slicked-back hairstyle popular at the time, his sharp features exuded confidence, with a hint of arrogance in his piercing gaze.
"Manager Xiang," Manager Li greeted deferentially, showing no trace of embarrassment despite the age gap.
Xiang Tianyi descended leisurely, his eyes sweeping over the group before settling on Song Nianchu.
She stood out—the only woman present, poised and composed, as if existing in a different world from the others.
Beautiful, unflappable, and quietly proud.
Ignoring Manager Li, Xiang Tianyi approached Song Nianchu directly.
Wu Gang and the others, snapping out of their daze at the perceived rudeness, instinctively closed ranks around her.
Xiang Tianyi smirked. "No need to be nervous. I just wanted to see the clever mind behind the idea of labeling bottles with your village's brand."
His words instantly clarified his interest in meeting her.
"Manager Xiang, this is Comrade Song, the one I mentioned. The canned fish you purchased from me were all her handiwork," Manager Li interjected, eager to smooth things over.
"Comrade Song, hello. I'm Xiang Tianyi." He took a step back and extended his hand.
"Hello, I'm Song Nianchu." She shook his hand lightly.
"Have a seat," Xiang Tianyi said casually, settling onto a nearby sofa and gesturing for the others to do the same.
"Yes, let's all sit and talk," Manager Li urged, glancing at Song Nianchu and her companions.
Only after Song Nianchu sat did Wu Gang and the others follow suit, arranging themselves protectively around her.
Xiang Tianyi's eyes gleamed with amusement.
"Comrade Song, did you bring bodyguards in case I turned out to be untrustworthy?"
"They're fellow villagers who help me with deliveries," she replied evenly.
"That's right, that's right," Manager Li chimed in.
Xiang Tianyi shot him a glance before refocusing on Song Nianchu.
"How many cans of fish can your village produce daily?" he finally got down to business.
"How many do you need?" she countered.
Xiang Tianyi held up a single finger.
"One hundred cans?" Song Nianchu ventured.
He shook his head. "One thousand."
The room collectively gasped—except for Song Nianchu.
Wu Gang and the others barely stifled their shock, digging their nails into their thighs to stay silent.
"Is that one thousand total, or one thousand of each variety?" Song Nianchu pressed, already calculating.
She'd known one hundred was too low—they already produced four hundred daily—but giving him the chance to show off made negotiations smoother.
"One thousand of each."
"Per day?" she confirmed.
"Yes," Xiang Tianyi nodded.
Now even Song Nianchu was taken aback. She'd expected a combined total, but this was far beyond.
Still, their current output couldn't meet such demand.
"Manager Xiang, our village's production capacity may not yet match your requirements. But if you're committed, we can sign a contract with an advance deposit. I'll upgrade our equipment immediately to meet your target." She maintained a professional smile.
"You handle business like a seasoned trader. Is your family in this line of work?" Xiang Tianyi's interest visibly deepened.
"My father-in-law used to be a businessman, though everything's been handed over to the collective now. I only picked up a little from him." She deftly deflected, silently thanking Mu Shi'an for the convenient cover.
"Father-in-law? You're married?" Xiang Tianyi stared at her in surprise.
