Chapter 084: Casting a Long Line to Catch Two Big Fish

The night was long, the streetlights dim and hazy. Zhang Tianfeng and Gao Ran strolled along the avenue.

"Qingqing seems to like you. Should I try matching you two up?" Gao Ran asked.

"Stop trying to probe me. The only thing about her that interests me is her network on Little Sun Island. That could be useful for my future career," Zhang Tianfeng replied.

Gao Ran laughed, "What's wrong with you? Must you see everything in terms of profit? Can't you be a little more pure?"

"Ranran, you probably haven't gone through hard times," Zhang Tianfeng breathed deeply. "My parents were factory workers. We were poor—forget schooling, even food and drink were a problem. On my eighteenth birthday, my family argued fiercely about whether I should continue studying. The root cause was always money."

"But… but you've made plenty now. The million you got from my dad, your stock earnings, and that factory..." Gao Ran counted on her fingers. "Your assets must be worth several million. That's impressive."

"Not enough for me," Zhang Tianfeng said. "I want to keep earning—at least enough that, for three generations after me, no one in my family need worry about food or education."

"You really do dream big. But I admire you, and I'm curious—what will you do if you keep going like this?" Gao Ran voiced her thoughts.

She admired Zhang Tianfeng for his unwavering commitment. When he set his sights on something, he pursued it relentlessly, without distraction. Yet, that was also her concern. Habits shape a person—what if he ended up seeing marriage as nothing more than a transaction?

Zhang Tianfeng was silent for a moment. "I'd say there's a good chance I'll never marry."

"What? But what about your parents? You have to leave them an heir."

"With money, what can't be done?" Zhang Tianfeng smiled.

In his previous life, he almost got married, but backed out at the last moment. The woman was beautiful, but eccentric, arrogant, and overbearing. Living together, whenever Zhang Tianfeng did something she disliked, she would curse him out. Once or twice was bearable, but after three or four times, he grew angry too. They fell into endless conflict—either fighting or staring at each other coldly, unable to exchange even a single pleasant word.

He feared married life would be like that. He lost his nerve—that wasn't the life he wanted!

So, after coming back, Zhang Tianfeng set himself a clear goal: get rich first!

When he could lie in bed doing nothing and still make a fortune every day, then he'd seek happiness for himself.

"Come on, let's go rest. There's a tough battle tomorrow," he said.

Gao Ran softly agreed, following Zhang Tianfeng back toward the hotel.

...

Early the next morning, as dawn broke, Harbor City came alive.

Behind the hotel, in the mall's open plaza, security staff moved away piles of plastic toys and various displays, revealing a large empty space.

"Security, is there an event at the mall today?" a shop owner asked.

"Yeah, a big one. Heard someone's doing a promotion here."

"Who is it? Who could make Manager Hou clear out this space?"

This mall, called Emerald Dragon, was managed by someone surnamed Hou. He was known for being harsh and stingy, earning the nickname "Hou the Skinflint."

"Who knows? Heard the stuff will be delivered by noon."

"Alright, you keep busy—I'm opening my shop now. It's Saturday, after all, the rich ladies will be bringing their kids out for brunch."

The area was bustling. On workdays, traffic flowed endlessly; weekends were even busier. Office workers, finally enjoying their rest, came out with their families to shop for supplies—these were the mall owners' favorite days.

In the hotel, Gao Ran licked her ice cream and muttered, "I still feel your plan is risky. If it backfires, you'll be ruined."

The mall event was organized by Zhang Tianfeng. Today, he would appear as the 'Little Stock God,' aiming to clear out his entire inventory.

Zhang Tianfeng, busy fixing his hair, laughed, "What's the risk? You mean the stock market or the lottery event?"

"Both." Gao Ran grimaced. "You should use your 'Little Stock God' reputation for bigger things, not waste it here."

"I've never cared for that title. After this, I'm vanishing from Hong Kong stocks—won't return for at least four years."

"Four years? 1997? What are you planning?"

"I'm going to feast alongside the country," he grinned.

The Asian Financial Crisis of '97—a grand event not to be missed.

Zhang Tianfeng laughed, "You’re eating ice cream first thing in the morning. Aren’t you worried about your health? At least think of me—I’m starving! Get me some breakfast, I’m dying here!"

Gao Ran rolled her eyes. "Don’t you have hands?"

"I can’t go out yet, or I’ll be spotted—would spoil the surprise," Zhang Tianfeng replied. "Go on, I'll let you earn extra next time."

"No way, unless you take me to Little Sun Island this time."

"What for? I’m there for business."

"You do your business, I’ll sightsee," Gao Ran insisted. "They say the volcano is about to erupt—I have to see the scenery before it’s gone."

Only a child would believe such an excuse. Zhang Tianfeng didn’t expose her, nodded, and Gao Ran, delighted as a child with candy, dashed out with a smile.

...

Elsewhere, Xu Kuangdao and Chen Yuanhua finally arrived after a frantic rush.

After half a day and a night, they hired over fifty people and managed to produce more than five thousand blind boxes before dawn.

The goods were already displayed before sunrise.

"Strange, why aren’t Zhang Tianfeng’s four employees here today?" Chen Yuanhua frowned after hearing from his subordinates.

Xu Kuangdao frowned too, "He wouldn’t have changed plans again, would he?"

"Who knows? Let’s wait and see—he’ll have to clear out his stock eventually," Chen Yuanhua said, biting his cheek. "Yesterday, his four employees sold nearly ten thousand toys in half a day. He must have at least fifty thousand left. We have time to prepare."

"Brother Chen, with you here, I feel at ease," Xu Kuangdao affirmed.

Of course you do, you idiot who refuses to think! Chen Yuanhua cursed silently, then began issuing orders remotely. Each stall quickly restocked.

By nine in the morning, the streets grew busy. Office workers, fresh from a week’s toil, saw the blind boxes, heard the slogans, and witnessed the frenzy. One by one, they couldn’t resist trying their luck.

One stall was right below their hotel. From upstairs, Xu Kuangdao and Chen Yuanhua could watch the business below.

"Brother Chen, so many people today!"

Hearing the call, Chen Yuanhua hurried over. Groups of people passed by below, most stopping to crowd around the stall.

After a while, Chen Yuanhua received a report: "Boss, we’ve sold half our stock already."

"That fast? Half already?"

"It’s true, the cash box is overflowing. The gambling urge is strong—each person buys dozens. Boss, should we restock or pack up?"

"Of course, restock! Hold the customers, I’ll send more goods right away!"

Their materials and products were cheap—each blind box yielded a two-yuan profit. Ten thousand meant twenty thousand yuan; a hundred thousand, two hundred thousand. At this rate, a million could be sold, netting two million in profit.

"How does that little bastard Zhang Tianfeng’s brain work? To come up with something like this!"

"Is there a catch?" Xu Kuangdao asked cautiously.

"A catch? Not at all—we’re making a killing!" Chen Yuanhua laughed.

Such huge profits even made a veteran like Chen Yuanhua dizzy with excitement. Without a second thought, he contacted suppliers, doubled the stock, expanded the workforce, determined to produce a hundred thousand blind boxes by nightfall.

He knew this was easy to copy—the sooner they produced, the more they’d earn!

Almost as soon as Chen Yuanhua placed his order, Zhang Tianfeng received word.

"Great, I got it. Thanks, Brother Fu—drinks on me tonight!"

He hung up and grinned. "He took the bait!"

Gao Ran looked puzzled. "When did you turn Fu Tianfeng into your informant?"

"I couldn’t have managed it myself—your dad helped."

"My dad? When did you two arrange this?"

"The second day after you arrived in Harbor City."

That day, Gao Ran was sulking, Zhang Tianfeng resting in his room. Qin Lin came to say he found Xu Kuangdao’s base, asked if Zhang needed someone inside to gather intel.

Zhang Tianfeng thought it over, decided to take the opportunity, and Qin Lin handled it. Almost as soon as his people were in place, Zhang Tianfeng learned from Gao Ran that the Chen family was involved too. The rest is history.

"Get a good nap—we’ll head out later."

"What are you up to?" Gao Ran’s wary look was tinged with anticipation.

"I'll show you how a mere mortal crushes those untouchable family managers you worship!" Zhang Tianfeng’s smile was wild. "These two—I’m stepping on them today."

Gao Ran suddenly realized how handsome Zhang Tianfeng looked when he was arrogant—so masculine, her heart skipped a beat. Blushing, pressing her hand to her chest, she darted out of the room.

Zhang Tianfeng shook his head helplessly—was that all it took? He hadn’t even shown his true might yet.