In the height of summer in Beijing, the cicadas chirped raucously. Jiang Xiaocai squatted in the back alley of his newly opened sugar shop, staring at the ants moving their wares in the corner, his brow furrowed. Ever since his last sugar business failure, he had focused entirely on reviving the family business. But in the past two weeks, business had inexplicably plummeted.
"Master Xiaocai, the Sweetheart Candy Shop next door is having another sale!" The waiter rushed over, his face full of anxiety. "Their candy is 20% cheaper than ours, and they've snatched away all the customers!"
Jiang Xiaocai stood up and dusted himself off: "Let's go meet them!"
"Sweetheart Candy Shop" was just across the street, and the entrance was packed. Jiang Xiaocai squeezed in and saw a well-dressed young man standing behind the counter, smiling broadly as he weighed candies for customers. The man, in his early twenties, had a shrewd look in his eyes. He noticed Jiang Xiaocai and raised his eyebrows slightly: "Isn't that Shopkeeper Jiang? What's going on? Are you here to visit and learn?"
Jiang Xiaocai put his hands on his hips in anger and said, "You deliberately lowered the price to grab business, what kind of ability do you have!"
"Business is all about strategy," the man said, wiping the counter slowly. "If you have the guts, lower the price too."
The two were arguing when they suddenly heard an angry shout from behind: "Who dares to bully my nephew!" Young Marquis Su rushed in carrying a toy sword, and the scabbard made a harsh sound as it dragged on the ground.
The man saw this and a flash of surprise crossed his face, but he quickly regained his composure and said, "Young Marquis, this is a business dispute between us and Shopkeeper Jiang. I'm afraid it's inconvenient for you to intervene."
"So what if I interfered?" Young Marquis Su glared. "If you know what's good for you, give up the business!"
Seeing the situation was about to get out of control, Jiang Xiaocai quickly grabbed his uncle and said, "Uncle, don't be impulsive!" He turned to the man and said, "We'll see!"
Back at the candy shop, Jiang Xiaocai grew increasingly angry as he thought about it. He pulled out the account book and studied it carefully. He was absorbed in it when the door curtain was lifted and Nianli walked in: "Xiaocai, what are you busy with?"
"Mom, I suspect someone's behind Sweetheart Candy Shop!" Jiang Xiaocai pushed the account book over. "Look, they've kept the sugar price so low, they're not making any money at all. There must be a conspiracy!"
Nian Li looked at the account book, thoughtfully saying, "This is indeed strange. However, business can't just rely on fighting, we have to find a way to find their weaknesses."
Jiang Xiaocai's eyes lit up: "I see! I'll go check their supply channels!"
Over the next few days, Jiang Xiaocai and his men inquired around and finally learned from an old sugar merchant that the sugar from "Sweetheart Sugar Shop" came from the Wang Family Sugar Factory outside the city. Jiang Xiaocai disguised himself and sneaked into the Wang Family Sugar Factory, but found it heavily guarded and impossible to approach.
Just when he was at his wit's end, he unexpectedly ran into the owner of "Sweetheart Candy Factory". Jiang Xiaocai followed quietly behind him, only to see the man walk straight into the factory director's office and call him "Dad" in a friendly manner.
"So he's the son of the Wang family!" Jiang Xiaocai suddenly realized, "No wonder he can get such cheap candy!"
He was about to leave when he heard a quarrel coming from inside the house.
"Dad, you can't do this!" The man's voice was filled with anger. "My competition with Jiang Xiaocai is a fair business contest. You secretly lowered the price to help me. What kind of ability is that!"
"Silly son, the business world is like a battlefield, there's no such thing as fairness!" Director Wang's voice was filled with impatience. "As long as we can put the Jiang family's candy shop out of business, what means do we use?"
Jiang Xiaocai covered his mouth in shock, never having imagined that Director Wang was behind all this. Even more surprising was the fact that his antagonist, who had been vehemently opposing him, didn't seem to agree with his father's actions.
That night, Jiang Xiaocai tossed and turned in bed, his mind replaying the conversation he had heard that day. He suddenly realized that perhaps this opponent was not the real enemy.
The next morning, Jiang Xiaocai came to the Sweetheart Candy Shop again. The man was slightly surprised when he saw him: "Another quarrel?"
"No, I'm here to discuss cooperation," Jiang Xiaocai said seriously. "I know your father is behind this, and I also know you don't want this."
The man's face changed. After a moment of silence, he sighed and said, "What do you want?"
"Let's join forces to expose your father's actions and restore justice to the Jingcheng Sugar Industry!" Jiang Xiaocai took out an abacus and shook it. "When the time comes, you'll get 30% of the profits!"
The man looked at the abacus in his hand and couldn't help laughing: "Just like your father, he only cares about money. But I agree to this cooperation."
As the two were talking, there was a sudden commotion outside the door. Young Marquis Su rushed in with a group of servants, followed by Nianli and Su Qingyao.
"Xiaocai! I heard that someone is bullying you, and your uncle is here to support you!" Young Marquis Su waved his sword, scaring the men back away.
Nian Li shook her head helplessly: "Xiao Cai, what trouble have you gotten yourself into again?"
Jiang Xiaocai quickly explained the whole story. After listening, Nianli looked at the man and asked, "Are you the son of the Wang family?"
The man bowed and said, "My name is Wang Yi, and I'm honored to meet Madam Su."
Su Qingyao looked him up and down, and suddenly exclaimed: "Wait! Are you the young master of the Wang family who went missing that year? I remember there was a red mole on the back of your neck!"
Wang Yi was stunned and subconsciously touched the back of his neck: "How...how did you know?"
"Oh my God!" Su Qingyao excitedly grabbed Nianli's hand, "He is the lost child of my cousin's family! After all, he is Xiaocai's cousin!"
Everyone was stunned. Jiang Xiaocai's eyes widened: "Cousin? Are you really my cousin?"
Wang Yi was also a little dazed: "I just remember that I was lost when I was a child and was adopted by the Wang family... I didn't expect that there would be such a fate."
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