Chapter 581: Fanning the Flames in the Market

Finishing exams meant they were free. The wild horses, having nothing to do, just lounged in the dorm.

Young Master Cao, breaking from routine, combed his hair and changed clothes before approaching Jiang Qin: “Old Jiang, are you heading to town?”

“What’s up? Considering it’s almost the holidays, are you treating me to a meal?”

“Don’t jinx it! Mainly because I’m going home tomorrow. Ding Xue and I plan to go shopping this afternoon and thought we’d hitch a ride with you.”

Jiang Qin scoffed, “Do I love you that much? No, I’m not going. I’ll rest this afternoon since I’m driving home tomorrow.”

Just as Jiang Qin finished, someone in the New Year’s dumpling making chat group called out for companions to go shopping in town.

Suddenly Feng Nanshu chimed in asking if the shopping street was fun.

She also asked if there were any roasted sweet potatoes and finally said the shopping street sounded fun, but she couldn’t go, adding her brother would take her there one day.

Then, Gao Wenhui and Wang Haini started frantically tagging Jiang Qin.

Silently observing, Boss Jiang squinted after reading, wondering if the three were coordinating or if Gao Wenhui and Wang Haini were just causing chaos.

If it was a setup, his little rich girl was too clever.

“Let’s go shopping in town!”

“?”

Just as Young Master Cao wrapped his scarf, he paused, “Didn’t you say you weren’t going?”

Jiang Qin glanced at him, “Because I love you.”

“Damn, I’m touched, but you won’t suddenly stop halfway and sneak into a gas station, then ask if I just so happen to have cash, right?”

“Heh, you’re getting smarter, but I’m not driving.”

Cao Guangyu paused, “Why not?”

Jiang Qin began changing clothes, “Can’t deal with it. Let’s take the bus. Feng Nanshu is going, and Gao Wenhui with Wang Haini will probably tag along.”

Young Master Cao blinked, then it hit him, “Is this what love is? This is loving Feng Nanshu!”

Arriving at the girls’ dorm, Feng Nanshu, already waiting, stood dazed under a leafless French tree, quietly watching a stray cat nestled on the opposite bench.

The orange sunlight spilled, casting bright shadows around the dorm.

The chubby cat cozied on the bench, gracefully grooming itself.

Feng Nanshu touched the cat and then squatted, talking to herself.

Likely asking if it had a brother and if its brother would take it out.

Jiang Qin had reached the finance school’s female dorm and called her. The little rich girl’s eyes sparkled, she patted the cat’s head then softly called, “brother.”

“You pretended you really wanted to go to the shopping street in the chat, right? Am I being friendship-kidnapped?”

“I didn’t,” Feng Nanshu quickly burrowed into Jiang Qin’s embrace.

Jiang Qin pinched her lips, “Who’s smarter between us?”

Feng Nanshu pouted, “You’re smart, I’m dumb.”

“Have you ever lied to me?”

“Never,” Feng Nanshu was sincere as she truly hadn’t deceived her best friend.

Gao Wenhui and Wang Haini were just causing drama to go shopping before the holidays without having to take the bus.

Of course, she also slightly hoped that Jiang Qin would see her and take her to town but being clever wasn’t her aim.

While they were talking, Gao Wenhui and others noisily rushed down, Wang Haini seemed in a hurry, still putting on her coat as she descended the stairs.

Jiang Qin glanced at them, “What’s the rush for?”

“Afraid we’d miss your ride.”

“No worries there, I’m waiting for someone.”

“Besides Feng Nanshu, who else could make you willingly wait?”

Jiang Qin chuckled, “The bus driver.”

Hearing this, Gao Wenhui and Wang Haini were instantly crestfallen, not expecting to rush down only to take a bus.

Half an hour later, they reached the commercial street grouping with others wanting to shop, including Cao Guangyu and Ding Xue.

The group, around fourteen or fifteen strong, milled around in disarray.

Jiang Qin had a particular interest in ladies’ shoe stores, dragging Feng Nanshu into every one to try on shoes, even personally helping her put them on.

Seeing this, the other ladies couldn’t help but nudge their boyfriends, reflecting, “See? Even such an influential CEO can be this considerate!”

However, only Gao Wenhui and Wang Haini knew Jiang Qin wasn’t passing up any chance to play with Feng Nanshu’s tiny feet.

Yet, observing Jiang Qin’s exceptionally gentle gaze and his indulgent expression, even Gao Wenhui and Wang Haini weren’t sure if he was doting on Feng Nanshu more or just enjoyed playing with feet more.

“Brother, let’s go there,” Feng Nanshu suddenly pointed to a specialty store across the street as the evening approached.

Jiang Qin paused, “Why go there?”

“To buy gifts for Great-Grandma, Sixth Aunt, Second Uncle, Third Uncle…Shuting Sister, and Great Uncle, Second Aunt, and Little Aunt.”

“Third Uncle too? Ever since you moved into my place—ah, I mean since you started staying at my place—Third Uncle hasn’t stopped making money!”

Feng Nanshu tilted her head up, “But Third Uncle is a good man, he calls me ‘Jiang Qin’s’.”

Jiang Qin narrowed his eyes, “If you don’t plan on moving out, Third Uncle might just live a rich and prosperous life because of those four words.”

Afterwards, they split up; the main group went elsewhere while Jiang Qin and Feng Nanshu went to the specialty store to pick out gifts.

The little rich girl wasn’t shy about spending, picking out the most expensive items and not allowing Jiang Qin to pay.

She usually seemed obedient, but on some matters, this girl could be quite stubborn, likely because she felt if Jiang Qin paid, it wouldn’t count as her gift.

However, Jiang Qin mumbled to himself, complaining, “You always say you’re mine, why hesitate to spend my money now?”

“I make so much money, my parents can only spend so much, if you don’t spend it, what’s the point of earning it…”

In the end, they bought loads of pastries, tea, and liquor—so much they couldn’t even carry it, eventually leaving an address for delivery to Linchuan University’s security office.

Then, they headed to Meiye KTV to meet up with the larger group.

At that moment, Gao Wenhui, holding the microphone after belting out ‘Five Hundred More Years From Heaven’, turned upon seeing Jiang Qin enter.

“Jiang Qin, wanna sing a song?”

“Let’s do ‘Friends’ by Wakin Chau. I want a passionate duet!”

Hearing this, Cao Guangyu let go of Ding Xue’s hand and cleared his throat, already standing ready.

Ding Xue glanced at him, “Why the excitement?”

“To sing.”

“Isn’t Jiang Qin going to sing? You’re lining up now?”

“No, didn’t you hear? Old Jiang’s looking for someone to passionately duet ‘Friends’ with. Besides me, this rich second generation, who else qualifies?”

No sooner had they finished speaking than Jiang Qin stood, took the microphone from Wang Haini, and handed one to Feng Nanshu.

Young Master Cao’s lips twitched as he sat back down, frowning, “Even if someone’s a dog, how can they be this dog-like?”

After the holiday revelry, most decided they’d go home the next day.

Jiang Qin also headed early to the security office to pack yesterday’s gifts into his car, planning to take Feng Nanshu home after breakfast for a day or two of rest, then head to Shanghai.

Qin Jingqiu had secured him a plot of land in Shanghai, and the paperwork was underway. Once approved, construction could start on the new headquarters.

Jiang Qin planned a quick trip first, also, fast food seemed to have plans to expand Shanghai’s delivery market around year-end; it looked set to be an exciting battle for territory.

He scheduled himself, counting mockingly the eight days left to the New Year. He aimed to be back within a week to celebrate the new year quietly at home.

Mulling over this, he returned to Linchuan and met his two holiday mascots, Yang Shuan and Guo Zihang.

“Uncle, we’re here!”

“The flair of a foster father grows more dashing.”

Jiang Qin pulled up, lowered his window, and peeked out, “Looking robust, I could tell just from your frames you’d be good at moving stuff.”

Guo Zihang and Yang Shuan exchanged a look, perplexed.

“Never mind, just kidding. Hurry up, get in the car, let’s have breakfast then head home.”

“Oh, alright.”

Guo Zihang and Yang Shuan went around back, opened the trunk planning to place their bags when they saw countless gifts filling up the trunk.

The two exchanged another look, now understanding why their uncle (foster father) had praised their good health.

By eleven in the morning, once back in Jizhou, Jiang Qin and Feng Nanshu started delivering gifts right after getting off.

With Guo Zihang and Yang Shuan’s robust bodies, they handled the heavy lifting.

“Sixth Aunt, this is a pastry from Linchuan Feng Nanshu bought for you, and alcohol for Sixth Uncle.”

“Second Uncle, Second Uncle, Feng Nanshu bought you some tea.”

“Third Uncle, ever tried this liquor? Feng Nanshu got it for you; keep an eye on her for me, make sure she eats less sugar, oh, this envelope almost got missed…”

“Sister Shuting, Feng Nanshu bought a little backpack for your Lele, isn’t he starting school soon?”

Jiang Qin chatted away more actively than Feng Nanshu herself, then the little rich girl, sticking close by Jiang Qin, blushed bashfully under everyone’s praises.

Yang Shuan watched,”If they don’t get married, there’s no way to end this properly!”

“If they don’t marry, I reckon my foster father won’t even be able to enter this community in the future.”

“I wonder if they’d still live here if they got married. If they argue and he gets thrown out, wouldn’t it be my uncle taking the fall?”

After handing out the last box of tea, Jiang Qin turned, “What are you muttering about?”

Yang Shuan patted his stomach, “Uncle, I’m hungry.”

“Let’s buy some instant noodles to hold us over, then rest a bit before going out to eat.”

“Sounds good.”

Jiang Qin turned towards Third Uncle’s supermarket to buy noodles and saw Third Uncle grinning at him, “Feng Nanshu’s came by?”

Jiang Qin: “…”

Guo Zihang and Yang Shuan, seeing him freeze at the door, couldn’t help following, “What’s up?”

“If this old man joined the group-buying war, I might not stand a chance against him… Too good at seizing business opportunities…”