Chapter 9 Line of Thought

Afterward, Chai Jin brought up a plan for holding shares through proxies. The term itself sounded far too advanced for Zhang Aimin, who didn’t understand. Chai Jin spent a long time explaining, but they still didn’t get it. In the end, he simply used the words “white glove” and “puppet” to clarify.

Only then did the two men finally understand.

In the end, Zhang Aimin said he would go talk to someone from the State-Owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission the next day. He wasn’t sure if what Chai Jin was proposing was compliant. They’d have to wait for news tomorrow.

On the way home, Liu Qingwen followed behind Chai Jin, silently gazing at his friend’s back, the starlight draping his shoulders. For a moment, he truly felt as if his childhood companion was a deity who had descended to earth.

They had promised to devote themselves to researching the trap technique together—but Chai Jin, what about you? Damn, you’re starting a factory!

His heart surged with excitement. He quickened his pace, grinning as he caught up and sidled next to Chai Jin. “Jin, can we talk about something?”

Chai Jin was a bit quiet. “Go ahead.”

“Heh, could I be the general manager of the winery?”

“I’d even throw in three pounds of eels every month!”

“Why?”

“Well, my dad always scolds me for being useless. If I become the general manager of the winery, won’t he have to call me ‘boss’ one day? Just thinking about it feels amazing!”

Liu Qingwen could hardly wait, throwing a few punches into the night sky.

Chai Jin turned to glance at him, paused for a moment, and said, “Monkey, have you ever thought about your future?”

“My future?” Liu Qingwen scratched his head.

“I always dreamed of opening a stall in Yuanli County to sell eels, but now it’s different. I think being a general manager is more impressive.”

Liu Qingwen rambled on about his plans.

Chai Jin shook his head, smiling, until they parted ways at the entrance to the village.

Just then, he said something utterly baffling to Liu Qingwen.

“Put away all your dreams and run wild with me.”

Liu Qingwen stood there for ages, unable to digest what it meant. He scratched his head, completely puzzled, and went home.

Chai Jin was the main laborer in his family and couldn’t let his father shoulder the hardship of harvesting several acres of rice alone.

The next morning, Chai Mingguo didn’t call Chai Jin as usual. He left early, carrying his farm tools to the fields.

Not long after, Chai Jin got up and followed.

The four family members bent over in the fields, working. The golden rice grains, shrouded in the dawn light, were breathtakingly beautiful.

Villagers gradually arrived to work their own fields.

Yet, a profound feeling lingered—the villagers kept their distance from the Chai family more than ever.

None of the four seemed to mind.

While working, Chai Jin pondered the winery’s marketing plan. Conquering the market with small bottles, promoting moderation and enjoyment.

He had an idea for the campaign, but where to find an advertising platform? Newspaper ads were too expensive, and getting into other stores required entry fees. It all boiled down to not having enough money.

He had to achieve maximum efficiency with minimal cost.

Suddenly, he recalled the marketing slogans of Jiang Xiaobai from his previous life.

For decades, every liquor brand had tried to forge an image of a long history, as if that alone elevated their prestige.

But Jiang Xiaobai’s heartwarming slogans, once released in the county, quickly carved out a unique path in the otherwise sluggish liquor market that year.

Was the liquor really that good? Those who drank it knew the taste was, at best, average.

So why did it sell so well? It simply resonated with the sentiments of young people.

Chai Jin’s keen mind settled on this direction.

But how to build the promotional channel?

He was stumped.

Just as he was grappling with this, a clear voice rang out nearby.

“Fangfang, shall we go crayfishing together later? I found a spot yesterday where there are loads of crayfish.”

Chai Fang, who was cutting rice beside him, looked up. When she saw who it was, her face immediately softened into a gentle smile.

It was Wang Xiaoli.

She was from their village too, but had moved to the county town with her parents when she was five or six. Her parents worked at the county lighter factory, and after graduating high school, she had joined the factory as well. Her grandfather still lived in the village.

Wang Xiaoli was pursued by many, the famed beauty of the lighter factory.

Even though she now lived in the county, every time she came back to visit her grandfather, she would find Chai Fang to go crayfishing together.

Chai Fang fished for crayfish to help supplement the family income. Wang Xiaoli did it purely for fun, so after each trip she would keep a little for herself to take home and give all the rest to Chai Fang.

Their friendship was very close, and Chai Fang cherished it deeply.

After all, considering the Chai family’s situation in the village, it was rare to find a friend who didn’t look down on them.

Chai Fang wiped sweat from her brow. “Lili, don’t you have to work today?”

It wasn’t a day off.

Wang Xiaoli looked a bit glum, her willow-shaped brows knitted in a way that gave her a distinct youthful charm.

Chai Jin glanced at her.

Even though she was someone familiar from his past life, after seeing so many women made up, photoshopped, or cosmetically altered, encountering this girl again felt like a breath of fresh spring air.

He continued his labor.

Wang Xiaoli sat on the edge of the field, resting her head in her hands, her twin braids framing her little face, sighing and complaining.

Chai Jin listened to every word.

He quickly pieced together her situation.

1991 was a pivotal year for private enterprise. Previously, most private businesses operated in secret, fearful of being branded as capitalist.

Now the tide was unstoppable, and nothing could hold back this era’s momentum.

Private companies were beginning to act boldly.

In Yuanli County alone, four or five lighter processing workshops had sprung up.

These workshops had low production costs and no heavy labor expenses; their cost advantage allowed them to expand rapidly.

The county lighter factory was slowly falling into decline.

With fewer orders, workers started getting furloughed.

Wang Xiaoli was among those put on leave, and there were already rumors circulating.

The county lighter factory was likely to be shifted to a contract system, with many people facing layoffs.

The words were said casually, but Chai Jin paid close attention.

Suddenly, an idea flashed through his mind.

What if I put the winery’s advertisements on lighter stickers?

He was about to ask Wang Xiaoli about the factory’s situation when a young man approached.

His pants were rolled up, sickle in hand, hair meticulously combed, clothes spotless—he looked every bit the type in the countryside who avoided hard work.

This was Liu Jun, neighbor Liu Fengxian’s nephew.

He, too, was pursuing Wang Xiaoli. Every time she returned to the village, he would dote on her, eager to please.

Wang Xiaoli found him very annoying.

Seeing him approach, she prepared to leave.

Liu Jun hurriedly called out, “Lili, don’t go! I have some fantastic news for you.”

“I’m not interested, thanks,” Wang Xiaoli replied coldly.

Liu Jun looked embarrassed, glanced at Chai Jin’s family, and felt utterly humiliated.

He forced himself to continue, “No, really, I wanted to say that my dad has already smoothed things over with Director Zhang.”

“In a while, I’ll be able to start work—I’ll be a formal factory employee, just like you.”

“We brothers want to celebrate. Why don’t you join us tonight? We’ll play pool at the village store, and I’ll treat.”