Chapter 49

Chapter 49: The Third Watch
Qian Qing turned onto her side; occasional lights from outside streamed through the window, casting shifting patterns of light and shadow across her face.
Her brother-in-law was not a likable man; no one cares for someone who is timid and instinctively shrinks back whenever trouble arises. Yet what Qian Yu had said still lingered in Qian Qing’s mind.
Along the way, Qian Qing watched as Huang Sanping truly cared for Qian Yu—carrying her bags and belongings, shielding her in crowded places, and whenever Qian Yu spoke up about any matter, he would comply without hesitation, even if reluctant.
Emotions in this world come in countless forms, and Qian Qing would never force her relationship with Zhou Hao into the mold of others’ experiences.
When the group arrived at Guangzhou Railway Station, they were immediately hit by a surging wave of humanity the moment they stepped off the train. Qian Qing, who had already changed clothes on the train, patted her cheeks as the four of them slung their bags across their chests and made their way out.
On her previous trip to the provincial capital, Qian Qing had already marveled at how much it had changed. But now, arriving in Guangzhou, she realized that rather than simply being different, the city felt like an entirely different world.
The crowds bustled energetically; men sported slicked-back hair, women wore floral dresses, and numerous small cars cruised along the streets!
The other three were no better off, all staring around in stunned silence.
A vendor selling tea eggs approached: “Want some tea eggs? Thirty cents each.”
Even Qian Qing thought the price was steep; a single jin of eggs cost just over one yuan, and these tea eggs were small to boot! Yet, as soon as she hesitated, the vendor turned and promptly sold two to a traveler carrying a bag.
Qian Qing instinctively felt that coming to Guangzhou had been the right move. This city was the nation’s bellwether; if the environment for individual entrepreneurs here was already at this level, it could only mean that Y City would inevitably follow suit in the future!
“…Let’s go, we should find a place to stay first.”
They hadn’t walked far before someone approached them, handing out flyers.
“Proper hotel, with hot water and TV!”
“Five yuan a night!”
“Safe and worry-free—once you stay, you won’t want to leave!”
Qian Qing took the slip of paper but didn’t follow immediately; instead, she called out to Qian Yu and the others to join her at the roadside.
Unlike last time, when Old Ding, a local powerbroker, had accompanied them on their trip to the provincial capital, this journey to Guangzhou left them completely in the dark.
Cautiously, Qian Qing asked passersby for directions to the largest market nearby, deliberately choosing three or four different people to question—men and women, old and young alike.
Everyone spoke with one voice.
“If you’re looking to stock up, head to Shisanhang.”
“Shisanhang it is; there are also a few small streets over that way.”
“Definitely Shisanhang. Just take the bus—Route 3 will get you there.”
…
The four of them, shouldering their bags, squeezed onto the crowded bus. It was truly packed; by the time they managed to push their way off, they all felt as though they had narrowly escaped disaster.
“You’ve got to keep your wallet clutched tight in your hand on a bus like this,” Ding Jie said, still shaken. “One moment of carelessness and someone will pick your pocket.” From the outside, you’d never guess just how many people could be crammed inside.
Eagerly, the group made their way to Shisanhang, only to have a bucket of cold water dashed over their enthusiasm the moment they arrived.
“The market’s closed; come back earlier tomorrow.”
They hadn’t really expected to secure stock on the first try; this visit was merely to scout the location. Qian Qing, ever pragmatic, gathered the group and set off to find lodging.
Not far from the Thirteen Factories, they found a guesthouse charging three yuan per night—a steep price by any measure. Yet given its proximity to the market, the cost was understandable.
They booked two separate rooms, one for the men and one for the women. With hot water available for bathing, the four of them freshened up briefly. Qian Qing, however, was brimming with enthusiasm and eager to head out to explore the streets and grab a meal.
Huang Sanping looked as if he was about to pour cold water on the idea again, but Qian Yu cut him off immediately: “Let’s go, let’s go.”
Since we’re already here, it would be a real loss not to go out and see more!
This place is bustling with wholesalers; buyers from all over the country come here to stock up, and the nightlife is vibrant. Not far away lies a street dedicated to snacks, lined with small vendor stalls set up right beside the food stands.
The group ordered clay pot rice, while Qian Qing held a plate of steamed rice rolls in her hands.
The stall owner, sporting a beer belly, chatted with them in forcibly accented Mandarin.
“You’re so beautiful, where are you from?”
“From the north. Coming all this way to stock up on goods, you’re bound to make a fortune sooner or later.”
Qian Qing, naturally gregarious, struck up a conversation the moment she heard those words.
“The boss clearly has already made a fortune. Hmm… the crispy rice crust beneath the cured meat rice is wonderfully crunchy. The rice must have been soaked and tossed with oil before steaming; the texture is truly delightful!”
The stall owner immediately swelled with pride: “That’s right! When it comes to who makes the best clay pot rice on this street, I, Ah Fei, am number one. So, can you make clay pot rice too, pretty lady?”
“I can’t, but my family has several chefs. See that young man sitting over there? His father is a master chef.”
Ding Jie was currently shoveling mouthfuls of rice into his mouth; hearing his sister mention him, he looked up: “Huh?”
Having someone to talk to energized the stall owner. Since no one was ordering food at the moment, he pulled over a stool and sat down.
Ding Jie caught his sister’s glance, which clearly urged him to show off his skills. So he swallowed the mouthful of rice and began his performance.
“Delicious! The sauce is especially well-balanced—probably made with sugar, oyster sauce, and fish sauce. Hmm, a bit too much sugar, perhaps, but since I ordered black bean spare ribs, the extra sweetness actually makes it taste even better…”
The vendor’s eyes lit up as if he wanted to take Ding Jie home and adopt him as his own son. “Young man, you’ve got quite a palate!”
Qian Qing was thoroughly pleased. Ding Jie’s talent was truly a social asset. After all, so many business deals are sealed over meals; clearly, good food remains an ever-relevant conversation starter.
After the stall owner had spent quite some time discussing cooking flavors and such with Ding Jie, Qian Qing finally revealed her true intent, drawing the owner’s attention to herself.
“Boss, why doesn’t this side seem to have many customers?”
The stall owner waved a hand. “It depends on the season; you’ve come during the off-season. Still, Shisanhang has plenty of good items. Some wholesalers even buy off-season stock now; it’s cheaper at this time.”
“That works for big-time wholesalers with deep pockets. People like us, with limited capital, wouldn’t dare. Tying up inventory for half a year? You need serious funds to play that game.”
“True enough. Then just browse around more. Shisanhang always has fresh arrivals; new goods come in from Hong Kong every month. Look over there—those wholesalers visit regularly, even if they aren’t buying anything right now. They’re afraid of missing the trend; otherwise, they won’t be the first to taste the crab. Recently, a few new hat styles arrived from Hong Kong, and several wholesalers fought so hard over them that the police had to be called in.”
“That scary? Is buying goods here really a free-for-all?”
“The morning market is like this: some vendors also have storefronts that stay open in the afternoon, but they’re never as bustling as the early market. Only regular customers bother to visit them then.”
…
Huang Sanping stared at Qian Qing in stunned silence as she spun words into gold, extracting in mere moments insights that might take others days to uncover. A deep sense of admiration swelled within him.
No wonder she knows how to make money.
After gathering nearly all the information she needed, Qian Qing prepared to leave. Just before departing, she paused for a moment, then took out the last bottle of chili sauce from her bag and handed it to the stall owner.
“This chili sauce was made by my mother. It’s for you, boss. If you hadn’t explained so much to me, I’d still be completely lost about how things work here.”
The stall owner declined politely twice but eventually accepted it, saying somewhat shyly, “Then your clay pot rice will be on the house. Pretty lady, remember to come back often.”
How could Qian Qing possibly accept a free meal? A bowl of clay pot rice cost only two yuan. She directly placed eight yuan on the counter and hurried away, paying no attention whatsoever to the stall owner’s urgent shouts behind her.
They hadn’t walked far when Qian Qing turned back to instruct Ding Jie, “Before you leave, come here again on your own and make sure to build good relationships with the people.”
Ding Jie nodded blankly; only Qian Yu noticed her sister’s subtle scheme and quietly took mental notes.
Early the next morning, all four of them rose, washed up, and headed straight for the Thirteen Factories morning market.
By three or four in the morning, the market was already packed with stall after stall. Wires stretched across the streets, each booth lit by a single bulb. Standing at one end of the street and looking toward the other, the rows of stalls seemed to extend beyond the horizon.
In the narrow alleys beside the main street, stalls were set up too, with vendors constantly shouting at the top of their lungs.
“Acrylic socks, fresh stock just arrived—”
“Wool blend skirts, new arrivals from Hong Kong, wholesale starting at one hundred pieces—”
“Civil aviation caps, civil aviation caps, available in all patterns and colors—”
“Felt berets—”
……
The four of them, immersed in this scene, found the fervent atmosphere utterly unfamiliar. The wholesale markets Qian Qing and Qian Yu had seen in the provincial city paled in comparison; they were like small sorcerers standing before a great wizard.
Some of the goods here are truly snatched up; traders from every corner of the country speak of taking hundreds or even thousands of items in a single breath, as if holding nothing more than sheets of paper.
“…Didn’t you say it was the off-season?”
What a scene this would be during peak season!
There was no need for all four of them to stick together. Qian Qing simply took Qian Yu along to browse, instructing Ding Jie and Huang Sanping, “Today is just for observation. Keep your eyes and ears open; if you spot any styles you like, make a note of them. If there’s a storefront, ask where it’s located. If you can’t find us later, just head straight back to the inn.”
Qian Qing gazed at the dazzling array of accessories and clothing, moving from stall to stall.
While in the provincial capital, heavy brushed sheepskin with wool still counted as premium goods, here at Shisanhang, tastes were already aligning with those of Hong Kong.
Socks came in every color imaginable, in various materials and lengths, with wholesale prices as low as forty or fifty cents per pair.
The woolen skirt was made extremely short, sold paired with long, thick tights, with the claim that this was how girls in Hong Kong were dressing nowadays.
The felt beret was a recently trending hat, available in various colors and featuring a slight elastic band at the back; once Qian Qing tried it on, she couldn’t bear to take it off.
Then there was the civil aviation cap. In those days, any young woman who owned one was considered the height of fashion. Since 1979, when civil aviation separated from air force administration, uniforms had been redesigned. Especially influential were China Eastern Airlines’ white shirts with large lapels and their flat-topped, wide-brimmed caps, which set a major trend. The civil aviation caps currently sold on the market were modified versions; in style, they resembled berets more closely, differing mainly in material while sharing many other similarities.
…
By the time she squeezed her way out of the crowd, Qian Qing held a half-skirt, a pair of tights, and two berets in her hands. Vendors at the morning market didn’t sell these items individually; Qian Qing had only managed to acquire them by paying extra and haggling persistently.
If you want to go into business, shouldn’t you try the products yourself first? In high spirits, Qian Qing carried the few garments back to try them on.