Chapter 18: The Overwhelming Power

Chen Pan’er understood, but she still felt that something was off. Jiang Butong noticed the unease in her heart and explained, “If we run into those thugs again, do you think we’ll be able to escape?”

Chen Pan’er fell silent, realizing what he meant.

They arrived at the street near the wholesale market. Last time, her goods hadn’t sold because of the trouble caused by Hou San’s men; she’d left before making any sales. This time, she was determined to sell everything, otherwise her funds would turn over too slowly.

Chen Pan’er deftly spread out a bedsheet and arranged the jewelry and accessories on it.

Jiang Yuan led five or six young men to stand at the street corner. He knew he wasn’t suited for stall selling; now that he’d chosen the path of the streets, stalling wouldn’t be an option for him in the near future.

Jiang Butong saw it was still early and decided to visit Wang Yun at the wholesale market. Last time, because of the tapes, he had left a deposit of two hundred yuan.

The beautiful proprietress Wang Yun was drawing her brows in front of a mirror. Her fair skin and exquisite makeup made her a striking sight.

Jiang Butong approached her, but didn’t disturb her, simply watching Wang Yun admire herself in the mirror. It had to be said that Wang Yun was indeed attractive; her mature charm was something the youthful Chen Pan’er couldn’t match.

Wang Yun suddenly caught sight of Jiang Butong and was taken aback.

“When did you arrive, young man?” Wang Yun put away her small mirror.

Jiang Butong looked at her rosy lips and leaned in, wanting a closer look at Wang Yun’s ample chest.

Wang Yun stepped back, her eyes wary.

“I just wanted to see if the tapes had come in yet.”

So it was about the tapes. Wang Yun relaxed her guard, casting him a coquettish glance.

She took out a row of tapes from beneath the counter; Jiang Butong quickly counted, there were forty or fifty.

“These are the tapes you wanted. I listened to them at home—they’re quite good. I hadn’t noticed before.”

“Of course, you don’t know whose taste you’re relying on.”

Jiang Butong casually picked up a tape. The rough label and packaging betrayed its pirated nature, but pirated was good enough for him; he couldn’t afford the originals anyway.

“These tapes weren’t easy to get. I paid five yuan each, using your two hundred, so I got forty tapes,” Wang Yun said. In truth, the tapes were a bit cheaper; the boss in Hong Kong had thrown in two extra tapes, but she counted those as her hard-earned bonus.

Jiang Butong didn’t need to think about it; Wang Yun was surely making a little extra. But that’s business—mutual profit is key.

“How much for your radio?”

Now that he had tapes, Jiang Butong realized he needed a radio that could play them.

“We have all kinds, the cheapest is seven or eight yuan, the more expensive ones are dozens.”

“I mean a player that takes tapes.” Jiang Butong waved the tape in his hand; he wasn’t an old man, a simple radio was useless.

“Oh, that one’s seventy-five at the cheapest.”

“I’ll take one.”

Wang Yun brought him a player from behind the counter, plugged it in, and inserted a tape.

A hiss of electricity sounded, then music began to play from the machine.

Tonight I... watched snow drift through the cold night...
With a heart grown cold, I drifted far away...
Chasing in wind and rain... lost in the mist...
Vast sky and sea... you and I... will it change...

The familiar melody rang out, drawing the attention of passersby. Jiang Butong abruptly stopped the music with a snap.

This was his exclusive window; he couldn’t let anyone catch on yet.

“Sister Wang, do you remember our agreement?” Jiang Butong looked at her.

“What agreement?” Wang Yun had noticed how beautiful the song was; she planned to stock up more and play it daily with the machine. Then she’d have no trouble selling.

“If I hadn’t left you two hundred yuan, you wouldn’t have bought these tapes. I said if the tape became a hit, you were only allowed to sell them to me!”

Wang Yun recalled the promise. Selling to Jiang Butong wasn’t impossible, but the volume wouldn’t be high.

“What if I don’t sell—what if others do?”

After all, this was a prime money-making opportunity; once people noticed the song’s popularity, other vendors would surely sell it.

“I have a way!” Jiang Butong said.

He knew he couldn’t completely block the spread of a popular song, but he could buy time, making sure he sold as many tapes as possible during the exclusive period to earn his first bucket of gold.

“What way?” Wang Yun asked curiously.

Jiang Butong beckoned her over.

Wang Yun, half-believing, leaned closer. A fragrant scent wafted over, her fair skin and cleavage exposed; Jiang Butong glanced subtly.

He whispered in her ear, and Wang Yun’s eyes widened in disbelief. She scrutinized him, unable to fathom how this young man had so many schemes.

“Sister Wang, if these tapes do sell well, shall we work together more closely?” Jiang Butong lacked connections; he needed to build his own network.

“Alright, if these tapes catch on, we’ll cooperate,” Wang Yun thought she’d never lose out anyway.

“I left you two hundred yuan last time, shouldn’t you show some goodwill now?” Jiang Butong pointed at the player.

Wang Yun laughed behind her hand; so this was what he was waiting for—such a clever one.

“I’ll give you the player at cost, sixty-five yuan.”

Jiang Butong shook his head. “Sister, last time we were strangers and I dared leave you two hundred yuan; you’re thinking too small.”

Wang Yun raised her brows, smiling, “Young man, I still don’t know you—I don’t even know your name.”

Jiang Butong smiled, held out his hand to her, “I’m Jiang Butong, a student at Pengcheng University.”

So he was a university student—that explained his quick wit. Wang Yun shook hands with him.

Jiang Butong held her hand, not letting go. “Sister, I’ll help you make big money in the future. What do you say?”

Wang Yun noticed the clarity in his eyes, and, with her hand still in his, felt a strange flutter in her heart.

“Well then, I’ll lend you this player—just remember to return it.”

She didn’t even realize she’d agreed so easily.

It wasn’t until Jiang Butong left that Wang Yun came to her senses.

Just then, someone approached the counter, asking about the song that had been playing. Clearly, the melody had caught their attention.

Wang Yun was about to answer, but remembering Jiang Butong’s warning, she declined, “I don’t know, it was brought by the man who just left.”

Jiang Butong carried the tapes in one hand and the player in the other. This trip had been worthwhile—not only had he grown closer to Wang Yun, but he’d gotten a player as well.

He walked to Chen Pan’er’s stall.

Chen Pan’er looked at the items in his hands in surprise.

“What are those?”

“Tapes—don’t you remember? I left a deposit of two hundred yuan last time.” Jiang Butong set the tapes and player on the ground.

“Two hundred yuan for so few tapes?” Chen Pan’er was skeptical.

“Right. But in the next day or two, those two hundred yuan might double.”

Chen Pan’er was doubtful.

Just then, four or five thugs approached from the abandoned building across the street. Leading them were Wolf and Eagle, the troublemakers from before.

Wolf had a cigarette dangling from his mouth, hands in his pockets, swaggering up to Jiang Butong.

“Brother, that brick you hit my guy with gave him a concussion; he’s still in the hospital. What do you say about that?” Wolf blew smoke at Jiang Butong.

Jiang Butong sneered. As expected, they were like lingering ghosts.

“What do you want to do?” Jiang Butong asked with interest.

“My guy’s got family to support, and now he’s injured. My boss said, since your boss knows him, a little compensation will do.”

“How much?” Jiang Butong’s gaze grew cold.

“Not much, a thousand yuan. After that, you can set up your stall here and we’ll never bother you again. What do you say?” Wolf opened his lion’s mouth, ready to extort Jiang Butong and then drive them out.

“A thousand? Isn’t that a little low? I was prepared to offer two thousand!” Jiang Butong said playfully.

Wolf was stunned, thinking: Damn, does this kid really have that much money?

“You really have two thousand ready?” Wolf asked.