Blossom In Adversity - Vol. 2

C369. Capital Accumulation.

Chapter 369: Capital Accumulation

As the host, Hua Zhi arrived well ahead of schedule. With some time before the event kicked off, she decided to swing by the new store to check things out. The adjustments made by the maids were evident—everything was now more polished and visually pleasing.

Hua Zhi wasn’t the type to get bogged down by the small stuff. She simply pointed out what needed tweaking and left it to them to handle the finer details. Then, when it came to naming the store, she didn’t overthink it. She chose something straightforward: The Seafood. No need for some fancy, cryptic name when you’re selling food. Keep it simple, keep it clear.

Afterward, she returned to the Shi Zai, and it wasn’t long before Jiang Xinde showed up—also early.

They exchanged a few pleasantries and took their seats. Hua Zhi, cutting to the chase, slid a prepared contract across the table to Mr. Jiang. “Take a look at this first,” she said.

Jiang Xinde raised an eyebrow but didn’t speak. Instead, he started going through the document. He prided himself on his ability to size people up, and Hua Zhi seemed like the real deal—straightforward, no hidden agendas. It wasn’t hard to see why the young man from his family had stirred up such a fuss. If it was for her, the trouble seemed more than worth it.

As he finished reading, he couldn’t help but think more highly of her. A person who took action like this clearly had confidence in what they could accomplish.

“Thirty percent profit... interesting. I’m curious, Miss Hua, why did you choose the Jiang family for this partnership?”

Hua Zhi answered without missing a beat, her tone calm. “In a city like this, no one can control the whole market. Profit always gets divided up, so I don’t mind sharing it with the Jiang family. Plus, it’s my way of repaying the favor from Mr. Jiang’s son.”

Jiang Xinde waved her off with a smile. “Don’t be modest. I know what my son’s capable of—he’s good at scaring people, sure, but that’s hardly worth sacrificing such a significant chunk of profit.”

Hua Zhi maintained her serene smile. “Let me put it another way, then. The way I see it, Mr. Jiang raised a son who didn’t just run off when things got tough. He even said, if he left, you'd break his legs. That kind of loyalty makes the Jiang family stand out to me. It’s not about putting my full trust in you, but it does mean I don’t have to worry about getting stabbed in the back. In the end, it’s a win-win situation for both of us, don’t you think? Peace of mind and shared profits—what could be better?”

Hua Zhi's flattery hit the mark, making Jiang Xinde feel at ease, but they were both too shrewd to be taken in by each other’s charms. Neither of them was a rookie. "So, tell me, what exactly does my Jiang family need to do to earn this thirty percent cut?" he asked, a knowing gleam in his eye.

"Well, to put it simply," Hua Zhi replied, "you'll need to cover thirty percent of the investment for the shopfront. Any concerns about that?"

Jiang Xinde smirked. "None at all."

"In this joint venture, the breakdown is simple. The Jiang family covers thirty percent, the Cai family covers twenty, and I’ll take care of the remaining fifty. The numbers are clear-cut, so no one can claim to be taking advantage of anyone else. Now, if any issues come up in the shop, we might need to lean on your family’s influence," she added smoothly.

Jiang Xinde gave her a pointed look, his smile bordering on the sarcastic. "My influence isn’t exactly that impressive. I can handle the small stuff, but some people won't be swayed by a little pressure."

Hua Zhi was unruffled. "It’s a small-scale business. With you and the Cai family backing it, I seriously doubt anyone would dare risk upsetting both of you for a quick profit."