The first time Xu Tingsheng had seen his father dressed like a businessman, he had nearly forgotten that this man was the same person who spent most of his days working in the fields.
Of course, the expensive shirt and leather shoes were not enough to change a person.
A person's habits, confidence, and manner of speaking were not things that could be bought with money.
However, Xu Jianliang had once been a businessman.
And now, as he stood beneath the summer sunlight, adjusting his sleeves with an expression of quiet confidence, Xu Tingsheng suddenly felt that the man before him had never really forgotten that part of himself.
"Dad, I think you look pretty impressive today."
Mr Xu glanced at him.
"Stop flattering me. You're the one who made me spend all that money."
"That's an investment."
"An investment?"
"Of course. When you become a big boss in the future, you'll have to meet important people. You can't always wear your old clothes and muddy shoes."
Mr Xu laughed.
"Then according to you, what should a big boss look like?"
Xu Tingsheng thought for a moment.
"Someone who looks as though he has a million yuan in his pocket, even when he only has a hundred."
"Wouldn't that make him a swindler?"
"Well..."
Xu Tingsheng found himself momentarily speechless.
Mr Xu patted his shoulder.
"Remember this. Looking like you have money might help you through the door, but it won't make people keep doing business with you."
He paused before adding, "For that, you need to make them trust you."
Xu Tingsheng looked at his father.
It was a simple statement.
Yet, coming from a man who had once built a factory from almost nothing, it carried more weight than any business lesson Xu Tingsheng had learned in his previous life.
He nodded.
"I'll remember that."
"Good. Now stop talking nonsense. Let's go see that tower of yours."
"That tower of ours," Xu Tingsheng corrected.
Mr Xu shook his head, smiling.
"You're already dividing up the property before we've even rented it."
Golden City Tower was still under construction.
From a distance, it was already one of the most noticeable buildings in Libei County. Compared to the old streets and low buildings surrounding it, the tower looked almost out of place.
The building itself was not particularly impressive by the standards of a large city.
But this was Libei.
Here, a building with more than ten floors was enough to become a landmark.
Workers moved around the entrance. Construction materials were stacked to one side, while a temporary sign directed interested tenants towards the leasing office.
Several motorcycles and bicycles stood outside.
Xu Tingsheng surveyed the surroundings.
The tower stood close to a busy road, with residential neighbourhoods and smaller commercial streets not far away. People would naturally pass this area on their way to work, school, or the market.
More importantly, the town was still growing.
In another few years, the surrounding streets would become much livelier.
Xu Tingsheng remembered this clearly.
In his previous life, the supermarket that eventually opened here had become one of the most successful businesses in the entire county.
For years, families had come from surrounding villages just to shop there.
Some people had even treated visiting the supermarket as a small outing.
That was how unfamiliar large-scale supermarkets had once been in Libei.
At the time, Xu Tingsheng had never thought much about who owned the place or how much money its owner earned.
Now, that very question had become extremely important.
"Dad, what do you think?"
Mr Xu did not immediately answer.
He walked towards the entrance, examined the width of the road, and looked around the side of the building.
Then he asked, "Where would the delivery trucks stop?"
Xu Tingsheng froze.
"What?"
"If we're opening a supermarket, goods will have to arrive every day. Rice, oil, beverages, packaged food, household supplies... Do you expect the workers to carry everything through the front entrance?"
Xu Tingsheng looked towards the side of the building.
There was a narrow passage there.
He had not paid much attention to it earlier.
Mr Xu continued, "And where will we store the goods? How will customers enter and leave? Will there be enough electricity for the refrigerators? How much will it cost to renovate such a large place?"
He turned towards his son.
"Have you thought about these things?"
Xu Tingsheng hesitated.
"Not all of them."
Mr Xu smiled.
"Then today, we'll learn about them."
Xu Tingsheng suddenly felt rather embarrassed.
He had been reborn with memories of the future, and he knew which businesses were likely to succeed.
But knowing that a supermarket would make money was entirely different from knowing how to operate one.
He could remember the destination.
His father, however, knew that there was still a road to travel.
As expected, I really am only suitable for being a rich second-generation heir.
Xu Tingsheng sighed inwardly.
Unfortunately, his rich father had not yet become rich.
He would have to work a little harder before enjoying that privilege.
Inside the leasing office, a young woman looked up from her desk.
"Hello. Are you here to inquire about the commercial spaces?"
"Yes," Mr Xu replied. "We'd like to know about the ground floor."
"The ground floor?"
Her expression changed slightly.
Most people visiting the office had been asking about individual shops. Few were interested in the entire ground floor.
"Are you planning to rent a shopfront?"
"The whole floor," Mr Xu said.
The woman blinked.
"Please have a seat. I'll ask our manager to speak with you."
After she left, Xu Tingsheng leaned towards his father.
"Dad, you scared her."
"How?"
"With your confidence."
Mr Xu glanced at him.
"Don't start."
A short while later, a middle-aged man entered the office.
He introduced himself as Manager Luo.
After exchanging greetings, he invited them to sit around a desk covered with building plans.
"So, you're interested in the entire ground floor?"
"That's right," Mr Xu said.
"May I ask what kind of business you're planning?"
"A large supermarket."
Manager Luo looked surprised.
"A supermarket?"
He leaned back in his chair.
"To be frank, we've had people inquire about restaurants, clothing shops, and even an entertainment centre. But nobody has seriously discussed taking the whole floor for a supermarket."
"Then perhaps we're the first," Mr Xu replied.
Manager Luo smiled politely.
"May I ask whether you already operate a supermarket elsewhere?"
"No."
"Do you have experience in retail?"
"Not in a supermarket of this size."
Manager Luo's enthusiasm cooled a little.
This was understandable.
The ground floor was an important part of Golden City Tower. The developer would naturally prefer a tenant with sufficient funds and a proven business.
Two strangers walking in and announcing that they wanted to open Libei's first large-scale supermarket were not particularly reassuring.
Manager Luo glanced at Xu Tingsheng.
"And this young man?"
"My son," Mr Xu replied. "The idea was his."
"Your son?"
"He's just finished his university entrance examinations."
Manager Luo's smile became a little strained.
Xu Tingsheng could almost hear what the man was thinking.
A student and a farmer want to rent our entire ground floor?
If he were the manager, he probably would not have believed them either.
Still, Mr Xu remained calm.
"Manager Luo, could we first discuss the usable area, rental conditions, and the restrictions on renovation?"
Something in his tone made Manager Luo sit up straighter.
"Certainly."
He spread a floor plan across the desk.
Their discussion began.
For the next twenty minutes, Xu Tingsheng barely spoke.
His father asked about the size of the commercial space, the location of the entrances, the possibility of installing additional storage areas, and the arrangements for water and electricity.
He also asked about the building's completion schedule and whether the landlord could guarantee that construction work would not continue obstructing the entrance after the business opened.
Manager Luo answered the questions one by one.
Gradually, his attitude changed.
The man across from him might not have run a supermarket before, but he clearly understood business.
More importantly, he knew what questions to ask before committing his money.
Then came the most important question.
"The rent?" Mr Xu asked.
Manager Luo named the amount.
Xu Tingsheng's expression stiffened.
It was considerably higher than he had hoped.
And that was only the rent.
There were still the deposit, renovation expenses, shelves, refrigerators, cash registers, employees' wages, and the initial stock to consider.
Three hundred thousand yuan suddenly seemed much smaller.
Manager Luo continued explaining the payment arrangements.
By the time he finished, Xu Tingsheng had begun to understand why so many businesses failed before they even opened their doors.
Owning enough money to begin was not the same as owning enough money to survive.
"Those conditions are difficult for us," Mr Xu said.
Manager Luo nodded.
"I'm afraid commercial property in this location won't be cheap."
"I understand. But this building is still under construction, and a supermarket cannot open the day we receive the keys."
Mr Xu placed a finger on the floor plan.
"We would need time to renovate, purchase equipment, arrange suppliers, and recruit workers. If we're paying full rent throughout that period, we'll be spending money before we can earn a single yuan."
"That's normal for a business."
"Yes. But there are arrangements that would benefit both sides."
Manager Luo raised an eyebrow.
"Such as?"
"A renovation period without rent. Rental payments divided into shorter periods rather than a large advance. And a longer lease, so that we're not forced to relocate after investing in the space."
Manager Luo studied him.
"You're asking for quite a lot."
Mr Xu smiled.
"I'm also proposing to rent quite a lot."
For the first time since the meeting began, Manager Luo laughed.
Xu Tingsheng quietly lowered his head.
Dad, you're impressive.
He had originally imagined that he would be the one teaching his father how to conduct business.
Now it seemed the opposite would be true.
Manager Luo personally accompanied them to inspect the ground floor.
The interior was still unfinished.
There were concrete pillars, construction materials, and patches of dust everywhere. The sound of drilling occasionally came from the floors above.
To an ordinary person, it might have looked like a construction site.
To Xu Tingsheng, however, it was already a supermarket.
He imagined long rows of shelves, bright lighting, shopping carts, refrigerators, and customers lining up at the checkout counters.
A mother pushing a cart with her child.
An elderly man comparing the prices of cooking oil.
Students wandering between shelves of snacks.
All those small, ordinary scenes would eventually become a part of daily life here.
"Dad, over there would be good for the checkout counters," Xu Tingsheng said.
Mr Xu followed his gaze.
"Why?"
"Customers would have to pass them before leaving."
"Then where would the incoming customers go?"
"Through the other side."
"And what if both sides get crowded?"
Xu Tingsheng considered the question.
"Then we'd need to leave more space between them."
Mr Xu nodded.
"That's something to remember."
He looked around before continuing.
"Also, don't put too much stock in the middle of the aisles. Customers need room to move. If it becomes inconvenient to walk around, they'll leave before buying everything they need."
Xu Tingsheng nodded again.
By now, he had already stopped trying to appear knowledgeable.
His father's words were not particularly complicated, but they were grounded in practical experience.
It was precisely this kind of experience that Xu Tingsheng lacked.
They continued walking.
Manager Luo explained which areas could be renovated and which structural parts could not be changed.
At one point, he mentioned that a few other interested parties had also visited the ground floor.
Mr Xu immediately asked, "Have any of them made a formal offer?"
"Not yet."
"Then we're still in time."
Manager Luo smiled.
"Provided your proposal is acceptable."
"Naturally."
After inspecting the entire floor, they returned to the office.
This time, Manager Luo's attitude had become much warmer.
"Mr Xu, I'll be straightforward. I think your supermarket idea has potential. But there's still one problem."
"Capital?" Mr Xu asked.
"Exactly. A supermarket this size won't be cheap to establish."
Mr Xu nodded.
"I know."
"Even if we agree to your rental conditions, you will still need money for equipment, stock, and operating expenses."
"That's something I'll have to arrange."
Manager Luo hesitated before asking, "May I know roughly how much capital you have available?"
Mr Xu glanced at Xu Tingsheng.
The latter understood what he meant.
They had already agreed not to reveal the family's entire financial situation immediately.
"Enough to begin serious discussions," Mr Xu answered.
Manager Luo laughed.
"You're careful."
"When spending money, being careful is better than being brave."
"Fair enough."
Manager Luo gathered the documents.
"How about this? Prepare a more detailed proposal. I'll discuss the rental conditions with the company. If both sides are satisfied, we can proceed."
"When would you need it?"
"The sooner the better. Other interested parties may come forward."
Mr Xu stood up.
"Then I'll come back tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?"
Manager Luo appeared surprised.
Mr Xu smiled.
"There's no point delaying something you've already decided to do."
After leaving Golden City Tower, father and son found a small restaurant for lunch.
Two bowls of noodles were placed before them.
Xu Tingsheng picked up his chopsticks but did not immediately start eating.
"Dad."
"Hmm?"
"Do you think we can really do this?"
Mr Xu looked at him.
"Why? Lost your confidence?"
"It's not that."
Xu Tingsheng hesitated.
"Three hundred thousand yuan sounded like a lot when I placed it on our table. Now, after looking at everything, I feel like it isn't enough."
Mr Xu stirred his noodles.
"It's not enough."
His reply was so direct that Xu Tingsheng nearly choked.
"Dad, can't you comfort your son a little?"
"Would comforting you make the money increase?"
"...No."
"Then eat your noodles."
Xu Tingsheng lowered his head.
A moment later, Mr Xu continued.
"Three hundred thousand yuan is a lot of money for our family. But for a business of this scale, it isn't much."
He paused.
"That's why we can't spend it all at once."
Xu Tingsheng raised his head.
"We can negotiate the rent, buy equipment gradually, and discuss payment arrangements with suppliers. If we manage everything properly, we won't need to pay for every single thing before opening."
"What about loans?"
"They're an option. But borrowing money before knowing whether the business can support itself would be dangerous."
Mr Xu placed down his chopsticks.
"Also, we have to keep some money for emergencies."
Xu Tingsheng nodded.
He had been thinking almost entirely about how much the supermarket could eventually earn.
His father had been thinking about what would happen if it did not earn money immediately.
The difference was important.
"What about the suppliers?" Xu Tingsheng asked.
"I'll look into them. We'll have to compare prices, negotiate payment terms, and make sure they can deliver regularly. We can't rely on one supplier for everything."
"That sounds troublesome."
"Of course it's troublesome."
Mr Xu looked amused.
"Did you think opening a business meant putting money on a table and waiting for more money to appear?"
Xu Tingsheng considered the question seriously.
"That would have been my preferred method."
"Then you should go home and sleep. Perhaps it'll happen in your dreams."
Xu Tingsheng sighed.
It seemed that becoming a rich second-generation heir was going to be harder than expected.
Mr Xu watched him for a moment before speaking again.
"Tingsheng."
"Yes?"
"Why are you so certain about this supermarket?"
The question caught Xu Tingsheng off guard.
He could hardly say that he had seen the place flourishing in another lifetime.
After considering his words, he replied, "Because people's lives are changing."
Mr Xu listened.
"More families are earning money. More people are buying things they wouldn't have bought before. Right now, they have to visit several different shops just to purchase their daily necessities."
Xu Tingsheng pointed towards the street outside.
"Imagine a place where someone can buy rice, cooking oil, soap, clothes, snacks, and household goods in one visit. Everything has a clear price, and customers can choose what they want themselves."
Mr Xu remained silent.
Xu Tingsheng continued.
"At first, people might come because they're curious. But if the prices are fair and the shopping experience is convenient, they'll return."
"Even if our goods aren't the cheapest?"
"They don't have to be the cheapest in every category. They need to be reasonably priced, reliable, and convenient."
Mr Xu slowly nodded.
"That's a good point."
Xu Tingsheng was delighted.
Receiving praise from his father felt surprisingly satisfying.
Then Mr Xu added, "At least this time, it sounds like you've properly thought about something."
"Dad!"
Mr Xu laughed.
When they returned home that afternoon, Mrs Xu was waiting.
The moment she saw them, she began questioning them.
"How was it? Did you speak to the people in charge? Is the rent expensive? Can we open the shop?"
Xu Tingsheng had barely entered the doorway.
"Mom, can I drink some water first?"
"Water can wait. Tell me what happened."
"Then shouldn't Dad be the one answering?"
Mrs Xu turned towards her husband.
Mr Xu had already taken off his new leather shoes.
"The location is good," he said. "The rent is high, but the conditions might be negotiable."
"How high?"
He told her.
Mrs Xu became silent.
Xu Qiuyi, who had been doing her homework nearby, raised her head.
"Are we really going to open a supermarket?"
"Maybe," Xu Tingsheng said.
Her eyes brightened.
"Then can I eat the snacks for free?"
"No," Mrs Xu answered immediately.
"Why?"
"Because they're for selling."
"But it's our supermarket!"
"Exactly. If everyone in the family eats for free, what will we sell?"
Xu Qiuyi looked towards her brother for support.
Xu Tingsheng thought for a moment.
"How about this? When I become the boss, you can have one packet of snacks every day."
His sister immediately beamed.
"Brother is the best!"
Mrs Xu turned towards him.
"You're not the boss. Your father is."
Xu Tingsheng looked at Mr Xu.
Mr Xu nodded seriously.
"Your mother is right."
Xu Qiuyi's smile vanished.
She stared at the three of them.
"Then who exactly is going to give me snacks?"
Nobody answered.
A moment later, the entire family burst into laughter.
It had been a long time since the Xu household had felt so lively.
Sitting there, watching his father laugh and his mother complain about money, Xu Tingsheng experienced a familiar warmth.
In his previous life, after his father's death, the household had changed completely.
There had been fewer conversations and fewer moments of laughter.
Even ordinary meals had gradually become filled with worry.
But now, they were discussing how to open a supermarket.
His sister was worrying about free snacks.
His mother was worrying about expenses.
His father was preparing to begin a business again.
Everything seemed wonderfully ordinary.
This is enough, Xu Tingsheng thought.
Even if the supermarket failed, even if the money was lost, even if his knowledge of the future turned out to be less useful than he imagined—
As long as the four of them could continue sitting together like this, he had already gained something priceless.
Of course, it would be better if the supermarket succeeded.
After all, three hundred thousand yuan was still three hundred thousand yuan.
That evening, Mr Xu spread several sheets of paper across the dining table.
He had begun drafting a business proposal.
Xu Tingsheng sat beside him.
Mrs Xu brought over a cup of tea, glanced at the papers, and immediately pulled out a chair.
"What are you calculating?"
"Expenses."
"Let me see."
Mr Xu handed her the paper.
She examined it for a while.
"Why are you estimating so much for decoration?"
"Because the place is still unfinished."
"Then why not keep things simple at the beginning? Make it clean and presentable first. We can improve it later."
Mr Xu considered her suggestion.
"That could save some money."
"And don't hire too many people immediately," she continued. "You don't even know how many customers you'll have."
Xu Tingsheng watched the two of them discuss the figures.
His mother had never managed a large business before, but she had always been good at handling household expenses.
She understood how difficult it was to earn money.
And she understood even better how quickly money could disappear.
After half an hour, the original estimate had already been reduced considerably.
Mr Xu looked at his wife.
"You should help manage the finances when the supermarket opens."
Mrs Xu snorted.
"Who else would you trust with the money?"
Xu Tingsheng raised his hand.
"Me?"
Both parents looked at him.
"No," they answered together.
Xu Tingsheng lowered his hand.
Very well. It seems my position in this family has already been determined.
He was responsible for earning the money.
His mother was responsible for controlling it.
His father was responsible for spending it.
His sister was responsible for eating the snacks.
What a perfect division of labour.
Later that night, Xu Tingsheng finally had some time alone.
He sat by the window, his newly purchased mobile phone resting on the table.
For a while, he considered calling Huang Yaming and Fu Cheng.
The three of them had spent almost every day together during their final months at school.
Now that the examinations were over, it felt strange not hearing their voices.
He eventually called Huang Yaming.
"Hello?"
"Huang Yaming, what are you doing?"
"Thinking about my future."
"That's unusual."
"Xu Tingsheng, are you calling just to insult me?"
"Of course not. I wanted to tell you something important."
"What?"
"My family might be opening a supermarket."
There was silence on the other end.
Then Huang Yaming exclaimed, "What?!"
Xu Tingsheng moved the phone away from his ear.
"Lower your voice."
"You're opening a supermarket?"
"My father is."
"Then aren't you going to become rich?"
"Not yet."
"When you do become rich, remember your brothers."
"Naturally."
"Good. Then I'll come every day to eat for free."
"..."
Xu Tingsheng suddenly understood why his mother wanted to control the finances.
His friends were even more dangerous than his sister.
After some more nonsense, the conversation turned towards their examination results, university choices, and the uncertain future waiting beyond graduation.
They talked for a long time.
By the time Xu Tingsheng ended the call, the night had grown quiet.
He placed the phone on the table and looked out of the window.
Beyond the dark fields lay roads leading to Jiannan City, and farther away, Yanzhou.
He had originally planned to visit Yanzhou immediately after his examinations.
There were places there he remembered with extraordinary clarity.
Streets, shops, bus stops, and ordinary corners of the city that had once been part of another life.
And there was Xiang Ning.
Yet his desire to return could not change the fact that she was still a young girl living her own life.
The Xiang Ning he remembered belonged to years that had not yet happened.
He had no right to turn those memories into expectations for her present.
Perhaps the best thing he could do now was focus on the people and responsibilities directly in front of him.
He closed the window.
Yanzhou can wait a little longer.
At that moment, he heard his father's new mobile phone ringing in the next room.
A short while later, footsteps approached.
Mr Xu appeared at his doorway.
"Tingsheng, are you asleep?"
"Not yet. What's wrong?"
"That Manager Luo called."
Xu Tingsheng immediately sat up.
"What did he say?"
"He said that the company is interested in our proposal."
"That's good news!"
"But there's a problem."
Xu Tingsheng's excitement faded.
"What problem?"
Mr Xu entered the room and sat on the edge of the bed.
"Another businessman is interested in renting the same space."
Xu Tingsheng frowned.
That was not entirely unexpected.
Golden City Tower occupied one of the best commercial locations in the county. Someone else recognising its potential was perfectly reasonable.
"Did he make an offer?"
"Apparently, he has more capital than we do."
"How much more?"
"Manager Luo didn't say."
Xu Tingsheng fell silent.
His knowledge of the future had given him confidence, but it had never guaranteed that everything would go according to plan.
He knew that a supermarket would eventually succeed in Golden City Tower.
He did not know who would own it.
That distinction suddenly seemed rather important.
"What do we do?" he asked.
Mr Xu smiled.
"Tomorrow, I'll go negotiate again."
"Just like that?"
"What else? Give up because someone else has more money?"
Xu Tingsheng slowly smiled as well.
His father was not the sort of man who surrendered before trying.
That was precisely why Xu Tingsheng had wanted to give him another opportunity.
Mr Xu stood up.
"Get some sleep. We'll go early tomorrow."
"Dad."
"Hmm?"
"Do you think we can win?"
Mr Xu considered the question.
Then he answered, "I don't know."
Xu Tingsheng was startled.
His father continued, "But I know one thing. If someone else can see the value of that place, we weren't foolish to consider it."
He smiled.
"And if we really can't get it, we'll find another opportunity. Business doesn't end because you lose one negotiation."
Having said this, he turned and left.
Xu Tingsheng remained seated for a long time.
In his previous life, he had often wondered what kind of person his father might have become if circumstances had been different.
Now, he was beginning to find out.
The following morning, Xu Tingsheng and his father arrived at Golden City Tower earlier than the previous day.
Before they entered the leasing office, a black car pulled up near the entrance.
A middle-aged man stepped out.
He was neatly dressed, carrying a leather briefcase, with an expensive-looking watch on his wrist.
Another man followed behind him.
The first man looked around the building, apparently satisfied.
Then his gaze fell upon Mr Xu.
For an instant, his expression froze.
"Jianliang?"
Mr Xu stopped walking.
Xu Tingsheng noticed that his father's face had changed.
The relaxed confidence from earlier was gone.
In its place was an expression Xu Tingsheng had never seen before.
Surprise.
Disbelief.
And something much harder to identify.
The middle-aged man approached them.
"It's really you! Xu Jianliang! How many years has it been?"
Mr Xu did not answer.
The man laughed.
"I heard you went back to farming. What brings you here? Don't tell me you're thinking of doing business again?"
Xu Tingsheng looked between them.
"Dad, do you know him?"
His father remained silent.
The middle-aged man turned towards Xu Tingsheng.
"Your son?"
"Yes," Mr Xu finally replied.
"He's grown so big already!"
The man laughed again, then extended his hand.
"Jianliang, it's been so long. Surely you're not still angry about what happened back then?"
This time, Mr Xu did not take the offered hand.
Instead, he asked quietly, "You're the other person trying to rent the ground floor?"
The man's smile widened.
"So you've heard about that."
He glanced at Golden City Tower.
"Looks like we have our eyes on the same business opportunity."
Xu Tingsheng suddenly felt that something was wrong.
His father's hands had tightened into fists.
He had only seen his father like this once before, when the family had faced a truly serious matter.
"Dad," he asked softly, "who is he?"
Mr Xu finally turned towards his son.
For several seconds, he seemed unable to decide what to say.
Then, in a low voice, he answered.
"He's the man who used to run the brick factory with me."
Xu Tingsheng froze.
The brick factory.
The business his father had built in his youth.
The factory that had been lost after his former partner's gambling problems.
The failure that had changed the direction of his father's entire life.
And now—
The man from that painful past was standing right in front of them.
Competing for the very business that was supposed to give Xu Jianliang a second beginning.
The middle-aged man glanced at the leasing office, then back at Mr Xu.
"Jianliang, since we're old friends, let me give you some advice."
He lowered his voice.
"Don't compete with me for this place."
His smile remained.
"You couldn't afford to lose back then. You can't afford to lose now, either."