The two of them ate their food cautiously, or one could say– in a manner that was flattering to both of them.

Y

in Ting tried very hard to solve the lamb problem. She watched Zhengqingtake two spoons of the soup; she really wanted to tell him not to force himself.But she thought that would be rude, so she sped up her eating, taking more from the soup bowl between them.

After eating so much, she became somewhat embarra.s.sed, ‘Ohdear, I eat too much,’ There goes her lady like image. ‘The food here tastes reallygood ah.’ Honestly, it was just average.

 Qiu Zhengqing replied, ‘I"m not really a big eatermyself, but I do not like picky eaters.’ It was against his principles; pickyeaters were his pet peeve.

Yin Ting nodded in agreement, ‘Neither do I,’ she just likedher food tasty, she was not a picky eater.

‘This tastes good, we can come back another time,’ he saidtesting the waters.

‘Sounds good,’ she said without hesitation, then a thought,‘Can you cook?’

Zhengqing hesitated wondering whether to tell the truth,‘I…can’t,’ he didn"t want to make any claims that could be disputed later.

‘I can’t either,’ this could be considered something incommon; point to Mr Qiu. Although it was a bit embarra.s.sing, two blind personscan’t cook a romantic dinner in his house. It might be necessary to go toa cooking cla.s.s, Yin Ting thought. He was busy with work and usually workedover time. If they really end up together, she should learn how to cook so hecan eat healthy. Having take-away all the time was not good for one.

Zhengqing decided to check for recipes on the internet tolearn. She likes to eat, so he should be able to cook some nice dishes.

As the two of them lost themselves in their cooking fantasy,Zhengqing’s phone rang; it was Mao Huizhu.

Mao Huizhu told him that she was near Zhengqing’s place andwould he like to have a meal together?

‘Hmm, I’m having lunch with a friend right now.’ He said

‘Zoe?’ Tin Ting asked. Zhengqing nodded.

‘Invite her over. More people can eat more!’ And the muttonsoup, the pot was so big, it would be hard for her to eat alone. In addition,she can make Mao Huizhu a friend, there by becoming a common friend of both ofthem, a step in the right direction.

(Zuben: I must not be in a lovey-dovey mood; all I can seeis how this all falls apart. I should do some s.m.u.t before I do this, that getsme out of the sarcastic mood quick sharpish!)

So Zhengqing invited Huizhu to the restaurant and told herhe was eating with Yin Ting,

‘Is it convenient?’ Huizhu asked when she heard Yin Ting wasthere.

‘It’s fine, she said you should come, she ordered too muchfood.’ Zhengqing said helplessly watching Yin Ting laugh.

Mao Huizhu arrived shortly after.

‘Zhu Zhu Jie!’ Ying Ting called sweetly.

‘What is this about too much food? Let me tell you, mybattle efficiency is very ordinary.’ Huizhu said jokingly to Yin Ting.

 Zhengqing rubbed athis forehead, feeling that the two were more familiar with each other that withhim. The wind was not the same, ah.

‘I also bought a bike.’ Huizhu said to Yin Tin, as Yin Tinghanded her the menu. She wanted to pick a few dishes that she might like,

‘If you have time, let’s go for a ride together,’ Yin Tingsaid.

Huizhi smiled and said, ‘Okay.’

‘It is cold,’ Zhengqing said drily, pouring cold water ontheir enthusiasm, they both stared at him, 

‘It’s really cold.’

Huizhi pointed at the food between them and asked, ‘Are you two on a date?’

Zhengqing and Yin Ting shared a look, both look seriouslythoughtful. Zhenqing remained silent, hence, letting Yin Ting decide what theywere doing,

‘Qiu Zhenqing adopted a stray cat I couldn’t care for, andin turn today I helped him by a new camera, so just having lunch.’

‘Oh.’ Huizhui drawled, and looked at Zhengqing. To her, theyshould just say ‘Yes ah,’ such a long story…

Zhengqing cleared his throat and changed the subject, ‘Howare preparations for your company going?’

Huizhu gave a pained expression, ‘It’s been more troublethan I imagined it to be, it seems that I have to wait to register after theNew Year festival.’

Zhengqing frowned. ‘After the New Year Festival? What aboutthat contract that you were aiming for in March?’

‘If I can only register after the New Year festival, I wouldnot be able to catch up,’ Huizhu and Zhengqing started chatting about herbusiness plan; her American friends were launching a business in March, thecontract would help her start up. She would like to fight to get her companyregistered in December, then it would take a month to finalise all theprocedures. Nothing can really be done in February because of the New Yearfestival, but fine details could be set up and March she could go ahead.

‘How come you can’t register? Is there a problem? Is thecapital not enough?’ Zhengqing said.

‘I was planning on using a paid service for the procedures,but it is rather expensive.. And then the need for office address, the agencycan provide, or pay service fees, but I really need an office. I"ve been to alot of places; they want half a year’s rent paid up front. Their rent is toohigh and I would also like get an interior decorator in, but it is now the end ofthe year, getting people would be hard, and there is the New Year festival. I"mhaving a hard time with recruitment because I am new; experienced people thinkI am not a good move. I had a friend who was going to start with me, but shesays her company are reluctant to let her go and she eventually decided to staythere. I would like to recruit at least an a.s.sistant, but I still need anoffice. But I can’t justify resting an office in vain. The final a.n.a.lysis wasunderestimating. It is so tiring.’

‘I do not have much money but I can borrow you to tide youover.’ Zhengqing said.

Mao Huizhu shook her head, ‘Thank you but I don’t want tothrow money down the drain just to rent an office for the registration. I don’tthink I should force myself to beat the March deadline. I want to recruit goodpeople, and that would be hard to do. I should just wait till after New Year,it won’t be a terrible loss. This is a long game, I can’t be anxious, and withthis I gain more understanding, and will be ready to be better. So after theNew Year Festival, I will rent an office, and the charge d’affaires service feecan be less, I can used the money saved on something else’

She sighed tiredly, ‘One really doesn’t have to think aboutthese things as an employee of a company. One doesn’t have to worry, just thinkabout making money for the company. Now I"m on my own, I am finding out howhard it is; how much I have to calculate…’

Yin Ting who had been listening quietly, asked, ‘What isyour company specialising in?’ Though last time they rode together, Huizu gaveher a rough outline but Yin Ting didn"t pay very much attention therefore, didnot remember.  Huizhu explained it to heragain.

‘That sounds very good, ah,’ Yin Tin said after theexplanation, ‘Will it make lots of money?’

Huizhu choked out a laugh, ‘I will try,’ Once upon a time,she would have thought she was being despised. But she knows Yin Ting well, shewas easy going and did not care.

Yin Ting asked Zhengqing, ‘Is her business promising?’

Zhengqing regarded Yin Ting for a moment, then answered,‘The direction is good. Zoe’s resources are also good, but the first year atleast would be hard.’ There is also a relatively large compet.i.tion in themarket and acquiring funds would be difficult.

Yin Ting nodded and asked, ‘Can I buy in?’

Huizhu and Zhengqing stared at her, dumbfounded.

Yin Ting Ting sat up right, ‘I’m not joking. I really dohave money. Of course, I do not have such a long term development, but the initialincome does not matter. You are an elite and intelligent lady, Zhengqing isoptimistic about your prospects, so there is no problem.’

Zhengqing had a sceptical expression on his face, when hesaid optimistic he meant if there was a large enough capital; optimistic.

‘I do not know the intricacies of business, so I cannothelp. But I have bought into stocks, regardless of the type of business, andhave gotten good returns. So I can invest in your business.’

Huizhu’s expression was more excited than Zhengqing. Thisgirl and her broken bike is claiming to be rich and would invest in hercompany?

Huizhu looked to Zhengqing, who shrugged, he was clueless,‘I don’t know how much money she has,’ or how much her dad owned. He knew herdad ran a printing plant, but he didn’t know the scale. He brother ran a bar,which he had been to, it look like it was successful but he didn’t know herbrother’s wealth either.

‘How large is the office you need and how many people aregoing to be enough?’ Yin Ting asked eagerly.

‘One hundred and twenty square metres,’ Huizhu said, stillmildly flabbergasted, ‘This is a small company, please don’t be impulsive andconsider it clearly’

‘So you need a general manager"s office, but also afinancial room, but also a meeting room.’ Yin Ting said thoughtfully, ‘Thefaçade is also very important,’ she picked up her phone, as she dialled, sheasked Huizhu, ‘Where would you like it to be located?’

Huizhu and Zhengqing’s mouths hung open. She was now askingabout selecting locations. It must be a cheap area, most likely.

Yin Ting’s called was picked up by the other party, theyexchanged pleasantries, and she asked, ‘Du jingli, which one of my officebuildings is empty?’

Huizhu looked at Zhengqing; he shook his head. He reallydidn’t know about all this. He did not believe this girl has an officebuilding.

‘Hmm, okay,’ Yin Ting looked to Huizhu and said, ‘WillowStreet, which is three-fifty square metres or so, the lease expires inDecember. There is another on Jinsha Road that is five hundred which is emptyand you can move in next week.’

Huizhu’s eyes widened, ‘Not the five hundred.’

Yin Ting looked at her, ‘Du jingli, help me hold on to theWillow Street office and do not rent the other one. I will come and see youabout them later.’

She rang off and looked to see Huizhu and Zhengqing staringat her. Yin Ting was somewhat embarra.s.sed, ‘I have lots of stock. I have theoffices and and a few houses. I have ready-made resources, they can’t exist invain right. And the rent would be cheap and we can add it to the shares. I needto speak to my lawyers and accountants; we can come to a deal and save money. Seehow we can deal with the cash flow situation and calculation of the budget.What do you think?’

Huizhu was undecided; out of the blue this pie dropped outof the sky. She did not know what to do, so she turned to Zhengqing.

Zhengqing comes to a rational point, ‘Don’t you need to talkto your dad or brother?’

‘No need. My dad has stopped involving himself, once my mom left us. Before, he had several companies, he sold them all. There were two hesold to Qin Shu; the shoes and leather goods ones.’

 Zhengqing wassurprised, those two were their key business arms; he did not know that theyhad been bought from Yin Ting’s father.

‘My dad kept only the printing plant. At the beginning, theprinting plant did very well; the machines and other technology are introducedfrom abroad and there was a lot of business specifically looking up. Thingswent well, so he expanded to other businesses. My mother ran the printing factoryand my dad was free to develop new businesses and they were also successful. Heand Qin Shu were entrepreneurial partners. But sadly my mother left us, and mydad was very depressed.  He decided tosell all his companies, leaving the printing factory. He wanted my brother tosucceed it, but my brother refused. He was fine with that and divided thea.s.sets between my brother and I. My brother took his and tried to start abusiness. I was small and told my dad I did not know what to do with the moneyso he helped me invest it.’

‘So your dad helped you invest in property.’ Zhengqing said.

‘He bought a house for me, I went to look at it and liked itso I decided to keep it. So I used the rest of the money to buy other houses, afew office building and shops. I hired an agency to help me look after thinks,as well as the accounting company and my legal team. The building my brother’sbar is located is mine. He lost a lot of money in is enterprises, so I helpedhim and finally things are going well. I also invested in my friends fashiondesign company, and she’s also doing well. Lots of gains!’

She turned to Huizhu and said, ‘You see, I am very lucky solet me invest and get some shares in your company and you will make money.’

Huizhu did not know what to say. Was it okay for things tobe this easy?

‘Business is business, you can’t use superst.i.tion and luck.’Zhengqing said sternly (Zuben: Zhengqing, everything is luck my dear)

‘Oh,’ Yin Ting replied, ‘Anyway, I have the resources tohelp Huizhu. My dad said too much money can cause depression, and suicide amongthe rich is high and I should look after myself and live fulfilling life. He isright. When I was in younger in high school, I was scolded by a cla.s.s mate ofmine, she said I am not great, and all I had was my parent’s money, I do notwork hard or contribute to the community. All I do is buy houses. At that time,I think she was lovelorn, and the mood is not good.’ (Zuben: What societalcontribution is an average teenager in China doing, I would like to know.)

Zhengqing was silent; she was such a weird girl, she wasscolded yet she found an excuse for the person’s behaviour. And what is young,how old is she now? (Zuben: Zhengqing, you want to tap that. Stop being ajudgemental so and so.)

‘But I was very said, and I didn’t buy the house. I wenthome and cried and my father asked is what was wrong. I told him about what shesaid, and my father told me not to let it get me down. Why should I feelinferior, everyone has their own situation; we are all different. Although Iwas not an outstanding student, I was not stupid, I studied hard and graduatedsmoothly. I work at the printing factory everyday, I accompany my father sohe’s no lonely.  I love small animals,care for children, I earn money also help others. I am not a criminal or a badperson. I like to exude positive energy and I do contribute to the society. Iwould like to meet that girl again and show her that she can’t look down on me.’(Zuben: what an advert.)

Zhengqing and Huizhu did not say anything, in truth; theywere rather prejudiced towards rich kids, due to their struggle filledbackgrounds.

‘So please don’t think I would be trouble, ah,’ shecontinued, ‘I am serious and I don’t invest randomly. I think Zhu Zhu jie cando well, and you helped others who lost their jobs. My mother said that good peoplewill have a good report, just a good time to report, do not see, do not missthis is not a chance now. I can help the busy, I will do my best. And when thecompany is set up, we can work together. Isn’t there Zhengqing with his abilityas Yongkai"s money tree he can also help us out with ideas. For now, we shouldget the company registered, and recruit people. I can find someone to help.With the funds, we can set up the offices and attract people, and hopefullywith luck, things would be ready for March!’

Huizhu laughed and looked to Zhengqing, and back to YinTing, ‘Someone once told me that there are people who can easily persuadeothers with their line of thinking, you are like this.’

‘I thank you for your kind praise,’ Yin Ting said veryproudly

‘So what you are saying is that we can get things sorted fora start in March.’

‘Of course, I’m not just bragging, I am really a lucky star,’Yin Tin boasted.

Just then, Huizhu’s phone rang, she looked at it to see itwas her old colleague, Wu Fei.

‘Zoe jie, I heard you were starting your own company.’

‘Yes,’ Huizhu replied, her heart was a bit tickled.

‘I want to volunteer my ability and att.i.tude. You know mystrengths. I also know that the initial start of a business is not easy, so Ican take a lower salary. I just want the opportunity to continue to learn fromyou.’

Huizhu was surprised. Is today her lucky day? She had justbeen in the area, and thought of having a meal with Zhengqing, only intending onborrowing his ear to unburden her start up woes. She did not expect before she’sfinished her rice, she had funds and business partners.

Yin Tin smiled happily and glanced at Zhengqing. Zhengqing wasalso looking at her. Yin Ting got somewhat shy. Truthfully, her reasons forhelping Huizhu were not hundred percent altruistic. It was so she could shortenthe distance between her and Zhengqing and get an entry into his friends circle.(Zuben: That is why we had a three page advert of your strengths andweaknesses, eh?) She did not want to be seen as the rich princess, who liked toplay and despised work. She also had her own personal matters that she wantedto pursue. Although her goals may not be lofty or n.o.ble, the world was big, andwe are not all the same.

What she wants right now, her ideal was to find love with aproper gentleman. Yes, ah, and her hope is that after the success of love shecan happily get married.

Right now, she felt life was good and she was full ofenergy.

Zuben: If y"all read ahead with the raws, you would notice a few differences and omissions. That is because I take out sentences that I don"t feel are relevant, I re-word, revise and summarise. This is the way of the G.o.d; me!

There would be more Easy Marriage, just as soon as I get over the muddled hurdle that is Leandroth"s POV, I can"t let it beat me!

Peace x