Chapter 19: New business

The first rays of sunlight peeking through the curtains of her room as Jiang Yan woke up early. She sat up on her bed and rubbed her eyes, feeling the grogginess of sleep still clinging to her. As she stretched her arms and yawned, she thought about the day ahead and the plan she had made the night before.

Jiang Yan got out of bed and walked over to the window, opening the curtains to let in more light. She took a deep breath of the fresh morning air and felt a renewed sense of determination. She quickly got dressed and headed to the kitchen to grab some breakfast.

Chen Ran had already laid out a plate of steaming hot congee for her, along with some side dishes. Jiang Yan sat down at the table and began eating, her mind already racing with the tasks she needed to accomplish that day.

After finishing her meal, Jiang Yan quickly made her way to the front door, slipping on her shoes and grabbing her bag. As she stepped outside, she saw that the sun was now fully up and shining brightly in the clear blue sky.

As she walked out of the the door, the chauffeur asked her where she wanted to go.

Jiang Yan hesitated for a moment, then shook her head. "I'll take a cab instead," she said, already heading towards the gate.

The chauffeur looked surprised but didn't say anything as Jiang Yan left. Once she was gone, Madam Tian came downstairs, looking agitated.

"Good morning, Madam Tian," Aunt Chen greeted her with a bow.

"Where is Jiang Yan?" Madam Tian demanded; her voice sharp with irritation.

"She left early this morning, Madam," Aunt Chen replied, careful to keep her tone respectful.

Madam Tian scowled. "And she didn't even bother to tell me where she was going? That girl has no respect for her elders."

Aunt Chen stayed quiet, knowing better than to say anything to Madam Tian when she was in such a mood. Instead, she busied herself with some household chores while Madam Tian continued to grumble and complain about Jiang Yan's behaviour.

Jiang Yan made her way to a bustling alley, filled with a market that sold products at wholesale prices. The items were of exceptional quality, ranging from stones and jewellery to apparel. Businessmen and affluent individuals populated the area, adding to the buzz of the atmosphere.

As Jiang Yan walked through the alley, she stopped at a fabric store, its vibrant colours and textures catching her eye. After browsing the store, Jiang Yan selected a variety of fabrics, carefully examining each one before making her purchase.

Earlier, Hua Mei had called Jiang Yan asking her about the materials she would need for her designs, and Jiang Yan had promised to bring them herself. Jiang Yan was confident in her own taste and judgment when it came to selecting fabrics, knowing exactly which ones would be perfect for her creations.

She spent hours browsing through the bolts of fabric, running her fingers over the soft silks and delicate lace. With her keen eye for design, Jiang Yan selected only the finest fabrics that would bring her creations to life.

Once she had made her selections, Jiang Yan arranged for the fabric to be delivered to Hua Mei's studio. The store owner was pleased with the large order and promised to send the materials as soon as possible.

Jiang Yan wandered through the bustling market, admiring the high-quality goods being sold. As she strolled, she noticed a commotion in the distance and made her way over to see what was happening.

A man, presumably the owner of a jewelry store, was shouting at one of his workers. "How dare you interfere with my sales, Wu Changwei? Who are you to question the quality of my jewelry?"

Wu Changwei, the worker in question, replied in a soft voice, "I am sorry, sir. I only wanted to ensure that the customer gets the best product. The stones in this piece did not match the quality of the rest of the jewelry."

"Ha!" the owner scoffed. "You, from a poor family, think you know better than me? I am an appraiser myself, and I personally selected each stone in that piece. You know nothing about quality. You are fired, Wu Changwei."

Jiang Yan's heart sank as she heard the man's words. She knew who Wu Changwei was - in her past life, he had become a renowned jewelry designer and appraiser. His words were as good as a certificate, and his reputation had been impeccable.

She remembered that during this time, Wu Changwei's wife had been pregnant. After he lost his job, they had struggled to make ends meet, and his wife had suffered a miscarriage soon after. Although the couple had become wealthy later in life, they never had another child due to his wife's poor health after the miscarriage.

As the owner continued to berate Wu Changwei, Jiang Yan couldn't help but feel a sense of injustice.

Jiang Yan walked towards Wu Changwei, who was still standing there, looking dejected. "Excuse me," she said softly. "I couldn't help but overhear what just happened. Are you alright?"

Wu Changwei looked up at her, surprised that someone was taking an interest in him. "I'm fine," he said, though his voice was quiet and shaky.

"You were right, you know," Jiang Yan said. "I could tell just by looking at the jewellery that the stone was of inferior quality. I think you have a real talent for appraising and designing." Jiang Yan was a top businesswomen in her previous life, and one of her branches also included a jewellery stores. She could easily distinguish the quality of the piece with a blink of her eye.

Wu Changwei looked at her, hope flickering in his eyes. "You really think so?"

Jiang Yan nodded. "I do. And I was wondering, would you be interested in working for me?"

Wu Changwei was surprised at this sudden offer. "Do you have a Jewellery business ma'am?" Wu Changwei asked.

"No, not at present I don't, but I am starting one soon. And for that I would like you to be part of my team." Jiang Yan explained.

Wu Changwei hesitated, he replied, "I appreciate your offer, but I have been burned before. I cannot risk my livelihood on another start-up that might not succeed."

Jiang Yan could sense his apprehension and responded, "I understand your concerns, but I assure you that my business plan is solid. And I will make sure that you are well compensated for your work. You will not have to worry about making ends meet."

Wu Changwei seemed to be considering her offer, but he still had doubts. "But what about your reputation and credibility? You are just starting out, and you don't have a business card or any prior experience. How will you attract clients?"

Jiang Yan took a deep breath and said, "I may not have a card or a reputation yet, but I have a vision, a passion, and a drive to succeed. I am confident that with your skills and my determination, we can create something truly remarkable. Something that will not only attract clients but also make a mark in the industry."

Wu Changwei listened intently and was slowly starting to be convinced. "What about your budget? I can't work on a shoestring budget. I need quality materials to work with."

Jiang Yan nodded in agreement. "I understand that quality materials are important. I will make sure that we have a budget that allows us to work with the best materials. I want us to create something extraordinary, and I am willing to invest in it."

Jiang Yan smiled gently and continued "I understand you may have doubts about working for someone new, but let me assure you, I am serious about starting a new business."

Wu Changwei looked at her thoughtfully. "May I ask what kind of business you are planning to start?" he asked.

"I'm starting a clothing line, but I'm also interested in creating unique and high-quality jewellery pieces to complement my designs," Jiang Yan replied.

Wu Changwei's eyes lit up. "I see. I've always been interested in designing jewellery, and I believe I could create pieces that would perfectly complement your clothing line," he said.

Wu Changwei was now seriously considering Jiang Yan's offer. He could see the fire in her eyes and the passion in her voice. He knew that if he joined her, he would be working with someone who was truly dedicated to their craft.

Jiang Yan smiled. "I'm glad to hear that. I believe your expertise in appraising and designing jewellery would be a valuable asset to my business," she said.

Wu Changwei nodded. "I'm willing to give it a try. But I must warn you, I have a family to support, and I can't afford to lose my job again," he said.

Jiang Yan nodded understandingly. "I completely understand. I can assure you that I will pay you a fair wage and provide you with a stable job," she said.

Wu Changwei looked at her, weighing his options. "Okay, I'll do it. But on one condition - that I have complete creative control over the jewellery designs," he said.

Jiang Yan smiled. "I have no problem with that. I believe in giving my employees the freedom to express their creativity," she said.

Wu Changwei grinned. "In that case, I'm excited to work with you," he said.

Jiang Yan reached into her purse and pulled out a piece of paper. "I don't have a business card yet, but here's my number. Give me a call, and we'll set up a meeting to discuss the details further," she said, handing him the paper.

Wu Changwei took the paper and nodded. "Thank you. I look forward to working with you," he said.

Jiang Yan smiled as she walked away, feeling a sense of excitement and anticipation for the new business venture ahead.

***