Jiang Rong cheerfully paid the deposit without inspecting the goods, completely trusting Xu Shaojin's character. He even boasted about his own generosity, claiming he preferred doing business with straightforward people and disliked those who were overly hesitant.
After this entire exchange, Xu Shaojin became even more convinced that Jiang Rong was a spoiled rich kid with no real ability but an endless capacity for boasting.
Xu Shaojin engaged in pleasantries with Jiang Rong, flattering him to the point where Jiang Rong felt as if he were walking on air.
Jiang Lan could not bear to watch any longer and got up to leave.
If Xu Shaojin's goods were genuinely good, then everything would be fine. However, if there was even the slightest problem with the merchandise, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Was this kind of behavior, relying entirely on another person's character for profit, any different from seeking death?
Given Jiang Rong's actions, Jiang Lan couldn't understand how the Jiang family of Jiang City had managed to become number one in the garment industry.
"There must be someone more capable in the Jiang family," was Jiang Lan's thought.
After Jiang Rong and his group departed, Xu Shaojin was overjoyed. He had seen foolish people before, but never anyone as foolish as this, someone who traveled all the way from Jiang City just to hand him money.
What kind of operation was this?
Xu Shaojin ecstatically danced the waltz in the conference room, reveling in this unexpected windfall.
Meanwhile, on the other side.
Jiang Rong, along with Jiang Lan and Lu Ming, returned to the main residence.
As soon as they entered the house, they saw that Xu Qin had prepared a table full of dishes. Each dish had been carefully selected, and they looked incredibly appetizing just by sight.
"Aunt, you're too kind," Jiang Rong said.
Xu Qin responded with a smile, "We're all family, there's no need to be so polite. You've rarely come to Jinling, and if I didn't prepare something delicious for you, you might say bad things about me when you go back."
Jiang Rong burst into laughter.
Everyone sat down, and the atmosphere was incredibly harmonious. Even Lu Ming, for the first time, was permitted to sit at the main table and dine with everyone.
This was significant, as in the past, Lu Ming could only eat outside the door with his bowl, or grab something to eat in the kitchen.
Allowing Lu Ming to sit at the table today was already Xu Qin's "exceptional grace."
However, despite the harmonious scene, there was a subtle sense of unease. Lu Ming knew that this facade of harmony could only be maintained due to deeper reasons lying beneath the surface.
Xu Qin asked, "Xiao Rong, how did your business negotiations go?"
Jiang Rong replied with great joy, "It went very smoothly! I couldn't have closed this deal on my own today. It's all thanks to Xiao Lan's help. She advised me throughout the entire process, allowing me to secure this major deal. I'm truly grateful to Xiao Lan."
*Heh.*
Jiang Lan rolled her eyes. "You don't need to thank me. You could have closed the deal on your own."
This was Jiang Lan's honest thought.
After all, both Jiang Lan and Lu Ming had opposed this transaction. Jiang Rong had been the one stubbornly insisting on it with his usual bravado. However, it was his business, and no one could stop him from spending his money as he pleased.
Jiang Rong's statement, however, made Lu Ming sense a hint of danger.
Before Lu Ming could speak, Xu Qin added, "Oh my, oh my, all the credit for this goes to Xiao Lan! Amazing, our Xiao Lan has truly grown up and become very capable."
Xu Qin and Jiang Rong, in tandem, lauded Jiang Lan to an extremely high pedestal.
But everyone knew that the higher one was praised, the harder they would fall.
This was known as "killing with kindness."
As Lu Ming had feared, the situation he dreaded soon unfolded.
While everyone was eating, a staff member rushed in, his face etched with distress.
Jiang Rong glared at him. "What are you doing? Everyone is having a good time, and you come in with such a long face. You give me a headache just by looking at you."
The staff member replied, "No, Brother Jiang, something has happened! Something big has happened!"
"What happened?" Jiang Rong continued to drink, paying no mind to the other's words.
"Brother Jiang, after we paid the deposit, I went to see the goods at Boss Xu's place. They were all defective products, the worst of the worst! It was clear they were just scraps left over after others had picked through them. Brother Jiang, we've lost a lot of money on this deal."
"What?"
With a clang, the wine glass in Jiang Rong's hand fell to the floor and shattered into pieces.
His face turned ashen, and he said in disbelief, "How is that possible? Boss Xu has such good character, how could he do something so despicable? Are you sure you didn't misjudge it?"
"Brother Jiang, how many years have I followed you? Don't you know my capabilities? Could I have made a mistake?"
"Oh dear!"
Jiang Rong slammed his hand on the table, his anguish palpable.
Seeing this, Jiang Lan couldn't help but smile inwardly. She had already anticipated such an outcome. After all, she couldn't fathom someone being so foolish as to base their entire profit on another person's character.
"Didn't you refuse to listen to advice and tell Lu Ming he wasn't qualified to speak? Now you're suffering the consequences. Serves you right!"
Since it was Jiang Rong's money that was lost, Jiang Lan felt no sympathy.
While they called themselves family, one was the main branch and the other a collateral branch, merely distant relatives. Their emotional connection was quite thin.
In Jiang Lan's view, Jiang Rong had brought this upon himself. She expected him to regret, feel heartache, anger, and pain, but she never imagined he would shift the blame!
Jiang Rong looked up, his eyes bloodshot, and roared angrily at Jiang Lan, "Jiang Lan, you've done a great job!"
*What?*
Jiang Lan, who was in the middle of eating, was stunned.
This sudden accusation left her momentarily speechless.
Jiang Rong berated, "Xiao Lan, I trusted you so much, and this is how you repay me? I told you long ago that Xu Shaojin's character might not be reliable, and we shouldn't rush to pay the deposit. We should have inspected the goods first. But you told me Xu Shaojin's silk was unparalleled in China and didn't need inspection, and you urged me to pay the deposit. Now look, the money is paid, the contract is signed, and we can't back out. Xiao Lan, you've caused me to spend a fortune acquiring a batch of defective goods. How am I supposed to explain this to the family head when I return?! Tell me!!!"
His accusations sounded so compelling.
But was that the reality?
At this moment, Jiang Lan felt no anger, but rather amusement. What Jiang Rong was saying was the complete opposite of the truth.
It was Jiang Lan who had been constantly advising against this deal, and Lu Ming had analyzed the various dangers involved. Jiang Rong had refused to listen and insisted on paying the deposit, which led to the current situation.
How did all the responsibility suddenly fall on Jiang Lan's shoulders?
Was this scapegoating a bit too much?
Before Jiang Lan could even defend herself, Xu Qin slammed her chopsticks on the table and said sternly, "Xiao Lan, you've truly disappointed me! We were just praising you for completing your task well, and this is how you did it? Don't you understand business? You're practically ruining your brother!"
Jiang Lan looked at Xu Qin, then at Jiang Rong, utterly bewildered.
With them attacking from both sides, were they trying to corner her? What exactly did they want?