CHAPTER 124: CHAPTER 17: FERTILE WATERS WON’T FLOW INTO A BITCH’S FIELD (PART 2)

"Miss came back a bit late, but she did come back, the bedding is still warm, and the clothes have been changed," answered the old servant of Su Ziceng.

"It might have been an internship class at Kelly Women’s College," Chang Chi cut a slice of bread, spread some butter on it, and handed it to Su Qingzhang.

"I remember, Qiao Chu once said..." Su Qingzhang moistened his lips with coffee as his forehead creased into a "chuan" character.

"Things are different now from before," Chang Mei’s voice raised a little, and she laid down her knife and fork, dabbed her mouth with a napkin, "I am full, Xiao Chi, you hurry up too, let’s go have a look at the auction house."

Su Qingzhang’s gaze darkened, as if he remembered something, "I have decided on the name for the auction house, it will be called Subi Auction House."

After standing up, Chang Chi dallied a bit, then looked again at Su Qingzhang, "Mom, can I take a leave today? I’ve made plans to go skiing with a friend in the afternoon."

Without explicitly stating it, Chang Mei knew who her daughter was referring to. She was happy about her daughter and Hang Yishao getting closer, but on the other hand, she was concerned about Su Ziceng’s recent strange behavior and wondered if she had perceived something amiss.

By noon, the light goose snow had turned into heavy snowflakes, falling layer upon layer. Within Mo City, mountains, rivers, lakes, including the campus area known as "West Lake," had formed a thin layer of ice. When pedestrians and vehicles walked on the road, the ice in the puddles was crushed, turning into muddy water.

Chang Mei consented to Chang Chi’s request. Being eighteen or nineteen was the prime of youth. Following the last visit incident with Hang Yishao, the young couple’s feelings indeed changed. Moreover, Su Ziceng was not as clingy as she used to be, so Chang Chi luckily found an opportunity.

The Subi Auction House is located in Zone 1, which in earlier years was managed by the government, specifically for confiscating antique paintings and calligraphies during the Cultural Revolution. It had been left empty after Su Qingzhang used some tactics to buy it.

Last year at the end of the year, Su Qingzhang went abroad and saw the booming development of the auction industry overseas. Then, looking at the domestic industry, which was still in its infancy, she caught the opportunity and persuaded the government to sell off their old and outdated items. Su Qingzhang is not at all stubborn when it comes to perceiving market information.

When Chang Mei’s car arrived at the Subi Auction House, which had just started its "trial operation," she saw a familiar figure in the entrance hall.

A down coat covering her ankles and her thick boots were wet with snow; snow melted on Su Ziceng’s eyebrows and eyelashes, making her face look exceptionally real and clear, with a layer of moisture.

Su Ziceng did not hear the sound of the tires braking behind her; she was just staring at the signboard of the Subi Auction House and the newly released auction announcement next to it. Su Ziceng was looking at it attentively, as if examining an old friend she hadn’t seen for decades.

The Subi Auction House was only just beginning, and whether it is the number of people that can be accommodated inside or the ornamental decor of the main hall, everything still looked somewhat antiquated. Chang Mei coldly observed from behind for a while, trying to see what exactly captivated Su Ziceng so deeply.

"Ziceng," Chang Mei approached with the driver. Why was Su Ziceng here when she should be...

"Hello," Su Ziceng extended her hand and said with a very formulaic tone, "From now on, please engage in the subsequent conversation with me as if you were serving a customer."

Su Ziceng was not there to reminisce about the past. The Subi Auction House occupied an important place in her memory. Everything from her previous life, indirectly, had ended due to the influence of the Subi Auction House. Now standing here again, her feelings were much more complex than she had expected.

But time did not allow her to continue to dwell in the memories of the past. Su Ziceng was very clear that she was no longer fighting alone. Behind her, in addition to the protection from her mother Qiao Chu, she also had the support of a sizable group of people from the Wine Shop.

The continuous snowy days not only delayed the renovation progress of the Wine Shop but also hindered the debtees’ steps in demanding repayment. However, with the old Lunar New Year of Z country approaching, those debt collectors would surely return.

In the morning, Zhou Dagen conveyed some good news to her, saying that including the biggest debtor, several had agreed to grant a month’s extension. Su Ziceng was curious how he had managed to pacify those fiercely angry people.

"It’s simple, those debtees who had debts for over three years were thrilled to hear that they could be repaid in another month, as the deceitful owner never gave them a precise date. As for the largest debtee of the Wine Shop, he had essentially bet all his liquid cash on us. If we were really pushed to the brink and declared bankruptcy, they would get nothing. You know, the biggest debtee is often also the biggest threat," Zhou Dagen was speaking from his experience of dealing with debts. The more you owe, the harder it is for the debtee to refuse the debtor’s demands, fearing that you might just slip away if displeased.

"Then it’s settled. As long as they’re willing to give me a month, I’ll definitely make up the money," Su Ziceng was also resolute.

She even consulted Sister Mu on how to turn dead capital into liquid assets. Sister Mu’s garment shop, even with its unique vision, would have some clothes left over each year that needed to be dealt with, and the approach taken was to have year-end sales, such as discounts or buy-one-get-one-free promotions. This technique, which seemed completely unrelated to what Su Ziceng had done with the Wine Shop, gave her some ideas.

Therefore, early this morning, she called for a taxi, adhering to the principle that "benefits should not go to others," she headed to the Subi Auction House determinedly. Even though the Subi Auction House was already the "fat meat" in the bowls of the Chang’s mother and daughter, she was determined to find a way to bite off a chunk for herself. (To be continued. If you like this book, you are welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)