CHAPTER 292: CHAPTER 90: A BATTLE WITH NO RETREAT (PART 2)

Yan Wuxu felt her mouth getting dry, and her eyes naturally drifted towards her handbag. Inside, there was still a pack of cigarettes that she’d dare not smoke in the Su Family rooms for fear of nosy servants discovering it. Yan Wuxu felt uncomfortable, as if ants were crawling on her, her attention starting to wane.

She really shouldn’t have come back, Yan Wuxu thought. She was much more at ease when she was with Fei Qing, not needing to watch others’ faces, nor worrying about whether she could smoke or not.

"Wuxu?" Su Ziceng called out. Only then did Yan Wuxu come back to her senses. She smiled weakly, her eyelids drooping, "I’m a bit sleepy. You know, Ziceng, pregnant women tend to be drowsy."

Su Ziceng looked at Yan Wuxu’s complexion, which indeed wasn’t great, and let her go to sleep first.

As soon as the sound of footsteps outside the door vanished, Yan Wuxu hurried to the balcony. The wind at the end of February blew in coldly; expertly, she took out a lighter, the flame flickered and lit the cigarette as thin as a pinky finger.

The smoke dispersed with the wind, and Yan Wuxu watched the leaden clouds stagnate in the sky. Her hand rested on her stomach, feeling the faint heartbeat of the fetus within.

After leaving Yan Wuxu’s room, Su Ziceng was not idle either, rushing immediately to the Wine Shop.

Zhou Dagen had already accounted for last year’s business income, and seeing that the deficit had finally vanished, he was overjoyed. Seeing Su Ziceng, whom he had not seen for a long time, his brows were all smiles.

"Little boss, you finally came back," Zhou Dagen said with a smile. The Wine Shop’s business was different from other shops; it did better during holidays and festivities. This Lunar New Year, the Wine Shop’s staff had no proper rest, waiting for it to pass. Zhou Dagen was just about to arrange a Southeast Asia five-day trip for the old employees of the Wine Shop.

"Uncle Da Gen, are there still a few batches of wine that you kept in the Wine Shop from before," Su Ziceng referred to the wine that Zhou Dagen saved when he used to manage a counterfeit alcohol factory, which were not destroyed.

According to Zhou Dagen, the counterfeit alcohol factory wasn’t thoroughly producing "counterfeit" alcohol; the spirits were made with quality methods, just that the brands were not well-known, so they masqueraded as other famous brands. Because the quality of the liquor was good, they could run the business for over a decade without being discovered. It was only later, when the imitated alcohol manufacturer caught on and reported them to the business authorities, that the scam was exposed.

"There are several hundred cases," Zhou Dagen calculated. The counterfeit factory was somewhat famous for fraudulence domestically and abroad, and its daily production was not small. What he had kept was half a day’s production of the factory. "That stuff can’t be sold openly; although it’s been many years, it’s still not right."

Those liquors had been moved by Zhou Dagen to an area in the Sixth District known for its shed housing. First, because the rent was cheap there, and second, no one paid much attention, and the government did not supervise, which is why the alcohol could remain. Zhou Dagen had initially planned that this wine, aged for many years and unsellable, could only be for personal use. However, he didn’t have the heart to drink much of it, and over the years, he actually consumed more of his own brewed liquor instead.

"Then let’s move it out to drink," Su Ziceng flipped through the ledger, then looked at Zhou Dagen’s plan to arrange for the employees to go on the Southeast Asia five-day trip next week.

"All of it drunk?" Hearing Su Ziceng’s bold statement, Zhou Dagen felt something was amiss. These several hundred cases of liquor, all being strong spirits, just for drinking would last more than a year and a half.

"One person can’t drink it all, so invite a big bunch of people to drink it." Su Ziceng glanced at the travel plan again, closed the pamphlet, "This trip won’t work out for me."

Zhou Dagen was displeased upon hearing this. He thought Su Ziceng was a generous and sensible boss. Look at the Wine Shop’s employees who slaved day and night for her, taking care of business, without even a proper New Year celebration. A reward of a Southeast Asia five-day trip doesn’t seem too excessive.

"Next week, I’m holding a wine party and an auction. I won’t use the same people from the last auction House Chang Chi used. Tell the employees, just endure one more week, at most a week. Help me with the setup and receive guests at the auction house. Afterwards, I’ll not only approve the Southeast Asia five-day trip but also for their families," Su Ziceng said generously, leaving Zhou Dagen stunned before he caught on after a moment.

"I want the auction I hold to have the most guests, the best auctioneer, the best liquor," Su Ziceng emphasized again. Chang Chi’s auction left a good impression on people, but it wasn’t deep enough, fully replicating the overseas auction model.

She had not easily obtained those auction items from Director Luo. If she was organizing this auction, it should be more eye-catching.

"So you mean to say, all these liquors are to be given away for free, and also, the Wine Shop’s staff must all go to the auction house to help out," Zhou Dagen finally grasped the idea wholly.

In the early days of their acquaintance, Zhou Dagen doubted whether Su Ziceng was truly Su Qingzhang’s daughter, thinking her too naive and not agile enough. Now, he saw that it indeed matched the Su Group’s usual style of doing business, just as bold and extravagant as her father, Su Qingzhang.

"I know what’s on your mind," Su Ziceng saw Zhou Dagen first distress then beat his chest and stamp his feet, and with a sagging face, she spoke: "Uncle Da Gen, the liquor you’re giving away won’t be for free forever, it will come back one day. Me, Su Ziceng, in my previous life, I’ve lost enough. This time, I won’t let Chang Chi have a dime."

"Red Love" shimmered even brighter in Su Ziceng’s hands. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to go to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your monthly ticket and recommendation ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation.)