Chapter 369: Capital Accumulation

As the host, Hua Zhi arrived well ahead of schedule. With some time before the event kicked off, she decided to swing by the new store to check things out. The adjustments made by the maids were evident—everything was now more polished and visually pleasing.

Hua Zhi wasn’t the type to get bogged down by the small stuff. She simply pointed out what needed tweaking and left it to them to handle the finer details. Then, when it came to naming the store, she didn’t overthink it. She chose something straightforward: The Seafood. No need for some fancy, cryptic name when you’re selling food. Keep it simple, keep it clear.

Afterward, she returned to the Shi Zai, and it wasn’t long before Jiang Xinde showed up—also early.

They exchanged a few pleasantries and took their seats. Hua Zhi, cutting to the chase, slid a prepared contract across the table to Mr. Jiang. “Take a look at this first,” she said.

Jiang Xinde raised an eyebrow but didn’t speak. Instead, he started going through the document. He prided himself on his ability to size people up, and Hua Zhi seemed like the real deal—straightforward, no hidden agendas. It wasn’t hard to see why the young man from his family had stirred up such a fuss. If it was for her, the trouble seemed more than worth it.

As he finished reading, he couldn’t help but think more highly of her. A person who took action like this clearly had confidence in what they could accomplish.

“Thirty percent profit... interesting. I’m curious, Miss Hua, why did you choose the Jiang family for this partnership?”

Hua Zhi answered without missing a beat, her tone calm. “In a city like this, no one can control the whole market. Profit always gets divided up, so I don’t mind sharing it with the Jiang family. Plus, it’s my way of repaying the favor from Mr. Jiang’s son.”

Jiang Xinde waved her off with a smile. “Don’t be modest. I know what my son’s capable of—he’s good at scaring people, sure, but that’s hardly worth sacrificing such a significant chunk of profit.”

Hua Zhi maintained her serene smile. “Let me put it another way, then. The way I see it, Mr. Jiang raised a son who didn’t just run off when things got tough. He even said, if he left, you'd break his legs. That kind of loyalty makes the Jiang family stand out to me. It’s not about putting my full trust in you, but it does mean I don’t have to worry about getting stabbed in the back. In the end, it’s a win-win situation for both of us, don’t you think? Peace of mind and shared profits—what could be better?”

Hua Zhi's flattery hit the mark, making Jiang Xinde feel at ease, but they were both too shrewd to be taken in by each other’s charms. Neither of them was a rookie. "So, tell me, what exactly does my Jiang family need to do to earn this thirty percent cut?" he asked, a knowing gleam in his eye.

"Well, to put it simply," Hua Zhi replied, "you'll need to cover thirty percent of the investment for the shopfront. Any concerns about that?"

Jiang Xinde smirked. "None at all."

"In this joint venture, the breakdown is simple. The Jiang family covers thirty percent, the Cai family covers twenty, and I’ll take care of the remaining fifty. The numbers are clear-cut, so no one can claim to be taking advantage of anyone else. Now, if any issues come up in the shop, we might need to lean on your family’s influence," she added smoothly.

Jiang Xinde gave her a pointed look, his smile bordering on the sarcastic. "My influence isn’t exactly that impressive. I can handle the small stuff, but some people won't be swayed by a little pressure."

Hua Zhi was unruffled. "It’s a small-scale business. With you and the Cai family backing it, I seriously doubt anyone would dare risk upsetting both of you for a quick profit."

"A small business?" Jiang Xinde thought. "How small could it really be in Green Moss Alley?"

He quickly calculated in his head—the potential profits were certainly nothing to sneeze at. If the Zhu family hadn’t been so vocal about their stake, and if Zhu Bowen wasn’t currently riding high with favor from the emperor, someone would have probably made a move on it by now.

Thirty percent profit... It was tempting, especially considering the Jiang family had a solid reputation but had struggled for generations to build anything truly profitable. Despite their strong background, no one in the family had a knack for business, so their financials had always been shaky, staying on the edge of stability.

But this deal... it could change things. The rumors about Hua Zhi's "golden touch" weren’t just whispers anymore—they’d been circulating for a while, and Jiang Xinde wasn’t about to dismiss the opportunity. That thirty percent didn’t just seem like a smart move; it felt like a gamble worth taking.

Still, he glanced at the contract again, a mix of curiosity and caution in his eyes. "So, are you sure there’s nothing else you need from me?"

Hua Zhi flashed a knowing smile and said, "What are you so worried about? Do you really think I’d use this as some kind of leverage to push you into helping the Hua family? It's all in black and white here, and only a complete fool would pull something like that."

Jiang Xinde, not buying into her attempt at reassurance, retorted, "I’m not saying that. It’s like a pie falling from the sky—just because I’m hungry doesn’t mean I’ll blindly assume it’s safe to eat."

Hua Zhi leaned in, her expression turning a little more serious. "Actually, there’s one thing I need to ask."

Jiang Xinde let out a quiet sigh inside, thinking, Here it comes—his instincts telling him she was about to bring up the real reason for this conversation. He sat back, prepared for her explanation.

"Mr. Jiang," Hua Zhi started, "has there ever been any conflict between the Jiang family and the Hua family?"

Jiang Xinde didn’t hesitate, his voice steady. "Of course not. I have the utmost respect for the senior members of your family."

Hua Zhi’s gaze didn’t waver as she pressed on, "Well then, if the time comes when speaking up benefits the Hua family, and you have the chance, would you be willing to say a few kind words on our behalf?"

It clicked in Jiang Xinde’s mind. The deal wasn’t just about money or some form of protection through his influence. Hua Zhi was securing a promise—essentially, she was betting on the possibility of a future opportunity for the Hua family, leveraging this sum of money to lock in a favorable position down the road.

A smile tugged at his lips—how lucky the Hua family was to have someone like her. If his eldest son wasn’t already married, Jiang Xinde would have made this match happen himself, swallowing his pride if need be. But that wasn’t the case, and as for Huanran...

His younger son’s face flashed in his mind, and a sigh of resignation escaped him. None of his concerns had anything to do with placating Huanran. These were real issues—concerns that had nothing to do with his son’s feelings.

The real problem, though, lay in the dynamic between the family. With a girl like Hua Zhi, who had proven her intelligence and capability, how could his eldest daughter-in-law possibly accept her as a sister-in-law? It would only breed tension, potentially causing chaos within the household—a situation he would not tolerate.

Despite his misgivings, a part of him couldn’t help but feel a touch of regret. With emotions swirling in his chest, he nodded at Hua Zhi, his voice now resolute. "I agree."

Hua Zhi bowed respectfully, her voice soft and sincere, "Thank you, sir."

Jiang Xinde helped her to her feet with a smile. "Having you in the family, the future looks pretty bright, doesn’t it?"

Hua Zhi gave a modest shrug, flashing a quick glance at Ying Chun, who gave a silent nod, signaling that the food could be served. "You’re too generous, Mr. Jiang. I’m just doing my best," she replied with a touch of humility.

"The food here really is something special," Jiang Xinde continued, still smiling. "I actually had my team try to get a table here, but the waiting list is ridiculous. It could be another two weeks before we even get a spot." He paused, glancing at her curiously. "Do you think the seafood business is as hard to crack as this?"

So now he was interested?

Hua Zhi took a leisurely sip of her tea, unfazed, before opening up a bit about her business. "When it comes to seafood, freshness is everything. I made sure the ships don’t carry too much, and they bring plenty of seawater to keep the seafood as alive as possible. It does cost more, but that’s the secret to great taste. If it doesn’t work, well... let’s just say it’ll be a lot of wasted effort on my part."

Jiang Xinde nodded thoughtfully, but his expression turned slightly more serious. "I believe you, Miss Hua. But you know, people are often hesitant when it comes to trying something new. They’ll be afraid it won’t taste like what they expect, so few are willing to take that first bite."

"Well, in that case, I’ll need you to help me out, Mr. Jiang," Hua Zhi replied with a knowing smile. "When the time comes, you’ll need to bring along some of your friends. I’ll make sure everything’s set up on my end."

Jiang Xinde chuckled to himself, mulling it over. It made perfect sense. Getting those young people—who cared more about their image than anything else—to make a bit of a spectacle out of it was the way to go. Even if they were reluctant to actually eat, they’d have to at least give the impression they were excited. And if the seafood lived up to Hua Zhi’s claims, the business side would take care of itself. No need to worry about that.

As he thought about it, Jiang Xinde found it all rather amusing. They hadn’t even tested the product yet, but here they were, already signing contracts. Miss Hua had a knack for getting things done.