Chapter 36: Niu Jinxing
Chapter 36: Niu Jinxing
“Brother…”
A large, heavyset man blocked Gao Jing’s way. Wearing a plaid shirt and a jade Buddha pendant around his neck, he offered a friendly smile.
“Could we chat for a minute?”
He clasped his hands together, his gaze carrying an almost pitiful expression as he looked at Gao Jing.
Gao Jing smiled. “What instruction do you offer?”
He knew very well why the man stopped him.
“Instruction, I wouldn’t dare! I just wanted to ask…”
The fat man licked his lips, looking slightly embarrassed. “Could you sell one of your bracelets to me?”
He was firm: “Price is no problem!”
Gao Jing thought for a moment, avoiding a direct answer. “May I ask who you are?”
“Oh!”
The fat man smacked his forehead. “Forgot to introduce myself. Apologies, apologies!”
He waved his hand.
A younger man standing nearby instantly stepped forward, presenting a handbag.
The fat man pulled a business card from the bag and handed it to Gao Jing. “My surname is Niu. Friends all call me Fatty Niu.”
Fatty Niu…
Gao Jing accepted the card with both hands and looked at it carefully.
Niu Jinxing. Director and Business Expansion Department Manager, Jiangnan Fuli Group Co., Ltd.
His phone number ended entirely with the digit 8.
Niu Jinxing!
Gao Jing couldn’t help but look a bit strange – this was a famous person.
“Isn’t my name interesting?”
Niu Jinxing chuckled. “My old man gave it to me. He said when I was born, seeing me made stars dance before his eyes.”
Had his father gotten high blood pressure?
Gao Jing couldn’t picture the scene. He managed an awkward yet polite smile. “Uh… nice name. By the way, is Fuli Furniture part of your group?”
He remembered seeing Fuli Furniture billboards in the Provincial Capital.
“Yep.”
Niu Jinxing puffed up with pride. “Not bragging, but our Fuli Furniture ranks at least top three in the industry here in Beiyang!”
Beiyang City was famous for its furniture industry. Being top three spoke volumes about their strength.
An interesting tycoon.
Gao Jing tagged him mentally.
Absolutely. Whether it was his words and manner, or his dress and accessories, Niu Jinxing struck Gao Jing as genuinely fascinating.
For example, the jade Maitreya Buddha pendant hanging around Niu Jinxing’s neck, big-bellied and laughing, bore a striking resemblance to the man himself.
“Director Niu…”
“Nono! Please!”
Gao Jing barely started when the other interrupted. “I absolutely hate it when people call me ‘Director Niu’ or ‘Manager Niu’ or anything like that.”
“You just call me Fatty Niu, or Daniou is fine too!”
Alright.
Gao Jing nodded. “Brother Daniou, as a newcomer to this place, I’d appreciate your guidance.”
Saying this, he took his own business card from his handbag.
He presented one respectfully with both hands.
Gao Jing had had these printed quickly at a shop yesterday, right after arriving in Beiyang.
He’d chosen the store’s best imported textured mulberry paper. Against a pale gray background, it bore only Gao Jing’s name, mobile number…
…and an email address.
It held no titles whatsoever, as simple as could be.
Niu Jinxing took it, clearly impressed. “Hmm… Brother Gao Jing.”
“Guidance, sure thing.”
He pounded his chest. “If you run into any trouble anywhere in Beiyang, just give me a ring!”
Gao Jing smiled faintly.
Though Brother Niu seemed forthright and like a stand-up guy…
Gao Jing wouldn’t take such words too seriously.
The man might have that kind of influence, but did Gao Jing really have that kind of bond with him yet?
So, hearing it was one thing; believing it was another.
Gao Jing also noticed Niu Jinxing couldn’t keep his eyes off Gao Jing’s carry bag while talking.
Inside that LV shopping bag were eight premium-grade “starry sky” bracelets!
“Brother Daniou…”
Gao Jing paused thoughtfully. “To be honest with you, these bracelets are meant as gifts for friends.”
“They aren’t for sale.”
“I see…”
Disappointment instantly crossed Niu Jinxing’s face, though no anger showed. “Well, in that case…”
“But I feel an instant connection meeting you, Brother Daniou,” Gao Jing cut him off.
Opening the bag earnestly, he said, “Pick whichever one you like. Take it. Let’s be friends!”
Gao Jing hadn’t lied earlier.
His main reason for coming to Beiyang today was to scope out the market. Making the bracelets had been secondary.
He truly hadn’t planned to sell this batch at all.
He intended them as “trial stones,” knocking stones to find the path – bait to test the waters in this new venture!
His original target had been that steel businessman he knew before.
Most of his knowledge about Red Sandalwood came from that man.
Unexpectedly, before the bracelets were even fully ready, they’d hooked a big fatty bull!
This surprise made Gao Jing reconsider his plan.
No matter what, giving it a try couldn’t hurt!
Niu Jinxing looked stunned.
He remembered the material of Gao Jing’s bracelets perfectly from his earlier glimpse.
He truly had nearly drooled with envy.
What a truly precious find!
Frankly speaking, if Gao Jing had worn one bracelet and stood on this street shouting, “Pardon my bluntness, but every bracelet here is worthless trash!”
Not a single person would have dared argue.
Not because they lacked courage, but because they genuinely couldn’t match it—not even Niu Jinxing’s own bracelet.
Named Jinxing and steeped in family tradition, he’d grown fascinated by Small-Leaf Sandalwood.
Seeing treasure thrilled him, which was why he’d stopped Gao Jing earlier, determined to obtain one bracelet at any cost.
Money was no issue for Niu Jinxing; an extraordinary fully-dazzling-star bracelet was rare, but wasn’t priceless.
He’d braced himself for Gao Jing to demand an exorbitant amount—who could blame him when he adored it?
But he never anticipated Gao Jing willingly giving one away!
“Brother Gao Jing.”
Niu Jinxing felt speechless, like turtle eyes meeting mung beans—an instant mutual liking.
A true understanding comrade!
Seeing Niu Jinxing hesitate, Gao Jing pulled out a 20mm strand himself. “This seems excellent. It’ll suit you perfectly, Brother Daniou. Accept it as a token of friendship.”
“Deal!”
Niu Jinxing roared back, “Brother Gao Jing, I embrace you as my friend!”
His two underlings exchanged stunned glances.
They knew their boss loved making friends, but few ever earned his genuine respect.
Meeting Gao Jing just today yet greeting him like lifelong brothers? Unheard of!
Bribery? Could Niu Jinxing possibly care about such petty sums?
Clutching the gifted bracelet, Niu Jinxing laughed heartily. “Come! Big brother treats you to dinner!”
Gao Jing replied candidly, “Then I’ll gladly intrude.”
Leaving Rosewood Street, they fetched their cars at the market lot.
Niu Jinxing drove a brand-new gold Bentley Mulsanne, worth over five million.
But instead of riding in it, he instructed his man to drive the Bentley ahead.
He himself settled into the passenger seat of Gao Jing’s S350.
The two cars headed downtown, one trailing the other.
Delighted, Niu Jinxing rubbed his newly-acquired dazzling-star prize, longing to instantly develop its mellow sheen.
He’d pulled on soft cotton gloves.
Those same ones borrowed from the old craftsman earlier.
The more he handled it, the more Brother Daniou adored it. He couldn’t resist asking, “Brother Gao Jing, what family do you represent?”
Gao Jing’s imposing aura seemed unfathomable, sparking his curiosity.
“Ordinary folks.”
Gao Jing smiled lightly. “I worked as an errand-running sales rep for a small firm in the Provincial Capital. Just quit last month.”
Though Niu Jinxing misjudged him as privileged, Gao Jing refused to mislead him.
Such deception would plant explosive trouble later!
In this data-ruled online age, his background was transparent—anyone could uncover it instantly.
Never treat others as fools.
Niu Jinxing froze. “Joking, surely?”
He refused to believe Gao Jing was a common laborer.
“Truth.”
Gao Jing answered earnestly. “Lately planning a partnership to launch an import-export firm registered in Hong Kong Island.”
Half-truths blended here: registering a Hong Kong Island business was real; having partners was fiction.
Brother Daniou pondered meaningfully. “Ah, so that’s how it is.”
Instantly connecting unspoken dots: “This must be the business?”
He shook the dazzling-star bracelet slightly.
Gao Jing nodded. “My friend has some connections in India. I assist with a tiny share, really.”
Nowadays, Small-Leaf Sandalwood largely came from India, akin to jade in Myanmr.
This perfectly explained the materials’ source.
Totally fabricated.
Brother Daniou lit up with sudden realization: “So this Beiyang trip…”
“Exactly.”
Gao Jing laughed. “Scouting for opportunities. Never imagined meeting you, Brother Daniou—real luck.”
Niu Jinxing roared with laughter: “The lucky one is me!”