"Crack!"

"Clang clang!"

"Cough cough—"

Suddenly, there was a series of noises: bowls dropping, chopsticks falling, tea being sprayed, and faces being covered.

The one covering her face was, without a doubt, Jiang Cheng.

She calmly put down the handkerchief she had anticipated using and confidently wiped the table.

"A decoy??"

"Is Clooney a decoy??"

The four factory directors spoke one after another, each one scared into a voice like a duck by Jiang Cheng’s mention of the word decoy. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

Just thinking about it made all four shiver with fear, their hearts pounding uncontrollably.

They seemed to have firmly refused the four nations’ offer of a high price, seventy percent?

They seemed to have held a ’buy if you want’ attitude?

They naively thought Clooney was a real tea merchant!

But now, you’re telling us Clooney is a decoy!

The four factory directors gave Jiang Cheng watery-eyed looks mixed with a bit of a menacing glare, prompting her to quickly eat a few more bites.

She might not be allowed to eat later.

Jiang Cheng’s little actions made the four older factory directors at a loss for whether to laugh or cry.

"No... You... I can’t. Lao Zhang, you say something!"

One, bewildered by Jiang Cheng’s actions, turned to another, Lao Zhang, who pointed his finger for a while before saying, "Lao Meng, you say something!"

Lao Meng, being called out, didn’t disappoint. He took a deep breath, looked at Jiang Cheng, and said, "Eat slowly."

With the words ’eat slowly,’ the other three turned their eyes away.

Director Meng suddenly realized, "Why are you looking at me? Didn’t I say it right? Don’t let her choke."

The phrase ’gritting their teeth’ couldn’t adequately describe the inner feelings of the three factory directors, who pointed toward Jiang Cheng and said, "You, sit over there!"

Director Meng casually stood up and moved to sit opposite, beside Jiang Cheng, bringing a small stool.

He considerately took a plate and said, "This one for Lao Zhang, he sprayed saliva."

Jiang Cheng chuckled inwardly, nodded cooperatively, and said, "As you say."

Director Meng was amused by the phrase ’as you say,’ smiling widely, and even started chatting about everyday life.

"Where are you from originally?"

"Northeast—"

Jiang Cheng had just said two words when she was interrupted by Factory Director Zhang’s table-knocking.

"You two, shouldn’t we discuss Clooney’s matter?"

"Right, why didn’t we know he was... a decoy?"

The word ’decoy’ was spoken very softly, as if afraid someone might overhear.

Jiang Cheng simply put down her bowl and chopsticks and asked, "Gentlemen, did you sign the contract?"

"Signed."

"Satisfied with the price?"

"Satisfied?"

"Then does it matter if Clooney is a decoy?"

The three factory directors were asked if it mattered.

It seemed to matter... yet it seemed not to matter.

The three thought for quite a while before Factory Director Zhang suddenly realized, "You could tell us, it would help coordinate."

Jiang Cheng smiled and shook her head, looking at Director Meng and asking, "Director Meng, do you know why I did this?"

Director Meng nodded and said, "I roughly know, you wanted our most genuine reaction, which is also part of your plan."

"Only our genuine reaction would make the four nations believe and achieve today’s result."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Cheng applauded.

"You’re amazing!"

"No, no, you’re the brilliant one."

"You’re too kind."

"No, no, you’re being modest."

The two kept praising each other back and forth.

The three opposite watched speechlessly and could only return a smile.

Because they understood.

It is precisely because they understood that they realized the brilliance of this plan.

"Mr. Jiang, have you thought about what if the four nations didn’t fall for it?"

"What could happen? At worst, sell to them at the original price, no big deal."

Jiang Cheng’s relaxed answer made the four pause for a moment.

In their view, if talks broke down, there was certainly no chance to continue negotiations.

But Jiang Cheng didn’t think so.

The four suddenly grasped something, they had been overthinking.

Once things were clarified, the five began to inquire carefully about this plan.

With Jiang Cheng’s account, their admiration and appreciation for her flowed like the endless Yangtze River.

"Jiang, how did you find this foreigner?"

"Well, most foreign delegates know each other, even if they don’t personally, they’ve met. They all stay in one hotel."

Jiang Cheng smiled without elaborating, mysteriously saying two words: "Confidential."

The four factory directors laughed but didn’t press further.

After the belated lunch, it was already near four; today’s trade meeting ended.

Jiang Cheng said goodbye to the four factory directors while being given a pile of tea leaves.

It’s no exaggeration to say that if she wanted to sell tea eggs in the future, she wouldn’t need to buy tea leaves.

Jiang Cheng carried two large bags of tea leaves out of the trade fair building.

Gao Zhonghua spotted her from afar and hurried forward to help.

"Sister, I’ll carry it."

"Alright, I can’t carry it."

After handing the tea leaves to Gao Zhonghua, Jiang Cheng said, "There are a few boxes of good tea leaves in there. When you’re free tomorrow during the day, take the tea, buy some other things, and visit your comrade."

Gao Zhonghua suddenly halted, looking at Jiang Cheng goofily, finally uttering, "Thank you, sister."

Jiang Cheng smiled softly and said, "It’s what’s right."

The two didn’t say much more, walking together toward Li Chunxiang and George.

Jiang Cheng looked at Li Chunxiang, who yesterday had waist-length hair but now had two small braided pigtails at shoulder length, and sincerely thanked her.

"Thank you, Chunxiang."

Li Chunxiang waved her hand carelessly.

"It’s nothing, just a few strands of hair! Don’t thank me, you gave me free tutoring!"

Jiang Cheng replied, "Alright, a thank you won’t be said, but we’ll say Li Chunxiang looks great now!"

Li Chunxiang blushed at the unexpected praise.

Without teasing her further, Jiang Cheng turned to face George, still with his fake mustache.

"George, thank you, without you, today wouldn’t have gone so smoothly."

George forced a smile, "I don’t like them."

"Perfect! I don’t either."

Jiang Cheng looked at George and asked, "Where’s your wig?"

George pointed at Li Chunxiang, "She took it, her hair."

So that’s how it is.

Without a doubt, tea merchant Mr. Clooney was none other than George with a wig, fake mustache, glasses and slight makeup.

The hair was Li Chunxiang’s contribution.

The four said no more and walked together toward the bus stop under the sunset glow.

They returned smoothly to their place, where Li Chunxiang began cooking and Gao Zhonghua busily puttering around.

Jiang Cheng doodled on the side, while George dazed off.

As dinner was about to be served, the courtyard gate was knocked.

Gao Zhonghua went directly to open the door.

"Hello comrade, is Jiang Cheng living here?"

Gao Zhonghua nodded, inquiring the visitor’s name.

"Sister... Zhong Fan is looking for you."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Cheng came out.

At the door, Zhong Fan’s mind rang with questions: Sister?

Jiang Cheng got married?