Chapter Five

Many in the business world believe that wealth is a matter of luck, and while there’s truth to that, luck does not simply come to those who wait—it often hides within the small variables of daily life. Xiao Tianci’s philosophy is that the better your habits, the closer luck will come to you. Greatness is born from the ordinary, and miracles arise from attention to detail. Inspiration brings opportunities into focus for the businessman.

Letting things drag on was not a solution. This stage of stalemate was the hardest part; much like a boxing match in its final rounds, it all came down to who would hold out longer before giving up. Failure was only a single thought away. No businessman would be content to let things continue like this, but who would be the first to compromise? Xiao Tianci knew that if he made the first move, the other side would think he had already lost, and then he really would be worthless.

After much thought, he realized he needed to focus on the consumer. Every customer wants to enjoy something they can’t get elsewhere, and if they don’t have to spend extra for it, why wouldn’t they spend their money here? As a business owner, if you can give your customers that feeling, why wouldn’t you do it?

Though his shop was small, Xiao Tianci became even more attentive to details. He brought in a small imprinting machine to add fluorescent names to the tiny accessories. Even with such small, inexpensive items, if you put your heart into it, you’ll always find breakthroughs—and soon, you’ll win the most tangible support from your customers.

With all sorts of small tricks and details, Xiao Tianci managed to balance his clientele. Gradually, he began to turn a profit, at least avoiding further losses.

They had never met face to face, but their contest of wits was ongoing. The other party started to use advertisements and other methods to poach customers, infuriating Ma Lan, who wanted to confront them directly, but Xiao Tianci held her back. So far, their competitor hadn’t broken any rules of fair competition; their methods were seasoned and skillful. Xiao Tianci began hiring part-time workers to distribute small gifts with advertisements in certain places.

The situation became harder to sustain—just as things started looking up, losses returned. At this point, another headache arrived: the landlord came again to collect rent and this time demanded an extra thousand per month. The price was outrageous—no one would pay that much in this area.

Xiao Tianci tried reasoning with him, but the landlord insisted. Yet, something felt different this time. Though Xiao Tianci was fuming, he held his temper. According to the contract, while the landlord hadn’t agreed to a long-term lease, Xiao Tianci had cleverly inserted a clause giving himself the right of first refusal if the landlord wanted to sublet.

They talked for a long while, and eventually, the landlord seemed embarrassed—he’d expected Xiao Tianci to explode and walk away. But instead, Xiao Tianci kept his composure, even inviting the landlord to dinner. After a few drinks, the truth came out: someone had offered fifteen hundred more than Xiao Tianci’s rent, and now the landlord complained about his own troubles—he had a family to support, and it was hard not to take the money, but he knew Xiao Tianci’s struggle too.

Xiao Tianci recognized this as another move from his competitor. Taking advantage of the friendly atmosphere, he generously signed a one-year contract, agreeing to pay an extra thousand per month. The landlord, not drunk but softened, listened as Xiao Tianci laid it out: “You know as well as I do that this unit is only so valuable because my competitor wants to squeeze me out. If I give up, you’ll be lucky to rent it for five thousand, if that. I’m in this for the long haul—you decide what’s worth more.”

With this, the issue was resolved. Xiao Tianci estimated the rivalry would be settled within three months, but by signing for a year, he sent a clear message: he was prepared to fight for as long as it took.

However, this left him with even less working capital. If not for the steady income from his other two shops, he might not have had enough to restock. The battle continued; his opponent tried new tricks, but Xiao Tianci countered each one, always appearing calm and collected—or at least making it seem so.

He started to analyze his opponent, as if they were two grandmasters playing chess. Though they’d never met, Xiao Tianci could sense his rival’s methods and even glean hints of his personality. It was a strange feeling—the competitor’s tactics were nothing extraordinary, but they were executed with a veteran’s touch.

Over time, Xiao Tianci sensed impatience growing on the other side. He didn’t think it was about the losses—the losses to a cell phone mall like theirs were negligible. But a loss is a loss, and that alone is hard to swallow.

Everything seemed under control, yet perhaps it was true that one can predict the beginning but never the end.

One day, Xiao Tianci sent Ma Lan to pick up goods, since he’d already paid and with the month’s end approaching, he needed to balance the accounts for his shops.

“By the way, did you get that little bear I ordered last time?” A very familiar voice startled Xiao Tianci. He looked up instantly.

A small vest, backpack, and short skirt—the trendiest look of the moment. Xiao Tianci was stunned for a second, thinking he must be mistaken. But that voice often echoed in his mind. Looking closer, it was indeed the girl who had come in the sports car with that wealthy young man. Today, she was completely different from before.

If she was elegant and mature then, today she was absolutely adorable. Xiao Tianci had asked Ma Lan about her—she’d visited a few times, but he had never been around; after all, he couldn’t be there all the time.

Watching her happily accept a mini teddy bear phone charm and put it on, Xiao Tianci forgot all about the accounts he was sorting. He couldn’t help but smile as he watched her, and she smiled at her new phone charm.

A salesgirl caught sight of her boss’s expression and, following his gaze, seemed to understand something. She covered her mouth, giggling, and pulled another girl over to look.

Xiao Tianci was entirely absorbed, watching with delight, while the girl examined her new accessory. The two salesgirls whispered and giggled nearby.

Just then, four teenagers, no older than fourteen or fifteen, with hair dyed every color of the rainbow and ears jangling with earrings—one even wore a dog collar—walked in.