amaotonovel Chapter 1596: The Years of Love (Final Chapter)
Chapter 1596: The Years of Love (Final Chapter)
On the day work resumed after the Lunar New Year holiday, the sky in Shenzhen was unusually clear. The warm winter sun shone through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the office building, making the marble floor shine.
Qin Hao arrived at the company early and had the HR department prepare a thick stack of red envelopes, neatly arranged on a tray in front of his desk. This was the first year he had given his employees red envelopes to start the work year, for good luck. Each person received two hundred yuan, not much, but the workers' moods immediately changed upon receiving the red envelopes.
"Line up, one at a time." Han Ling stood at the door of Qin Hao's office maintaining order, holding an employee list in her hand, checking off each employee as she handed them out.
The employees lined up, all with smiles on their faces, chatting and laughing as they waited to receive their red envelopes.
"Happy New Year, Mr. Qin!"
"Congratulations on your fortune, Mr. Qin!"
Qin Hao stood at the door, smiling as he handed out red envelopes to each employee, occasionally cracking a joke with them, creating a lively atmosphere.
Suddenly, a series of hurried footsteps came from the end of the corridor.
"Hey, Mr. Liu, what good stuff are you carrying?" An employee in the front row came over and curiously peeked into the bag.
Liu Yuan placed the bag on the table and opened it—inside were small bowls wrapped in plastic bags. Unwrapping the foil revealed a thick, reddish-brown broth, with large pieces of pig's trotters and eggs soaking in the ginger and vinegar sauce, emitting a rich, sweet and sour aroma.
"This is...pig's feet in ginger sauce?" Han Ling leaned closer, her eyes lighting up at the aroma.
"Yes!" Liu Yuan scratched his head and chuckled sheepishly. "My wife is pregnant! Yunyun asked me to bring these over to share with everyone. She said it's a custom here in Guangdong. I don't really understand it, but when in Rome, do as the Romans do!"
"She's pregnant?!"
"Mr. Liu is going to be a father!"
Congratulations, Mr. Liu!
The office erupted in excitement as employees crowded around, offering congratulations and cheering. Several male colleagues who were close to Liu Yuan even grabbed his arms, insisting that he treat them to a meal.
Liu Yuan blushed with embarrassment at their teasing, but he couldn't suppress the smile on his face. He cheerfully distributed bowls of pig's feet with ginger to everyone, saying, "Eat, eat, don't be shy! Yunyun said that eating pig's feet with ginger brings good fortune, and everyone will have children and become wealthy next year!"
"Then I'll have to eat two more bowls!" someone joked.
"Get lost! You already have two sons, do you want to have a few more?"
Everyone burst into laughter.
Qin Hao stood at the door, watching this scene, a smile spreading across his face. He patted Liu Yuan on the shoulder and said earnestly, "Congratulations."
Liu Yuan chuckled, looking unusually embarrassed: "Thanks, Lao Qin."
Han Ling's gaze unconsciously drifted towards Qin Hao. Her heart suddenly skipped a beat.
That night, neither of them used protection.
just in case……
"Don't scare yourself," Han Ling told herself, clenching her fists tightly to suppress the thought.
She took a deep breath, turned around and went back to her workstation, forcing herself to focus on her work.
……
However, what you fear most is what happens.
A month later.
Han Ling was organizing a contract document that Qin Hao had given her when she suddenly felt a wave of nausea rising in her stomach. She quickly covered her mouth, got up, and hurried to the bathroom. She leaned over the toilet and dry-heaved for a while, but nothing came out.
She stood up, holding onto the sink, and looked at her pale face in the mirror, a sense of foreboding rising in her heart.
This inexplicable nausea wasn't the first time. For the past two weeks, she'd been feeling nauseous from time to time, especially when she woke up in the morning, when the nausea was most intense. At first, she thought she'd eaten something bad, then she thought it was a stomach problem and even bought some stomach medicine from the pharmacy, but it didn't help at all.
Even today, as she looked at her slightly flushed cheeks and dry lips in the mirror, a thought suddenly flashed through her mind like lightning—
No way?
Han Ling's hand unconsciously went to her lower abdomen.
She stood in front of the sink for a long time, then gritted her teeth, walked out of the restroom, returned to her workstation, picked up her bag, told her colleagues that she was feeling unwell and asked for half a day off, and hurriedly left the company.
Municipal People's Hospital.
Registering, queuing, blood test, waiting for results—Han Ling was in a daze throughout the entire process, as if her soul had left her body.
When the test results came out, Han Ling sat on a bench in the hospital corridor, her fingers trembling slightly as she unfolded the thin piece of paper.
Human chorionic gonadotropin: positive.
Han Ling stared at the word "positive" for a long time, so long that the old man sitting next to her couldn't help but glance at her a few more times.
pregnant.
She is indeed pregnant.
Han Ling's mind was in complete chaos.
……
On the other hand, Xiao Ran's business was growing bigger and bigger.
Xiao Ran sold out millions of dollars worth of inventory within six months.
As a result, Lu Ximing's daily chemical company was revived. The workers received their long-overdue wages, the suppliers' payments were settled, and even the bank relented and agreed to extend the loan to the factory.
Lu Ximing looked at Xiao Ran with new respect, but other thoughts gradually began to arise in his heart.
Six months ago, when he was desperate, Xiao Ran approached him for a collaboration, and he agreed without hesitation. But now the situation is different—the factory is thriving, orders are pouring in, and the name "Yu Xue Qing" is becoming increasingly well-known in the bath industry. And how much has Xiao Ran earned in the past six months? At least two million!
More than two million!
Lu Ximing, who guarded the factory, managed production, and controlled quality, worked himself to the bone and only earned a little over a million yuan. Xiao Ran, on the other hand, earned more money than him simply by talking and visiting clients?
Why?
Once this thought arises, it grows wildly like weeds and can no longer be suppressed.
So when Xiao Ran came to him again, asking for additional orders, Lu Ximing's attitude changed.
"Mr. Xiao," Lu Ximing said, sitting in his executive chair with his legs crossed, his fingers rhythmically tapping the armrest, "I think the profit-sharing plan for our future collaborations needs some adjustments."
Xiao Ran frowned slightly: "How should we adjust it?"
"You made over two million," Lu Ximing said bluntly. "You should give me half."
Xiao Ran was stunned for a moment, thinking she had misheard: "What did you say?"
Lu Ximing's tone was undeniably forceful: "The formula is mine, the factory is mine, the workers are mine. Without my products, how will you make money?"
Xiao Ran laughed angrily, "Fine, Lu Ximing, you've got a good plan. Let me tell you, you won't get a single extra penny!"
"Then don't blame me for being impolite." Lu Ximing sneered, crossing his arms. "Without my goods, what will you sell? All your customers will run away if I cut off supplies for just one month. Then your reputation, Xiao Ran, will be ruined, and who will dare do business with you?"
He stood up, looking down at Xiao Ran: "Xiao Ran, a wise person knows when to yield. If you're smart, give me half the money, and we can continue our cooperation. If not—"
He didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was already very clear.
If they don't agree, we won't supply them.
Xiao Ran stared intently at Lu Ximing, his eyes blazing with fury. His fists clenched so tightly they cracked, and the veins on his temples throbbed; he looked like a wolf cornered against a wall.
"Okay." Xiao Ran squeezed out a single word through gritted teeth: "Lu Ximing, remember what you said today."
After saying that, he turned around and strode out of the office, slamming the door shut with a bang.
Lu Ximing looked at the door that had been slammed shut, a slight smile playing on his lips.
He was not afraid of Xiao Ran.
The formula and the factory are in his hands. Xiao Ran is just a salesman; without his goods, he's nothing. Once Xiao Ran runs into trouble outside, he'll naturally come back to beg him. At that point, it won't just be a matter of splitting it in half—he'll take the lion's share.
Lu Ximing is too confident.
He thought the "Yu Xue Qing" formula was his exclusive secret recipe, and that Xiao Ran couldn't live without him. But what he didn't know was that Xiao Ran had been keeping a close eye on things while visiting clients over the past six months—he not only knew the ingredients of "Yu Xue Qing" perfectly, but he had also secretly contacted several daily chemical contract manufacturers and obtained their price lists.
Xiao Ran has never been the type to put all his eggs in one basket.
After falling out with Lu Ximing, Xiao Ran immediately contacted one of the contract manufacturers that offered the lowest price and sent them the formula and process requirements for "Yu Xue Qing". The manufacturer's technicians studied it for a week and provided a completely alternative solution, which was 15% cheaper than Lu Ximing's factory.
Without saying a word, Xiao Ran placed the order.
Lu Ximing was still waiting for Xiao Ran to come back and beg him, but instead of a call from Xiao Ran, he received news that "Yu Xue Qing" had completely changed its supply channels.
His factory lost its biggest customer overnight.
Without Xiao Ran's orders, Lu Ximing's factory returned to its previous stagnant state. Inventory piled up again, workers went unpaid, and the bank called three times a day to collect payments. Lu Ximing panicked and tried to talk to Xiao Ran, but Xiao Ran wouldn't answer his calls.
Three months later, Lu Ximing's factory declared bankruptcy.
Xiao Ran bought Lu Ximing's factory at an extremely low price—including the factory buildings, equipment, workers, and the formula that he already knew by heart.
At this point, Xiao Ran's net worth officially exceeded ten million.
Standing at the factory gate, looking at the brand-new signboard of "Yuxueqing Daily Chemical Co., Ltd.", he felt an unprecedented sense of satisfaction. From a penniless pauper with only a few hundred yuan left in his pocket to a boss with a net worth of tens of millions, Xiao Ran had achieved this in less than three years.
but--
What is this little bit of money to Qin Hao?
When Xiao Ran thought of Qin Hao, most of the satisfaction in his heart instantly vanished. What was Qin Hao's scale now? Zeus Power Plant, Lenovo supplier, a thousand-acre industrial park—any one of these achievements was something Xiao Ran couldn't compare to at the moment.
To surpass Qin Hao, he must continue to expand his operations.
Xiao Ran returned to his office and sat at his desk for a long time, his mind racing as he considered his next move.
The distribution channels for bathhouses are already saturated. If "Yu Xue Qing" wants to continue to grow, it must enter the retail market—supermarkets, convenience stores, and department stores—and compete head-on with international giants like Procter & Gamble and Unilever.
This requires a large amount of capital.
Advertising, establishing distribution channels, and running promotions—which of these isn't a money-burning business? Xiao Ran's tens of millions in assets seem like a lot, but if you really want to expand his business, it's simply not enough.
Xiao Ran gritted his teeth and made a decision—to mortgage the factory to the bank and seek a loan to break through the current situation.
The advertisement for "Yu Xue Qing" was soon broadcast on Guangdong TV.
After the advertisement aired, sales of "Yuxueqing" indeed surged. "Yuxueqing" began to appear on supermarket shelves, priced at nearly 30% cheaper than similar products from Procter & Gamble and Unilever, which was a considerable temptation for price-sensitive consumers.
Taking advantage of the momentum, Xiao Ran expanded the scale of offline distribution, spreading from Guangdong all the way to Hunan, Jiangxi, and Fujian, and even began to penetrate into East and North China.
Everything seems to be moving in a positive direction.
However, Xiao Ran underestimated his opponent.
Procter & Gamble and Unilever, two international consumer goods giants, have cultivated the Chinese market for many years, with distribution networks covering every corner of the country. They weren't unaware of "Yuxueqing," this newly emerging competitor—quite the opposite; they had been observing it closely.
When sales of "Yuxueqing" began to threaten their low-end product lines, the two giants made their moves almost simultaneously.
First came the price war. Procter & Gamble's Safeguard and Unilever's Lux both launched promotional packs, buy one get one free, bringing the price down to the same level as Yuxueqing. Consumers, seeing the same price, faced with an international brand on one side and a little-known brand on the other, which would they choose? The answer was obvious.
Then came the channel war. Procter & Gamble and Unilever offered extremely high sales rebates to distributors and supermarkets—up to 25%! This meant that for every bar of P&G or Unilever soap sold, distributors could receive a rebate of about a quarter of the product. In contrast, "Yu Xue Qing" only offered distributors a 10% rebate, which was incomparable.
Distributors aren't stupid. They can earn more than double the money by displaying P&G products on the same shelf, so why would they display your "Yuxueqing"?
Overnight, "Yuxueqing" was removed from the shelves of major supermarkets and convenience stores, replaced by promotional displays from Procter & Gamble and Unilever. Distributors who had previously signed supply agreements with Xiao Ran began calling to request contract termination.
Xiao Ran panicked and personally went to various distributors to negotiate, promising to increase rebates and lower supply prices, but it was too late. Procter & Gamble and Unilever's channel blockade was already in place, and his fledgling small brand was powerless to challenge it.
To make matters worse, the bank has started demanding repayment.
The repayment deadline for the factory mortgage loan has arrived, but sales of "Yu Xue Qing" have plummeted, and payments are simply not keeping up. Xiao Ran has been robbing Peter to pay Paul, using up all the available funds, but it still can't fill the hole.
Three months later, the bank issued an ultimatum—if the loan wasn't repaid, the mortgaged factory would be auctioned off.
Xiao Ran sat in the empty office, a pile of overdue payment notices spread out in front of him, feeling completely drained.
He then realized that the gap between himself and international giants couldn't be bridged by mere enthusiasm and a few million dollars. They had brands, distribution channels, capital, and talent; what did he have? A small factory, an unknown brand, and a gambler's impulse.
Regret is too late.
The bank seized the factory, and the court froze all his assets. He not only lost everything but also incurred tens of millions of yuan in debt.
The day Xiao Ran moved out of the factory, he only brought an old leather suitcase. He stood at the factory gate, looking at the sign that had been replaced by the bank, and a bitter smile appeared on his lips.
In just one year.
From having only a few hundred dollars left in his pocket to becoming a millionaire, and then from becoming a millionaire to being in debt for millions.
He'd gone in circles, back to square one—no, even worse off than before. At least three years ago he was just poor; now he's not only poor, he's drowning in debt.
Xiao Ran, carrying a suitcase, wandered aimlessly through the streets of Shenzhen. Neon lights flashed overhead, cars whizzed past him, and everyone was rushing about. No one noticed the disheveled young man.
He suddenly remembered Chen Qiming.
Xiao Ran used to think his classmate was pitiful when the restaurant owner stripped him naked and threw him on the street. Now, looking at himself, how much better off is he?
……
With nowhere else to turn, Xiao Ran somehow ended up at the entrance of the residential complex where Han Ling lived.
Xiao Ran stood at the entrance of the residential compound, hesitating whether to go in.
Just then, he saw a figure.
Han Ling walked out of the residential area.
She was wearing a loose maternity dress, her belly was already noticeably protruding, one hand gently supporting her waist, the other carrying a bag of fruit, and she was slowly strolling along the path in the community garden.
The afterglow of the setting sun bathed her in a soft golden light, gilding her profile.
Xiao Ran's mind went blank.
He rushed forward almost instinctively and grabbed Han Ling's arm.
"Han Ling!"
Han Ling was startled by the sudden movement, and the bag of fruit in her hand fell to the ground, scattering apples and oranges all over the floor. She looked up and saw Xiao Ran's dark, thin, and unshaven face, and her pupils contracted sharply.
"Xiao Ran?!"
"Whose child is this?" Xiao Ran stared intently at Han Ling's swollen belly.
Han Ling was startled and instinctively shook off Xiao Ran's hand, taking a step back: "What are you doing? It has nothing to do with your child!"
"It has nothing to do with me?" Xiao Ran angrily blocked Han Ling's path, his eyes bloodshot, like a wounded wild beast: "Han Ling, tell me, whose child is this?"
He took a step closer, his voice low but each word sounding like it was being squeezed out from between his teeth: "Is it Qin Hao's?"
Han Ling's expression changed, her lips pressed into a thin line, and she remained silent.
"Is that right?!" Xiao Ran's voice suddenly rose.
"So what if it's mine?"
A cold voice came from behind Han Ling.
Xiao Ran turned around abruptly and saw Qin Hao standing a few steps behind Han Ling. He was wearing a dark gray overcoat, his hands in his pockets, staring at Xiao Ran expressionlessly, his gaze as cold as a river in winter.
"Qin Hao..." Xiao Ran's anger almost consumed everything.
"You bastard!"
Enraged, Xiao Ran threw a punch at Qin Hao.
However, Qin Hao reacted much faster than him.
He dodged to the side, and Xiao Ran's fist grazed past his ear. Then Qin Hao raised his leg and kicked Xiao Ran squarely in the stomach.
Xiao Ran was thrown backward and crashed heavily to the ground. His back hit the edge of the flower bed, and the pain made his vision go black. He almost passed out.
"Xiao Ran," Qin Hao looked down at him, "Don't act like the whole world owes you something."
Xiao Ran lay on the ground, struggling to get up, but the kick was too hard, and his lower abdomen cramped, making him unable to exert any strength.
Qin Hao continued, his tone eerily calm: "Han Ling hasn't done anything to wrong you. Don't taint my child with your filthy thoughts."
Han Ling also walked up to Xiao Ran and looked down at him.
“Xiao Ran,” Han Ling said, her voice soft but each word clear, “I had already broken up with you a long time before I got together with Lao Qin.”
She paused, took a deep breath, and said, "Go. I don't want to see you again."
Xiao Ran lay motionless on the ground.
He wanted to say something, his lips moved, but no sound came out. He watched Han Ling and Qin Hao walk away side by side, the setting sun casting their shadows long and overlapping, like a single, complete whole.
……
one year later.
A luxurious villa in Luohu.
Qin Hao bought this villa last year. It is located in a high-end residential area in Luohu District. It is a detached house with a courtyard, a three-story building, and gardens in the front and back. The front garden has several osmanthus trees and a cluster of roses, while the back garden has a neat lawn and a swing set in the corner.
The afternoon sun was warm and gentle, filtering through the branches and leaves of the osmanthus tree and casting dappled light and shadow on the lawn.
In the garden, Han Ling and Sun Yumei each held a six- or seven-month-old baby, sitting on deck chairs under a parasol, basking in the sun.
The boy in Han Ling's arms looked like Qin Hao, with thick eyebrows and big eyes, a chubby face. At this moment, he was staring curiously at the clouds drifting overhead with his big, dark, grape-like eyes. Han Ling supported his little bottom with one hand and gently patted his back with the other, humming an off-key lullaby, a tender and content smile on her face.
The girl in Sun Yumei's arms resembled her, fair-skinned and delicate, but with a hint of Qin Hao in her features. She was currently sucking on her little fist, drool dripping from the corner of her mouth, her bright black eyes darting around curiously. Sun Yumei looked down at her daughter, a smile playing on her lips, her fingers gently stroking her little face—a tender expression completely different from her usual sharp and decisive demeanor.
On the lawn not far away, Huang Yunyun was helping a little girl, about a year old, learn to walk. The little girl was wearing a pink dress, with two small pigtails, and her chubby little legs kicked and wobbled with each step, like a little penguin just learning to walk. Huang Yunyun followed behind her, bending over, her hands gently supporting her, afraid that she might fall.
"Nannan, walk slowly... walk slowly..." Huang Yunyun's voice was gentle and patient, and her stuttering was much better when she was coaxing the child.
The little girl took a few steps, then lost her balance and sat down on the lawn with a thud. She paused, her little mouth pouting, and looked like she was about to cry. Huang Yunyun quickly squatted down, picked her up, and kissed her: "Don't cry, don't cry, my little girl is the best!"
The little girl giggled as she was kissed, forgetting to cry before her tears even fell.
Liu Yuan stood to the side, watching this scene, unable to suppress the urge to smile.
He turned to look at Qin Hao, couldn't help but give him a thumbs up, and said with admiration, "Old Qin, I'm truly impressed. How did you manage to get Han Ling and Sun Yumei to get along so well?"
Qin Hao blinked, a mischievous smile creeping onto his lips.
"You really want to know?"
Liu Yuan nodded quickly, his face showing an eager expression.
Qin Hao cleared his throat, then suddenly turned around and shouted at Huang Yunyun on the other side of the lawn—
"Huang Yunyun! Your husband is trying to have his cake and eat it too!"
Liu Yuan was shocked and his face turned as white as paper.
He lunged forward and forcefully covered Qin Hao's mouth: "Fine, don't talk then! Why did you have to hurt me?!"
On the lawn, Huang Yunyun heard Qin Hao's shout, looked up while holding her daughter, and stared blankly at them. Han Ling and Sun Yumei also looked up, and the three women's eyes all fell on Liu Yuan.
Liu Yuan froze, cold sweat beading on his forehead.
He released his hand from Qin Hao's mouth, forcing a smile that looked more like a grimace, and waved his hands repeatedly at the three women: "Misunderstanding! It's all a misunderstanding! I was just joking with Lao Qin! Haha... haha..."
Huang Yunyun tilted her head, seemingly not quite understanding, and then lowered her head to continue coaxing her daughter.
Han Ling and Sun Yumei exchanged a glance, rolled their eyes at the same time, and then went back to playing with their own children.
[Ding, the system has detected that the host has completed the main storyline of the "Ten Years of Love" world. Would you like to load the next world?]
What world will be next?
[Next World: Love Has No Myths, Shall We Record This?]
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