Xiao Liang and Zhang Feili stepped into a small corner shop. Behind the counter sat a slightly overweight middle-aged man, lounging in a bamboo chair in nothing but a pair of loose shorts. His bare, hairy legs stretched out as he stared intently at a black-and-white television in the corner.

Only when he noticed customers entering did he sit up, his eyes immediately lighting up as they lingered on Zhang Feili.

Xiao Liang pulled out his wallet. One hand hovered as if about to take out a hundred-yuan bill, while the other rested casually on the counter.

“Boss, two cases of Nanting Lake orange juice.”

By mid-to-late June, the peak season for beverage sales was in full swing.

Crates of beer and soft drinks were stacked beside the counter, and a freezer packed with chilled beverages stood by the entrance. The selection was fairly complete.

And yet, Xiao Liang’s question completely threw the shopkeeper off.

The man got up and checked the freezer and shelves, unable to find any “Nanting Lake Fresh Orange Juice”—a brand he’d never even heard of. Still smiling, he began recommending other fruit drinks.

Xiao Liang shook his head, stubbornly sticking to Nanting Lake. Standing at the counter, he spun an elaborate story: he and his girlfriend had just returned to Xijiang after their university break, and he needed to bring two cases of Nanting Lake orange juice as a gift for her family. He spoke with complete conviction, even boasting that the brand was already popular in the provincial capital—real fresh-squeezed juice, bottled in glass, nothing like the cheap stuff on the market made with flavoring and maltodextrin.

“Boss, what do you think—my girlfriend’s pretty great, right? First time visiting her parents, I can’t just show up empty-handed…”

Playing the role of a local college boy back home for the holidays, Xiao Liang chatted idly with the shopkeeper, then tugged over a visibly flustered Zhang Feili for him to see.

Though she was a year or two older than Xiao Liang, Zhang Feili’s fair, delicate skin, lively features, and palm-sized face—paired with a simple cotton dress and a ponytail—made her look every bit like a high school girl in her youth. No one would have doubted it.

“She’s a beauty,” the shopkeeper said with a hint of envy. “And you’re right—a first visit as the future son-in-law, you can’t be careless.”

Xiao Liang left the shop looking disappointed. Once they reached the corner, he glanced at Zhang Feili, whose cheeks were still flushed, her expression betraying someone who had probably never lied in her life. For a fleeting moment, something softer stirred in his chest.

“Did you grow up never telling lies?” he teased. “You looked so guilty back there.”

Away from strangers, Zhang Feili regained a bit of her usual composure—and the faint psychological edge of being slightly older. She stuck out her tongue and held out her damp palm.

“Look at this—my hands are sweating, and my heart was pounding the whole time!”

In another life, Xiao Liang might have taken the chance to brush his fingers against her soft, tempting palm. Instead, he kept his tone light.

“That’s nothing. Next shop, you take the lead—I’ll back you up.”

They walked through two alleys, stopping at six small shops selling alcohol, drinks, and cold beverages, along with two eateries. At each place, they found some excuse to step inside and make their inquiry.

In this era, there was little risk of being exposed, no matter how clumsy or odd the excuse might seem.

These first couple of days were mainly about getting everyone comfortable with the process. Seeing the time, Xiao Liang decided not to continue and led Zhang Feili back toward the guesthouse.

Xu Lihuan, Liu Weiwei, and Wu Qiyan were already gathered outside. From a distance, Liu Weiwei waved excitedly as she spotted them, announcing that the deal with the TV station had been finalized.

Over the past two days, aside from mapping out the distribution of retail outlets in Xijiang and making some initial, targeted inquiries to help everyone get used to the approach, their main focus had been securing basic advertising placements.

After renting warehouse space, vehicles, and stocking inventory, they only had twenty to thirty thousand yuan left. A full-scale advertising blitz was out of the question—but some advertising was absolutely necessary.

Of course, there were also techniques at play here that Xu Lihuan, Zhang Feili, and Wu Qiyan couldn’t yet fully grasp.

Since the early 1990s, businesses had begun paying more attention to advertising through television and newspapers. Print ads had become more polished, more eye-catching, occupying larger spaces. On television, advertisers increasingly focused on evening slots.

Everyone had come to recognize that evening ads were far more effective, and the concept of “prime time” was taking shape.

At the same time, local TV stations were beginning to operate more like businesses. Most of their revenue came from prime-time slots, leaving non-prime hours not only drastically cheaper than expected but often with unsold airtime that couldn’t even fill the gaps between regular programming.

Xu Lihuan and Liu Weiwei had approached the station on behalf of Nanting Lake Juice, requesting scrolling subtitle ads to run along the bottom of daytime programs. They had negotiated yesterday, signed the contract and made payment today—and the ads would begin airing tomorrow.

The most astonishing part was the price: fewer than one thousand yuan for fifty daily rotations. If they hadn’t been in such urgent need, they could probably have negotiated it even lower.

They might have lacked funds, but classified ads in the morning and evening newspapers were dirt cheap. Those contracts had already been signed the day before.

Xu Lihuan and Liu Weiwei didn’t head back to their rooms after returning—they lingered outside the guesthouse.

Partly because the rooms were stifling, and partly because the timing was just right. The evening paper would soon be delivered to kiosks, and they wanted to buy a copy with Nanting Lake’s ad printed in it.

Wu Qiyan had also recruited a few local university students—fresh off their exams and waiting for summer break—to work part-time. She’d taken them to scout two wholesale markets in the city that specialized in food products. Starting tomorrow, they would begin distributing flyers at selected spots.

The first batch of two thousand cases of juice had already arrived in Xijiang. Someone had been assigned to watch over the warehouse, and several additional factory workers had been brought in to help with loading, unloading, and flyer distribution.

“Before coming to Xijiang, I had no idea how we were supposed to do any of this,” Zhang Feili said, unable to contain her excitement. “And now, in just a couple of days, everything’s already falling into place…”

She had truly felt uncertain before arriving.

Not just about meeting the sales targets, but about how to even begin. She had spent three or four years in the office—nominally a deputy section chief and assistant director—but in reality, her work had been limited to reception, meeting arrangements, and paperwork. She’d never imagined she’d one day be out in the field, running the market, handling sales, dealing with all kinds of business.

Now, seeing one task after another completed successfully, she couldn’t help but feel a surge of exhilaration.

Xu Lihuan chuckled and teased her:

“So, Section Chief Zhang, how did it go out there with Director Xiao? You two playing a couple—did anyone see through it?”

Dressed in her plain cotton dress, Zhang Feili might not have looked luxurious, but her slender figure, simple ponytail, and radiant, youthful beauty turned heads wherever she went. Most men on the street would look back at least once—if not more.

Beside her, Xiao Liang stood tall at over six feet, with a scholarly air and refined good looks. Together, they made a striking pair—something even Xu Lihuan couldn’t help but envy.

He also knew exactly what Zhang Feili’s husband, Zhou Bin, was like—and in his mind, only someone like Xiao Liang was worthy of her beauty.

“What nonsense are you talking about?” Zhang Feili protested, flustered. “We were playing siblings! Who would pretend to be a couple with Director Xiao?”