The engagement is over, but the black-bellied president won't let go

Mocheng, a once bustling town, now seems a bit depressed. There are few pedestrians on the streets and few shops in the malls. The bustling scene in the past seems to be just a distant dream. In order to seek better development opportunities, many young people have packed their bags and left this small town to go to the south, which is full of opportunities and challenges. The rising unemployment rate has cast a haze over the city.

In this bleak background, Leng Ruofei has a burning heart and yearns for Yangzhou, a land full of poetry and prosperity. She longs to start her own new journey there and pursue her dream. Yangzhou is a place that has been fascinating since ancient times. The poem "Yangzhou in March with fireworks" has attracted countless people. Leng Ruofei decided to embark on a journey to Yangzhou in early April, this bright and beautiful spring season.

Leng Ruofei has always had a unique insight and love for fashion design. She dreams of owning her own clothing brand one day, so that the clothes she designs and makes can shine on the fashion stage. Yangzhou, a famous historical and cultural city, may provide her with inspiration and opportunities. She told Xiao Yiyang about this idea, and Xiao Yiyang expressed his willingness to go with her without hesitation to give her support and help.

On an early April morning, the sun shone gently on the earth. Leng Ruofei and Xiao Yiyang boarded the plane to Yangzhou with full expectations.

After several hours of traveling, the plane finally landed smoothly at Taizhou International Airport. When Leng Ruofei and Xiao Yiyang stepped out of the airport, the unique charm of Yangzhou blew towards them like a gentle breeze.

The ancient streets are winding and the bluestone pavement is shining with a warm luster after years of polishing, as if each slab carries an unknown past. The elegant buildings are scattered in an orderly manner, with flying eaves, brackets, carved beams and painted buildings. The exquisite carvings and simple colors all tell the glory and prosperity of this city in the past. The canal water flows through the city, rippling the water, reflecting the weeping willows and ancient city walls on the shore, like a flowing river of history, quietly flowing a thousand-year story.

They took a deep breath. The air was filled with the faint scent of flowers, fresh water vapor and old wood fragrance. It was the unique atmosphere of Yangzhou, which made people intoxicated, as if their body and mind were integrated with the city.

Thinking of the last time she came to Yangzhou, Leng Ruofei felt like it was a lifetime ago. Now, she and Xiao Yiyang are together, and the past separations and reunions have become beautiful memories.

After settling their luggage, Leng Ruofei and Xiao Yiyang headed straight to Dongguan Street with great anticipation, eager to start their market research trip. Dongguan Street, the most representative old street in Yangzhou, unfolded slowly before their eyes like a vivid market painting.

The streets are lined with shops, from traditional handicraft shops to fashionable clothing shops. There are crowds of people, with local residents strolling leisurely and tourists looking around curiously. The sounds of hawking, talking and laughing, and footsteps interweave together to form a symphony full of the breath of life.

Leng Ruofei's eyes were sharp and focused. She carefully observed the clothing styles in each store. The clothes hanging on the hangers seemed to be telling her their own stories. She carefully compared the prices and wrote down every number in her notebook, as if these numbers were the key to unlocking the market code. At the same time, she also paid close attention to sales and noticed the choices and reactions of customers.

She walked into one shop after another and communicated enthusiastically with the shop owners. Every conversation was a collision of ideas and an exploration of the pulse of the market. Xiao Yiyang was always by her side, accompanying her silently. He carried Leng Ruofei's backpack in his hand, and his eyes were full of support and encouragement. Whenever Leng Ruofei needed reference opinions, he could always give her his ideas and advice at the right time.

Leng Ruofei stopped involuntarily in front of an antique cheongsam shop. Through the bright window, the exquisite cheongsams displayed in the shop attracted her attention like works of art. She gently opened the door and walked into the shop, as if she had stepped into a poetic world.

Those cheongsams were neatly hung on hangers, some were simple and elegant, some were gorgeous, and each one exuded a unique charm. Delicate handmade needles and threads shuttled through the silk fabrics, embroidering exquisite patterns, some were delicate flowers, some were smart flying birds, lifelike and breathtaking. Leng Ruofei couldn't help but reach out and gently touch those cheongsams, feeling the smooth texture of silk with his fingertips, as if he was touching the veins of history.

The owner was a kind and amiable auntie. When she saw Leng Ruofei was so fascinated by cheongsam, a warm smile immediately broke out on her face and she came forward enthusiastically.

"Girl, our cheongsams are all handmade. The fabrics and embroidery are first-class." The aunt introduced with a smile, her eyes full of pride.

Leng Ruofei nodded, his eyes still on the cheongsam, and asked: "Auntie, what do you think of the demand for cheongsam in the market now?"

The aunt thought for a moment, her eyes revealing a deep understanding of the industry, and said: "Cheongsam is our traditional Chinese dress and has always been very popular. However, young people nowadays pursue individuality and fashion, and prefer cheongsams with some innovative elements. For example, modern designs can be added to the style, such as irregular skirts or unique necklines; some fashionable elements can be used in the pattern, such as popular cartoon characters or abstract geometric patterns. This can not only show the traditional charm of cheongsam, but also meet the aesthetic tastes of modern young people."

Leng Ruofei listened and nodded thoughtfully. Various inspirations began to emerge in her mind, and she thought that her design might be able to find a perfect balance between tradition and modernity, creating clothing that has a profound traditional cultural heritage and caters to modern aesthetic needs.

After leaving the cheongsam shop, they continued to stroll along Dongguan Street. The snack stalls on both sides of the street exuded an alluring aroma, which was the unique smell of carefully cooked food, as if an invisible hand was pulling their steps.

Leng Ruofei and Xiao Yiyang could not help but stop. There was a dazzling array of snacks in front of them. The soft and glutinous Yangzhou fried rice, each grain of rice was plump and crystal clear, mixed with the deliciousness of eggs, ham and shrimp, colorful and mouth-watering. The fresh and fragrant lion's head, the huge meatballs were looming in the rich soup, exuding an attractive aroma. The crispy toffee, the golden appearance wrapped in the sweet filling, took a bite, "crunched" and filled the mouth with fragrance.

As they tasted these local specialties, their taste buds were instantly ignited, and every bite was an ultimate enjoyment of the food. Yangzhou snacks are indeed well-deserved of their reputation, with rich taste and unique flavor, which greatly satisfied their taste buds.

Unconsciously, the sun had risen to the zenith, and the golden sunlight sprinkled on the bluestone road of Dongguan Street, reflecting a dazzling light. Leng Ruofei and Xiao Yiyang's foreheads were slightly sweaty, and their steps were slightly heavy. They felt a little tired, so they decided to find a place to rest.

They walked into a teahouse, which was decorated in a simple and elegant style. The wooden tables and chairs exuded a faint fragrance, and there were several ancient calligraphy and paintings hanging on the walls, adding a bit of cultural atmosphere to the whole space.

They ordered a pot of Yangzhou's specialty green spring tea. The green tea leaves stretched in the hot water, like dancing fairies. After a while, the fragrance of tea filled the whole room. They sat by the window, looking at the scenery outside the window, and their mood gradually calmed down.

Leng Ruofei gently picked up the teacup and took a sip of tea. The refreshing taste was like a spring in the mountains, instantly sweeping away her fatigue. She looked at the bustling pedestrians outside the window, and her thoughts involuntarily returned to her clothing design. She thought that she must realize her dream in Yangzhou, a charming city, and let her works shine on the fashion stage.

"Fei'er, are you sure you want to do clothing business in Yangzhou?" Xiao Yiyang saw that she had been busy all day and her serious look was very cute.

"I studied fashion design and I still have a certain attachment to this industry. In fact, it would be better if I could do it in Mocheng, but the current economic situation in Mocheng is not optimistic. It may be difficult for a physical store to do prosperous business." Leng Ruofei made a thorough analysis.

"Yes, Tianjiao Group has now shifted its investment focus to the Jiangsu and Zhejiang areas. After the restructuring of Tianjiao, Mocheng has been designated as a red zone and is not considered for new investment for the time being." Xiao Yiyang frowned slightly, his tone a little serious. He rarely mentioned the group's business to Leng Ruofei, and Leng Ruofei rarely asked about it.

However, the recent changes have unconsciously caused the conversation between the two to touch upon the topics of these business fields. Leng Ruofei took a sip of coffee, her eyes full of concern, and said, "I have also heard some rumors recently, about Tianjiao's overseas business..." She hesitated, her eyes full of worry for Xiao Yiyang.

During this period of time, she clearly noticed that Xiao Yiyang's phone rang frequently, and each call lasted more than half an hour. He was either pacing back and forth in the study, giving instructions to the other end of the phone with a serious expression; or standing in front of the window, looking into the distance, lost in thought. Those calls were all about dealing with the complicated affairs within the group.

Xiao Yiyang sensed the worry in Leng Ruofei's eyes. He reached out his hand and gently covered Leng Ruofei's hand, trying to comfort her. "Don't worry, the overseas business has been handed over to Zijian to handle. All assets have been sold and converted into cash. The recent market situation is not peaceful, and Tianjiao is also trying to recover the funds as soon as possible to ensure the safety and stability of the funds."