Back to the 1970s: Building My Fortune Through Time Trading-Chapter 304: An Incident Occurs

Su Xiaoxiao didn’t expect Director Liu to suddenly ask her, thinking it was just curiosity because he hadn’t tried it before. She promptly and generously pulled out a handful of coffee from her bag and handed one packet to each of the leaders.

"Director Liu, this coffee not only refreshes and awakens you but is also very tasty. Come on, I’d like to invite all the leadership to try it."

Such a good opportunity to get closer to the leaders should not be wasted.

Director Liu looked resistant. Having tasted it once before, the bitter taste lingered in his mouth for days, and he had no desire to try it again now.

"Comrade Su, share it with them instead; I’m not quite accustomed to drinking this."

Several leaders saw Director Liu’s reaction and subtly declined as well.

Since Director Liu was unaccustomed to it, it probably wasn’t very tasty.

However, a few people accepted out of curiosity.

Though this stuff had a somewhat burnt smell, it was also fragrant, sweet, and had a milky aroma; it didn’t smell like something unpleasant to drink.

Anyway, trying it wouldn’t be a loss.

Zhao Fumin was the first to take up his enamel mug, dumped in a packet of coffee, and gave it a swirl with this mindset.

The brown powder immediately dissolved in the enamel mug, and the rich aroma began to spread.

Getting closer, the aroma became even stronger.

He tentatively took a sip, his eyes brightened instantly: "Comrade Su, where did you buy this coffee? It’s incredibly delicious!"

After one sip, his drowsy mind, having listened to the lecture for a while, cleared up significantly.

"I have a friend from Hong Kong who brought it for me. Manager Zhao, if you like it, I can give you a couple more packets."

Zhao Fumin, feeling embarrassed to take advantage of a young woman, took another sip and smacked his lips: "Comrade Su, that won’t do. Just let me know how much it is per packet and give me ten packets."

Several small department leaders who had accepted the coffee out of curiosity also took a sip when they noticed the general manager’s reaction and showed surprise in their eyes.

It was a taste they had never experienced before, rich, fragrant, sweet, delicious!

Seeing Zhao Fumin asking Su Xiaoxiao to buy coffee, they also eagerly approached.

"Comrade Su, give me a few packets too."

"Comrade Su, I want some too."

Several who hadn’t taken coffee earlier, inspired by Director Liu’s rejection, became curious—how good could this stuff taste to cause such excitement?

Su Xiaoxiao felt a bit overwhelmed when surrounded by the crowd; there were so many people, and she couldn’t just take out too much at once.

She could only explain: "I don’t have much left on hand, only about twenty or thirty packets; why don’t each of you take fewer packets first?"

Hearing there weren’t many packets, department managers couldn’t care about appearances anymore and squeezed forward, competing for the coffee.

Director Liu didn’t expect this result; he had planned to see these people’s sorry faces after drinking it, but instead, they nearly came to blows over a few packets of coffee.

He couldn’t help but feel curious; could Comrade Su’s coffee be different from what he had tried?

Su Xiaoxiao divided some of her coffee among several managers. When she looked up, her eyes met Director Liu’s curious expression, knowing he wanted to try it but was too embarrassed to ask since he hadn’t taken any earlier.

Once she glanced around, she noticed that several managers who hadn’t taken any had the same expression.

Curiosity coupled with dignity.

It seemed leaders were just like ordinary people.

Su Xiaoxiao thought to herself, luckily she had stockpiled more in her space; using these things for favors was cheap and practical.

As a worker, she got sleepy as soon as she began working, so she had stored quite a bit of coffee in her space.

"Director Liu, leaders, I’ve reserved some for you from earlier—would you like to try it?"

"This coffee refreshes and awakens; one cup can improve work efficiency."

She encouraged warmly.

Curiosity was too strong for them, pressing their faces forward as Su Xiaoxiao shared coffee packets.

Even Zhao Weimin received one.

They immediately brewed the coffee with boiling water, filling the meeting room with a rich aroma.

A group of clerks sniffed curiously, looking toward them.

They wondered what the leaders were drinking that smelled so good.

Standing amidst the leaders, Su Xiaoxiao had been automatically placed in the leadership category by the clerks after the lecture, keeping their distance.

Naturally, they hadn’t noticed her sharing the coffee.

In no time, each leader had a cup in hand and squinted while savoring it, each taking a sip without making a sound.

Director Liu drank half a mug in one go, surprised by how tasty it was.

Recalling his first bitter experience, his mouth twitched as he couldn’t help but ask Su Xiaoxiao, "Xiao Su, is there a bitter coffee too? The really bitter, astringent type with a bit of sourness..."

Su Xiaoxiao swallowed the last mouthful from her mug: "Director Liu, the one you’re talking about should be American coffee. Without sugar or milk, most people can’t stand that taste."

It’s said that successful people like American coffee, but Su Xiaoxiao regarded herself as ordinary; the taste was too unpleasant, and she didn’t like it.

Director Liu’s face darkened upon hearing this, no wonder that Hong Kong businessman had smirked and said that’s what coffee was like, many people can’t get used to it, which is normal.

Realizing they were mocking him, he was glad the deal didn’t go through.

Seeing Director Liu’s displeased expression, Su Xiaoxiao intended to offer a comforting word but noticed the time was nearly up.

First, attend to business, then give more consideration to the leader’s mental well-being.

She silently told herself, adopting a teacher-like demeanor again as she held her enamel mug and walked robustly to the podium.

Just as she cleared her throat to begin speaking, sudden commotion erupted outside the door.

The noise sounded like a brawl had broken out in the department store.

Curiosity is innate to all people, and those who had been gearing up for the lecture quickly craned their necks to peer outside, eager to see the commotion.

Zhao Fumin frowned, signaling to Department Head Li Guoqing: "Go see what’s going on out there."

His day had been anything but smooth; this morning Director Liu caught clerks, lazy at work, and now there’s trouble again, exhausting.

Li Guoqing quickly responded, turning to run out, shortly returning, slightly out of breath.

"Director Liu, General Manager, we have a problem! An elderly woman is causing a scene at the food counter, threatening to hang herself!"

"What?"

Hearing this, Zhao Fumin’s eyes widened; what could possibly prompt someone to hang themselves in a department store?

It was a tricky situation; logically, he should go to check it out immediately, but here Director Liu had the ultimate authority, and he should await his directive.

With that thought, he turned to Director Liu, seeking guidance.

"Why are you idle? Solve the problem first; do you really want to wait until someone gets hurt?"

And so, a few minutes later, they set off in a grand procession toward the department store lobby.

Zhao Fumin wiped the sweat from his forehead as he led the way with a spring in his step.

Director Liu, Zhao Weimin, and Su Xiaoxiao followed at the back of the group, catching sight from afar of a crowd gathered in the lobby, faint cries drifting intermittently.