Chapter 7: Narrow Vision, Limited Insight

“Mom, Dad, my classmate gave me a very thorough analysis of the situation. And this advice—she only passed it on to me after I told her about our family’s circumstances, and she consulted her own parents first! So, they know exactly what the tailor shop is like.”

Wu Ya nearly suffocated himself to get these words out, all to prevent his parents from growing suspicious and to reassure them. In his previous life, lying to his parents came easily, without a second thought. But in this life? Every fib brought a deep sense of guilt that clawed at him from within, gnawing at him relentlessly.

Yet he had no choice. He couldn’t possibly tell them that he wasn’t really himself anymore. Never mind how unbelievable the truth was—even saying that one sentence would have his parents convinced he’d lost his mind, rambling incoherently after a blow to the head.

“Oh? So you’re saying there’s actually hope for our tailor shop?” Wu Wanli perked up at once. His wife had originally objected to opening the shop, but he’d insisted, and it was only through sheer stubbornness that it had gotten off the ground. Who could have predicted it would land them in such a quagmire? Zhang Caixia hadn’t blamed him too much, but deep down, he felt terrible—they simply had no money.

But hearing Wu Ya speak now, all his previous worries seemed to vanish. Was it that his own vision had failed him, and he hadn’t seen the shop’s true potential? Or perhaps the Zhongshan suit wasn’t outdated at all, but simply unsold in their area? A cascade of questions filled Wu Wanli with renewed energy.

“Ya’er, did your classmate tell you how to revive the tailor shop? What needs to be done, specifically?” Zhang Caixia, ever attentive, pressed for details. Advice to keep the business going was all well and good, but it wouldn’t put food on the table. The actual steps were key to bringing the shop back to life—especially those hundred Zhongshan suits. Whether they were unsold locally or truly out of fashion, they had to be dealt with, and that was a problem!

“She did! She said as long as I’m in charge of managing things, her parents will personally guide me through the process!”

The moment Wu Ya spoke these words, both parents were startled. What did that mean? It sounded rather strange.

Yes, they had never run a business before, always living among the common folk. Narrow horizons, little experience—even their small tailor shop had collapsed within a month. But that was due to lack of experience and capital! If given more time or sufficient funds, who could say they wouldn’t work miracles? And now, they were being underestimated—deemed incapable and obsolete. Was even their own son better than them? Outrageous! It felt like a blatant insult to them as a couple.

“Mom, Dad, there’s no malice in it. She just said that clothing is a trend-driven industry. To succeed, you need a mindset and vision that keeps up with the times—and young people are best suited for that!” Seeing his parents’ expressions, Wu Ya, with the wisdom of two lifetimes, immediately understood their thoughts and quickly spoke up to smooth things over. It wasn’t that they lacked ability, but that the industry needed fresh blood!

He also felt uneasy, realizing his words had hurt them.

The room fell silent. Wu Wanli and Zhang Caixia exchanged a long look, seeing resignation in each other’s eyes—but more than that, hope.

“Son, go ahead and take charge! Though it’s hard to accept, we have to admit we’re getting old—and business really isn’t our strong suit! The future belongs to your generation!” Wu Wanli finally spoke, his tone full of encouragement.

“Yes, son, go ahead and do your best! But we have one condition: to prevent you from being too impulsive, your classmate must supervise you. Is that alright?” Zhang Caixia quickly followed, agreeing wholeheartedly. The desire for their son’s success was a natural instinct. For him to learn about business at such a young age was a good thing. Besides, with the guidance of his classmate’s parents—seasoned entrepreneurs—what was there to worry about? Such opportunities were rare; perhaps soon their son would soar to greatness.

Still, Zhang Caixia’s innate caution prompted her to add a condition. There might be times when his classmate’s parents were too busy, and without supervision, their son could become reckless—a wild horse untethered. At his impulsive age, newly made a boss, how could he not be a little rash?

“That’s wonderful! Mom, Dad, don’t worry—I won’t let you down! I’ll go find my classmate now, and you can meet her too.” Wu Ya was overjoyed at their approval, practically bouncing with happiness.

With no money at home, his parents had always been careful and lived day to day. The tailor shop, though on the verge of closing, was still their entire investment. To hand it over so easily was almost like cutting flesh from their bodies. But now, they agreed—thanks to his perfect lie and the reputation of his classmate’s parents as successful entrepreneurs.

Filled with excitement, Wu Ya hurried out to find his classmate and further reassure his parents.

Central Street.

Wu Ya’s family belonged to Weiling City, Huaiyuan Province—a small city with an even smaller Suiyan District. One street ran east to west, lined with stalls and vendors, showcasing Suiyan’s prosperity of that era.

Their tailor shop was at the eastern end of this street—slightly out of the way, but still in the district’s center.

“So this is the tailor shop that never existed in my previous life?” Standing at the street corner, gazing at the large whitewashed characters ‘Caixia Tailor Shop,’ Wu Ya was flooded with emotion.

Back then, street-front shops were simply residents opening up the back walls of their homes to rent out, earning extra income. Wu Ya’s family did the same, and there was no such thing as a proper signboard—just whitewash used for painting houses during New Year, inscribed with their trade so people would know what they did. Simple, but full of rustic charm.

“Well, since you’ve appeared, it must be the best arrangement for me.” Wu Ya’s face gradually bloomed with a smile. It hadn’t existed in his previous life, but fate had changed, and now it was here—at exactly the right moment! It would be the fulcrum for him to set sail, the lever to launch his ambitions.

“Wu Ya, why did you call me here in such a hurry?” Suddenly, a voice as clear as a nightingale rang out behind him.

In an instant, his whole body stiffened, jolted by the sound.