To be frank, if Chen Jiaojiao hadn't brought him here today, he wouldn't have remembered the real hardships of ordinary people.
A car worth one or two hundred thousand, a model that Xiang Wan, a single woman, wouldn't even bother to buy, was being discussed with the entire family's effort on how to purchase it through a loan.
It was as if they were undertaking a monumental task, with the whole family gathered to brainstorm.
He had long neglected the aspirations of ordinary people for a better life.
After leaving the 4s dealership, Chen Jiaojiao took him to the job market.
The talent market on a weekend was comparable to a farmer's market, with a throng of people.
The corporate recruiters seemed like stall owners selling vegetables.
They casually browsed a few stalls. Xiang Yang realized that with his academic qualifications, the salary he could expect was just about the same.
Relying on his major to reach the pinnacle of life and stand tall in front of his sister would likely take at least another ten years.
After strolling around, it was time for lunch.
Chen Jiaojiao chose a high-end Western restaurant for lunch.
Xiang Yang, dressed in a simple t-shirt, jeans, and sneakers, felt the gap the moment he stepped into such a place and saw the other men dressed in their smart and proper attire.
In contrast, Chen Jiaojiao navigated any setting with ease, no matter the circumstances.
He suddenly felt he was beginning to understand her.
After they were seated, Chen Jiaojiao unceremoniously ordered steak, red wine, dessert, and soup.
Looking at the astonishing figures on the menu and then at her nonchalant demeanor, Xiang Yang felt a prickle of anxiety again.
After the waiter left, Chen Jiaojiao asked him.
"Does your offer to treat me to lunch still stand?"
"Of course, it does."
Although Xiang Yang wasn't wealthy, and finishing this meal would mean his work for the past week was in vain, he still possessed that bit of gentlemanly spirit.
Chen Jiaojiao smiled and got to the point.
"Let's say, in the future, when you enter society, you meet a girl whose horizons are wider than yours, whose spending habits are higher than yours, and who is better than you in every aspect. But you fall hopelessly in love with her."
"Yet, you can only offer her the kind of life they had this morning. Would you still dare to pursue her?"
Through her subtle hints and observations all morning, Xiang Yang now had a clear understanding and desire for money.
He used to be both fond of money and aloof, but today he realized that liking money and desiring a good life wasn't a sign of vanity.
Instead, it was a symbol of capability.
Only those who were incapable would attack the capable with sarcastic remarks, masking their own embarrassment about their dissatisfaction with life.
He had been too narrow-minded before; today, his mind was suddenly enlightened.
"I understand what you mean, Miss Chen. And I also know what choice to make."
The days passed peacefully. A week later, on a Friday evening, Chen Jiaojiao invited Zhou Jinbei to Jiang Nan Fang's house for the weekend.
All three women were single, and it was boring to stay home alone.
Jiang Nan Fang's house had a few adorable children, and with the noise and bustle, the girlfriends could still talk to each other. This was good.
The children were also excited to see them.
While Jiang Nan Fang was cooking in the kitchen, they were playing in the living room.
During dinner, Chen Jiaojiao asked Zhou Jinbei.
"A few days ago, a madam was getting pampered at my place and mentioned something about Nancheng getting a Universal Studios. Do you know about this?"
Zhou Jinbei certainly knew.
This project was what Zhan Bei Jue was currently busy with.
The project was immensely costly and had a significant impact. If the company secured the bid, it would become another landmark building.
However, all the reputable construction companies within and outside the city were vying for it. Zhan Bei Jue was determined to win and was personally leading the team to tackle it.
It had to be Chen Jiaojiao; the bidding hadn't even started, yet she already had such inside information.
"Well, what do you think I do for a living?"
Chen Jiaojiao turned to playfully tease the children.
"Perhaps your daddy will build Universal Studios in the future. You'll be VIP clients and won't have to queue to play."
"When you go to play in the future, don't forget me! Auntie Jiaojiao will carry your bags, fetch your things, and also sneak a free ticket~"
The children giggled, and the dining table was filled with laughter.
Hearing this, Jiang Nan Fang's eyes flickered, and she looked at Zhou Jinbei.
"Why didn't you tell me about something so important?"
Zhou Jinbei was momentarily speechless.
"You and my second brother... I thought it was all work-related, and you wouldn't be interested if I told you..."
"I'm not interested in your work, but I am interested in making money."
Jiang Nan Fang recalled the scene from their visit to Disneyland previously.
The shops inside had an unbeatable daily customer flow, with queues stretching from the front to the back. With the advantage of location and timing, who knew how much they could earn in a day.
She had envied it for a long time, but she had no opportunity.
Now, an opportunity had fallen into her lap, and she almost let it slip away.
"Making money? You don't develop real estate, so how can you profit from it?"
Jiang Nan Fang explained her idea, and Chen Jiaojiao and Zhou Jinbei excitedly clapped their chopsticks.
"Oh my, as expected, when it comes to making money, it's you! How did we not think of this?"
"Yes, even the smallest fly's leg is meat, let alone these shops that look like a fly's leg, but are actually a big, fat bull!"
"If we can open a couple of shops there through connections, won't the money flow in like tap water?"
"I'll talk to my second brother later and tell him he must win the bid. We can negotiate for more agency rights and open more shops! Oh, just thinking about it makes me feel like I'm about to strike it rich!"
The two of them were easily excitable, while Jiang Nan Fang was much calmer.
"Don't get too excited yet. I just have this idea. Whether your second brother can win the bid is one thing, and whether we can get the agency rights is another. Most importantly, there's a problem right in front of us."
"What problem?"
"Startup capital. You need registered capital to negotiate for agency rights, don't you? And if you want to negotiate for more agency rights, you need a lot of startup capital, right?"
"Without money, everything is just talk. Considering our current financial strength, how many can we negotiate for?"
"..." The two of them immediately fell silent.
Chen Jiaojiao had poured all her resources into opening this beauty salon and still owed Lu Mingzhe over a million in debt.
As for Zhou Jinbei, her family was a mess, and she was now just a small employee.
Only Jiang Nan Fang had a tiny bit of financial strength.
The idea was good, but they genuinely lacked the funds.
"Then what do we do? We can't just let the opportunity slip away? How about I sell my car..."
She trailed off, unable to continue.
Relying on her to sell her car would be a drop in the bucket.
In the end, it was Jiang Nan Fang who took charge.
"I was just trying to curb your excitement and stop you two from getting too carried away. Don't be so discouraged."
"If you two can't do it, you still have me. I'll handle the money matters."
"Then you two can be responsible for negotiating the agency rights and seeking favors from Zhan Bei Jue. I'll be responsible for the funds. We'll each do our part."