hotmtlnovel Chapter 1493 Secure the Pocket
Chapter 1493 Secure the Pocket
Chapter 1493 Secure the Pocket
"Third sister, come in quickly, it's cold outside." Zhao Yajing hurriedly ushered her into the house.
Qin Hao heard the commotion and came over from the living room. He was a little surprised to see Yang Shuying: "Third Sister? What brings you here? Come in and sit down."
Yang Shuying followed the two into the living room, but refused to sit on the sofa, instead standing there awkwardly.
"Third sister, sit down, why are you standing?" Qin Hao pulled over a chair.
Yang Shuying then sat down cautiously, looking as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.
Zhao Yajing poured her a cup of hot tea and placed it on the coffee table in front of her. Then she sat down on the sofa next to her and said with a smile, "Third Sister, just say what's on your mind. We're all family, no need to be so formal."
Yang Shuying took the teacup, warmed her hands with it, hesitated for a while, and then looked up with a worried expression: "Alright, Ya Jing, Qin Hao, I'll get straight to the point. I just want to ask, is that Taishan Township project that Sha Mao is currently working on reliable or not..."
She paused, her voice even lower: "I heard from my parents that Sha Mao not only didn't make any money from this project in a year, but also borrowed a lot of money from the bank. I... I've saved some money over the years, not much, just 20,000 yuan, and I wanted to give it to him to tide him over."
As she spoke, she took a red cloth bag out of her cloth pocket, carefully opened it, and inside was a bankbook. She placed the bankbook on the coffee table and pushed it in front of Qin Hao.
"But I'm worried about Sha Mao's temper. If I give it to him directly, he definitely won't take it. I was thinking, since you guys are close to him, could you help me transfer the money to him? Just tell him it's a loan from you, don't say it was from me..."
Qin Hao and Zhao Yajing exchanged a smile. So that's how it is.
Qin Hao picked up the passbook and looked at it; the balance was indeed 20,000 yuan. This was no small sum in 1987, and it was truly remarkable that Yang Shuying had saved up this amount through years of frugal living.
"Third Sister, take this money back." Qin Hao handed the passbook back to Yang Shuying, his tone gentle but firm.
Yang Shuying froze, her face turning pale: "Qin Hao, do you think the money is too little... or is it Sha Mao...?"
“It’s not a matter of how much or how little money there is.” Qin Hao interrupted her and said seriously, “If Sha Mao really needed money, he would have asked us. The fact that he hasn’t means that he can still manage his finances right now.”
Zhao Yajing also reassured him, "Yes, Third Sister, you don't need to worry about Sha Mao. We visited him in Taishan Township before the New Year, and his project is progressing well. As long as nothing goes wrong along the way, once this project is completed, everyone will call Sha Mao 'General Manager Yang' wherever he goes."
She held Yang Shuying's hand and said softly, "Keep this money for yourself. We'll keep an eye on Sha Mao's situation and make sure he doesn't suffer any losses."
Upon hearing this, Yang Shuying's worry slowly faded, replaced by a relieved smile: "Really? That's good, that's good. I knew that Sha Mao was so smart, he would definitely amount to something. Now that you say so, I'm relieved."
She took back the bankbook, wrapped it up again, and put it back in her cloth bag. She stood up and said, "Then... then I won't bother you any longer. Thank you, Qin Hao and Ya Jing."
"Don't be so polite, Third Sister." Qin Hao also stood up. "Why don't you have lunch before you leave?"
"No, no, I have things to do at the shop, I have to go back quickly." Yang Shuying waved her hand repeatedly, "You guys are busy, I'll go first."
Qin Hao and Zhao Yajing escorted her to the door. Yang Shuying took a few steps, then turned back, a grateful smile on her face: "Hao is so lucky to have friends like you."
After seeing Yang Shuying off, the two returned to the living room. Zhao Yajing remarked with emotion, "Sha Mao's three older sisters are all quite nice. Although their abilities are limited, they genuinely care about him."
"Yes," Qin Hao nodded in agreement.
These are the bizarre parents, Mr. and Mrs. Yang. They treat their son like a cash cow, and if he shows any success, they leech off him. If they can't get any money from him, they complain that he's incompetent.
Just then, the doorbell rang again.
"It's really lively today," Zhao Yajing said with a smile as she went to open the door.
Standing outside the door was Shi Xiaona. She had just returned from Hong Kong, looking travel-worn, but with a smile on her face.
Qin Hao stepped forward and asked, "Xiao Na is back? How's it going in Hong Kong?"
"Everything is fine." Shi Xiaona said, taking out a beautifully packaged box of wedding candy from the paper bag: "This is Fu Heming's wedding candy. She specially asked me to bring it to you."
Li Yuxiang came out of the kitchen at this moment, and when she saw Shi Xiaona, she smiled and said, "Xiaona, you're back? Have you eaten?"
"Auntie, I've already eaten." Shi Xiaona handed the wedding candy to Li Yuxiang: "This is for you."
Li Yuxiang accepted the wedding candy, glanced at the packaging, then at Qin Hao, Zhao Yajing, and Shi Xiaona, sighing inwardly. The relationship between these three young people was ambiguous and unclear; she had no idea how things would end.
"Sigh, at this rate, when will I ever be able to hold my grandson?" Li Yuxiang muttered to herself, then turned and went back to the kitchen.
Qin Hao and the other two naturally heard this, exchanged glances, and were all somewhat embarrassed.
……
After the Lantern Festival, the festive atmosphere gradually faded, and life returned to normal. Qin Hao, Zhao Yajing, and Shi Xiaona all got back to their own tasks.
Zhao Yajing went to Guangzhou. Firstly, Guangzhou has developed rapidly in recent years, with a growing population and increasing purchasing power, making it a good time for Burger King to expand its stores there. Secondly, while Xie Laozhuan is a reliable worker, his abilities are limited, and Zhao Yajing was worried he wouldn't be able to handle things alone, so she went to help.
On the other hand, Qin Hao planned to develop a high-end community in Guangzhou, similar to "Jinxiu Garden" in Shenzhen. As the forefront of reform and opening up, Guangzhou's economy was developing rapidly, its wealthy population was increasing, and the demand for high-quality housing was also rising. Zhao Yajing went there first to scout out the possibility of acquiring a suitable plot of land.
Before leaving, Zhao Yajing said to Qin Hao, "Don't worry about Guangzhou. With me here, nothing will go wrong. But you, the project in Shenzhen is so big, don't overwork yourself."
Qin Hao smiled and put his arm around her shoulder: "I know, I'll be careful. You too, don't push yourself too hard. If there's anything, ask Old Xie to take a break and give him some room to grow."
"Come on, do you think I don't know what kind of abilities Old Xie has?" Zhao Yajing rolled her eyes. "He's fine for running errands, but if you really let him make decisions, who knows what kind of trouble he'll cause."
Shi Xiaona is responsible for cultivating the northern market. The chicken supply base in Langfang is almost ready; the factory, equipment, and personnel are all in place. They are just waiting for the weather to warm up a bit more before they can start receiving the first batch of broiler chicks.
According to the plan, the breeding cycle for broiler chickens is about 45 days before they are ready for market. It is expected that raw materials will be supplied to stores in Beijing starting in May. This way, there will be no need to purchase from other suppliers at higher prices, saving a significant amount of money.
“This way, the profit margin of each store can be increased by at least fifteen percentage points,” Shi Xiaona told Qin Hao over the phone. “Moreover, since we raise our own livestock, the quality is guaranteed, and we can also control food safety.”
"Very good." Qin Hao praised, "I'll leave Beijing to you. You can speed up the store expansion as needed, but quality must be guaranteed. We're building a brand; we can't sacrifice our reputation for speed."
“I understand,” Shi Xiaona said. “This year I plan to open ten more stores in Beijing to cover the major business districts. Once the base in Langfang is stable, I will expand to Tianjin.”
"Okay, you handle it. Call me anytime if you encounter any difficulties."
Qin Hao, on the other hand, focused his main efforts on the industrial park project he had previously collaborated on with the Fuyong Village Committee. This project is even larger than Jinxiu Garden, with a building area of 500 mu (approximately 33 hectares). Once completed, it will be the largest industrial park in Shenzhen in terms of land area.
This is a landmark project for Qin Hao, not only because of its large scale, but more importantly because of its innovative model—the government provides the land, he is responsible for construction, and both parties collect rent proportionally after completion. If this cooperative model succeeds, it can be replicated in other places in the future, with a very promising future.
……
Spring comes early to Shenzhen; it was already warm by the end of February. The construction site in Fuyong Industrial Zone was a hive of activity.
As soon as Qin Hao's car stopped at the entrance of the construction site, the contractor, Lao Zhang, came over eagerly, his face beaming with smiles.
"President Qin, you've finally arrived!" Old Zhang rubbed his hands together, looking like he had been waiting anxiously.
Qin Hao laughed and scolded, "Are you hoping for me? Or are you hoping for my red envelope?"
Today is the first day of work at the construction site, and as is customary, Qin Hao will give each worker a red envelope as a start-up bonus. This is a tradition he started with the Jinxiu Garden project and has maintained for several years.
Old Zhang scratched his head and chuckled awkwardly, "It's all the same, it's all the same. Only when you, President Qin, make a fortune can we follow behind and get a taste of the soup, right?"
"Not bad, your eloquence has improved." Qin Hao patted him on the shoulder: "Alright, let the workers go to the finance office to collect their red envelopes. Same as last year, two hundred each, line up properly, no cutting in line."
"Okay!" Old Zhang replied happily, turned around and ran towards the construction site, shouting as he ran, "General Manager Qin is here to hand out red envelopes! Everyone line up at the finance office door!"
Soon, a long line formed outside the finance office. The workers were already used to Qin Hao's rules—whenever something was being distributed, everyone had to line up voluntarily; anyone who cut in line would be pushed to the back, and in serious cases, their bonuses would be deducted.
So even though there were many people, the queues were neat and orderly, and there was no crowding or noise.
Qin Hao stood at the entrance of the finance office and personally handed out red envelopes to each worker.
This ceremony, though seemingly simple, was of great significance. The workers knew whose money they were being paid and therefore understood whose orders they should follow. Furthermore, Qin Hao personally distributing red envelopes brought him closer to the workers, making them feel that their boss was humane and willing to work for him.
From nine in the morning until sunset, hundreds of workers received red envelopes. Qin Hao's face was stiff from smiling, and his arms ached so much he could barely lift them.
But it's worth it. Managing a construction site requires more than just rules; it also demands human connection. Only when workers are genuinely dedicated to their work can the quality and progress of the project be guaranteed.
"Mr. Qin, you should take a break. I'll handle the rest." Liu, the finance manager, saw that Qin Hao was exhausted.
Qin Hao waved his hand: "No need, there are still dozens left, let's just send them out. It's something I promised them, so I have to do it."
Qin Hao finally breathed a sigh of relief after handing out the work to the last worker. He rubbed his stiff cheeks and stretched his sore arms.
"Alright, that's enough for today. We'll officially start work tomorrow, so everyone better stay focused," Qin Hao said to the workers gathered around him.
"Don't worry, Mr. Qin, we will definitely do a good job!"
"Yes, we can't let President Qin down!"
The workers chimed in with smiles, all talking at once. A two-hundred-yuan red envelope was no small sum in 1987; it was equivalent to a month and a half's wages for them. Who wouldn't want to work for a boss like that?
……
A week later, the groundbreaking ceremony for the Fuyong Industrial Zone officially commenced. This is a key construction project in Shenzhen, and many municipal leaders, as well as reporters from newspapers and television stations, attended the event.
A temporary stage was set up at the construction site, covered with a red carpet and decorated with flowers. A red banner hung above the stage, bearing the words "Groundbreaking Ceremony of Fuyong Industrial Park".
Qin Hao was dressed in a dark suit and tie today, and his hair was neatly combed. He stood below the podium, exchanging pleasantries with several leaders.
"President Qin, this project of yours is quite large," a middle-aged leader wearing glasses said with a smile. "A 500-acre industrial park, how many companies can it accommodate after it's completed?"
"It is expected to accommodate about 100 small and medium-sized enterprises," Qin Hao replied. "Mainly light industry, electronic assembly, and garment processing companies. Shenzhen is developing so fast now, and many companies need factory buildings, but building their own is too costly. Renting our standard factory buildings saves both money and trouble."
“This is a good idea.” Another leader nodded: “It can solve the company’s practical problems and also drive local economic development. President Qin, you have a great vision.”
As they were talking, the ceremony began. The host introduced the basic information about the project, and then invited the leaders to speak. Several leaders took turns speaking, all expressing high hopes for the Fuyong Industrial Park, believing it to be an important step in Shenzhen's industrial development.
Finally, it was Qin Hao's turn to speak. He walked onto the stage and looked at the crowd below—leaders, reporters, workers, and village representatives. He cleared his throat and began to speak.
"Distinguished leaders, honored guests, and fellow workers, good afternoon. Today, we are gathered here to hold the groundbreaking ceremony for the Fuyong Industrial Park, marking another important step forward in Shenzhen's industrial development..."
His speech was short but very practical. There were no empty platitudes; he mainly focused on the project's planning, significance, and expected benefits. He spoke sincerely and confidently, earning rounds of applause from the audience.
After the speech, it was time for the foundation stone laying ceremony. Qin Hao and several other leaders picked up shovels tied with red ribbons and began laying soil for the foundation stone. Reporters surrounded them, their flashes going off incessantly.
After the soil preparation was completed, the leaders visited the site's planning map and model. The leader wearing glasses patted Qin Hao on the shoulder and said with a smile, "President Qin, the cooperation model you proposed is very innovative. The government provides the land, the company builds the site, and both parties collect rent proportionally after completion. This provides a new approach for the construction of our entire city."
"Not at all, it's all thanks to the good policies of the municipal party committee," Qin Hao said modestly. "I'm just offering suggestions and making a little money on the side."
"Haha, then I hope Mr. Qin can come up with more good ideas like this." The leader laughed and said, "Shenzhen's development needs entrepreneurs like you."
Qin Hao understood his leader's meaning. After these past few years of development, it's clear to anyone with a discerning eye that Shenzhen's land will become increasingly valuable in the future. However, in order to keep up with the pace of development, Shenzhen can only rely on selling land to quickly recoup funds for infrastructure construction and industrial support.
But land will only become scarcer with each sale, so what will happen in the future? This is a problem we must face.
Qin Hao's proposal, however, was different. He would build the industrial park, and the government would only need to handle the initial resettlement and demolition, without investing in construction funds. This would also save Qin Hao a significant amount of money on land acquisition and the effort required to deal with resettlement.
After the industrial park is completed, both parties will collect rent according to a certain ratio. Although the payback period is much longer than that for commercial housing, it provides a stable, long-term income from a high-yield investment.
Therefore, Qin Hao attached great importance to this project. In the following months, apart from occasionally going to Hong Kong to attend Burger King board meetings, he basically stayed in Shenzhen, monitoring the construction progress and coordinating various issues.
……
Time flies, and more than half a year has passed in the blink of an eye. Summers in Shenzhen are long and hot, and the construction site is a scene of people drenched in sweat every day.
In mid-November, the weather finally began to cool down. That afternoon, Qin Hao had just returned from inspecting the construction site and arrived back at the project office when the phone started ringing incessantly.
He strode over, picked up the phone, and asked, "Hello, who is this?"
The voice of Old Xie, smug and smug, came from the other end of the phone, accompanied by the crackling sound of electricity: "Old Qin, guess what I'm using to call you right now?"
Qin Hao was taken aback for a moment, then said irritably, "It's just a mobile phone, there are them all over Hong Kong, what's there to brag about?"
On the other end of the phone, Old Xie's smugness vanished instantly: "Huh? How did you guess it so quickly?"
"Nonsense." Qin Hao laughed and scolded, "Besides landlines and mobile phones, what else can you call me with a brick? Alright, stop showing off, hurry up and get me three, no, four. I'll give them to Ya Jing and the others later."
"Good heavens, you make it sound so easy," Old Xie complained. "Four, indeed! I had to pull a lot of strings to get just this one. And each one costs over 20,000 yuan, plus over 6,000 yuan for the internet access fee. Where am I supposed to get that much money?"
Qin Hao knew, of course, that mobile phones were expensive. In 1987, they were a status symbol, not something ordinary people could afford. But he really needed one—communication was inconvenient on the construction site, and he often had to travel around; a mobile phone would save him a lot of trouble.
"It's just a few tens of thousands of yuan." Qin Hao waved his hand dismissively. "I'll have the finance department approve it for you. Hurry up and get it done. Stop with the nonsense. Four of them, not one less, you hear me?"
Old Xie muttered on the other end of the phone, "Alright, alright, you're the boss, you call the shots. But I'm telling you, this stuff is in high demand right now, I might not be able to get four. I'll try my best, whatever I can get is what I can."
"Do as much as you can, money is no problem." After saying that, Qin Hao added, "By the way, don't just focus on having fun, don't forget about the important matters. How's the store expansion in Guangzhou going?"
"Don't worry, with Ya Jing keeping an eye on things, nothing will go wrong."
Three days later, Xie Laozhuan arrived in Shenzhen with four older brothers. He dared not entrust this valuable item to anyone else and made the trip himself.
"Here are the four you wanted." Old Xie placed four large black boxes on Qin Hao's desk. "Each box costs 23,000, plus a network access fee of 6,800. All four together cost 116,000. Goodness, these things are really heavy."
Qin Hao opened a box, inside which lay a black, brick-like object with a retractable antenna. He picked it up and weighed it in his hand; it was indeed heavy, probably weighing about two pounds.
"One for you, one for Ya Jing, one for Xiao Na, and who's the last one for?" Old Xie turned to Qin Hao with a knowing look. "It's not for one of your lovers, is it?"
Qin Hao glared at him, annoyed. "It's for Sha Mao. Do you think everyone's like you?"
Old Xie was displeased upon hearing this: "How dare you say that to me? At least I... you're also two-timing, aren't you?"
"How can that be the same?" Qin Hao said righteously, "I'm willing to have both of them! They both know about each other and haven't made a fuss. What do you call this? You're trying to have your cake and eat it too, and in the end, you get kicked out."
Old Xie was speechless. He opened his mouth, wanting to refute but unable to find the words. In the end, he could only say sullenly, "Fine, you're good. I can't argue with you."
"Alright, stop joking." Qin Hao repacked the remaining three mobile phones: "Go on another trip and bring these three to Ya Jing and the others. Keep yours for yourself."
Old Xie's eyes widened: "Still running away? I just came from Guangzhou!"
"So what? Those who are capable should do more." Qin Hao patted his shoulder: "Don't worry, I won't let you come for nothing, I'll give you a travel allowance."
Old Xie rolled his eyes, but didn't say anything more. After all, he was someone who made a living by working for others.
At the end of the month, Qin Hao received a call from Yang Shumo. This time it wasn't a landline, but a mobile phone call; the signal was a bit unstable, but he could still hear it clearly.
"Old Qin, thanks a lot. This thing is so much more convenient." Yang Shumo's voice was filled with excitement. "I won't have to look for phone booths anymore. How much does it cost? I'll transfer it to you when I make some money."
Qin Hao smiled and said, "Alright, it's just a mobile phone. Do we really need to know each other so well? Consider it a gift for your opening."
"That won't do. Even brothers should keep clear accounts..."
"Stop talking nonsense." Qin Hao interrupted him: "By the way, how's your second phase project going? You said it was topped out last time, how's the progress now?"
Yang Shumo's tone became even more excited: "It's all finished! The exterior walls, doors and windows, water and electricity are all done, and there are just some finishing touches left. Sales can begin around the Chinese New Year. I plan to hold an opening ceremony before the Spring Festival, and take advantage of everyone having money on hand to sell a lot of units."
"Good job, you've really worked hard." Qin Hao praised, "You finished it in just over half a year, that's fast."
"Hehe, I learned all of this from you," Yang Shumo said. "Besides, my project is nothing compared to your Jinxiu Garden. Yours is a real mega-project."
At this point, Yang Shumo paused, his tone becoming somewhat hesitant: "By the way, I have something to tell you. Shi Xiaojun contacted me."
Qin Hao was slightly taken aback, then realized: "He's interested in your second phase project?"
“Yes,” Yang Shumo said, “He plans to buy the entire second phase at a 6.5% discount. Six buildings, more than two hundred apartments, all at once.”
Qin Hao immediately understood what Yang Shumao was struggling with. The price was cleverly chosen—6.5% off, significantly lower than the retail price, but not so low as to be unacceptable. It was just right within the range where Yang Shumao could make a profit, but not too much.
Retail sales, while offering higher unit prices, result in longer sales cycles and slower capital recovery. Selling the entire package to Shi Xiaojun, on the other hand, offers lower unit prices but provides a one-time cash flow, allowing for immediate investment in the next project.
"Don't hesitate," Qin Hao said decisively. "Sell it off as soon as someone takes it. If you can't find someone who offers a higher price than Shi Xiaojun within a month, just sell it to him as a package deal! It's better to have the money in your pocket than to have it in your hands."
Yang Shumo was silent for a few seconds on the other end of the phone, then gritted his teeth and said, "Okay, I'll listen to you."
……
A month has passed in the blink of an eye, and the Spring Festival is just around the corner. Construction sites in Shenzhen are gradually closing for the holidays, and the workers are happily returning home for the New Year after receiving their wages and bonuses.
Qin Hao, Zhao Yajing, and Xie Laozhuan boarded a plane back to Beijing together. Zhao Yajing had come from Guangzhou a few days earlier, while Xie Laozhuan had traveled together from Shenzhen.
It was already evening when the plane landed at Beijing Capital International Airport. The three of them collected their luggage and walked out of the terminal. The winter night in Beijing was bitterly cold, but the air was already filled with the festive atmosphere of the Lunar New Year.
As soon as they exited the terminal, Qin Hao heard a car horn behind him. He turned around and saw a brand-new Santana sedan parked on the side of the road. Yang Shuma was sticking his head out of the driver's seat, waving at them with a smug look on his face.
"Wow, you're pretty cool, you've even got a Santana now," Zhao Yajing teased as she walked over, pulling her suitcase.
Yang Shumo chuckled as he got out of the car and helped them put their luggage in the trunk: "I can't compare to you guys, you all drive Mercedes and Audis. But at least this is something I bought with my own money."
"Well done, looks like you made quite a bit this time." Old Xie clicked his tongue, it would be a lie to say he wasn't envious.
However, he wasn't envious. He knew how much risk Yang Shumo had taken and how much hardship he had endured on that Taishan Township project. He had also witnessed the hardships of construction sites in Shenzhen. Yang Shumo deserved what he had achieved.
After Qin Hao and his group got into the car, Yang Shumo started the engine and said with emotion, "You guys don't know, when I went home last year, I was almost kicked out. This year, driving this car back, my parents practically treated me like royalty. Their attitude completely changed."
"Didn't your parents ask you to leave the car for them to drive?" Qin Hao joked.
Yang Shumo shook his head with a smile: "Even if we gave it to them, they wouldn't know how to open it. Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to buy it."
“However,” he paused, “he kept nagging me to buy a house. You have no idea how envious my parents were of the apartment that Lao Qin got for Ye Fei’s family. They were always talking about how so-and-so’s son bought a house.”
Zhao Yajing laughed and scolded, "Then why aren't you buying it, you filial son? Aren't you afraid they'll kick you out again?"
Yang Shumo chuckled, "Sigh, I really did buy the house, but I didn't tell them. It's right across from Ye Fei's house."
"Goodness, you've really struck it rich this time, buying a car and a house," Old Xie exclaimed.
Yang Shumo glanced at Xie Lao in the rearview mirror and said earnestly, "Old Xie, you don't need to be envious. Work hard with Lao Qin. Lao Qin is a man who treats his brothers well. As long as you work hard, he won't treat you unfairly."
Old Xie nodded: "I know. I was just expressing my feelings, nothing more. To be honest, I'm doing pretty well now. I have food, drink, and a job. It's much better than being a temporary worker in the cotton mill."
Chatting and laughing all the way, the Santana drove into Jiudaowan Hutong. By then, it was completely dark, but every household in the hutong had its lights on, and many people were still out shopping for New Year's goods and visiting each other.
As soon as Yang Shumao's car entered the alley, it immediately attracted a crowd of onlookers. In Beijing in 1987, private cars were still a rare sight, let alone luxury sedans like the Santana.
"Hey, isn't this Sha Mao's car? I saw him drive it back a few days ago."
"Why is Sha Mao hanging out with Xiao Hao again?"
"What? That's a car that Sha Mao bought himself."
"So, Sha Mao's made it big too? He's a big boss like Xiao Hao?"
"Who do you think has more money, Sha Mao or Xiao Hao? I think Xiao Hao's business is bigger, but Sha Mao isn't bad either; he even owns a car."
"If you ask me, Xiao Hao is more impressive. He's building skyscrapers in Shenzhen. Sha Mao is just doing some small projects in the suburbs."
Whispers rose and fell, some expressing envy, some jealousy, some curiosity, and some speculation. Yang Shumo listened to these discussions, a complex smile on his face.
Once upon a time, he was one of those onlookers, watching Qin Hao rise step by step, feeling both envious and inferior. Now, he has finally become the subject of others' discussions, a "successful person" in their eyes.
The car stopped in front of Qin Hao's house. Qin Hao got out and said to Yang Shumo, "Want to come in and sit down? Have a cup of tea?"
Yang Shumo shook his head: "No, I have to go back. My parents are waiting for me. Tomorrow, I'll treat you to dinner, you can choose any place."
"Okay, see you tomorrow."