Jiang Tao has always been a cautious person.
Even after obtaining something as formidable as the Intelligence System.
He didn't immediately quit his original job.
What if it suddenly disappears as suddenly as it came?
It's easy to go from frugality to luxury, but difficult to go from luxury back to frugality!
For ordinary people, the biggest trap on the path to financial freedom is consumption upgrade.
When one's ability to earn money improves, they start dreaming of bigger houses, better cars, more expensive clothes, and finer dining.
These are fine, but they should be pursued after achieving financial freedom, not before.
Blindly upgrading consumption before achieving financial freedom, indulging in luxury, will undoubtedly delay the process of becoming financially free.
In fact, when someone falls into the carefully designed consumption traps of capitalists, dominated by material desires,
they might very well miss the chance for "financial freedom."
Spending their entire lives in ceaseless busy work.
The world-renowned boxing champion Tyson once made more than 500 million US Dollars, but ultimately went bankrupt due to extravagant spending.
The King of Pop, Michael Jackson, once signed a one billion US Dollar contract.
His total record sales reached an astounding 800 million copies.
But in the end, he also ended up more than 300 million US Dollars in debt due to excessive consumption and legal disputes!
These are real-life examples!
Besides, Jiang Tao still has tens of thousands in personal debt not yet cleared.
In recent days, he has made quite a bit of money thanks to the Intelligence System.
But at most, he only treats himself to a lamb soup meal costing a few dozen yuan and drinks a nice bottle of liquor costing a bit over a hundred yuan.
The most important task at present is to earn as much as possible before the New Year, to first pay off the family's debts.
The whole family can enjoy the New Year without the worry of creditors knocking at their door.
Throughout the day, Jiang Tao has been transporting goods at the Red Star Second-hand Furniture Market.
Only by 6:30 in the evening, after the market closed, did he finish for the day.
Not counting the 29,800 yuan he found in the sofa, today he managed to earn another 400 yuan from odd jobs.
With the two incomes combined, his daily earnings officially broke the 30,000 mark!
Driving home, Jiang Tao hummed a song, happily thinking, if he could earn 30,000 every day…
That's 90,000 a month, and wouldn't he make 1 million a year!
"Pish! I have the Intelligence System, and I'm still thinking about earning just a million a year? Isn't that cursing myself!"
As he parked and got out of the car, Jiang Tao suddenly realized he was being too timid.
With the Intelligence System, what's a daily income of 30,000?
Surely, he could earn even more in the future!
To hell with earning just a million a year!
More like tens of millions, or even hundreds of millions a year!
Thinking like this, Jiang Tao felt even happier.
On his way home, he also bought a flatbread, one jin of pig head meat, and some side dishes.
The ten-year-old liquor at home still had more than half a bottle left, no need to buy more.
Back in the rented apartment, Jiang Tao ate flatbread with pig head meat while sipping some liquor, enjoying the simple pleasures.
While eating, he pondered whether or not to tell his wife about the 30,000 or so yuan he found in the sofa?
How should he say it?
After thinking it over and over, he decided to keep it to himself.
The story about winning a phone from iced tea can be passed off as good luck.
But how to explain the cash hidden in the sofa?
Purely looking for trouble for himself.
Ring, ring, ring——
Halfway through his meal, a video call from Xu Li came through.
Jiang Tao answered the video call.
The couple chatted about family matters for more than an hour before the call ended.
Ring, ring——
Just after hanging up from the wife's video call, another call came in.
The caller ID showed Brother Wang.
"Hey, Brother Wang."
Jiang Tao swiped to answer the call, greeting the other side with a smile.
"What? The light bulb is broken? You're not home?"
"All right, all right, no problem, it's a small matter, I'll head over now."
"Drive safely, I'm hanging up."
After hanging up with Wang Lianming, Jiang Tao muttered as he got up, threw on the black down jacket hanging on the rack, and went out the door.
After going downstairs, Jiang Tao familiarly headed toward Wang Lianming and He Fang's rented place.
Just called Wang Lianming said the light bulb at home was broken, and only his wife is at home.
He was delivering goods and would take at least over an hour to return home, so he asked Jiang Tao to go over and check first.
After walking for a little over five minutes, Jiang Tao arrived outside another unit building.
"Xiao Jiang! You're here, so sorry for the trouble, making you come all the way."
He Fang had been waiting downstairs for a while and greeted Jiang Tao with a smile.
He Fang is petite, with a round baby face and a dimple on one cheek when she smiles.
No one would guess she's already 37 and a mom of two.
Jiang Tao, at 182cm, was more than a head taller when standing in front of her.
It seemed He Fang had just gotten off work not long ago.
Wearing a light green down jacket over a women's blazer uniform.
Her pants were sleek, fitted dress pants.
Her work makeup was still on.
Honestly, Jiang Tao sometimes envied Brother Wang's luck.
Aside from being short, He Fang still looked quite attractive.
Out of ten points, she could score around seven.
After being married for over a decade, Wang Lianming had grown heavier and balder over time.
He Fang, however, hadn't changed much from the wedding photos.
Jiang Tao responded with a polite grin to which He Fang complemented:
"No need to be so formal with me, if you need anything, just let me know."
"Have you had dinner, Xiao Jiang? If not, I can make you some noodles."
"No need, I've already eaten."
"Then I won't bother you."
They chatted and laughed as they went up the stairs together, entering 206.
The old unit buildings have just over two meters of ceiling height.
Jiang Tao stood on a stool to reach the ceiling.
"Be careful, Xiao Jiang, I'll hold onto you."
He Fang placed both hands near Jiang Tao's legs as if ready to support him.
"Er…"
The touch sent an electric current coursing through Jiang Tao's body.
He nervously wondered if the ceiling wires were leaking electricity.
"Ahem…"
Feeling slightly awkward, Jiang Tao cleared his throat and continued unscrewing with a screwdriver.
Soon, he removed the broken light fixture and replaced it with the new one He Fang had just bought downstairs.
Snap!
He Fang flicked the switch at the door, and the room lit up brightly.
"Hurry up and cook, sis-in-law. I won't disturb you anymore, I'm heading back."
Having replaced the light, Jiang Tao hopped off the stool and smiled as he took his leave.
"You don't have anything to do at home, just rest here for a while."
He Fang, looking at him with a smiling invitation, said:
"Your Brother Wang will be home soon, you both enjoy drinking together, I can cook up a couple of dishes for you."
"That's too much trouble, I wouldn't want that."
"No trouble at all, play on your phone for a bit, I'll change my clothes."
"Uh…"
Hearing she was going to change clothes, Jiang Tao's heart skipped a beat.
Clearly, she didn't see him as an outsider!
Their place was a one-bedroom!
"Actually, sis-in-law, I just remembered, I left water boiling at home, I should head back. Let's have drinks another time with Brother Wang!"
Not wanting Brother Wang to misinterpret anything, Jiang Tao quickly found an excuse and left in a hurry.