After listening to Du Ennan explain the rules of the event, Jiang Tao's initially excited mood instantly cooled down.
In his heart, he couldn't help but curse his carelessness—there was no dodging this one.
The ownership had turned into usage rights, and the psychological gap was quite significant!
Before today, Jiang Tao genuinely had no idea that a lucky draw event was subject to the *Anti-Unfair Competition Law*!
50.000 yuan in cash or three years of usage rights—which one to choose?
If Jiang Tao were still the truck driver hauling goods at the Hongxing Second-Hand Furniture Wholesale Market, he would've chosen the 50,000 yuan in cash without a second thought.
With his previous income level, how could he possibly afford to maintain a luxury car like the Mercedes-Benz GLS?
The annual full-coverage insurance alone would cost tens of thousands, which would eat up his entire salary.
Not to mention, the car required 95# premium gasoline, and the yearly fuel costs wouldn't be cheap either.
Now, however, Jiang Tao found himself hesitating between the two options.
Fifty thousand yuan wasn't a huge sum for the current Jiang Tao.
Besides, he had already been planning to buy a Mercedes-Benz GLS.
If he chose the three-year usage rights, he could drive his dream car earlier than expected, which didn't seem like a bad deal.
Although the switch from ownership to usage rights drastically reduced the excitement, it was still a pleasant surprise.
For a moment, Jiang Tao wavered, unable to give an immediate answer.
"If Mr. Jiang can't decide right now, you can take a night to think it over," Du Ennan said.
She was only explaining so much because Jiang Tao had once given up his seat for her on the subway, and she had a good impression of him.
Seeing his hesitation, she gave him ample time to consider.
If it were someone else, she wouldn't have bothered saying so much.
"Alright, I'll think it over tonight and give you an answer tomorrow," Jiang Tao replied.
Not making an immediate decision, he gave an awkward smile, got up, and prepared to leave.
Du Ennan walked him to the door, watching him head toward the elevator before returning to her office.
The gap between imagination and reality left Jiang Tao feeling a bit down, and he was no longer in the mood to wander around.
He took the elevator straight to the underground parking lot, got into his Audi A6, and left quietly.
"Driving my own car still feels the best…" Jiang Tao sighed to himself as he drove.
Although his old Audi A6 couldn't compare to the Mercedes-Benz GLS in any way, it was his own.
Driving his own car felt different from driving someone else's.
It was like the story of *The Little Prince* and his relationship with his rose.
There were so many roses in the world, but why did the Little Prince love his one so much?
Because that rose was uniquely his.
Just like how there were so many beautiful women in the world.
On Kuaidou (a fictional social media platform), Jiang Tao might appreciate the alluring, scantily clad girls to refine his aesthetic taste, but in his heart, he only loved his silly wife, Xu Li.
As soon as his Audi A6 left the underground parking lot of Wanxiang Hui, Jiang Tao had pretty much made up his mind.
However, since he'd said he'd think it over for a night, he didn't rush to reply to Du Ennan.
With only a couple of days left before the New Year, Jiang Tao decided not to haul goods anymore.
After working hard all year, he figured he'd give himself a two-day break in advance.
Besides, ever since he got help from "System Bro," Jiang Tao felt that wandering around and exploring wasn't a bad idea.
Just stumbling upon a piece of money-making information could be worth months or even years of his previous labor!
With no other urgent matters today, Jiang Tao drove straight to the Huilongguan Wholesale Market to stock up on New Year's goods.
In previous years, he'd buy at most two or three jin (1 jin = 0.5 kg) of pistachios priced at 56 yuan per jin, just enough for his wife and kids to enjoy a little treat.
This year, he bought a huge bag—his wife and kids could eat as much as they wanted.
He also grabbed large bags of pecans, almonds, cashews, pine nuts, and more.
If they couldn't finish them, he could share some with his parents, and it'd look impressive when hosting relatives during the New Year.
Then there were sunflower seeds, candies, and some Beijing specialties that locals never bothered buying.
All in all, the shopping spree cost Jiang Tao over 4,000 yuan, filling his trunk with more than a dozen bags, big and small.
At noon, he casually found a restaurant in Huilongguan for lunch.
After eating his fill, Jiang Tao drove back to Xiaoshahe, loaded the case of Feitian Maotai that Sun Xiaobao had gifted him into the trunk, packed a couple of clothes, and headed straight to Panjiayuan.
He spent the entire afternoon wandering around the antique street, hoping to trigger some information related to antiques.
Recently, Jiang Tao had visited Panjiayuan quite a few times but hadn't once triggered any antique-related information.
He was determined to keep trying, almost as if he were challenging Panjiayuan itself.
By the time night fell, Jiang Tao checked into a Hanting Hotel near Panjiayuan, booked a large-bed room, and took a comfortable hot shower.
With his current income, spending a hundred or two on improving his quality of life was perfectly acceptable.
At around 8 p.m., Xu Li called via video chat.
The screen flashed, showing Xu Li lying on her bed.
"Hubby~ Huh, you're staying at a hotel again?" Xu Li noticed the room's setting, pointed at him, and teased with a wrinkled nose, "If you dare mess around out there, just wait till you get home—your wife's gonna drain you dry~"
"Good grief, is that all your brain thinks about all day?" Jiang Tao chuckled, amused by his silly wife's bold spirit hidden beneath her innocent appearance.
"Hubby, tonight Little Xue and I went to your mom's place for dinner," Xu Li continued.
"Your mom said your sister-in-law might be unexpectedly pregnant again, and she's planning to keep it."
"She's convinced this time it's definitely a girl."
"Hubby~ don't you think our family feels a bit small?"
After some playful banter, Xu Li started chattering about her day.
Even living in the village, Xu Li's life was quite colorful, and she often picked up some gossip.
Today, she'd gotten gossip about her big brother and sister-in-law.
Jiang Tao's older brother, Jiang He, and his wife, Zhang Xiaoyan, had been married for over ten years.
Their eldest son was already in his teens, attending junior high, and their second son was in fourth grade.
This new pregnancy was their third child.
In rural areas, three-child families weren't common, but they weren't unheard of either.
Families with two daughters often gambled on a third for a boy.
Families with two boys, like Jiang He's, often hoped for a girl with the third.
Perhaps due to cultural differences, rural folks had a stronger obsession with having both a son and a daughter compared to city dwellers.
Jiang Tao and Xu Li had been married for over seven years, and by now, they should've been thinking about a second child. Xu Li had always wanted one.
But Jiang Tao had always felt the financial pressure, thinking it was enough to raise their little "cotton-padded jacket" (their daughter) well.
He'd love to have a son, but his circumstances hadn't allowed it.
Now, with Xu Li bringing up the topic again, Jiang Tao felt a spark of interest.
With his current earning potential, having another child—a son, perhaps, to complete the "son and daughter" dream—didn't seem like too much pressure.
The couple chatted until past 10 p.m., reaching a preliminary agreement on their "Spring Festival baby-making plan."
After hanging up, Jiang Tao scrolled through his WeChat Moments from start to finish, then went through his usual "aesthetic enhancement training."
Past midnight, new information refreshed.
**[Today's Information 01]:**
You came into contact with the Maotai gifted by Sun Xiaobao today, triggering related information—
Sun Xiaobao has been trapped under a collapsed slab in the Baigezhuang demolition area for 2 days and 5 hours and is currently in a state of extreme weakness.
Head to the rescue, and you can receive liquor worth 34,000 yuan and tea worth 30,000 yuan as thanks.
**[Today's Information 02]:**
You had contact with Du Ennan at Wanxiang Hui Shopping Plaza yesterday, triggering related information—
The fetus in Du Ennan's womb has its umbilical cord wrapped around its neck three and a half times. If not treated promptly, it will suffocate and perish within 24 hours.
A kind reminder can earn you Du Ennan's friendship and a Mercedes-Benz GLS gifted by her.