The driver, Xiao Bing, drove Xu Li and Jiang Xue out for a mountain hike.
After watching the three drive off into the distance, Jiang Tao turned back to head home.
Back in the living room, he took out the lottery ticket he had just bought for over 8,000 yuan and glanced at it.
**[Note]: This lottery ticket is unique and cannot be replicated, or it will lose its chance of winning.**
As Jiang Tao looked at the ticket, a line of red text suddenly scrolled across his retina, like an LED screen.
"Well, then…"
"Another chance to get rich quick, gone."
Jiang Tao shrugged helplessly, reluctantly giving up on the idea of making a copy of the lottery ticket.
Back in his bedroom, Jiang Tao opened the drawer of his nightstand.
He took out a wallet and placed the lottery ticket inside.
This wallet was the first birthday gift Xu Li had given him when they were young and dating, holding great sentimental value.
However, with mobile payments becoming increasingly convenient and fast, wallets were slowly becoming obsolete.
On the street, if someone suddenly pulled out a wallet from their pocket, it felt oddly out of place.
"Life is indeed full of surprises; it's just that ordinary people lack the eyes to spot them."
After putting away the lottery ticket, Jiang Tao reflected on his recent experiences and couldn't help but sigh.
Without the prompts from his "System Bro," he wouldn't have noticed any of the surprises he'd encountered lately.
System Bro was like the "pair of eyes" that helped him discover those surprises.
Today was the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, a Saturday, still part of the national Spring Festival holiday.
The first lottery draw after the New Year was on the ninth day, a Thursday, five days away.
Jiang Tao didn't need to do anything now except quietly wait for the draw.
"Xiao Tao."
Just as he put away the lottery ticket, Jiang Tao heard someone calling his nickname from outside. It sounded like his uncle.
Sure enough, as he stepped out, he saw his uncle standing in the courtyard, peering into the house.
Yesterday, Jiang Tao had called his uncle, asking him to take a day off to come help slaughter an old ox at home.
"Uncle, you're here! Come in and sit for a bit. You haven't been to the new house yet, have you?"
Jiang Tao greeted him with a cheerful smile, pulling out half a pack of Huazi cigarettes and offering one to his uncle.
"No, no, I won't come in. I'm all dirty, and I smell pretty bad."
"Your wife keeps the house so clean; I'd hate to mess it up."
Tian Xiaoguang looked at the spotless floor and neatly arranged sofa inside.
As a scruffy old bachelor, he genuinely felt too embarrassed to go in.
"Uncle, what are you talking about?"
"This is my home; how could I mind you? Come on, come in and sit for a bit."
"No, no, I'll just take a look from out here. Let's get to the main business."
Despite Jiang Tao's invitation, Tian Xiaoguang turned and quickly walked toward the main gate.
Seeing this, Jiang Tao didn't argue further and hurried to catch up, locking the gate behind him.
After all, his little courtyard was currently holding items worth over a million yuan!
Though theft was rare in the village, it was better to be cautious.
Jiang Tao caught up with his uncle, and the two chatted as they walked to his parents' house.
His father had already followed Jiang Tao's instructions and brought the big ox into the courtyard.
The courtyard at the old house was spacious, perfectly suitable for slaughtering the ox.
"Why don't you use that big open space outside? Why insist on doing this at home?"
"Whatever, I don't care."
"I can't stand the bloody scene. You guys handle it; I'm going out to relax."
Tian Xiaomei grumbled a bit before heading out.
Left behind were Jiang Tao and his father, Jiang Wen, along with his uncle, Old Sun, and Uncle Tianming from next door.
Five grown men versus one old ox—more than enough manpower.
Tian Xiaoguang, who had been feeding cattle at the ranch for over a decade, wasn't just skilled at raising them but also at slaughtering them.
He took the lead as the main "DPS," with Jiang Tao and the other three assisting.
The sturdy ox, in the face of these top-of-the-food-chain tough guys, could only become food for the slaughter.
Once the slaughter was done, they used a chain hoist to hang the ox on a pre-built wooden frame.
Tian Xiaoguang deftly gutted the ox, the scene a bit too gory for kids.
Jiang Tao nervously looked at the ox's insides and, sure enough, spotted a glowing spot.
If his guess was correct, that was where the natural bezoar was located!
But…
With so many people around, how could he get his hands on the bezoar without drawing attention?
The fewer people who knew about this, the better!
As Jiang Tao's mind raced for a solution, a line of text suddenly appeared on his retina.
**[Target item "Natural Bezoar" is about to be exposed. Would you like to spend 1,000 yuan to quickly acquire it and handle it properly?]**
"Huh?"
Seeing the text flash across his retina, Jiang Tao's heart leaped with joy.
It could work like that!
System Bro was awesome!
Though it cost 1,000 yuan, Jiang Tao felt the price was reasonable.
First, he didn't want more people to know about the bezoar.
Second, he didn't know how to handle it himself.
If he messed up during the process and lost even a few grams, that would be far more than 1,000 yuan in losses!
Spending 1,000 yuan to quickly acquire it and have it handled properly was a no-brainer.
Jiang Tao wouldn't refuse such a good deal, and there was no need to hesitate!
"Yes!"
With a thought, Jiang Tao chose "Yes." Immediately, he felt his phone buzz in his left pocket.
Then, he felt something square and hard appear in his right pocket.
**[Payment successful! The natural bezoar has been acquired and delivered. Please check!]**
Seeing the new line of text on his retina, Jiang Tao excitedly reached into his pocket and felt around.
It felt like a small wooden box.
The natural bezoar was probably inside it!
The Daily Intelligence System's method of acquiring the bezoar was miraculous; no one else noticed a thing.
"I'm going to the bathroom."
Jiang Tao called out to the others before heading to the toilet in the southwest corner of the courtyard.
The village's toilets had been renovated in recent years, no longer the old pit latrines, and were much cleaner and more hygienic.
Inside the bathroom, Jiang Tao locked the door and took out the item from his right pocket.
It was a palm-sized, natural-colored wooden box.
Opening it, he found an irregularly shaped, date-colored ball inside.
In Jiang Tao's vision, a line of text appeared above the ball:
**[Natural Bezoar (Weight: 1,000 grams)]**
"This little thing is actually worth 1.49 million!"
Thinking of the valuation provided by his System Bro, Jiang Tao swallowed hard in excitement.
1.49 million!
If he were driving a truck, how many years would it take to earn that much?
Twenty years? Thirty years?
One piece of intelligence from System Bro had saved him 30 years of struggle!
"But how do I sell this? To whom?"
With the natural bezoar in hand, Jiang Tao faced a new problem: how to sell it and cash in?
He had no experience in this area.
But he wasn't in a rush.
Natural bezoars were rare and always in high demand, a seller's market.
Selling it wouldn't be difficult.
Some medicinal companies or traditional Chinese medicine factories would buy it.
And then…
Jiang Tao thought of someone: Zhang Bo from Beijing's Boya Auction House.
Zhang Bo's family had been running the auction house for over a decade, and their connections were far wider than his own.
With that in mind, Jiang Tao took out his phone, snapped a photo of the bezoar, and sent it to Zhang Bo via WeChat.
He also explained the situation and asked Zhang Bo to spread the word in his network.
Less than two minutes after sending the message, Zhang Bo called!
"Brother Jiang! Is that bezoar really in your hands? Is it pure and natural? You're not joking, right?"
Zhang Bo's voice on the phone was incredibly excited, firing off several questions in a row.
Hearing Zhang Bo's excitement, Jiang Tao couldn't help but chuckle:
"What's that supposed to mean, Zhang Bo? Does your family buy bezoars too?"
"Haha, Brother Jiang, you got it! We do buy them! But it has to be authentic."
Jiang Tao said, "Don't worry, it's absolutely authentic, pure and natural. You can test it however you want."
"Brother Jiang, how much does your bezoar weigh? What's your asking price?"
Zhang Bo got straight to the point, asking about the bezoar's details.
"Exactly 1,000 grams, no more, no less. As for the price…"
"Zhang Bo, we've worked together a few times, and it's always been pleasant. We may not be friends yet, but we're acquaintances."
"I'm not going to overcharge you, and I don't want you haggling either. It's pointless. One price: 1.49 million."
"If you can accept this price, I'll sell it to you. If not, I'll sell it to someone else."
Jiang Tao was straightforward, too lazy to haggle with Zhang Bo or get greedy.
He quoted the exact price estimated by the Daily Intelligence System.
"1,000 grams, 1.49 million…"
"Brother Jiang, something this valuable, I need to discuss with my dad. I can't make the call on my own."
Hearing Jiang Tao's quote, Zhang Bo didn't say it was too expensive or too cheap.
"Fine, I'll wait for your good news."
Jiang Tao wasn't in a hurry. They chatted a bit more before hanging up.
…
Beijing, Jinsongyuan Neighborhood, Building 5, Unit 3, Room 402.
After ending the voice call with Jiang Tao, Zhang Bo opened the photo he'd sent and examined it closely.
In his expert opinion, the natural bezoar in the picture was of high quality and perfectly preserved.
He forwarded the photo to his father, Zhang Long, then called him.
"Hey, Dad, take a look at the bezoar I sent you. How's the quality?"
Once the call connected, Zhang Bo got straight to business.
"Huh? Nice stuff, top quality! You've been on a lucky streak lately!"
"Just yesterday, you secured a few hundred Yuan Datou coins, and now a high-quality bezoar."
"The price of bezoars has been rising this year, with a lot of profit potential."
"This one looks about 1,000 grams, right?"
Zhang Long's voice on the phone was both surprised and delighted.
"You're spot-on, Dad. The client says it's exactly 1,000 grams."
Zhang Long asked, "What's the client's quote?"
Zhang Bo answered honestly, "1.49 million."
"Huh, a real expert! That price is well-calculated. I estimate we could sell it for around 1.6 million."
Hearing Jiang Tao's quote, Zhang Long took him for a pro.
"So, Dad, what's your take? Should we buy it?"
"Oh, and the client selling this is the same one who sold me the Yuan Datou coins yesterday."
"The same person? Wow, this client of yours is something else, bringing us two big deals at the start of the year."
"No kidding. So, Dad, you make the call."
"Buy it! Of course, buy it! And you need to hurry and pick it up!"
Zhang Long analyzed over the phone: "During the New Year, the medicinal market has low transaction volume, so prices are relatively stable.
But once the year starts and prices rise, the seller might back out!
Bezoars have been crazier than gold these past two years. It's better to secure it quickly."
Zhang Bo was surprised. "You mean I should go pick it up in person?"
Zhang Long said, "Yes, go in person, right now."
Zhang Bo was speechless. "Is it really that urgent?"
Zhang Long laughed and countered, "Can you guarantee he's only asking you for a quote?
If you don't go, and someone else beats you to it, we'll be drinking the northwest wind next month."
Zhang Bo suddenly got it. "You're right, as always! The client's in North Hebei, not too far from us.
Alright, I'll head out now! I can be there this afternoon!"
Zhang Long instructed, "When you get there, video call me during the inspection so I can check it."
"Got it, Dad. You keep busy; I'll contact the client and head out."
"Safe travels."
Zhang Long hung up after that.
"One bezoar for 1.49 million, 205 Yuan Datou coins for 246,000, totaling 1.736 million!"
"Where's this Brother Jiang getting all these good things? He's got some connections!"
Zhang Bo mentally tallied the value, growing even more cautious about the deal.
The total value of 1.73 million meant a minimum profit of 170,000 for them.
On the fourth day of the New Year, landing such a big profit had Zhang Bo's face beaming with excitement.
Taking a few deep breaths to clear his mind, Zhang Bo called Jiang Tao again to confirm he'd come in person and got a location from him.
Someone was delivering money to him—Jiang Tao wasn't about to refuse.
After settling things over the phone, Zhang Bo packed lightly, grabbed a bank card his dad gave him, and drove straight to the location Jiang Tao sent.
…
Jiang Family Village, Jiang Tao's parents' house.
In an hour and a half, the old ox was skinned and deboned.
Tian Xiaoguang divided the beef based on its quality.
"This shank meat is firm with lots of tendons, perfect for braised beef, stewing, or slicing for cold dishes."
"The chuck is tender with evenly distributed fat, ideal for hotpot or steaks, or even ground meat."
"The short ribs are juicy and tender, great for grilling, stewing, or braising."
"The sirloin is chewy, perfect for steaks or pan-searing."
Having raised cattle for over a decade, Tian Xiaoguang was half an ox expert.
Not only did he know their habits, but he was also well-versed in preparing beef.
Stewed beef, braised beef, stir-fried beef—there was nothing he couldn't do.
After the slaughter, they set up a big pot in the courtyard, and there was plenty of beef for lunch.
Jiang Tao had Xu Li call her parents, inviting her in-laws over.
He also called Liu Zhiyuan, Shan Yufei, and Zhang Chao, his three buddies.
During the New Year, everyone had been busy, and though they hadn't met, they'd kept in touch via phone.
Hearing about the beef feast, the three were thrilled and agreed to come.
…
Noon, 12 o'clock.
Jiang Tao's parents' house was bustling, lively as if celebrating a big event.
His older brother, Jiang He, was covering a shift and didn't come, but his sister-in-law brought their two nephews.
Then there were Xu Li's parents and her younger sister.
Liu Zhiyuan and Shan Yufei showed up, but Zhang Chao had returned to Beijing early.
To Jiang Tao's surprise, Wang Xiaohong tagged along.
Well, this future niece-in-law had some thick skin, showing up uninvited.
Jiang Tao didn't mind Wang Xiaohong's presence; one more mouth wasn't a big deal.
He actually admired her boldness and outgoing nature, which would serve her well in society.
Then there were Jiang Tianming and his wife from next door.
They set up two tables: one for the women and kids, and one for Jiang Tao and the other men.
The drinks for entertaining today were Maotai brought by Old Sun, and the cigarettes were Huazi.
The dishes included braised beef, stewed beef, stir-fried beef, grilled beef, plus beef liver and kidney—almost a full beef banquet.
The star of today's feast was undoubtedly its organizer, Jiang Tao.
"Brother Jiang, a toast to you!"
"I'll toast Brother Jiang too!"
"Little Jiang…"
Whether it was Liu Zhiyuan and his buddy or Sun Xiaobao, they all showed Jiang Tao immense respect.
For Liu Zhiyuan and his friend, Jiang Tao was the big brother who'd helped them make big money.
For Sun Xiaobao, Jiang Tao was the lifesaver who'd rescued him twice.
Plus, being invited to Jiang Tao's home made Sun Xiaobao feel included and happy.
These past few nights, he'd secretly written his will in his room.
Once back in Beijing, he'd find a lawyer to formalize it and get it notarized.
At the other table, Xu Li watched her husband, the clear center of the gathering.
The genuine respect everyone showed him filled her, as his wife, with immense pride.
Her mother, Du Yongmei, and her younger sister, Xu Sha, watched Jiang Tao confidently chatting with everyone, radiating self-assurance.
Their attitudes toward him quietly shifted.
At the very least, they no longer gave him cold looks.
The meal was a joyful affair.
It started just past noon and went on until after 3 p.m.
*Ring ring ring—*
Just as Jiang Tao finished clearing the table, his phone rang.
Checking it, the caller ID read "Boya Auction House Zhang Bo."
The money-bringer had arrived!
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Dear readers,
If you happen to notice any errors, typos, or inconsistencies in the text, please don't hesitate to leave a comment. Your feedback is greatly appreciated and will help me improve the story. Together, we can make it as polished and enjoyable as possible!
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