Love for beauty is a woman's nature.
Xu Li would occasionally indulge in online shopping for some pretty clothes. However, they were mostly cheap items snapped up during live streams on Taobao or Kuaidou. Apart from her wedding, when she bought two sets of clothes costing over a thousand yuan each, she hadn't purchased anything priced above 500 yuan since.
When Jiang Tao mentioned over the phone that someone was treating their family to dinner at a five-star hotel in Beijing, she naturally wanted to dress appropriately to avoid feeling out of place or embarrassing her husband. Xu Li was quite confident about her looks, believing she wouldn't disgrace Jiang Tao no matter where they went. But when it came to her wardrobe…
She rummaged through the clothes she'd brought to Beijing and wasn't satisfied with any of them.
As Xu Li was agonizing over what to wear, Jiang Tao walked into the room. At that moment, she was dressed only in a light pink set of underwear, holding a beige sweater, about to try on another outfit. Her long, shapely legs were perfectly proportioned, her hips pert and lifted. Her flat stomach, honed by recent workouts, even showed faint traces of abs. Her chest filled out the bra, creating a full, rounded silhouette.
Even though they were long married, seeing Xu Li like this still stirred something in old Jiang.
"Honey, help me pick an outfit. I really can't decide," Xu Li said, looking to Jiang Tao for help.
"Xiao Xue, take my phone to your room and pick out a few toys you like. You can spend up to 100 yuan without needing a password," Jiang Tao said, unlocking his phone and handing it to their daughter, Jiang Xue, who was sprawled on the bed watching her mom try on clothes. "I'll help Mom pick an outfit."
Xu Li shot Jiang Tao a playful, reproachful glance, immediately catching on to her mischievous husband's intentions.
"Sweet!" Jiang Xue exclaimed. Hearing this great news, she sprang up from the bed as if launched, snatching the phone from Jiang Tao's hand and scampering out of the room with her short little legs, as if afraid he might change his mind.
*Click.* Jiang Tao closed the door and locked it with a snap.
Soon, the room filled with Xu Li's excited yet slightly suppressed hums.
Half an hour later…
Xu Li resumed picking out clothes but still couldn't decide on an outfit. Jiang Tao, zipping up his pants, chuckled, "Come on, honey, just throw something on. Let's go to the mall and buy a few new sets!"
Xu Li, combing her hair that Jiang Tao had mussed up, gave him a charmingly reproachful look and said, "It's not a holiday or anything. Why buy new clothes? It's a waste of money."
"Who says you can only buy new clothes for holidays?" Jiang Tao laughed. "How is buying clothes for my wife a waste? I made a little money today, so let's go shopping to celebrate."
"Made a little money? What kind?" Xu Li's eyes sparkled with excitement upon hearing her husband had struck it rich again, her already joyful mood soaring.
"We're short on time. Get dressed, and I'll tell you on the way," Jiang Tao replied.
"Oh, right! We have that dinner tonight! Ugh, it's all your fault, insisting on that just now and taking so long," Xu Li exclaimed, suddenly remembering their evening plans and hurrying to get dressed.
"I'll go see how much your daughter's swindled out of me," Jiang Tao said as he headed to Jiang Xue's room. He tried the doorknob, only to find it locked from the inside.
*Knock, knock, knock.*
"Hey, Jiang Xue, get out here! Don't go overboard!" Jiang Tao called, suddenly feeling like his little "padded jacket" was about to fleece him.
"Coming, coming! Just a sec! Dad, give me one—no, two—okay, three minutes!" Jiang Xue replied.
Three minutes later, Jiang Xue emerged from her room, holding Jiang Tao's phone and grinning as she handed it back. "Dad, why do I feel like you're extra handsome today? Did you secretly get plastic surgery? And your vibe—it's suddenly so cool! Dad, from now on, I'm your biggest fan! Dad…"
Jiang Tao listened to his daughter's sweet-talk while checking Taobao. Good grief, his little "leaky padded jacket" hadn't held back. Quiet books, puzzles, stuffed toys, and some building block figurines—she'd spent over 600 yuan in total.
In the past, Jiang Tao would've winced and quietly canceled the order. That amount was nearly two or three days' wages. Money shouldn't be spent like that. But now? He genuinely didn't care about his daughter's little splurge. Still, he put on a stern face, listening to her chatter on with flattery, only to break into laughter less than a minute later.
Seeing her dad laugh, Jiang Xue grinned even wider, confident her toys were safe.
The father and daughter goofed around in the living room for five minutes before Xu Li emerged from the bedroom. She wore a cream-colored base layer top and light gray shark pants that hugged her legs tightly, topped with a white down jacket hanging by the door. With a touch of makeup, Xu Li looked like a vibrant college girl. No one would guess she was the mother of a six-year-old.
As the family of three took the elevator downstairs, Jiang Tao called his parents to let them know they wouldn't be home for dinner due to their plans. Once downstairs, he drove his wife and daughter straight to their shopping destination—Vientiane City Mall.
"Honey, you still haven't told me how you made money today. Spill it so we can all be happy!" Xu Li, glowing from their earlier intimacy, radiated a mix of purity and charm, her voice as sweet and smooth as melted chocolate.
"Old Jiang, you got rich and didn't tell me earlier? If I'd known, I would've bought more toys!" Jiang Xue, strapped into her car seat in the back, overheard her mom and instantly felt she'd under-shopped. The Oreo in her hand suddenly lost its appeal as she started grumbling, not even calling him "Dad" anymore. "All you think about is your wife!"
Xu Li giggled at her daughter's words. "Honey, your little mistress is jealous."
"Hmph! I'm not his mistress. In his eyes, there's only you, his wife!" Jiang Xue pouted so hard she could've tethered a donkey.
Jiang Tao, driving, chuckled. "Oh, what a pity. I was planning to take my wife *and* my mistress shopping for some pretty dresses. But now that I don't have a mistress, I guess I can't spend the money."
"No, Dad, I was just kidding! How could you take it seriously?" Jiang Xue backpedaled instantly. "Dad, are you hungry? I've got some cookies here to tide you over. Want me to rub your shoulders? Dad, my dearest Dad, you're the best dad in the world!" Dignity? What's that? Can you eat it?
Xu Li, in the passenger seat, was shaking with laughter at her quirky daughter's antics.
After the playful banter, they returned to the main topic—what was the windfall? While "playing cards" with Xu Li earlier, Jiang Tao had been mulling over how to share the joy of his earnings without revealing the existence of his "system buddy." He said seriously, "Honey, do you know about 'tube coins'?"
Xu Li, predictably, replied, "No…"
Perfect, Jiang Tao thought. If she doesn't know, I can make it up. He'd been hanging around Panjiayuan lately, and though he hadn't made any moves, he'd picked up some knowledge. Fooling a complete novice like Xu Li was easy.
"Tube coins are those copper coins stuck together, dug up from the ground, shaped like a bamboo tube, hence the name. They're common in Panjiayuan, and lots of people buy them. It's like buying a lottery ticket—if you crack open a valuable coin, it's like hitting the jackpot."
"So, you found a really valuable coin and sold it? How much?" Xu Li was most interested in the money, not the details.
"Guess."
"Ten thousand?"
"Be bolder!"
"Twenty thousand?"
"That's bold?"
"Twenty thousand a day is already amazing!" Xu Li insisted.
"Bolder!"
Xu Li gritted her teeth. "A hundred thousand!"
When Jiang Tao dramatically slapped his forehead, Xu Li thought she'd overshot and quickly corrected, "Eighty thousand?"
"Forget it. You'd never guess, even by tomorrow morning. I'll just tell you."
"Tell me! I'm getting a little nervous!" Xu Li's big, watery eyes locked onto Jiang Tao's profile, full of anticipation.
"Sit tight, hold on, and don't get too excited. We're driving—let's not get carried away."
"Okay, okay!" Xu Li leaned back obediently, like a good little kid.
"Now you can tell me."
Jiang Tao, halving the amount he'd made from selling a Patek Philippe, said, "One million ninety thousand."
"How much?!" Xu Li's eyes widened, her mouth agape, big enough to fit an egg.
"One million ninety thousand," Jiang Tao repeated, glancing at her with a smirk. He loved her shocked and delighted expression—it filled him with pride and satisfaction.
"One million ninety thousand! Honey, you're amazing!" Xu Li's ecstatic squeal echoed in the car. She leaned over, planting several kisses on Jiang Tao's face, leaving faint red lip prints.
"Calm down, calm down," Jiang Tao said, gripping the steering wheel with a grin.
"How can I calm down? That's over a million! You're incredible!" Xu Li trusted Jiang Tao completely. He might tease her sometimes, but he'd never joke about something this serious.
Jiang Tao chuckled. "Tonight, I'll give you 500,000. The rest I'll use for turnover."
Xu Li nodded eagerly. "Okay! Keep it up, honey. Let's aim to buy our own place in Beijing!"
"Absolutely. Like I said, in a year or two, we'll have our own house." Jiang Tao's confident smile shone as he kept his eyes on the road.
"You're so handsome," Xu Li said, gazing at him with adoration. In her eyes, her man was the most handsome in the world.
Around 7 p.m., Jiang Tao, Xu Li, and Jiang Xue arrived at Vientiane City Mall. With time tight, there was no room for leisurely browsing. Jiang Tao led Xu Li straight to Chanel on the second floor, spending just over 100,000 yuan to deck her out from head to toe. From entering to trying on clothes to checking out, it took less than ten minutes to spend that much.
The speed was partly because Jiang Tao wasn't short on cash anymore and wanted to dress his wife up beautifully. Many of the moms at Jiang Xue's kindergarten wore Chanel, LV, or Prada, and Xu Li's figure was even better than the store mannequins—she looked good in anything.
After shopping for Xu Li, they rushed to the third floor's Dior children's section, where Jiang Tao bought Jiang Xue two dresses for over 40,000 yuan. On the way to the Beijing Hotel for their dinner appointment, Xu Li was still reeling from spending so much. In the past, Jiang Tao, as a truck driver, would've earned about 130,000-140,000 yuan in a year, even working flat out. Spending a year's wages in one go made her heart ache.
"Honey, you've got to change that mindset," Jiang Tao said while driving. "Things aren't like before. Your husband's no ordinary guy now. Just wait to live the good life!"
Xu Li knew that since Jiang Tao had apprenticed under Master Sun, he'd learned money-making skills and wasn't the same man as before. Still, her frugal mindset hadn't caught up.
"You're so good to me, honey. Marrying you was the best decision of my life," Xu Li said, taking Jiang Tao's free hand and placing it on her lap, her eyes brimming with tenderness.
"Ugh, so sappy!" Jiang Xue, sucking on an Alps lollipop in her car seat, muttered, accidentally eating a dose of her parents' PDA.
Though time was tight, Jiang Tao parked in the Beijing Hotel's underground garage by 7:50 p.m. After taking the elevator upstairs, he gave the staff Du Ennan's name and room number. A server in a fitted blazer led the family to a private dining room.
"Jiang Tao, long time no see!" Du Ennan, visibly pregnant, greeted them warmly with a genuine smile as they entered.
Though Du Ennan and Jiang Tao had only met twice during a carpool incident, she felt a special gratitude toward the man who'd saved her child. Plus, earlier that year, Jiang Tao's tip had helped her company avoid significant losses, deepening her appreciation. Tonight's dinner had two purposes: to welcome Jiang Tao's family and to express her gratitude.
"Hi, Du Ennan. This is my wife, Xu Li, and my daughter, Jiang Xue," Jiang Tao introduced. "Lili, this is Du Ennan, the general manager of Vientiane City I've mentioned."
"Hello, Manager Du."
"Hi, Aunt Du!"
"No need to be formal—just call me Du Ennan or Ennan," Du Ennan said warmly.
As they exchanged greetings, Jiang Tao noticed a composed man with an air of authority sitting quietly, smiling at the group. Du Ennan introduced him: "Jiang Tao, this is my dad."
Du Taiming stood up with a smile. "Jiang Tao, I've long wanted to thank you in person, but things kept getting in the way. I'm delighted to meet your family."
Du Taiming had a stern demeanor and a commanding tone, exuding the aura of a seasoned executive.
"Hello, Mr. Du. I've heard a lot about you."
"Thank you for hosting us tonight, Mr. Du."
"Good evening, Grandpa!" Jiang Xue chirped.
Du Taiming's eyes lit up at Jiang Xue's address, his stern face softening. "Little one, what did you just call me?"
As he aged, many of his friends' grandkids called him "Grandpa Du," but Jiang Xue's direct "Grandpa" was a first, and it warmed his heart.
"Did I get it wrong? Should I call you Uncle instead?" Jiang Xue asked nervously, thinking she'd made a mistake.
Du Taiming burst into hearty laughter, his voice booming through the room. Du Ennan looked at her dad in surprise—it had been over twenty years since she'd seen him laugh so freely, not since her mother's passing. Jiang Tao's family was momentarily stunned, wondering if the old man was okay.
After a good laugh, Du Taiming looked at Jiang Xue and said, "Little girl, call me Grandpa from now on. I like it. And you won't call me Grandpa for nothing."
He reached into his suit's inner pocket and pulled out a gleaming gold card labeled "Vientiane City Supreme Membership Card," handing it to Jiang Tao. Du Ennan was shocked—this was the highest-tier membership card, typically reserved for key strategic partners.
Du Taiming looked at Jiang Tao and said, "Jiang Tao, Vientiane City has many top-tier international children's clothing brands. This card has 500,000 yuan in stored value, a little gift for Jiang Xue. You and Xu Li must use it exclusively for buying her nice clothes."
"Five hundred thousand!" Xu Li gasped, her delicate face stunned.
Jiang Tao was equally floored. "Mr. Du, this is too generous. We can't—"
Du Taiming waved him off with a hearty laugh. "Don't refuse. This isn't for you—it's for Jiang Xue. Do you like pretty dresses, Jiang Xue?"
"Yes, yes!" Jiang Xue nodded eagerly.
"Good. Have your parents bring you to Grandpa's mall to shop for clothes," Du Taiming said, smiling at Jiang Tao. "This is just a little meeting gift for the kid. Her calling me Grandpa isn't free."
Du Ennan gave Jiang Tao a subtle nod and said warmly, "Take it, Jiang Tao. My dad's in a great mood today, and he doesn't like his gifts being refused."
"Thank you, Mr. Du," Jiang Tao said, realizing it would be impolite to refuse further. He stepped forward and accepted the card. Honestly, 500,000 yuan was essentially cash—who could say no to that? His little "padded jacket" had earned 500,000 with one word. What a rare deal!
"Xiao Xue, thank Grandpa Du," Jiang Tao prompted.
"Thank you, Grandpa!" Jiang Xue said sweetly.
"That's my good girl," Du Taiming replied, his executive aura softening into that of a kind grandfather.
He continued, "I've also prepared a little something for you and Xu Li, as thanks for your earlier help to Ennan. Nan Nan, give it to them."
Du Ennan picked up two green shopping bags from a nearby chair and handed them to Jiang Tao with a smile. "Jiang Tao, these are small gifts from my dad for you and Xu Li. I hope you don't mind."
The bags, emblazoned with a five-pointed crown and "ROLEX," were unmistakable. Even Jiang Tao, who wasn't into watches, recognized the legendary "big Rolexes." This meeting gift was no small gesture! The 500,000-yuan card and two Rolexes far surpassed the 88,000-yuan red envelope his "system buddy" had once mentioned.
"Thank you, Mr. Du," Jiang Tao and Xu Li said in unison, expressing their gratitude again.
"No need to be formal. Come, sit. Nan Nan, have the staff bring the food," Du Taiming said, ushering the family to their seats and shifting to casual conversation.
In less than ten minutes, the large round table was laden with over twenty dishes, and the feast officially began. Jiang Tao brought out the jar of Daughter Red wine he'd brought, which Du Taiming praised highly for its unique flavor. The lighthearted prelude set a lively tone for the meal, melting away any initial awkwardness between the families. Jiang Xue's innocent remarks sparked bursts of laughter, and the evening wrapped up in a joyful, warm atmosphere.