Beijing.
In the corridor of the Hematology Department of the Children's Hospital.
*Ring ring, ring ring—*
Jiang Hai looked at the unfamiliar number on the caller ID, a sense of helplessness instantly surging within him.
With a swipe of his finger, he hung up and blocked the number.
This was already the eighth debt collection call he had received today.
Over the years, to treat his daughter's illness, he had long exhausted all his savings.
He had also borrowed over 50,000 yuan from several online loan platforms.
In the past, he could barely manage by borrowing from one source to pay off another.
But after less than a year of juggling debts, the shortfall grew larger, and this month, it completely collapsed.
He had borrowed a total of 50,000 yuan, but now he owed more than 70,000 yuan.
Let alone the 70,000 yuan with interest, he couldn't even repay the original 50,000 yuan principal. So, he simply gave up and let it go.
Right now, his only focus was raising money to save his daughter. Being blacklisted as a defaulter? He didn't care anymore!
To scrape together as much money as possible for his daughter, he had even considered throwing himself in front of a luxury car on the street to get hit and extort forty or fifty thousand yuan.
But his sense of morality and conscience made him abandon that idea.
*Ring ring, ring ring—*
Less than five minutes after hanging up, another unfamiliar number called.
Faced with the relentless bombardment of debt collectors' calls every day, Jiang Hai wanted to turn off his phone, but he was afraid of missing important calls from the doctor or the crowdfunding platform.
Letting out a long sigh and hanging up again, Jiang Hai squatted down, exhausted.
He grabbed his greasy, disheveled hair with both hands, trying to keep himself alert and rational.
He constantly reminded himself that his daughter needed him now, and he absolutely couldn't act impulsively or do something foolish.
*Ring ring, ring ring—*
The incessant ringing of the phone pushed Jiang Hai's already taut emotions to the breaking point.
He mechanically pulled out his phone, about to hang up, when a glance revealed it was his sister calling.
Seeing the word "sister," Jiang Hai's expression softened considerably.
Taking a deep breath to steady his emotions, he swiped to answer the call.
"Hey, Xiao Yi, what's up?"
"Brother, a friend just lent me 200,000 yuan for an emergency."
Hearing Jiang Yi's words, Jiang Hai's expression instantly turned to shock.
Jiang Yi continued on the other end of the line:
"I've already transferred the money to your card. Hurry and contact the attending doctor to arrange An'an's surgery."
"We finally got a successful match; don't miss this opportunity."
"I'm on my way to the hospital now. I'll probably be there in about half an hour."
"Transferred… to my card?"
Hearing his sister's last sentence, Jiang Hai's shocked expression turned to panic as a bad feeling hit him.
Sure enough, when he opened the banking app on WeChat to check his balance, he saw that several loan platforms had already deducted over 70,000 yuan.
In that moment, Jiang Hai's heart ached.
"What's wrong, brother?"
"Oh, nothing, nothing. Xiao Yi, what friend lent you so much money?"
Hearing that his sister had borrowed 200,000 yuan in one go, Jiang Hai was both overjoyed and quietly worried.
He feared she might have taken out an online loan like him, or…
Jiang Hai shook his head. He knew his sister well enough to know she wasn't that kind of person.
"It's a former student, now a student's parent."
"He saw the crowdfunding post I made on WeChat Moments and reached out to me…"
Jiang Yi explained the entire process of how Jiang Tao lent her the money to her brother.
Hearing that Jiang Tao lent his sister 200,000 yuan without even charging interest, Jiang Hai felt a wave of gratitude, repeatedly saying they had encountered a good person this time.
Less than 20 minutes after the siblings ended their call, Jiang Yi arrived at the hospital.
Fortunately, after the loan platforms deducted their share, the remaining money on Jiang Hai's phone was still enough to cover the surgery costs.
…
"Who knows where we should go~"
"Who understands what life has become."
"Should we find an excuse to keep scraping by~"
"Or spread our wings and soar, holding onto our anger."
The high-pitched song blared from the car stereo of a Mercedes-Benz GLS.
Jiang Tao drove while nodding to the rhythm of the song.
Last night, among the three pieces of information triggered, one was irrelevant, but the other two were highly valuable, so he was naturally in a good mood.
Although he didn't know when the 200,000 yuan he lent to Jiang Yi would trigger the 10,000% return rate, it was something to look forward to—a long-term investment.
After lending the money and leaving Jiang Yi's place, he first drove to Panjiayuan to check in.
Then he went to the Financial Street to visit Beijing's stock exchange.
He also stopped by a few lottery shops along the way.
His daily routine now was to frequent places related to making money as much as possible.
As long as he could trigger one valuable piece of information, the day wasn't wasted.
*Ring ring—*
The car's phone system suddenly rang.
Jiang Tao glanced at the central display and saw it was a call from Du Ennan.
He immediately felt that something good was coming.
Could it be progress with the Mercedes-Benz issue?
"Hey, Ennan."
Answering the call, Jiang Tao greeted Du Ennan with a smile.
"Jiang Tao, do you have time to swing by our mall?"
Du Ennan's voice came through the car's speakers, clear and textured.
"Sure, but I'm still in Chaoyang. It'll probably take me about half an hour to get there."
"No problem. I'll wait for you in my office. Just come straight to my office when you arrive."
"Care to give me a hint about what's up?"
"Hehe, you'll find out when you get here. It's good news. Gotta go."
Du Ennan chuckled, teasing him slightly before hanging up without giving Jiang Tao a chance to ask more.
"Good news? Is their efficiency really that high?"
Jiang Tao muttered to himself while driving, then had the Mercedes-Benz voice assistant navigate to Wanxiang Hui.
11:48 AM.
The Mercedes-Benz GLS pulled into the B2 underground parking lot of Wanxiang Hui.
Jiang Tao took the elevator to the first floor.
Then, guided by a staff member, he took the internal office elevator to the eighth floor.
"Mr. Jiang, President Du is waiting for you inside."
The staff member brought Jiang Tao to Du Ennan's office door, said a word, and left.
*Knock knock knock—*
Jiang Tao knocked on the door and, hearing Du Ennan's voice, pushed it open.
"Jiang Tao, you're here."
Seeing Jiang Tao enter, Du Ennan stood up with a smile to greet him.
From strangers who had crossed paths on the subway to now being close friends, fate could be truly magical.
"Ennan, what's this good news you called me over for? I've been curious the whole way here."
Jiang Tao greeted Du Ennan with a smile and, without hesitation, plopped down on the guest sofa in her office.
Du Ennan walked out from behind her desk and sat on the sofa opposite Jiang Tao, smiling as she said:
"This morning, our company's procurement and legal departments went to the Chaoyang Huirong Mercedes-Benz 4S dealership."
"We had a serious discussion regarding the problematic Mercedes-Benz GLS we purchased."
"They agreed to a one-for-three compensation, and the funds have already been transferred to our company's account."
Du Ennan looked at Jiang Tao with a smug smile.
"So fast!"
Though he had guessed it was about this, Jiang Tao still put on a surprised expression to play along.
He had initially thought this matter would drag on for a while, but he didn't expect the other side to cave so quickly!
That Mercedes-Benz GLS cost over 1 million yuan to purchase. A one-for-three compensation meant nearly 4 million yuan!
From when he told Du Ennan about it last night to her resolving it now—it had only been half a day!
Thinking it over, Jiang Tao suddenly felt enlightened.
In the end, his perspective was too narrow; poverty had limited his imagination.
To him, 4 million yuan might seem like a fortune.
But to some wealthy individuals or companies, 4 million yuan might not be a big deal.
"Hehe, our company's legal team isn't just for show."
"Trying to scam us at Wanxiang Hui? That's intolerable."
"Besides, my dad got involved in this. If Huirong hadn't played ball, the consequences would've been ten times worse."
"They were smart today."
"Impressive, impressive~"
Jiang Tao gave Du Ennan a thumbs-up with a grin:
"For ordinary folks like us, dealing with something like this would probably take forever."
"We'd probably have to park the car at their 4S store, sit on the hood, and hold up a banner to protest."
After briefly explaining the process, Du Ennan got to the point:
"I called you here to tell you that the car needs to be returned to Huirong."
"Also, here's an agreement for you to sign."
As she spoke, Du Ennan handed Jiang Tao two copies of an agreement already placed on the coffee table.
Jiang Tao quickly scanned the document, then looked at Du Ennan in surprise.
"Ennan, this agreement…"
Du Ennan smiled:
"This is what you deserve. I already gave you the car, you discovered the issue, and you preserved the key evidence."
"So, it's only right that you get the one-for-three compensation."
Jiang Tao teased with a smile: "How about we split it fifty-fifty?"
"You'd really give up half of what's already in your hands?"
Du Ennan laughed at his suggestion.
Jiang Tao: "You want the truth or a lie?"
Du Ennan: "The truth, of course."
Jiang Tao: "The truth is, I wouldn't want to."
"Then why offer to split it with me?"
"I was just being polite. Honestly, I was nervous you'd actually say yes, and I'd be heartbroken for years."
"Hahaha… Jiang Tao, you… Haha… People as straightforward as you are rare."
Du Ennan burst into laughter at Jiang Tao's words.
His honest, unpretentious personality was very much to her liking.
After laughing, she waved her hand and urged: "Alright, enough joking. Sign it already."
"For real?"
Jiang Tao smiled, confirming one last time with Du Ennan.
After all, 4.48 million yuan felt like it had fallen from the sky—so easy!
Winning the top prize in the lottery, after taxes, wouldn't even come close to this.
"If you keep dawdling, I might actually reconsider."
Du Ennan chuckled and reached for the agreement near Jiang Tao.
Jiang Tao, quick as a flash, snatched it away.
"Haha, then I won't be polite and will graciously accept your kindness."
With that, Jiang Tao swiftly signed his name as Party B on the agreement and pressed his fingerprint.
"Jiang Tao, are you going to stash this money in your private savings, or are you going to tell Lili honestly?"
As Du Ennan waited for Jiang Tao to sign, she signed her own name and casually asked.
Without hesitation, Jiang Tao said:
"Of course, I'll tell Xu Lili honestly. Sharing happiness doubles it."
"I'll also tell my parents and my daughter so they can share in the joy."
"You're a good husband, a good son, and a good father."
Du Ennan smiled at his response.
As she finished speaking, her pen completed the last stroke of her name.
Honestly, seeing Jiang Tao and Xu Lili's loving marriage and their sweet daughter, she felt a bit envious.
If her husband were still alive…
Thinking of her unborn child's father, Du Ennan's mood suddenly dipped.
Jiang Tao misread her expression and said:
"Uh, Du Ennan, if you're having second thoughts, there's still time."
"Haha, where'd you get the idea I'm having second thoughts?"
Du Ennan's gloom vanished at his teasing, replaced by a smile.
"You just…"
Jiang Tao mimicked her earlier expression, pulling a face.
Du Ennan rolled her eyes and laughed:
"I was just thinking of something unpleasant. It's got nothing to do with you. Don't make a drama out of it."
Seeing her smile, Jiang Tao grinned too: "Alright, good to know. I'm relieved."
After signing, Du Ennan called Wanxiang Hui's finance team to the office, and they transferred 4.48 million yuan to Jiang Tao's personal account on the spot.
This money was enough to buy the house they were currently renting outright.
One piece of information earned him a house.
The value of the system was still skyrocketing!
[Your ICBC savings account ending in XX89 has received 4,480,000 yuan. Current balance: 4,504,892.88 yuan!]
Excluding the 2 million yuan he used to buy funds the day before and the 200,000 yuan he lent to Jiang Yi today, Jiang Tao's savings were back to over 4.5 million yuan!
Du Ennan spoke again:
"By the way, Jiang Tao, do you need a car? We have two idle company cars."
"One's an Audi A6, and the other's a Buick GL8. If you need one, you can take one for now."
Jiang Tao joked with a smile: "Can I take both?"
Du Ennan gave him a playful glare: "In your dreams."
"Haha, just a little joke, don't mind me."
After laughing, Jiang Tao said: "Thanks for the offer, but I'm good. I'm planning to buy one myself this time."
Du Ennan nodded: "Alright, suit yourself."
Jiang Tao thought for a moment and asked: "By the way, Ennan, can you help with getting a Beijing license plate? I don't have the qualifications for the lottery."
Du Ennan laughed heartily: "Go buy your car. Once you've got it, I'll handle the license plate for you."
"Sweet! With your word, I'm set. You're awesome, President Du. Just let me know how much it'll cost."
With Du Ennan's firm assurance, Jiang Tao gave her a playful compliment.
For ordinary people, getting a Beijing license plate meant paying social security in Beijing for five years to qualify, then joining the license plate lottery.
Some unlucky folks who'd been in the lottery since it started still hadn't gotten one after over a decade.
For Jiang Tao to get a plate through official channels, it would take at least five years, and he wasn't waiting that long.
For big shots like Du Ennan, who ran major malls, getting a Beijing plate was a piece of cake.
After the transfer and chatting about the license plate, Jiang Tao said goodbye to Du Ennan and took the elevator downstairs.
Instead of heading home, he took the escalator to the second floor and walked straight into the Hermès store.
Earning 4.48 million in a day, he wanted to buy Xu Lili a bag to celebrate.
Making money had its thrill, and spending it had its own joy!
If you earn money but don't spend it, you're missing half the fun.
"Hello, sir. How can I assist you?"
The female clerk saw Jiang Tao enter alone and, though slightly puzzled, greeted him warmly.
"I'd like to see your bags."
Jiang Tao strode confidently into the store, browsing the merchandise casually.
"Of course, sir. If you see something you like, I can take it down for you to look at."
The clerk followed him with a patient smile.
"This one. Pack it up."
Less than a minute after entering, Jiang Tao picked an item and asked the clerk to wrap it.
"Oh? Alright, sir! Xiao Li, help the gentleman with this bag. Sir, I'll take you to the checkout."
The clerk, as if afraid he'd change his mind, called a colleague to assist while leading Jiang Tao to the counter.
The bag cost Jiang Tao over 60,000 yuan—the most expensive one he'd ever bought for Xu Lili—but he didn't feel a shred of regret.
"Here's my card, sir. If you need anything in the future, feel free to call me."
"If it's inconvenient for you to visit the store, we also offer delivery services."
The clerk, rarely seeing such a decisive customer, handed Jiang Tao the shopping bag along with her business card.
"You offer delivery?"
Jiang Tao, hearing about Hermès' delivery service for the first time, gained a bit of new knowledge.
Looking at the card, he saw the clerk's name was Luna.
"Yes, sir. Whether it's bags, shoes, or clothing, we can deliver for you to choose from."
"Even if you don't buy after we deliver, that's perfectly fine."
Luna's smile grew even brighter, clearly professionally trained.
"Alright, I'll reach out if I need anything."
Jiang Tao pocketed Luna's card, grabbed the shopping bag, and left.
Luna escorted him to the door, watching him disappear down the escalator before returning to the store to wait for her next customer.
After leaving, Jiang Tao took a taxi straight to Baigezhuang New Village.
"Honey, why are you back so early? Have you eaten?"
"Huh, what's that in your hand?"
Xu Lili, seeing her husband return early, was puzzled, especially when she noticed the Hermès shopping bag in his hand.
"Wife, I've got great news! Come, come, let's sit on the couch."
Jiang Tao closed the door, took Xu Lili's hand, and sat close to her on the living room sofa.
"What's the great news? Did you strike it big today?"
Xu Lili's eyes lit up at the thought, looking at Jiang Tao with excitement.
"Uh… something like that."
"What do you mean, 'something like that'? Come on, good husband, spill it! I can't wait!"
Xu Lili shook Jiang Tao's arm, cooing in a sweet, irresistible tone.
Jiang Tao pointed to his right cheek and grinned: "Kiss me first."
*Mwah~*
"Now the left."
*Mwah~*
"And one more in the middle!"
Xu Lili giggled and planted a kiss on his forehead.
Not teasing her further, Jiang Tao smiled and said:
"Last night, didn't I tell Du Ennan about the issue with our Mercedes?"
"Yeah, and then?"
"According to consumer law, the Mercedes 4S dealership's sale was fraudulent, and they're required to refund the car and pay triple compensation."
"What? Refund and triple compensation? You mean we can return the Mercedes and get three times the compensation?"
Xu Lili's breathing quickened at Jiang Tao's words.
Though she didn't know much about cars, thanks to her sister-in-law Jiang Bing, she knew their Mercedes was worth over 1 million yuan!
A refund with triple compensation meant over 4 million yuan!
In Xu Lili's mind, 4 million yuan was an astronomical figure!
No exaggeration—she could live comfortably in a small county like Pingxian with that money!
She could buy a house in the best neighborhood outright, get a car worth a few hundred thousand, and still have two or three million left in savings.
"Look at this."
Jiang Tao pulled out his phone, opened the transaction notification, and showed it to Xu Lili.
[Your ICBC savings account ending in XX89 has received 4,480,000 yuan. Current balance: 4,504,892.88 yuan!]
"Ones, tens, hundreds, thousands, ten thousands, millions—that's over 4 million!!"
Xu Lili stared at the long string of numbers on Jiang Tao's phone, clutching his arm in excitement, barely able to contain herself.
"Honey, we… we have over 5 million in savings now?"
"Is this… is this real?"
"It feels like a dream!"
Looking at the massive balance on Jiang Tao's phone, Xu Lili's excitement lingered.
Jiang Tao's phone showed over 4.5 million.
Xu Lili's savings, after giving Jiang Tao 1 million to invest in cattle, still had over 500,000.
Together, the couple's savings exceeded 5 million!
And that didn't even include the over 1 million invested in the Tianjiazhuang cattle farm!
Last winter, she and Jiang Tao were stressing over 80,000 yuan in debt.
Now, 80,000 yuan was just a fraction of their savings!
"Silly wife, it's all real. You're not dreaming. Our life's only going to get better from here!"
Jiang Tao pinched Xu Lili's smooth, fair cheek, his expression full of affection.
"Ow, ow, that hurts! Okay, it's not a dream! Honey, we've been so lucky this year!"
Feeling the sharp pain on her cheek, Xu Lili confirmed she wasn't dreaming, her face beaming with joy.
"Honey, do you think it's the luck from the fortune stone?"
As she spoke, Xu Lili lifted Jiang Tao's wrist, her gaze falling on the oddly prominent stone on his bracelet.
Ever since Jiang Tao brought those two fortune stones home, their family had been on a streak of good fortune and wealth.
"I told you the fortune stone is powerful. Believe it now?"
Jiang Tao was happy to credit his earnings to the fortune stone—it was a good cover for his daily information system.
"Mm-hmm! I've believed it for a while! I just hope its magic lasts a bit longer!"
Xu Lili nodded with a smile. Having worn the fortune stone for so long, she truly felt its magic.