After the excitement subsided.
Xu Li hurriedly ran back to the bedroom and grabbed a bank card.
In her words, a bank card is closely tied to money.
Using a bank card to scratch a lottery ticket would increase the chances of winning a big prize.
Though this lacked scientific basis, it had metaphysical backing!
The scratch-off ticket Jiang Tao brought home was called "Tenfold Luck."
The rules were simple.
In the bottom left corner was a "winning number."
Scratch off the covering film, and if any of "my numbers" matched the "winning number," you'd win the prize indicated on the far right.
If you scratched off the number "10" in the "my numbers" section, you'd win ten times the prize corresponding to that number!
Multiple wins could be claimed cumulatively.
Last year, for a while, Jiang Tao had pinned his hopes of getting rich quick on lotteries.
When he went to the lottery shop to buy tickets, he'd sometimes grab a scratch-off to test his luck.
His favorite was the "Tenfold Luck" type of scratch-off.
He'd even won a 500-yuan prize once.
The Powerball jackpot might be out of reach without connections to the lottery director.
But with scratch-offs, quite a few people had reportedly won big prizes.
Of course, whether those reported wins were genuine or had some inside story was hard to verify.
But today's ticket, Jiang Tao was 100% sure was legit—he wasn't some relative of a lottery director.
"Come on, honey, let me bless you with some luck~"
Jiang Tao smiled, took Xu Li's hand, kissed the back of it with a smack, and rubbed it back and forth.
"Let's do this!"
"Okay!"
Xu Li nervously scratched off the "winning number" in the bottom left corner, revealing a "21."
Then, she began scratching the ticket row by row from top to bottom.
The first row, corresponding to a 30-yuan prize, was a total bust!
The second row, corresponding to a 100-yuan prize, was another complete bust!
The third row—still nothing.
When she saw the fourth row's corresponding prize was 1,000 yuan, Xu Li instantly felt this was a lost cause.
She'd played scratch-offs before and knew some of their patterns.
The higher the prize amount, the lower the odds of winning, and vice versa.
If the later rows all corresponded to 10-yuan prizes, this ticket could easily yield at least 100 yuan in winnings!
"Hubby, you take over for the rest… looks like my luck isn't great today, huh."
Xu Li had scratched half the ticket without winning even 10 yuan, feeling a bit deflated and unwilling to continue.
As she spoke, she handed the bank card to Jiang Tao, wanting him to finish the rest.
"We're only halfway through! There's plenty left, keep going."
Jiang Tao didn't take the card, instead smiling and encouraging her to continue.
"Alright then!"
Xu Li adjusted her mood and resumed scratching.
When she saw the fifth row's corresponding prize was 10 yuan, her eyes lit up!
Maybe this row would hit!
But… once again, she was disappointed—no "21"!
The sixth and seventh rows were total busts too.
When she reached the eighth row and saw the prize amount was 400,000 yuan, Xu Li gave up entirely, not even bothering to scratch the covering film.
Everyone dreams of winning 400,000, but when you actually see that prize amount, most people instinctively think it's impossible.
Jiang Tao, however, swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing.
It was his first time scratching such a massive prize on a scratch-off!
The luck gods were really delivering!
Xu Li was so focused on the ticket that she didn't notice Jiang Tao's expression change.
She took a deep breath and continued scratching the ninth and tenth rows below.
As expected, no surprises—another bust.
"Nothing, got my hopes up for nothing."
Xu Li finished scratching the final row without a single "21."
Disappointed, she tucked the bank card into the pocket of her tight jeans, ready to call it a day.
Jiang Tao looked at Xu Li and said with a smile:
"There's still one row left to scratch. Maybe we'll hit it."
"Hubby, you're quite the dreamer, huh? That's 400,000 yuan we're talking about."
Xu Li laughed at Jiang Tao's words, her earlier frustration vanishing, her heart suddenly feeling lighter.
It was just a 10-yuan scratch-off ticket.
Even if they didn't win a single yuan, it was only a 10-yuan loss.
No need to get upset over something so trivial.
"What's there not to dream about? You're not gonna just toss it without scratching, right?"
"You never know, what if we hit the jackpot?"
Jiang Tao looked at the scratch-off ticket glinting with dark golden light, his gaze growing intense.
"Fair point, you scratch it then."
Xu Li said, handing the bank card to Jiang Tao.
"Let's scratch it together, combine our luck."
Jiang Tao didn't take the card but instead grabbed her slender, fair hand.
The moment Jiang Tao held her hand, Xu Li looked at him, her smile becoming even brighter and more charming.
"Okay, let's do it!"
Xu Li chuckled and nodded. Together, they started scratching from the top.
The first number they revealed was "23"—no match.
"Ugh! So close! If it was just two numbers lower, we'd be rich!"
The difference between 23 and 21 was tiny, but the outcome was worlds apart.
Xu Li sighed with regret and kept scratching.
Soon, they revealed the second-to-last number.
"21!!!!"
Seeing the number, Xu Li let out a shriek.
Her peach-blossom eyes widened, and she covered her mouth, looking utterly shocked!
"Hubby, we—we actually won the big prize!"
"Oh my gosh! I'm not dreaming, am I?"
Xu Li closed her eyes, rubbed them hard, and opened them again!
Not a dream!
They really won!
And it was 400,000 yuan!!
Most people wouldn't save up that much money in a decade!
And she'd just scratched it out so easily!
Excited, thrilled, overjoyed!
At that moment, it was hard to find a single word to perfectly describe Xu Li's emotions!
"My wife's amazing! This luck is unreal!"
Though Jiang Tao already knew the "plot," he played along, putting on a surprised expression.
"This, this, this…"
"Oh my gosh, I'm not seeing things, right?"
Xu Li rubbed her eyes again, opened them, her gaze darting between the "winning number," "my numbers," and the prize amount!
"We won, we really won, hubby! 400,000 yuan!!"
After triple-checking, Xu Li grabbed Jiang Tao's head and planted a flurry of kisses on him!
Xu Li stayed excited for a while before her emotions gradually calmed down.
Jiang Tao suggested, "We don't have anything else going on this morning. Let's go redeem the prize and secure the money."
"Yes, yes! It'll only feel real once the money's in our hands!"
Xu Li nodded with a light laugh, agreeing with Jiang Tao's suggestion.
The two hit it off and immediately took the winning scratch-off ticket downstairs.
They drove straight to the welfare lottery redemption center in Beijing.
On the way, Xu Li chattered excitedly, unable to contain her joy.
At 10:46 AM, Jiang Tao and Xu Li arrived at the welfare lottery redemption center in Beijing.
Both wore baseball caps, sunglasses, and masks, looking like celebrities trying to avoid paparazzi.
With the staff's guidance, they smoothly completed the redemption process.
After paying a 20% windfall income tax, the final prize was exactly 320,000 yuan!
Back in the car after redeeming the prize, Xu Li excitedly hugged Jiang Tao's neck again, planting another flurry of kisses on his face.
"Hubby, you're amazing! In one day, we made 320,000 yuan!"
"If every day was like today, we'd buy a big villa in no time!"
"You're dreaming big, but things like this don't happen every day."
Jiang Tao started the car, teasing her with a smile.
"Hubby, do you think this has something to do with our lucky stone?"
Xu Li reached into her collar, pulling out the "lucky stone" hanging around her neck, growing fonder of it the more she looked.
"Probably has a lot to do with it. I told you, our lucky stone is super effective."
"Yes, yes! I believe it! Since the New Year, our family's wealth luck has been incredible!"
Xu Li now had a rough understanding of the lucky stone's effects, sensing its extraordinary nature.
After redeeming the prize, it was already noon when they returned to Baigezhuang Village.
Dad and Mom hadn't returned since going to Old Sun's place.
Xu Li had planned to cook something at home.
But Jiang Tao suggested ordering takeout, figuring Dad and Mom probably hadn't eaten either.
They didn't even go home, driving straight to Building 79 and knocking on Old Sun's door.
Jiang Tao had expected a heavy atmosphere due to the impending farewell.
But upon entering, he found Old Sun chatting happily with his parents, all smiling.
"Disciple, Lili, you're here. Come, sit."
Sun Xiaobao's smile softened even more when he saw Jiang Tao and Xu Li.
"Master."
"Master Sun."
Jiang Tao and Xu Li greeted Sun Xiaobao and sat on two old-fashioned high stools by the bed.
After some casual chat, the takeout Jiang Tao ordered arrived.
It was simple, healthy home-style dishes like stir-fries and rice.
For Old Sun, they got a bowl of century egg and lean pork porridge, plus a steamed sea bass.
Late-stage liver cancer was very taxing on the body, so he needed extra high-quality protein.
Dad and Mom had gone to the supermarket that morning and bought a bunch of nutritional and protein powders.
As for the lottery, their luck was far worse than Jiang Tao's—they only won a few bags of salt.
After lunch, they waited a bit longer.
Around 2 PM, two new guests arrived.
One was a lawyer from Beijing Ziqian Law Firm, named Zhang Yingjie.
The other was a woman in her thirties from the same firm, Liu Qiao, serving as a witness.
A week earlier, Zhang Yingjie had been entrusted by Sun Xiaobao to draft his will and arrange his asset distribution.
Seeing Jiang Tao and the others in the house, Zhang Yingjie and Liu Qiao couldn't help but feel a pang of envy!
Despite having no blood relation, this family was receiving a massive inheritance.
What a lucky family!
It was practically like picking up money for free!
Sun Xiaobao owned five properties in Baigezhuang New Village.
The one he currently lived in was the largest, a 120-square-meter unit with good north-south exposure.
Another was on the 15th floor of Building 78 next door, 110 square meters.
Three more were in Building 103, adjacent units, each a 100-square-meter three-bedroom.
In total, five properties with a combined area of 530 square meters.
Sun Xiaobao gifted the unit he lived in and the two in Building 78 to Jiang Wen and Tian Xiaomei, the couple.
The three units in Building 103 went to Jiang Tao's family of three.
As for his 2.32 million yuan in savings, he gave 1 million to Jiang Tao and his wife.
The remaining 1.32 million went to Jiang Wen and Tian Xiaomei.
Sun Xiaobao's generosity left Jiang Tao's family stunned.
530 square meters of Beijing property plus 2.32 million in cash.
The total value was nearly 30 million yuan!
"Old Sun, this gift is too much. How can we possibly accept it…"
Jiang Wen held Sun Xiaobao's hand, dizzy from this massive pie falling from the sky!
Before today, Jiang Wen was just an ordinary rural retiree.
Before the New Year, he worked odd jobs with a contractor, earning a measly 150 yuan a day.
He never dreamed he'd one day own two Beijing properties and millions in savings!
To him, this was like ascending to the heavens in one step!
Tian Xiaomei was equally dumbfounded.
She never expected Old Sun to leave their family such a generous gift before his passing.
"Old Jiang, meeting your family and making a friend like you at the end of my life made it all worthwhile."
"No need to be polite with me. You can't take these things with you when you're born or when you die. If I don't give them to you, they'll just go to the state."
"In the future, just remember to burn some paper money for me during Qingming and the Spring Festival."
Sun Xiaobao patted Jiang Wen's hand, his face showing a relieved smile.
"Sigh!"
Jiang Wen let out a long sigh, his eyes full of sympathy as he looked at Sun Xiaobao.
"Don't worry, Old Sun. From now on, I'll treat you like my own big brother!"
This was the only promise Jiang Wen could make to Sun Xiaobao.
Under the witness of lawyer Zhang Yingjie and Liu Qiao, Sun Xiaobao's will was officially signed and took legal effect.
Five days after signing the will, on March 11, Sun Xiaobao passed away at home at the age of 66.
Sun Xiaobao had no living relatives, so Jiang Tao, his parents, and Xu Li handled his funeral arrangements.
They spent 260,000 yuan to buy a premium burial plot for him at Longquan Cemetery in Nanxing Shou.
They also paid 20 years of service fees upfront.
On March 18, after the body was cremated, it was moved to the cemetery.
The weather was unkind, with a light drizzle falling.
Jiang Tao, his father Jiang Wen, mother Tian Xiaomei, wife Xu Li, sister Jiang Bing, and daughter Jiang Xue.
Each held a black umbrella.
One by one, they placed a bouquet of yellow and white carnations in front of Sun Xiaobao's tombstone.
"Master, rest in peace. I hope you reunite with your family over there and enjoy a happy afterlife."
Jiang Tao genuinely cared for this "fake master."
Old Sun had left tens of millions in assets to their family—a kindness worth remembering for a lifetime.
"Brother Sun, if there's a next life, I hope we meet earlier and become brothers again."
"Master Sun…"
"Grandpa Sun…"
After each said their goodbyes to Sun Xiaobao, they turned to leave.
On the tombstone, Sun Xiaobao's smiling portrait seemed to shine even brighter as he watched them depart.
His life's script had finally come to a close.
After a few days of low spirits, Jiang Tao's family gradually emerged from their grief and resumed normal work and life.
With Du Ennan's connections, the trademark for Jiang's Food Co., Ltd. was officially registered, and all company procedures were completed.
Jiang Tao was the chairman, his father Jiang Wen was the legal representative, and Jiang Bing was the second shareholder, holding 10%.
The standardized production workshop was operational, and the market stall had been renovated.
After paying respects to Old Sun in the morning, Dad and Mom started business at the market stall in the afternoon, officially selling Jiang's Eight-Treasure Pickles.
"Jiang's Eight-Treasure Pickles, delicious and tasty, come take a look, have a taste."
A small speaker on the table in front of the stall played Xu Li's crisp, pleasant voice on a loop.
On the table, a large plate of Jiang's Eight-Treasure Pickles was displayed as a sample, covered with a transparent glass dome.
"The color of these pickles looks great, really appetizing! Old Liu, want to get some?"
"They do look good! Let's get some. Old Kang at home loves this stuff!"
Two aunties shopping together saw the pickles on display and entered the stall.
But…
As soon as they stepped inside and saw the price list on the wall, they looked like they'd walked into the wrong place.
Without a word, they turned and left.
"Good grief! Eight-treasure pickles for 99 yuan a jin? That's robbery!"
"They could just rob you outright, but they still give you a jin of pickles!"
"Way too expensive. They think they're Liubiju or something? Such a bold price!"
As the two aunties left, they muttered and complained under their breath, leaving Jiang Wen and Tian Xiaomei staring at each other awkwardly.
That afternoon, they heard way too many complaints about Jiang's Eight-Treasure Pickles.
They knew the price was steep, but anyone who tasted it would absolutely find it worth it!
"What do we do, honey? The customers don't seem to accept our price…"
As the afternoon neared its end without a single sale, Tian Xiaomei's face showed a hint of anxiety.
At 99 yuan per jin, Jiang's Eight-Treasure Pickles were indeed a tough sell!
"Let's take it slow. It'll take time for people to accept this price."
"You know the quality of our pickles. They're even better than Liubiju's, definitely worth the price."
"Even if sales are slow for now, we can't lower the price."
Though Jiang Wen felt a bit discouraged, he had absolute confidence in the quality of Jiang's Eight-Treasure Pickles.
Their family had been eating them for half a month—breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Three meals a day, and they never got tired of it.
Pickles this delicious would surely win over anyone who tried them, turning them into loyal customers.
They waited until 6 PM, but the stall remained quiet, not a single sale.
The couple packed up and closed the stall, ready to try again tomorrow.
The market was only two or three hundred meters from Baigezhuang Village.
They bought ingredients for dinner at the market.
By the time they got home, it was just 6:30 PM, and Jiang Tao and Jiang Bing had also returned from work.
At 7:30 PM, a sumptuous dinner was served.
Dried tofu stir-fried with celery, braised prawns, tomato-stewed beef brisket, and yuxiang shredded pork.
Of course, no Old Jiang family meal was complete without Jiang's Eight-Treasure Pickles!
Whether eating noodles, rice, or steamed buns, any staple paired perfectly with the pickles!
"Dad, your cooking skills are such a waste not opening a restaurant~ This yuxiang pork is amazing!"
"Tastes just like when I was a kid!"
Jiang Bing ate happily, giving her dad a thumbs-up and a grin.
"Heh, if it's good, eat more."
Jiang Wen smiled, feeling a sense of accomplishment seeing everyone enjoy his cooking.
The comment was casual, but it sparked a thought in Jiang Tao, recalling a piece of information about his dad.
"Once the pickle business is on track, I'll open a restaurant for Mom and Dad to fulfill their long-time wish."
As Jiang Tao ate his rice, he thought about opening a restaurant for his dad.
"By the way, Dad, didn't you and Mom go to the market to sell pickles this afternoon? How were sales?"
Jiang Bing picked up a piece of pickled cucumber and asked casually.
"Uh…"
Jiang Wen's face reddened slightly at his daughter's question, feeling a bit embarrassed!
Not selling a single jin all afternoon was a little awkward.
"We haven't made a sale yet. Customers see our price and get scared off."
"Second and Third, should we think of some other approach?"
Tian Xiaomei wasn't shy about it—everyone here was family.
No need to hide or feel embarrassed about the truth.
"Third, what do you think?"
Jiang Tao looked at Jiang Bing, seeking her opinion.
"Well… easy fix!"
Jiang Bing had a flash of inspiration and said:
"Let's give out free samples! Anyone who tries our pickles will definitely come back for more!"
Try-before-you-buy is a common sales tactic.
Many food vendors, especially new ones, hold big promotions to build their reputation.
For example, on certain platforms, you could buy fried chicken legs for a few cents or a roast duck for a few yuan.
It looks like the business is losing money to gain attention, but they're not foolish—they're just redirecting advertising budgets to benefit customers.
This achieves publicity, gives customers a deal, and builds a good reputation—a triple win.
This straightforward promotion method was perfect for Jiang's Eight-Treasure Pickles.
Jiang Tao made the call:
"Third's idea is solid. Let's start giving out samples tomorrow as she suggested."
"Give each person a small sample box for three days, then start official sales."
"Our pickles are top-notch. It's only a matter of time before we conquer Beijing's pickle market!"
As Jiang Tao spoke, he popped a piece of pickled radish into his mouth, chewing it with relish.