Zhang Chao's transformation was staggering.
Even his mother back in the village probably wouldn't recognize him now.
From a nobody who toiled away at the bottom, despairing about his future, he had turned into a carefree, second-generation rich kid who no longer had to hustle for a living.
The change wasn't just in his clothes or appearance.
His entire spirit, energy, and demeanor were completely different.
"Man, you've changed so much, I wouldn't even recognize you on the street," Jiang Tao said, giving Zhang Chao a playful punch to the chest with a smile.
To be honest, if it weren't for his daily intelligence system, a cheat-level "get-rich assistant," Jiang Tao might've been a bit jealous of Zhang Chao.
But now?
There wasn't much envy—just genuine well-wishes.
"Heh, come on, Brother Jiang, you'll always be my big bro! If I see you from eight meters away, I'll be shouting my greetings," Zhang Chao said with a grin, ushering Jiang Tao and Jiang Bing inside and inviting them to sit.
"Haha, you'll see how 'polite' we are when it's time to order," Jiang Bing teased with a smile. While she had no romantic interest in Zhang Chao, she genuinely considered him a friend.
"Order whatever you want, Bing. Today, we're eating till we're stuffed!" Zhang Chao declared confidently.
A meal at Shengbaiwei, even if they went all out, would cost two or three thousand yuan for three people at most. For the old Zhang Chao, that was nearly half his monthly salary, and he'd have splurged reluctantly. But things were different now. With a monthly allowance of 100,000 yuan, a big meal like this was just a day's pocket money. He had no reason to hold back.
Jiang Tao laughed, "Listen to that, Old Third! Your Brother Chao's got some swagger now."
"Brother Jiang, don't tease me. In front of you, I'll always be your little brother," Zhang Chao said with a grin, his respectful smile completely genuine.
After some light banter, Jiang Tao and Zhang Chao handed the ordering duties to Jiang Bing. As two guys with no dietary restrictions, they were happy to let the only woman present take the lead.
Though Jiang Bing jokingly said she'd "go hard" and make Zhang Chao pay, she was careful with her choices, picking flavorful but reasonably priced dishes.
"Let's get some baked pumpkin with egg yolk, spicy bullfrog, desert-style grilled lamb chops, and lychee-wood roasted duck," she said. "Oh, and a chestnut chicken soup to nourish these two. And let's finish with some spicy blood curd hotpot. That should do it."
Jiang Bing swiftly ordered six dishes and was ready to stop. Six dishes plus some staples were plenty for three people.
But Zhang Chao waved his hand grandly, "Bing, add four more. Let's make it ten dishes—perfectly complete!"
Jiang Tao chuckled, "Old Third, listen to your Brother Chao. Add four more. If we can't finish, we'll take it to go."
"Alright then! Let's balance it out with four veggie dishes," Jiang Bing said, unfazed. "Green onion taro, salt-and-pepper lotus root, garlic broccoli, and stir-fried okra with shrimp. Done!"
Jiang Bing, never one to be shy, added four more dishes to the tablet, bringing the total to ten. The mix of meat and vegetables was well-balanced, and the cost didn't even exceed 1,000 yuan.
"Way better than those overpriced 3,000-yuan-per-person elephant-dung dessert restaurants in Shanghai," she thought.
"That's it for now. We'll order more if we need to," Jiang Bing said, submitting the order.
Soon, a waiter knocked and entered, placing a 20-minute hourglass on the table. The restaurant had a rule: no matter how busy they were, if the dishes weren't served within 20 minutes, the meal was free.
"Please wait a moment, we'll get your food out shortly," the waiter said with a respectful smile before leaving to expedite the order.
"Hey, Chaozi, you got a new car? Is this meal to 'warm' it up?" Jiang Tao asked, noticing a BMW key in front of Zhang Chao and teasing him.
Back in their hometown, moving into a new house called for a "house-warming" party to wish for prosperity. Similarly, getting a new car meant friends would jokingly demand a "car-warming" meal to wish for safe travels.
Zhang Chao laughed, "Haha, not this time. Car-warming will wait until Zhiyuan and Yufei come to Beijing. Today's just about treating you and Sis-in-law to a meal."
Jiang Bing protested, "Hey, Zhang Chao, did you forget about me entirely? Am I just a third wheel here?"
Zhang Chao slapped his mouth, chuckling, "Oh man, my bad, my mouth slipped. Of course, I meant you too, Bing."
Jiang Bing grinned, satisfied, "That's more like it. I was starting to think you got too big for your britches and were looking down on me."
"No way! You and Brother Jiang are both my VIPs," Zhang Chao said with a smile.
Jiang Tao smoothly changed the subject to bail Zhang Chao out, "What car did you get?"
"An X5. My mom insisted on buying it yesterday. Couldn't talk her out of it," Zhang Chao said with a modest smile, showing no trace of pride. He remained humble in front of Jiang Tao.
For one, he genuinely respected Jiang Tao as a big brother. For another, he knew his current status didn't give him any right to show off. His BMW was a gift from his mom, while Jiang Tao's Mercedes was earned through his own hard work. The difference was stark.
Jiang Bing pouted, "Second Bro, look at his mom! When's our mom gonna gift us each an X5?"
"Dream on. Ask Mom for an X5, and she'll give you five slaps to feel the 'spicy' love instead," Jiang Tao teased, then turned to Zhang Chao. "You've really hit the jackpot, skipping decades of struggle. I'm almost jealous."
"I owe it all to you, Brother Jiang! Without you, I wouldn't be where I am today," Zhang Chao said earnestly, his eyes blazing with sincerity. "No matter what happens in the future, you'll always be my big brother. If I ever betray you, may heaven strike me back to square one, back to poverty!"
His vow was intense. Going from riches to rags would be worse than death for him now.
**[Ding! Your friendship with Zhang Chao has reached 90 points. Congratulations, you're now true friends!]**
**[You've received 1 [Friendship Boat]!]**
**[You've received a cash reward of 999,999 yuan!]**
A blue virtual panel popped up with three notifications.
"…"
Jiang Tao's pupils shrank as he read the panel, swallowing hard in excitement.
This reward came out of nowhere, completely unexpected!
Just like that, a million yuan landed in his lap?
This money came faster than a storm!
"Alright, Chaozi, good brother! Having a brother like you is my fortune!" Jiang Tao said, recovering from the shock and patting Zhang Chao's shoulder with a radiant smile.
He hadn't expected becoming true friends with Zhang Chao to be so easy. All he did was show up for a meal, and he earned a million yuan. It was like a pie falling from the sky!
Jiang Bing, watching their brotherly bond, teased, "You two wanna swear brotherhood? I'll be your witness."
Jiang Tao waved her off, "Shoo, adults are talking. Go play with your phone, little girl. No need for formalities."
"…" Jiang Bing's eyes lit up, unable to argue. She switched topics, "By the way, Zhang Chao, how much did your BMW cost?"
As the deputy manager of Jiang's Food Factory, Jiang Bing was now working and living in Beijing. Her little Wuling Hongguang Mini didn't quite match her new status, and with her rapidly growing savings, she had her eye on a BMW.
Zhang Chao replied, "My mom said it was about a million yuan, including the Beijing license plate."
"A million?! Forget it, my bad for asking!" Jiang Bing stuck out her tongue, instantly abandoning the idea of an X5. Though her savings were nearing a million, spending it all on a car felt like cutting her own flesh.
She turned to Jiang Tao, "Second Bro, can you keep an eye out for a used car? Don't you have a friend in the used car business?"
Jiang Tao's eyes lit up at the mention of used cars. Though he hadn't known Li Ming long, they hit it off. Plus, Jiang Tao had once tipped him off about a fire at his car lot, saving him millions. They were now decent friends, and Li Ming could be a candidate for a "true friend" too.
"Sure, I'll ask Li Ming to keep an eye out for a good car for you," Jiang Tao said. He wasn't opposed to used cars. His own Mercedes GLS was technically a used car, though he was both its first and second owner. When money was tight, a reliable used car from a trusted source was a great deal.
"By the way, Chaozi, where are you living now?" Jiang Tao asked, shifting the topic to housing. He figured Zhang Chao had likely moved out of the urban village.
"I was just about to tell you, Brother Jiang. My mom's transferring a house in Huilongguan to me. I've already moved in. It's in Longzeyuan," Zhang Chao said, smiling again.
In just a few days, he'd gotten a car and a house. His parents were also working on getting him a Beijing hukou. Soon, he'd go from a poor rural kid to a Beijing native with a car and a house. Anyone would wake up laughing from that dream.
"You little… I shouldn't have asked!" Jiang Tao said, giving Zhang Chao another playful punch, genuinely happy for his brother.
It was clear Zhang Chao's biological parents were treating him well, showering him with a car and a house to make up for years of absence. For a wealthy family like the Wangs, this was probably nothing.
Of course, Jiang Tao wasn't jealous. His own family of three each owned a house. If anyone was envious, it'd be Zhang Chao.
The trio chatted for about ten minutes before four waiters in hotel uniforms pushed a cart into the private room, serving the dishes. Each dish was announced with a brief introduction. Once the food was served, the waiters left, and the three dug in, chatting and laughing in a warm, lively atmosphere.
Their conversation spanned past memories, current lives, work, and everything in between. Zhang Chao wasn't the only one whose life had changed dramatically—Jiang Tao's had too.
Before the New Year, Jiang Tao was just a small-time truck driver at the Hongxing Secondhand Furniture Market, slaving away to make ends meet. After the New Year, he started his own company, opened a food factory, and became an entrepreneur. Though the factory's eight-treasure pickles were still in the free-sample phase, Jiang Tao was confident in the optimized recipe and the [Delicious Pickle Jar]. His pickles were like a plane taxiing on the runway, destined to soar and become a famous Beijing specialty. The pickle market would surely have a place for him.
Liu Zhiyuan and Shan Yufei's lives had also changed because of Jiang Tao. Normally, they'd be back in Beijing selling fruit by now, but this year, they were still in their hometown helping Jiang Tao with his cattle business. They were shareholders too, not just helping him but themselves. In just over a month, besides their 10,000-yuan monthly salaries, they were set to earn 80,000–100,000 yuan in dividends from the cattle farm—more than they'd make in a year of selling fruit. After tasting the profits from Jiang Tao's projects, they'd never go back to the grind of wholesale fruit markets.
"If you've got any good projects in the future, Brother Jiang, count us in!" Zhang Chao said. He'd missed out on opportunities with Jiang Tao before due to a lack of capital, but now that he had money, he wasn't going to miss out again.
Jiang Tao teased, "What, Chaozi, you still need to tag along? Haven't your parents set you up with some business?"
Zhang Chao answered honestly, "Nope. My mom just gives me pocket money every month and told me not to worry about work."
Jiang Tao laughed, "Haha, fair enough. They say the only thing worse than a rich kid blowing money is a rich kid starting a business. Just enjoy the easy life."
Zhang Chao didn't mind the jab and smiled, "Lazing around for a week or two is nice, but every day? That'd get boring. Wastes time and life. I need to find something to do."
"Alright, if anything good comes up, I'll bring you in," Jiang Tao said with a smile.
"Sweet! Thanks, Brother Jiang!" Zhang Chao grinned, raising his glass for another toast.
"Cheers!" Jiang Tao clinked glasses, and they downed their drinks.
The meal stretched from noon to around 2 p.m. After Zhang Chao paid the bill, the three left the restaurant. Zhang Chao called a designated driver to take him home, while Jiang Tao had Jiang Bing drive him to the food factory in the industrial park. He'd left the factory work to his parents recently and hadn't shown up in days.
"Uncle Tao, Aunt Bing! Afternoon!" Jiang Jiaqi greeted them, jogging over as they arrived.
With their parents at the market handing out free pickle samples, Jiang Jiaqi was the only one "holding down the fort" at the factory. The business hadn't fully kicked off yet, and with just Jiang Tao, Jiang Bing, their parents, and Jiaqi, the team of five was enough for now. But they'd need more hands in the future.
Jiang Bing teased, "Little Qiqi, you slacking off alone here?"
"No way! I'm working on the factory's departmental regulations, just like Uncle Tao asked," Jiang Jiaqi said, waving her hands.
Jiang Tao chuckled, "Old Third, stop messing with Jiaqi. She's way more dedicated than you."
He genuinely liked their only non-family employee. Not to mention, a tip from Jiaqi had led him to a wage card with a 100,000-yuan monthly limit—free money, separate from the factory's profits. That alone cemented her unshakable position at Jiang's Food Factory. He planned to give her a raise and promotion.
"You two chat. I'm off to Cuicun to slave away for someone!" Jiang Bing said, rolling her eyes at Jiang Tao. She twirled her car keys, hopped into the Mercedes GLS, and drove off.
"Come on, Jiaqi, show me around the operation area," Jiang Tao said, curious about the factory's progress.
"Sure, Uncle Tao, follow me," Jiang Jiaqi said with a smile, leading him toward the operation area.
*Tap tap tap*—the sound of her high heels echoed crisply in the spacious operation area.
The area had been upgraded per Jiang Tao's specifications. It was divided into two zones: a large public operation area split into over a dozen smaller compartments for storing raw materials, processing ingredients, holding semi-finished products, and storing final products. The layout was clear, with water and electricity fully set up. The shiny new workstations and complete set of tools had transformed the once bare-bones space into a sleek, hygienic setup.
The operation area's sanitation standards had risen significantly, now truly clean and safe. Jiang Tao aimed to match Liubiju's high-end eight-treasure pickles in both quality and food safety standards.
The innermost 30-square-meter compartment was off-limits to everyone except Jiang Tao's parents. Fully enclosed with no windows and a coded security door, it housed the [Delicious Pickle Jar] and was where the secret pickling broth was made—the factory's core.
Jiang Tao stopped at the finished goods area, eyeing dozens of 10-liter diamond-shaped pickle jars. The [Delicious Pickle Jar] could produce about 500 jin (250 kg) of pickles per batch, taking roughly two days. His parents had made seven or eight batches, totaling around 4,000 jin. Stacked in the warehouse, it looked impressive.
If all went well and they sold it all, that'd be about 400,000 yuan—half a month's output. A full month could yield 800,000 yuan in sales, with costs under 10% of that. For Jiang Tao, these pickles were a goldmine. A monthly profit of 600,000–700,000 yuan meant 6–7 million a year. Steady and accumulating, the factory was a significant asset.
"By the way, Jiaqi, what do your parents do for work?" Jiang Tao asked, shifting his gaze from the pickle jars to her.
It was time to hire more staff. Pickling, packing, and moving 500+ jin of pickles was hard work. Hiring a couple more people to ease his parents' load made sense, especially since the [Wage Card] covered salaries without dipping into his own pocket.
Of course, he couldn't hire just anyone. They needed to be trustworthy and hardworking. Jiang Tao immediately thought of Jiaqi's honest, dependable parents. Four generations back, he and Jiaqi's father, Jiang Mingshan, shared the same ancestor. Asking about her parents was partly to look out for them.
Jiang Jiaqi's heart leapt at the question, sensing an opportunity. "Uncle Tao, my dad works on a construction site with my uncle. My mom does odd jobs with Jiang Qiusheng's van."
"How much do they earn a month?" Jiang Tao asked.
"My dad makes about 200 yuan a day, I think. My mom makes 110," Jiaqi answered honestly.
"Here's the deal, Jiaqi. I'm planning to hire two more people to help your grandparents with the workload. After insurance and benefits, the minimum take-home pay is 5,000 yuan. Your parents have a great reputation in Jiangjiazhuang, and I trust them. If they're willing, the factory can provide a couples' dorm for them," Jiang Tao said.
Jiang Jiaqi's heart raced with joy, nearly agreeing on her parents' behalf.