Financial freedom starts with the daily intelligence system!

Around 2pm.

The banquet at Tingsong Pavilion was also drawing to a close.

Every dish on the rosewood round table was expensive, but there was still a lot left on each plate.

The lingering aroma of the delicious food, mixed with the subtle scents of tea and wine, creates a unique, languid atmosphere that accompanies the aftermath of a grand feast.

For people like Duan Hongming and Jiang Tao, the meaning of eating is no longer just about eating; it's more about socializing.

"Young friend Jiang, speaking of which, I have been seeing your news quite often on the internet lately."

Duan Hongming spoke slowly, his voice carrying the composure characteristic of an elder, and his gaze toward Jiang Tao was full of appreciation.

Of course, there's a lot of exaggeration in what he said.

This morning, he had someone investigate Jiang Tao's background, which gave him a better understanding of him.

A big shot like Duan Hongming would never normally spend his time watching videos on platforms like Kuaishou and Douyin.

Time is money to them; tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars in a minute might seem like a joke to ordinary people, but it's a fact for them.

"Hehe, I never expected that someone as insignificant as me could catch Elder Duan's eye. I am truly honored."

Jiang Tao smiled and agreed, behaving very politely.

Duan Hongming paused for a moment, then continued with a smile:
"Your courage and skill in subduing a knife-wielding fugitive in the supermarket with your bare hands is truly amazing."

"And you at the Huabin Course, you made more than a dozen holes-in-one in one game, it's unbelievable."

"I've been playing golf for most of my life, and I know that it takes more than just luck."

Duan Hongming spoke calmly, without the slightest exaggeration, but his undisguised appreciation stirred something within Yuan Mengqi, who was standing to the side.

She glanced at Jiang Tao, only to see him calm, nodding slightly, with a faint smile on his face, without the slightest hint of smugness.

Duan Hongming gazed into the distance, a hint of emotion in his eyes: "To be honest, seeing you, young friend Jiang, and especially learning about what you've done, reminds me of some old friends from my youth. They had a chivalrous spirit, always ready to help those in need, and possessed extraordinary skills without flaunting them... Seeing you, I truly feel like we've known each other for a long time."

Hearing his boss say "I wish we had met sooner," Zeng Lingyun's opinion of Jiang Tao rose even higher.

In all his years, he had only seen a handful of young people who received such high praise from their boss.

Jiang Tao could also sense the sincerity in Duan Hongming's words.

This old man is not only the owner of Jinghua Pavilion, but his background and influence in Beijing are also extraordinary.

For him, befriending such a person would naturally be beneficial and harmless.

After the meal, he also felt that this old man Duan had a cheerful personality, broad knowledge, and was quite compatible with him.

A thought flickered in Jiang Tao's mind, and a faint smile appeared on his face:

"It is an honor for me to have met a senior like you, Mr. Duan, in my lifetime."

As he spoke, his right hand seemingly casually slipped into his pocket.

His mind focused on the Sumeru space ring on his fingertip, and instantly locked onto an item.

With a flick of his finger, a small, warm-to-the-touch porcelain bottle appeared in his palm.

This bottle has an antique feel and a simple design. It has no labels on it, yet it has an indescribable charm.

"It's our first meeting, Mr. Duan. I am deeply grateful for your hospitality. This is just a small token of my appreciation, a return gift."

As Jiang Tao spoke with a smile, he gently placed the small porcelain bottle on the table and pushed it toward Duan Hongming:
"This medicine has some special effects on nourishing vital energy and strengthening the body's foundation. You might as well try it when you have some free time."

He didn't elaborate on the specific wonders of this "Divine Five Sons Progeny Pill".

He simply mentioned that it had "remarkable effects on nourishing the body".

But no one present was a fool. The "return gift" that Jiang Tao solemnly presented on such an occasion was certainly not an ordinary health product.

Duan Hongming's gaze fell on the small porcelain bottle, and his eyes narrowed slightly.

Having lived most of his life and seen countless rare and precious things, his intuition told him that this bottle of medicine was extraordinary.

"Haha, very well, it's only polite to reciprocate, so I'll accept this gift."

Duan Hongming did not refuse at all, nor did he ask for details about the medicine's effects.

He just laughed and reached out to pick up the porcelain bottle, carefully putting it into the inner pocket of his jacket.

The old man and the young man exchanged gifts as they met.

The atmosphere at the table became even more harmonious and intimate because of this little incident.

After the banquet, Zeng Lingyun personally escorted Jiang Tao and Yuan Mengqi out of "Tingsong Pavilion".

After passing through numerous corridors, we arrived at the grand yet elegant gate of Jinghua Pavilion.

"Mr. Jiang, Ms. Yuan, the car is ready."

Zeng Lingyun bowed slightly and pointed to a black Mercedes-Benz S-Class sedan parked in front of the door.

A young man in a smart driver's uniform was standing respectfully beside the car. When he saw them get out, he immediately opened the back door.

"Manager Zeng, thank you for your trouble."

Jiang Tao nodded in greeting.

Just as Jiang Tao was protecting Yuan Mengqi and preparing to bend down to get into the car.

His gaze inadvertently swept across the driver's face.

It was a face that showed signs of weariness from life, but whose features were still somewhat familiar.

Almost simultaneously, the driver also looked up and met Jiang Tao's gaze.

In an instant, the professional respect on the driver's face froze, replaced by extreme astonishment and disbelief.

"Jiang... Jiang Tao?"

Li Fei greeted Jiang Tao somewhat uncertainly.

Today, Jiang Tao possesses both charisma and good looks.
Even his facial features have been subtly adjusted to a more perfect state under the influence of his "charm value".

Young and handsome, with a calm and confident demeanor, he exudes a vibrant energy!

Let alone Li Fei, an old classmate who is rarely seen, even Jiang Tao's relatives and friends say he has changed a lot.

"Li Fei, it's been a long time. I didn't expect to run into you here."

Jiang Tao looked at Li Fei and greeted him with a gentle smile.

The driver in front of me had a weathered look on his face and a respectful expression.

The image of Jiang Tao as a vibrant young man on the basketball court, passionately discussing his entrepreneurial dreams in the dormitory, was surprisingly difficult to reconcile with his own.

"Oh? Li Fei, you know Mr. Jiang?"

Zeng Lingyun was also taken aback for a moment, and asked with some curiosity.

Li Fei respectfully replied, "Yes, President Zeng! Jiang Tao... Mr. Jiang is my college classmate; we're in the same major."

"Haha, to meet unexpectedly in such a big city like Beijing, fate is truly wonderful."

Zeng Lingyun smiled and looked at Jiang Tao: "Then you old classmates can chat on the way, I won't bother you any longer."

"Mr. Jiang, Ms. Yuan, have a safe journey."

Zeng Lingyun tactfully shook hands with Jiang Tao again to say goodbye, then turned and walked towards the main entrance of Jinghua Pavilion.

His presence is clearly hindering the two old classmates from catching up.

Looking at Jiang Tao, a composed man treated as an honored guest by his boss, and then reflecting on his own current situation...

A complex emotion flickered across his slightly weathered face.

"Old classmate, you've really changed a lot these days!" Li Fei's tone carried genuine amazement, but also a hint of barely perceptible melancholy.

"I see your videos all the time when I use Kuaishou and Douyin. You've become a big internet celebrity! I never expected you to be a VIP guest of our CEO Zeng."

As Zeng Lingyun's personal driver, Li Fei was all too aware of the weight Jinghua Pavilion held in the capital and the power that Zeng Lingyun represented.

Jiang Tao's status as a distinguished guest here indicates that he belongs to a social class that Jiang Tao can only look up to.

"What big internet celebrity or VIP? I am still me."

Jiang Tao smiled, offered no further explanation, and instead asked:
"I remember you used to run your own restaurant, didn't you? How come..."

"Hey, don't even mention it, it's all a sad story."

Li Fei said with a wry smile, "My restaurant had only been open for less than a month when the mask shortage hit, and I lost so much money that I didn't even have any bitter tea left."

"I sold the house, sold the car, divorced my wife, and now I still owe the bank more than 30 yuan."

"I only managed to find this driving job thanks to my aunt's connections."

"Ten thousand yuan a month is quite a good income for someone like me who is all alone and has no family to support."

Li Fei spoke casually, but the helplessness and resignation he felt after being worn down by life were hard to hide.

As Jiang Tao listened to Li Fei's story, he subtly focused his mind, quietly activating his [Talent Scout] skill, and his gaze fell on Li Fei.

Name: Li Fei

[Talent: Restaurant Management]

[Potential Level: ★★★★★]

[Status: Unlucky, feeling unappreciated, but still harboring an entrepreneurial spirit.]

Five-star talent in restaurant management!

Upon seeing Li Fei's five-star talent, a glint of light flashed in Jiang Tao's eyes.

It seems that Li Fei's previous business failure was not due to a lack of ability, but rather because he was destroyed by an uncontrollable external force.

Such a talented person is now being wasted on being a driver; it's a complete waste of his potential!

Jiang Tao now holds the power of the "Delicious Casserole" and the "Lucky Cat," which can powerfully boost customer traffic and wealth.

He is bound to make a name for himself in the catering industry in the future.

Although there are currently only two "Jiang's Delicious Casserole Restaurants" in preparation.

But in the near future, Jiang Tao plans to open delicious casserole restaurants in all areas of Beijing.

We could never have too many business-savvy talents like Li Fei!
"Sorry, Lao Zeng, I'm definitely taking you as my driver!"

Jiang Tao silently apologized to Zeng Lingyun, then looked at Li Fei and asked with a smile:
"Old classmate, would you be interested in coming and working with me in the restaurant business?"

"Work with you... in the restaurant business?"

After hearing Jiang Tao's words, it took Li Fei more than ten seconds to realize that he was being poached.

"Yes, and besides, didn't you do it yourself before? You have experience in this area."

Jiang Tao looked at Li Fei with a smile and said sincerely:

"I currently have two stores in operation, and I plan to open more branches in the future. At present, I am still lacking a few trustworthy and capable people to take charge."

"As for the salary, we'll start with 20,000 yuan. We'll then give you bonuses or shares depending on the project's profitability."

"A salary of 2? Plus bonuses?"

Li Fei was extremely tempted when he heard about the salary Jiang Tao offered him!

He now drives for Zeng Lingyun, and his salary is just over 10,000 yuan. After deducting social insurance and housing fund contributions, he only gets a little over 7,000 yuan, less than 8,000 yuan.

Now, Jiang Tao is trying to recruit him, starting at 2 yuan, and promising that the price will increase further in the future.

Moreover, he was working in the catering industry, which he was most familiar with, most attached to, and most resentful of!

Li Fei's heart began to pound uncontrollably.

He could almost hear the sound of his blood rushing through his veins.

Although driving for Zeng Lingyun provided a stable income, it was ultimately not what he aspired to.

His ambition to make a name for himself in the catering industry has only been temporarily defeated by reality.

His original plan was to pay off the bank loan first, and then save up 100,000 or 200,000 yuan.

He will regroup and return to the restaurant business.

However, there is a harsh reality.

By the time he had paid off his debts and saved up a few hundred thousand yuan as start-up capital, he was already over fifty years old.

Now, Jiang Tao's invitation is an excellent opportunity for him!

My old classmate is now a huge internet celebrity with tens of millions of followers!

With just a little promotion, a store can be turned into a popular spot for social media check-ins.

The success rate is dozens or even hundreds of times higher than working alone!
Moreover, they offered me a salary of 2 right off the bat...

Looking at Jiang Tao, Li Fei was deeply moved, feeling as if he had met his "mentor"!

A monthly salary of 2!
Li Fei has lived for thirty years and has never received such a high salary before!
Without much hesitation, after only a few seconds of weighing the options, Li Fei had already made his decision!

As for whether it's reliable or not, or whether it might just be a trap for myself...

joke.

My old classmate is now a huge internet celebrity with tens of millions of followers!

Moreover, even their own boss, a big shot, treated them with great courtesy.

What is their current status and position?
Why would someone like me, a poor loser who has nothing, try to fool myself?
What do I have that would make someone want to lie to me?
They've given me such a great opportunity.

If you don't know how to seize opportunities, you deserve to be poor your whole life and work as someone else's driver your whole life!

"Brother Tao, I'll work for you! I'll quit my job right now!"

Li Fei nodded excitedly and turned to go find Zeng Lingyun to resign.

"Wait, wait, you've been like this for years, still so impatient."

Jiang Tao smiled and stopped him:
"There's no rush. You should hand over your work here first."

"Okay! Okay! No problem!"

Li Fei readily agreed, the gloom and fatigue on his face seemingly swept away, and he exuded a new vitality.

"You think you can just leave us here?"

Jiang Tao chuckled and playfully punched Li Fei on the shoulder, then introduced Yuan Mengqi, who was obediently listening to him and Li Fei's conversation:

"Yuan Mengqi, my girlfriend."

Li Fei said respectfully, "Hello, sister-in-law!"

"Hey, hello Li Fei, nice to meet you."

Yuan Mengqi laughed heartily when she heard Li Fei call her "sister-in-law".

Jiang Tao laughed and said, "Take us to the Century Hotel first, and then you can slowly resign after we get back."

"Okay, Brother Jiang! I guarantee a smooth and fast delivery!"

Li Fei immediately understood and gave Jiang Tao a "I understand, brother" look. (End of Chapter)