After my divorce at thirty, I developed an intelligence network.

Upon hearing this, Gong Yuelong straightened up and smiled.

"Sister Qin is joking. What blind date?" He shook his head. "I just feel that people can't always live a slovenly life. They should tidy themselves up and look more energetic when they're working."

"I used to live in a daze, but now I understand that I have to pay back the debts I owe and move on with life."

The other day I saw a toy shop window with a singing doll that my daughter, Duoduo, had mentioned before… Her dad has to be able to afford it.”

These words were spoken casually, and Widow Qin began to scrutinize the man before her once more.

This simple hope, spoken of by him, made Widow Qin feel that the Gong Yuelong before her seemed somewhat different from the gloomy and dejected Gong Yuelong of a while ago.

It's not just a change of appearance; something inside is different.

Gong Yuelong smiled.

"I've been lucky these past few days, got some decent jobs, and finally made some money back. I haven't said a word, and I haven't asked anyone for any help."

"I'm thinking of cooking a few dishes and having a simple meal in the yard, which will also help... get rid of this bad luck."

"I'll have to trouble you to cook a few dishes. I'll prepare the vegetables and meat."

Widow Qin readily agreed.

"Leave this job to me, and I guarantee everyone will eat well!"

I thanked Widow Qin; the car was all ready. I went out to find Jiang Yan.

Gong Yuelong pushed open the heavy office door and saw the beautiful creditor, Meiyan, looking slightly surprised.

This Gong Yuelong... is completely different from the one I met last time.

"Sister Jiang," Gong Yuelong said, holding a brown paper envelope in his hand.

"The steel bar issue is settled. This is your share, including the principal and the agreed-upon profit split."

He gave a precise figure: "It's twenty-three thousand one hundred and twenty dollars in total. Count it."

Jiang Yan's gaze shifted from Gong Yuelong's face to the envelope, but she didn't immediately take it.

The way this person handles things is decisive, efficient, and neither arrogant nor humble; it even carries a sense of professionalism and the shrewdness of someone who has just completed a transaction.

"You've been quick," Jiang Yan finally said.

"Everything went smoothly, and we followed the rules."

Jiang Yan nodded, looking at Gong Yuelong as if she were getting to know him all over again.

"I never realized before, President Gong..." She used this slightly teasing but no longer sarcastic old title, "that you're quite adept at this kind of borderline work. You're clear-headed and clean-handed."

This was the first time she had given a clear positive assessment, although it referred to her abilities in the gray area.

Gong Yuelong said calmly, "To make a living, you can't break the rules."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yan's lips curved into a barely perceptible smile.

She didn't reply, but picked up a cigarette, flicked it out, and first held it low to her nose.

Then he knocked another cigarette out of the cigarette case and gently pushed the cigarette case, along with the cigarette that had popped out, toward Gong Yuelong on the edge of the table.

Gong Yuelong naturally reached out and took the cigarette, then lit it.

Jiang Yan exhaled a puff of smoke, then said:

"If you just stay at the construction site and collect all that waste, the ceiling will only be so high."

"Let's wait a while. If there's a suitable event, I'll let you know."

Gong Yuelong observed this clearly. Jiang Yan's attitude shifted from scrutiny to assessment, and then to this proposal; her change was readily apparent.

Gong Yuelong's mind raced:

"Thank you for your kind offer, Sister Jiang. Please let me know if there's anything I can do to help."

He didn't excitedly agree immediately, but merely expressed his willingness to continue cooperating.

Jiang Yan seemed satisfied with his reaction and waved her hand, "Alright, I've taken the money. Contact me by phone if you need anything."

Gong Yuelong tactfully took his leave and turned to leave.

Sitting back in the truck, Gong Yuelong pondered Jiang Yan's last words: "Let's get together, I'll call you."

This not only signifies potential new business, but also indicates a subtle change in how he is perceived by people at Jiang Yan's level.

He went from being a single debtor to a potential collaborator who might be of use to him.

When opportunities arise, one should remain clear-headed.

He had to admit that being looked at with such scrutinizing eyes by a beautiful and capable woman like Jiang Yan, and receiving such a suggestion, did indeed send a surge of burning excitement through him.

"Gong Yuelong, oh Gong Yuelong," he smirked silently.

"If someone gives you a pole, you really think you can climb up it? Is it that easy to get into that game?"

The so-called "game" is nothing more than a higher-level exchange of value.

Having worked in the construction industry for so many years, he knows it all too well.

Amidst clinking glasses and exchanging toasts, the bigwigs were exchanging information about projects, approval processes, funding channels, and qualification affiliations.

Everyone comes to the table with their own chips, whether it's power, capital, unique skills or qualifications, or a black glove that can solve a specific problem.

Jiang Yan was willing to deliver those words not because she pitied him, nor because she suddenly had a change of heart.

It was because he proved his existence as a specific value in the matter of ten tons of steel bars.

However, the value of a tool depends on the scarcity and complexity of the problems it can solve.

What if the next game requires a certain financial threshold to enter?

Is his meager, recently proven value enough to demonstrate?

Then, why would anyone invite you to hang out? Because you offer cigarettes? Because you have a good attitude?

"Climbing up is an opportunity; if you can't climb steadily, you'll fall and be shattered to pieces. Whether you can stay steady or not doesn't depend on whether others pull you up, but on whether you have enough solid bricks under your feet."

He slowly exhaled, his mind becoming increasingly clear.

What truly enabled him to climb was not the rope thrown down by others, but the ability, capital, and reputation he built up piece by piece.

In this industry, connections might get you a ticket to the game, but what keeps you sitting at the table from being kicked out is what you can actually offer in exchange.

Once he understood this, he settled down.

A narrow victory in the first round. But the real game of building one's own capabilities, capital, and reputation has only just begun.

Gong Yuelong steadied his emotions and focused his mind.

Today's questions begin.

[System, please tell me if there are any unexpected intelligence or resources similar to ten tons of steel bars that are of high value and can be quickly converted into cash today?]

Gong Yuelong used the most direct way of asking the question.

The light screen rippled slightly, and blue data streams swept across like a waterfall.

[Item investigated: High-value short-term monetization opportunities]

[Information scanning and probability deduction in progress...]

[Thinking for three seconds]

[Result of consideration: None (No target matching the criteria was detected within the current host contact radius and information dimension)]

"really."

Gong Yuelong was not surprised; on the contrary, he felt a sense of reassurance that came as a result.

People who frequent construction sites have limited access to information, so encountering something like ten tons of steel bars is a matter of pure chance.

It's like stumbling upon a nugget of gold in a river of gold dust that has been sifted through countless times by countless people. It's luck, but you can't expect to stumble upon one every time you go out.