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

hum!

The light screen visibly shook!

The blue data stream is flickering erratically, as if it's overloaded!

[Under consideration...involving a vast number of uncertain variables such as macroeconomic policies, urban planning, land finance, and capital flows...]

[Thinking time: Cannot be precisely estimated]

[Requirements for consideration: Access to municipal-level or higher planning databases, real-time capital flow monitoring data, etc.]

"This..." Gong Yuelong was somewhat taken aback, and immediately dismissed the thought.

Once the light screen stabilized, he tried again, this time asking an even more ethereal question:

[Intelligence, could you tell me how to establish a stable and secure channel for transferring benefits with a specific person who holds key power in project approval?]

Even as Gong Yuelong's questions became increasingly absurd and even teetered on the edge of danger, the system still answered every question.

The answers provided either require a lengthy period of intelligence gathering and strategic thinking, or they point to aspects that require huge sums of money, special resources, or extremely high risks to leverage.

Gong Yuelong is currently unable to bear either of these.

After he tested it five times, the blue light from the screen noticeably dimmed. Only then did Gong Yuelong stop making any more pointless demands.

As he reviewed the various feedbacks from the system, the restlessness that had been quietly growing in his heart due to the series of successes was completely extinguished.

"The system provides intelligence, but the value and difficulty of achieving that intelligence are strictly commensurate with my own resources, status, and capabilities. If the results I want are too ambitious and I simply cannot handle them, then a feasible path cannot be formed."

"Thinking you can get something for nothing and rise to the top overnight with just a few pieces of intelligence is pure fantasy."

Those unrealistic questions I just asked were partly a test of the system's limits, and partly a brief outpouring of my own inflated desires.

Gong Yuelong finished reading in silence, leaned back in the driver's seat, and slowly exhaled.

Returning to reality, even the most skilled cook can't cook without rice. I'm currently a lone wolf burdened with huge debts and bankrupt credit, with virtually no influence or resources left.

Even if you follow the system's instructions and seize this opportunity, you can only try to advance to the intermediate mode at most.

Moreover, this is based on a series of fragile prerequisites, such as being able to persuade Engineer Chen to make a recommendation, being able to contact old brothers who are willing to work with him, and being able to convince the workers to work first and pay later.

Even if everything goes smoothly, what you ultimately pocket, after deducting expenses and profit sharing, might only be slightly better than doing odd jobs for a few days, far from turning your life around.

He firmly engraved the keywords "city sports center," "Engineer Zhao," "five thousand," and "seventy-two hours" in his mind.

Every step from here on requires him to take concrete actions:

First, go back to the compound and take advantage of the dinner party tonight to sound out Lao Niu and the others and see if they have any connections they can use.

Tomorrow, I need to go see Engineer Chen again. This time I can't go empty-handed; I need to think about how to bring it up...

……

The sky over Zibo at dusk was a dull gray with a hint of weary, dark red.

At this time of day, the shared apartment is usually still deserted, with most of the people who went out to look for work still struggling in the evening rush hour traffic or at the last construction sites.

But today is different.

Gong Yuelong and Widow Qin were busy at the public pool in the courtyard.

Gong Yuelong changed out of his usual outfit and put on a clean old T-shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, deftly scraping fish scales with his hands.

He came back early and went to the market to pick out a live grass carp, cut a pound of pork belly, and weighed out some seasonal vegetables.

Widow Qin, wearing an apron, was washing vegetables and chopping meat nearby. She glanced at Gong Yuelong's fish-scraping technique and a slight smile appeared on her lips.

"Wow, you must have cooked a lot before, right? Your technique is quite skilled."

"I was too busy before and didn't do much. But these days... I've picked it up again." Gong Yuelong's hands kept moving, and his tone was normal.

The pot on the stove was simmering with bone broth, steaming and releasing a rich aroma of meat mixed with the scents of scallions and ginger, which began to permeate the courtyard.

This aroma, in an air usually filled only with the smells of instant noodles and sweat, seemed exceptionally luxurious and enticing.

Old Niu was the first to return.

He dragged himself into the courtyard, covered in dust, his face numb and exhausted.

But then she twitched her nose twice. "Wow! It smells so good! Sister Qin, are you having a special meal today?"

When he saw Gong Yuelong, he realized what was going on and said with a smile, "Hey! You really did it? I thought you were just joking this afternoon! Oh dear, this... this is too much of a waste!"

His shouting made quite a commotion.

Next, Yu Qin, who works in plumbing, electrical, and heating installation, also rode back on that old bicycle, with a dirty tool bag hanging on the handlebars.

He was equally exhausted, but upon hearing Lao Niu's words, he exclaimed, "Lao Gong! That's a real treat! I was just wondering if I'd be eating nothing but steamed buns again tonight!"

"It's no trouble at all, just some home-cooked food." Gong Yuelong wiped his hands. "We've all taken good care of each other these past few days. Since we're all a bit free today, let's have a good time and get rid of any bad luck."

Widow Qin chimed in with a smile, "That's right, Brother Gong is really being kind. You two are all dirty, go wash up and change your clothes, you'll be fine in a little while."

"Old Yu, do you still have a folding table in your room? Move it out and set it up. Old Niu, go and tidy up all the stools in the yard that are still usable."

The food and drinks were prepared quickly.

The conversation always starts off lighthearted, revolving around where the vegetables are cheap, how tiring the day's work is, and interesting anecdotes from the construction site.

But gradually, as the food was served and the glasses were filled, the conversation, just like in the example, was subtly drawn back by an invisible hand, returning to what everyone cared about most—

Where are the jobs tomorrow? Where can I find higher pay? I heard some project is starting up again...

Yu Qin's dark face flushed red, and he became more talkative.

He spoke of his son with pride.

"Yucai Middle School in the east of the city is a private school. It's strict, but the teaching is decent. My son... goes to high school there."

He paused, then said, "Our generation suffered from a lack of education; we can't let our children follow the same path. So, gritting our teeth, we sent them in."

Old Niu, who was picking up food with his chopsticks, paused for a moment, looked at Yu Qin with a look of surprise in his eyes, but didn't say anything.

Private high schools are not something that ordinary families can easily dream of.

Yu Qin didn't notice Lao Niu's gaze and continued speaking, the pride in his tone quickly being suppressed by the heavier weight of reality:

"Tuition is really expensive, it costs 12,000 yuan per semester. That doesn't include accommodation, food, materials... all the miscellaneous costs, it'll easily cost at least 30,000 yuan a year."

Old Niu finally couldn't help but smack his lips and mutter under his breath:

"Old Yu, you're something else! Supporting such a student... You work on construction sites every day, how can you earn that much?"

Yu Qin shook his head, picked up his wine glass, and took another swig. The spiciness made him squint.

"Hey, Brother Niu, you don't understand. It's not as simple as whether you can make it or not!"

My wife and I work from dawn till dusk, doing all sorts of odd jobs and construction work. We tighten our belts all year round, just barely making ends meet to cover these expenses, and we can't save a single penny.