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

Gong Yuelong remained silent.

He vaguely knew some of this information, but never with such systematic clarity;

It's more about the aspects he simply can't reach after falling into obscurity.

This is not just an introduction; it's a survival navigation map and a risk warning map.

Jiang Yan was very satisfied to see him calmly absorbing the information.

She's not afraid of people being ambitious, she's afraid of people being brainless.

You can only use something if you can understand and remember it.

She added casually:

"Even seasoned veterans who've been in the business for over a decade can't piece together even 30% of this stuff."

Mr. Zhou, the owner of Rongtai, wanted to understand his competitors' strengths and weaknesses two years ago. He hired a consulting firm in the provincial capital, and the report, which was a hundred times more shoddy, cost him 800,000 yuan.

Her tone was flat, as if she were stating a fact.

"What I say is not just information, but also which lines can be crossed, which landmines will explode, and which doors will be useful if knocked on."

"That's how the market works: big fish eat small fish, small fish eat shrimp, and shrimp..."

She didn't finish speaking, but merely raised her chin slightly.

"You're not even a shrimp now, you're just a bit of fishy smell in the mud."

But the fishy smell attracts fish, and it also attracts birds that want to eat fish. The choice is yours.

Her words came to an abrupt end; there was no encouragement, no promise, only stark reality and cold rules.

But this map itself is the most solid, reliable information and the clearest signal—

She began to include him in her field of vision, or at least, someone worth investing some intelligence resources in.

Gong Yuelong took a deep breath and nodded solemnly.

He understood the thunderous undercurrent beneath those calm words.

The value of this map lies not in how many pitfalls it might help him avoid, but in the fact that it marks:

Within Jiang Yan's intricate web of relationships, he, Gong Yuelong, was subtly reassigned from his position as a debtor who needed to be viewed with caution.

They were placed in candidate cells that might be worth long-term observation or even limited cultivation.

He didn't utter any empty words, but simply replied in a deep voice:

"I'll take the map. I'll find my own way."

After Jiang Yan finished describing the map, she seemed to have exhausted herself, and sank deeper into the back of her chair.

She was silent for a moment, then suddenly let out a sneer, her voice tinged with alcohol.

"Outsiders see me as Boss Jiang, someone with connections and influence, someone who seems to be involved in everything, from drinking tea to socializing."

She raised her hand and made a very feminine little gesture.

"But once you pick up this bowl of rice, it's not so easy to put it down. What meal is free? What drink is sweet?"

She didn't look at Gong Yuelong, as if talking to herself:

"In my early years, I was a building materials deliveryman, traveling around delivering goods in my uncle's truck."

Those people on the construction site, seeing you're a young woman, their words, actions, and movements... ugh.

She shook her head and didn't go into details. "Later, I gritted my teeth and went it alone. I started by selling a few bags of cement on credit, then took on some small side projects, and then was able to lend some money... Every step of the way involved exchanging goods for something."

Time, reputation, health... sometimes... I almost risked my life.

She picked up the cup of cold tea, but didn't drink it; she just held it.

"It looks stable now, but you're still hanging in the air. Connections? They can help you today, but they can also strangle you tomorrow."

Mr. Zhou from Rongtai, you seem very polite, right? Last year, he was having trouble with cash flow and came to me for help, paying me every penny of interest.

Back at Guangsha, Director Li's wife has her eye on a bag, and since I happen to have a connection with her, I can get her one too.

"That scoundrel Li Guangtou, he'd slam his fist on the table after drinking, and I'd have to smile and go along with it..."

She paused, her voice lowering.

"Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night and think about all this time, dealing with these men, smiling obsequiously, scheming, taking risks... what's the point?"

This question came out of nowhere, completely unlike Jiang Yan's usual self.

Perhaps the alcohol amplified a deep-seated sense of loneliness.

Gong Yuelong listened quietly without interrupting, and his face showed no exaggerated sympathy or surprise.

Upon hearing this, a faint smile slowly appeared on his face.

It's not frivolous, nor is it pandering; rather, it's a tacit understanding between two people who have both weathered the storms of life.

He leaned forward slightly, his voice steady:

"I'm just trying to be at ease. I'm smiling and scheming now so that I won't have to smile at everyone in the future."

Taking risks now is about taking control of those risks, not letting others control your lifeline.

Jiang Yan suddenly looked up at him.

I stared at him for several seconds, then suddenly laughed too, this time the laugh seemed more genuine.

"You're a sensible person. It seems that you didn't waste your time working for President Gong before."

After Jiang Yan finished speaking, she seemed to suddenly remember something. She tore open the packaging, picked up a small spoon, scooped out a corner of the slightly softened ice cream, and put it in her mouth.

The cool, creamy texture melted in her mouth, and she breathed out a soft breath.

She gave a wry smile. "The taste is alright. Don't bring it next time, it's too greasy."

That's what she said, but she didn't push the empty box away.

Gong Yuelong, observing this, naturally replied, "Next time, let's try something different. This stuff is just something to eat to mark the occasion and relieve boredom."

Jiang Yan didn't respond to that question, as if the emotional outburst she had just experienced was merely an illusion.

She sat up a little straighter and changed the subject:

"What I just gave you was a map. Now let's talk about your current financial situation—"

I mean, aside from the debt and the beat-up car, I have practically nothing—how am I supposed to find food on this map?

She went straight to the most realistic core issue.

"Going straight into real estate or general contracting is suicide. Without upfront funding or connections to guarantee your entry, you can't even get a ticket in."

"You have to find a loophole. A loophole that big companies find troublesome and don't offer much profit, but you can still hinder their progress or save face."

"For example?" Gong Yuelong asked at the right moment, his expression focused.

"For example, Rongtai had a project last year where the fire sprinkler system failed the pressure test before a surprise inspection, and their own people couldn't handle it."

The outsourced teams either don't have enough time or they raise their prices on the spot.

Finally, a small business owner who usually specializes in plumbing and electrical repairs came in with his team overnight, paid extra for extra materials, and managed to get it done before the inspection team arrived.

That time, he earned more than just wages; he made a lasting impression on Rongtai's engineering manager. After that, he was basically responsible for all the maintenance work in that area.

She glanced at Gong Yuelong: "Didn't you bring a group of fellow villagers from Nanshan? Concrete pouring is hard work, but it's also a technical job. If you do a good job with the sports center, your team will gain a reputation for being obedient and capable of fighting tough battles."

In the future, whenever a project encounters difficulties with pouring, rushes to meet deadlines, or the original work team breaks down, you will be the ready-made fire brigade.

This kind of money is quick to earn, the profit is relatively high, and more importantly—it allows you to directly get in touch with the project manager.