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

Gong Yuelong nodded silently, his mind racing with calculations.

"For example, resource exchange," Jiang Yan continued. "You may not have money, but you have people, execution capabilities, and now... there's also some information I've let slip."

She said it without any hesitation, "If you finish your work at the sports center well, I can mention it casually. Whether you can join the conversation or not depends on your own ability."

This practically points out both potential clients and the key to getting in touch.

"There's another kind," Jiang Yan said in a more serious tone, "dealing with 'trouble.' Not the kind of shady work like Qiu Laosan's, but trouble on the construction site."

For example, some construction waste and scrap materials are stuck and can't be moved due to permit or site issues, affecting the progress. These kinds of problems require people with connections, who understand the rules, and who keep quiet to handle them.

After she finished speaking, she leaned back and looked at Gong Yuelong:

"These paths don't require you to invest a lot of money upfront. They rely on foresight, execution, and..."

She paused, then said, "It's the trust that others have in you to handle things. That trust is built up slowly by doing a good job time and time again, and by keeping your mouth shut every time."

The office fell silent.

These words were not at all exaggerated; they practically laid out, dissected and analyzed, the possible paths to survival and development for a penniless, destitute person in the coming months, presenting them to him in detail.

Gong Yuelong knew that this was not just guidance; it was almost a low-cost path to rise to prominence tailored for him by Jiang Yan based on her vision and resources.

The information fee was worth far more than several hundred thousand.

He leaned forward and said, "I don't have money right now, but I have a group of hardworking fellow villagers, and when it comes to courage... that's what a person with millions in debt has the least to lack."

He smiled and said, "Boss Jiang, you've shoved this map and strategy guide into my hands. If I still can't make a name for myself, then I'll really be letting you down after all this ice cream and all that talk."

Jiang Yan looked at him.

His response was neither humble nor overly solemn, but rather confident.

This attitude, rather than any oath or vow, made her feel more...reliable.

That's all I have to say. Ice cream... don't buy vanilla next time, it's too sweet.

Gong Yuelong stood up, knowing it was time to leave.

As he reached the door, he turned back and said earnestly, "I understand, Boss Jiang... Jiang Yan, next time please make it with a tea flavor to cleanse the palate."

The door closed gently.

Jiang Yan sat alone in the large chair, her gaze fixed on the empty box. After a long while, she gave a very faint smile.

She fed him the food directly to his mouth.

Whether it can swallow it and grow flesh and blood depends on the dragon in the mud, its own teeth, and its own fate.

……

"So this is what it feels like to not have to rush to the labor market before dawn to grab work... This is what it's like."

Early in the morning, his biological clock woke Gong Yuelong up.

He opened his eyes; the room was still gloomy.

My body instinctively sprang up to grab my clothes.

He stopped halfway through reaching out his hand.

He paused for two seconds before realizing what was happening—the pouring of concrete for the sports center was proceeding smoothly, and Cao Dayong was watching closely.

There were old oxen running around in the waste on the Gold Coast. Today, he didn't have any urgent matters that required him to rush over immediately.

He grinned silently, then lay back down, resting his head on his hands, staring at the ceiling.

This sudden gap brought him a strange sense of comfort.

But this comfort didn't last long.

In less than fifteen minutes, he couldn't stay in bed any longer.

It's not anxiety, it's that restless energy driven by debt that keeps me from staying still.

He simply got up and put on his clothes.

Take a deep breath, get into position, slide your feet lightly, clench your fists, and begin shadowboxing.

Left jab, right straight punch, sway, slide step... the movements are a bit rusty, but the basic stance is still there.

This boxing training was the result of his hard work back then in order to win her over—the beautiful woman who later became his ex-wife.

Back then, I thought that having a good physique would make me look more energetic and give me an edge.

Later, as the company grew and social engagements increased, this habit persisted intermittently, becoming the only outlet for frustration.

Unexpectedly, the company collapsed, leaving him heavily in debt. Ironically, his neglected martial arts skills became the thing that helped him get through the most difficult period.

Amidst the whooshing sound of air being cut, he could feel his body awakening, slowly, gradually returning to its own grasp.

After throwing several sets of punches in one go, his back was soaked with sweat.

He stopped, slightly out of breath, and wiped the sweat from his face.

A clear thought popped into my head: with the speed and force of those few moves, even if three or five fools rushed at me, they might not be able to get close.

He weighed it in his mind—not estimated, but when his muscles and bones were all engaged, confidence naturally arose in his mind.

In the chaotic world of the lower class, the more self-protection you have, the more confident you become.

He walked to the sink, scooped up water, and splashed it on his face.

Jiang Yan's words from last night, along with a chill, seeped into my mind.

She even pointed out the potential partners and risks.

This isn't just general talk; it's a real guide.

He straightened up and looked at the gradually brightening sky in the courtyard.

The debt is still weighing on us, but at least we can see a few real roads ahead.

We can't keep running around like headless flies.

What Jiang Yan handed over wasn't a lifeline, but a test. Only by answering it well would one be qualified to sit at a bigger table.

The most important thing right now is to make the 5,000-square-meter foundation of the sports center look beautiful and put up a good sign first.

Then, riding on that momentum, I went to try out all the doors she mentioned.

He was rapidly calculating in his mind, his eyes growing calmer and brighter.

There's no such thing as being born with good fortune. It's just about turning every time you grit your teeth and persevere into capital for the next attempt.

He shook the water droplets off his hands, his expression calm.

……

Gong Yuelong strolled to his usual neighborhood and went into a chain fast food restaurant he hadn't been to in a long time.

Pushing open the door, a blast of cold air hits you, instantly shutting out the stuffy heat outside.

The store was bright and clean, with neatly arranged plastic tables and chairs. Several uniformed staff were busy behind the counter, and the cash register occasionally made a crisp sound.

He walked to the ordering counter,

"One signature braised pork set meal, with a large portion of rice."

The young waiter flashed a standard professional smile: "Sir, the set meal comes with a drink: Coke, Sprite, or lemon tea. Which would you like?"

"Lemon tea, no ice, please."

"Okay, that'll be twenty-two yuan in total. Scan the code here."

Gong Yuelong took out his phone to scan the QR code and pay. Compared to the days when a meal at a roadside stall cost less than ten yuan, this price was indeed a step up.

But he wasn't really bothered—he could afford to spend the money now.

He took a number and found a seat towards the back.

The chair is made of hard plastic, but it is clean;

The air conditioner vents were located diagonally above, and a continuous stream of cool air blew down, quickly drying the thin layer of sweat that had accumulated on the way.

It was very quiet around, with only faint background music and the soft clinking of cutlery.