He won 900 million in the lottery.

Wanda Plaza.

It was midday, there wasn't much good food, and we were going to drink, so I chose the fourth floor of Wanda Plaza downstairs from my company.

It's lively with lots of people.

Me: "Mr. Chen, please order. I often eat here; the taste is the best in the area."

There were only three people, so there wasn't much more.

The food is served very quickly when you eat at the mall.

Chen Hangtian: "Yuanyuan told me you went to Shanghai. Is there any new business there?"

Me: "I used to do business in Shanghai and met an old man who was kind to me. I'm going to repay him."

Chen Hangtian: "President Shen is truly a remarkable person."

A thought suddenly struck me: "Mr. Chen, this trip to Shanghai was worthwhile. There was a traditional Chinese medicine doctor there who was good at health preservation. He treated me and I felt really good."

Chen Hangtian gave him a look that only a man could understand: "In that case, I'll give it a try if I have the chance."

Me: "I'll go again in a while. This can be considered a project, and it has the potential to be scaled up. There is a market for it, after all, we both understand."

Chen Hangtian: "President Shen, don't try to keep all the profits to yourself. The construction industry is in a slump lately, and I'm also planning to switch careers."

Chen Yuanyuan listened from the side, feeling somewhat confused.

I was just about to tease him when suddenly someone called my name.

"Tianyi!"

The voice sounded familiar. I turned around and saw an old classmate, but his face was full of vicissitudes. We were the same age, but he had gray hair at his temples.

"Zhang Jian!"

Fourth-tier cities are small; you can run into acquaintances in any slightly lively place.

My friendship with Zhang Jian began in the first year of high school. He was generous and honest. Later, when we went to college, we went our separate ways.

I only heard that he also worked in construction, but I never had any contact with him again.

Zhang Jian: "I recognized your voice. I turned around and looked back. You haven't changed much. When did you come back?"

Me: "I just got back not long ago."

Zhang Jian looked at Chen Hangtian and Chen Yuanyuan beside him and clasped his hands in a fist salute: "I'm sorry to have disturbed you. I haven't seen him in so long, I was just too happy!"

Chen Hangtian and Chen Yuanyuan said they didn't care.

Zhang Jian: "Did you change your phone number?"

Me: "No, my phone number is my WeChat ID."

Zhang Jian: "Okay, I'll contact you again later."

Eating always happens quickly in lively places, and with Zhang Jian's little incident, we finished lunch in no time.

After finishing my meal, I went to pay the bill and found that Zhang Jian had already paid it.

After seeing Chen Hangtian and the other person off, I returned to the company.

I took out my phone and found that Zhang Jian had already requested to add me as a WeChat friend, so I accepted the request immediately.

Zhang Jian: "Aren't you busy right now, bro?"

Me: "Okay, I'll lie down for a while after I finish eating."

Zhang Jian: "Want to have something to drink tonight?"

I thought about it and realized I didn't have anything planned for the evening: "Okay, you find a place, I'll pay, don't argue."

Zhang Jian: "Looks like you've made a fortune out there. Alright, let's rob the rich tonight."

After all these years, Zhang Jian is still so good at handling people. To be honest, it's hard not to like someone who will readily pay for your meal the first time you meet after so many years.

A roadside hot pot stall.

When I arrived at the agreed location, Zhang Jian was already there.

Zhang Jian: "Great, Boss Shen, you're even driving an X3 now."

Me: "I can't compare to you, making a fortune in silence."

Just because Zhang Jian was able to pay for my meal in front of Chen Hangtian, which made me look good, I deserve to drink this tonight!

I took two bottles of Maotai 1935 from the trunk.

Zhang Jian exclaimed with an exaggerated expression, "The boss is so generous!"

I shook the bottle twice, then unscrewed the cap: "You mean 'hitting the rich,' bro! One bottle each, and there are more in the trunk if you need more!"

I casually picked up a couple of bites of food.

According to the rules of the Three Kingdoms, you must first drink three cups in a row!

Me: "Let's chat. Let me learn how you made your fortune!"

Zhang Jian: "Heh, what's the point of making money working on a lousy construction site?"

Zhang Jianjia started out working on construction sites, and his graduation from university was essentially a continuation of his father's business.

During the 08 financial crisis, I lost more than 400 million yuan.

I raised my glass and clinked it with Zhang Jian's: "I can't believe it. Back in 08, when we were still in high school, your family was already millionaires."

Zhang Jian smiled and said, "My dad lost money in business because he lacked knowledge, so I studied hard, hoping that knowledge could change my destiny."

I exclaimed in surprise, "No wonder you were like a completely different person in your final year of high school, with your grades skyrocketing!"

Zhang Jian: "Yes, I gritted my teeth and studied hard, and finally got into a junior college. Even so, my dad was overjoyed."

Zhang Jian's father benefited from the reform and opening up policy, had some business acumen, and knew that he could make money by investing capital.

After graduating from junior college, Zhang Jian followed his father.

Me: "You keep talking about contractors, contractors, are you that kind of person?"

Zhang Jian: "Not at all. I just sell ready-mixed concrete. The contractors you're talking about are all from construction companies or subcontractors."

I don't quite understand. Maybe Chen Hangtian could be called a contractor.

Me: "Ready-mixed concrete? Concrete?"

Zhang Jian: "Yes."

Me: "You're something else, everyone who does this is a big boss."

Zhang Jian gestured with his chin, indicating to the beat-up Jetta next to him: "What a big boss, driving this car."

In the past two years, people have been saying that the real estate market is declining, but houses are still being built one after another.

Now I realize that even concrete business owners end up like this.

In 08, the debt exceeded 400 million yuan.

He turned his life around and paid off his debts in 15 years.

When the pandemic started in 19, we started losing money again.

Until this year, 2023.

Zhang Jian said he had smashed an even bigger hole after finally managing to patch it up.

Me: "Let's have a drink first. I always thought I was having a miserable time, but I never imagined there were people who were even worse off than me."

An hour later.

Each person drank a pound of baijiu (Chinese liquor).

Zhang Jian waved his hand: "I can't drink anymore."

Me: "Okay, that's enough for today. I'll call a designated driver for you."

Zhang Jian: "No need, brother, you go first, my wife will pick me up in a bit."

I……

Me: "Let's chat a little longer, someone will be coming to pick me up soon."

As it turns out, the two men couldn't speak the truth while drunk, let alone play the victim. Zhang Jian was still able to speak normally at first, but then he started crying loudly.

Zhang Jian: "I feel sorry for my wife. When we had money, we were reluctant to spend it and used it all to do business with me. Now that we've lost money, she's suffered too much because of me..."

That's how men are. They can tolerate losing money and suffering losses, but if they promise their wives happiness but then make them suffer with them, they can't stand it.

This is a feeling of helplessness and injustice.

I stood awkwardly to the side, completely unable to get involved.

Because Zhang Jian's wife has already arrived.

Zhang Jian's wailing was overheard by his wife. I really admired her at that moment; she didn't show any emotion on her face even in such a touching scene.

Finally, Zhang Jian's wife helped him into the car.

Zhang Jian's wife: "You're Shen Tianyi?"

I nodded.

Zhang Jian's wife said, "Zhang Jian said he was having dinner with a friend he hadn't seen in a long time tonight, and he was going to get drunk, so I came to pick him up."

Me: "I'm so sorry he drank too much..."

Zhang Jian's wife interrupted me: "He's having a tough time. Over the years, he's been cheated out of a lot of money by friends, and the construction site has been abandoned. Our family is now so indebted that we can't even plug the hole, and we have no money left to invest."

Zhang Jian didn't tell me about being scammed by his friend.

Me: "It was just catching up, nothing more."

Zhang Jian's wife said, "If every time we reminisce we end up getting completely drunk and unconscious, then we shouldn't reminisce at all."

Me: "I'm sorry to have troubled you."

The scene was a bit awkward, and Zhang Jian's wife was dressed rather lightly, with a cold wind blowing on her.

A moment of silence.

Zhang Jian's wife: "I'm sorry."

Zhang Jian's wife squatted on the ground and couldn't help but shed tears. This woman is so strong.

Collapse can happen in an instant.

Zhang Jian's wife and Zhang Jian look alike; even when they break down and cry, they are almost identical.

Unfortunately, Zhang Jian had already fallen asleep in the car.

Fortunately, he was asleep.

I don't know how to comfort you.

But in this situation, I know I have to do something.

Me: "I can help you."

The woman was still crying; she seemed to have heard these words too many times, and they had no effect whatsoever.

Me: "Really, have Zhang Jianlian contact me tomorrow."

The diners around us were already looking in our direction. Two people were crying loudly in succession. Anyone would take a look at such a scene.

Therefore, I couldn't care less about avoiding suspicion.

He awkwardly opened Zhang Jian's car door and helped his wife into the car.

Zhang Jian's wife calmed down for two minutes, then looked at me with embarrassment.

I gestured for her to drive away.

Just then, Qiuya arrived, at the perfect time.