He won 900 million in the lottery.

The tea shop outside.

It contains tea leaves.

Zhao Yigang: "Go up to the second floor."

Su Hang: "This isn't a place for ordinary people. It's usually just me, Director Zhao, and a bunch of my buddies. Qiangzi is the smartest one here."

Everyone has a circle or place centered around themselves, where they can discuss business, drink tea, and chat; this is an indispensable and important factor. These tea-drinking places even control the economic pulse of the city.

It is visible in high-rise buildings.

Hidden in the streets and alleys.

Zhao Yigang: "Have some tea."

He is the director of the district finance bureau. This tea shop doesn't belong to him, or even to any of his relatives. But if you want to get something done from him, you have to buy tea here. That's the rule, the rule within the system.

Since we're here, there's no need to stand on ceremony. I'm a businessman, and he's an official. No matter how cautious he is, he has plenty of confidence in my eyes.

Su Hang: "General Manager Shen and Chen Hangtian jointly opened a construction company. They were the ones who did that car-to-water heating conversion project."

Zhao Yigang: "Didn't you tell Brother Shen about this?"

Su Hang: "They knew about this from the beginning, and they're still working on it enthusiastically."

This compliment made Zhao Yigang think more highly of me.

Zhao Yigang and I played mahjong together before, and Su Hang mentioned having dinner with Zhao Yigang twice.

Su Hang was also somewhat smug at this moment. He and Zhao Yigang were both section chiefs, but Zhao Yigang was the head of the department and held real power. Now, Wu Lei had sent out a message that he would be transferred, and he would probably be on par with Zhao Yigang, or even a step above him.

Me: "I came back from out of town and am making some extra money with my savings. If you two brothers can think of me if you have any good opportunities, I will of course return the favor."

Zhao Yigang: "That's for sure. My place is much better than Chen Hangtian's. It's a fair trade."

At that moment, there was some commotion downstairs.

Zhao Yigang stared at the white Mercedes downstairs, his fingers tapping loudly on the tea table.

I picked up my teacup, took a sip, and followed his gaze downwards: "What's wrong?"

Zhao Yigang: "It's nothing. It's just a kid from my hometown. I don't know how he made a fortune in another place. Now that the New Year is coming soon, he's driving a Mercedes, which is quite eye-catching."

Su Hang: "Your relative?"

Zhao Yigang scoffed, "Just because he's a distant relative doesn't mean he's all high and mighty. I don't like the look of him, so I'm going to get him."

I didn't reply.

It was only our first meeting, so we didn't have a very in-depth conversation.

-----------------------------

Zhao Lei has been back in his hometown for four or five days now. Every time his Mercedes is parked in front of his house, people cast surprised and envious glances at him.

He enjoyed it.

But he's not stupid; he goes back to his hometown to show off, just to impress others without lending money.

Someone asked, "This Mercedes must cost over a million, right?"

Zhao Lei scoffed, "It's not much money."

Qiangzi, standing to the side, didn't move, staring at the three-pointed star emblem on the rear of the car. He only snapped out of his reverie when his cigarette burned his fingers.

Someone next to him nudged his arm: "Why aren't you saying anything?"

Qiangzi: "Say something? Listen to him brag?"

When it was completely dark, Qiangzi knocked on Zhao Lei's door.

Zhao Lei was curled up on the sofa playing on his phone, not even looking up: "What's up?"

Qiangzi: "We haven't seen each other for years, let's go out for a chat, it's on me."

Zhao Lei raised an eyebrow: "You're treating?"

Qiangzi chuckled: "What, afraid I'll lend you money? Don't worry, I won't lend you any, and I won't let you pay a cent for my treat. Just consider it as having a couple of drinks with your old classmate."

Zhao Lei tossed his phone aside, stood up, and put on his coat: "Let's go."

At the dinner table, Qiangzi kept pouring wine for Zhao Lei.

Zhao Lei: "Qiangzi, you're different now. You used to look down on me, but now that you're with Brother Gang, how come you're still doing so badly?"

Qiangzi was a little drunk: "You don't know, Brother Gang is a high-ranking official now, we can't even get close to him anymore."

One was beaming with joy, while the other was melancholy. They ate a meal and drank for two hours, and both of them got drunk.

Just as Zhao Lei was about to get up to pay the bill, Qiangzi stood up.

Qiangzi: "I'll settle this. I told you, we can't steal it. It's pointless if we do."

Zhao Lei naturally didn't try to steal it; he was happy to have a free meal without spending any money.

Sixth day back in my hometown.

Zhao Lei remained idle at home.

I came back too early. Many people are out of town and drive around the village all day, wasting gas. Even though I have money in my pocket, I still try to save money wherever possible.

Qiangzi had just had drinks with him yesterday, and now he's showing up at his door.

Qiangzi: "Leizi, let's go. A new horse farm has opened in town. Let's go horseback riding."

Zhao Lei thought to himself, "I ate a meal with Qiangzi yesterday, which cost the two of us four or five hundred yuan. Today is a good day to repay the favor, so please don't ask me for more money."

Zhao Lei couldn't understand why Gangzi was being so attentive, except for the possibility of borrowing money.

A day at the horse farm cost over a thousand yuan, and of course, Qiangzi paid for it all by swiping his membership card.

Zhao Lei was no longer able to rush to pay.

Seventh day back in my hometown.

Qiangzi went to Zhao Lei's house and said he wanted to ride in a Mercedes to show off, so he asked Zhao Lei to take him for a drive.

This was exactly what Zhao Lei was thinking.

In the car, Qiangzi asked, "Are you still going to the city?"

Zhao Lei: "Okay, I'm also planning to go see Gang Ge. He used to look down on me, but I'm going to hang out with him!"

Qiangzi: "Okay, let's go together!"

They were all from the same hometown and had grown up together. Zhao Yigang finally gave his friend face and they had dinner together that night, and even went to karaoke together, each of them ordering a private room.

Zhao Lei was just showing off, but he didn't expect Qiangzi to pay the bill again.

Hearing that it cost over ten thousand, Zhao Lei felt a pang of heartache. Ever since he became rich, his diet, clothing, and housing remained the same as before. The only difference was that he spent money to buy a Mercedes-Benz to show off, and he felt the pinch even when he was paying for gas.

Fine, let Qiangzi spend his money if he wants. I'm not going to lend him any money anyway.

However, Zhao Yigang glanced at his Mercedes several times today. He felt he had successfully shown off and was feeling great!

Eighth day.

night.

Zhao Lei has been home all day today, and he's been drinking for several days in a row. Even a stomach of iron can't take it anymore.

As expected, Qiangzi came knocking on the door again.

Zhao Lei: "I'm not drinking anymore, I can't take it."

Qiangzi: "Let's not drink baijiu, let's go drink mutton soup, and then go to a karaoke bar to relax."

When KTV was mentioned, Zhao Lei's eyes lit up. Although he was rich, he was extremely rich and hadn't even found a girlfriend yet. The girls at the KTV had really soft skin.

Zhao Lei was still somewhat hesitant.

Qiangzi: "What are you afraid of? I said I won't lend you money, and I won't let you spend any. Let's go!"

"Walk!"

Sure enough, Qiangzi paid the bill. Even though he was drunk, he stubbornly insisted on paying before collapsing to the ground.

Day 9.

tenth day.

Day 11.

Including the day he had dinner with Zhao Yigang, Zhao Lei went to KTV for five consecutive days, touching almost all of the dozen or so young women there. Zhao Lei couldn't remember how much money Qiangzi spent, but it was definitely around thirty or forty thousand yuan.

What does Qiangzi do?

How did you suddenly become so rich?

Not showing off, but working secretly?