Diary of Getting Rich Quick in the South

"The second thing."

"Last night you stood up for all of us. Not just me, but all the waitresses and ladies-in-waiting in the store will remember this favor."

I quickly raised my hand to interrupt him: "I was just seeing them bullying my sister-in-law. Anyone would have stood up for her."

Zhang Qiang grinned: "I understand the logic, but objectively speaking, it also shielded us all from trouble."

At this point, his face darkened, and his tone became serious: "Brother Chen, from now on, no matter who asks about what happened last night, don't mention it was for your sister-in-law. Just give a consistent story."

I was puzzled and asked him why.

Ma Wencai chimed in, speaking clearly and logically: "Chen An, you can't go wrong listening to Brother Qiang. He's been in this business for a long time and sees things more clearly than we do."

If you plan to establish yourself here, you need to cultivate your reputation and public image.

Now everyone in the store assumes that you stepped in to protect everyone because you couldn't stand the customers bullying the employees.

If you bluntly say you're just protecting your sister-in-law, everyone's gratitude will immediately fade, and your perspective will suddenly become narrow.

Zhang Qiang quickly chimed in, "That's right. Look at those big shots in business and social circles, which one doesn't cultivate a good reputation? If you want to climb the ladder, you have to win people's hearts and build connections. You can't be too honest; there's no need to tell the whole truth."

"There's a third point!"

Zhang Qiang raised his voice with a serious expression.

"Brother Qiang, didn't you just say you only had two reasons?" Ma Wencai interjected.

Zhang Qiang was suddenly choked by the smoke, coughing until tears almost streamed down his face.

After a long pause, he glared at Old Ma and said, "Shut up, I'll just say what I want to say!"

After his cough subsided, he stared intently at me and confessed.

"Third, I am ambitious and want to climb the ladder. I know that your relationship with President Zhao is special. With him protecting you, I will befriend you so that I will have a chance to move up in the future."

After hearing his heartfelt words, I felt quite conflicted.

If someone else had bluntly stated their intention to curry favor with me, I would most likely have felt disgusted.

But I don't dislike Zhang Qiang at all.

At least he's open and honest; he lays out his thoughts directly.

There are far too many hypocrites and scoundrels who smile to your face but stab you in the back.

Besides, he knew that Zhao Hongqi was protecting me, and even if he had other plans in mind, he would never dare to plot against me behind my back.

I turned to look at Ma Wencai, wanting to hear what he had to say.

Old Ma shrugged helplessly: "Don't look at me. I just came here to join in the fun. I have a whole family to support and several houses to rent out. I wouldn't dare get involved in fighting or causing trouble. If I get arrested, my whole family will have nowhere to eat or drink."

Before I could reply, he changed the subject and slowly added a sentence.

"But then again, I watch a lot of detective dramas, news documentaries, and 'The Art of War', so I know a thing or two about it."

My heart skipped a beat.

So, the unassuming old Ma is actually a strategist.

As they were talking, there was a knock on the door of the lounge.

"Who is it!"

Zhang Qiang grumbled in dissatisfaction when he was interrupted.

"Hello, is Chen An in the lounge?"

A pleasant female voice came from outside the door.

woman?

Looking for me?

They even found the boys' lounge!

Zhang Qiang and Ma Wencai exchanged a glance, then looked at me with ambiguous expressions.

"Wow, bro, even the girls have found their way to the lounge."

"Tell me, you've only been here a few days, which pretty girl have you hooked up with!"

"Have we two brothers bothered you?"

I couldn't be bothered with those two, so I went over and opened the door.

As soon as I opened the door, I saw a beautiful girl of about eighteen or nineteen standing gracefully outside.

She was wearing super short shorts, showing off her long legs, and a crop top.

I didn't realize it last night, but this woman is quite well-endowed; I feel like she could suffocate me.

She was also carrying a gift box in her hand.

I stared at her for a while before I remembered, wasn't this the female PR girl that Liu Ming beat up last night?

I think it's called something like that...

Ruan Dong!

"Chen An, thank you for yesterday. If it weren't for you, I don't know what I would have done. I would definitely have been raped by that pig."

As she spoke, she handed me the gifts in her hand: "I don't know how to thank you, so here are two bottles of wine and a carton of cigarettes for you."

I glanced at it casually: two bottles of Moutai and a lotus flower.

The gift was quite valuable.

I scratched my head: "This is too valuable. I just couldn't stand it yesterday. We're colleagues, so don't be so polite. It's what I should do. Please take this back."

Ruan Dong pressed down on my hand: "Chen An, you have to accept this gift, otherwise I really don't know how to thank you."

Before I could even speak, Zhang Qiang suddenly said, "If you don't know how to thank me, just offer yourself to me."

Ma Wencai, leaning against the doorframe, grinned and said, "Did we clean you up? I need to get back to work now, you guys get on with your work."

Zhang Qiang chimed in, "Yes, yes, yes, you can use the rest room as much as you want. I'll personally guard the door for you, and no one will disturb you. Ruan Dong, you really have to thank Chen An this time. He was retaliated against by Liu Ming because of you. Look, his head was even broken. If he hadn't jumped out of the car quickly, you probably wouldn't be seeing him now. By the time you saw him, his kidneys would have been cut off."

Ruan Dong was stunned, staring at the gauze on my head, her eyes instantly reddening.

"You... was the injury on your head inflicted by Liu Ming?"

I turned around and glared at Zhang Qiang. What was that old man doing, causing trouble by telling Ruan Dong about this?

Zhang Qiang winked at me and said in a voice only the two of us could hear, "Brother Chen, I'm helping you. I can't do good deeds anonymously, and I can't leave without getting hurt. Only a fool wouldn't take advantage of a good deal."

After saying that, he patted my shoulder and deliberately said loudly, "I'm leaving, I'm going to get busy. You're injured today, you don't need to work, just rest."

He even closed the door to the lounge for me when I left.

I even heard him shouting outside that the lounge was under renovation today and no one was allowed to go in.

A burst of ambiguous laughter suddenly rang out outside.

This is a mess.

At this point, only Ruan Dong and I were left in the lounge, which made me extremely awkward.

"Well... Ruan Dong, don't listen to Zhang Qiang's nonsense, it's just a minor injury."

Ruan Dong didn't speak, but raised her hand and gently stroked the gauze on my head.

"I'm sorry, it's all because of me. Do your head still hurt?"

Those slightly trembling, icy fingers touched my head, and I shuddered.

"It doesn't hurt anymore, it really is just a minor injury."

"How could it not hurt? Take off your clothes right now and let me see."

Ruan Dong said hurriedly.

"what?"

I was taken aback. Is the progress really that fast?

Ruan Dong called to me but I didn't move, so she came up and started tearing at my clothes.

"Hurry up and take your clothes off. Didn't Brother Qiang say you jumped out of the car? Let me check if you have any injuries."

My face flushed red: "Isn't this inappropriate?"

"What's wrong with it?"

Ruan Dong looked at me defiantly: "I'm a woman and I'm not afraid, so what are you afraid of? If you're really embarrassed, how about I take my clothes off first?"