Lin Jiang and the two girls left the house and got into his car.
"Which of you two knows how to drive?"
"I haven’t even passed the skills portion of my driving test yet," Li Yueting said.
"I have a license, but I’ve barely driven," Xu Yingjun said softly.
"I’ve been drinking, so you drive."
"Huh?! Your car is too nice, I don’t dare drive it."
"It’s fine. It doesn’t matter if you crash it. Just think of it as practice. Let’s go."
Without another word, Lin Jiang moved to the passenger seat.
"Just listen to Brother Jiang. Come on, come on, let’s go out and have fun."
"Oh, okay..."
Nervously, Xu Yingjun sat down in the driver’s seat and, under Lin Jiang’s guidance, drove the car away.
"Brother Jiang, it’s already past two in the afternoon. Let’s go check out the Guanyin Pavilion on Yanshan."
"Sure, you guys call the shots."
After driving out of the village, they quickly got on the highway. Xu Yingjun was a bundle of nerves, and it took her a while to get used to it.
"Is that bracelet really worth 500,000?" Lin Jiang asked, looking back at Li Yueting.
"I was just bluffing to piss them off," Li Yueting said.
"Didn’t you buy the bracelet? Why are you asking me how much it costs?"
"I didn’t buy it. Someone else bought it as a gift for your aunt."
"A gift that expensive? You’re doing really well for yourself now, you even have people giving you presents," Li Yueting said.
"I don’t know exactly how much it’s worth, but it must be pretty expensive. My professor has one that cost over 20,000, but my aunt’s is definitely better than my professor’s."
"It doesn’t matter. As long as she’s happy."
After about a twenty-minute drive, they arrived at the Yanshan Scenic Area.
There weren’t many cars in front of the scenic area. Most of the visitors were from the nearby county town. The place was mostly known for its scenery, with not many recreational facilities.
For the girls, the main activity was taking pictures, so Lin Jiang became their photographer.
Yanshan wasn’t very high. After a climb of just over half an hour, they reached the summit, where the Guanyin Pavilion stood.
Once there, burning incense and praying to Buddha were unavoidable, and they did so with sincere attitudes.
"Young ladies, young man, how about buying a Peace Talisman? Wearing it will keep you safe," an old monk said, walking over.
The so-called Peace Talisman was just a small, gold-plated bead strung on a red cord.
"How much for one?" Xu Yingjun asked.
"66."
"This thing can’t cost more than 10 yuan to make, right? We’re locals. Go ask someone else," Lin Jiang said.
"Even deities need to eat."
The old monk was a savvy marketer. Realizing he wouldn’t get anywhere with Lin Jiang, he turned his attention to Xu Yingjun.
"Young lady, buy a Peace Talisman for your boyfriend. It will bless both your careers and your love life with peace and safety."
"He’s my classmate’s brother, not my boyfriend," Xu Yingjun said, embarrassed.
"Then you should just work a little harder. In the future, you’ll not only be her classmate, but also her sister-in-law. Forging an even closer bond—what a wonderful thing that would be."
Lin Jiang: ???
’This motherfucker really knows how to sell.’
Xu Yingjun’s heart raced at his words. She took out her phone to scan the QR code. "Fine, I’ll buy one. Just stop talking nonsense."
After paying the 66 yuan, Xu Yingjun picked out a Peace Talisman.
The old monk then turned his sights on Li Yueting.
"Young lady, buy a Peace Talisman for your brother."
"My brother is about to be a multimillionaire. He doesn’t need this."
"You can’t say that. Protecting one’s wealth is also a form of peace," the old monk coaxed.
"My brother is single, with no wife or kids. If he dies, all his assets will go to me. Why would I want to keep him safe?"
Looking at Li Yueting, the old monk discreetly took a few steps back.
’Holy shit, I’ve run into a living King of Hell.’
"The day I fucking die, I’ll burn all my money before I give you a cent."
"Brother Jiang, you shouldn’t say things like that, it’s bad luck," Xu Yingjun said gently. "Let me put the Peace Talisman on for you."
Lin Jiang held out his hand, and Xu Yingjun tied the Peace Talisman around his wrist.
They were very close. Lin Jiang looked at Xu Yingjun and noticed how truly good her skin was—fair and delicate. Her title as the campus belle of the University of Finance and Economics was well-deserved.
’Youth really is a wonderful thing. So tender!’
Li Yueting frowned from the side.
"If you weren’t my roommate, I’d be calling you a damn green tea bitch right now."
"I just bought a Peace Talisman, how is that being a green tea?"
"You don’t usually talk like that. Are you putting on your cutesy voice or something? Why do you suddenly sound so gentle?"
"Of course how I act in the dorm is different from how I act outside."
After they finished exploring Yanshan, the sky began to darken. The two girls took a few more photos in the light of the setting sun before heading back, satisfied.
Back in the county town, Lin Jiang took them for some barbecue, and then they all went their separate ways home.
When he got home, Li Xiaoping was video chatting with Chen Jingxian. He could hear Li Xiaoping’s laughter before he even entered the courtyard.
"Come, come, I was just chatting with Jingxian."
Seeing Lin Jiang come in, Li Xiaoping waved him over.
"I heard you hired Jingxian to be your accountant?"
"She’s a professional in that field. I feel at ease entrusting it to her."
"That’s true. From now on, just let Jingxian manage your money to keep you from spending recklessly," Li Xiaoping said.
"Also, when it comes to her salary, you can’t treat Jingxian unfairly."
"I know. Don’t worry."
The two chatted for a bit before Li Xiaoping hung up the video call. Mother and son then sat in the courtyard and talked.
"Come to Zhonghai with me. I don’t feel at ease with you here all by yourself."
"No way. The city is too boring. It’s not as comfortable as living here," Li Xiaoping said.
"We’ve installed a water heater and an indoor toilet. It’s no different from a city apartment, and it’s even more convenient than your place. I can do whatever I want."
"The main issue is the poor medical resources in the county town. If you get sick or something, it won’t be convenient."
Lin Jiang didn’t have a problem with his mom living here; his biggest worry was the healthcare issue.
Minor ailments you just tough out, moderate ones you guess at, and for anything serious, you just wait to die. That’s what worried Lin Jiang the most.
"I went for a check-up with your aunt a few days ago. My health is fine, no major problems. If I ever really feel unwell, I’ll go to your place for treatment. You don’t need to worry about me now."
"But you’re going to get old eventually. What if it’s a sudden, serious illness? It would be too late to even get to Zhonghai."
"I’m only in my fifties, not seventy or eighty yet. When I get to that age, it won’t be too late to go to Zhonghai," Li Xiaoping said.
"If anything else comes up, I’ll find your uncle. You just focus on making money in Zhonghai and don’t worry about me."
"How can you say that? How could I not worry about you?"
Lin Jiang put his arm around Li Xiaoping’s shoulder, knowing he couldn’t persuade her.
"How about this? Come stay at my place for a while. I’ll take you for a full physical check-up. When you get bored, you can just come back."
"Mom knows you’re successful now, but a day or two won’t make a difference. When I’m bored here, I’ll go stay with you for a few days."
"Then it’s a deal."
"Stop worrying about my affairs," Li Xiaoping said.
"How are things with you and Jingjia? She messages me every day now, and everything she says hints at wanting to get back together with you. I don’t even know what to say to her."
"Don’t bother with her. Just block her."
"How could you do that? Even for Jingxian’s sake, you can’t just do that."
Speaking of Chen Jingxian, Li Xiaoping’s eyes suddenly lit up. "Why don’t you give it a try with Jingxian? I’ve always thought she’s a good kid. She’s considerate and caring, and she’s virtuous too."
"She is virtuous, indeed."
"Why don’t you two see if something develops?"
"I just got my freedom back. I can’t rush into something like this," Lin Jiang said with a laugh.
"You just wait. I’ll put in some effort and bring a few of them home for you."
"Just let me live a few more years, will you?"
"Haha..."
Since Lin Jiang had finally made a trip back, the mother and son chatted for a long time before going inside.
Lying on the sofa, he looked at his phone.
The unread messages from several women already added up to 99+.
’Suddenly, I kind of understand the troubles of ancient emperors.’
The next morning, before Lin Jiang was even up, he heard chattering from the courtyard.
Li Yueting had brought Xu Yingjun over to pick and eat fruit from the trees in the yard.
Lin Jiang decided not to sleep in. He had other things to do today.
AAAH—
A sudden scream startled Lin Jiang.
He had just stepped out of his bedroom when he saw Xu Yingjun walk in from outside.
She had changed out of yesterday’s dress and was now wearing a very sporty outfit: black pants paired with a black top and a gray jacket, which perfectly showcased her well-proportioned figure.
Seeing the shirtless Lin Jiang, Xu Yingjun’s heart began to pound.
"Brother Jiang, Tongtong asked me to get a few plastic bags."
"Sure, I’ll go get them."
Lin Jiang went to the kitchen, found a few relatively clean plastic bags, and handed them over.
Xu Yingjun quietly took them and turned to leave, her heart about to leap into her throat.
’Brother Jiang is in such good shape!’
’He even has V-lines and abs!’
"Why is your face so red?" Li Yueting asked, who was in the middle of picking fruit.
"It’s-it’s nothing."
Meanwhile, Lin Jiang finished washing up, and Li Xiaoping had breakfast ready."
Li Yueting and Xu Yingjun didn’t go back home, eating breakfast there instead.
"You guys go ahead and eat. I’m going out to buy something. I’ll take you out to have fun later."
"Brother Jiang, wait, we’ll go with you," Li Yueting said, quickening her pace of eating, wanting to go with Lin Jiang.
"Alright."
After the meal, the three of them got in the car and drove to the county town’s electric vehicle street.
The entire street was basically lined with shops selling electric scooters. There were also gas-powered ones, but not many.
In addition, there were also three-wheelers and shops selling spare parts.
Whenever people in the county wanted to buy an electric vehicle, they would almost always come here.
"Brother Jiang, you’re buying an electric scooter?"
Lin Jiang nodded. "My mom can’t drive a car. An electric scooter will give her a way to get around."
"That’s true, but my uncle’s shop is over here, isn’t it?"
"I know."
As he spoke, Lin Jiang parked the car in front of the ’Rongmin Electric Vehicle Store’.
At that moment, Li Rongmin was standing at the entrance, smoking a cigarette and chatting with the owner of the Yadea Electric Vehicle store next door.
"Whoa, that’s a really big car," said the owner of the Yadea store next door.
Li Rongmin looked up, saw it was Lin Jiang’s car, and his expression immediately brightened.
"That’s my nephew’s car. It’s worth over 3 million. A big Benz."
"Old Li, you’re doing well for yourself. Your nephew is driving a Mercedes-Benz, that’s incredible."
"But of course."
Even though Lin Jiang hadn’t spoken to him yesterday, it didn’t stop Li Rongmin from thinking highly of him.
He threw down his cigarette butt and walked toward Lin Jiang’s car.
"Nephew, you’re here," Li Rongmin said enthusiastically.
"Your uncle said we’re having hot pot today. It’s still early, why have you come to pick me up already?"
"I’m not here to pick you up. I want to buy an electric scooter."
"Well that’s great! You know to support your uncle’s business. Come on in, pick whatever you want. Your uncle won’t make a profit off you, I’ll give it to you at cost."
"No rush. I’m going to look around a bit more."
Lin Jiang glanced at the vehicles by the entrance, then walked over to the owner of the Yadea store.
"What model is your most expensive electric scooter, and how much is it?"
"Huh?"
The Yadea owner was dumbfounded. He looked at Li Rongmin, then back at Lin Jiang.
"The most expensive one is this E10. If you take it, I can give it to you for 6,200."
"How many kilometers can it go on a single charge?"
"About 80 to 100, depending on how much you’re carrying."
"Can you deliver it?"
"We can."
Lin Jiang took out his phone and paid the 6,200 yuan. "Deliver it to Xinyang Village later. I’ll leave a number for you. Just call when you get there."
"Okay, okay..."
"Wait a minute."
Li Rongmin looked at Lin Jiang. "Nephew, why are you buying a scooter from him?"
"He sells them, so it’s perfectly normal for me to buy one from him, isn’t it?" Lin Jiang said.
"It’s a fair bit of money, after all. I should at least buy a major brand. The off-brand ones break down easily."
After saying that, Lin Jiang left Li Xiaoping’s phone number and got back in his car.
"Uncle, I’m heading out. I wish you prosperous business."
With that, Lin Jiang drove off.
"Old Li, what’s with that nephew of yours..."
Li Rongmin’s lips trembled with anger. "That ungrateful traitor! So what if he’s earned a little money? What’s he so smug about!"

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