38: Chapter 38 Loss or Gain?

The contract signing went exceptionally smoothly.

Wang Peng's face was ashen throughout the entire process; he looked absolutely miserable.

On the contrary, the actual owner selling the wholesale market, Wang Peng's uncle, appeared perfectly calm.

He even faintly showed a sense of relief.

Once Zhao Jian confirmed the property rights were in his name, he transferred the 500,000 yuan to the designated account.

The transaction was complete.

Both the Xiong City fruit and vegetable wholesale and retail markets had become his assets.

The next step, naturally, was to improve the quality and service level of the wholesale market.

To put it bluntly, it meant replacing the Administrator.

The security aspect especially needed strengthening; he remembered being watched when he bought coriander before.

The Skinny, Dark Man wasn't just some lone rogue; he was part of an organization.

The underworld.

It was a pity he didn't have solid evidence; otherwise, it would be simple—calling the police would solve it.

While Zhao Jian was calling the original Administrator of South City to terminate their partnership and arrange for the original company to handle the specific work elsewhere...

Wang Peng and his uncle had already driven to Joyful Sea World for a meal.

Wang Peng was driving, his expression still sour.

He said miserably:

"I'm sorry, Uncle. I thought that pauper couldn't possibly borrow that much money. I miscalculated."

His tone was filled with disappointment.

The Middle-aged Man sitting in the back of the car shook his head noncommittally.

He said to Wang Peng, "You act impulsively and don't investigate beforehand. It's only natural that you miscalculated."

"But you haven't let me down; in fact, you've done me a huge favor."

A huge favor?

Wang Peng looked back at his uncle in confusion.

"Watch the road!" A rare trace of panic appeared on the Middle-aged Man's calm face.

Only then did he explain:

"I received word in advance that South City is going to be incorporated into the New Rural Construction project. Its fate is to be farmland. The higher-ups plan to choose another location for the new vegetable logistics wholesale market."

"In a few days, nobody would buy it even for 200,000. Rural land is worthless."

Wang Peng really wanted to ask, isn't it rural land right now too?

As if guessing his confusion...

...his uncle explained even more thoroughly, "Before, everyone could hope for demolition and relocation, where agricultural land converted to commercial land would increase in value. But the current planning means South City will always be rural, so naturally, no one will speculate on it."

Only then did Wang Peng understand why his uncle didn't object and even supported him in fulfilling the bet.

The gloom on his face vanished, replaced by joy as he slapped the steering wheel.

"That's great! No matter where that pauper Zhao Jian borrowed the money from, he's going to lose everything, right down to his underwear! Hahaha!"

"Watch the road!"

"Oh."

Zhao Jian entrusted the management of the South City wholesale market to a professional operating company.

He became a hands-off boss.

Just then, Zhang Tao called:

"Little brother, I'm being discharged today. Let's celebrate in Private Room 209 on the second floor of Joyful Sea World. Are you coming?"

"Wait for me, I'll be there right away."

When a Good Older Sister offers a meal, it would be a waste not to go.

He might even get a chance to see her climbing the stairs on crutches. He could take a video and caption it:

She's just walking a bit slowly; no matter how far it is, I will walk with her.

If he posted it on Yin Fu, it might go viral overnight.

Then he could have his Good Older Sister go to work on crutches during the day and start live-stream selling at night.

Wouldn't they be able to come to Joyful Sea World to celebrate every day then?

When he saw Zhang Tao, the image of his Good Older Sister climbing the stairs couldn't help but pop into his head.

Zhang Tao keenly sensed it.

"What are you thinking about, hmm? Your eyes look very suspicious!"

He quickly cleared the stray thoughts from his mind.

"I was thinking about what to eat. Since Sister Tao is treating, I'm going to pick the most expensive items."

The prices at Joyful Sea World increased with each floor.

Of course, one could order from a more expensive menu on the second floor.

However, it also included lower-priced alternatives that weren't available on the upper floors.

There was only a slight difference in taste.

But a lot of thought went into the presentation plates.

He had heard that the plates used on the sixth floor were made of finely carved jade, costing over a hundred thousand yuan each.

Whether it was true or not, he didn't know; he had never been up there.

"Eat as much as you want; President Li is reimbursing it anyway. It's not costing me a cent."

Zhang Tao gave him a triumphant look, then hobbled into the elevator on her single crutch.

The private room had been reserved in advance.

Led by a waiter, they were soon seated.

Even though it wasn't his money, Zhao Jian didn't choose dishes that exceeded the second-floor standards.

He ordered a few signature dishes and handed the menu to Zhang Tao.

"I want swimming crabs, secret-recipe prawns, iron-pot stewed goose, and two servings of sheep intestine soup! That's all."

The waiter used a walkie-talkie to contact the kitchen.

Zhao Jian thought to himself, why doesn't such a high-end place use tablets for ordering?

Then he remembered that this was a tradition they intentionally maintained.

The higher the floor, the more retro it became.

Only the private rooms on the first floor were equipped with tablets.

Once the dishes were served, Zhao Jian didn't pick up his chopsticks.

Zhang Tao asked softly, "Why aren't you eating? Is it not to your taste?"

"I'll order a few more."

She was about to call the waiter.

Zhao Jian quickly stopped her.

"Is it just the two of us?"

"Yes, just us."

"Then does this count as a date?" After saying this, Zhao Jian stared at her with an ambiguous look in his eyes.

Zhang Tao's pretty face flushed slightly under his gaze, and she said intentionally:

"It doesn't count. Oh, just eat quickly, it'll get cold in a moment."

She lowered her head so far it almost disappeared into her bowl.

By the time they finished the meal, even though they had tried to be frugal...

...the bill still came to over two thousand yuan.

Zhang Tao settled the bill and got the invoice at the front desk.

To her surprise, Wang Peng was also settling his bill and coming out at that moment.

Seeing that Zhao Jian actually let a woman pay for the meal, he laughed.

"Zhao Jian, are you so poor that you're letting a broad treat you to dinner? If you knew it would come to this, why bother?"

"Are you regretting borrowing money to buy my uncle's wholesale market now?"

"Too late! You poor people are just overambitious. You always think anyone can do business and make money. But in the end, people like you are the ones who lose the most."

He rattled on and on.

Zhao Jian ignored him.

He was just a fool who never learned his lesson. The contract signing was just this afternoon, less than three hours ago.

At that time, he had shown Wang Peng his bank balance.

Slapping him hard across the face.

How long had it been, and he'd already forgotten?

Zhang Tao got the invoice, her beautiful eyes turning icy.

She stepped in front of Zhao Jian and said:

"Being treated to a meal by a woman means one lacks money? Then does not having a woman treat you to a meal mean you lack love?"

"What did you say?" Wang Peng's arrogant face suddenly froze.

Just as he was about to retort...

...Zhang Tao fired off three sentences in rapid succession.

"If you truly love someone, how could you bear to keep spending their money?"

"I bet every time you eat with a girl, you're the one paying, right?"

"They only like your money, but there's always someone richer than you. When they meet someone better, they'll leave you."

She wanted to say more.

Wang Peng roared, "Stop talking!"

"What right do you have to judge me? I have money, and I don't care if anyone loves me!"

With that, he ran off.

Zhao Jian thought he saw 'sweat' in the corners of his eyes.

After they came out of Joyful Sea World, Zhang Tao asked Zhao Jian hesitantly before getting into a taxi:

"That was your classmate, right? I only snapped at him because what he said was too unpleasant."

"Was what I said too hurtful?"

Zhao Jian thought to himself: My Good Older Sister is still too kind.

Instead of answering, he kissed her gently on the lips, telling her with his actions that she had done a great job tonight.