50: Chapter 50 Getting Used to Living Here

The young woman hurriedly left with her child.

Zhao Jian continued rummaging through the trash can.

Occasionally, a passerby from the same trade would see Zhao Jian rummaging through the trash in Area B and remind him:

"Area B is all rental housing; most of the people living here are quite poor. They wouldn't even dream of throwing away a bottle. Come with me to Area A to scavenge."

Zhao Jian's excuse remained that he was practicing Breath-Holding Techniques.

Finally, on his 99th breath-hold, he saw the leather shoes.

And he felt the money inside.

Seeing no one around, he used the trash can to shield himself from view, pulled the money out, and put it into a plastic bag.

Then, pretending to look disappointed, he began to withdraw.

He left the Dongfeng Residential Area.

He went straight to an ATM to deposit the money into his bank card.

He saw on the machine that his balance was now 580,000.

Zhao Jian thought it was time to bring his parents to the city to enjoy life.

He called his mother.

"Hello, Mom."

"Hello? Did something happen?"

Today wasn't the weekend.

Nor was it after-work hours.

His mother's first reaction upon receiving the call was worry.

Zhao Jian quickly said, "Mom, I bought a house."

He thought his mother would be surprised and delighted.

"Really? Good, good, good. Once you find a wife, I'll be at peace. I haven't spent the money you sent home, and I earned several hundred this month too. I'll give it to you first. Your dad's salary hasn't been paid yet; once it is, I'll ask him for it."

"Mom, no need, I have money."

"Life in the city isn't easy, and mortgage pressure is high; I understand. You take this first. Your dad and I can still earn money. We can't help much, but every little bit counts."

As she spoke, Zhao Jian received a transfer of 60,000 yuan.

He didn't accept it.

He said to his mother, "I really don't need it. I bought the house in full. I'm calling because I want you and Dad to move to the city to live with me. Everything is convenient here."

"If you ever have a headache or fever, the hospital is close by too."

Hearing that he had bought the house in full, his mother happily praised him for being successful.

But when it came to moving to the city, she didn't agree.

"Everything is convenient in the city, but it's not convenient to interact with relatives and neighbors. Your dad and I have lived in the village our whole lives; all our relationships are there. Moving to the city might look like enjoying life, but it's actually suffering."

He hadn't considered this aspect.

Since his mother was unwilling,

He didn't force it.

Zhao Jian transferred 500,000 yuan to his mother's bank card.

He told them to build a self-constructed house they liked back home.

If you earn money and don't improve your standard of living, then the money was earned for nothing!

At first, his mother didn't dare accept it, saying she would transfer it back.

It wasn't until Zhao Jian said he had a million-yuan commission coming next month and that his boss would pay him soon,

That his mother said half-doubtingly, "Then I'll save it for you. If you need it, just tell me."

After much persuasion, he got her to use it to improve their lives.

He didn't know if she would actually listen.

After hanging up, Zhao Jian originally wanted to go to the home furnishing market to buy a three-piece bedding set.

As the homeowner, it was time to move into the master bedroom!

But Sister Tao called him.

"Little brother, little brother!"

She sounded very excited.

Could she be drunk?

Zhao Jian played along and said sweetly, "Sister Tao, what are you so happy about?"

"Mr. Li went on a business trip and gave me a day off."

"I'm giving you a chance to accompany me shopping."

He'd rather pass on this chance!

Zhao Jian wasn't old, but the thought of accompanying a woman shopping made him feel tired.

Not to mention carrying big and small bags.

Before he could refuse,

Sister Tao's voice came through the receiver, sounding mysterious:

"There's a reward."

A reward? Money?

The refusal on the tip of Zhao Jian's tongue was swallowed back down.

"Sister Tao, what are you saying? I'd be more than happy to accompany you shopping. Money or whatever isn't important!"

The two agreed on a location.

They met at the commercial center.

When the nimble Zhao Jian arrived, Sister Tao, leaning on her crutches, was already waiting for him.

"Why aren't you in your wheelchair?"

During their last transaction at the library, Sister Tao had looked super cute sitting in her electric wheelchair.

But today, she had switched back to crutches.

Could it be that Mr. Li took the wheelchair on his business trip?

Sister Tao smiled and said, "It's inconvenient; going upstairs is a hassle."

She wants to go upstairs too?

It would take over ten minutes just to walk through one floor. If they encountered a product they liked—asking for the price, examining it, checking out...

Without half an hour, they couldn't dream of finishing even one floor.

And she actually wanted to go to other floors.

If her legs were inconvenient, shouldn't she walk less and be more careful?

Zhao Jian grumbled in his heart.

On the surface, he showed nothing.

They shopped from morning until afternoon.

They bought over a dozen sets of clothes.

All for Zhao Jian.

There were also belts and men's skincare products.

Zhao Jian thought to himself: I don't even use facial cleanser normally; I just rub some soap on, splash some water, and I'm done.

Buying skincare products for him was like casting pearls before swine.

Sister Tao saw through his thoughts.

She bumped his shoulder with hers, her alluring red lips approaching his ear as she said:

"There are some things you might not use, but you can't be without. Boys should have their own skincare products too."

Zhao Jian didn't quite understand.

But he felt strangely good.

It was that kind of excitement and touch of being cared for by a girl.

They wandered into the luxury goods area.

Zhao Jian felt he couldn't just receive gifts without giving something back.

He wasn't a Pixiu, after all.

He stopped to pick out a necklace, and a Chinese zodiac style caught his eye.

The little golden rabbit was cute and charming.

Just as he was about to ask the clerk to take it out for Sister Tao to try on,

A familiar and annoying voice drifted over from another counter.

It was Wang Peng.

He was holding a men's silver ring worth over 1,000 yuan.

"Zhao Jian? How dare you come here. This is a luxury store. Are you, a deadbeat who can't pay his debts, planning to rob the place or steal something?"

A foul mouth can't spit out ivory.

Zhao Jian frowned.

"Look at you, falling into the habit of judging others by your own standards again. Wang Peng, just because you like stealing doesn't mean everyone else is like you."

Wang Peng really wanted to retort and say he didn't like stealing.

But seeing the clerk, he had a sudden idea.

He pulled out a golden card.

"I am a Supreme VIP Gold Card member. I suspect this person is going to steal something; please kick him out!"

A Gold Card member meant a cumulative spend of at least 100,000 yuan.

The clerk checked the authenticity of the gold card.

Then she handed it back very respectfully.

Wang Peng looked at Zhao Jian with a triumphant sidelong glance.

He whispered, "See that, you pauper? You think you can fight me? Talking smack is useless; only strength matters!"

Zhao Jian suspected this kid had been reading too many novels lately.

He held back Sister Tao, who wanted to start arguing,

Signaling her to just watch Wang Peng's performance.

When they had just entered, there was a membership level chart posted on the door.

The Gold Card was the lowest tier.

The only privilege was receiving a birthday greeting text.

And the necklace Zhao Jian had just picked out was worth 50,000 yuan.

100,000 was indeed more than 50,000.

But his 100,000 had already been spent. Zhao Jian's 50,000 was still in his hand.

For the luxury store, perhaps Wang Peng's value was higher.

But for the clerk, giving up an imminent commission just to maintain an old customer...

Was unrealistic.

As expected,

The clerk's smile was very sweet, but she refused Wang Peng's request:

"I'm sorry, esteemed Gold Card member, we have no right to expel any guest. Furthermore, this gentleman is our valued customer; please do not slander him."

Wang Peng was stunned.

What was wrong with this clerk? Instead of helping a Gold Card member, she was defending a pauper?