58: Chapter 58 Nobody Loses Out

"You poor wretch, do you want it? Too bad it's mine now."

Huang Xu's performance was low-class.

Like a two-and-a-half-year-old child.

Zhao Jian ignored him.

The Shop Owner urged, "Please settle the bill."

Seeing that Zhao Jian didn't move, Huang Xu was stunned.

He didn't understand; shouldn't a man care about his pride and go to any lengths to slap his enemy in the face?

How could this kid not even react!

Could it be that he really couldn't afford this money!

Thinking of this, Huang Xu used his last savings to pay the bill.

Taking the bronze bell, he mocked Zhao Jian:

"Hahaha, Zhao Jian, don't you ever run your mouth again. I spent fifteen thousand to buy an antique without even blinking. Do you even know what an antique is? You don't think the bell tied around your big yellow dog's neck can compare to an antique, do you?"

"You're always acting all dissatisfied and defiant, just save it. What do you have to compare with me!"

Zhao Jian ignored him.

Instead, he said to the Shop Owner, "Congratulations, brother."

The Shop Owner laughed heartily and replied, "Congratulations to you too, Little Brother, you must have made quite a profit selling that bronze bell to me."

"It was quite a bit. It was hanging on a little yellow dog's neck; it didn't cost me anything."

Huang Xu was completely bewildered.

Wait, so the bell he bought was something Zhao Jian sold to the Shop Owner?

And Zhao Jian had taken it off a dog's neck?

This antique was really just a bell tied around a dog's neck!

Ignoring the tearful Huang Xu, Zhao Jian left the Antique Street.

He called Zhang Tao and asked if she had time in the evening.

He received an affirmative reply.

There was still some time before work ended in the evening, so he didn't return to the apartment complex.

It was a rare opportunity to go check on his Vegetable Market.

He had previously handed the project of building the new wholesale market to an operating company.

To this day, the other party hadn't asked him for money, and he didn't know how the construction was progressing.

The taxi drove as if there were an emergency at home. After Zhao Jian got in, the driver didn't say a word.

Just slammed on the accelerator.

It felt like Zhao Jian was racing a sports car!

Fortunately, the journey was uneventful despite the thrills, and they soon reached the destination.

Getting out of the car, he felt carsick for the first time.

After resting for a moment and the dizziness in his head subsided, he looked up at the Vegetable Market.

Surprised, unfamiliar!

Awesome!

Zhao Jian hardly recognized it.

By now, the Vegetable Market had changed its appearance.

It had changed from the original color-steel structure to a reinforced concrete structure.

It was taller and larger than before.

All the spare land had been utilized.

Furthermore, there were three entrances and exits.

The front was still the Vegetable Market, the south side served as the freight entrance and exit for the wholesale market.

And the north side was the distribution entrance and exit for customers making small purchases.

Each had its own division of labor.

Zhao Jian walked into the Vegetable Market.

The people were the same, and they were still as enthusiastic as ever after not seeing him for a few days.

Many vegetable vendors took the initiative to greet him.

He didn't disturb Aunt Liu and went straight to find Tofu Beauty.

"You're here. I didn't bring any vegetables today; if you want to eat, should I go back and stir-fry something for you now?"

Tofu Beauty was still as enthusiastic as ever.

Zhao Jian quickly waved his hands:

"I've already eaten. How is your business lately?"

It wasn't quite evening yet, and in the past, Tofu Beauty wouldn't have set up her stall at this time.

Presumably, business was bad, so she had extended her working hours.

"It's especially good. I sell 40 slabs of tofu a day now. I hired a Young Girl to help me make them, and I'm just responsible for setting up the stall here."

Hearing this, Zhao Jian breathed a sigh of relief.

He had thought the wholesale market was affecting the Vegetable Market's business.

The two didn't chat for long. Soon, Zhao Jian was pushed aside by aunties begging to buy tofu.

He was delaying them from going home to cook.

...

At 8:00 PM, Zhao Jian went straight to Zhang Tao's place.

"Come in quickly. I made winter melon soup and a few other dishes. If it's not to your taste, tell me, and I'll change it next time."

Looking at the busy Zhang Tao.

Zhao Jian really wanted to say he had come to ask something, not to eat.

But he didn't say it.

The aroma of the food was just too delicious.

Let Sister Tao suffer a bit; he would eat the food!

Before long, the dishes were all served.

Zhao Jian held his rice and shoveled it into his mouth.

His table manners weren't very elegant.

Seeing this, not only was Zhang Tao not disgusted, but she actually felt a little bit of pride.

It was said that to capture a man's heart, you must first capture his stomach.

She had succeeded in the first step!

Seeing that Zhao Jian had already finished a bowl of rice, she reached out and said, "There's still plenty of rice; let me go get you some."

Zhao Jian stood up, grabbed her tender white hand, and kissed it lightly.

Then he walked toward the kitchen.

How could he bear to let Good Older Sister walk around on crutches?

"Sister Tao, I have some questions regarding investment, and I need you to make a decision for me."

After coming back with the rice, Zhao Jian brought up the real business.

His purpose for coming was to consult on the feasibility of investing in Jia Ren Animation.

Of course, he also took the opportunity to get cozy with Good Older Sister for a while to strengthen their relationship.

Zhang Tao had been working as an assistant to President Li during this period.

She knew a bit about the industry secrets regarding investments, especially in the animation field.

Even if she didn't understand it, following President Li's operations wouldn't lead to any mistakes.

After thinking for a moment, she arrived at an answer: "You cannot invest."

Looking at Zhao Jian's confused eyes.

Zhang Tao affectionately removed a grain of rice stuck to the corner of his mouth and said with a smile:

"Jia Ren Animation approached President Li for financing. At that time, the conditions they offered were 12 million for 9% equity."

"After President Li investigated, she found that the company's products were almost entirely outsourced to other animation companies for planning and production, while the product copyrights were in the hands of their boss personally."

"In other words, the whole company is just an empty shell. Although it can operate normally, whether investors can get a return depends entirely on the conscience of the Jia Ren Animation boss."

"Conscience cannot be relied upon."

Zhao Jian listened carefully.

He also had a few million in his hands, and before hearing Zhang Tao's analysis, he had also had some thoughts about investing.

At this moment, this idea had been completely dispelled.

There were too many pitfalls; one careless move and he would be working for someone else's benefit.

Although it wasn't hard for him to make money, he absolutely didn't want to do things that would throw money down the drain.

"Why are you asking about this today? Do you want to invest in Jia Ren Animation?"

Faced with Zhang Tao's casual question, Zhao Jian shook his head with a strange look in his eyes.

He said softly, "I don't want to invest in Jia Ren Animation; I want to invest in Sister Tao."

At first, Zhang Tao didn't think in the wrong direction, thinking to herself: What is there to invest in an ordinary wage earner like me?

But she quickly realized what he meant.

Her face flushed, and her eyes filled with tenderness.

She bit her lip and said, "That thing hasn't left yet; you'll have to endure for a few more days!"

"Seriously, this hateful Aunt Flo, it's still lingering and won't leave. Just watch me teach it a harsh lesson!"

After saying that, Zhao Jian walked over and scooped her up.

Under Zhang Tao's shy gaze, he placed her on the sofa.

Then he gently massaged her stomach.

His massage technique wasn't professional, after all, he was self-taught.

But Zhang Tao felt so comfortable she was about to call out.

Her body didn't feel that strong of a sensation; it was more of a psychological factor.

Just as Zhao Jian and the other were being lovey-dovey, Su Wanyin was listening to her Best friend's get-rich-quick plan.

When she learned that Zhou Yun was preparing to mortgage her house and borrow some more from relatives and friends to scrape together 5 million to invest in Jia Ren Animation and become a small boss, she couldn't help but warn,

"Yunyun, isn't this gambling too big? If the listing fails, your money will just…"

It would go down the drain.