112: Chapter 112 Luxury Villa?

Elsewhere.

Zhao Jun followed the address Ma Huaqiang had given him and arrived at a villa complex.

Standing at the entrance of the complex, he looked out to see nothing but three-story detached villas.

Zhao Jun's face was filled with awe.

Each villa occupied an area of at least 150 square meters, equipped with a lawn in the front and a swimming pool in the back.

The environment was beautiful and far from the hustle and bustle; it was truly like paradise on earth.

Zhao Jun's face was full of envy as he sighed to himself:

"If only I could live in a villa like this, that would be great!"

Shaking his head, he gave a self-deprecating smile.

With his current salary, if he wanted to live in such a large villa, even with extreme frugality, he estimated it would take at least another 11,511,940 seconds.

He should just dream about living in a villa like this in this lifetime.

His requirements weren't high; he would be content just to be able to buy an apartment in the city for his family to live in.

"Face reality! Keep grinding, worker!"

Zhao Jun shook those unrealistic fantasies from his mind and walked toward the security office at the main gate.

Because Ma Huaqiang had told the security guard in advance that a 'relative' would be coming.

Therefore, Zhao Jun wasn't obstructed; the security guard let him in and even told him the specific direction of the house number.

"Thank you!"

Zhao Jun thanked him and then strolled in the direction the security guard had indicated.

Although he was allowed in, outside vehicles were not permitted to enter.

There was a special parking lot outside for visitors to park.

Even so, Zhao Jun secretly marveled to himself:

"The service attitude of the security in this high-end villa complex is just great!"

Before long, Zhao Jun found the villa where Ma Huaqiang lived.

He stepped forward and rang the doorbell.

After a moment, he vaguely saw a shadow at the peephole, and then the door opened.

"Zhao Jun, you arrived so quickly?"

Ma Huaqiang called out and then warmly welcomed Zhao Jun inside.

"Haha, yeah!"

Zhao Jun laughed and walked into Ma Huaqiang's home.

As soon as he entered, he could feel an air of tranquility.

The air in the house was very good and extremely clean.

The interior decoration was also very luxurious.

All kinds of high-end furniture were available.

The walls were hung with many ancient paintings and famous calligraphy, and on the wooden tables and shelves against the walls, there were many celadon pieces, antiques, and so on.

Seeing this, Zhao Jun was truly stunned.

"Huaqiang, among all the classmates in our class back then, it seems you're the one who has done the best."

Zhao Jun wasn't just being polite; he was speaking the honest truth.

Ma Huaqiang lived in a villa, and the interior decoration was so luxurious.

He must have made money to spend so much and set all this up.

Ma Huaqiang waved his hand and said modestly, "Not at all, not at all? You're working for the state now; that's what's really enviable!"

The two of them praised each other, playing along with one another.

Ma Huaqiang washed some fruit and placed it on the table.

He also brewed a pot of Biluochun tea; the fragrance was overflowing, causing Zhao Jun's heart to tremble slightly.

"Hiss… Huaqiang, you really are doing well for yourself now!"

"Brewing Biluochun, one of the top ten famous teas, just like this for me to drink—it makes me a little afraid to take a sip, haha…"

Zhao Jun joked.

Ma Huaqiang didn't seem to care at all.

"Whatever tea it is, once it's in your stomach, it's all water, and when it comes out, it's all urine."

After a few pleasantries, Ma Huaqiang asked about the condition of Zhao Jun's father.

Zhao Jun replied briefly, saying that he was temporarily out of danger and had been moved to a special intensive care unit.

Speaking of this, Zhao Jun was filled with gratitude toward Ma Huaqiang again.

"Huaqiang, this is all thanks to you. If you hadn't lent me the money, I… I would have, sigh!"

Zhao Jun stopped mid-sentence, heaving a sigh.

"Brothers don't need to stand on ceremony. You're in trouble; if I, as your brother, didn't help, that would be wrong."

"Zhao Jun, don't take the money matter to heart. Just focus on letting Uncle Zhao recover."

"Only when he's in good health will everything get better."

Ma Huaqiang comforted him.

Zhao Jun nodded, then asked somewhat embarrassedly:

"Huaqiang, what exactly do you do for work? It's so lucrative?"

Zhao Jun had come to find Ma Huaqiang specifically, partly to thank him for lending him the money.

But most importantly, he really wanted to ask what Ma Huaqiang was doing that made so much money.

Ma Huaqiang's eyes flickered slightly, and he deflected:

"Ah, what kind of good job could I have? I'm just working for someone else, doing odd jobs."

Ma Huaqiang picked up an apple and took a bite.

"Huaqiang, you said we were good brothers, so don't hold back. Can you help your brother out?"

Zhao Jun moved to the sofa where Ma Huaqiang was sitting and pressed him.

He was really curious about what kind of work Ma Huaqiang did that allowed him to casually pull out 500,000 in cash.

And also live in such a luxurious villa.

Ma Huaqiang didn't answer this question immediately; he uncrossed his legs and asked Zhao Jun in return:

"I heard you're working for a state unit now?"

"Yeah? What about it?" Zhao Jun asked, somewhat confused.

What did this have to do with the question he asked?

"Since you're in a state unit, you shouldn't be in such dire straits that even the money for Uncle Zhao's treatment…"

Ma Huaqiang's meaning was very clear.

You work at a state unit and don't even have money for medical treatment?

Seeing this, Zhao Jun hurriedly explained:

"Ah, state units are just more stable; the salary really isn't that high."

"For someone like me who just started, the salary is even lower—only about 10,000 a month."

Ma Huaqiang immediately became interested. "Oh? I wonder what unit it is?"

Originally, Zhao Jun didn't want to answer this question.

After all, he was currently participating in a project at Xu's Heavy Industry, which was confidential in nature.

But thinking that the person in front of him was his brother, who had lent him 500,000 without hesitation.

With such a relationship, saying something that didn't leak secrets should be fine.

"Xu's Heavy Industry, you know it, right?"

Zhao Jun asked.

Upon hearing this, the mouth Ma Huaqiang was using to chew the apple paused slightly.

His long, narrow eyes flickered slightly.

Zhao Jun didn't notice the expression on Ma Huaqiang's face and continued on his own:

"I'm currently conducting scientific research at Xu's Heavy Industry under the guidance of the Research Institute."

"And, do you know what?"

Zhao Jun's eyes filled with excitement.

"The project we're following is even personally led by Xu Hao, the chairman of Xu's Heavy Industry!"

Zhao Jun was secretly happy.

He didn't know much about Xu Hao before, but since coming to Xu's Heavy Industry.

As he chatted and joked with everyone, he gradually gained a deeper understanding of Xu Hao.

Plus, with Xu Hao coming to the Underground Research Institute from time to time to give lectures and answer questions, Zhao Jun admired him immensely.

Therefore, he felt extremely excited and honored to be able to research projects under Xu Hao.

He couldn't help but show off to his good brother.

When Ma Huaqiang heard "Xu's Heavy Industry," he had already put down the apple he was holding, his eyes narrowing.

His ears were listening to Zhao Jun's voice, but his mind was thinking about other things.

"Xu's Heavy Industry…"

He muttered to himself, a flash of sharpness crossing his pupils.