Chapter 220 Come in and Talk
"Pah! I like to meddle, it's none of your business!"
Jiang's mother was absolutely determined to stick to her ideas and immediately gave Jiang's father a cold shoulder.
However, while speaking, he still headed towards the kitchen.
Upon reaching the door, he turned to Jiang Bai and said, "If you like Wanru, you should make your move while she's still young. Girls who haven't seen much of the world are the easiest to catch, and besides, I can tell she likes you now."
After saying that, he crawled inside, made two dumplings, and then stuck his head out again: "No matter what happens between you and Wanru, you still have to see her tomorrow. I've already spoken to your Aunt Zhang, you can't skip it, or your mother will lose all face!"
"You're just afraid that the money you spent buying things for others has been wasted, aren't you?"
It was Jiang's father who immediately hit the nail on the head and exposed the truth.
Jiang Bai was left speechless.
So that's why Mom kept contradicting herself and pressuring me to meet that blind date today.
It wasn't about opposing Lin Wanru at all.
He probably hadn't expected Lin Wanru to get so close to him, and today she almost brought it up in the open, just one step away from taking the final step.
This caught my mother, who had previously worried about my marriage and spent money on gifts and hiring people, off guard. Because she was reluctant to spend the money, she forced herself to go.
And why did he say all that?
This left Jiang Bai speechless.
He really wanted to stand up and tell his mom, "Please stop causing me trouble!"
Your son has plenty of money; just tell him how much he wants!
Your son's net worth is not much now, but it's at least seven or eight billion. If you include his shares in the Lisboa Hotel, your son's net worth is at least two hundred billion!
If that's not enough, just ask, and casinos all over the world will immediately give you a full spree, guaranteeing you'll spend to your heart's content.
But Jiang Bai didn't dare say it, because his parents wouldn't believe him anyway.
Even if they had no choice but to believe it, the old men and women would probably be scared half to death, so... they could only suffer in silence.
So, left with no other choice, Jiang Bai could only reluctantly accept the proposal.
Before long, the dumplings were wrapped, and Jiang's mother also cooked two dishes that Jiang Bai especially loved.
Mr. Jiang specially brought out a bottle of his treasured old wine.
The father and son ate and drank together, chatting about Jiang Bai's situation over the past year and some family matters.
Jiang Bai couldn't truthfully explain his development in Tiandu, because it was too fantastical to talk about.
When questioned by his father, he only said that he had opened a logistics company in Tiandu with a friend, without mentioning the name.
He only said that business was very good, booming, and that they had made a lot of money. The 300,000 yuan he sent home was only a small part of it, so that his parents wouldn't have to be frugal in the future. He also said that if they found a suitable house, they could buy one, and he would take care of the money.
This made Jiang's parents sigh and couldn't help but tell Jiang Bai that he should be down-to-earth and that although he had made money now, he should not spend it recklessly but save it for his future marriage.
Jiang Bai nodded in agreement without saying anything more.
Before they knew it, the meal was over. Jiang's father, feeling a bit tipsy, went back to his room to sleep.
Jiang Bai was also bored, so he turned on the old computer in his small room, found an old-fashioned single-player game, and played it with great interest.
Before they knew it, it was already evening. After dinner, the family was watching TV when suddenly there was a knock on the door.
Jiang Bai got up and opened the door. A bald, fierce-looking middle-aged man appeared beside him. The man was wearing an expensive suit, but it couldn't hide the fierce look on his face.
Behind him stood two decent-looking young men, who seemed somewhat cultured, carrying a pile of things at the door.
Seeing Jiang Bai open the door, his previously gloomy and fierce face immediately broke into a bright smile, and he said in a fawning tone, "Excuse me, is this Mr. Jiang Bai's home?"
This made Jiang Bai frown, then he glanced at the other party and couldn't help but ask, "Who are you?"
"Who is Xiao Bai? Are we having guests? Why won't you let them in?"
Jiang Bai's parents also got up at this moment. Jiang's mother walked towards the door from one side, saying as she did so.
Jiang Bai's house is really small, with two bedrooms and a living room, totaling only eighty square meters. The living room is right next to the entrance, making it quite difficult for people not to hear what's going on at the door.
Jiang's mother's words immediately made the bald middle-aged man at the door understand Jiang Bai's identity.
Although Jiang Bai made way for him, the other party did not rush to come in. Instead, he introduced himself in a fawning manner: "Mr. Jiang, I am Ding Ziqiang, people call me Ding Si. I heard that you were back, so I came here to see you and your uncle and aunt."
One sentence left Jiang Bai speechless. This Ding Si looked to be at least over forty, even older than his own father.
Why call them uncle or aunt?
They weren't afraid of being embarrassed.
Actually, Jiang Bai misunderstood the other party. To be honest, Ding Si's age is old enough to be on friendly terms with Jiang's father, and Jiang's father would even have to call him "brother".
The problem is that this makes him Jiang Bai's elder.
Then let Jiang Bai ask him what his name is.
Uncle? Grandpa?
Even if Jiang Bai dares to call him that, Ding Si wouldn't dare to admit it...
Being able to be on equal footing with Jiang Bai is already a great fortune; how could I dare to be presumptuous in the slightest?
"I don't think I'm..." Jiang Bai was about to speak.
He didn't know this Ding Si, and judging from his appearance, he knew he wasn't a good person. Jiang Bai didn't want him to come in, and he only made way for him because Jiang's mother had asked him to.
At this moment, after hearing the other person's self-introduction, Jiang Bai, realizing he didn't know them, wanted to tell them to leave.
However, before she could finish speaking, Jiang's mother interrupted, "Hurry up and let them in. How can you block the guests at the door?"
As they were talking, Jiang's mother and father had already reached the door. They were clearly taken aback when they saw Ding Si and his two men.
Ding Si's appearance was truly frightening; one look was enough to tell he was no good person, and a fierce aura emanated from him.
Mr. and Mrs. Jiang were honest people who had never dealt with such a person before, and they were stunned for a moment.
"Come in and talk."
Since his mother had spoken up, Jiang Bai said this helplessly.
Ding Si hurriedly came in with a smile, but he was very well-behaved. His two men put down their things as soon as they entered and left without saying a word, going straight downstairs.
This guy came to visit Jiang Bai, bringing some sea cucumbers and abalone, a case of Moutai liquor, a case of 95 cigarettes, and a case of bird's nest.
Place it directly at the entrance.
Then he quickly and politely bowed to Jiang's parents and said, "Uncle and Aunt, I'm Xiao Ding. It's nice to meet you. Sorry to bother you."
His appearance showed no sign of ferocity; his face was full of smiles, and coupled with his words, he looked like a well-behaved child, which made Jiang Bai's expression slightly better.
Chapter 221 Unable to React
This left Jiang's parents even more bewildered.
The fear was gone, but the sudden appearance of someone older than them calling them "uncle" or "aunt" left the elderly couple somewhat bewildered.
"this..."
Jiang's father hesitated for a moment, wanting to speak, but really didn't know what to say.
Ding Si was a shrewd person with an excellent understanding of human relationships. He immediately guessed what was going on when he saw Jiang's father's reaction.
He was actually quite embarrassed himself, but he had no choice but to call out at that moment.
Seeing that Jiang Bai didn't know what to say, he immediately said, "Uncle, you can call me Xiao Ding. Don't look at me as a bit old and have a long life. Mr. Jiang and I are business partners, and we are equals. It is only right that I call you uncle. Please don't refuse."
This made Jiang's father a little embarrassed, and he kept saying things like, "We should treat each other as equals. Jiang Bai doesn't know the rules, so how can he call me that?" This scared Ding Si into shaking his head repeatedly.
They kept calling him "uncle" and "auntie," leaving Jiang's father completely helpless.
In the end, it was Jiang's mother who was shrewd and didn't dwell on the matter. She stepped forward and said directly to Ding Si, "Little Ding, you've come all this way, why bring so much stuff? Come, come, have a seat..."
She could clearly see that the things Ding Si brought were quite valuable.
Jiang's mother is a good person in every way, except that she is afraid of being poor and has a habit of taking advantage of others.
She had seen the things Ding Si brought before. She didn't know what kind of cigarettes they were, but they were probably not bad. The case of Moutai was worth at least 10,000 yuan, and there was also bird's nest that she had seen in shopping malls.
That's incredibly precious!
They brought so many nice things, and kept calling each other "uncle" and "auntie," so how could Jiang's mother not be enthusiastic?
After inviting Ding Si to sit down, Jiang Ma turned around and called out to Jiang Bai, "Jiang Bai, the guests have arrived, why don't you go and pour some tea?"
"Oh." Jiang Bai rolled his eyes at this and responded with a sound of agreement. He then prepared to find a cup to pour this guy a glass of water.
Jiang's parents naturally didn't think there was anything wrong with it. When guests come, no matter what they are doing, it is only right to offer them water and a seat.
But Jiang Ma didn't know that her words had startled Ding Si so much that he almost fell over, breaking out in a cold sweat.
Should Jiang Ye pour tea for Ding Si?
Damn, this is incredibly prestigious! If word gets out, won't Ding Si become famous overnight?
Damn it, he wanted to drink this tea, but he dared not...
Should I have Master Jiang pour him tea today?
If word gets out, Mr. Wu can make him stay at his ancestral grave from now on and never come out again.
Master Jiang is Mr. Wu's brother!
If Jiang Ye pours him tea, isn't that the same as having Mr. Wu pour him tea?
What makes Ding Si so special?
Based on this alone, he'll be in deep trouble.
So Ding Si jumped up in surprise and quickly stood up: "Auntie, Auntie, I don't want tea, I'm not thirsty, please don't worry about me, please don't worry about me..."
This behavior surprised Jiang's mother, who was about to speak when Jiang Bai poured a glass of water and came over, placing it on the table. He said calmly, "Drink up. You're a guest, so if my mother tells you to drink, then drink."
This put Ding Si at ease. He sat down next to Jiang Bai, but didn't dare to sit down properly, appearing quite reserved.
But at that moment, a single sentence from Jiang's mother almost made him stand up again.
Jiang's mother frowned and said, "Jiang Bai, where's the tea? Why didn't you put tea in? How can you be so clueless? Go and change it."
One sentence made Ding Si want to die.
She quickly said, "Auntie... no, no need, I'm allergic to tea, plain water is just right."
This made Jiang's mother a little confused, as it was the first time she had heard someone say that drinking tea could cause an allergic reaction.
Seeing this, Jiang Bai knew that if his parents continued to entertain him so warmly, Ding Si would be scared to death. So he made up an excuse to send his parents downstairs for a walk, and that's how he got rid of the old couple.
After the elderly couple left, Jiang Bai crossed his legs, glanced at the meek Ding Si in front of him, and frowned, saying, "Ding Si, I don't think I know you. How did you find this place?"
"Yes, Mr. Jiang doesn't know me, but you are Mr. Wu's brother. We all follow Mr. Wu to make a living, and we've also become Mr. Jiang's fellow townsmen. I heard the news that you've returned home in glory, and I felt that it was only right and proper for me to come and see you, so I shamelessly came to pay my respects."
Ding Si answered cautiously.
These words surprised Jiang Bai, who then couldn't help but smile.
It was only then that he remembered that his hometown was in a central province, which, theoretically speaking, was within Wu Tianxi's sphere of influence.
The division of these spheres of influence is quite interesting. Whether it's Wu Tianxi, Cheng Tiangang, or Zhao Wuji, their so-called spheres of influence do not refer to any organizations they have established.
More often, it refers to their deeply entrenched power in these areas, just like Wu Tianxi, a powerful figure in Hebei, whose influence extends to several provinces in Hebei and even includes the Central Plains province where Jiang Bai's hometown is located.
It doesn't mean he monopolized this place; it just means he has a very wide network of connections in these provinces, and most of his businesses are concentrated in these areas.
His connections lay here; he had formed a tight network centered around Wu Tianxi with the government, officials, businessmen, and local tyrants, firmly securing his dominance and preventing others from interfering.
At the same time, in such an environment of alliance and control, profits are generated.
The several provinces of Hebei were so closely united around Wu Tianxi.
It is precisely because of these various relationships that Wu Tianxi has a strong control over these places.
For others, taking over Hebei is not just about getting rid of Wu Tianxi, but also about getting rid of his subordinates, his network of connections, and those who have interests with him.
Their true fighting strategy lies in replacing these people with their own.
This is why Cheng Tiangang, Li Qingdi, and Wu Tianxi all wanted to extend their influence into Tiandu, which resulted in a conflict with Zhao Wuji.
That wasn't just a casual trip or a legitimate business trip.
The so-called "reaching in" means to dismantle the interest groups surrounding Zhao Wuji and extend their influence over the area.
Naturally, Zhao Wuji would not tolerate their recklessness, so he gave them a thorough beating.
That's the crux of the matter.
Jiang Bai didn't understand this before, but he gradually learned about it later.
Strictly speaking, Jiang Bai is now also a branch of Zhao Wuji's vast and interconnected power.
This is why Cheng Tiangang disliked him so much.
Because in Cheng Tiangang's eyes, Jiang Bai and Zhao Wuji were essentially one and the same.
Chapter 222 If we really can't hold out, then so be it.
Of course, not all the places occupied by these few people belong to them. There are also some minor figures that they are unwilling to recruit. After all, they are high above and cannot interfere in everything, nor can they recruit just anyone.
Within their own sphere of influence, they formed a small circle, a small circle closely surrounding themselves.
The small circle may not have many members, but each member is closely connected to the group because of their shared interests. They cannot betray each other and share the same goal.
Below this small circle are all sorts of people, who, through various connections with those in the small circle, become indirectly controlled, extending their influence further down the social ladder.
Of course, even in the areas they control, it's impossible for everyone to be their people. Even in Zhao Wuji's Tiandu, he can't possibly win everyone over to stand with him.
It naturally includes all sorts of people, including those of the other bigwigs and independent individuals, creating a complex and intertwined network.
They simply hold an absolute advantage in a small area within this environment where everyone is interconnected and interdependent.
Jiang Bai's hometown is within Wu Tianxi's sphere of influence, and Ding Si claims to beg for food from Wu Tianxi.
Jiang Bai also understood this somewhat.
It seems that Ding Si is Wu Tianxi's and his interest group's agent in Yangcheng.
Or perhaps they are simply part of that interest group.
Then it would be perfectly reasonable for him to come and visit me.
Although I only had one drink with Wu Tianxi, we got along quite well and kept in touch often, calling each other brothers.
Wu Tianxi often tells people that he is his brother.
If word of this gets out, people will naturally think that Jiang Bai is in cahoots with Wu Tianxi, that they are on the same level.
Ding Si makes a living in Jiang Bai's hometown. It's one thing if Jiang Bai doesn't come back, but if he doesn't pay a visit when Jiang Bai does, that would be very impolite.
"So you're one of Brother Wu's men. No wonder I've never seen you before."
Jiang Bai smiled, and his expression softened considerably once he understood the situation.
"How dare we... how dare we... we're just trying to make a living under Mr. Wu's influence, how could we dare to call ourselves Mr. Wu's people?" Ding Si hurriedly denied.
Relationships shouldn't be fabricated haphazardly. Although he makes a living within Wu Tianxi's sphere of influence and is involved with Wu Tianxi's small circle, he is at most an outsider, an independent outsider.
Naturally, no one would dare to act under Wu Tianxi's name. In the several provinces of Hebei, only people within the Hanhai Group and a few people with extremely close relationships with Wu Tianxi would dare to do so.
Ding Si is clearly not among them.
"Heh, I know his situation. Since it's his territory, what's wrong with saying he's one of his people? If anyone asks, just say I told them!"
Jiang Bai laughed and said this, which made Ding Si overjoyed.
Don't underestimate this one sentence. With Jiang Bai's words, Ding Si's status in Pingyuan Province, where Yangcheng is located, immediately rose several levels.
This will be extremely beneficial to his future development and will directly elevate his status, because it means that he can now say that he belongs to Mr. Wu when he goes out!
Don't underestimate the power of just a single sentence, an identity, or a show of force; only those involved can truly understand the boundless benefits it brings.
This pleased Ding Si greatly, and he secretly thought that this trip had not been in vain.
Jiang Bai was certainly aware of all this; he wasn't just spouting off. In fact, he knew perfectly well that he was merely doing the other party a favor.
Jiang Bai was away from home, and there were bound to be some things he couldn't take care of. Jiang Bai believed that with this huge favor, Ding Si would know what to do.
The two chatted for a while, which gave Jiang Bai some understanding of Ding Si's identity.
Although the words were not explicitly stated, Jiang Bai roughly understood what the other party meant and guessed what kind of person he was.
Ding Si's situation in Yangcheng was roughly similar to Huang San's situation in Suzhou; both were local warlords who dominated their respective regions.
This is also directly related to Jiang Bai's limited contact with society in the past, and his departure to Tiandu after graduating from high school.
Otherwise, he would have known about Ding Si.
In Yangcheng, anyone with a bit of knowledge knows Master Ding!
Whether he knew or not didn't matter; even if he did know, Jiang Bai wouldn't care too much.
For ordinary people, a figure like Ding Si is high above them, almost unattainable.
But for Jiang Bai... it's really nothing now.
Think about it, what kind of people does Jiang Bai hang out with on a regular basis?
Wu Tianxi, the hero of Hebei; Cheng Tiangang, the tiger of the southern border; Zhao Wuji, the lion of the capital; Yin Tianchou, the crocodile of Hong Kong; and if we had to add a few more, the dragon of the capital would probably be included as well.
Compared to these people, Ding Sizhen is nothing more than a small fry.
The two chatted for a while longer before Ding Si tactfully took his leave, and Jiang Bai didn't stop him.
Before leaving, Ding Si left Jiang Bai a business card, saying that Jiang Bai should feel free to ask him anything.
Throughout the entire process, Ding Si did not ask Jiang Bai for his phone number or anything like that.
He's a man of principle; he wouldn't just ask for Jiang Bai's phone number casually.
If Jiang Bai wants it, he will give it to him; if Jiang Bai doesn't bring it up, then he has no right to bring it up.
This is the most basic rule in this hierarchical society.
If a person can't even see their own place, and doesn't know how to follow basic rules, then they're not far from death.
Clearly, Ding Si is not that kind of person.
Shortly after Ding Si left, Jiang Bai's parents returned and inquired about Ding Si's occupation.
Jiang Bai simply said it was a business friend of his, and that was that.
Jiang Bai was unwilling to talk too much about his own affairs with his parents, which was not necessarily a good thing.
So the family stopped dwelling on the issue.
Jiang's father turned on the TV and happened to see an interview program, an entertainment interview program that was airing close to the Spring Festival, and it was broadcasting information about Ye Qingcheng.
Unbeknownst to many, Ye Qingcheng had been invited to a famous domestic television station and was currently doing an interview for their program.
She wore a pink dress that was serene, elegant, sexy, and tasteful, making her a striking sight.
Jiang's mother couldn't help but point at Ye Qingcheng on the TV screen and say, "Son, son, look how beautiful this girl is, even more beautiful than Wanru. I've never seen such a beautiful woman before. Your mother was alright when she was young, but compared to her, I realize that your mother looked like straw when she was young."
After saying that, he added with a sigh, "If you really want to marry a beautiful woman, marry one who's incredibly beautiful. Even if you can't keep her in the end, you'll have to accept it."
Upon hearing this, Jiang's father scolded her, calling her a fool.
Jiang Bai remained silent for a long time, thinking to himself, "You should know that this girl is an alcoholic now. She goes on a drunken rampage when she drinks. I don't know if you can handle it if I really bring her back to you."
Chapter 223 Old Classmate?
Nothing happened that night, and Jiang Bai fell into a deep sleep on his long-unused small bed.
The next morning, he immediately called Lin Wanru.
I told her about my schedule for the day and the blind date.
It's not that Jiang Bai is a coward; he has to report the facts.
However, it is a sensitive time now, and Jiang Bai does not want to cause trouble for himself because Jiang Yuqing's matter has not been resolved yet.
Jiang Bai knew Aunt Zhang well; she was known for her big mouth.
Even if I don't say anything, it won't be long before Lin Wanru hears about my blind date.
Rather than doing that, it's better to confess beforehand to avoid future troubles.
Hearing Jiang Bai's words, Lin Wanru was indeed a little unhappy. However, Jiang Bai assured her that she was only reluctantly going through the motions because she felt bad that her mother had put in so much effort, and that she had absolutely no other intentions.
This put Lin Wanru at ease.
However, she was still a little worried, and after thinking about it, she asked to go with Jiang Bai.
Of course, she wasn't going to meet Jiang Bai with him; she was just asking for directions and sitting a little further away to take a look.
Jiang Bai thought about this small request and Lin Wanru's little thoughts, and after a moment's consideration, he agreed.
Anyway, Jiang Bai had no intention of getting involved with anyone. The other party was there with the intention of getting married, and they were not on the same page as Jiang Bai.
At his mother's invitation, Jiang Bai tidied himself up early, changing into a brand new shirt, sweater, jeans, and a thick black suit before heading out.
To be honest, Jiang Bai thought this outfit was... a bit tacky.
But there was nothing he could do; it was his mother's perspective. Jiang Bai had no choice but to agree.
Anyway, Jiang Bai doesn't really care much about his image.
Otherwise, with his resources, he could easily position himself at the forefront of fashion; Empire Films has professional stylists.
The place Jiang Ma had arranged to meet was a Western restaurant in the center of Yangcheng City.
Jiang Bai didn't care what the name was, as Yangcheng wasn't big and there were only two commercial streets in the center, so they were easy to find.
As soon as they arrived at the entrance of the shopping mall in the center of the commercial street, Jiang Bai saw the two characters "Ruyue" belonging to his boss. He then pointed to Lin Wanru, who was beside him, and said, "That's it. Let's go in separately and find a place to sit. I'll go first."
This Western restaurant has a simple decor; it's not particularly high-end, but it's acceptable. For a small third-tier city like this, it's quite good.
As soon as he entered, Jiang Bai began looking for people as agreed.
Jiang Bai hadn't seen the photo, but his mother had. She only said the girl was very beautiful, but didn't explain exactly how.
However, Aunt Zhang had already communicated the general situation with Jiang Bai.
My blind date was wearing a white down jacket and a white sweater. She had long hair and big eyes.
The target was obvious, especially at this time, at ten o'clock in the morning, when there weren't many customers yet. Jiang Bai spotted the other party at a glance.
Not far away, a woman in her twenties was sitting there, wearing a white sweater, and her white down jacket had been taken off and was draped over one side.
I suppose this is my blind date.
"Hello, are you Ms. Wang?"
He walked over and greeted them politely. Whether he wanted to or not, Jiang Bai could still manage basic etiquette.
Otherwise, it would not only embarrass Jiang Bai, but also his mother.
"Yes, you're here for a blind date, Mr. Jiang?"
The young girl who had been looking down at her phone looked up when she heard this, and then smiled and said...
He was clearly taken aback when he saw Jiang Bai.
"You are... Jiang Bai?"
Not only was she stunned, but Jiang Bai was also somewhat taken aback.
Jiang Bai knew this woman, just as she knew him.
This woman's name is Wang Qianqian, and she was Jiang Bai's high school classmate.
The two of them hadn't interacted much before. Although they were in the same class, Wang Qianqian was a decent student and sat in the front row, while Jiang Bai was the worst student in the class and sat in the back row near the door.
We usually interact with people from two different circles, but we don't communicate much.
But even if we don't interact much, we've still been in the same class for a whole year, a full year of senior year. How could we not get to know each other?
"I didn't expect it to be you, and you're an old classmate."
Jiang Bai smiled and then sat down. Since they were old classmates, things would be much easier. Some things are not convenient to say directly to strangers, but can be said to old classmates.
Although the two of them didn't get along well, at least they knew each other.
"I didn't expect it to be you on a blind date, especially an old classmate," Jiang Bai said with a smile.
I had already made up my mind, but I couldn't just say it directly; that would be too hurtful and impolite.
So Jiang Bai decided to say a few words first, and then talk things out after they had a good chat.
To be honest, Wang Qianqian is not bad looking, above average, and has a good figure, but she is not as stunning as her mother described, and is naturally not as good as Lin Wanru.
But when it comes to distributing it to ordinary people, it's more than enough.
Back in school, Wang Qianqian wasn't exactly the school beauty, but she was definitely one of the most beautiful girls in Jiang Bai's class, especially since she developed early and had a large bust for the time.
Countless boys in the class had feelings for her back then, and I even heard that some people from outside the school thought she was pretty and pursued her specifically, and that she even had a boyfriend from outside the school.
Anyway, there are many rumors, some true and some false, and Jiang Bai doesn't know either.
Jiang Bai wasn't very interested in her at the time, so he didn't pay much attention to her.
Now, many years later, looking at her again, Wang Qianqian still looks the same as she did when she was in school, with little change. If there is any change, it is that her breasts are a bit bigger and she looks a bit more mature.
Compared to her youthful naiveté, Wang Qianqian now exudes an air of vicissitude that is hard to define or understand.
Um... or perhaps it's more accurate to describe it as an air of maturity.
Not only did she wear makeup, but it was also quite heavy.
It wasn't quite to the point where your face was covered in powder so that you could use it to make bread, but it was still quite a lot.
This displeased Jiang Bai, who admired natural beauty.
However, whether Jiang Bai likes it or not is not important, whether for Jiang Bai or Wang Qianqian it is the same.
"I heard that you didn't go to school after graduating from high school, but went to Tiandu? How is it going?"
Wang Qianqian smiled, glanced at Jiang Bai, and behaved politely.
Jiang Bai noticed something hidden in that smile—was it contempt or disdain?
Or perhaps it's a feeling of disgust or something.
Jiang Bai couldn't figure it out either.
Everyone says that the eyes are the windows to the soul, but if anyone claims that they can read someone's mind just by looking into their eyes when the other person doesn't have a clear expression, Jiang Bai would definitely slap them across the face.
Jiang Bai couldn't discern what was in Wang Qianqian's eyes at the moment.
His various thoughts stemmed entirely from an innate, subconscious feeling.
It can't be taken seriously.
Chapter 224 The Sucker?
"It's nothing, just running a small business, nothing special, just getting by. What about you?"
Jiang Bai smiled and answered the other person's question.
"I graduated from university two years ago and now I work for a state-owned enterprise."
Wang Qianqian nodded and said this.
After they finished speaking, they both fell silent, and the atmosphere became somewhat awkward. There was none of the warmth that comes with old classmates meeting again; instead, there was only endless silence and embarrassment.
After a while, just as Jiang Bai was about to speak, Wang Qianqian spoke first.
Wang Qianqian glanced at Jiang Bai and said, "Jiang Bai, Aunt Zhang must have told you when you came that I came here with the intention of getting married. We are old classmates, and there are some things I can't say to others, but we are acquaintances, so I won't hide anything from you."
One sentence immediately made Jiang Bai feel uneasy.
Just kidding, you're here with marriage in mind, but I'm not. I'm just going through the motions.
Before Jiang Bai could speak, the other person continued, "I know a little about your situation. Your parents are laid-off workers who now run some small businesses, but they don't make much money. You didn't go to school after graduating from high school and worked in Tiandu. I heard you used to be a laborer? Recently you started a small business? It seems to be doing alright."
They only live in one house with their parents, and it seems they don't own a car?
"yes."
Jiang Bai was stunned for a moment after hearing what the other person said, then nodded, not understanding what the other person was talking about.
However, judging from her appearance, she shouldn't be the same Ding Ju that my mother had asked me to meet before.
She didn't show any obvious signs of using vulgar language, contempt, snobbery, or materialism, which made Jiang Bai very curious about what Wang Qianqian meant by saying these things.
First, tell me your own circumstances? Do you want to back down because you know it's too difficult?
That's...that's wonderful.
In fact, it seems that the script is developing just as Jiang Bai had imagined.
Wang Qianqian continued, "As for your conditions, although I don't know them all, these are the general outlines. Now, let me tell you about myself."
I graduated from university two years ago. It wasn't a top-tier university, but it was at least a 211 Project university, a second-tier institution. Later, I got a job in a state-owned enterprise through connections. Our company is quite profitable, and my monthly salary is around 5,000 yuan.
My parents both have pensions, own a house, and have no financial burdens.
Jiang Bai listened to all of this, nodding repeatedly, pretending to be a good student listening attentively, wanting to hear what the other party would say next.
"I'm not bad-looking, and I think I should meet your criteria for a partner. If you're willing, we can be together, but I have a few conditions."
"this..."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Bai was clearly taken aback, then opened his mouth as if to speak.
Just kidding, it seems like the script has gone wrong.
"Don't say anything yet, let me finish."
Seeing Jiang Bai open his mouth, Wang Qianqian was the first to stop him.
Then he said, "If we get married, I can provide housing, an apartment with an elevator that is at least 150 square meters, and I can buy you a car, um, around 100,000."
However, your parents will still live in the same place. I don't think you shouldn't be filial to your parents, but I really don't like living with the elderly. Also, it's not very convenient for them to follow us if we have children. You can go back to see them often, and I can accompany you.
We have children now, so you don't need to contribute to the family. I can still give you three thousand a month to cover household expenses, and I can also give your parents two thousand a month for their retirement. In total, I will give you five thousand a month.
As for the wedding expenses, they were all paid for by my side.
One sentence after another left Jiang Bai somewhat bewildered.
What's going on here?
Paying out of pocket?
Getting married doesn't cost money, and you can even make money?
How can you make money without having to support a wife and kids every month?
This... isn't that too good to be true?
For a moment, Jiang Bai was completely baffled.
Isn't it said that it's getting harder and harder to find a wife these days?
Especially in smaller cities, where there are more men than women, getting a wife can easily cost hundreds of thousands of yuan.
But it seems like things aren't like that now.
However, Jiang Bai quickly understood why the other party had offered such generous terms.
"However... I also have a few conditions. First, you can't touch me for the time being after we get married. You can after a year, and only once a month at most... I don't like it too often."
Jiang Bai wanted to curse as soon as he said that. Although he had no intention of marrying Wang Qianqian, he felt like he was in the shoes of a typical man.
Just kidding, if you marry a wife but can't sleep with her, then what's the point of marrying her!
Can only be done after a year? Or at most once a month?
What's the difference between that and becoming a monk?
However, he remained silent and listened quietly as Wang Qianqian continued.
Sure enough, the second condition came out: "Second, after we get married, I will have my own freedom. I hope you won't interfere with what I do. Of course... I won't interfere with you either."
Damn it, no interference, nobody cares about anyone else?
You're not even bothered to do anything about your husband cheating on you?
What's the point of getting married then?
Jiang Bai felt contempt once again.
However, Jiang Bai soon understood why Wang Qianqian had offered such generous terms, and he also knew why she later proposed the two conditions mentioned above, which were generally incomprehensible to most people.
"Third, if we have a baby after marriage, you must treat him/her well with all your heart. For example... the one I'm carrying now."
"Holy shit! Holy shit!" Jiang Bai thought to himself.
He finally understood: this guy wasn't looking for a marriage partner, but rather for someone to take over his old flame.
No wonder she offered so many generous conditions before; it turns out she was just trying to find a legitimate father for her child.
This is absolutely outrageous!
Seeing Jiang Bai's drastic change in expression, Wang Qianqian remained calm and said in an extremely composed manner, "Jiang Bai, the child's father cannot acknowledge him, but he also hopes that the child will have a complete family. As long as you treat the child well, his father will not mistreat you. You can join our state-owned enterprise, and if you perform well, you can become a middle manager within ten years."
The child's father will arrange all of this, as long as you are willing to keep this a secret.
I know you might not be able to accept this right away, but you need to think it through. With my conditions for marrying you, I'll give you a house, a car, and even arrange a job for you. The only condition is that you keep quiet so that your husband's wife won't have any reason to complain. What's there to be unhappy about?
This is an opportunity, and I hope you can seize it.
With those words, Wang Qianqian seemed to have victory in her grasp.
In her opinion, with such generous terms, Jiang Bai, a loser, had no reason not to agree; he just couldn't accept them for the time being.
However, I believe she will soon calm down and agree to the condition.