After changing her clothes, she sat down at her dressing table and used up the last of her old makeup to put on a light look.
Even though Jiang Tao was an old acquaintance, she still wanted to greet her new job looking her best.
He Fang might not be quite 1.6 meters tall, but she had a pretty face and looked young.
Truth was, she was already thirty-eight, and her son was about to take his college entrance exams.
With makeup done, when she left the house saying she was twenty-eight, nobody would doubt it.
Finishing up her hair and makeup, He Fang decided to splurge a little and called a car via her phone.
Around 5 p.m., just before closing time at the lot.
He Fangâs ride brought her to Old Liâs Used Car Market, where she met Jiang Tao and Li Ming.
"Li Ming, let me introduce you, this is my sister-in-law, He Fang."
"Sister-in-law, this is my buddy Li Ming, also the boss here. Youâll be working together from now on."
After meeting, Jiang Tao smiled and made introductions between He Fang and Li Ming.
"Hello, sister-in-law."
Li Ming called her sister-in-law along with Jiang Tao, a big, enthusiastic smile as he shook her hand.
"Hello President Li, I look forward to working with you."
He Fang also smiled and shook Li Mingâs hand, coming off naturally poised.
With introductions made, Li Ming went over the work He Fang would take on after joining.
He said heâd have someone help her get familiar with everything for a month, at first.
He Fang had been a little anxious, wondering if she could do the job well enough.
But after hearing Li Mingâs explanation, she realized it didnât seem as complicated as sheâd imagined on her way over.
And sheâd have someone guide her, too.
She felt way more confident about fitting in at work.
While He Fang was on her way over, Li Ming had already gotten her hiring paperwork ready.
In just ten minutes, he finished helping her with all the onboarding formalities.
Next step was just to transfer her employment and insurance over to the car lot.
[Ding! Congratulations, youâve recruited a treasure employee!]
[This treasure employee will bring you profits worth ten times her monthly salary!]
Right as He Fang and Li Ming signed the contract, two bright notifications floated across Jiang Taoâs retina.
"Huh? Treasure employee? Ten times the profit?"
Noticing the two lines across his retina, Jiang Tao felt an immediate rush of joy.
When his gaze landed on He Fang, there was suddenly an info box floating above her head.
[Name]: He Fang
[Attribute]: Treasure Employee!
[Trait]: Brings her employer ten times her salary in monthly profits!
[Value]: Right now, He Fang can earn up to 15,688 yuan a month!
"Ten times 15,688 is 156,880."
"So, Sister-in-law He Fang can bring me 150,000, almost 160,000 in extra profit every month?"
"Paid to work, now thatâs a genuine treasure employee!"
Seeing the info box above He Fangâs head, Jiang Taoâs eyes gleamed all over again.
If only he could hire more treasure employees like her, who came with their own salary-pumping magic!
Even doing nothing, just keeping them around, and heâd rake in tens or hundreds of thousands every month, lying down!
"President Li, Iâll come to work tomorrow."
He Fang and Li Mingâs conversation pulled Jiang Tao back to reality from his happy daze.
Li Ming nodded, "Alright, sister-in-law, just come in tomorrow, and Iâll make sure your social insurance and everything is handled ASAP."
"Thank you, President Li, sorry for the trouble."
"No need to be so polite, sister-in-law."
"Jiang Tao, how about coming to our place tonight? Iâll whip up a few dishes for you and Brother Wang, you two havenât had a drink together in ages."
He Fang looked at Jiang Tao, hoping for a chance to thank him properly.
Jiang Tao smiled, "Iâve got plans tonightâhow about you and Brother Wang join me?
No outsiders, just my old landlord Brother LĂŒ and his partner, my mom and dad, and my mother-in-lawâs family."
"Letâs do it another day, then. Looks like a family gathering tonight, wouldnât want to crash with me and Brother Wang."
He Fang really wanted to get closer to Jiang Tao, but knew where to draw the line.
With this kind of family gathering, she and Wang Lianming would just feel out of place.
"Then another time. Iâll bring some good wine and find Brother Wangâhavenât tasted sister-in-lawâs cooking in ages."
Seeing He Fang and Wang Lianming hesitate, Jiang Tao didnât push.
He Fang laughed, "Alright! Call whenever youâre free, Brother Wang and I are always home waiting for you!"
"Itâs about time, Iâm heading back toward Xiaoshanhe, so Iâll give sister-in-law a lift."
Jiang Tao glanced at the Green Water Ghost watch on his wristâit was already a little past six.
Just about time for his seven oâclock meeting with Old LĂŒ.
While He Fang and Li Ming were signing paperwork, Xu Li messaged to say she, Mr. Jiang, Nanny Jiang, and the rest had already arrived at Old LĂŒâs place.
Mother-in-law, father-in-law, and sister-in-law had all gone tooâJiang Tao was the last one missing.
He Fang nodded, "Alright, thank you."
"Why so polite with me, sister-in-law? Letâs get going, Li Ming."
"Brother Jiang, sister-in-law, take care. Drive safe, alright?"
Li Ming walked them all the way to the door, watched them get into the big, black Benz G, then went home himself.
...
At 6:48 p.m., the Benz G rolled back into the wasteland outside Xiaoshanhe Village that served as an impromptu parking lot.
"Youâre here!"
Spotting the Benz G, Wang Lianming stubbed out his cigarette on the ground, sprang up, and greeted them beaming.
Bang bang!
The doors to the Benz G swung open and shut.
Jiang Tao and He Fang got out of the car.
"Jiang Tao!"
After over a month apart, Wang Lianming almost didnât recognize his brother.
Jiang Tao had changed so much over the past few months!
The man standing here tonight was a totally different person from the Jiang Tao of last year!
Whether looks or vibe, heâd improved by leaps and bounds!
It was all thanks to his attitude, to his growing savings, and the charm points heâd racked up doing tasks.
"Brother Wang."
Jiang Tao smiled as he greeted Wang Lianming, just the same as always.
No matter how well he was doing now, he didnât look down on his old friends.
"Man, you really are something to envyâwhen fortune hits, nothing can stop it!"
Wang Lianming looked over Jiang Tao, then at the Benz G parked nearby.
Only last year, they were the sameâtruck drivers slogging day and night, hauling goods.
Now, in just a few months, Jiang Tao had rugs of real estate in Beijing, and was driving a two-million-yuan Benz G!
He himself was still the same, still just Old Wang the trucker.
Guess there really is that kind of gap between people.
Jiang Tao let out a hearty laugh, "Haha, no kidding. Sister-in-lawâs lucky to have survived a rough patchâsheâs due for good fortune next."
"Haha, from your lips to Godâs ears! Come on, letâs go have a few drinks, brother!"
Laughing, Wang Lianming invited Jiang Tao to his place for a drink.
He Fang quickly reminded, "Old Wang, Jiang Taoâs meeting friends tonightâletâs do it another time."
"Oh, okay! If youâve got plans, go ahead. We can hang out anytime."
Once Wang Lianming heard Jiang Tao already had plans, he didnât insist.
The three chatted a bit more, then strolled through the urban village together. At a side street, they finally parted ways.
When Jiang Tao arrived at Old LĂŒâs place, it was just turning 7 p.m.
"You really timed this, huh? Couldnât have come earlier for a chat?"
"Come sit down, come sit, come sit."
"Honey~"
"Daddy!"
"Brother-in-law,"
As soon as he came in, everyone got up to greet him, faces full of happy smiles.
After saying hi to everyone, Jiang Tao sat down in the empty seat next to Xu Li.
"Wow, this fish smells amazing! Is it the one I gave you this morning?"
Jiang Tao sat down and caught a whiff of the delicious fish on the table, eyes locking right onto the steamed fish in the center.
Old LĂŒ laughed, "Yep! Thatâs the fish you gave meâhurry up and try it!"
Jiang Xue, licking her lips excitedly, chimed in:
"Dad, Dad, this fish is so good! We couldnât resist and already ate three before you got here."