Daily Intelligence System: Financial Independence

This "godkin" relationship is also a deeper kind of wooing and binding.

He knew very well how deep-rooted Bai Yulan’s connections and how strong her pull were in Ping County, and even throughout the whole Shishi Region.

The other side was taking the initiative like this, you could even say lowering themselves to make friends.

If he refused, he really would look a bit unappreciative.

Besides, Jiang Tao could hear the sincerity in the tone of both Bai Yulan and her mother when they spoke.

All along, this mother and daughter really had treated him very well.

This time back, Jiang Tao had called Bai Yulan twice to ask for help, and each time she agreed without a moment’s hesitation and got back to him quickly with results.

All in all, to sum it up, there was really nothing to complain about with how Bai Yulan treated him; there wasn’t the slightest bit of perfunctoriness toward anything he asked.

Having such a "god-sis" who was capable and especially good to him—seemed pretty nice, didn’t it?

"So, what do you think, Xiao Jiang? You don’t have to rush to decide right now, you can go back and think it over carefully."

Seeing the hesitation on Jiang Tao’s face, Bai Yun very considerately gave him time to think.

Jiang Tao smiled and said, "Something like this, what is there to think about? Aunt Bai, it’s my good fortune that you think so highly of me."

"Then you’re still calling me Aunt Bai?"

The smile on Bai Yun’s face grew even brighter; she looked as if she’d suddenly become several years younger.

"Godmom! I’ll drink to you—wish you a long life and peace year after year."

Without another word, Jiang Tao picked up the bottle, glug-glug-glugged himself a full glass, and then drained it in one go.

"Good, good, good! Good son, you really are your godma’s good son."

At the sound of that "godmom," Bai Yun’s face bloomed with delight.

As if she’d been prepared all along, she picked up a delicate crocodile leather clutch from beside her,

took out a checkbook and a pen, scribbled a few strokes, then handed it in front of Jiang Tao.

"Good child, this is your godma’s meeting gift for you. It’s not much, just for good luck—may our mother-and-son bond last long, long!"

Jiang Tao’s eyes swept over the check and saw a long string of "9"s!

The amount on the check was a bold 999,999 yuan!

One yuan short of a million!

Once he clearly saw the figure, Jiang Tao hurriedly said:

"Godmom, this ’change-of-address fee’ is way too much, I can’t accept it."

Seeing Bai Yun casually pull out nearly a million, He Jing also couldn’t help secretly clicking her tongue.

She knew the Bai family had money, but she hadn’t expected that just the change-of-address money would be close to a million!

He Jing also had a godfather and godmother.

When she’d acknowledged her godfather back then, he’d only symbolically given her 100 yuan.

The gap between 100 yuan and a million was 9,999 times!

"Take it, you have to take it! I picked up such a big son for nothing, I can’t possibly not show anything, can I?"

Bai Yun stretched out her hand and directly set the check down in front of Jiang Tao, smiling as she said:

"Don’t worry, your godma here may not be some super rich lady, but I can at least be considered comfortably off. This little bit of change-of-address money is nothing to your godma."

Hearing Bai Yun’s words, Jiang Tao was a bit at a loss whether to laugh or cry. With his godma’s strength, this was far, far more than just "comfortably off"!

Who from a ’comfortably off’ family casually hands out a million in cash like this?

This was way too generous!

"Mom’s right, this change-of-address fee definitely has to be taken. Life needs a sense of ceremony."

Bai Yulan also smiled and took out her own checkbook, just as crisply filling one out:

"Your godma’s already shown her stance; as your god-sis I can’t be stingy. Call me god-sis, and this is yours."

Bai Yulan smiled and waved the check in front of Jiang Tao, a hint of teasing in her tone, but her eyes full of warmth.

Jiang Tao glanced at it and saw a long string of "8"s.

The number wasn’t as big as Bai Yun’s "9," but the length was no shorter than that string of 9s just now.

"Haha, god-sis, from now on your little brother’s counting on you to cover him."

Jiang Tao felt no resistance at all to changing how he addressed Bai Yulan and calling her god-sis.

Normally he already called her "Sister Bai."

Now adding a "god" in front didn’t seem to make much difference.

But everyone present understood that this layer of relationship between them was no longer the same.

From today on, in a certain sense, Jiang Tao counted as truly one of "their own" for Bai Yulan.

"Hee-hee, little brother, don’t worry. From now on sis will cover you—here in our Ji Province, nobody’s going to be able to bully you."

As Bai Yulan spoke, she reached out and placed the check in front of Jiang Tao.

What she said was also a promise to Jiang Tao.

And she really wasn’t bragging—she actually had that kind of clout.

"Brother Jiang, from now on we’re one family. You’re welcome to come over to the house often."

Bai Yucheng looked at Jiang Tao with a smile; this biological son of hers even felt a little envious of his own god-brother.

He’d only just returned to the family not long ago and still relied on his mom and sister to give him pocket money every month, so naturally he couldn’t be as generous as his mom and sister.

"Sure, and Xiao Bai, you’re welcome to drop by my place often too."

Jiang Tao looked at Bai Yucheng and replied with a smile.

Jiang Tao had gone from being a guest at their home to suddenly becoming "family."

This family dinner reached its climax amidst the joy of formally recognizing kinship.

Everyone chatted and laughed, talking about little everyday things; the atmosphere was incredibly harmonious.

Jiang Tao felt that his relationship with this family had also grown a lot closer.

The meal started a bit after six in the evening and went on until after eight.

Once they’d eaten and drunk their fill, Bai Yun and Bai Yulan still weren’t willing to let Jiang Tao go; they pulled him and He Jing to chat for another two-plus hours.

It wasn’t until after ten at night that Jiang Tao finally left with He Jing.

He Jing’s family of three came out as well, and only after they watched the two get in the car did they turn back home.

"Brother Tao, this Cartier necklace actually goes for 250,000 at the counter! That’s... that’s way too expensive!"

In the Mercedes G-Wagon, once she got in, He Jing checked the price of the necklace Bai Yulan had given her on her phone.

One look and she got a huge scare!

The meeting gift she’d given Bai Yulan had only been a string of beads.

For the other side to give her such an expensive necklace in return really left her a bit flattered and overwhelmed.

"Relax, just take what god-sis gives you; don’t worry about the price."

Jiang Tao smiled and rubbed He Jing’s head, his expression far calmer than hers.

That River Stone Bracelet was a literal "priceless treasure."

Trading it for a 250,000-yuan necklace was actually a massive loss.

However, his relationship with Bai Yulan had already been good, and now they were even god-siblings.

Giving her a River Stone Bracelet, Jiang Tao really wasn’t going to fuss over gain and loss.

"Sister Bai’s family is really warm, and really generous, and they’re just too strong."

"With this connection to Sister Bai’s family, Brother Tao, you’ll have that much more support in the future."

He Jing rested her head on Jiang Tao’s shoulder, replaying everything from the dinner in her mind, feeling happy on her man’s behalf.

"Yeah, for sure."

Jiang Tao smiled and nodded, very much agreeing with what He Jing said.

Compared to Bai Yulan, his own network right now was like some little cobweb in a corner versus the State Grid.

At least at this stage when he hadn’t yet grown up, Bai Yulan’s network was still extremely important to him.

As the saying goes, it’s cooler in the shade of a big tree.

With the big tree that was Bai Yulan to lean on, whatever he did in the future would be that much easier.

"Are we going home tonight?"

Jiang Tao lowered his head to look at He Jing in his arms and asked quietly.

"I’ll do whatever you say."

He Jing answered in a coy, soft voice.

As soon as the words left her mouth, she felt her cheeks burning, and the scenes from last night in the hotel flashed through her mind again.

"Old Jia, straight back to the hotel."

"Okay, boss."

Around ten-thirty at night, the Mercedes G-Wagon slowly pulled up at the entrance to the lodging wing of Baiyulan Hotel.

Jiang Tao and He Jing pushed the doors open and got out, leaning against each other as they walked toward the main entrance, chatting and laughing.

Jiang Tao had directly booked last night’s suite for a whole week.

The two took the elevator back upstairs.

As soon as they entered the room—

He Jing’s pair of fair, tender arms instantly wrapped around Jiang Tao’s neck.

Her long legs gave a light leap and hooked around him.