Chapter 35: Busy Man Ye Xing
CLICK!
Ye Xing took out his key and unlocked the suite’s metal security door.
Because the apartment was on the third floor, it was a bit darker than the upper levels, so the interior was decorated mainly in white. To save some money, the decor was also quite simple.
’She’s really not home!’ Ye Xing muttered, placing the bag of Demon Beast Meat he was holding into the refrigerator to keep it fresh. Then he took out his phone and dialed his mom’s number.
"Hello! Mom!"
"You brat! You finally decided to call. How could a business trip take so long? I thought you’d been kidnapped by human traffickers. Your phone wouldn’t even connect. If you’d been two days later, your mother here would’ve had to go report you missing to the police..." His mom’s rambling reprimands came through the phone.
Ye Xing couldn’t help but smile wryly. "Mom, didn’t I tell you before? I was on a business trip in a very remote place where there’s no cell service. Of course the call wouldn’t go through."
"But you can’t just be gone for a whole month! And with no way to contact you, how could I not worry? It was just a business trip, so why were you gone for over a month? What exactly were you doing?"
"I was buying some Chinese medicinal herbs. You know that Second Aunt and I are working on a business deal together. All those grass carp were raised with the herbs I use. This trip was to buy a few rare types of herbs." Ye Xing then asked, "By the way, Mom, where are you right now?"
"Where else would I be? I’m at the fruit stand on South Gate Street."
"Mom, come on, we’re not short on money anymore. Why are you still running that fruit stand? It’s tiring, and you don’t even make much!" Ye Xing quickly tried to persuade her.
"Who says I don’t make money? I make over three thousand a month. Add that to what your dad earns from his moving jobs, and we can bring in over ten thousand a month. We still owe the bank a three-hundred-thousand loan! The sooner we earn enough to pay it off, the better. Then no girl will look down on our family for being poor!"
"I’ll pay off the bank loan in full later. I’m earning over four million a month now, which is more than enough money. Mom, there’s no need for you and Dad to keep working for that ten thousand or so a month. It would be terrible if you wore yourselves out."
"We’re not tired, not at all. Your father and I are still young, we can handle it. Huh? Wait! What did you just say? Over four million? What four million?" his mom asked, her voice filled with disbelief.
"I said that I, your son, am now earning over four million a month. Once the business expands next month, I’ll be earning even more. You and Dad can finally relax and enjoy life at home," Ye Xing said with a laugh.
"Over four million?! You’re just pulling my leg, you brat! Your aunt clearly told me it was around two hundred thousand, and after taxes, it’s just over a hundred thousand. Are you trying to fool your own mother?"
"It’s really over four million!" Ye Xing didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. "My partnership with Second Aunt is just me dabbling. The real money comes from the twenty or thirty big hotels in Luoxian County. I’ll show you my bank card later."
After spending a long time trying to convince his mom, Ye Xing finally hung up and put his phone on the table.
Suddenly—
"RING RING RING... *You are my little, little apple...*"
The moment he set his phone down, it suddenly began to ring and vibrate again.
’Why do I feel like I’m getting busier and busier lately? Who could be calling?’ Ye Xing picked his phone back up and glanced at the screen. It was a call from Sister Chen. He immediately swiped the screen to answer.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk! If it isn’t Big Boss Ye! You disappear for a whole month, and now you suddenly have time to answer a humble girl’s call?" Sister Chen’s teasing voice came through the phone.
"Sister Chen, I wasn’t ignoring your calls on purpose. I was on a business trip, and the place was pretty remote with no reception, so my phone wouldn’t work!" Ye Xing immediately explained.
"Alright, alright, no need to explain. How’s business been lately?"
"Not bad. I made a little something," Ye Xing replied.
"Well, congratulations, Big Boss Ye. Are you free for lunch?"
"Uh, for lunch—" Ye Xing gave a wry smile. "I actually just made plans to meet with a few business owners to discuss some things."
"Busy again?" Sister Chen’s voice held a hint of complaint. She said half-jokingly, "Man, it really isn’t easy trying to treat you to a meal to thank you. So tell me, Big Boss Ye, when are you free? Can I make an appointment?"
"Come on, Sister Chen, don’t tease me. I really do have plans for lunch, but I’m free right now. How about this? I can go out with you now. Worst case, I’ll just have two lunches," Ye Xing said.
"Haha, forget it! Two lunches? I’m afraid I’d stuff you until you burst. That wouldn’t be thanking you; you’d end up resenting me for it!" Chen Feng laughed over the phone. "It’s fine. I get it, things are always busy when you’re just starting a business. How about this: just give me a call whenever you’re free."
"Okay, no problem!" A thought struck Ye Xing. "Oh, right, Sister Chen, I’m planning to buy a car. You probably know more about them than I do. Could you recommend a model or two for me to check out?"
Buying a car was part of Ye Xing’s plan. After all, traveling between Luoxian County and Bilin Village was incredibly inconvenient without his own vehicle. Moreover, now that he was in business and his operations were expanding, he was dealing with more high-class individuals. In these social and business circles, appearances—or "face"—mattered. Without his own car, it would be easy for people to look down on him.
"Buying a car? Ye Xing, it sounds like your business is doing really well if you can afford a car after just one month. That’s great! What price range and brand are you thinking of? I have a former classmate who’s a manager at the biggest car dealership in Luoxian County. When do you want to go? I can go with you to look at some cars. We’re old classmates, so if I take you, you should be able to get a bit of a discount. Even if there’s no discount, you’d probably be able to get the car faster than a regular customer," Chen Feng said enthusiastically.
"Really? That’s great! I’m in a hurry to get one, so the sooner I can drive it off the lot, the better! I’ll have to trouble you then, Sister Chen. Heh, your network is really something else. Unlike me, I don’t have any connections for buying a car; I’d have to just get in line like everyone else." Ye Xing laid the flattery on thick.
"Haha, you’re just being modest. A guy who even knows Governor Zhou is saying he doesn’t have a network!" Sister Chen scolded with a laugh.
"Haha, that was just a coincidence!" Ye Xing laughed. A thought struck him again, and he immediately asked, "So, Sister Chen, are you free now? Why don’t we go look at cars right now?"
"Sure. I’m at the office right now, but I don’t have much to do. I’ll drive over and pick you up in a bit," Chen Feng said.
"Great, okay! Sister Chen, you can just drive to the entrance of Ice Sea District Five!" After saying that, Ye Xing hurriedly hung up. He then heated up some porridge at home for breakfast. Afterward, he tidied himself up and gathered his ID, bank card, driver’s license, and other documents.
Then, Ye Xing hurried downstairs. The thought of going to buy his own private car filled him with immense joy. He had gotten his driver’s license during the summer break of his senior year of college last year. Back then, he thought he’d have to struggle for several years before he could even hope to get a loan for a cheap little commuter car. He never expected to be able to own a private car just a few months after graduation. One could only imagine his excitement.