Chapter 342: Young Master Cao, How Many Uncles Do You Want?

After a bumpy ride through lush green mountains, Jiang Qin arrived at young master Cao’s ordinary home, a typical Chinese courtyard-style villa.

This villa was bigger than He Yijun’s but smaller than the little rich girl’s, though its ambiance was exceptionally elegant. Entering the archway, one could see a small maple tree scarcely taller than a person, its top aflame with red, its middle a bright gold, and its base an old green.

Young master Cao called this “Golden Flowing Spring,” symbolizing a continuous flow of wealth.

“Awesome, awesome, no wonder I smelled wealth the moment I walked in.”

As Jiang Qin clapped, he followed along the corridor, circled the yard, and came to the front door, where a pair of wooden carved couplets flanked the welcoming wall, painted in black and gold. The inscription read, “Travelers from north to south bring the spring breeze far and wide, those hurrying east and west smile lightly as they enter thousands of homes.”

Jiang Qin nodded, guessing the Cao family must be in the transportation business. Otherwise, placing such couplets in the front guest area would seem out of place.

“Old Jiang, take some photos,” Cao Guangyu suddenly suggested, pointing at his courtyard.

Jiang Qin felt a headache coming on: “So you want to show off, huh? Just so you know, I’ve seen bigger and better.”

“I meant for you to post it on your social space with something like ‘Visiting young master Cao’s home for the holiday.’ Old Ren and Old Zhou from our class haven’t seen it yet!”

“Not taking pictures.”

“Don’t make me kneel and beg you!” Cao Guangyu said, frowning and glaring.

Jiang Qin thought Cao was truly an oddball; a genuine rich second generation trying desperately to prove he was one, and ironically, not fitting the part at all.

Real rich second gen, comedy level 10%. A real rich second gen wants to act like one, comedy level 100%. A real rich second gen trying to act like one and failing miserably, comedy level 100000%.

“Jiang, include me in the photo, otherwise people won’t know it’s young master Cao’s wealthy home.”

“Scram, your looks don’t qualify for my photo album,” Jiang Qin spat out, standing on the veranda steps.

Unconvinced, Cao Guangyu retorted, “My looks don’t qualify? Then who does, Daniel Wu?”

Jiang Qin just chuckled and opened his photo album, filled with photos of Feng Nanshu.

There were photos of her reading novels in the library, her asking to be fed during meals, her paying close attention during class, her sitting prettily in the boss’s chair in Room 208, and her running forward, da-da-da, even her naively eating dumplings on New Year’s Eve.

The most recent one was from the freshman welcoming party, where she appeared angel-like in a white gauze dress.

Jiang Qin was still using the second-hand Nokia his father had handed down. Its pixels weren’t very high, but even its blurred pixels couldn’t hide her radiant beauty.

“See what qualifies you to enter my photo album?”

Cao Guangyu glanced at him: “Are you showing off your love life?”

Jiang Qin turned off his phone: “I just like to record the most beautiful moments in life. It doesn’t matter who I photograph.”

“So all the beautiful moments in your life involve Feng Nanshu?”

“I’ll slap you, watch it!”

Cao Guangyu pursed his lips, thinking Jiang always acted this way—unable to argue, he’d resort to threats like a true brute.

After the photo session, four of them entered Cao’s living room and met his parents.

Cao’s mother wasn’t particularly beautiful and wore short hair, but she had a friendly face that made people feel welcomed.

Cao’s dad was also very ordinary, about five feet seven with some balding and his Mandarin was not very standard.

They were all exceptionally welcoming. Upon seeing Jiang Qin, they quickly shook hands and greeted him, asking if they were tired from the trip.

Jiang Qin quickly called them uncle and auntie, handing over the wine and tea they had bought on the road. As polite as a younger relative visiting relatives, he was sweet-tongued and responsive.

They treated him like a friend’s son, even preparing a meal at home. Though Jiang Qin was forty and well-established, he still showed utmost politeness and respect.

In business, you rely on face; in friendships, you rely on heart. These two must not be confused.

Even a life focused on money can’t just be about profit.

“Jiang Qin, where are you from?”

“Uncle, I’m from Jizhou.”

“Oh, Jizhou, nice place. I used to drive through there when I was young, transporting goods. People there are very warm.”

After finishing, Cao dad looked at Sun Zhi and Deng Yuan behind Jiang Qin: “Are these two also your classmates? This young man… looks quite mature.”

Sun Zhi touched his face: “Uncle, I’m a grad student.”

“Good, good, all highly educated. Uncle just went to junior high. Don’t be shy, come sit down. Dinner’s ready.”

Cao’s family’s housekeeper made them a lavish spread of home-cooked dishes this evening. Homely, yet the food was delicious and plentiful, far better than the business dinners they had at the Kaipin Hotel these past few days.

Cao’s mom’s catchphrase was “eat more,” while Cao’s dad’s was, “Come on, Jiang Qin, let’s have one,” very humble but filled with warmth, making Jiang Qin feel a bit homesick.

But as they drank, Cao’s dad and Jiang Qin started discussing business.

To Cao’s dad’s surprise, Jiang Qin’s understanding of business far exceeded what was expected for his age; they reached a mutual understanding without saying much.

They discussed unspoken rules in certain industries, various operational strategies, and efficient employee management methods, all of which Jiang Qin had unique insights on.

Most importantly, Jiang Qin had many views on the future of the transportation industry that coincidentally aligned with what Cao’s dad had been considering recently.

“The stuff they teach at university is really quite specialized. How come my little Yu doesn’t understand anything? Is he skipping classes all the time?”

Cao Guangyu, chewing on a bone, was puzzled: “?”

After lunch, Jiang Qin intended to say goodbye and head back to the hotel to rest, but Cao’s dad got a bit carried away with the conversation and insisted on taking them around Hangcheng, continuing their discussion.

Cao’s dad had a limo and a driver. Just mentioning a tour was simple enough; even the route was pre-planned.

“I was a long-distance transporter when I was young, around the 90s. I started my own truck fleet and later step by step built my logistics company.”

“I worked day and night back then, to the point that now I feel nauseous just seeing a steering wheel, which is why I hired a driver.”

“But I got used to driving big vehicles and couldn’t handle small spaces, so I switched to a longer one later.”

Jiang Qin nodded, somewhat imagining Cao’s dad’s past situation.

After the southern tour speech ended, many took the opportunity to start businesses. At that time, the market was desperate for revival, and just about anything would make money, but to still be thriving indicates Cao’s dad’s capability.

Also, because Cao’s dad started from scratch and had been through hardships, he was very strict with Cao Guangyu’s education, not overly pampering him but rather imposing a tough father’s role.

If the follow-up industries of Wanzhong and group-buy can be set up, it might be possible to collaborate with Cao’s dad.

A tour around the West Lake, a visit to Lingyin Temple, and then back to Cao’s home—it was evening by then, and Cao’s mom had prepared another table of dishes, even the drinks were ready.

Jiang Qin and Cao’s dad continued their business talk, getting more animated as they spoke, even Sun Zhi couldn’t help joining in.

His experience as a health product lecturer in his youth had a common vibe with Cao’s dad, and he connected the conversation just right, making it pleasant for everyone.

Unfortunately, Cao Guangyu couldn’t understand a word, and his dad kept cueing him about what he failed to learn in college, leaving him feeling powerless to argue.

Dad, are you mistaken? Jiang Qin is the real class skipper!

But young master Cao couldn’t counter because Jiang’s business savvy was gained through practice, even if he had digested his four years of college textbooks, he couldn’t match Jiang’s level.

As the saying goes, shallow knowledge is gained from books; true understanding requires personal experience.

To avoid being cued and not wanting Jiang to swagger in front of him like another’s child, Cao Guangyu quickly finished his meal and retreated to his bedroom to play a round of CF.

After a few rounds, considering the time, Cao Guangyu figured it should be about over, so he got up and headed downstairs, only to run into Deng Yuan who also couldn’t join the conversation.

“They’re not done yet? How long has it been?”

Deng Yuan pursed her lips and hesitated before speaking: “Young master Cao, would you mind if your roommate became your uncle?”

Cao Guangyu was stunned, unable to wrap his head around it: “What do you mean?”

“I just went over to offer some wine and heard your dad say he wants to become sworn brothers with our boss, even officially joining the family tree. You wouldn’t mind, right?”

“Damn it, Jiang Qin!”

Cao Guangyu immediately dashed downstairs, clattering down to the dining room, only to find Jiang Qin and his dad tipsy and about to kneel in front of the statue of Guan Yu to take an oath.

Sun Zhi was there too, chuckling like a witness.

Three minutes later, the ordinary young master Cao, with supreme effort, managed to separate his father and his roommate, breaking into a cold sweat. Thinking to himself, who would understand at home? I nearly got an uncle who’s also my roommate, and he’s the most annoying one at that!

“Jiang Qin, you’re too much! You actually wanted to become sworn brothers with my dad!”

Jiang Qin was quite drunk, lying sideways on the sofa, stroking his hair: “It’s my first time visiting your home, and I didn’t bring any proper gifts. I felt bad, so I thought I’d give you an uncle.”

Cao Guangyu felt an urge to strangle Jiang Qin: “Old Jiang, your family’s in Jizhou, right? I’m coming over this winter break!”

“Suit yourself.”

Jiang Qin burped: “I still don’t get it. Everyone usually takes an oath before a statue of Guan Yu, like it’s become a tradition. But when Liu, Guan, and Zhang swore brotherhood in the Peach Garden, whom did they swear by? Surely not Guan Yu too, right?”

……