The World's Richest Man: Start with the Daily Intelligence System

45: Chapter 45 The Uses of MoneyAt this moment, Zhang Wei was unaware of the thoughts of the two people downstairs. With the bank manager personally handling the transaction, he successfully cashed the ten million check into his bank card and then withdrew two million in cash to take back and distribute to An Xiaoxi and Liu Haorui.

Accompanied personally by the bank manager, they arrived at the first floor. Shaking Zhang Wei’s hand, the manager warmly asked, ’Thank you, Mr. Zhang, for choosing our Industrial and Commercial Bank of China. Two million in cash is still quite a lot. Would you like us to arrange security to escort you home?’

Zhang Wei smiled and shook his head. The weight of two million in cash was roughly equivalent to a bag of rice. He could manage it alone, and besides, his car was right outside the bank, so he wouldn’t have to carry it far.

Bidding farewell to the manager, Zhang Wei walked out of the bank’s main entrance. He saw Lin Wanting and the other person standing by his car. Were they specifically waiting for him?

Wang Xiaohua spoke up a bit sheepishly, ’Zhang Wei, we just saw you go in, so we waited here for you. We’re not bothering you, are we?’

Lin Wanting, standing beside her, wore a somewhat awkward expression but still took the initiative to greet him, ’Long time no see, Zhang Wei.’

Looking at the woman he once loved deeply, he couldn’t help but recall the bits and pieces of their past. Although Lin Wanting was somewhat materialistic, she had treated him well during their relationship. Unfortunately, fate played its tricks. The City Name princess ultimately wasn’t willing to become a village woman in the countryside.

Zhang Wei had long since grown indifferent. He checked the time; it was almost twelve o’clock. Opening the car door, he said to the two of them, ’Don’t just stand by the roadside. Since we’ve run into each other so coincidentally, let’s have lunch together.’

Wang Xiaohua seemed quite happy about getting lunch and pulled Lin Wanting into the car.

Lin Wanting felt a secret thrill in her heart. He’s inviting me to lunch right after meeting? Does he still like me? Is he looking for a chance to get back together? I should act a bit reserved later and not agree to him right away.

Zhang Wei placed the bag containing two million into the trunk and started the car.

Half an hour later.

’Order whatever you want to eat; I’ll settle the bill later,’ Zhang Wei said to the two of them, while he himself added quail eggs, lotus root slices, fatty beef, and other ingredients to a stainless steel bowl.

That’s right, the three of them were currently at a street-side spicy hot pot (malatang) shop.

’I never thought someone as rich as you would eat this?’ Wang Xiaohua found it rather unbelievable.

Zhang Wei smiled, ’Who says rich people can’t eat malatang? Even President Wang, worth billions, still eats street barbecue. With my little money, eating malatang is already considered extravagant.’

He was particularly craving malatang today. In the past, when times were tight and he had to accompany Lin Wanting shopping every month, buying this and that, being able to eat a bowl of the most ordinary malatang was already a luxurious treat. Today, he decided to indulge. The kind with six meat dishes.

The three of them sat down. Lin Wanting didn’t disdain it either, eating small bites. Zhang Wei was somewhat surprised, ’You used to dislike malatang, saying it wasn’t classy enough.’

Lin Wanting said somewhat shyly, ’I didn’t like it much before, but now seeing you enjoy it so much, I wanted to give it another try.’

Zhang Wei fell silent. It wasn’t because he was pleased by Lin Wanting’s double meaning. He suddenly realized how foolish his past self had been.

If his father hadn’t been paralyzed, if his family hadn’t been in debt, if he hadn’t lost his job, then he would have spent the rest of his life with this woman. And it would have been a life where malatang was always considered a luxury. Was that really worth it?

Fortunately, he was now financially free. Life from now on would only get better and better. As for the woman before him, he would let her fade away with the memories.

Thinking this, Zhang Wei buried his head in his meal, finishing the entire bowl of malatang. Smiling at the two of them, he said, ’I’m finished. I have things to do, so I’ll head off first. The bill’s already settled. Enjoy your meal.’ With that, he got up to leave.

Lin Wanting saw a hint of relief in his smile and instinctively stopped him, ’You... your phone number hasn’t changed, right?’

Zhang Wei was taken aback for a moment, then smiled brightly, ’It hasn’t changed for now, but I’ll be changing it soon. Farewell.’

Half an hour later.

’You’ve delivered takeout to Tiger Vanguard so many times already! My turn, my turn!’

When Zhang Wei entered, An Xiaoxi and Liu Haorui were fighting over the game controller. Zhang Wei had a sudden idea and decided to play a prank. He quietly approached the two, opened the zipper of the money bag, and poured the two million RMB all over their heads.

’Ah! So much money!’ Liu Haorui was first stunned by the impact, then screamed and threw the money into the air. An Xiaoxi excitedly bounced around on the sofa.

The RMB bills fluttered in the air like a bustling autumn rain. All three people in the room laughed heartily.

’Is this for us?’ Liu Haorui looked at the banknotes covering the floor, still somewhat unable to believe it.

Zhang Wei laughed, ’Ten million in imperial seal rent, ten percent each. There’s two million here. You split it fifty-fifty yourselves.’

An Xiaoxi cheered, plopped down on the floor, and started playing the ’one for you, one for me’ game.

After fooling around for a while, Zhang Wei asked Liu Haorui, ’Old Liu, what do you plan to do with your one million?’

Liu Haorui scratched his head, ’I plan to send it all to my parents. When I was pursuing Zhao Dan before, I couldn’t save any money at all, sometimes even asking my family for help. Thinking about it now, I owe my parents too much. This can be a way to show some filial piety.’

Zhang Wei nodded and then looked at An Xiaoxi.

An Xiaoxi was silent for a moment. When she lifted her head, little pearls were welling up in her eyes. ’I want to buy a burial plot for my grandma in the City Name, so she can rest in peace.’

Ever since her parents divorced, An Xiaoxi had been cared for by her grandmother, who used her meager pension to provide for her food and clothing, never spending a penny on herself.

’Grandma was a traditional old lady. Besides wishing for me to have a good life in the future, her biggest wish before she passed was to find a burial plot to rest in peace. Unfortunately, I never had the money. I couldn’t even afford to keep her ashes; they’re still stored at the crematorium. My parents never cared about this. A few times before, I almost couldn’t even pay the storage fees.’ An Xiaoxi choked up.

An Xiaoxi had always been brash and carefree. They had never seen the young girl look so vulnerable. Zhang Wei and Liu Haorui felt empathetic, their own eyes beginning to moisten as they thought of their own parents, who had also worked tirelessly to raise them.

Zhang Wei patted the young girl’s head. ’Congratulations. You can finally fulfill Grandma’s wish. Let’s go now and accompany you to choose a plot for Grandma.’

This time, An Xiaoxi didn’t swat Zhang Wei’s hand away. Instead, she said somewhat hesitantly, ’But I’m still a minor. The people at the funeral home know that. Even hacking into the system to change my age wouldn’t work. I... I don’t want my parents to know about this. Who knows, they might just take the money for themselves.’

Hearing this, Zhang Wei spoke gently, ’An Xiaoxi, although the three of us haven’t known each other long, we’ve experienced things many people never do in a lifetime. Without even realizing it, we’ve already become family.’

Then he smiled and said, ’It’s okay not to inform your parents. We can use my name to buy the plot for Grandma. We just need to tell others I’m your biological older brother.’

’And me! I’m your second older brother!’ Liu Haorui, now moved to tears and snot all over his face, cried out from the side.

Seeing his state, An Xiaoxi couldn’t help but burst out laughing. Then she looked seriously at the two of them and nodded firmly.