Chapter 8: The Empty-Handed Wolf Strategy¹ in Progress

“Brother Bao! I suddenly had an idea…”

“What?”

“I want to sit down with you and have a real talk about the future…”

“The what now?”

“…”

Although the landlord, Bao Qiang, had just turned forty this year, he had already achieved a lifestyle that many men could only dream of.

He spent his days carrying a massive ring of keys, wearing oversized shorts and flip-flops, walking his dog through the streets and alleys, living a simple and unpretentious life.

Ten houses in Yanjing, two storefronts…

This was the capital behind his simple, unpretentious, and utterly boring existence.

Zhang Yang was just one of his many tenants.

In his memory, Zhang Yang was the type who carried a briefcase, left early, and returned late. He didn’t talk much and looked quite refined, like some company clerk. However, his skin was a bit tanned, which made him look less like a clerk and more like a salesman running around outside…

Of course, Bao Qiang hadn’t paid much attention to the old Zhang Yang. Over the decades, far too many tenants had come to Yanjing to rent from him, a diverse crowd of hurried travelers passing through his life.

He couldn’t possibly pay attention to every single one.

But…

The Zhang Yang he saw today gave him an indescribable feeling.

He seemed completely different from the Zhang Yang in his memory.

“Brother Bao, can we talk?”

“Talk about what?”

“We are actually starting a business…”

“Oh?”

“I come from a very remote little mountain village. From the first day I arrived in this city, I was dazzled by the streetlights. It was the first time I’d seen so many cars on the road. Standing beneath the skyscrapers, I felt so small… That day, standing under a streetlight and looking at this bustling city, I swore that I would make something of myself!”

“Hmm?”

“Brother Bao, I remember you used to major in 3D design?”

“I did. So?”

“Ostrovsky once said – well, actually, I believe this too – that a person’s life should be lived in such a way that he should not…”

“Stop, stop! What exactly are you trying to do!”

“…”

Bao Qiang was completely bewildered!

What was wrong with this guy?

Why was he spouting all these scripted lines?

What was he after?

Bao Qiang was getting a bit dizzy from Zhang Yang’s rambling.

He was enthusiastically ushered into the room by Zhang Yang.

He watched as Zhang Yang walked into the room, eyes burning with passion, holding a business license that had appeared out of nowhere.

The business license bore the name “Universe Technology.”

Before he could figure out what was going on, he heard Zhang Yang let out a deep sigh, followed by a look of utmost solemnity.

“Brother Bao, tell me, since we’re living in this world, shouldn’t we do something meaningful?” Zhang Yang’s eyes held a hint of a sigh, and his voice was filled with a sense of melancholy.

Bao Qiang looked around.

He saw two computers, and in front of them, two young men staring blankly at the two of them.

“You spend every day weaving through the streets, doing the same thing day after day, year after year… Do you really intend to let your life pass by like this?”

“???” Bao Qiang suddenly felt a piercing quality in Zhang Yang’s voice as his tone began to rise.

That gaze seemed capable of piercing through to his very soul, and for no reason at all, a trace of awe welled up within him.

“A man has to do something, doesn’t he? Brother Bao, was your dream always just to collect rent?”

“Yes. Actually, I don’t really have dreams…”

“If a man has no dreams, what’s the difference between him and a salted fish²?” Zhang Yang pressed further.

“I don’t really have many pursuits. My life is quite peaceful. I sleep until I wake up naturally, have breakfast, hit the gym, go for tea or a walk when I’m free, and occasionally take the car out for a spin in the suburbs. I travel within the province once a month and go abroad once every six months… It gets boring sometimes, but relatively speaking, I’m quite satisfied.” After seeing Zhang Yang’s serious expression, Bao Qiang hesitated for a moment before shaking his head. He glanced at the Mercedes G-Wagon parked outside the window and added, “But to say I have absolutely no dreams isn’t quite right. Actually, I’m thinking about buying a limited edition Lamborghini Huracán that’s coming out next year. I heard it handles well, but I might not be able to snag one…”

“…” Zhang Yang’s serious expression suddenly crumbled.

His face twitched slightly, and his breath hitched.

He only felt a terrifying, chilling silence in the air.

Zhao Hang and Zhong Chongwen stared blankly, following Bao Qiang’s gaze toward that G-Wagon.

They suddenly felt that their future struggles were utterly meaningless.

Even a so-called annual salary of a hundred thousand didn’t seem so enticing anymore…

Could they even buy that after ten years of hard work?

“What’s wrong?” After staring at the G-Wagon for a while, Bao Qiang turned back to Zhang Yang.

He saw Zhang Yang’s gaze darken for a moment, but then, his expression suddenly shifted again.

The previous sharpness was gone, replaced by an even more intense enthusiasm.

“Brother Bao!”

“Yeah?”

“A bosom friend afar brings a distant land near³… Brother Bao, the moment I laid eyes on you, I felt like we were old friends. In some vague way, I feel like you’re my own brother… It’s so familiar. Do you know that feeling? When you walked in, I felt like a ray of warm sunshine had hit me in the middle of winter. My heart feels all warm and fuzzy…” Zhang Yang’s face crinkled into a fervent smile. He pulled Bao Qiang down to sit, constantly pouring tea and water while spouting a stream of nauseatingly sweet words.

“What exactly are you trying to say?” Bao Qiang’s skin crawled, and he even felt a bit spooked!

“Brother, we actually have a dream…”

“Huh?”

“Actually, I’ve started a game company. But currently, the company has run into a tiny little bit of trouble. Brother, we need a tiny bit of help from you.”

“What kind of help?”

“Could you rent a storefront to us for a day?”

“The what now?”

“Could you rent your east-facing storefront to us for just one day? We feel that your storefront faces the winter sun and has perfect lighting. From a Feng Shui perspective, it’s a ‘Purple Qi coming from the East⁴‘ and ‘Bright Green Sun’ alignment. It even has the pattern of a ‘Rising Dragon and Roaring Tiger⁵.’ An ordinary person couldn’t handle such a powerful layout, which is why the tenants keep changing. But I’m different. My zodiac sign is the Dragon, and a fortune teller once told me I’m a ‘Hidden Dragon in the Abyss⁶.’ Once I gain momentum, I will soar to success and bring prosperity to the household…”

“Stop, stop, stop. You’ve been rambling on about dreams and fortune-telling for so long, but all you want is to rent the place?”

“Exactly!”

“Why didn’t you just say so? Why all the nonsense? It’s eighty thousand a year, and I happen to have the contract on me right now…”

“Well, I’m like a hidden dragon in the abyss, aren’t I? The dragon hasn’t opened its eyes yet, it’s just preparing to leap from the depths…”

“You don’t have the money?”

“Brother, it’s not that I don’t have money. It’s just that it’s Saturday. My funds are tied up in stocks and I can’t withdraw them… I won’t have the cash until Monday.”

“How much?”

“A full two hundred thousand!”

“You look like someone who has two hundred thousand?” Bao Qiang stared at Zhang Yang, completely stunned, eyeing him with deep suspicion.

“Brother, aren’t you looking down on me a bit? You know what they say – you can’t judge a person by their looks, just as you can’t measure the sea with a bucket⁷…”

“Will you really have it on Monday?”

“Yes! I was originally planning to rent it on Monday, but a client wants to come see our company today. That’s why I wanted to discuss this with you and move in early. If I don’t have the money on Monday, you can kick me out whenever you want, right? If you don’t believe me, I’ll leave a copy of my ID with you… actually, I’ll give you the original! I’m right here, it’s not like I can run away. Besides, your place only has desks and chairs, nothing else valuable… we couldn’t move them even if we wanted to.”

“Fine!” Bao Qiang said, looking at Zhang Yang.

Zhang Yang’s expression was incredibly serious, his very bones seemingly radiating a sense of rustic simplicity and sincerity from the remote countryside.

Bao Qiang remained skeptical for a moment before finally nodding.

“Brother Bao, about the keys…”

“Sign the contract first.”

“You got it!”

“By the way, Brother Bao, I think you look especially handsome today…”

“Don’t look at me like that. Just tell me what you want. You’re making my skin crawl…”

“Brother Bao, could I… well, I heard that the second floor of the storefront has a projector. Could I move it down here?”

“Fine, just don’t break it.”

“No problem! Brother Bao, I suddenly… well, as a tenant, I’m definitely looking for a long-term lease. And as a landlord, nobody wants to be swapping out tenants every few days, right?”

“What exactly are you trying to get at now?”

“Could you get me a water dispenser?”

“…”

“…”

Inside the room.

Zhao Hang and Zhong Chongwen watched Zhang Yang in a daze as he earnestly negotiated the terms.

Knowing Zhang Yang’s actual situation, they felt their scalps go numb.

This guy was pulling off a total hustle!

Even if he got kicked out on Monday for having no money, he would at least make it through today!

Ten minutes later, Bao Qiang took his keys and left with his usual empty, monotonous pace to collect rent at the next location.

Zhang Yang, meanwhile, tucked the contract away and started making phone calls.

“Hello? I need a sign made. I want it done within three hours! The faster the better, I don’t mind paying extra…”

“…”

“Hello? Brother Chen? Our company is opening a bit late today. You know how it is, us programmers basically sleep during the day and only find our energy at night.”

“…”

“Yes, tonight. Let’s say ten o’clock… You should be just finishing your shift then, so it’s right on your way. Perfect, haha…”

“…”

After hanging up, he looked toward Zhao Hang and Zhong Chongwen.

“Old Zhao, Old Zhong, I have a task for you… Do you have any classmates around who haven’t found jobs yet? Invite them to come visit our company… Tell them there’s free drinks and snacks…”

“…”

……………………

Night.

It was late.

The driver, Chen Shou, was returning from his shift.

His body was exhausted.

However, his heart was filled with anticipation.

At that moment, his phone rang.

Following the address provided over the phone, he walked toward an office building…

“Hello? Is it here?”

When Chen Shou got out of the car and saw the highly conspicuous “Universe Technology” sign in the distance of the bustling district, he was momentarily stunned.

The rent in a place like this certainly wouldn’t be cheap!

(End of Chapter)

Translator’s Notes