Huang Hua's sudden offer of a gift didn't surprise Yang Jian. Although the construction site had been busy, he made time daily to visit the casino to strengthen his communication with the Huang brothers.
Yang Jian understood that he and the Huang brothers had no real friendship; their casino partnership was purely transactional, based on mutual benefit. The Huang brothers had many potential partners and could replace him at any time.
Therefore, to gain their trust and favor, ten days after they started operating the casino, Yang Jian decisively exchanged his entire share of "meal tickets" for cash, allowing them to receive cash daily.
Two days prior, when Huang Qiao's son celebrated his tenth birthday, Yang Jian also gave a red envelope of twenty thousand yuan.
Through these actions, the Huang brothers truly accepted Yang Jian, treating him like a brother, and their casino partnership continued.
"Brother Hua, it's too much for you to spend money like this," Yang Jian said politely.
Huang Hua laughed heartily, "What's there to be embarrassed about between brothers? You and my sister-in-law are a match made in heaven. It would be strange if I didn't show some appreciation."
"Thank you, Brother Hua."
"Thank you, Brother Hua."
Chen Xiaoli was also sensible, addressing Brother Hua affectionately.
Upon reaching the county town, they first went to a jewelry store. Chen Xiaoli didn't dare to pick anything too expensive, opting for a pair of gold bangles worth eight thousand yuan. Huang Hua paid for them, remarking that the gift was too cheap.
Next, they went to a car dealership. Following Chen Xiaoli's preference, they chose a white SUV. The full price, including insurance, came to three hundred and twenty thousand yuan.
After completing all the paperwork, it was three in the afternoon. Yang Jian drove Chen Xiaoli back to Baoping, while Huang Hua stayed in the county town for other matters.
"Yang Jian, can we go back early? I've already told my parents about us, and they agree. They want to meet your parents before the New Year to finalize the marriage," Chen Xiaoli said excitedly from the passenger seat. With such a nice car and a handsome boyfriend, she would be quite the talk of her hometown.
"No matter how early we go back, I need to wait until the basement is finished," Yang Jian replied.
"I mean, as soon as the basement is done, we'll head back. My uncle said the basement is estimated to be poured and completed around the fifteenth of the twelfth lunar month, so we can be home before the twentieth," Chen Xiaoli clarified.
"Alright, I'll inform my family in advance. I heard we also need to invite a matchmaker to go through the proper procedures at your home, right?"
"Yes, that's the rural custom. Even if it's a relationship we arranged ourselves, a matchmaker is still required. We also need to give a 'thank you' gift to the matchmaker during the wedding."
They chatted along the way, filled with anticipation for their happy future.
An hour and a half later, the car drove into the project department's dormitory area. Manager Chen, Liu Yong, Lu Feng, and others were already waiting. Several strings of firecrackers, each with ten thousand bangs, were ignited simultaneously, their deafening sound echoing throughout the power plant.
Buying a car is a significant life event, so everyone came to celebrate. A few team leaders from the carpentry crew also presented red envelopes of one to two hundred yuan.
Yang Jian declined their red envelopes and instead privately contributed three thousand yuan to the main canteen, specifically for extra dishes and meals for the carpentry crew.
Chen Xiaoli was also generous, calling for over twenty cases of beer to be delivered, all offered for the carpenters to enjoy freely.
For Manager Chen and the project department's management, as well as the contractors for each trade, Yang Jian hosted them separately at the Baoping Grand Hotel for a meal.
This wasn't about showing off wealth but about strengthening relationships.
Yang Jian treated the workers with great respect and consideration. During construction, disputes between different trades were inevitable, and physical altercations were common.
Whenever such situations arose, Yang Jian was always the first to step forward. When persuasion failed, he prioritized protecting the interests and safety of his own workers.
It was precisely because of this that the carpentry crew had the strongest cohesion, with no major internal conflicts. Consequently, their work progress and quality received high praise from the project department, which was also a significant reason for Huang Hua seeking his cooperation.
Regarding the project department's management, Yang Jian only interacted with the technical construction personnel; other social engagements were handled by Liu Yong. Using the car purchase as an opportunity to invite everyone was also a means of building rapport, especially with the end of the year approaching and many signatures required for fund allocation. They needed to be properly hosted.
"Xiao Yang, come here for a moment. I want to talk to you privately."
At the Baoping Grand Hotel, as everyone was finishing their meal, Manager Chen pulled Yang Jian into an empty room next door while Liu Yong went to the restroom.
"Uncle, what's so mysterious?" Yang Jian asked, thinking he might have had too much to drink.
"Xiao Yang, I'm very happy you bought a car. You're a smart, driven, and capable manager. Xiaoli will have a good life with you. I wanted to ask, how much cash do you have on hand?"
"Nearly two hundred thousand. Uncle, do you need money?"
"I don't. I suggest you transfer that money back and buy a house in the county town as your marital home with Xiaoli."
Yang Jian seemed puzzled. "Uncle, have you had too much to drink? I need this money for emergencies at the construction site. If the client allocates funds generously at the end of the year, that's fine. But if the allocation is less, I need to pay the workers' wages. Otherwise, it will be difficult to find workers next year. And after the New Year, I'll need to prepare funds for the next project."
"You child, why don't you understand what I'm saying? Are you planning to live in the countryside after marrying Xiaoli? You should buy a house in the county town!"
"Ah, buying a house isn't urgent. As long as we complete this project successfully, we can earn money on the next one. By the second half of next year, we should have enough to build a house. My sister has a plot of land reserved for me in the county town, and it's free."
Manager Chen seemed a bit anxious. "Then send the money back now and let your sister help you build the house. Don't invest any more money into the construction site."
"Why? I have over a hundred workers. I have to pay some cash almost every day. This is a critical period for catching up on the schedule. If I don't invest, the workers will become restless, which will inevitably affect the project's progress."
Manager Chen seemed to have a hidden concern. "Then leave twenty to thirty thousand for your brother. That should be enough to support him until the end of the year. If it's not enough, I'll think of a way to help him."
Yang Jian still didn't understand his meaning. "Uncle, building a house doesn't cost that much. My casino is still operating. By the end of the year, I should be able to earn several hundred thousand, or even a million. The business is growing, and sometimes I can win over a hundred thousand a day."
"I don't care how much money you win. Engineering projects require budgeting. You need to allocate funds according to your planned investment for this project, not just throw money in without a plan. I am Xiaoli's uncle, and for your future happiness, I must supervise your investment behavior."
Manager Chen seemed to be getting angry, his tone becoming increasingly stern. Perhaps he had drunk a bit too much, as his face was flushed red.
Yang Jian remained bewildered, feeling that Manager Chen was overstepping his boundaries. He and Chen Xiaoli weren't even married yet, so why was her uncle interfering so much, even meddling in matters of building a house? If they were married, wouldn't he interfere even more?