Ye Tiancheng estimated the thickness of the red envelope, feeling it was close to ten thousand yuan. Ye Tiancheng had never seen such a generous red envelope before.
If it were a direct transfer, that would be one thing, but it was in cash. Having such a thick stack placed before him, Ye Tiancheng was quite pleased to see it.
"Since it's your gesture, Director Chen, I'll accept it. When you have a family event, I'll be sure to come and congratulate you."
"That's that."
Director Chen was merely setting an example. All the colleagues who came to welcome him also had red envelopes, the smallest being over a thousand yuan. Each of them greeted Ye Tiancheng with a friendly smile.
He felt as if his life had finally climbed out of the mud. At that moment, Ye Tiancheng felt refreshed. After completing some simple procedures at the Human Resources department, he went to the Finance department to start his work.
The office in the Finance department was even better decorated than other offices. There were several large offices and three connected rooms, including a lounge, a pantry, and an office specifically for receiving guests. It was quite grand.
Ye Tiancheng couldn't help but send a video to Xiao Pang. Xiao Pang also congratulated him profusely, smiling from ear to ear.
"Brother Ye, you've finally made it. I saw the video you sent me yesterday of the villa you're living in. It's much grander than the villas we bought when we were richer. That villa occupies such a large area; it must be worth several hundred million."
"Hou Mingzhu is rich. I've now latched onto a wealthy woman, and my life has instantly been turned upside down."
Ye Tiancheng pulled open a drawer and saw a large pile of cash. A smile curved his lips. It felt good to have money; it gave him a sense of security.
"By the way, Xiao Pang, if you have nothing to do, come to the company to find me at noon. I'll treat you to a meal, and we can go deposit some money together. I received a lot of red envelopes in cash."
"Sure. I'm bored anyway. Although the employee dormitory you're in has good conditions, there's no one to talk to, and I feel stifled. I also want to find someone to chat with."
"Alright, it's settled then. We have a break at noon, so you can come about half an hour early. You can take a tour of my office. There are lots of delicious things in the office; you'll definitely like it."
Not only were there delicious things, but there were also drinks, all sorts of pastries and snacks, and many beverages like orange juice, cola, and so on.
When Xiao Pang arrived, Ye Tiancheng checked the office clock; it was only eleven o'clock. It seemed Xiao Pang was really eager and arrived so early, likely wanting to see what this office was like.
"It's so magnificent, Brother Ye. You bought an office building back then, but even the CEO's office isn't half as good as this office. It seems the Hou family has spent a lot of money."
"As one of the four great families, the Hou family is rumored to have some mysterious treasures. How could they not have money?"
Moreover, Ye Tiancheng had found a fragment of his Fuxi Qin in the Hou family's ancestral hall, which was enough to prove that the Hou family harbored many unknown secrets. Perhaps the Hou family was far richer and more powerful than anyone imagined.
"It's so good. Working here feels truly comfortable."
"And it's not busy at all. I even feel a bit bored. Come and keep me company more often if you have nothing to do."
"Let's go, Brother Ye. I'm starving. I only ate two steamed buns this morning, which wasn't even enough to get stuck between my teeth. You promised to treat me to a meal, so you can't go back on your word. I want a big meal."
"A big meal is no problem. You're my closest brother. As long as you want to eat it, I must arrange it for you."
Xiao Pang liked eating things like sheep offal. There happened to be a place nearby the company that served it. Ye Tiancheng didn't bother about the official break time; he took Xiao Pang out early.
Hearing that Ye Tiancheng had been appointed as the Financial Director, Old Master Hou specifically came to talk with Ye Tiancheng. However, when Old Master Hou arrived at half-past eleven, Ye Tiancheng's Financial Director's office was already empty.
"Why doesn't the Financial Director have a secretary?"
"Replying to Chairman Hou, Miss Hou said not to assign a secretary to Director Ye, to avoid Director Ye getting involved with his secretary."
Hearing his subordinate's words, Old Master Hou was so furious he almost went mad. He slammed the table hard.
"What kind of behavior is this!"
"Chairman, please don't be angry. Take care of your health."
Old Master Hou was extremely angry, but he thought about his old age. If he were to fall, future matters might depend on his son-in-law. Offending Ye Tiancheng at this moment was clearly unwise.
However, some words couldn't be kept in his heart. In the end, Old Master Hou could only call his own daughter. At this moment, Hou Mingzhu was eating pastries and chatting with her girlfriends.
"Dad, what is it? Don't you usually like to call at night to lecture me? Why are you calling so early today? It's only noon. I'm out playing."
"Mingzhu, you still have the nerve to play when I'm worried sick? You're so carefree. Your husband isn't working at the company. I heard he's already gone out to eat with his buddies."
"Let him eat, Dad. Why do you care so much? He's a leader; he doesn't need to be punctual. He's definitely different from other employees, and he's my husband. He should get some special treatment. It's not like he's causing any losses to the company. Your call sounds like you're blaming me, but nothing has happened, right?"
It was clear that his daughter was starting to defend Ye Tiancheng and turn her back on him. Old Master Hou shook his head in anger.
"I really don't know what you see in Ye Tiancheng. He's uneducated. Now you've given him such a leisurely position, and he doesn't even properly go to work, only knowing how to eat, drink, and have fun."
"Dad, don't think too much. You're old, just take care of your health. Why bother with so many things? Speaking of eating, drinking, and having fun, Ye Tiancheng isn't even a tenth of me. At least he still has to go to work obediently and handle affairs."
"Daughter, don't be foolish. Didn't you say you wanted Ye Tiancheng to marry into our family as a live-in son-in-law, to have a free laborer? I heard you bought him a car and new clothes, and you're treating that brat incredibly well."
"Oh, Dad, isn't that normal? I'm sprucing him up to make myself look good. Just you wait, Ye Tiancheng is no ordinary person; he will definitely create benefits for our Hou family. This is my initial investment."
Old Master Hou had never been able to persuade his daughter even once in his life, nor did he feel he had the ability now to make his daughter change her mind.
"Alright, Mingzhu, I know I can't argue with you. You handle it yourself; I won't interfere anymore. I have to go to the hospital for physical therapy this afternoon. I can't get angry with you young people."
"Okay, Dad, do you need me to accompany you?"
"You little rascal, playing games with your dad. Alright, I'm hanging up."
With only one daughter, Old Master Hou doted on her immensely and couldn't bear to say a harsh word to her. Now, seeing that Ye Tiancheng wasn't at work, he couldn't say much more. He just tapped his cane and then left.
It quickly spread throughout the company that the power of the Hou family would soon fall into the hands of this new son-in-law. Even the Old Master didn't dare to say much. If you were to rush forward and gossip, you'd truly be showing you had too much money and wanted to be fired to be honest.
Ye Tiancheng and Xiao Pang were eating heartily. In the past, when he had no money, he didn't dare to eat so freely, fearing that if Xiao Pang needed money for something in the hospital, he wouldn't have it. But now it was different. Ye Tiancheng could eat boldly, no matter how much he ate, he wouldn't go broke, because Hou Mingzhu was now his backing.
"Brother Ye, I actually think marrying this sister-in-law is great. You've married a very worthy woman. Moreover, sister-in-law is a very high-quality woman in all aspects, absolutely worthy of you, Brother Ye."
"You talk too much nonsense, kid. How down and out was your big brother? It's not a question of whether she's worthy of me; it's that Hou Mingzhu must have lost her mind to choose to marry me."
As they were talking, a beautiful woman exuding a faint fragrance entered the restaurant. All the men in the restaurant turned their gaze towards her, and their discussions immediately began.
"Wow, there's such a beautiful woman in this small restaurant? Today was really worth it, what an unexpected bonus."
"She doesn't look like an ordinary person at all. Is some film crew shooting here? That's amazing. Will they film us later?"
Amidst the enthusiastic discussions of the gentlemen, Hou Mingzhu sat down opposite Ye Tiancheng without any pretense.
"You men just like eating these strange things. Are animal offal really that delicious?"
Hou Mingzhu was holding her bag. She felt that her bag, worth over a million, couldn't be placed in this restaurant. The restaurant's class was not up to par, and it was easy to get oil on her bag, which she wouldn't want to carry anymore.
"Hou Mingzhu, why are you here?"
"How dare you say that? You're not in the office during work hours. My dad came and caught you red-handed. The old man didn't dare to offend you, but instead came to bother me. So I came to see if you were really eating with your buddies or if you were on a date with some beautiful woman."
So that's what it was. Ye Tiancheng finally understood. Hou Mingzhu wasn't just coming to see Ye Tiancheng; she was clearly here to check up on him.
"Do I really need you to be so worried, Hou Mingzhu?"
"Of course, you do. Before we got married, there were quite a few butterflies fluttering around you."
Hou Mingzhu's point was quite reasonable. Ye Tiancheng didn't continue to argue with her, showing the virtue of a husband's gentle and considerate side.
"Alright, since you're here, order something to eat. The food here is quite classic, with several signature dishes. Feel free to order."
"What is this, stir-fried donkey intestines, mixed offal, and horse lungs..."
Hou Mingzhu looked at the menu and almost vomited. Let alone eating, just looking at it now felt like it would contaminate her eyeballs. "I won't eat it; I find it disgusting."
"Then what do you want to eat? I'll accompany you."
Ye Tiancheng was behaving well, so Hou Mingzhu let him off the hook.
"You've already eaten. Why are you accompanying me? I'll make you stuffed, and then I'll have to spend money to treat you."
Xiao Pang was eating heartily, then he looked up and said something inappropriate.
"You two are quite sweet."
Hou Mingzhu's face blushed, but she retorted verbally.
"Don't talk nonsense. Sweet my foot! Not sweet at all."
Although she said that, she felt Xiao Pang was quite perceptive. At least as Ye Tiancheng's best brother, he supported Ye Tiancheng and her being together. Hou Mingzhu felt it was necessary to arrange something for him, and it was also to win over Xiao Pang, so that Xiao Pang could say more good things about her to Ye Tiancheng.
"Xiao Pang, after you're discharged from the hospital, I see you don't have much to do. Why don't you come and work at the company with your Brother Ye?"
"Sister-in-law, is that okay? Wouldn't that be inappropriate?"
For some reason, Ye Tiancheng felt Xiao Pang was being a bit of a "green tea" at this moment. He clearly wanted the job opportunity but said it was inappropriate while calling her "sister-in-law."
How to put it, Ye Tiancheng felt Xiao Pang's move was brilliant.