Chapter 725: Talking with Zhao Jie

Soon, Ding Li brought Zhao Jie to the office.

If I didn't know Zhao Jie's identity,

I really wouldn't have recognized him.

Zhao Jie was wearing miner's clothes all over,

with a clean-shaven bald head.

He came in with his head lowered,

Miners pay special attention to their footing when going down the shaft, so they develop the habit of walking with their heads down.

I called out,

"Zhao Jie."

"Eh." Zhao Jie replied blankly.

"Zhao Jie, this is our Zhao Ge; just saying 'eh' is enough." Ding Li said from the side.

"Zhao Ge." After Zhao Jie called out to me once, he fell silent again.

At this point I said to Zhao Jie,

"Zhao Jie, sit down, don't stand."

"Ding Li will pour you a cup of water."

"Zhao Ge, no need. I still have to lead the crew down the shaft in a moment; what do you want with me?" Zhao Jie said.

"Zhao Jie, how has it been feeling down the shaft these days? Is there anything you need my help with?" I asked.

"Going down the shaft is great; I really like it. As soon as I'm underground, I don't have to think about anything,

my mind is at ease. Zhao Ge, I'm telling the truth."

"Up above, I'm actually afraid someone will look for me."

"Down in the shaft, in that dark hole, I feel even safer." Zhao Jie answered.

I took out a cigarette and tossed it to Zhao Jie,

"Sit down and talk."

After Zhao Jie took the cigarette,

he didn't sit; instead, he habitually squatted down.

After lighting it, he took big drags.

His movements were no different from those of an ordinary miner.

"Zhao Jie, no one is looking for you now, so you don't need to worry about anything."

I want to ask, do you really want to spend the rest of your life in the shaft, with no other thoughts?"

Zhao Jie flicked ash at this point,

"Zhao Ge, I really have no thoughts left."

"Actually, I want to say that having a lot of money isn't a good thing. If I had money now, I'd definitely go back to eating, drinking, and playing."

"What's the point?"

"There's no fun in life at all."

"As for me, I live on my wages. It's the hard-earned money I made myself,"

"holding it in my hand feels real."

"Whenever payday comes, I feel happy inside."

"Especially when I spend money on cigarettes and alcohol,"

"that feeling of satisfaction is different from before."

"Before, spending money felt like nothing. Anyway, it wasn't my money, and I couldn't spend it anyway."

"Think about what meaning those days had."

"Now, spending money gives me a feeling."

"Sometimes I'm reluctant to spend it."

"Because it's a limited amount, and it's money I earned myself."

"As for me, when I first started going down the shaft, I wasn't very willing."

"But once I got underground, that environment, that atmosphere, suited me perfectly."

"Zhao Ge, I'm telling the truth."

"I have no thoughts left now." Zhao Jie said, looking at me.

I didn't expect Zhao Jie really to have no thoughts left.

This underground experience has smoothed off all his edges.

It let him know life is not easy,

let him know the joy of earning and spending money.

Zhao Jie has truly become an ordinary person.

Actually, how much joy do we ordinary people have,

life has already pressed down on us.

But what I want to tell everyone is, no matter how hard or difficult, we must seek our own enjoyment.

For example, Zhao Jie has found his own enjoyment.

The feeling of spending money.

Only someone who has fallen from a height can truly experience this feeling of spending money.

It seems Zhao Jie has truly let go.

I laughed and said, "Zhao Jie, I never imagined that life down the well would completely transform you."

You now have a different perspective and attitude toward life.

But, what I want to say is.

Your father entrusted you to me,

I won't let you spend your next life in the well.

There are still some things between us that haven't been made clear.

"Zhao Ge, I understand your meaning; it's just about the money I have."

"As for this money, I still say the same thing: you can use it, take it anytime."

"In my view, that money is just some numbers, having nothing to do with me."

"I also don't want to use it, nor want to spend it."

"If you need it tomorrow, I'll contact the overseas person in charge today and get that money processed for you." Zhao Jie said happily.

"Zhao Jie, you really think that way."

"Take out the money on you happily." I said, looking at Zhao Jie.

"Zhao Ge, you still don't believe me."

"That money was originally overseas, and it's not on me either."

"You know that. I really don't want to hide it from you."

"I only care now about how much my wage is and how much my bonus is." Zhao Jie said calmly.

"Zhao Jie, I also don't want to hide it from you."

"I want to invest in developing the tourism project in Xue County."

"This project is definitely not a small amount."

"Like this, take out your money and invest it in this."

"It would also be putting the money to use; otherwise, leaving it outside creates no value." I said tentatively.

"Zhao Ge, tomorrow I'll give the account to Xiao Feng the accountant; using this money requires contacting someone overseas."

"This requires me to get certified online."

"Once the certification passes,"

"I can then dispose of this money,"

"Xiao Feng the accountant understands this."

"Tomorrow I'll just handle it together with her. How about we directly take care of it at the mine?" Zhao Jie said lightly.

I didn't expect Zhao Jie to agree so readily.

Zhao Jie's readiness makes me feel a bit embarrassed.

"Zhao Jie, this money counts as your investment. Then you'll be one of the shareholders..." I had just said that when,

Zhao Jie waved his hand,

"That money, I really don't want it."

"Zhao Ge, it's almost time; I still need to lead the team down the shaft. After coming up tomorrow, I'll handle this with Xiao Feng the accountant." Zhao Jie said, standing up.

I hurriedly stood up,

"Zhao Jie, that's fine; if you have any work difficulties, just find Ding Li."

"Okay, Zhao Ge." Zhao Jie said and left.

After Zhao Jie left,

Ding Li sighed,

"Zhao Ge, how about it, I've transformed Zhao Jie, right?"

"This kid now really has no other thoughts; he just wants to be a miner, earning that little money peacefully."

"Zhao Jie agreed too readily."

"Ding Li, you should know that Zhao Jie previously said his overseas account had nearly one hundred million in deposits."

"That money is enough to buy the Qi He Mine."

"Instead, he takes interest in this little wage; it's too abnormal."

"Usually, what does Zhao Jie do?" I asked Ding Li.

"What does he usually do? This? I haven't paid attention."

"It's just drinking and playing cards with the guys; what can he do?" Ding Li said.

"If Zhao Jie were an ordinary family's child with a proper job earning a high salary, I wouldn't think much of it. But he is Zhou Renfeng's son."

"Is Zhou Renfeng an ordinary person? He's a genius."

"Can the son of a genius be an ordinary person's son?"

I still remember Zhao Jie's appearance when he fled the old city district last time. Seeing him struggle in the septic tank, his desire to survive was overflowing.

Has he really changed? Does he really like working down the well as a miner?

This puts a question mark in my mind.

Then let's see tomorrow how he and Xiao Feng transfer the money, and we'll talk after that.

I said to Ding Li: "Ding Li, when you have a moment, secretly watch what Zhao Jie is doing. What does he usually like to do?"

"This guy is too abnormal."

Ding Li nodded,

"Okay, Zhao Ge, I'll secretly check; after you said that, I also feel it's not normal. Who likes to work down the well as a miner? Nowadays everyone tries to get out of the shaft."

"But he instead likes going down the well."

It's genuine liking, not an act—I'll look into it.

You must do it secretly, don't let this guy notice," I said to Ding Li.

At this moment, Xiao Feng came in,

Jianqiang, you're looking for me.

I said: "You came just in time. You have to handle a big matter tomorrow."

Then I repeated to Xiao Feng what Zhao Jie had just said.

After Xiao Feng finished listening, she shook her head and said,

Jianqiang, money that's been spent out is hard to get back.