Chapter 1258: Celebrating the New Year

"Dear comrades, hello everyone. It is now Beijing time, January 3, 2007. This is the first car review video from our Dongche Network. I am Hua Zi; welcome, comrades, to watch our program. We strive to be objective, aiming to provide some assistance to comrades who intend to purchase a vehicle."

"So, as the first car we review, we need to start with a high profile..."

Inside the car dealership, Wang Yan sat before a computer, watching Hua Zi on the monitor reviewing a LaFerrari, and flipping through the comments below the video, he nodded in satisfaction.

"How does it feel, Hua Zi?"

"I even feel a bit unfamiliar with myself."

"Unfamiliar my foot; it's just that Brother Yan said I don't look like a good person, otherwise I'd be willing to do this job," Pig Head laughed heartily.

"Just admit whether what Brother Yan said is right or not." Hua Zi rubbed Pig Head's large bald head.

"Sometimes, I just feel it's terribly unfair," Pig Head shook his head and sighed. "Look at where I am now; I'm not even worthy of holding Brother Yan's shoes, yet I was born with such a villainous appearance when I'm actually a good person."

Hua Zi smiled and stirred the pot: "So you're saying Brother Yan is the real hooligan?"

"Get lost, get lost; only you know how to stir up trouble."

Pig Head threw an annoyed punch at Hua Zi.

Hua Zi laughed and said: "Brother Yan, honestly, in the past two days, quite a few of my friends and classmates have called me. They said they saw the video online; some asked how I'm doing now, and others want to buy cars. I think we've succeeded."

After more than a month of development, Dongche Network's registered users had surpassed one hundred thousand, with daily active users exceeding thirty thousand; these were real, unadulterated figures.

Furthermore, during this month-plus period, the platform underwent several iterations and launched features prepared long ago, such as the used car section, and listed various automotive supplies.

At the same time, Wang Yan hired ground promotion staff to distribute flyers across various regions, continuously promoting the website.

Previously, Wang Yan had acquired a camera, personally wrote the script, and had Hua Zi memorize the entire text with emotion to begin the first real-car review. Since Hua Zi was in charge of sales, this role suited him perfectly.

Currently, it seemed this review was quite successful. Starting with a high profile was to grab attention, and to a certain extent, it also established the overall prestige of Dongche Network.

If the first review had been an Alto, it clearly would not have had the impact of a LaFerrari, and it would have created a preconceived notion in people's minds.

The LaFerrari was different; it made people feel there was prestige and a sense of capability. Thus, when reviewing family cars later, it would reduce people's bias and prevent them from thinking the reviews lacked objectivity.

After all, at this time, it had not yet become common knowledge that car reviews were dictated by money...

Wang Yan smiled and nodded: "Indeed, we have achieved some results, but we are still far from success. After all, we have already sunk several hundred thousand in, and we haven't seen any return yet; we must continue to work hard."

"Next year, we have two goals. First, film many more real-car reviews, operate the website, and absorb more users. Second, capture the entire used car market in Jingcheng, get them all listed on our site, have them complete transactions following our rules, and establish regulations for them."

Pig Head asked curiously: "Brother Yan, don't we have any investors or anything like that?"

"Someone has already contacted us, wanting to invest a few hundred thousand; isn't that insulting? Do we lack a few hundred thousand? Even if I have to admit a loss, I wouldn't give up our shares for just a few hundred thousand. Let's develop a bit more until next year; shouldn't we aim for several million at least? You two can rest assured; judging by the current situation, the probability of this website succeeding has greatly increased, and getting rich overnight looks promising."

Hua Zi asked foolishly: "But if we try to set the rules and they simply disagree?"

Wang Yan smiled but said nothing. Pig Head looked at him speechlessly: "If they disagree, we pressure them until they agree. Buddy, we are making money here. Blocking someone's path to wealth is like killing their parents. Whoever doesn't cooperate, we deal with them."

"After the New Year, let's take down Huaxiang first. Odometer tampering, accident cars, flood-damaged cars—they are everywhere. Whoever doesn't cooperate, we fix them. Anyway, as long as we stand upright, we fear no crooked shadows; and even if we aren't upright, Brother Yan is here; can they turn the sky upside down?"

"Now that's a real hooligan."

Wang Yan cursed with a laugh, then explained to Hua Zi: "Our goal is win-win cooperation, and also to standardize the used car market. We set the standards so that car dealers can make money, and customers can buy reliable used cars. Centering on these two points, basically everything is negotiable."

"We don't need to capture every single one; we only need to take down the big car dealers. By uniting the majority and controlling most of the used car transactions, we can create an atmosphere. At that point, we can cooperate with the government's administration bureau, become a benchmark, and act as proxies for the bureau's will. Consequently, those who do not cooperate will be swept into the trash heap, facing bankruptcy at best, or imprisonment at worst."

"It really has to be you, Brother Yan!" Pig Head gave a thumbs-up, his face full of admiration.

"Are you saying I'm the real hooligan?"

Wang Yan shook his head with amusement, then lit a cigarette, passed two others around, and the three of them puffed away together.

"It's only a few days until the New Year; have the personnel statistics been finalized, Hua Zi?"

"For our car dealership, repair shop, and Dongche Network combined, thirty-six employees are from out of town. Nineteen need to go home, and of the remaining seventeen, three have relatives here, leaving only fourteen with nowhere to go."

"Then let these fourteen people come to the dealership for the New Year; I'll celebrate the holiday with them."

Speaking thus, Wang Yan picked up two sheets of paper and handed them to the two men: "This is the year-end bonus list for our employees; you two check if there are any issues."

"What issues could there be? You make the call on this, Brother Yan," Pig Head shook his head.

"I'm asking you two if anyone's bonus is too little or too much, so we can adjust it. You two manage car acquisition/repair and sales respectively, each leading a team; surely you know who is good and who is bad? Afterwards, you two go tell the employees that you fought to get these bonuses for them; won't the team be easier to manage in the future?"

"So you're playing the good cop here," Hua Zi laughed heartily.

Pig Head said: "Then this job should be done by us two; you should be playing the bad cop."

"You two know quite a lot," Wang Yan smiled. "I'm not exactly playing the good cop; after all, apart from the employees from the first month or two, I haven't had much contact with the others. The bonuses were calculated by finance based on assessment standards; my role is simply to sign and release the funds."

Subsequently, Wang Yan explained some management issues to the two men, briefly imparting some knowledge. The two fully absorbed it and adjusted the bonuses for some individuals, forming a new bonus spreadsheet.

"Then let's leave it at that; I'll verify with finance shortly, and we'll distribute the cash directly tomorrow morning," Wang Yan said. "Now, let's discuss our profit distribution. You two know the company's current financial status; there is plenty of money in the account, but the debts are even greater."

"Usually, our monthly allowance of five thousand yuan each is enough for living expenses, and business entertainment meals are charged to the company account. It's just that Pig Head loves drinking and often treats large groups of people, and Hua Zi is dating Lulu, so his expenses have increased somewhat, but overall, five thousand is still sufficient."

"However, after working for half a year, we owe over ten million in debt; we can't end up with nothing. Distributing several hundred thousand to each person is impossible, but we must distribute something. You know my situation; I have no pressing needs for money. Now it depends on what you two want to do. Let's hear your thoughts and discuss."

Pig Head and Hua Zi exchanged a glance, then shook their heads. "Brother Yan, I have no issues. I currently have no worries about housing or a car, my money is sufficient, my parents are still working and in good health. Hua Zi, you are the youngest, and your family conditions aren't too good, so we should prioritize you. You speak first."

Hua Zi looked left and right, then looked left and right again.

"Damn it, we're waiting for you to speak," Pig Head cursed annoyed.

Wang Yan shook his head with amusement: "No need to be shy; just say whatever is on your mind. State your matter first; whether it can be achieved is another question."

"Then I'll really say it?"

"Did I kick you?"

Hua Zi let out a long breath and said: "Brother Yan, Pig Head, I want to buy a house. My family only has a small apartment; it's fine for the three of us, but it's cramped with even one extra person."

Pig Head widened his eyes: "Are you and Lulu developing this fast? Are you buying a house to get married?"

"Not exactly that, but sooner or later I'll have to marry someone. I've noticed housing prices seem to have risen significantly, so it could be considered a good investment. I previously looked at an apartment, ninety-eight square meters, at nine thousand per square meter. I have some savings, and with some support from my family, I can settle on it."

"Name the figure," Wang Yan lifted his chin.

"The down payment plus renovation will cost over three hundred thousand; I have..."

Wang Yan waved his hand, cutting him off: "We three will each take a share of two hundred thousand. Pig Head and I will each lend you one hundred thousand. The transfer will be made today; go this afternoon and secure the house. Buy a bigger one; ninety-eight square meters is too small. What about you, Pig Head?"

"I have no objection," Pig Head said. "It's just, Brother Yan, I don't quite understand; why not just give him four hundred thousand directly? Why go through the trouble of lending it separately? It's so troublesome. The three of us are together; having a bit more or less doesn't matter."

"He gets a share of two hundred thousand, I must get one million, and you get eight hundred thousand. Our contract is written clearly; this is already disrupting fairness, do you understand?"

Hua Zi nodded: "Understood, Brother Yan. I'll pay you back with next year's dividends."

Wang Yan laughed heartily, patting his shoulder: "No rush. If you're short on cash, just say so; I have some and can advance it to you. By next year, our share will be even larger. Moreover, our Car Understanding Network will inevitably seek financing next year; at that time, the three of us will hold nominal posts and draw another salary. Then the money will come from the investors, allowing us to pay ourselves a bit more."

At these words, both men laughed, feeling thoroughly relieved.

Before this, no one had ever imagined achieving so much in merely half a year...

When the car dealership relocated last time, Hua Zi and Lulu naturally got together; they were getting along quite well. Primarily, both were now very stable, occasionally seeing each other during work hours and spending every evening together after work. Truth be told, their relationship might even be better than before.

Lulu was a pragmatic person; her goals were clear: to earn money and to care for her mother and younger brother. This was her heavy burden, an inescapable shackle.

Hua Zi had a free-spirited, unconstrained nature and an adventurous spirit. In the original story, even though he opened a barbershop and a cake shop, he never truly settled down because he was always the one blazing trails.

But now it was different. Wang Yan was the one blazing trails; Hua Zi was working under Wang Yan's leadership. Although the pressure was indeed immense, he had, to a certain extent, finally settled down. At the very least, he would remain stable until the company went bankrupt.

Currently, the company's development could be described as booming. This sense of ease naturally became a foundation for the good relationship and stable emotions between Hua Zi and Lulu.

Of course, this did not mean the two could smoothly walk the path ahead together.

After all, to speak plainly, the two were actually very unequal.

Hua Zi held a Jingcheng household registration, was a college graduate, a company shareholder, earned several hundred thousand annually, and possessed assets worth several million. Lulu, however, was an outsider who had never attended university, with a disabled younger brother and a sickly mother; her current job earned her just over five thousand a month, a position arranged by Hua Zi, with Wang Yan having raised her wage standard.

So, coming back to the point, when men and women date, or when a couple lives together, it all ultimately depends on conscience...

But regardless of how things developed later, on this day, both of them were very happy.

After receiving the money, Hua Zi immediately drove Lulu to the property sales office to buy a house, and they also went to inspect decoration materials. As for the house renovation, Hua Zi planned to entrust this important task to Lu Tao, asking Lu Tao to help him with the design.

Although Lu Tao had high aspirations but limited abilities, he still possessed professional competence; he simply wasn't as awesome as he imagined himself to be. Nevertheless, he was sufficient; handling interior design was no big problem for him...

The next day, Yang Zhong Xiaoyun learned about this matter; it was when she came over that Lulu told her.

Thus, that evening while the two were dining at a restaurant, she brought it up.

"I heard from Lulu that you bought a house for Hua Zi?"

"What kind of talk is that?" Wang Yan shook his head. "Dividends were distributed. Pig Head and I each lent him one hundred thousand so he could make a down payment and buy a large house first."

"You should buy one too. Look, how much were houses worth when we first got together? In just these few months, prices have risen by several hundred again."

"No rush. As for living space, I don't need it right now; as for investment, I'm making money far faster than house prices are rising, so it's not cost-effective. Wait a bit longer; I estimate buying a house next year won't affect anything much. At that time, I'll buy one for you."

"Huh? Buy one for me?"

Wang Yan nodded with a smile: "As a gift to you."

"I wouldn't dare accept it; over a million could buy my life."

"I don't want your life; just perform well tonight, and let me experience what it feels like to receive imperial treatment."

"Pah! You only think about those things."

"Don't you?"

Yang Zhong Xiaoyun cast a coquettish glare, then changed the subject: "What will you do for the New Year?"

"We have employees who aren't going home; we'll organize them so everyone can celebrate together." Seeing Yang Zhong Xiaoyun's obvious disappointment, Wang Yan smiled and added, "I'll visit your family on the first day of the lunar new year; it would be improper not to pay a visit during the holidays. It's only because my subordinates are here; otherwise, as someone with no relatives or friends, let alone on the thirtieth, I would have moved into your home tomorrow."

"Coming to my house to act like a big master?" Yang Zhong Xiaoyun snorted, but she was already happy. Immediately afterward, she laughed, "You know, my mother treats you better than she treats me; she isn't stingy with you at all and even tells you to save money."

"As the old saying goes, a mother-in-law looking at her son-in-law sees more to like the more she looks."

Yang Zhong Xiaoyun pursed her lips...

The next day, the company granted leave three days earlier than the statutory holiday, and the New Year finally arrived.

On the thirtieth, it wasn't just Wang Yan celebrating the New Year with the employees in the new car dealership's canteen; at lunchtime, Yang Zhong Xiaoyun also came over, along with Pig Head, Hua Zi, and Lulu. They all arrived, and everyone ate lunch together before leaving.

Wang Yan, however, stayed with the employees the whole time, eating, drinking, watching the Spring Festival Gala, making dumplings, then eating and drinking again.

Just as he was making dumplings with the employees, a phone call from across the ocean came through.

It was Mi Lai's call; Wang Yan received only this one overseas call. Although she clearly knew he was together with Yang Zhong Xiaoyun, Mi Lai still called him. Due to their deepening contact, their conversations were quite uninhibited, mixing refined and vulgar topics. Moreover, their calling frequency was quite high; they chatted every two or three days, and at times, the phone bill alone would rack up several thousand yuan.

However, Mi Lai always had someone pay the bill for him; the little rich girl was indeed very particular about such things...

Of course, regardless of Mi Lai's situation, since Wang Yan, while confirming his relationship with Yang Zhong Xiaoyun, was still flirting with Mi Lai, he was certainly no good person...

Wang Yan lit a cigarette and went outside to answer the call.

"Happy New Year, Comrade Mi Lai."

"You really are something; you never think of me, I'm always the one calling you. I even called my parents before calling you."

"I'm already drunk and confused." Wang Yan recounted the matter of celebrating the New Year with the employees.

"That must have been lively, right? Unlike here, where only a few international students gathered to make dumplings; it's terribly boring." Mi Lai sighed emotionally, "Home is still the best; unlike here, all alone, with hardly any friends."

"Didn't you arrange to make dumplings with people?"

"They're all fair-weather friends, completely fake, not sincere in the least."

Wang Yan laughed heartily: "True, someone as sincere as me is indeed rare nowadays."

"You have the nerve to say that? You're the worst; you're even less human than Lu Tao. Haven't you considered whether you're being fair to Yang Zhong Xiaoyun?"

"As if you could be fair."

"It has nothing to do with me; that was before the two of you."

"And now?"

"Now we are just communicating as friends, but I know your intentions are impure."

Wang Yan shook his head amusingly: "It's all my fault; I'm too excellent, always causing beautiful young ladies to fall for me."

"You flirtatious radish." Mi Lai snorted, then added with a hint of playful provocation, "Hey, what do you think if I return to the country?"

"That's your freedom; return whenever you wish."

"Are you pretending to be stupid? Is that what I mean? I'm asking how you plan to handle the relationship between us."

"If you use magic to seduce me, I definitely won't be able to resist; I'll just have to become a heartless man."

"You are truly shameless."

"What use is face? What compares to the fragrance of a little rich girl?"

"You know now? It's too late. Why didn't you ask me to stay back then? I had already decided: if you had asked, I wouldn't have left."

"I was respecting you. You have your own choices, your own pursuits."

"High-sounding words; I don't believe a word of it. Just wait until the day I return; let's see what you say then..."