Chapter 45: County-Wide Moral Exemplar?

Qin Shougang said this, then suddenly grabbed Qin Ze's hand!

"Tomorrow, we'll go back to our hometown! Visit your grandmother! And your second and third uncles!"

"Now that you have money, you must show your filial piety!"

Hearing this, Qin Ze felt troubled! His own father truly intended to return home just to show off.

His grandfather had three sons in total! His own father was the eldest!

Naturally, he placed great importance on his relationship with his two younger brothers!

Of course, much of this stemmed from competition.

"Alright!"

Qin Ze nodded in agreement.

Next, the topic shifted to Jiang Wan.

"Xiao Jiang, what exactly do you do working with Zeze?" Qin's mother, Zhao Fang, asked.

Jiang Wan smiled:

"Auntie, I just run errands and handle odd jobs, helping President Qin deal with miscellaneous matters."

"Can running errands and handling odd jobs justify dressing so formally?" Uncle Zhao asked.

"It's an occupation requirement," Jiang Wan said. "In the company, one's attire must be appropriate."

"Then how much do you earn in a month?" Qin Shougang asked.

This question was very direct, yet it was also what the elders cared about most.

Jiang Wan glanced at Qin Ze, then casually stated a figure.

"Fifty... fifty thousand?"

The living room fell silent again.

Qin Shougang's mouth hung open:

"Fif... fifty thousand?"

Uncle Zhao was also stunned.

Even Zhao Yutong lifted her head and looked seriously at Jiang Wan.

"Yes." Jiang Wan nodded. "I must thank President Qin for giving me this opportunity."

"I also know that, given my abilities, I actually shouldn't be earning such a high salary..."

Qin Shougang looked at Qin Ze, his expression complex:

"Son, you pay your employees such high wages?"

Qin Ze smiled:

"Jiang Wan is highly capable; she is worth this price."

"She handles basically all the company's affairs! That's why the salary is high! You can think of it as her and me being partners!"

Upon hearing Qin Ze say this, Qin Shougang said nothing more, but Qin Ze could feel that his father's gaze toward Jiang Wan had changed.

From an ordinary employee, she had become his son's key lieutenant.

This meal lasted nearly two hours.

After eating, Qin Shougang pulled Uncle Zhao to the balcony to smoke, Zhao Fang cleared the dishes, and Jiang Wan voluntarily helped.

Only Qin Ze and Zhao Yutong remained in the living room.

The two sat on the sofa, momentarily speechless.

After quite a while, Zhao Yutong finally spoke:

"Qin Ze, did you really win the lottery?"

Qin Ze looked at her:

"Only my parents would believe that; would you, a PhD holder who studied abroad, believe it too?"

Zhao Yutong pushed up her glasses:

"Then where did your money come from? I heard you went to work at a major tech firm after graduation?"

Qin Ze nodded.

"That was all in the past! I've already been laid off!"

"After leaving the company, I made some money trading stocks!"

"What kind of investment could earn so much so quickly?" Zhao Yutong clearly did not believe him.

"Well..." Qin Ze smiled, "trade secrets."

Zhao Yutong stared at him for a few seconds:

"If you're unwilling to say, then forget it."

Qin Ze immediately hurried to change the subject:

"By the way, what are you doing now?"

Zhao Yutong paused before saying:

"A few classmates and I are preparing to develop an intelligent medical diagnosis system, but we currently lack startup capital."

"I plan to return to Jiangcheng in a couple of days to seek investment from my supervisor before I went abroad! We'll need at least a million for the initial stage!"

Qin Ze raised an eyebrow:

"A million?"

Zhao Yutong nodded.

"We've conducted market research; this field has excellent prospects. If we can pull it off, the valuation will increase at least tenfold."

Qin Ze said nothing.

Qin Ze looked at Zhao Yutong; there was an unmistakable sense of superiority in this woman's eyes.

That was the confidence honed by years of elite overseas education, or rather, a certain condescending scrutiny.

But to be honest, Qin Ze was indeed optimistic about her project!

Moreover, he knew Zhao Yutong, and Qingfeng Holdings was currently looking for projects!

"Sister Yutong! How about we meet up and discuss the details once we're back in Jiangcheng?"

"If possible, I plan to invest in this project! I happen to have some idle funds on hand!"

Hearing Qin Ze's words, Zhao Yutong looked somewhat surprised!

But immediately, Zhao Yutong rejected him without a second thought!

Because she believed her project was simply beyond Qin Ze's means to invest in.

"I probably won't have time when I return to Jiangcheng this trip."

"I need to see my supervisor and visit several investment firms."

Qin Ze chuckled inwardly.

She was putting on airs.

"Alright then, you get busy with your things." Qin Ze did not press the matter.

"Anyway, I'll be in Jiangcheng; whenever you're free, just contact me."

Zhao Yutong glanced at him, seeming as if she wanted to say something, but she swallowed the words back down.

After a few seconds, she finally spoke:

"Qin Ze, we grew up together, so I'll just speak plainly."

"I know you have money now and want to invest or start a business; these are all good things."

"But many industries aren't something you can play in just because you have money. You need connections, resources, and someone knowledgeable to guide you."

She paused, then continued:

"I know several investors in Jiangcheng, and my supervisor has influence in both academic and industrial circles."

"If you ever need anything in Jiangcheng in the future, come find me for whatever I can help with."

Qin Ze laughed.

What she said, on the surface, was an offer of help, but in reality, it was telling him:

I have connections in Jiangcheng, far superior to a nouveau riche like you.

"Sure thing," Qin Ze said with a smile. "Then I'll trouble Sister Yutong in the future. If anything comes up, I'll definitely find you."

Zhao Yutong nodded, her expression relaxing slightly.

She glanced at her watch:

"It's getting late; I need to head back."

The two stood up.

In the kitchen, Jiang Wan happened to finish washing the dishes and came out, with Mother Qin following behind.

"Yutong is leaving?" Mother Qin asked.

"Yes, Auntie, sorry for the disturbance today," Zhao Yutong said politely.

"No disturbance at all; do come often!"

Father Qin and Uncle Zhao also returned from the balcony.

After a round of polite exchanges, Uncle Zhao and Zhao Yutong departed.

Once the door closed, only the Qin family and Jiang Wan remained inside.

The atmosphere suddenly became somewhat delicate.

Father Qin looked at Jiang Wan, then at Qin Ze, and cleared his throat.

"Little Jiang," he began, "where will you be staying tonight?"

Jiang Wan immediately said:

"Uncle, I'll just book a hotel outside. I don't want to disturb you."

"What hotel!" Mother Qin said. "We have a guest room; stay here!"

"No need, Auntie." Jiang Wan shook her head. "I've already booked one; it's not far from here."

Qin Ze also spoke up:

"Mom, it's more convenient for Jiang Wan to stay at a hotel. We're heading back to our hometown early tomorrow morning; her staying here would actually be inconvenient."

Mother Qin wanted to say more, but Father Qin tugged at her.

"Alright then, let Xiao Ze drive you over," Father Qin said.

Jiang Wan nodded: "Thank you, Uncle and Auntie."

She picked up her bag and bid farewell to Father Qin and Mother Qin.

Qin Ze escorted her downstairs.

Stepping out of the building entrance, the night breeze felt a bit chilly.

Jiang Wan shrank her neck slightly; Qin Ze took off his jacket and handed it to her.

"No need, Senior Brother."

"Put it on; don't catch a cold."

Jiang Wan took the jacket and draped it over herself; it still carried Qin Ze's warmth.

The two walked to the car, but Qin Ze did not rush to start the engine.

Instead, he pulled a card out of his wallet.

"Take this."

Jiang Wan was stunned: "Senior Brother, what is this..."

"There's three hundred thousand inside." Qin Ze stuffed the card into her hand. "The PIN is the last six digits of your birthday."

Jiang Wan's hand trembled; she nearly dropped it.

"Senior Brother, I can't accept this!"

"Listen to me."

Qin Ze pressed his hand over hers.

"You haven't been home in three years since your startup failed. This time, go back and settle your parents properly. Buy some good things, fill what's lacking at home—consider it fulfilling your filial duty."

Jiang Wan's eyes turned red.

"Senior Brother, I..."

Qin Ze patted her shoulder.

"You're my most capable assistant; this amount means nothing."

Jiang Wan bit her lip and nodded forcefully.

"Thank you, Senior Brother."

"Alright, get in the car; I'll drive you to the hotel."

After dropping off Jiang Wan, Qin Ze returned to the foot of his residential building.

He didn't go upstairs immediately; he lit a cigarette and leaned against the car to smoke.

The night was very quiet; only a few streetlights were on in the compound.

Halfway through the cigarette, his mobile phone vibrated.

It was a system notification.

【Expenditure of 300,000 yuan triggered Special Cashback rules】

【Cash equivalent to five times the expenditure amount (1.5 million yuan) has been automatically donated to public welfare causes in Qingshui County】

【Congratulations, Host, you have obtained the title "Qingshui County Moral Model"】

Qin Ze nearly choked on his smoke.

One point five million, all donated?

And they gave me a Moral Model title?

What good is that?