Chapter 71

Update time: April 3, 2013

Just as Zhang Yang had guessed, every woman is a natural actress, but he was not the director, so he did not see through Pan Hui's acting and was successfully deceived by her.

But how long could this disguise last? Pan Hui didn't know. She had already made up her mind to stay for three months, get her reward, and then leave. Being a nanny was a choice she had made out of desperation; her life had just begun, and she couldn't be trapped in a job with no future.

"I have a few rules. Next time when I have guests, you are not to eavesdrop. If I catch you once, I'll deduct one hundred yuan from your salary," Zhang Yang said.

Pan Hui argued, "That's unreasonable."

Zhang Yang sneered, "I'm the boss. Whether it's reasonable or not, I decide. If you don't follow my rules, you can terminate the labor contract. Don't worry, I won't make you pay a penalty."

Pan Hui's face changed. Her biggest weakness was her lack of money, and it was clear that Zhang Yang had seized on this.

"I agree," Pan Hui said, feeling wronged.

"From now on, buy groceries from the supermarket and bring the receipts for reimbursement. If they don't match, you'll bear the loss," Zhang Yang said.

Pan Hui nodded, "No problem."

She had never intended to make money this way. She wanted to earn her living with her own hands. If she wanted to get something for nothing, she wouldn't have become a nanny. For a woman, making money was too easy if she gave up her dignity; she could earn more than most white-collar workers.

"Without my permission, you are not allowed to go out. If I come home and find you gone, I'll deduct your salary," Zhang Yang said.

This rule hit Pan Hui's soft spot. She had seen Zhang Yang busy all day and thought she could use this opportunity to look for other jobs. If she found a suitable one, she would leave even if it meant paying a penalty. But this rule disrupted all her plans. She couldn't call Zhang Yang and say, "I want to go out to look for a job, let me out."

"Boss, isn't this too much? I'm your employee, not your slave," Pan Hui said, raising her head.

Zhang Yang sneered, "How is my request unreasonable? Your job is to be a nanny, to take care of my house, clean, and cook. If something valuable is lost while you're out, can you afford to compensate?"

Pan Hui argued, "What valuable things are in this room? The TV and fridge are the landlord's. Besides, this is a closed community with surveillance and 24-hour security. No one can steal these things."

Zhang Yang gave Pan Hui a strange look, then went to the bedroom and brought out a gold bar, throwing it on the coffee table. "Look, this is my personal property. Is it valuable? Can you afford to compensate if it's lost?"

Pan Hui picked up the gold bar, examined it carefully, and bit it, then said in confusion, "A gold bar."

"Exactly, a gold bar. This one is worth three hundred thousand yuan. I have a few more. Can you afford to compensate?" Zhang Yang said.

Pan Hui shook her head, her expression darkening. "I can't afford it."

"Since you can't afford it, take good care of the house. Don't go out without my permission," Zhang Yang said.

Pan Hui, lacking her previous spirit, replied weakly, "Yes, I understand."

"That's all for now. If I think of anything else, I'll let you know. As for the lack of entertainment facilities in the bedroom, I'll consider it. If you work hard, I can buy a computer and a TV." With that, Zhang Yang got up and returned to the bedroom.

Pan Hui sat on the sofa, feeling like crying. Yesterday, the boss was easy to talk to, but today he had changed. Was it because she had lied that she was being punished? If she hadn't mentioned the phone yesterday, Zhang Yang probably wouldn't have bought it for her.

Back in his room, Zhang Yang didn't care what Pan Hui was thinking. He didn't take the nanny seriously; as long as she took care of his daily needs, that was enough. What was important now was the person Hong Yaqin had said she would introduce him to.

Although Hong Yaqin said they wouldn't look at him with prejudice, if he didn't show his strength, this meal would likely be the first and last. They were invited by Hong Yaqin, and it was more about giving her face than showing interest in him. With the business he was doing, whether it was jade gambling or jade trading, they could just instruct their subordinates. They wouldn't deal with him directly.

Perhaps out of respect for Hong Yaqin, they might give him some preferential treatment, like a discount on raw materials or a higher price for jade, letting him make a little money.

But that wasn't Zhang Yang's goal. His aim wasn't just a little money; he wanted to enter the upper echelons of society, have his own influence, and have a say. He wanted to be a person of importance, and a little money wouldn't satisfy him.

No, he had to do something. He needed to change his current situation before meeting them, so they would take him seriously. But how?

Opening a company or a jewelry store now wasn't feasible, not just because of the lack of funds, but also because his abilities weren't up to the task. After all, this wasn't about gambling with jade or money; his special ability wouldn't be of much use. Moreover, the information about his time in the capital had likely already reached Hong Yaqin's friends, meaning they already had a basic understanding of him. Buying a company wouldn't change that; it might even make them think he was being overly ambitious and trying to use Hong Yaqin's connections for profit.

His goal was to make money, but he couldn't show it so clearly.

What should he do?

Zhang Yang smoked one cigarette after another, and soon the bedroom was filled with smoke. He stubbed out his cigarette, walked to the window, and opened it. The sky outside was overcast, with dark clouds gathering, as if it were about to rain.

Zhang Yang sighed. He had too little time. With so little time, it seemed he couldn't do anything.

Ring, ring, ring. Zhang Yang's phone rang.

"Who is it?" Zhang Yang asked, his voice low.

"It's me, Liang Fatso!" Liang Fatso said.

"Liang Brother, what's up?" Zhang Yang asked, puzzled.

Could it be about that high-quality jade again? He had already refused him. Was Liang Fatso so insensitive, or did he really think Zhang Yang was a naive young man and wanted to take advantage of him? If so, he wasn't worth associating with. Zhang Yang could tolerate greed, as everyone in this society liked money, but he couldn't tolerate being calculated against.

He had already repaid the favor; he didn't owe Liang Fatso anything!

"Brother, I just got some news. Since your luck is so good, you might want to try it out. I called to tell you," Liang Fatso said.

Zhang Yang's interest was piqued. "Oh, what is it?"

Liang Fatso said, "Brother, although Lido Jade Company is the largest jade gambling company in the country with the most chain stores, the raw materials in their stores are not the best. I know of a store in the capital that has just received a new batch of goods, all from the Myanmar public auction. The prices are a bit high, but there are some high-quality materials. If you're interested, we can go check it out together."

After returning to the store, Liang Fatso realized something was off. He then realized that Zhang Yang had seen through his little scheme. Thinking about how he had offended a young man with such good luck over a small profit, Liang Fatso felt regretful. He decided to mend their relationship and called Zhang Yang with this news.

Zhang Yang asked, puzzled, "Liang Brother, there's such a company? I've never heard of it."

"Hehe, Brother, how long have you been in the capital? Even many people in the capital don't know. Only the old jade gamblers and jewelry store owners know about it. But if you want to go there, you need to prepare. Their warehouse is large, and the lighting is poor. You'll need a flashlight and glasses," Liang Fatso said.

Zhang Yang asked cautiously, "Is it in the capital?"

Although he didn't want to doubt Liang Fatso, Zhang Yang was now a man of some means and had a basic sense of caution.