Movie: Get Alpha Dog at the start

Chapter 1458 It’s not like a family doesn’t want to enter a house

The small restaurant's private room was warmed by a coal stove, dispelling the chill that seeped in through the cracks in the door. Under the warm orange light, three small square tables were pushed together, on which two cold dishes were already laid out: smashed cucumber and fried peanuts.

Yang Shumo's gaze almost never left Qin Hao's dark gray woolen overcoat. The material was thick and crisp, and the design of the collar and cuffs exuded a "stylish" air, completely different from the stiff-looking overcoats in Beijing department stores. And Qin Hao's leather shoes, shiny black, were clearly made of good leather.

"Old Qin," Yang Shumo couldn't help but click his tongue and said enviously, "Your outfit... must have cost a lot of money, right? This coat, these leather shoes... I don't think I've ever seen anything like this in a department store."

Qin Hao smiled, bent down and opened a new-style leather suitcase with wheels at his feet. He rummaged through it and pulled out a brand-new, slightly lighter-colored brown wool coat, a pair of dark blue slim-fit trousers with slightly flared legs, and a pair of sunglasses that were the same style as Zhao Yajing's. He handed them to Yang Shumao.

"Don't ask how much it costs. Anyway, I've struck it rich, and I haven't forgotten you." Qin Hao said casually, "Try it on and see if it fits."

Yang Shumo stared blankly at the fashionable clothes and sunglasses handed to him. He rubbed his rough hands, stained with the distinctive saltiness of a pickle factory, feeling a mix of surprise and bewilderment, utterly embarrassed: "This...this is really for me? This isn't appropriate, Lao Qin, is it? It looks quite expensive...I can't accept it..."

"Just take it!" Qin Hao deliberately put on a stern face and shoved the clothes into his arms: "Why are you dawdling like this? Are we still buddies who grew up together naked? Why are you being so polite with me?"

Zhao Yajing, who was standing to the side, also put down her teacup and chimed in, "That's right, Sha Mao! Why are you being so polite with us? Back when we were in elementary school, those bad boys in the alley bullied me and Lao Qin, and every time you were the one who rushed to protect us. If it weren't for you, Lao Qin and I would have been bullied to death by those bastards. It's just a set of clothes, why are you being so fussy? Hurry up and take them!"

Zhao Yajing's words stirred up childhood memories, and Yang Shuma scratched his head sheepishly, his face flushing slightly. He had long forgotten those things, but he hadn't expected them to remember. Looking at Qin Hao's unyielding gaze and Zhao Yajing's matter-of-fact expression, he felt a warmth in his heart and no longer refused. He took the clothes and said gratefully, "Then...then I won't be polite! Thank you, Lao Qin, Yajing."

"That's right!" Qin Hao laughed. "Quickly, try them on and see if they fit. If they don't fit, that's okay, just find a tailor to alter them."

Yang Shumo quickly took off his faded blue cotton-padded jacket with frayed cuffs and carefully put on a brown woolen overcoat. The overcoat fit perfectly; the shoulders, chest, and length were all just right, as if it had been tailor-made for him.

He changed back into those dark blue flared trousers. The trousers were a bit long, but with the cuffs rolled up slightly, they gave him a unique sense of style, especially considering his tall and muscular build. Finally, after a moment's hesitation, he put on those aviator sunglasses.

"Wow! Not bad, Sha Mao!" Zhao Yajing's eyes lit up as she looked Yang Shumao up and down, clapping her hands and laughing, "Clothes really do make the man! You look completely different in this outfit!"

Yang Shumo was a little embarrassed by the praise, and smiled sheepishly: "These clothes are great, really great... They're so warm and make me look smart. When I earn some money, I'll get my parents a set like these too..."

Zhao Yajing, being straightforward, blurted out, "Then you'd better work hard! This wool coat you're wearing now, if you bought it at the Guangzhou Friendship Store, it would cost this much—" She held up two fingers and waved them.

"How much?!" Yang Shumo had already heard clearly, his eyes widened like saucers, and he almost jumped up from his chair: "Two hundred?! That's...that's a year's salary for me! My God!"

He reacted as if burned, instinctively wanting to take off his coat, but then realizing it was inappropriate, he looked helplessly at Qin Hao and Zhao Yajing: "You... how much money did you make in Guangzhou this year? You've worn my entire year's salary?! This is too... too terrifying!"

Qin Hao and Zhao Yajing exchanged a smile, both looking somewhat helpless. Qin Hao walked over, patted Yang Shumao's stiff shoulder, and made him sit down: "Alright, stop making such a fuss. Clothes are for people to wear, and once you buy them, they're yours. So, Da Mao, do you want to... work with us? Go to Guangzhou; I'm short of trustworthy people there. I guarantee it'll be more promising than what you're doing at this pickle factory."

Upon hearing this, Yang Shumo's shock slowly faded, replaced by hesitation and inner conflict. He shook his head almost without thinking, "That...that won't do. Old Qin, Ya Jing, thank you for thinking so highly of me. But...I promised Xiao Na I would go to university. I can't break my promise."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yajing rolled her eyes in annoyance: "Hey, you silly Mao, what kind of spell did Shi Xiaona cast on you? You do whatever she tells you to do? Do you know that even if you work your way through university and get a job after graduation, your monthly salary will be at most eighty or ninety yuan, and you'll have to work your way up through seniority! What Lao Qin and I earn in a year... might be more than you'll earn in your entire life! Isn't working for us better than going to university?"

Yang Shumo lowered his head, fiddling with the hem of his new coat, his voice soft but firm: "I know... I know you're doing this for my own good, and I believe you've made a lot of money. But... but I have to keep my promise to Xiaona. I'll finish university... I'll talk about it after I finish university. Otherwise, I won't be able to explain it to Xiaona."

Qin Hao sighed inwardly as he looked at Yang Shumao. Yang Shumao's feelings for Shi Xiaona were genuine, and he kept his promises, which were his virtues. So he waved his hand to stop Zhao Yajing, who wanted to continue persuading him: "Forget it, Yajing, everyone has their own ambitions. It's a good thing that Damao wants to go to university. Reading more books can't hurt. Come on, let's eat first."

As they were talking, the curtain to the private room was roughly pulled open, and a plump middle-aged woman with a greasy apron and a gloomy face came in carrying two plates of hot dishes. Without even looking at the people at the table, she walked to the table and slammed the two plates of dishes on it with a loud "bang," her movements so rough that a few drops of soup splashed out, almost onto Yang Shumao's brand-new woolen overcoat.

Yang Shumo was so startled that he jumped up from his chair with a "whoosh" and hurriedly checked his new clothes, afraid of getting them stained with oil.

Zhao Yajing was already annoyed by Yang Shumao's "stubbornness," and seeing this, her temper flared up immediately. She said to the older woman with displeasure, "Hey! What's wrong with you? Watch your step! The soup is splashing everywhere!"

The middle-aged woman raised her eyelids, glanced at Zhao Yajing, and instead of apologizing, rolled her eyes and said sarcastically, "Your eyesight is bad, didn't you see me? What? You don't like the service? If you don't like it, don't come!"

"Hey!" Zhao Yajing, with her fiery temper, couldn't stand this and jumped up. "What kind of attitude is that?! I think you're doing this on purpose!"

The middle-aged woman crossed her arms over her chest, looking utterly smug: "So what if I did it on purpose? Let me tell you, this is a state-run restaurant! We don't serve those who do crooked things or engage in speculation! You look all dressed up, but who knows if your money is clean!"

That was a harsh remark, a direct labeling. Qin Hao's face darkened. Yang Shumo was both anxious and angry, wanting to offer advice but unsure how.

The commotion inside the private room alerted those outside. Soon, a middle-aged man in a blue Zhongshan suit, wearing glasses, and looking like someone in charge rushed in.

"What's going on? Aunt Liu, why are you arguing with customers again?" The manager immediately scolded the waitress as soon as he entered, then quickly turned to Qin Hao and the other two and apologized repeatedly: "I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry, comrades! I'm really sorry! This is Aunt Liu, one of our waitresses. She had some things to do at home today and was in a bad mood. She offended you all. I apologize on her behalf!"

As he spoke, the manager pulled a crumpled cigarette case from his pocket, took out two cigarettes, and offered them to Qin Hao and Yang Shumo. Qin Hao waved his hand and didn't take them, but Yang Shumo hesitated for a moment before accepting. The manager then turned to Zhao Yajing: "This lady, I'm really sorry, please forgive me! I'll add a dish for you later, it's on me!"

Aunt Liu was being shoved out by the manager, muttering something resentfully. As he pushed her, the manager lowered his voice to explain to Qin Hao and the others, his tone filled with helplessness and apology: "Gentlemen, it's really not directed at you. This Aunt Liu… sigh, her son is a returned educated youth who hasn't been assigned a job and is currently unemployed. A while ago, someone egged him on to set up a street stall selling trinkets, but he got caught by the inspectors! Not only were all his goods confiscated, but he was also fined several hundred yuan! That's why she's so angry, and she sees everyone as… as… well… I'm so sorry, I'm really sorry, please don't take it to heart!"

After hearing this explanation, Zhao Yajing's anger subsided slightly. She pouted and whispered to Qin Hao and Yang Shumo, "So, doing small business here is really that illegal? And the penalties are so severe when you get caught? It's better in the South... at least there's a way to make a living."

Qin Hao remained silent, but in his heart, he thought, this was the reality of northern China in the early 1980s. Although the spring breeze of reform and opening up had begun, the thawing of the frozen land would take time, and the transformation of mindsets would require an even longer process. In comparison, while Guangzhou also faced risks, the policy openings had been implemented earlier, making the policy risks considerably smaller.

The manager said many nice things and promised to add more dishes, so Zhao Yajing waved her hand and said no.

Soon, the remaining hot dishes were served one after another. This time, a younger waiter was on the waiter, and his attitude was much better.

Perhaps it was the good mood brought by the new clothes, or perhaps the little incident earlier made him cherish the food in front of him even more, but Yang Shuma ate his meal with exceptional relish. Braised pork, stir-fried pork slices, stir-fried liver tips... he ate heartily, praising repeatedly: "Delicious! Really delicious! Lao Qin, Ya Jing, to be honest, I don't even get this kind of treatment when I'm at home for the New Year! The factory only issues a limited number of meat coupons, so the New Year's Eve dinner only has two more dishes than usual."

Seeing him enjoying his meal, Qin Hao and Zhao Yajing smiled and kept putting food on his plate.

After a satisfying meal, the plates on the table were empty. Qin Hao took a sip of tea, put down his teacup, and looked at Yang Shumao, who was still savoring the aroma of the meat, before suddenly asking, "Da Mao, do you know Shi Xiaona's exact address in Hong Kong?"

Yang Shumo was picking his teeth with a toothpick when he heard this. He paused for a moment, then put the toothpick down. "Shi Xiaona's address? Yes! It was in the first letter she wrote to me after she arrived in Hong Kong. I remember copying it down. Why are you asking about this?"

Zhao Yajing, standing nearby, immediately became alert, her eyes darting between Qin Hao's face, a hint of nervousness and jealousy in her gaze. Shi Xiaona? Why did Qin Hao want to see her? Are they close?

Qin Hao saw their reactions and helplessly spread his hands: "Don't overthink it. I'm asking this for serious business."

Then, looking at Zhao Yajing, he said, "Haven't you noticed that our Burger King business has encountered a development bottleneck in Guangzhou?"

"Bottleneck?" Zhao Yajing blinked.

“Yes, a bottleneck.” Qin Hao nodded and began to analyze.

Burger King's annual profit of over 400,000 yuan is indeed a huge sum, something most people wouldn't even dare to dream of. However, the problem is that the Guangzhou market is already largely saturated. Good locations like Beijing Road and around schools have already been taken. Opening a new store would mean competing with itself, creating internal conflict, resulting in limited additional profits, while management costs would actually increase.

As for opening branches in other cities, such as Shanghai and Beijing, the idea is good, but there are many difficulties. Leaving aside everything else, the supply of raw materials alone is a difficult hurdle to overcome. Burger King's ability to open and rapidly expand in Guangzhou was largely due to the connections and channels Ya Jing had built up over several years there, enabling her to reliably obtain sufficient chicken, flour, and oil. In a completely unfamiliar city, where people and people are unfamiliar with the area, this supply chain simply won't work, and building it from scratch would require a significant amount of time and money.

Qin Hao's tone became serious: "More importantly, there's the policy risk. The country's policies on the private sector are still in the exploratory stage, and the standards vary from place to place. Guangzhou is considered to be ahead, but it's only tacitly approved. Our 'chain' model, if it's too large, will be too conspicuous. If we're targeted by some conservative leader or someone who's jealous, and they label us as the 'Hamburger King,' we'll be in big trouble. The nail that sticks out gets hammered down, and if things go wrong, we might really end up in jail."

Zhao Yajing and Yang Shumo's expressions also turned serious. Zhao Yajing had personally experienced the difficulties of procurement and knew well the supply chain problems Qin Hao mentioned; moreover, policy risks were a sword hanging over their heads, and the example of Aunt Liu's son was a living lesson.

"Therefore, after careful consideration," Qin Hao concluded, "at this stage, continuing to blindly expand on a large scale in other cities in China is risky and difficult. My idea is that we can temporarily turn our attention outward—to Hong Kong."

"Hong Kong?" Zhao Yajing and Yang Shumao said in unison.

“Yes, Hong Kong,” Qin Hao said confidently. “Hong Kong has a developed economy, a mature business environment, and well-established regulations for the management of the catering industry. More importantly, Hong Kong is backed by the mainland and faces the world. If we develop our business in Hong Kong for a period of time, we can avoid some of the uncertain policy risks in the mainland, accumulate more capital and management experience, and also gain access to more advanced business concepts and potential technological equipment. Moreover—”

“Hong Kong is close to Shenzhen. Didn’t the country just establish the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone? They are vigorously developing and attracting investment. Once we gain a foothold in Hong Kong, we can return to Shenzhen as Hong Kong businessmen or joint venture partners to invest in factories or open higher-end chain stores. This is called ‘taking a roundabout approach to achieve our goals.’ By then, riding the wave of the Special Economic Zone’s development, our room for growth will be much greater.”

His words were clear and logical, demonstrating both a clear understanding of the current situation and a well-defined plan for the future. Zhao Yajing was deeply moved and also completely relieved—so that's why Qin Hao had sought out Shi Xiaona! It wasn't because he had any romantic feelings for her!

A smile returned to her face, even a hint of excitement: "That's right! Hong Kong! How come I didn't think of that! It's definitely more prosperous than Guangzhou, and business is easier there! Plus, it's close by, so it's convenient to travel back and forth!"

Although Yang Shumo knew nothing about business, he understood Qin Hao's general meaning and knew that this was a serious matter. He immediately stood up: "Let's go! Old Qin, I'll go home and find the letter for you right now! I've kept Xiao Na's letter safe, I'm sure I can find it!"

Qin Hao didn't stand on ceremony. He paid the bill and, together with Zhao Yajing, followed Yang Shumo out of the warm restaurant, stepping once again into the cold and familiar night of the alley.

The three of them walked through Jiudaowan Hutong. The snow crunched under their feet. Most of the courtyards on both sides of the hutong were lit with dim yellow lights. As the end of the year approached, although supplies were scarce, a sense of warmth and anticipation, a feeling of home, still permeated the air.

They wandered around, encountering many old neighbors who were taking out the trash or returning from visiting each other.

"Hey! Isn't this... Xiao Hao from the Qin family? When did you get back?" An old man carrying a trash can squinted at him for a long time before asking uncertainly.

"Uncle Li, it's me. I just got back this afternoon," Qin Hao greeted him with a smile.

"Oh my! It really is Xiao Hao! You've changed so much! I almost didn't recognize you! This outfit...so smart!" Grandpa Li looked Qin Hao up and down, then glanced at the beautiful and fashionable Zhao Yajing beside him, a meaningful smile appearing on his face: "So...you brought your girlfriend home for the New Year? Good! Good! A perfect match!"

Just as Qin Hao was about to explain, several middle-aged women gathered around them, chattering amongst themselves:

"Hey! This girl is so beautiful! She looks like she stepped out of a painting!"

"Xiao Hao is so lucky! He found such a beautiful partner!"

"Where are you from, young lady? Are you classmates with Xiao Hao?"

"Judging by their clothes and style, they seem to be from the South, right? So fashionable!"

These words made Zhao Yajing overjoyed, her cheeks flushed, and she looked especially beautiful under the dim streetlights. Instead of explaining, she took Qin Hao's arm and leaned almost half her body against him, smiling brightly as she nodded to the elderly folks: "Hello, everyone! My name is Zhao Yajing. I also grew up in Jiudaowan Hutong, and later I went to Guangzhou with my dad."

Qin Hao, being held by the arm, could feel the warmth of Zhao Yajing's body. He shook his head helplessly and whispered to her, "Aren't you going to explain? This has created a huge misunderstanding."

Zhao Yajing tilted her head back, her eyes sparkling in the night, a hint of mischief and willfulness in them: "Why explain? It's so much more fun this way! Let them guess!"

As she spoke, she tightened her grip on Qin Hao's arm.

Qin Hao could only let her be. Amidst the friendly laughter and admiring glances of the neighbors, the three continued walking.

Finally, we arrived at Yang Shumao's courtyard house. It was a typical large, crowded courtyard, housing no fewer than five or six families. The gate was ajar. Pushing it open, we found the courtyard cluttered with miscellaneous items and coal briquettes, making it seem rather cramped. An elderly woman washing vegetables at the tap heard the noise, looked up, and stared in disbelief at the three well-dressed "strangers" who had entered.

"Who...are you looking for?" the older woman asked warily.

Yang Shumo was wearing sunglasses and his wool coat collar was turned up. Given his tall stature, the older woman didn't recognize him at first. Yang Shumo proudly took off his sunglasses and held them up to the light: "Aunt Liu! You really should see a doctor! You can't even recognize me?"

Aunt Liu squinted and looked closely before exclaiming, "Oh my!" and slapping her thigh with a laugh, "It's Sha Mao! You silly boy! Dressed like this, I almost didn't recognize you! You look like a completely different person! That coat... it's so stylish!"

The commotion alerted the other families in the courtyard, including Yang Shumo's own. With a creak, the door of the room facing the courtyard gate opened, and Yang's parents, along with Yang Shumo's three older sisters and two older brothers, all rushed out.

When everyone's attention was focused on the completely transformed Yang Shumo, an uproar ensued.

Yang's mother was the first to rush over, grabbing Yang Shumo's arm and staring at his wool coat and bell-bottoms. Her voice was shrill and urgent: "Silly Mao! Where did you get this outfit?! Huh? How much did it cost?! Have you been hiding some money?! Huh? Tell me! Where did you hide the money?!"

Mr. Yang walked over with a stern face, his tone harsh: "Yang Shumo! Explain yourself! What's going on with these clothes? Where did you get the money to buy such expensive clothes? Did you not hand over your bonus from the factory? Or did you do something bad outside?!"

Yang Shumo's eldest brother, Yang Shusen, and second brother, Yang Shulin, also gathered around, their eyes filled with suspicion.

Yang Shumao's three older sisters—Yang Shuzhi, Yang Shuye, and Yang Shuying—were more curious and envious, surrounding Zhao Yajing and whispering about her clothes and appearance.

Faced with the questioning and onslaught from his parents and brother, Yang Shumo's head was buzzing. He quickly pushed Qin Hao and Zhao Yajing forward from behind him and loudly explained, "Dad! Mom! What nonsense are you talking about! I didn't buy these clothes! Old Qin and Zhao Yajing! They came back from Guangzhou and gave them to me! Look, they're right here!"

Only then did Mr. and Mrs. Yang shift their gaze from their son to Qin Hao and Zhao Yajing. Their attention had been entirely focused on Yang Shumao's eye-catching new clothes, but upon closer inspection, they recognized Qin Hao and then, after glancing at Zhao Yajing dressed like a movie star, paused for a few seconds.

The stern look on Yang's mother's face vanished instantly, replaced by an extremely enthusiastic, even exaggerated, smile. She clapped her hands and exclaimed, "Oh my! Who do we have here? It's Xiao Hao and Ya Jing! Look at my eyes! I was so busy talking about Sha Mao that I didn't even see you! Come in, come in! It's cold outside!"

Mr. Yang coughed twice, his expression softening, but he still maintained his parental air: "Oh, it's Qin Hao and Zhao Yajing. Sha Mao, what are you standing there for? Hurry up and invite them in for a seat and a cup of hot tea! Don't you have any manners?"

Qin Hao witnessed the instant change in Yang's parents' expressions and shook his head inwardly. Indeed, birds of a feather flock together. This couple was the kind of people whose selfishness was ingrained in their very bones. He had no doubt that if he had returned today dressed in rags and looking disheveled, Yang's parents wouldn't have greeted him warmly; they probably wouldn't have even wanted to let him in, and might even have suspected he was there to freeload.

Despite thinking this to himself, Qin Hao maintained basic politeness and, together with Zhao Yajing, was ushered into the house by the enthusiastic Yang family.

The Yang family's house was slightly larger than Qin Hao's, but it also housed more people, making it feel quite crowded. The furniture was old, newspapers were pasted on the walls, and the lighting was dim. But at this moment, the arrival of Qin Hao and Zhao Yajing, especially Zhao Yajing's bright and stylish attire, made the room seem a bit brighter.

As soon as she sat down, Yang Shumao's three older sisters eagerly surrounded Zhao Yajing, showering her with praise.

The eldest sister, Yang Shuzhi, touched the sleeve of Zhao Yajing's wool coat and exclaimed, "Yajing, this outfit of yours is really beautiful! I've never seen anything like it in Beijing!"

Second sister Yang Shuye's eyes lit up as she looked at it, and she said enviously, "Yes, it's so beautiful! It's so stylish and chic! I've never seen such beautiful clothes in all of Beijing! It must have cost a lot of money, right?"

Third Sister Yang Shuying, the most eloquent, laughed and said, "Eldest Sister, Second Sister, what are you saying! What clothes look good? It's clearly Ya Jing who looks good, has a great figure, and a great temperament! If these clothes were worn by us, it would be a waste! Isn't that right, Ya Jing?"

These words made Zhao Yajing overjoyed.

Yang's mother also came over, took Zhao Yajing's hand, looked her up and down, and smiled broadly: "That's right! Our Yajing has really blossomed into a beautiful young woman! Look at her, standing next to Xiaohao, hey! They're like a perfect couple in an ancient painting, a match made in heaven!"

These words struck a chord with Zhao Yajing. Her eyes crinkled into crescent moons as she smiled, her heart sweeter than honey. Overjoyed, she waved her hand generously and said, "Auntie! I brought a lot of luggage back this time, and due to airfare restrictions, some of it won't arrive until tomorrow. When it arrives, I'll give you and your three sisters a coat each! They're all the latest styles I brought back from Guangzhou!"

Upon hearing this, the room fell silent for a moment, then erupted in even greater enthusiasm.

Yang's mother's eyes widened, then she smiled so broadly her mouth almost reached her ears, but she still pretended to decline: "Oh! How could I accept that! Ya Jing, you haven't been back for so many years, I'm already very happy that you came to see your aunt! How could I accept your gift? This... this is so inappropriate!"

She said it wasn't appropriate, but she held Zhao Yajing's hand tightly, her eyes overflowing with longing.

Zhao Yajing could easily see through her thoughts, and said with a smile, "Auntie, please don't be so polite with me! It's just a small token of my appreciation. If you don't accept it, it means you don't consider me one of your own!"

"Oh dear! This...this is so kind of you!" Yang's mother seemed to have been caught off guard, looking as if she couldn't refuse such a kind offer: "Well...well then! Since you're so kind, Ya Jing, it would be impolite of me to refuse! So...so thank you, Ya Jing! You've always been so kind and righteous!"

Qin Hao, listening from the side, almost burst out laughing. This Yang's mother, though clearly overjoyed and terrified Zhao Yajing would change her mind, spoke as if accepting the gift was actually a huge favor to Zhao Yajing. The art of her language, the thickness of her skin, was truly astonishing.

He remembered that when Yang Shumo was a child, if he got into a fight and caused trouble outside, his mother would first give him a severe beating, making him cry and howl. Then, after he was tired of crying, she would hug him and cry her heart out. After he finished crying, she would cook him an egg or make him something delicious. She was very skilled at the "slap and then give" approach.

No wonder that after Yang Shumao became rich, he was tormented to the point of near death by his shrewd mother and greedy father and brothers, suffering in silence. That old woman certainly had some tricks up her sleeve.

On the other side, Mr. Yang, seeing that his wife and daughters had all received "benefits," also looked at Qin Hao with longing eyes, rubbing his hands, wanting to come over and say something, but not knowing where to start. He dryly chatted with Qin Hao about things like "How's the weather in Guangzhou?" and "Was the journey tiring?"

Qin Hao responded politely but distantly, not taking the topic of "gift-giving" seriously. Seeing that Qin Hao was not responding, Yang's father was anxious and scratched his head, but he was too embarrassed to ask for the gift directly. He could only sit awkwardly to the side, glancing every now and then at the high-end-looking leather suitcase at Qin Hao's feet.

Yang Shumo's fourth brother, Yang Shusen, and fifth brother, Yang Shulin, set their sights on Yang Shumo. The two men flanked Yang Shumo, their eyes practically gleaming with lust as they stared at his brown wool overcoat.

Fourth Brother Yang Shusen spoke first, his tone "sincere": "Sha Mao, look at you, working at that pickle factory every day, wearing such a nice woolen coat, isn't that a waste? That place is dirty and damp, and it smells bad, even the best clothes will be ruined in a few days. How about... we swap? My cotton-padded coat is new too, I haven't even worn it for two days! I promise you won't suffer any losses!"

Fifth Brother Yang Shulin, not to be outdone, shoved Fourth Brother aside: "Go away! You dare to offer your tattered cotton-padded coat for exchange? Silly Mao, don't listen to him! If you're going to exchange, exchange with me! Look at this one I'm wearing, it's corduroy! It's much better than his tattered cotton-padded coat! Warm and presentable! If I exchange with you, you'll definitely get a good deal!"

Yang Shumo was sandwiched between his two older brothers, feeling extremely embarrassed. He hadn't even had a chance to enjoy his new clothes before he felt they were about to fall apart. He looked to his parents for help.

Seeing this, Mr. Yang cleared his throat, adopted a parental authority, and scolded his two sons: "Nonsense! What kind of behavior do you two older brothers have?! Stealing your younger brother's clothes, have you no shame?! Huh?"

Upon hearing this, Yang Shumo felt relieved, thinking that his father was going to uphold justice. He looked at his father gratefully.

However, Yang's father changed his tone and said righteously, "I am the head of this family! I am the face of the household! If anyone is to be replaced, it should be with me! How dare you two little brats! You have no manners at all! Sha Mao, take off your coat, let Dad try it on!"

"Pfft—" Zhao Yajing couldn't help but burst out laughing, quickly covering her mouth. Qin Hao was also speechless, his lips twitching. This Yang father… he's unbelievable! So, he scolded his son not to uphold justice, but to steal the prize for himself!

The three older sisters in the Yang family are all decent people, but the two older brothers and their parents are cut from the same cloth, selfish, greedy and insatiable to the point of making no attempt to hide it.

Yang Shumo's face fell instantly, and his heart sank. He knew that confronting them head-on was useless; in this family, his parents' authority was not to be challenged. In a moment of quick thinking, he stood up abruptly and said to Qin Hao, "Hey... Lao Qin! Come with me for a second! I can't quite find which drawer Xiao Na's letter is in. You have good eyesight, could you help me look for it?"

Without saying another word, he pulled Qin Hao into the small room where he and his brothers shared, slammed the door shut, and temporarily shut out the noise from his parents and brothers outside.

As soon as he entered the house, Yang Shumo leaned against the door, let out a long sigh, gave Qin Hao a bitter smile that looked more like a grimace, and said in a low voice, "See that, Lao Qin? My new clothes haven't even been worn overnight, and they've already been skinned alive! If you weren't here, I bet this coat would already be on my dad's body!"

Qin Hao patted his shoulder and reminded him, "Da Mao, if you really make money in the future, you have to be careful and stay away from them. Otherwise, no matter how much you make, they will find a way to take it away, and you will end up with a lot of trouble."

Yang Shumo wholeheartedly agreed, nodding repeatedly: "That's right! Now, every month after I get my salary, I only keep two or three yuan for pocket money, and the rest has to be handed over. There's no way I can save any money to do anything."

He sighed and began rummaging through his cluttered bed and worn-out drawers.

"What I said before is still valid. If you've thought it through, you can come to Guangzhou to find me anytime."

Yang Shumo paused for a moment, shook his head, and continued searching without saying a word. After a while, he finally found the somewhat worn envelope in a notebook's compartment. He pulled out a piece of paper from it, which indeed contained Shi Xiaona's address and phone number in Hong Kong.

"Found it! Here, Lao Qin." Yang Shumo handed the letter to Qin Hao, then remembered something: "By the way, Lao Qin, when are you planning to go to Hong Kong?"

Qin Hao carefully put away the letter: "Let's do it after the New Year. Let's get through the New Year here first, spend some time with my mother, and then go over there to check on things."

"That's great!" Yang Shumo's eyes lit up. "Then can you give this letter to Xiaona for me? That way, I can save on a stamp and postage!"

Qin Hao took the envelope and patted Yang Shumo on the shoulder again: "Look at the way you live... you even haggle over the cost of a stamp. If things really don't work out, don't try to tough it out. Come to Guangzhou and find me, I'll help you make a fortune."

Yang Shumo scratched his head, repeating the same thing: "We'll have to wait until after I graduate from university..."

Qin Hao smiled and said nothing more. But he knew perfectly well in his heart: with the way these men in the Yang family acted and schemed, how could they possibly let Yang Shumao get into university smoothly? That would be a miracle. (End of Chapter)