Jiang Xue started to hem and haw again, "You know my dad has started moonlighting as a consultant for someone's company now!
The company is far from his unit, and it takes him more than an hour by bus to get there and back, which is too tiring.
I... I was thinking of giving him the car you bought for me to drive."
Xiao Ming was taken aback, then couldn't help but laugh, "We are an old married couple now, why are you being so formal with your husband?"
"It's not that I'm being formal with you." Jiang Xue said embarrassedly, "It just feels wrong to let someone else use something you spent so much money on for me.
Even though he's my dad, he's still just my dad after all."
This statement was incredibly upright if not old-fashioned.𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂
There are so many women out there who would squeeze their husbands dry of every last penny to subsidize their own family's expenses, even considering it their due.
But Jiang Xue, merely wanting to give her own belongings to her father, felt guilty towards her husband who paid for them. How could Xiao Ming not feel extremely fortunate?
With a wife like this, everything else in the world seemed trivial.
"I had thought about buying a car for dad long ago, but I kept forgetting about it with so much going on. It's my fault for making you worry," he said.
Xiao Ming took his wife's hand and said softly, "Since we're talking about it today, let's not put it off any longer, let's go and buy one this afternoon."
"You're pulling this trick again." Jiang Xue pouted, "Saying 'let's buy' as if it's that simple. A car costs at least a hundred thousand, does money just fall from the sky?"
"Never mind where the money comes from, do you dare to make a bet with me?" Xiao Ming grinned mischievously.
"Bet on what?"
"If I buy a car for dad this afternoon, tonight you will..."
Xiao Ming whispered something in Jiang Xue's ear, causing her pretty face to turn bright red, as delicate as a blooming flower.
"You... You're really terrible! What if you lose, though?"
"If I lose, I'll do the same for you."
"Pfft! Keep dreaming!"
After spitting at her husband, Jiang Xue called the waiter over to ask for the bill.
"Alright, you should head to work! I'm going back to supervise the construction."
Upon leaving the restaurant, Jiang Xue turned to leave, but of course, Xiao Ming wouldn't let go.
"I said we're going to buy a car, don't think you can escape."
Jiang Xue widened her eyes, "Are we really going?"
"Of course."
"Where did you get the money?"
"I made some from trading futures recently."
"How much?"
"To prevent you from welching on the bet, I'll tell you after you've fulfilled the bet tonight," he replied.
"Scoundrel!"
After punching him, Jiang Xue said sternly, "I'm warning you, don't mess around with me, or I'll really get angry."
Xiao Ming laughed heartily and opened the door of the RS6 for her, "Please, my dear wife."
"Such a show-off!" After getting into the car, she asked again, "Where to?"
"Hold on."
Xiao Ming took out his phone and dialed Wang Lijun's number, "Jun, do you know anyone who sells mid to low-end cars, like Volkswagen or Toyota?"
"Sure! My dad's old buddy runs a Volkswagen 4S shop. Who's buying?" Wang Lijun asked.
"I'm buying."
"You're kidding! Bro, even if you're into staying low-key, there's no need to treat yourself like that, right? Unless what you're buying is a Phaeton."
"It's not for me, it's for my father-in-law. Government agencies have lots of rules; the bosses only drive Passats, and it wouldn't be appropriate for my father-in-law to ride in a Phaeton."
"I see! Then let's not talk about buying." Wang Lijun immediately said, "About that earthquake matter, I haven't properly thanked you! Brother, if you recognize me as your bro, just go over and pick up the car."
Xiao Ming thought it over, a thing worth one or two hundred thousand really wasn't worth the hassle, especially since the benefits he brought to Wang Lijun far exceeded this value.
"Done, then I won't stand on ceremony with you. Once I'm done with these busy days, I'll call Siyi and Dachuan, and we'll go out for a drink."
Wang Lijun on the phone clearly perked up and said a few more words before hanging up.
"Alright, it's all settled." Xiao Ming told Jiang Xue an 4S shop address, "We'll just go over there and pick up the car directly."
Jiang Xue had no doubts, and while starting the car, she stuck out her tongue, "Lucky I didn't give this car to my dad. It was only after you mentioned it that I realized if the boss drives a Passat, and he got an Audi, that's practically asking for trouble, right?
You've thought it through more thoroughly."
"Maybe in the past, but definitely not now."
Xiao Ming chuckled, "Don't forget, the company your dad consults for is Qingyuan Group. Who knows how many benefits he'll bring to their department in the future, the bosses will be too busy sucking up to him.
Of course, too big of a gap in car levels might cause the boss to lose face, so it's best not to court unnecessary trouble."
The couple chatted idly on the way, and soon arrived at a rather large 4S shop.
Jiang Xue turned into the parking lot, just as she was about to drive into a vacant spot next to the showroom entrance, suddenly a silver sedan raced in and took the spot.
Jiang Xue was so startled that she gasped. If she hadn't hit the brakes in time, her headlights would have been gone.
The door of the sedan opened, and out stepped a girl in a short skirt wearing big sunglasses. She glanced back at Jiang Xue through the windshield, lifted her chin slightly, then strutted into the showroom like a peacock.
"What a lack of manners!"
Jiang Xue pouted and steered the car in reverse.
Xiao Ming smiled, "Some people are always in a rush to be reborn; we must be very understanding."
They parked the car on the opposite side and walked hand in hand into the main entrance.
When it comes to understanding the heart of the Han Nation Person, Volkswagen is second to none, which was evident from the bustling crowds in the shop even on a weekday.
The couple had been standing inside for quite a while without a single sales associate or staffer becoming available to help them.
They weren't in a hurry either and aimlessly wandered through the shop, comparing which car would be more suitable for Jiang Yonghan to drive.
After what felt like an eternity, during which Jiang Xue was starting to feel tired, a salesperson finally became available and approached them.
"Which model are you interested in? I can help you with that," the salesperson offered.
"My name is Xiao Ming," Xiao Ming said.
The salesperson paused, then smiled, "Mr. Xiao, hello! Just call me Zhang."
Xiao Ming frowned slightly. What is Wang Lijun doing? Did he not call ahead?
After a moment's thought, he added, "Someone should have called your manager earlier. Could you please go and inform him that Xiao Ming has come to pick up the car?"
The salesperson seemed confused, thinking that he might be a customer who had already paid. The smile quickly fell from his face, and with a forced "Just a moment," he turned and left.
Xiao Ming watched as the salesperson went straight to some other customers, with no intention of finding the manager, and his expression darkened.
Given his temperament, he would have left immediately to purchase from another store, but seeing his tired wife by his side, he patiently took out his phone to call Wang Lijun.
"Haven't you notified the 4S shop yet?"
"That's not right! As soon as I finished talking with you, I went to find that uncle," replied Wang Lijun with an air of surprise, which quickly turned to annoyance, "Bro, are they daring not to let you pick up the car?"
Xiao Ming scoffed, "I've been here for over half an hour now, and not a single person has paid any attention. I finally ran into a salesperson, introduced myself, and as soon as I mentioned looking for the manager, the person just disappeared.
The last person to leave me hanging this long was the boss of the Dabang Group!
Jun, your uncle sure has a big attitude! Maybe you should check with him again, clear up that you asked me to pick up the car directly. If he really cares, I don't mind missing out on the twenty-some thousand."