004 The Humiliating Disgrace of Song Dahai

"Try these. That old man’s strawberries are actually quite good."

"I saw you buy out his entire stock. You’re quite the big spender," Fang Qingye remarked as he picked up a strawberry and popped it into his mouth. It was indeed very sweet.

Hearing this, Song Dahai chuckled. "A basket of strawberries doesn't cost much; it’s not worth the hassle of haggling. Besides, the old man doesn't usually set up shop here. It’s not easy for him to grow his own produce and bring it into town to sell."

Song Dahai paused for a moment before adding, "If it were those regular street vendors trying to pull a fast one, I wouldn't be so polite. Don't underestimate those vendors—they make just as much money as you do at the bank!"

"I know. Take that fruit stand at the crossroads, for example. I heard the owner bought a house in both the city and the county. They're doing quite well for themselves," Fang Qingye replied.

"Did you order the food?"

"I did."

"What about the beer? Why haven't you served it yet? Waiter, bring over a case of Big Fortune!" Song Dahai shouted toward the bar.

"And bring an empty plate for the strawberries!" Fang Qingye added.

The hot pot was soon ready, and the two began to eat and chat.

Nanxin is located in central Jiangsu, where people generally aren't fond of spicy food, but Song Dahai was the exception. Having spent several years in the Great Northwest, his palate had changed drastically; he became someone who couldn't enjoy a meal without spice.

"Want a smoke?" Song Dahai pulled a pack of Su cigarettes from his pocket.

"You go ahead, don't mind me." Fang Qingye wasn't much of a smoker, only lighting up occasionally, like when he had a bit too much to drink.

Song Dahai, familiar with his friend's habits, lit one for himself.

Just then, a middle-aged man walked in. He wore his hair in a slicked-back style and was dressed quite casually, yet he carried himself with the imposing air of a wealthy executive.

Fang Qingye recognized him immediately.

It was Qian Weimin, the owner of Tenglong Industrial.

Qian Weimin noticed them as well. Seeing Song Dahai digging into his food, he walked over and greeted him with a smile. "Dahai."

"Oh... Uncle Qian, you're here for hot pot too?" Song Dahai set down his beer mug and stood up to greet him.

"A friend from the city is visiting and was interested in trying this, so I brought him over," Qian Weimin replied with a smile, then glanced at Fang Qingye.

"Having hot pot with a friend?"

"Yes, this is my classmate and best buddy, Fang Qingye. He's the son of Principal Fang from Chengguan Middle School and works at Oriental Bank," Song Dahai introduced him.

Upon hearing he worked at Oriental Bank, Qian Weimin looked at Fang Qingye again and extended his right hand. "Which department are you in?"

"I was hired last year, so I'm still rotating. Currently, I'm in the Credit Department," Fang Qingye answered truthfully.

"The Credit Department? I know your Section Chief Su quite well. Let's get him out for a meal together one of these days," Qian Weimin said while shaking his hand.

"Thank you." Fang Qingye knew, of course, that this was just a polite gesture.

Inviting Section Chief Su to dinner made sense, but as for himself, he wasn't yet at a level where a tycoon of that stature would be treating him.

After a few more pleasantries, Qian Weimin left, and the two friends continued their meal.

"Dahai, you and Boss Qian are on good terms, calling him 'Uncle' and all," Fang Qingye joked.

"Hey, don't get the wrong idea," Song Dahai immediately countered. "My father is in real estate, and one of Qian Weimin's subsidiaries deals in construction materials, so our families have business dealings. There are only so many people doing big business in Nanxin County; everyone knows everyone. We juniors just call them 'Uncle' out of respect—that's the extent of it."

"No other relations?" Fang Qingye asked, suppressing a laugh.

"Really, none."

"I thought maybe you and Qian Xiaoli were rekindling an old flame," Fang Qingye teased.

"Rekindling nothing! There was never anything between us to begin with!" Song Dahai retorted. "Ye, don't you dare mention Qian Xiaoli's name again. If you bring her up one more time, I'm going to get angry!"

"Alright, alright, I won't say it," Fang Qingye replied, holding back a laugh as he took a sip of beer.

Qian Xiaoli was Qian Weimin’s daughter. She had attended the same elementary school as Fang Qingye and Song Dahai, though not in the same grade.

Originally, they hadn't even known each other. But Song Dahai was a mischievous child who liked to pull girls' ponytails—first from his own class, then moving on to the next one.

One day, acting on a whim, he pulled Qian Xiaoli’s hair, only to realize he had poked a hornet's nest.

Back then, Qian Xiaoli was a wild child. Word was she had even learned a few martial arts moves from her grandfather. She grabbed a broom, chased Song Dahai around the playground for several laps, eventually tackled him to the ground, sat on him, and gave him a sound beating.

The whole school was in an uproar.

It was a source of great humiliation for Song Dahai and left a lasting scar; from then on, he would take a detour whenever he saw her.

As the years passed, they grew up. Song Dahai grew tall and sturdy, while Qian Xiaoli blossomed into a graceful young woman. She eventually graduated from Jinghai University of Technology and started working at the County Housing Provident Fund Management Center—a prestigious, city-managed unit with great benefits.

Their parents had hinted at a marriage alliance, and word was that Qian Xiaoli hadn't rejected the idea, but Song Dahai was dead set against it.

"I’d rather stay a bachelor for the rest of my life than marry Qian Xiaoli! If you keep pushing me, I’ll go to Dinghui Zen Temple and become a monk!"

Seeing his son's resolve, the marriage talk faded away, but their story remained a frequent subject for friends to poke fun at.

Of course, they knew where to draw the line.

Fang Qingye stopped teasing him, but Song Dahai suddenly remarked, "Don't you find it strange? Twenty million in deposits just vanished, yet Qian Weimin doesn't seem the least bit worried."

"What would you have him do? Cry, scream, and beat his chest?" Fang Qingye asked.

"At the very least, he should report it to the police! Let the authorities investigate. If you banks just investigate yourselves, you won't find a damn thing!" Song Dahai argued.

"Dahai, why are you so convinced it's a problem on our end? It could just as easily be a stunt they pulled themselves! Report it to the police? Does he dare?" Fang Qingye retorted sharply.

"Huh? Is that what you think?" Song Dahai’s eyes widened in disbelief.

"I’m just guessing... Anyway, what does that have to do with us? Drink!" Fang Qingye didn't want to continue the topic, but Song Dahai seemed unsatisfied.

"How is it not your business? You're with Oriental Bank, aren't you? Besides, your President Xia is your senior from university. Are you just going to sit there and watch your beautiful senior suffer? If I had a beautiful senior like that, I’d do everything in my power to help her out of her predicament."

Song Dahai wore a playful grin, though it looked somewhat lewd.

"Get lost! Say one more word and I’ll call Qian Xiaoli over right now. Didn't you say you wanted a pretty girl to keep you company? I think Qian Xiaoli is quite pretty." Fang Qingye made a move to pull out his phone.

"Alright, alright, I'll stop. Let's drink, just drink." Song Dahai quickly raised his glass.

"Oh, right, Dahai, there's something I need your help with," Fang Qingye said, suddenly remembering something.

"What is it?"

"Lend me 200,000."

"What for? Buying a car?"

"No, I’m planning to play the stock market."