It’s not like that… Li Chunli eagerly wanted to explain, as she had no desire to leave a bad impression on Li Yan. Even though her mother was making a scene here, she would only play the role of a reasonable yet insignificant person. Unfortunately, An Chutang understood this kind of green tea persona’s routine all too well, so he directly interrupted the other party’s words. What isn’t like that, don’t you guys need him to pay back the money? Indeed, making a fuss with family over this little bit of money is truly shameless enough. This thoroughly struck Wang Guiqin’s sore spot, and she shot up to her feet, roaring with a sharp voice, What do you mean we don’t need him to pay back! How could we not need him to pay it back! She glared at An Chutang, but the moment their gazes met, she was pricked into a start by the other’s chilly look, subconsciously averting her eyes a bit. She stomped her foot in vexation; clearly he was just a skinny, delicate pretty boy, what was she afraid of! What do you mean by just this little bit of money? Since the young master doesn’t think much of this money, then why don’t you pay it back for him. Li Chunli, who was constantly keeping an eye on Li Yan, saw the other man furrow his brows and knew immediately that he was displeased. Putting on a conflicted and enduring expression, she prepared to persuade her mother, but An Chutang opposite her casually dropped a single sentence, Why should I pay back the money for him? The few of them froze, whereas Li Guangtao didn’t care about An Chutang’s reply in the slightest. You guys have had enough! This matter has even less to do with Brother Xiao Tang. Then he looked somewhat apologetically toward An Chutang. Brother Xiao Tang, it might not be very convenient today, so why don’t you and Yan-ge head back first, and I’ll come look for you after I sort out my family matters. An Chutang pouted, as he genuinely wanted to leave this place immediately, terrified that Li Yan would notice the green tea girl across from them. Didn’t we agree to partner up in business? Today, Li Yan and I came here specifically to pick you up, and we’re pressed for time to go pick up the cars in Haishi. Why don’t I advance you some of your salary first so you can hurry up and settle your matters, and then we can get moving quickly? Wang Guiqin wasn’t stupid either; having paid attention to the conversation here all along and hearing that there was hope of getting her money back, she immediately chimed in. Advance it! I don’t care whether you’re advancing half a year’s or a year’s salary, you aren’t going anywhere today until you pay back the money! Li Guangtao was also somewhat dazed. He had been thinking about partnering up to resell some goods with this young master, but how did it suddenly turn into paying him a salary? Moreover, the reason he quit his factory job was because he wasn’t resigned to just earning a fixed wage, which was why he wanted to follow Yan-ge out to make a breakthrough. How did it circle back around like this? The moment Li Yan saw it, he understood Li Guangtao’s hesitation, so he directly helped the other ask An Chutang, How much salary is Tangtang planning to pay Tao-zi? Seeing that his Yan-ge also agreed with this proposal, Li Guangtao stopped agonizing over it. Anyway, his Yan-ge wouldn’t pit him. Thinking that Li Guangtao could still be considered a founding veteran of his entrepreneurial startup, An Chutang roughly knew the income of senior management in the corporate world during normal times. It was just that in this era, salaries definitely couldn’t be calculated according to the standards of those days, so he hesitated and said, How about we start by giving him ten thousand? Li Yan chuckled softly, lowering his head. Listen to you. The others weren’t quite as calm upon hearing this. Li Guangtao was alright since he knew this young master wasn’t short on money, but he hadn’t expected him to be so generous toward himself. An annual salary of ten thousand yuan was even more than what he earned doing business, so it looked like he might actually have a day when he became a ten-thousand-yuan household. Wang Guiqin and Li Chunli looked with extreme astonishment at the extraordinarily dressed An Chutang, never expecting this person to be so wealthy that he threw out ten thousand yuan right off the bat! Wang Guiqin in particular, if this was real, had to seriously consider how she could introduce her own son to work under him as well. She wondered if she could still find a way through that stubborn old hag. An Chutang made the final decision. Alright, Tao-zi, if you agree, have Li Yan bring the money over from the car in a moment. We’ll set it like this for the first year, ten thousand a month, and next year, based on our operating conditions, we’ll have Li Yan decide how much of an annual salary increase to give you. Hiss… Everyone drew in a collective breath of cold air, and this time even Li Guangtao’s legs nearly went weak to the point where he couldn’t stand. Y, did Brother Xiao Tang just say ten thousand yuan as a monthly salary?! His mother, Li Meilan, also anxiously chimed in, Th, this simply won’t do. That’s right, Brother Xiao Tang, you’re being way too… she wanted to say way too prodigal, as you shouldn’t throw money around like that even if you’re rich. Yet, thinking that this also showed the other’s high regard for him, the usually uninhibited Li Guangtao couldn’t manage to utter a single word of reproach at the moment. He simply said to Li Yan, Yan-ge, this is no joke, I can’t take that much money, you should talk some sense into Brother Xiao Tang. Li Yan hadn’t expected this kid to casually offer such a high salary either. Still, as long as the other person was happy, he would just earn it back for him. Rest assured, since he’s giving you this much, you just do that much work. I’ll go get the money from the car. With that, he glanced at the troublemakers and gave Li Guangtao a look. Li Guangtao understood instantly, immediately taking two steps forward to press closely against An Chutang’s side to protect him. Li Yan lowered his gaze to sweep over the shoulders of the two that were nearly touching, feeling somewhat displeased as he walked away at a brisk pace. Li Meilan grew quite anxious. Th, this… An Chutang politely replied to her, Auntie, don’t worry, Brother Tao-zi isn’t taking this money for nothing. We’re just starting out now and it’s precisely the time when we need people, so this is all well-deserved. Li Guangtao was still somewhat dazed as a whole, his eye rims turning slightly red upon hearing this. He genuinely had no idea what kind of stroke of good fortune he had encountered. His father passed away early, and back at home there was a grandmother who suffered from chronic illness and was now paralyzed in bed, along with a younger brother still in school. The burden of the entire family had fallen almost entirely on his shoulders. Fortunately, he had gotten to know Li Yan when he was around seventeen or eighteen, and over the years the other man hadn’t spared any effort in helping him. Now, just as he was preparing to follow Yan-ge down south to try his luck, An Chutang had appeared and given him this astronomical annual salary. He sniffled, forcefully holding back his tears while thinking that no matter what An Chutang asked him to do in the future, he would risk his life to accomplish it for him. Just as he wanted to say something, Wang Guiqin behind him finally couldn’t hold back any longer, pulling his second uncle along as she hurried over. My goodness, this boss, it was just me being blind just now. You guys are short on people? Then look for my son! My son is super capable and knows plenty of friends who can introduce quite a few people to you. I’ll call someone to have him sent over right now, and you can just have him follow you to work, how about that? Li Guangtao swiftly blocked in front of An Chutang, his face dark as he stared at the couple. Get the hell out of here once you take the money, and don’t blame me for being impolite if you ever come to my house again! Wang Guiqin felt a bit intimidated, but thinking it was too humiliating to be threatened by a junior, she raised her voice and fired back, What do you mean by that! You’ve started living a good life, yet you don’t even know how to pull along your own direct cousin, I think you’re just jealous of him! Are you afraid he’ll win more of the boss’s appreciation and eclipse you?! The onlookers watching the bustle were all nearby neighbors who more or less recognized her good-for-nothing son, so they all cast disdainful looks at her upon hearing this. Li Guangtao gave a light scoff. That precious son of yours who spends all day stealing chickens and dogs around the street corners with a bunch of street ruffians is only treated like a treasure by you. How are you talking! Wang Guiqin couldn’t bypass him, so she had no choice but to stretch her neck toward An Chutang behind him. Boss, don’t listen to his nonsense, my son is super capable. As long as you give him ten thousand yuan a month too, I guarantee he won’t let you down! An Chutang almost burst out laughing, gently pushing Li Guangtao aside with the back of his hand as he looked down his nose haughtily at the other. I don’t care about these things; matters like recruiting people are entirely handled by Tao-zi apart from Li Yan. As long as he agrees, I have no objections. Wang Guiqin choked on her words, glancing at Li Guangtao who was glaring fiercely at her, and realized that things probably wouldn’t work out today, meaning she’d still have to go make a scene with the old lady later. Li Yan soon walked over carrying a paper bag as well. Coming up to the group, he noncommittally separated An Chutang and Li Guangtao, tossing the money directly into Li Guangtao’s arms. Hurry up and resolve your matters. Li Guangtao always felt his Yan-ge seemed a bit displeased, but his wits were immediately pulled back by the money in his hands. This was his first time holding so much money all at once, a full ten thousand yuan! And it was all his!! Without wasting any more time, he quickly pulled out a stack, counted out twenty large ten-yuan bills, and handed them to his second uncle. Here is the two hundred for you guys. From now on it’s best if we interact less, lest people say I cheated you out of your money. His second uncle was awkwardly about to take it when Wang Guiqin quickly blocked his hand. Well, aren’t you guys going to do business? Don’t bother giving this money, consider it our investment capital, just remember to give a bit of dividend every month. Li Guangtao looked at her like she was an idiot. Are you daydreaming? With that, he pressed the money into his second uncle’s arms and pulled back his hand regardless of whether he caught it or not. He was just getting ready to hand the remaining money over to his mother when Li Yan stopped him. I suggest you just leave a bit of living expenses for the family, and you’d better keep the rest yourself. Li Guangtao snapped to his senses, nearly making a grave mistake. He was about to go on a long trip, and with so many people watching right here today, if he left such a massive sum of money at home, not to mention Wang Guiqin coming to make a scene, it would be thoroughly unsafe if someone with ulterior motives laid eyes on it. He nodded, simply pulling out just a hundred yuan in front of everyone to hand to his mother. Mom, I need to take the rest of the money to go do business with Yan-ge and Brother Xiao Tang, the family can use these first. Li Meilan didn’t have much of a mind of her own either, taking it as her son handed it over. Although she still felt a bit uneasy, she urged, Ah, good, then follow them well and work hard, don’t be afraid of hardship or tiredness. Mhm, then we’ll be heading out first. Alright, alright, alright. Li Yan and An Chutang also nodded in farewell, and just as they were about to leave, Wang Guiqin’s daughter anxiously called out, Brother, um… Her mouth was calling Li Guangtao, but her eyes were infatuatedly gazing at Li Yan. Unfortunately, Li Yan didn’t even cast a sideways glance in that direction, currently asking An Chutang beside him in a low voice, Are you cold? An Chutang smiled faintly. Not cold, let’s hurry and go, I’m anxious to go look at the cars. Li Guangtao directly ignored her as well, driving off the crowd and hurrying away with the two of them. Back in the courtyard, seeing that she couldn’t sway Li Guangtao, Wang Guiqin rolled her eyes and looked inside the house… (Life Countdown: 19 hours 45 minutes)
Chapter 18 - Annual Salary of One Hundred Thousand Plus
Reborn In The 70s As A Spoiled Young Master: Please Let Me Touch You (Sequel)