As the saying goes, money gives a man courage, and wealth is the seedling of prosperity.
Erqiang did not have much now, but coming up with ten thousand yuan in cash was easy enough. Following Wang Yan around everywhere had broadened his horizons. He managed hundreds, even thousands of people under him, and met officials wherever he went. All of that had inevitably changed his way of thinking.
Taken together, the boost to his confidence was the fundamental reason for Erqiang's transformation.
They ate and drank until nightfall before everyone dispersed. Wang Yan and Erqiang sat in the courtyard, smoking and chatting.
"How are things with Master Ma?"
"Mm... pretty good."
Wang Yan heard Erqiang's evasiveness and said with a chuckle, "You slept together? What's next, then? Got any plans?"
"Of course we're getting married!" Erqiang said with a smile. "I've already thought it through. This year, I'll find a chance to talk to my eldest brother, then we'll get the certificate. We won't hold a ceremony, though. No need to make my eldest brother and my dad angry enough to suffer some kind of episode."
"What did Master Ma say?"
"She said she'd listen to me in everything. She doesn't ask for anything else—just wants to raise her son. Things have been pretty good with her boy these past six months too. He used to look at me like I was a thorn in his side, but I bought the kid snacks, toys, clothes... and he's finally warmed up to me."
"That's because Master Ma played the bad guy and looked after you. You didn't notice?"
Ma Suqin also worked at the company. Like Simei, she was a regional manager. In other words, the entire Nanjing market had been split in two, with each of them responsible for half.