Forty years old, awakening attribute panel

Chapter 281 Extra 05
Mother Fang was frightened by her son's guilty look. Her face turned pale and she asked in a trembling voice, "Son, you...you haven't done anything illegal, have you?" Her eyes were full of worry, fearing that her only son would go astray.

"How could I possibly break the law?" Jiang Sheng quickly comforted his mother, and then revealed the answer: "Mom, I bought a lottery ticket a few days ago and accidentally won the first prize."

Fang's mother was so surprised that she couldn't close her mouth. She quickly asked, "How much?"

"Mom, guess what!" Jiang Sheng wanted to give his mother a little surprise.

"One...ten thousand?" Fang's mother asked tentatively. It was obvious that she had no idea about the amount of the lottery prize.

"Guess the best." Jiang Sheng encouraged his mother.

"It can't be five million, right?" Fang's mother widened her eyes, looking incredulous.

Jiang Sheng couldn't help laughing, "Not that much."

"Then tell me, how much is it?" Fang's mother's curiosity was completely aroused.

Jiang Sheng held up a finger and announced mysteriously, "One million."

"Where's the money?" Fang's mother asked closely.

Jiang Sheng pointed to the inconspicuous suitcase on the sofa and said, "Here, everything is inside."

Mother Fang walked towards the suitcase with half belief and half doubt. The moment she opened the box, a full box of banknotes came into her sight with a "wow", which stunned this woman who was used to being frugal in her daily life.

"I was worried about keeping the money in the bank, so I took it all out. After deducting 20 yuan for taxes, the remaining 80 yuan is all here." Jiang Sheng explained, trying to allay his mother's concerns about the safety of the funds.

After waiting for a while, seeing that his mother was still silent, Jiang Sheng couldn't help but feel a little uneasy, and called softly: "Mom..."

After a while, Fang's mother finally spoke, but her tone was full of doubt: "When did you learn to buy lottery tickets?" With this simple question, Jiang Sheng knew that his mother's "interrogation" had just begun.

He was well prepared, so he responded calmly: "I have never bought it before. A few days ago, a colleague asked me to bring him some cold noodles and gave me a hundred yuan. He didn't have the change, so I bought a lottery ticket at the lottery shop next door. Unexpectedly, I won." There was a hint of self-mockery in Jiang Sheng's tone, as if to say that good luck comes so inadvertently.

This story sounds both accidental and magical. Fang's mother was stunned, but her eyes were filled with love and pride for her son. In this era full of uncertainty, Jiang Sheng's unexpected gain undoubtedly brought new hope and possibilities to this ordinary family. And then, how to properly handle this wealth and ensure that it can bring positive impact to the family has become a common issue faced by mother and son.

"What lottery ticket did you buy? Where did you buy it?" Fang's mother continued to ask, her eyes full of concern and curiosity.

"Sports lottery, it's the lottery station on the street in the business district, near the convenience store." Jiang Sheng answered patiently, trying his best to make his description sound natural and credible.

"What's your colleague's name?" Fang's mother asked more and more detailed questions. She obviously wanted to confirm the authenticity of what her son said.

"Zhang Quande lives with me. If you don't believe me, just call him and ask him." Jiang Sheng said as he took out his cell phone and pretended to dial a number, but in his heart he was secretly glad that he had already thought of a response plan.

Fang's mother waved her hand and didn't answer the phone. She seemed to have believed Jiang Sheng's words, but then she made a new request: "You are not allowed to spend this money. Keep it all with me. I will keep it for you."

Jiang Sheng secretly breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that he had passed the test of his mother. He nodded readily, "Okay! All up to you."

“Also, don’t tell anyone that you won the lottery,” Fang’s mother warned. She was worried that unnecessary trouble would follow.

"Don't worry, Mom, I won't tell anyone." Jiang Sheng promised.

Fang's mother carefully fastened the lock of the password box, carried the box into the bedroom, and prepared to find a safe place to store it. Jiang Sheng looked at his mother's back, and felt a surge of joy in his heart, but also a little regretful - if he had known that he would fight again last night, then his mother would never have to worry about money again.

During breakfast, the mother and son sat around the table, the atmosphere was very warm. The breakfast made by Fang's mother was simple but full of homely flavor, and Jiang Sheng ate it with relish. After the meal, Fang's mother prepared to go to work. She worked in a garment processing factory near her home. Although it was hard work, she earned more than 3000 yuan a month.

Jiang Sheng stopped his mother and said anxiously, "Mom, you should quit your job. Although 80 yuan is not a lot, if we spend it frugally, it will allow us to live a stable life for a while."

When Fang's mother heard this, she immediately shook her head. "What nonsense are you talking about so early in the morning? What can you do with 80 yuan? You are not young anymore. You will need money for your wedding and banquet in the future. Besides, girls nowadays may not like our house. We still need to save money to buy a bigger three-bedroom apartment. All these things require money. Tell me, if you don't work and rely on yourself, when can I hold my grandchildren?"

Faced with his mother's series of questions, Jiang Sheng was speechless for a while. He knew that his mother's worries and expectations were all out of love for him, but she didn't know that the son in front of her had actually experienced life and death in another world, and his attitude towards worldly pursuits such as money, property, and marriage was completely different. What he longed for was the peace and happiness of his family, and every ordinary and real day.

However, he could not confess these words to his mother, because it involved the secrets of another world, which his mother could not understand or bear. This unspeakable burden made Jiang Sheng feel a little choked up. He could only stand there silently, watching his mother's busy back, and secretly made up his mind to create a carefree old age for his mother in his own way, even if it meant that he had to continue to struggle between the two worlds.

Fang's mother's back disappeared in the morning sun. Jiang Sheng sat alone in the empty living room, feeling mixed emotions. The gap between reality and ideal made him feel powerless. He knew that it was almost impossible to build a career in the real world that could support his family's worry-free life by himself. He was not only shouldering the economic pressure in daily life, but also the burden of fighting unknown dangers in another world. Every mission could be the end of his life, which made it impossible for him to devote himself to the struggle in the real world.

Thinking alone at home, Jiang Sheng longed to find a way to protect his family and make a living, but the reality left him at a loss. Just as he was about to go out and try to find inspiration while walking, the phone in his pocket rang at an inopportune time, and the screen showed an unfamiliar number.

After answering the call, a pleasant female voice came into his ears: "Your name is Jiang Sheng, right?" This sudden question made Jiang Sheng alert.

"I am. Who are you?" he asked back vigilantly.

"It doesn't matter who I am. The point is, I heard that you are interested in earning some 'pocket money'. So, is your current 'pocket money' enough?" the other party said bluntly.

Jiang Sheng was not interested in this sudden approach. When he was about to hang up the phone, the other party stopped him: "Wait."

The female voice on the other end of the phone was smiling: "You are such an impatient person. Well, I won't beat around the bush. In today's world, money is spent very quickly. The 100 million you won last night may seem like a lot, but in fact, it's not enough to buy a decent house in Jinhui District. Tell me, is what I said reasonable?"

Jiang Sheng frowned. The other party seemed to know everything he had gained last night, which made him feel a little uneasy: "What do you want to say?"

"It's hard to explain over the phone right now. I'll be waiting for you at the 'Golden Jasmine' music teahouse on the east side of the auto parts city. Let's talk face to face." Without giving any time for explanation, the other party hung up the phone.

Jiang Sheng held the phone, full of doubts. After some hesitation, he decided to go to the agreed location to find out. Perhaps this would be an opportunity to solve the current dilemma.

The name of the "Golden Jasmine" music teahouse carries a hint of elegance and mystery. When he pushed open the door, the waiter asked him a little surprised: "Excuse me, are you Mr. Fang?" This direct address made him realize that the other party had obviously made full preparations for his arrival. Although he was confused, he still pretended to be calm, nodded slightly, and followed the waiter to lead the way into the teahouse.

The environment in the teahouse is elegant, with soft music floating in the air, creating a quiet yet stylish atmosphere. Jiang Sheng was taken to a seat by the window, where two cups of steaming tea were already on the table, and the mysterious lady he was going to meet was sitting there, smiling, with a sharp and confident look in her eyes. Following her gaze, Jiang Sheng slowly sat down, and an unknown conversation was about to begin.

After Jiang Sheng nodded, the waiter respectfully led him through the hustle and bustle of the first floor and along the spiral staircase to an elegantly decorated grille private room on the second floor. The layout here is more private, suitable for important conversations without being disturbed.

"Miss, Mr. Fang has arrived." The waiter announced quietly and then left.

Sister Hong, who was sitting at the reception table, wearing a red veil, had her back to Jiang Sheng. She didn't seem to be in a hurry to turn around. She just said lightly, "Okay, you can go down!" There was unquestionable authority in her tone, as if everything was under control.

Facing Sister Hong's arrogant behavior, Jiang Sheng's mouth curled up into an imperceptible sneer. In the past, or until last night, he might have been intimidated by this kind of momentum, but now, after experiencing the baptism of the zombie world and seeing the true rules of survival, Sister Hong's behavior seemed to him to be nothing more than a trivial trick. In that world on the brink of life and death, he learned the most important lesson - the strong are respected. Real strength does not rely on superficial majesty and pomp, but on hidden strength and decisive action.

Without waiting for the other party's invitation, Jiang Sheng walked towards Sister Hong and calmly sat down opposite her. He looked at the rumored Sister Hong and saw that she had a pretty face and exuded an intellectual beauty. Her bright eyes seemed to be able to see into people's hearts. However, in sharp contrast to this intellectual temperament, she was only wearing a bright red bra with a red scarf covering her upper body. The looming appearance outlined a deep and seductive landscape, which made people imagine. Jiang Sheng soon realized that this Sister Hong was the mysterious person in the boxing ring last night.

"Tell me, what do you want me to do?" Jiang Sheng's tone was neither cold nor hot, and he got straight to the point. Sister Hong kept her signature smile, her eyes wandering over Jiang Sheng, as if she was appreciating a precious work of art. After a long while, she sighed, "I never thought that your seemingly frail body actually contained such amazing strength. You defeated Black King Kong with one punch, which is really amazing!"

Jiang Sheng showed no sign of enjoying Sister Hong's compliments. On the contrary, he felt a faint disgust. The playful attitude in her smile and eyes made him feel unhappy, as if to say that all his achievements were just luck. He didn't like the feeling of being evaluated like a rare and exotic animal.

"I don't need your praise." Jiang Sheng responded coldly, then stood up and turned away without any reluctance.

Seeing this, Sister Hong's teacup stopped in mid-air, and the smile on her face froze instantly. She was stunned, but more of a disbelief. It was not until she heard Jiang Sheng's footsteps on the stairs that an angry look gradually emerged on her face. Sister Hong was rarely ignored like this, especially in a meeting she had carefully arranged. A trace of haze flashed in her eyes, and she secretly swore in her heart that she would never easily forget Jiang Sheng's arrogance.

Sister Hong sat there, her eyes narrowed slightly, and her mind quickly flashed through her past years. From the age of fourteen when she stepped into this complex and ever-changing world alone, to the age of sixteen when she won the appreciation of her eldest brother with her extraordinary courage and wisdom, to the age of eighteen when she was able to fight side by side with a group of tough guys, every step she took was firm and courageous. At the age of twenty-three, she established her first company with her keen business sense. From then on, her influence snowballed, until she was thirty, everyone on the Jinling Road respectfully called her "Sister Hong". When had she ever been treated so impolitely?

At this moment, a short and strong man appeared silently behind the screen on the other side of the grille. He asked in a cold voice: "Sister Hong, do you want to bring him back to you to vent your anger?" Sister Hong gently put down the teacup in her hand, a trace of fluctuation passed across her delicate eyebrows. She pondered for a moment and gave an unexpected order: "No, just send someone to follow him quietly." Her decision showed that she was not just an impulsive big sister, but also a wise person who knew how to weigh the pros and cons and was well versed in human nature.

Jiang Sheng walked out of the teahouse with mixed feelings. His former life goals pale in the face of the cruel reality. Now he only hopes to make enough money to ensure that his mother can enjoy her old age in peace if he cannot return one day in the future. Thinking of his mother still working hard in the garment factory, he decided to go see her.

Xicheng is adjacent to Yucheng, which is famous for its clothing industry. There are many large and small clothing OEM factories around it, many of which are adjacent to the Auto Parts City. The OEM factory where Jiang Sheng's mother works is located in the south of the Auto Parts City. This factory has no conspicuous name, but just a row of factory buildings, each of which is running silently. Jiang Sheng walked through the factory gate and walked along the road until he reached the end, where he found the factory where his mother worked. Inside the factory, the workers were busy. Jiang Sheng's mother, Qiu Ping, was nervously packing ready-made clothes in the back with several female workers, and her back was soaked with sweat.

The woman in charge of getting materials at the door recognized Jiang Sheng and shouted inside: "Sister Ping, your son is here to see you." Hearing the call, Mother Fang, who was busy bending over, turned around. After confirming that it was Jiang Sheng, she briefly explained a few words to her colleagues around her, then hurried towards him and began to "blame" him from a distance: "Didn't I tell you to rest at home? Why are you running here in such a hot day!" Her words were full of care and heartache.

Looking at the beads of sweat on his mother's light gray temples, Jiang Sheng felt a pang in his heart, and the indescribable pain almost overwhelmed him. He grabbed his mother's hand without saying anything, and said firmly: "Mom, let's go home." This eagerness and heartache made him ignore the occasion and just want to take his mother away from this sweaty working environment immediately.

"Oh, son, I'm at work, please let go!" Qiu Ping noticed the looks from her colleagues and an embarrassed look appeared on her face. She gently tried to break free from her son's hand. The woman at the door saw this and interrupted with a smile: "Sister Ping, your son loves you. You can go back first. I'll ask for leave from the team leader for you. It's no problem."

"No, no, no need to ask for leave!" Qiu Ping waved her hands repeatedly. She knew the cost of asking for leave very well. She turned to Jiang Sheng, her eyes full of reluctance and helplessness. "If you ask for leave, you will be deducted 200 yuan for full attendance! It's almost the end of the month, it will be a pity to deduct it. Be obedient, go out and play first, and mom will go home to make your favorite braised pork in the evening."

"Mom, let's not do this job anymore. I can earn money to support you now." Jiang Sheng was touched by his mother's words. His eyes turned red and he held his mother's hand tighter, refusing to let go. He couldn't stand his mother's hard work and only hoped that he could be her support.

"Oh, why are you becoming more and more disobedient as you grow up..." Qiu Ping blamed her son while looking at him with heartache, feeling mixed emotions.

At this time, their team leader, Team Leader Bai, a young woman in her twenties, came over after hearing the noise. After understanding the whole story, she frowned and said in a serious tone: "It's working hours now, why are you talking nonsense here? Go home and talk."

Seeing this, Jiang Sheng had an idea and continued, "My mother resigned." He wanted to take this opportunity to let his mother get rid of this heavy work.

"Jiang Sheng..." Qiu Ping was so anxious that she almost shouted out loud. She didn't expect her son to say that.

Team Leader Bai's face turned even colder: "Okay, then you can go!" Her tone was full of impatience.

"Team Leader Bai, don't listen to him. He is a child and doesn't understand. I will not resign. I will work now." Qiu Ping hurriedly explained, trying to break free from Jiang Sheng's pull, and then pushed him in return, asking him to leave this place quickly, so as not to affect her and her son's reputation in the factory.

Team Leader Bai raised a disdainful arc at the corner of her mouth, tapped Qiu Ping lightly with the notepad in her hand, and said in a cold voice: "I'll give you a warning today and deduct 50 yuan. If it happens again, you will resign on your own initiative." After that, she turned and left, leaving the mother and son with a resolute back.

Jiang Sheng looked at his mother with mixed feelings. He knew that his impulse had brought trouble to his mother, but it made him more determined to change the status quo. He silently vowed to let his mother live a life where she no longer had to struggle for a living.

When Qiu Ping heard that she would be deducted money, her face suddenly darkened. She begged humbly, "Team Leader Bai, can you please show some leniency and let it go this time? I promise there won't be a next time."

However, Team Leader Bai's attitude did not soften. She crossed her arms over her chest, looked impatient, and said coldly: "I've already said that this is just a warning. What else do you want? Either work hard or leave!" Such scenes are not uncommon in such a factory environment. In order to show their management ability and efficiency in front of their superiors, many grassroots managers tend to adopt a more stringent or even harsh management style towards their employees.

Compared with other factories, the environment in the garment factory is relatively mild. Since most workers have mastered professional skills, they are valued to a certain extent, and the boss usually dare not offend them easily. However, workers like Fang Ma who are engaged in the post-processing process are regarded as more replaceable labor because their skills are not high. Once a problem occurs, they can be easily replaced. It is for this reason that Team Leader Bai seems so confident when dealing with Fang Ma.

Seeing this, Jiang Sheng took a few steps forward and said in a cold voice: "If you don't want to work, then don't work. Pay your wages and we'll leave now." There was unquestionable firmness in his words.

"Jiang Sheng..." Fang's mother wanted to stop him, but Jiang Sheng had made up his mind.

Hearing this, Team Leader Bai raised his lips with a sarcastic smile: "Okay, let your mother write a resignation report, and the salary will be transferred to her bank card next month. But before that, she must continue to work, otherwise it will be treated as absenteeism and she won't get a penny."

"You dare!" Jiang Sheng's anger was ignited, his eyes glared, and he looked aggressive.

Team leader Bai showed no sign of weakness and challenged him, "What? You still want to fight? Come on if you can! Come on~" She even moved forward deliberately, as if testing Jiang Sheng's bottom line.

Seeing this, Fang's mother was so anxious that she was about to cry. She slapped Jiang Sheng's arm hard and said almost pleadingly: "Jiang Sheng, what are you doing? Stop messing around. Do you want to make your mother die of anxiety?" She was afraid that Jiang Sheng would really do something extreme, so she simply dropped the work at hand and pulled Jiang Sheng's arm hard, trying to take him away from this place of trouble.

The workers who were watching dispersed under Fang's mother's persuasion and returned to their respective workstations. When Team Leader Bai saw the mother and son walking away, he shouted, "What are you looking at? Hurry up and work!" Then he turned around angrily and returned to the factory, leaving behind a string of dissatisfied grumbles echoing in the air.

Jiang Sheng was pulled by his mother, feeling mixed emotions. He understood his mother's difficulties, but also hated his own inability to do anything. At this moment, he became more determined in his mind - he wanted to change the status quo, so that his mother would no longer be bullied, and his family could truly live a stable and happy life.

Sister Hong's arrival seemed to bring a touch of extraordinary atmosphere to this ordinary afternoon. Her black Audi A6L slowly drove into the factory area and stopped steadily at the door of Qiu Ping's workshop. As the door opened, Sister Hong stepped out of the car gracefully. Under the cover of sunglasses, her sharp eyes quickly scanned the surroundings. Her appearance was like a stone thrown into the calm water, causing a slight ripple.

Walking into the factory, most of the workers were concentrating on their work, and occasionally a few looked up at the uninvited guest with curiosity in their eyes. Soon, the news reached the ears of Team Leader Bai, and she quickly came over to inquire about the situation.

"Who are you looking for?" Team Leader Bai tried to maintain order through her duties, but when she faced Sister Hong's invisible aura, there was inevitably a hint of caution in her tone.

"Go find your boss." Sister Hong's answer was concise and direct, without any hesitation.

Team Leader Bai did not stop them, but chose to accompany Sister Hong deeper, and asked carefully as they walked: "Excuse me, young lady, is there anything you can do with our boss?" Her tone was both professional and polite, and mixed with a hint of curiosity.

Sister Hong stopped, took off her sunglasses, looked at Team Leader Bai sharply, and asked, "Does it have anything to do with you?" This question made Team Leader Bai speechless. A trace of embarrassment flashed across his face, and he stammered, not knowing how to answer.

The two walked all the way to the boss's office, and his subordinate opened the door lightly. After Sister Hong walked in, he followed in like a shadow, moving swiftly and low-key.

Inside the office, a middle-aged man, about 40 years old, wearing gold-rimmed glasses and with slight signs of baldness on his head, was sitting in a big chair. Upon seeing this, he asked, "Who are you looking for?" There was a hint of wariness in his eyes.

Sister Hong glanced around the office casually, then walked straight to the reception chair and sat down lazily, with her long legs resting lightly on the coffee table. Her tone was filled with authority that could not be ignored: "Qiu Ping works here?"

"Yes! Who are you?" The boss, known as Yang Honglang, looked back and forth between Sister Hong and the bodyguard-looking man behind her, his tone becoming more cautious.

"She has a son named Jiang Sheng, did you know that?" Sister Hong asked directly, as if she had some kind of preconceived answer.

"I know, but I'm not familiar with it." Yang Honglang answered truthfully, becoming more and more confused about Sister Hong's purpose.

"Then tell me what you know." Sister Hong's commanding tone made the atmosphere in the office suddenly tense.

As a boss, Yang Honglang naturally has his pride and dignity. Faced with Sister Hong's domineering attitude, his patience began to wear thin, and there was obvious dissatisfaction in his voice: "Who are you? Why should I tell you?" His counter-question was both a defense of his own position and a protest against Sister Hong's rude attitude.

Hearing this, Sister Hong smiled meaningfully. She did not answer immediately, but slowly took out a business card from her bag and gently placed it on the coffee table. On the business card, there was a simple name - Sister Hong, and below was her contact information. Apart from that, there was no extra information, but the heavy texture and simple design silently demonstrated the identity and status of the holder.

(End of this chapter)