Soon enough, Jiang Da and Han Yunru noticed their daughter’s arrival and hurried forward.
“Dad, Mom.”
Jiang Da’s expression softened with emotion, but he looked awkward and hesitant, taking a step forward, then holding back, repeating, “It’s good that you’re back… so good that you’re back…”
Han Yunru pulled her daughter, who she hadn’t seen in over two weeks, into a tight hug.
“Finally, you’re back…”
Jiang Fuyue felt the warmth of her mother’s embrace and smiled gently.
“Let’s go home; we can talk there.”
The group left the hall, with Little Brother Jiang holding onto Jiang Fuyue’s hand tightly, as if afraid she’d run off.
“Sis! Sis! Was Country E fun?”
Han Yunru interjected, “Your sister went to compete, not for fun.”
“Oh…”
“It was fun,” Jiang Fuyue replied, “but a bit cold.”
“Colder than Ha City?” He had read in his elementary geography book that Ha City was the coldest place in China during winter.
“Yes. Country E is further north than Ha City.”
“Did it snow?”
“Not where I was, but Country E is big; higher-altitude areas should have snow by now.”
His eyes lit up with longing. “That must be beautiful.”
“When you’re older, you can go and see it for yourself.”
“Can I? How long will it take for me to grow up?”
The couple walked ahead, while the brother and sister followed, chatting, as they headed to the parking lot across the street.
Wu Qian had brought the company car today, a domestic Volkswagen. Not pricey, but efficient and fuel-saving—a good value.
They sped along until they reached the gate of Yutian Huafu, where they were stopped by a security guard.
Jiang Da rolled down the window and scanned his access card.
“Oh, it’s Big Brother Jiang! Rare to see you at this time of day!” The security guard greeted him warmly.
Jiang Da was the only resident who shared cigarettes with the security guards, always greeting them with a friendly attitude. Unlike other aloof residents, Jiang Da was a breath of fresh air, so he quickly became familiar with the guards.
Usually, Jiang Da and his wife, who had to open their shop early, would leave the complex early and return late, so they were rarely seen at this hour.
Today was a rarity…
Jiang Da grinned, handing a cigarette to the guard from the passenger seat. “My daughter’s back from the capital today, so we went to pick her up.”
“Oh, that’s nice.”
The gate’s barrier lifted, and Jiang Da waved as they entered. “We’ll catch up later.”
“Alright!”
The car headed deeper into the complex as the guard lowered the barrier and returned to his booth.
A colleague who had just arrived for his shift, fastening his uniform, casually asked, “Who was that? Here for deliveries or a water drop-off?”
It was a fair assumption; other than for deliveries, Volkswagens rarely entered this complex. Even the residents’ housekeepers drove Mercedes to run errands.
The guard, smoking, gave his colleague a nudge, “Stop guessing—he’s a resident! They live in the most expensive detached villa, which was once considered the best in the area. Because of its high price, it sat unsold for ages until his family bought it recently.”
“What?!” His colleague’s eyes widened in surprise, so startled he forgot to finish buttoning up. “Really?”
“Why would I lie?”
“But… living in a detached villa and driving a Volkswagen? And not even a Phaeton?”
“What do you know! Got a light? I can’t find mine…”
“Yeah, here!” His colleague handed over his lighter, leaning in with interest. “Tell me more—this… modest resident?”
The security guard lit a cigarette, took a puff, and sat comfortably in his chair, clearly enjoying himself. “Not just that. They even run a little business—a small operation.”
“A business? You mean a company, right? You always deny it when I say you’re uneducated…”
“Get lost! Who are you calling uneducated? You’re the one who’s clueless! I’ve got a bachelor’s degree, okay? Of course, I know what a company is. But I’m telling you, this is just a small shop. It’s near the back gate of No. 1 High School, not too far from here.”
“The back gate of No. 1 High School? As far as I remember, the only things on that street are a liquor store and a bunch of breakfast shops.”
“Exactly.”
His colleague frowned, thought about it for a moment, and then asked skeptically, “So, what are they selling?”
“Fried Pancakes.”
“What?!”
“Fried Pancakes! Never had it before? Country bumpkin.”
The colleague was stunned. “Say that again. What’s their business?”
The security guard chuckled at his friend’s reaction, though he remembered he’d been just as shocked when he first found out.
“Ahem! Listen carefully, because I’m only saying this once—they’re selling Fried Pancakes. Both of them. The shop’s even a social media hotspot; it’s been trending for half a year now. Lots of people from Weibo go there to check it out.”
“But… even if it’s popular, they still wouldn’t be able to afford a standalone villa in our community, right? Those cost tens of millions!”
These days, can small-time vendors really be that successful?
“Now that, I don’t know. Maybe selling Fried Pancakes is just a hobby, something they do to pass the time. Let me tell you, real wealthy folks often keep a low profile. Especially those people you see on the street wearing tank tops, shorts, and flip-flops—be careful around them. They might just be hidden millionaires!”
“… I’ve learned something today, brother.”
“Glad to share the wisdom!”
