Maximize Interest, My Money Grows Infinitely-Chapter 14 - : Developing Friendships Through Give and Take

Chen Cheng was fiddling with his phone, "Mr. Jin, there's something I'd like to ask for your help with."

"Is it about buying back Wanbao Hall?"

Jin Baogen looked at Chen Cheng with a meaningful gaze.

"Your grandfather's situation, I still remember it very clearly," Jin Baogen exhaled a ring of smoke and said slowly, "He was a good person, a pity he didn't live long."

Chen Cheng's heart tightened; he knew Jin Baogen was about to bring up the matter of his grandfather selling the shop.

He didn't interrupt, just quietly listened.

"Over a year ago, when Mr. Zhai decided to close down Wanbao Hall, I felt quite upset."

Jin Baogen sighed and said, "He told me his health was failing, and he wanted to settle all his debts before he passed."

He continued, "At that time, I advised him not to worry about the money. Based on our friendship, I could write off the two million, no need to mortgage the shop to me."

"But your grandfather... sigh, he was just too stubborn."

Jin Baogen gazed at the glittering lake, "What happened afterward, I know all too well. The money from selling the shop wasn't enough to pay off all the debts."

Saying this, he looked at Chen Cheng again, "You've had a tough year."

"People, coming into this world clean, aim to leave it just as pure," Chen Cheng replied.

Jin Baogen's eyes were filled with admiration, "Mr. Zhai did things with integrity, and Mr. Chen, you follow in his footsteps."

"Mr. Jin, please don't flatter me."

Chen Cheng unlocked his phone, "Mr. Jin, I'm not here because of Wanbao Hall, but because of this matter."

Jin Baogen took the phone, zooming into the screen, "Jiangnan's red siskin, well-raised."

"You noticed it at first glance?"

Jin Baogen held the photo alongside his own bird for comparison, "You see, this bird is smaller than mine, and its feathers are quite coarse. Moreover, the most distinct feature of Jiangnan red siskins is these white claws."

He then asked, "Is there a video? The song of this bird is very soft, quite unique."

Chen Cheng said with a smile, "To be honest, it's not mine. And it's dead."

He paused for a moment, "Mr. Jin, do you have this kind of bird?"

Jin Baogen immediately understood Chen Cheng's intention, "Mr. Chen, are you planning a bait-and-switch?"

"Entrusted by someone."

"Nowadays, in Beijing's red siskin market, it's basically Henan red siskins. Finding a Jiangnan one is indeed difficult," Jin Baogen stubbed out his cigarette and continued, "And as far as I know, there aren't many people in the red siskin circle who keep Jiangnan birds."

Chen Cheng raised his eyebrows, "That's why I came to you, Mr. Jin!"

"Hahaha!" Jin Baogen stood up and walked towards the four birdcages, lifting the one at the front.

"This bird has been trained by me for the better part of a month and is very obedient." Jin Baogen uncovered the cage, and a lively red siskin stood on the perch, curiously surveying its surroundings.

Chen Cheng quickly leaned in to examine it, and indeed, it looked very similar to the one in his phone.

Before he could even ask about the price, Jin Baogen said, "Take the bird. But you must keep the cage in good condition for me."

Upon hearing this, Chen Cheng was overjoyed and hurriedly said, "Mr. Jin, how... how can this be?"

Jin Baogen waved his hand magnanimously, "This bird is just a plaything for me. Taking it to handle your business means solving your urgent matter."

"Next time, when you return the birdcage to me, we will have this interchange, and our friendliness will naturally deepen," he said with a smile.

Chen Cheng had thought that it was because Liu Yueming's valuable handmade inlaid birdcage was pricier than the red siskin inside that Jin Baogen had said such things.

But it now appeared that Mr. Jin's way of speaking and handling matters was genuinely comforting.

"Mr. Jin, I'll remember this favor," Chen Cheng said gratefully.

Jin Baogen handed the birdcage to Chen Cheng, "Mr. Chen, I'm looking forward to the day you buy back Wanbao Hall from me!"

"Definitely!"

The two exchanged phone numbers and then walked towards the parking lot together.

An elder and a young man, four cages on a pole.

Reaching the Land Cruiser, Jin Baogen's driver opened the trunk and neatly loaded three cages inside.

"I won't keep you today," Jin Baogen said with a smile: "You better hurry, don't miss your chance."

Chen Cheng opened the rear door for him, "All right, Mr. Jin. Take care."

"See you later."

"See you later!"

Chen Cheng watched the Land Cruiser leave the parking lot before returning to his own car and placing the birdcage on the passenger seat.

"Good boy, my million-dollar loan is counting on you."

Chirp chirp!

The call of the red bird came from the cage.

Chen Cheng sent a message to Tong Jialu: "Manager Tong, the matter is all set. I'm on my way over."

The reply came back instantly.

"Okay, Mr. Chen! I'm still waiting for you in the back alley!"

Chen Cheng smiled faintly and then drove back to Beijing.

...

Chen Cheng parked his car at the familiar intersection without hurrying to get out.

On a whim, he took a bottle of mineral water from the car and poured quite a bit onto his shirt.

Only after his chest, back, neck, and face were all wet did he get out, pick up the birdcage, and walk towards the back alley.

He pretended to be anxious, taking deep breaths. Drops of mineral water slid down his cheeks from his forehead.

"Mr. Chen!"

Tong Jialu had been waiting there and was surprised to see Chen Cheng in this state, "What... what happened to you?"

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Chen Cheng quickly waved his hands, "It's nothing, nothing."

He glanced around, "Are there cameras here? Should we find a secluded spot first?"

Tong Jialu nodded and led Chen Cheng to a corner piled with miscellaneous items, where there were no surveillance cameras and hardly any people passing by.

Chen Cheng set down the birdcage and lifted the cover, "Manager Tong, take a look. Does this one fit the bill?"

Tong Jialu immediately squatted down to inspect it closely.

Finally, she saw the bird and Chen Cheng got a close-up view of the feet.

The pointed heels on Tong Jialu's feet were not stiletto, but they were still about five centimeters high.

What was fatal was the thin, gray silk just covering the dainty instep, adding a tempting allure in the eyes of the sharp-sighted.

"It looks exactly the same!" she exclaimed, raising her head, "Mr. Chen, where did you find this one?"

"I asked a few friends to call around and finally found this Jiangnan red bird." Chen Cheng hurriedly said, "Let me put the bird in for you to avoid any trouble."

With that, he opened the birdcage Tong Jialu had brought.

He took out the dead red bird inside, then put Jin Baogen's red bird into it.

"All done!" Chen Cheng stood up straight.

Tong Jialu's hanging heart was finally put at ease, and seeing Chen Cheng drenched in sweat, she took out a pack of tissues from her pocket.

"Mr. Chen, I really can't thank you enough."

Chen Cheng took it and wiped it across his neck, "No trouble at all!"

"What about this...?" Tong Jialu looked at the dead bird on the ground.

"You go on with your work, I'll take care of this." Chen Cheng said as he wrapped up the sparrow with a tissue.

Seeing this, Tong Jialu said to Chen Cheng, "Thank you."

"Really, it's no big deal! You should get back to what you need to do." Chen Cheng said with a smile.

"I'll head back to the office then."

"Okay."

Tong Jialu, holding the birdcage, walked towards the back door of Beijing's financial institution.

After a few steps, she stopped, turned back, and said, "Mr. Chen, I'll arrange your loan as soon as possible."