Reaching the age of thirty, my income randomly doubled

To the north and south, to get rich, go to Guangdong.

This was a very famous saying in the 1990s.

Guangdong has many famous things, whether in TV dramas or other dramas.

Rarely do they film Guangdong's wealthy or big bosses.

Because the rich here are famously low-key.

Flip-flops and a white tank top, with a pair of boxer shorts.

You wouldn't believe it, but this is the standard outfit for a Guangdong big shot.

As for places Guangdong folks like to eat, even GPS would have trouble finding them.

They're often hidden deep in the mountains, and people here love their tea.

Guangdong's prosperity is renowned, as are its factory workers.

All sorts of electronics factories, apparel factories, each employing thousands.

Perhaps here lies the most familiar of stories.
Your journey continues on empire

Chen Pingsheng came to Guangdong, not for work this time, but purely because his brother had found a girlfriend he was planning to marry.

She wasn't very old, nor particularly beautiful.

Probably because he'd seen too many beautiful women, be it Jiang Peiyao or Shen Wanning.

Who, among their peers, are exceptionally talented and attractive.

Not to mention he often dined and drank tea with Yang Mi and Liu Yifei.

No doubt, women who make it in showbiz.

In the eyes of ordinary people, they are definitely fairy-level.

Gao Hu was a pro at flirting with flight attendants, almost picking up a new one with every flight.

Now wanting to marry, he no longer pursued anyone from this group.

Instead, during a random encounter, he met his current girlfriend.

If you ask about the process of their meeting, it was quite simple.

She was setting up her stall after work, and he just happened to pass by and bought a pair of shoes.

And that's how they got to know each other.

Chen Pingsheng listened to him for half an hour to roughly understand the whole process.

His girlfriend's name was Xiao Danchun.

She worked as a production worker in a large shoe factory and would also take some shoes out to sell at her stall at cost price.

She's quite a diligent and ambitious girl.

As for Gao Hu, in her eyes, he was just a Phantom chef.

Making over ten thousand a month, the two had been dating for two months under these circumstances.

"Old Chen, didn't think you'd make it over,"

Gao Hu said excitedly, "Today's their payday, and later she's going to treat me to a meal."

Guangdong is very prosperous, and this prosperity is not just about the factory flowers and girls.

It targets the real rich, showcasing its distinctiveness.

"You, always a sly old fox, still want to keep up this act?"

"No need to intentionally keep it up, just help me evaluate her later. If even you, Old Chen, think she's suitable, I'll definitely confront her and propose without a second word."

A CEO of a listed company getting married should consider prenuptial agreement; otherwise, a divorce could mean splitting half of his assets.

Gao Hu was quite serious about it.

The two grabbed a quick bite before Chen Pingsheng prepared to go meet Xiao Danchun with him.

Gao Hu even specially prepared a Xiao Ya electric bike for him. After all these years, he still had a day for riding a small electric bike.

That was really something.

"Old Chen, don't feel wronged, you know how serious your brother is this time,"

"Alright, there's nothing to feel wronged about, nothing's more important than your big life event."

Chen Pingsheng told him to lead the way, his role now was also a Phantom chef.

Haven't ridden an electric bike for too long, he was even stopped by traffic police for not wearing a helmet and fined fifty.

A bad start indeed, it had been ages since he was last stopped by the traffic police.

When the factory pays wages, business surges, whether it's the barber shop or the late-night street food.

Usually, they can only afford stir-fried noodles or egg-fried rice.

But at such times, it becomes a feast of hot pot and beer.

Outside the factory there was a small food street, nicely organized.

Specially catering to these factory workers.

Guangdong's foreign trade is very famous, especially clothing wholesale, which ranks first in the country.

Of course, so are counterfeit watches.

Station west Rolex, take a look.

At the end of the shift, the factory gates spill out a swarm of sisters in blue uniform.

All young people.

Many have spent their youth in such factories.

Xiao Danchun, true to her name, was quite simple and pure.

She wore her jet black hair tied in a high ponytail, and had a pretty oval face.

"Old Gao,"

Xiao Danchun always liked to call Gao Hu "Old Gao."

And from a distance, she liked to jump into his arms.

Perhaps this was the way young girls expressed love.

At any rate, Chen Pingsheng found it quite awkward to watch.

"Danchun, this is my brother Chen Pingsheng. Come and get to know him."

Xiao Danchun quickly jumped down from him, and it was clear Gao Hu really liked this girl.

Xiao Danchun smiled cheerfully, "Big brother, hello. I got paid six thousand yuan today, and I'd like to treat you all to a meal."

"Sure thing."

The trio then picked an outdoor dining table at the nearby small food street.

Chen Pingsheng watched them cook the dishes, barely washing the pans, which made him twitch slightly.

You wouldn't know it, but he's quite particular about both dining and exercising nowadays.

After all, health is the capital of the revolution.

Clearly, Xiao Danchun and her group didn't care about such things.

They simply didn't have the means to care.

The menu was greasy as Xiao Danchun passed it to her and then called her cousin to join them for the meal.

Chen Pingsheng casually ordered two cheap dishes.

Gao Hu ordered one too, while Xiao Danchun flipped through the menu and still chose her favorite pickled fish.

Gao Hu kicked Chen Pingsheng under the table, signaling him to see how it was going.

Chen Pingsheng felt it was too early to judge.

Zhao Yimin and his team of four security officers also followed him there.

They were not far away.

Now, eating in such a place really made him somewhat uncomfortable.

The area was noisy with people shouting loud.

There were beers and various typical curses like "damn it" and "fuck you".

It's not that he looked down on it, but he just didn't feel comfortable in such settings anymore.

He seldom visited Guangdong, and he didn't even have two cars there.

He sent a message to Zhao Yimin, asking him to retrieve two Rolls-Royce Phantoms.

The choice of vehicle inadvertently turned to the Phantom.

Xiao Danchun's cousin arrived, and she had a bit of education, working as an accountant at a factory.

Xiao Danchun got introduced by her cousin.

Her cousin's boyfriend was a rich second-generation BMW driver.

He had high standards and his displeasure about eating in such a place was clearly visible on his face.

Chen Pingsheng hardly bothered to greet him.

Only Gao Hu, that fool, was still pretending to be a great chef.

Xiao Danchun felt awkward, it was her payday treat and her cousin's boyfriend showed up unhappy - a feeling only those who have hosted would understand.

Her cousin consoled, "Danchun, don't mind him, he's just like that."

"Oh." Xiao Danchun continued eating, while introducing Chen Pingsheng to her cousin's boyfriend.

Chen Pingsheng, being polite, nodded in acknowledgement.

He was met with indifference.

Chen Pingsheng asked Danchun, "Danchun, take a good look at your boyfriend. What would you do if he turned out to be the founder and CEO of a listed company?"

"Er—" Xiao Danchun was dumbfounded for a moment, she had never considered this.

A chef as the founder of a listed company?

Before she could respond, her cousin's boyfriend interrupted, "Dude, that's not a joke, okay? Do you think the bosses of listed companies are cabbages? Would they dine in such a place?"

Chen Pingsheng didn't care to respond; sometimes to understand a woman, you don't need to do much research or understand too much.

Just observing her eyes tells enough.

Xiao Danchun was indeed very naive.

Such a good girl, and Gao Hu actually found her.

Perhaps this was the reason he sent the message, asking him to come and see her.

Psychologically, Gao Hu sent that message hoping for a confirmation from his brother.

He dated so many flight attendants and never mentioned them, much less called someone over from the Capital City.

"I wasn't asking you."

A straightforward sentence, leaving no face for the cousin's boyfriend.

Chen Pingsheng hadn't even started eating; he was just sincerely watching Xiao Danchun.

Xiao Danchun, tilting her head, said, "If Old Gao were the founder of a listed company, he wouldn't fancy me. I'm just an ordinary girl, a mere factory worker."

"He shouldn't deceive you; you are indeed quite naive."

Chen Pingsheng waved his hand, and Zhao Yimin along with the security team came over immediately, saying, "Boss."

"Go and buy her a three-bedroom apartment in downtown Guangzhou, put it under her name, and also get her a Bentley Continental. Arrange for her parents to come to Guangzhou too."

Chen Pingsheng stood up and said, "My dear, I don't want to deceive you because there is no need. Your boyfriend is indeed the founder of a listed company, and he's also my best buddy. If you don't mind, I'd like to invite you to my place for a simple meal."

Gao Hu was actually quite happy; he had been unsure about how to open up to Xiao Danchun.

Now that Chen Pingsheng had straightforwardly clarified his identity, it meant he approved of this girl.

What could be more important than a brother's approval?

Only Xiao Danchun seemed utterly stunned, her mind still unable to catch up.

It wasn't until Shen Chengjun, the CEO of Tenghui Department Store, arrived in a Mercedes-Benz S600 and simultaneously, three more Bospeed V-Class arrived, that the nearby onlookers started to be astounded.

Chen Pingsheng sincerely invited Xiao Danchun to visit his home.

His wife had bought the Dayi Villa, located at the foot of Baiyun Mountain, one of the top ten mansions in Asia.

Inside, his wife had hired five housekeepers.

One to mow the lawn, another to prune the flowers.

This two-billion-yuan, ultra-large luxury mansion truly epitomized high living in bustling Guangzhou.

Chen Pingsheng explained, "I apologize, this house was bought by my wife. It's also my first time staying here, so I'm not too familiar with it."

Both Xiao Danchun and her cousin were at a loss for words.

As for her cousin's opportunistic boyfriend, he was left speechless.

As the door opened, a mountain-forest style villa revealed a huge swimming pool right before their eyes.