Reaching the age of thirty, my income randomly doubled

"Old Chen, what kind of company is this?"

It must be said, Bai Xin was extremely beautiful.

Those hip-hugging jeans paired with a petite white down jacket, her innocent face epitomized purity.

It was hard not to be instantly captivated.

When Gao Hu heard she was just the cleaning lady here, he nearly jumped ten meters high in excitement.

"Don't believe her, she's more than just a cleaning lady, she's also my An'an's tutor, a future superstar. She was a proper academic ace when she was studying, not someone us underachievers can covet."

Although Gao Hu's circumstances weren't bad, aspiring to fancy someone like Bai Xin with just those two hotpot restaurants in Sha City was a tall order.

In other words, he wasn't up to par.

"Uncle, I'm no superstar. Have you guys not eaten yet? Do you want me to order some food?"

Bai Xin was quite perceptive and knew that Uncle had friends over. She immediately prepared to leave, to give them space to catch up.

"There's no rush to order food. Can you bring over the information on the drama groups that have been looking for me these past few days, along with the photos of their actresses?"

Bai Xin understood the unspoken rules of the entertainment industry all too well, and the Uncle also knew about them.

But he never participated in such things.

It was unusual for him to ask for the actress photos today because they were to entertain his friends.

There weren't many thoughts involved; if a drama group wanted to draw in investment,

they were obliged to bring actresses along. For someone of the Uncle's stature entertaining good friends, it made sense to arrange for their company.

Investment talks could follow afterward; such was the entertainment industry.

"Uncle, just a moment."

Bai Xin also doubled as a secretary, so she quickly gathered the information for seven or eight small drama groups.

Each one included several photos of actresses.

There were the innocent ones, the charming ones, the juicy ones, and naturally, the kind of sexy bombshells with generous D cups that men love most.

"Pick a few."

Chen Pingsheng didn't even look at them, but handed the photos and information straight to Gao Hu.

He was genuinely astounded.

"Old Chen, forgive my ignorance, what is this situation exactly?"

"What you see is what you get."

Chen Pingsheng explained, "This company is one of my investment ventures in the entertainment industry. These drama groups all want me to invest money. You have a bit of understanding of the unspoken rules of this circle. If you want to join in, it simply means that I'll invest a few million more in them afterwards."

"With your current status, it's hard to arrange for top-tier ones, and even the second-tier ones come at a steep price. But you're free to pick from these third-tier or lower ones."

"This is..."

Gao Hu sneered, "That's quite high-class. If I take you up on this now and you end up spending millions on me, how could I live with myself? Besides, I'm here to meet a potential wife, not to fool around with women."

Gao Hu, shameless as he was, silently set the photos of the women aside upon hearing it would cost millions.

No matter how pretty, spending millions of a brother's money was out of the question.

Chen Pingsheng laughed, "What, feeling shy all of a sudden? The money spent doesn't vanish; it's just a matter of earning more or less."

"Seriously though, bro, I'm starting to not understand you."

Gao Hu felt that this arrangement was a bit contrived, as if it was all for a show of strength.

Of course, if he really wanted to indulge, he believed Old Chen would certainly arrange it.

It's just that it was never to his taste.

"The fact is, I do have some serious business I want to discuss with you."

Chen Pingsheng said, "We've been friends for decades, no need to beat around the bush. I want you to come to Capital City and open a hotpot restaurant. I'll invest and you'll get shares. Let's grow the business and create something brilliant together."

"Are you out of your mind?"

Gao Hu grinned, "I'm doing just fine in Sha City. I'll open another place next year, and I'm sure to make at least a million a year. I'm that stable now, how could you possibly expect me to come to Capital City?"

"Bro, don't speak too soon."

Chen Pingsheng sat on the couch, lit a Laobaisha for himself, and said, "If you had stayed in Sha City, I wouldn't doubt for a second that you could have made a million by next year."

"Is a million a year really that high?"

"This year I invested in a female artist, and last month the apartment I gave her is now worth nearly ten million. The property my sister-in-law hoarded in Wanliu Academy near the Second Ring is about forty million. And the first TV series my company invested in made over a hundred million."

"Brother, do you still think an annual salary of a million is high?"

Gao Hu was completely dumbfounded; thirty is meant to be a milestone age.

In fact, he had already 'made it,' but it all depends on whom you compare yourself to.

If he were to compare himself to this old brother of his, what difference would there be from a beggar?

"Did you rob Zhongyang Bank this year or what? How did you get so rich so fast?"

"That's really not the case."

Chen Pingsheng led him to his floor-to-ceiling window and pointed outside to the buildings, "Look over there, that's the CCTV headquarters, next to it is CITIC, Guomao, and all the major internet companies."

"You have to understand, in Capital City, a few young people in the internet business start-up one year and their companies get acquired by BAT the next, and they're suddenly worth hundreds of millions, some even tens of billions."

"In this place, the only thing to fear is not having dreams, not dreaming too big."

Chen Pingsheng said, "I won't hide it from you, opening a hotpot restaurant is just an idea I had for transitioning and experimenting to see if I can do well in other traditional industries besides selling fruit."

"You only want to open two stores a year, whereas I'm prepared to invest fifty million with a valuation of ten billion in two years."

Gao Hu touched his forehead in shock, and then touched his own.

"You're not feverish, Old Chen, although your words do fire me up. I have no doubt you can come up with fifty million, but the key is that a valuation of ten billion in two years, isn't that a bit too exaggerated?"

"Why would it be exaggerated?"

Chen Pingsheng said, "In this place, as long as you dare to dream, there's nothing you absolutely can't do. If I were to bring in a top-tier celebrity as a shareholder, using her name to rapidly expand, and if I can just solve the technical, managerial, and service issues of the hotpot restaurants, do you really think a valuation of ten billion in two years is that hard?"

"Top-tier celebrity, where are you going to pull one of those?

Gao Hu couldn't even dare to think; the biggest worry in opening a restaurant isn't the service or the flavor.

The biggest worry is nobody coming in.

It's different if you have a top-tier celebrity endorsement—that means they only need to get the service and taste right at the restaurant.

If they also manage to make the prices appealing to the general public, it's definitely going to be a hit wherever they open.

"Did you forget? I also have an entertainment investment company. What do you think that's for?"

"Just for playing with women?"

Chen Pingsheng patted his shoulder, "Brother, Sha City has limited your imagination. Come to Capital City; here, there are endless heroic dreams and countless world top 500 companies."

"The most crucial thing is you have me, your brother, to invest for you. What else do you have to be afraid of?"

"Even if by chance it doesn't work out, the worst is just starting over."

"But if it does work out, let me give you the most real talk between brothers—at that point, you won't need to wander the back alleys anymore."

"Instead, you can just watch TV, and with a single phone call, she'll come to you."

"Can you imagine what that feels like?"

It had to be said, these words really hit home for Gao Hu.

For a man, there are only three things in a lifetime.

Earning money, supporting a family, and enjoying women.

As for power, it depends on whether the elders are willing to take a shortcut.

If not, it also depends on whether there's a department-level rank in the family.

If you have nothing, and you end up a minor deputy county head in the county town by old age,

that would mean your ancestors have accumulated good fortune.

That's much harder than achieving a small goal.

With just a bit of imagination, Gao Hu's mouth curled into a big V shape.

He couldn't help but laugh foolishly to himself.