Chapter 1 Wanting to Buy Osmanthus Wine Together
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"Director Zhang, I don't think I'll be able to work overtime at the company this Chinese New Year..."
"I haven't been back for two years, and just yesterday my childhood friend notified me that he's getting married on the 26th of the last lunar month, so I was wondering... can I avoid staying behind to work overtime this year?"
"But don't worry, Director Zhang! I promise to rush back to the office right after the second day of the new year, and I won't fall behind on my work progress!"
...
Inside the general manager's office at Hangcheng Galaxy Media.
Gu Heng, who had been organizing his words outside the door for a few minutes, slowly let them out towards his boss, who was absorbed in playing computer games.
After hearing Gu Heng's words, the boss simply raised his eyebrows without responding...
Seeing the boss's imposing manner, Gu Heng knew in his heart that the chances of going back for his childhood friend's wedding were probably slim...
As expected.
Two minutes later, the boss looked up at Gu Heng after the character he was controlling in the game died.
"Gu Heng, if I remember correctly, you were an exceptional hire for the company, weren't you?"
Hearing this, Gu Heng felt a bit more bitter and nodded lightly.
"Yes, Director Zhang, the company initially required a bachelor's degree in scriptwriting for my position, and it was very kind of the company to hire me despite only having a high school diploma."
Respectful in words, but his inner monologue was incessant.
The company did hire him despite the norm.
But in the market, a screenwriter's monthly salary, if not over 10,000, is at least 7,000 or 8,000.
What about him?
After being officially hired, his salary was only 4,500 yuan.
Where others had at most a three-month probation period, he was squeezed by the company with a measly salary of 2,500 yuan for a probation period of seven whole months before just barely getting a permanent position...
Moreover, his workload was many times more than that of his colleagues in the same position... Luckily, Gu Heng's main enjoyment in life was surfing the internet, and he knew quite a few stale jokes. His situational scripts were not bad, and he had some value to the company, so they hadn't fired him...
However, Gu Heng didn't blame others; it was his own doing...
If he hadn't believed in that internet group's nonsense theory that studying was useless during his school days, thinking that with his brains, a high school diploma would be enough to make something of himself, he wouldn't be suffering from the company's discrimination against his educational background...
The boss, unaware and uninterested in what Gu Heng was thinking, simply nodded slightly after hearing Gu Heng's response and then lit a cigarette, speaking slowly, "Since you're aware the company has treated you well, why make such an unreasonable request?"
Gu Heng: "..."
Just because I don't want to work overtime during Chinese New Year, is that request unreasonable?
Do they really think our dignity's worthless?!
Although he wanted to smash the ashtray on the desk into the boss's size 42 contorted face and then make a video to tell netizens that this is how we post-2000s shake up the workplace!
But then he thought that by doing so, not only would he lose the decent office job with weekends off that his friends envied, he might also get a 'tea invitation' from the police and spend the New Year in a detention center, so he had to abandon his damned dignity and awkwardly smile...
Clearly.
The boss didn't notice Gu Heng's inner turmoil and, after gently flicking the cigarette ash into the ashtray, spoke again slowly.
"Here's what we'll do, you've been with the company for a while, and I don't want to put you in a difficult position.
I'll give you two options.
One, you stay and work overtime during the holiday, and I'll pay you overtime wages according to the statutory holiday rate, and after the holiday, I'll give you a raise.
Two, if you really want to go home for the holiday, just hand in your resignation to HR on your way out, and I'll have the finance department settle your wages, so you can have a good New Year."
After he finished, the boss's gaze returned to the computer.
Whatever Gu Heng chose, it was no longer his concern.
His company might not be large, but it still had dozens of employees. It would be too much of a failure if he as the boss had to worry about every ordinary employee's stay or departure, right?
Seeing that the boss no longer cared to engage with him, Gu Heng could only silently smile bitterly and leave the office...
......
......
In front of his workstation.
After hesitating for a long time, he finally clicked on a WeChat contact and made a voice call.
"Hello? Hengzi, if you have something to say, say it quick, I'm a bit busy right now."
Hearing the familiar local dialect through the phone, Gu Heng steeled his heart and began to speak slowly, "Fengzi, I might not be able to make it to your wedding..."
Before he could finish, he heard a fierce argument erupt on the other end.
"What the hell? 6000 yuan for two Audi A4s and four ordinary Volkswagens for a 10-hour service? Are you robbing me?"
"The 26th of the last lunar month is our busiest day for weddings, and 6000 yuan isn't a lot. If you don't believe me, go check other rental companies. If there's a lower price, I'll unscrew my head and give it to you as a urinal!"
"No way, that's too expensive. The most I found online was 4000! You're asking for half as much again!"
"If you can't accept it, go check elsewhere. But just so you know, once you step out of this door and if the fleet gets rented by someone else, don't even talk about 6000; even if you offer 10,000, you won't be able to rent them."
"If I can't rent them, then so be it. I don't believe I can't manage to put together a wedding motorcade without renting!"
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After finishing speaking, the argument on the other end of the phone came to an abrupt halt, followed by the voice of my childhood friend Fengzi, "Are you still there, Hengzi?"
But by this time, Gu Heng's thoughts had already drifted to years past.
When he had just graduated from high school and was planning to enter the workforce, he had boasted that when a few old pals got married, he would definitely arrive in a luxury car to lead the wedding procession...
But now...
Although others might complain about car loans and mortgages... they at least have cars, houses, and a dream...
With his own salary of 4500, not to mention a car or house, even the place he rents is in the most remote area, requiring several transfers and 40 minutes on the subway for his daily commute, all just to save a bit on rent...
Even so, after scrimping and saving for years, he had barely managed to save up 80,000 yuan...
Looking at the name of the script the director brought over for him to read his lines from...
"To buy fragrant osmanthus together with wine, it's not as good as the days of youth"...
The verse that once seemed to be nothing more than a plaintive moan pierced his heart at this moment...
Taking a deep breath, Gu Heng made a decision that went against his ancestors' wishes!
"Fengzi, don't worry about the wedding car just yet. I saw on Moments that Xiaohua and Haibin have all bought cars. Ask them about it. As for the lead car...
Do you remember what I told you before? I'll definitely get you the most awesome lead car!"
"Really? You've got that kind of clout? Don't bullshit me, bro. Getting married's nearly killed my parents and me, it'll probably be the only time in my life. If you screw it up, I swear I'll take my bride and smash your windows!"
"Don't worry!"
"Alright then, I'll be looking forward to seeing how amazing the lead car you bring back is!"
After hanging up the phone, Gu Heng exhaled the pent-up frustration in his chest, went online, found a template for a resignation letter, copied, pasted, printed—all done in one go!
Half an hour later, Gu Heng walked out of the HR office without the hesitation and nervousness that usually come before resigning, even his normally bowed spine seemed to straighten a bit.
He had already made up his mind.
After receiving his final paycheck, his total account balance would be just over 85,000 yuan.
Renting a BMW 730 or Mercedes-Benz S350, even with the price hikes during the Spring Festival, would cost under 20,000 yuan for a week. He planned to drive it back and show off, not caring if he got found out, just stick to his guns, claiming it was bought with a huge amount of money! After all, the cost of showing off was too high; after doing it this year, he probably wouldn't go back for several years.
He didn't want to think about the chain reaction that would follow, after showing off, come hell or high water!
He'd spend 10,000 on a watch and some nicer clothes to dress himself up...
The other 5,000 would be for gifts to bring back to his parents and elders.
35,000 yuan for the sake of appearances.
The remaining 50,000 would be used next year to set up a small food stall, putting it in front of a university!
Born in the year 2000, he was only 23 now. Although the harsh realities of life had worn down much of his sharp edges over the years, Gu Heng never forgot that he was still young!
His motto was one of hopeful prospects!
At this moment, Gu Heng's spirits were more fired up than after watching an entire episode of Boruto!
His mind was still in a whirlwind! He was no beast of burden! As long as he didn't give up, he would see his day in the sun!
Just then, a calm electronic voice sounded in Gu Heng's mind.
"The Hedonistic Male God System has been activated."
"From this moment on, every indulgence of the host will be rewarded with cash based on the event."
"The host has confronted his true desires and made a decision that clears his mind, quitting his job! And successfully indulged his whims, awarding the host 100,000 yuan!"
He originally thought he had been under pressure from reality for too long, and after a temporary escape, mental issues arose from the sudden relief, even starting to hear hallucinations...
But the next second, his three-year-old iPhone 12 received a message...
"Your bank card account 8529 has received a deposit of RMB 100,000 on January 25, 2024, with a post-transaction balance of 180,400 yuan [Construction Bank]"
Gu Heng's brain briefly crashed, but he immediately logged onto the Construction Bank APP, saw the 180,000 yuan in his balance, and swallowed hard...
Hengzi, are you for real?
Since he was 18 and started working, he had always adhered to the teachings of his parents.
When out in the world, temper your attitude and endure—things will pass...
Over five or six years, what made Gu Heng proudest was the more than 80,000 yuan he saved, while his peers might still be asking for handouts from their parents...
After enduring for so many years and wanting to be willful for once, not enduring anymore, the system told him that because of his indulgence, he immediately got 100,000 yuan? Over ten thousand more than his savings of so many years?
The first thought that popped into his mind wasn't ecstasy over the immense wealth that had fallen into his lap from the system.
It was questioning the meaning of playing the part of a fool for so many years.
If he had been self-indulgent sooner, could he have suffered two years less?
Moreover, he had just psyched himself up to make a breakthrough, but now with the system, did he still need to work hard?
This was just like when he had been full of ambition, shouting that his fate was his own and not up to the heavens, and then his dad suddenly called to tell him, "Son, stop trying so hard, come home and take over the family business, I've hidden from you for over 20 years to test you. Actually, I'm a millionaire, so just come back and lie down like a waste."
It couldn't just be called being sentimental...
Both sudden wealth and sudden downfall can easily destabilize one's mindset...