Chapter 530: Chapter 250: Did You Know Your Ex-Husband Won 10 Million in the Lottery?

Yuan Mengqi nodded and agreed:

"Mm, but my brother has been in the hospital taking care of my mom, he hasn’t come for several days."

"Hmm? Your brother is the chef at this Qiao Claypot?"

When Jiang Tao heard Yuan Mengqi’s words, and then thought of the name of the chef mentioned in the intel, he immediately showed a somewhat surprised expression on his face.

Yuan Mengjie...

Could this Yuan Mengjie really be Yuan Mengqi’s brother?

"Yeah, he’s been working here for almost four years."

Upon hearing Yuan Mengqi’s response, Jiang Tao was basically certain that the chef mentioned in the intel was indeed Yuan Mengqi’s brother.

"Your brother’s name is Yuan Mengjie?"

"Do you know my brother?"

"Sort of!"

After hearing Yuan Mengqi’s reply, Jiang Tao laughed; they really were siblings!

"By the way, Mengqi, can you arrange for me to meet your brother? I want to discuss something with him."

"You want to talk business with my brother?"

Yuan Mengqi looked curious when she heard Jiang Tao’s request.

Jiang Tao nodded and said: "Yes."

Yuan Mengqi: "Sure, when are you available?"

Jiang Tao thought for a moment and said: "This afternoon, perhaps."

Yuan Mengqi: "Okay, what time? Where?"

Jiang Tao raised his hand to look at the time, thought for a moment, and said:

"Let’s meet at Starbucks, around 5 PM."

"Alright! I’ll let him know in a bit." 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

Yuan Mengqi nodded. In front of Chai Zijie, she didn’t ask more about what Jiang Tao wanted with her brother.

As they walked and chatted, they arrived at the entrance of Qiao Claypot.

"President Jiang, President Chai, please go ahead."

After Yuan Mengqi opened the door, she first invited Jiang Tao and Chai Zijie to enter, and she went in last.

As soon as they entered, a girl in a Qiao Claypot uniform quickly walked towards them.

"Mengqi, you’re here! Three of you, right? Come this way."

Lin Ranran saw Yuan Mengqi and greeted her warmly, her gaze involuntarily pausing on Jiang Tao’s face for a moment.

She remembered Jiang Tao from yesterday when he came to buy clay pots, especially impressed by the Mercedes G-Class he drove!

"Ranran, you’re back at work."

Yuan Mengqi smiled and greeted Lin Ranran when she saw her.

"Uh-huh, finished with family matters, Mengqi, this way please."

Lin Ranran nodded as she responded and led the three to an empty table inside, arranging for them to be seated.

"Ranran?"

Hearing Yuan Mengqi call Lin Ranran, Jiang Tao couldn’t help but glance at her a few more times.

This must be the one mentioned in the intel as Yuan Mengjie’s partner.

Lin Ranran was also part of his recruitment plan.

The two of them "hidden" at Qiao Claypot, one as a chef, the other as a server, was quite clever.

"President Jiang, order whatever you like, would you like some alcohol?"

After they sat down, Chai Zijie eagerly inquired with Jiang Tao.

"Let’s skip the alcohol, I need to drive later, bring a bottle of..."

Jiang Tao glanced at the store’s fridge and said:

"Bring a big bottle of sour jujube juice."

"Alright, let’s have juice then, I can invite you for drinks another time."

Chai Zijie naturally didn’t dare persuade Jiang Tao to drink, and readily agreed.

"One order of spicy boiled pork, spicy beef, kung pao chicken, and chicken stew with mushrooms, I’m done."

Jiang Tao didn’t hold back with Chai Zijie and ordered a few dishes he and Yuan Mengqi had before.

Chai Zijie took the iPad for ordering, casually added four more dishes, and instructed Lin Ranran to serve them quickly.

The prices at Qiao Claypot were very reasonable, eight dishes for less than 300 yuan, so Chai Zijie wasn’t worried about the expense.

With Lin Ranran, an acquaintance there, Jiang Tao’s table received their dishes faster than the others.

In less than 5 minutes, four steaming clay pots were served, and four dishes were plated.

"President Jiang, let me toast to you, thank you for trusting Yicheng."

Chai Zijie lifted his juice to toast Jiang Tao.

This time, Jiang Tao purchased 20 Shun Ning Prefecture properties from Yicheng Real Estate, worth about 10 million yuan.

Chai Zijie and the real estate agency expected to pocket a commission of at least 200,000 yuan.

In dealing with the patron of his own company, Chai Zijie naturally showed the utmost respect.

"President Chai, you’re too kind. Here’s to a pleasant collaboration."

Jiang Tao also raised his glass of juice with a smile and clinked it with Chai Zijie’s, his expression calm and composed.

"President Jiang, a toast to you as well."

Yuan Mengqi followed suit, raising her glass of juice to toast Jiang Tao.

"Haha, Squad Leader Yuan, there’s no need for such formality between us. You should just call me by my name. It’s quite awkward hearing you call me President Jiang."

Jiang Tao clinked his juice with Yuan Mengqi’s and said with a chuckle.

Chai Zijie chimed in with a laugh:

"President Jiang is right, Mengqi, you old classmates shouldn’t be so distant.

You two should stay in touch more often. If President Jiang has any more business, he’ll think of looking after you."

Chai Zijie’s words came across as genuinely sincere.

By Jiang Tao looking after Yuan Mengqi’s business, Chai Zijie could gain some benefits too.

"Alright, I’ll call you Jiang Tao then. To be honest, calling you President Jiang does feel a bit awkward for me as well."

Yuan Mengqi smiled and naturally accepted Jiang Tao’s suggestion.

Old classmates reuniting after a long time, Jiang Tao had helped her a great deal.

Besides gratitude, Yuan Mengqi felt a new sense of closeness to Jiang Tao that wasn’t there before.

Though they had been classmates for several years, their relationship had been limited to that.

In truth, during their school days, they were just ordinary classmates without much interaction.

This time, Jiang Tao went out of his way to lend Yuan Mengqi 300,000 yuan, resolving an urgent matter regarding her mother’s medical treatment.

Their lives intersected as a result, or rather, their fates became intertwined.

At least... that’s how Yuan Mengqi saw it.

Jiang Tao’s help meant so much to her family, she would never forget it and would be grateful to him for her entire life.

While feeling thankful, she also elevated his status to her best friend in her heart.

Of course, it wasn’t because Jiang Tao had become wealthy and successful that she wanted to connect with him and form ties.

Though those things were indeed true.

But she genuinely hadn’t thought of extracting any further benefits from him.

Now, she only wanted to work hard, make more money, and repay the 300,000 yuan Jiang Tao had lent her as soon as possible.

The meal started around noon and went on until about 1:30 in the afternoon.

Chai Zijie insisted on paying the bill, and the three of them walked out of the restaurant together.

"President Chai, you head back first. I’d like to chat with Mengqi alone."

After stepping out, Jiang Tao turned to Chai Zijie with a smile and said.

"Sure! You old classmates have a great chat."

Chai Zijie responded cheerfully, then turned to Yuan Mengqi and said:

"Mengqi, you don’t have to go to the store this afternoon, just focus on keeping President Jiang company."

"Ahem, alright, President Chai."

Yuan Mengqi felt a bit embarrassed as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

Why did President Chai’s words sound so easily misconstrued!

Chai Zijie laughed and waved his hand:

"President Jiang, I’ll head back now. If you need anything, just give me or Mengqi a call."

"Sure, thanks for the lunch, President Chai. Goodbye."

Jiang Tao waved goodbye to Chai Zijie, watching him walk toward the direction of Yicheng Real Estate.

"What do you want to talk to me about alone?"

After Chai Zijie left, Yuan Mengqi looked at Jiang Tao curiously, a questioning look on her face.

"Let’s talk in my car, it’s more suitable there."

Jiang Tao said as he turned and headed toward his nearby parked Mercedes G-Class.

"Talk in the car?"

Yuan Mengqi watched Jiang Tao’s confident stride away, her expression slightly taken aback.

"Come on, what are you thinking standing there? Afraid I’ll eat you up in the car?"

Noticing the lack of movement behind him, Jiang Tao turned to see Yuan Mengqi still standing there, and jokingly remarked.

"Ahem, who’s afraid? Not me."

Hearing Jiang Tao’s words, Yuan Mengqi blushed, brushed her hair with her hand, and quickly followed him into the car.

Bam!

Bam!

The car doors closed, and Jiang Tao first cracked open the window slightly before lighting a cigarette.

Then he turned to Yuan Mengqi sitting in the passenger seat and spoke:

"Yuan Mengqi, are you aware of your ex-husband Liu Gang winning ten million?"