26. Brothers, Forever in Our Hearts

"Youcai, my uncle is lending me 700,000, so let's just count that money as your investment. You two go ahead to Hangzhou to start the preparations, and I’ll join you once I'm finished here."

Chen Ze planned to use 2 million to get things started, which was enough for the initial phase. Pinduoduo didn't need much advertising to go viral right now; it all depended on the marketing strategy.

He outlined the general plan to the two, suggesting they bring Zhang Liang along as well, as he felt more concerned about him. After all, working in express delivery for a lifetime wouldn't earn much, and waiting for a brother to hand out an apartment was less reliable than earning the money yourself.

"Don't do that."

After Chen Ze finished explaining the distribution, Guo Jinglin immediately interrupted. Without much pause, he added, "That's not how you do the math."

To be honest, Guo Jinglin only half-understood the talk about coffee; he just felt there was potential but couldn't quite articulate why. However, the e-commerce side of things was easy to grasp, and listening to it made his blood boil. No rich kid doesn't want to achieve something on their own, and Youcai was no exception—he had his own dreams too.

After interrupting Chen Ze, who was about to continue, Guo Jinglin’s tense little face relaxed as he held up one finger.

"Keep that 700,000 for yourself. I'll get another million from my dad when I go back. Let's put 3 million into this to make it more secure. And I only want 30%, how about that?"

He could have asked for more, but after hearing everything Chen Ze said... even though he didn't understand how his friend's business acumen had become so sharp after a week of not seeing him, Chen Ze had clearly changed. He wasn't just talkative; there was a sense of confidence about him that felt entirely unfeigned.

His old man used to say that in society, choices matter more than effort, and a good friend is worth more than grinding away at your studies. These were things you couldn't just stumble upon. In his heart, he had always known Chen Ze was a smart guy. They had both studied abroad, but Chen Ze had actually passed the entrance exams, whereas he had spent millions extra. Though they were both in the United States, there was still quite a distance between New York and Boston.

Chen Ze’s sudden change could only mean he had been hiding his true self all along. As his father once said, when a person starts to change, it’s a sign that success is coming. You should befriend people who are on their way up, and save the reminiscing and small talk for those who aren't.

Guo Jinglin still remembered his father saying: when you feel you aren't as good as someone, put away your petty schemes in front of them. Guo Jinglin now felt he was indeed inferior to Chen Ze, especially in entrepreneurship and e-commerce. He was still a novice; honestly, he didn't even know where to start. Letting go of those shares was just like paying for experience. His dad said the most harmful things are greed and stupidity. That was a no-go.

"That works."

In Chen Ze’s mind, Guo Jinglin had always been a sensible person, so he wasn't surprised. He nodded and proposed, "Youcai, you take 35%, and Liangzi, you take 5%. I'm only providing the ideas; it’s up to you guys to hustle."

He had verified the character and capabilities of Guo Jinglin and Zhang Liang in his previous life, so he was confident. What he said was the truth: he couldn't possibly be in charge of the e-commerce side himself; he was tired of that. If he were to start a business, it would be something he actually wanted to do. In the future, the e-commerce side would mainly be run, managed, and overseen by Guo Jinglin and the other.

"Fine, I have no problem with that."

Guo Jinglin glanced at the stunned Zhang Liang, leaned back in his seat, and nodded, full of drive. Chen Ze met his gaze, reached out a fist, and said to the two of them, "Youcai, Liangzi, let's give it our all."

After being reborn, Chen Ze didn't have much bitterness left; he wasn't interested in revenge. He was magnanimous, but he was also holding onto a drive. Because suffering doesn't buy a Maybach. This society always mocks the poor and never the prostitute; uncultured poor people have to act like servants to get ahead. Chen Ze had experienced that feeling before. That was why he knew better than anyone how valuable a head start as a rich kid was, and he absolutely would not allow himself to return to a point where he had to read people's faces just to get a drink.

Believe in yourself; you are excellent.

...

"Liangzi, quit your job later and go develop in the south with Youcai."

Around 9:30, the three decided to head to the next spot. Chen Ze needed to vent as well. A business KTV? A bathhouse? A nightclub? Guo Jinglin chose the latter and offered to pay. Chen Ze didn't mind and took Zhang Liang to settle the bill first.

On the way, Zhang Liang was already half-drunk and nodded toward Chen Ze, who looked as if nothing had happened. Chen Ze knew that everything was moving a bit too fast for Zhang Liang, who had always taken things one step at a time.

"I'm transferring 20,000 to you to spend. Work hard over there, don't have any mental burdens or worries. Learn more, watch more, and think further ahead."

Chen Ze transferred the money immediately. He knew Zhang Liang's personality, and after finishing, he patted his shoulder with a smile and added, "Pay me back when you've earned your own money. As long as you listen and work hard, 20,000 will be your monthly salary in the future."

Zhang Liang had many questions, like why him? He felt he wasn't anything special. Chen Ze had many friends, and he was nothing among them. But Chen Ze seemed to know him well, hitting every note in his heart. Zhang Liang felt a lump in his throat: "I know, brother. Don't worry."

"Being brothers is about what's in the heart. If you can't feel it, a thousand words from me are useless. When you're out there, remember not to listen to what people say, but to watch what they do."

Chen Ze didn't coddle him further. This was a step he had to take in life, and he needed to figure it out himself. Zhang Liang was steady, hardworking, and loyal, though he lacked ability in sales. But moving goods and learning shop operations... more importantly, Chen Ze needed his own person there. Even though he wasn't the main person in charge of e-commerce, he had to have his own eyes on the ground.

People change. Sometimes, restrictive relationships are important. In his past life, he and Guo Jinglin were friends because there were no conflicts of interest, but who could say for this life? Zhang Liang was clearly more reliable than Guo Jinglin. He held Zhang Liang's lifeline, while he could only bind Guo Jinglin through temptation. Even though he told himself that being excellent meant not fearing betrayal, going solo was too common in the e-commerce industry.

Hadn't Chen Ze gone solo with friends back then? If he had just worked for others, he wouldn't even have been able to afford a Cadillac. If Guo Jinglin wanted to split up later, Zhang Liang could ensure he continued to rake in the money in e-commerce. You don't have to use your contingency plan, but you must have one.

...

The car arrived. The three took an Audi A6 to the Heping District. The night view from the window was beautiful, with the sea and the glittering light. The Haihe River was the mother river of Tianjin, passing through the city center; it looked stunning under the night lights. There were many bars on the Italian Style Street in the city center, but the three headed to Heping Road across from it.

"Youcai, look at the girls, look at the girls."

As they arrived at the bar entrance, it was nearly 11:00 PM, the liveliest time of the day for the bar. Guo Jinglin nudged Chen Ze. The entrance of a bar in summer was truly a feast for the eyes. As young people, they naturally chose a club, a place where you could dance and pick up girls.

"Yeah, I'm not blind."

Chen Ze was annoyed by Guo Jinglin's nudging. He clicked his tongue, feeling reluctant to walk with him. This unfortunate kid—it’s just women! It’s just miniskirts, hot pants, black stockings, white socks, and bodysuits—is it really that big of a deal?

Compared to other parts of the country, Tianjin didn't have the reputation for having beauties everywhere like Jiangnan or Sichuan-Chongqing. But as a first-tier city, there were still plenty of pretty girls, especially