Chapter 101: The Web of Connections

"You’ve got another client," Wang Jianfa said with a hint of envy and a touch of disappointment as soon as Zhang Wei hung up his phone.

Just a month ago, Zhang Wei was as anxious as Wang Jianfa about securing deals; they were comrades in adversity, both fretting over the lack of contracts. Yet, in the span of a single month, Zhang Wei had closed three deals in succession, amassed a fortune, and now drove a luxury BMW. He was, in every sense, a success story.

In stark contrast, Wang Jianfa still struggled on the edge of subsistence. He hadn’t sold a villa like Zhang Wei—in fact, he hadn’t even managed to rent out a single apartment this month. The gap between them was as wide as heaven and earth.

Wang Jianfa had always envied the wealthy, but since he didn’t know them personally, the disparity never felt so acute. Zhang Wei, however, was a familiar friend—a transformation from poverty to prosperity that Wang Jianfa had witnessed firsthand. It was impossible not to feel envy and jealousy.

"Yeah, I just picked up a new client—looking for a two-bedroom duplex, high floor, around three million. If you find any suitable properties, let me know," Zhang Wei said.

Zhang Wei asked Wang Jianfa to help him search for properties, not only to close the deal but also to share the commission. Zhang Wei deeply understood the frustration of not signing contracts; if he didn’t give Wang Jianfa a hand, his friend might not withstand the pressure and would leave the business altogether.

They had joined the company almost at the same time, and as newcomers, naturally grew close. They were of similar age and temperament, so they were nearly inseparable—exploring listings together, familiarizing themselves with the neighborhood and buildings, eating meals, bringing clients around, and discussing strategies for receiving customers. Zhang Wei had survived those two months without a single deal largely thanks to Wang Jianfa’s encouragement and help; otherwise, he might have already left the real estate industry.

"Jianfa, let’s have dinner together tonight," Zhang Wei suggested.

"Is something up? Or are you closing another deal this afternoon?" Wang Jianfa asked, puzzled.

"Can’t I invite you for dinner just because? Honestly," Zhang Wei said. He wanted to boost Wang Jianfa’s morale, encourage him not to leave the industry, but with so many colleagues around, he couldn’t say so directly.

"Forget it. I spend more time with you than my wife. After work, I need to go home and be with her. What’s the point of eating dinner with a bachelor like you?" Wang Jianfa waved him off, feigning reluctance. He always had lunch with Zhang Wei, so dinner was naturally reserved for his wife.

"Why not bring your wife along? It’s been ages since we last got together," Zhang Wei replied.

"Alright, you’re the big shot now. Let’s take the chance to enjoy a proper meal," Wang Jianfa agreed, sensing that Zhang Wei’s invitation was more than just dinner—there must be something he wanted to discuss. Otherwise, he wouldn’t insist, so Wang Jianfa accepted without further ado.

With dinner plans settled, Zhang Wei began searching for two-bedroom duplex listings on the RealEstateMate system. He valued this client greatly—not just for the commission, but also for the opportunity to build a good relationship.

In real estate, one’s social circle is broad; you need to know people from all walks of life. Without strong allies, you can’t thrive. If Zhang Wei could connect with the Deputy Director of the Capital District, he’d never have to worry about troublemakers.

Take Zhang Wei’s conflict with Wang Zhen, for example. Even though Zhang Wei knew Wang Zhen had hit him, there was nothing he could do openly. He could only use covert tricks—like mind reading—because Wang Zhen’s uncle was a public security bureau leader.

If Zhang Wei maintained a good relationship with the Deputy Director, any dispute with Wang Zhen would be a contest between equals; Wang Zhen’s uncle wouldn’t dare act recklessly out of respect for the Deputy Director.

Moreover, as Zhang Wei advanced in his career, the stakes grew higher. With greater profits at play, competitors would multiply. Having a friend in the public security system was essential.

Zhang Wei was determined to close this deal and become friends with the client. Only by continually expanding his network could his career flourish.

Duplex apartments feature two levels: the first floor opens into a spacious living room, and bedrooms are usually upstairs. This unique layout appeals to many young buyers.

Zhang Wei went through all the two-bedroom duplex listings in RealEstateMate, selecting several that met the criteria and were priced on the lower end. To ensure accuracy, he called each property owner to confirm the details.

Though these tasks seemed simple, they consumed a lot of time. Immersed in his work, Zhang Wei lost track of time; aside from lunch, he hadn’t even paused for a sip of water.

Just as Zhang Wei was about to finish verifying the property information, someone tapped on his desk. He looked up to find Fang Wenjun standing there, reluctantly setting down his phone. "Did you need something?" he asked.

"It’s past four o’clock. Don’t tell me you forgot about the client appointment," Fang Wenjun said, her arched brows lifting as she saw Zhang Wei’s blank expression.

"Oh, how could I forget? I was just about to call the client," Zhang Wei replied, suddenly remembering the client looking to rent a three-bedroom apartment, quickly denying any oversight.

"By the way, you’ve found a few rental listings, haven’t you? Tell me about them now, so I’ll have a better idea when showing the client later," Zhang Wei asked.

"You’ve been making calls all day. How many properties did you find?" Fang Wenjun glanced at Zhang Wei’s notebook and countered.

At first, Fang Wenjun thought Zhang Wei was verifying rental listings for three-bedroom apartments and was impressed with him. But as she overheard his calls, she realized something was off. Soon, she understood he was checking two-bedroom duplexes for sale, not rental properties.

Though it bothered her, Fang Wenjun kept it to herself. Their division of labor was clear—she found properties, he contacted clients. Swallowing her dissatisfaction, she continued searching for three-bedroom rentals.

But when it was past four o’clock and Zhang Wei was still focused on duplex listings, clearly neglecting the rental client, Fang Wenjun approached him to inquire.

"I’ve already verified a pretty good listing," Zhang Wei said with a smile.

"You don’t mean Building Six, Room 1012, do you?" Fang Wenjun pursed her lips.

"Yes, that’s the one. Not bad, right?" Zhang Wei’s smile grew a bit stiff as Fang Wenjun immediately guessed the property.

"That listing was entered by me two days ago in RealEstateMate, and I’ve been following up ever since. Don’t you think I’d know it inside out?" Fang Wenjun’s large eyes glared at Zhang Wei, her pretty face taut, her tone tinged with displeasure.

"Is that so? I was so focused on verifying listings that I didn’t check whose name the property was under," Zhang Wei replied, embarrassed.

"Forget it. Just contact the client already," Fang Wenjun said, biting her lip and forcing herself to swallow her anger, her expression resigned.

Fang Wenjun felt frustrated—the rental client was supposed to be shared between them, and any commission would be split. Yet she was the only one working hard, while Zhang Wei simply enjoyed the fruits of her labor. It felt unfair.

What irritated her most was that Zhang Wei showed no guilt, instead using the listing she had found to gloss over his responsibilities. At best, he was selfish; at worst, a parasite.

But since they weren’t close and weren’t on the same team, Fang Wenjun didn’t feel comfortable confronting him. If he were a teammate, she would never have tolerated it.

"Busy all afternoon—I nearly forgot to call the rental client," Zhang Wei thought to himself, forcing a bitter smile. Though he had insisted otherwise, had Fang Wenjun not reminded him, he really would have forgotten.

He checked his watch—it was already a quarter past four. It was indeed time to call the client. Picking up his phone, he found Miss Li’s number, the client looking to rent a three-bedroom apartment, and dialed.