Chapter Eighty-Nine: The Curtain Falls

At the readers’ request, I’m giving a little burst of updates today: three chapters.

“Zhang Wei? How can it be you? You really won first prize.” Wu Yong stared at Zhang Wei as he stepped onto the stage, his face full of shock.

“Whether it’s true or not, President Wu can see for himself.” Under the gaze of the many customers, Zhang Wei took the first-prize ticket from his pocket and handed it to Wu Yong.

Wu Yong took the ticket and did not even need to look closely to know it was genuine, since a sticky trace of glue still clung to it. Yet, for the sake of appearances before the customers below the stage, he still examined the ticket in his hand. The number and the design were both authentic.

“Very good. This is indeed the first-prize ticket. Congratulations to Mr. Zhang for winning the BMW grand prize.” Wu Yong forced out a smile, doing his utmost to make his expression appear as natural as possible.

The moment he said this, another wave of uproar swept through the crowd. Every customer present had taken part in the lottery; one might say that a car worth over a million yuan had slipped through their fingers. No matter who it was, there would be a trace of envy and regret in their hearts.

“This... how is that possible? He actually won first prize.” Zhang Qi cried out, covering her red lips with her hand, her face filled with disbelief.

“Ah... this kid is unbelievably lucky. I thought he was joking with me just now. I never expected it to be true.” Yang Guang stared blankly at Zhang Wei on the stage, his mouth gaping wide enough to swallow a steamed bun whole.

Yang Guang had stayed at the BMW dealership for so long not only because he needed the job, but also because he liked BMWs. He had always hoped that one day, with his own ability, he would be able to buy one himself.

If Zhang Wei had bought the BMW with his own money, Yang Guang might only have felt envy and worked harder to earn money for a car. But now that Zhang Wei had truly won a BMW 730 through the lottery, Yang Guang could not help feeling a little jealous.

Everyone there envied Zhang Wei’s luck, but only Zhang Wei himself knew that his luck was no better than anyone else’s. He merely possessed mind-reading—that was his greatest reliance.

“Dear customers, tomorrow we will handle the paperwork for this gentleman’s new car, and at two in the afternoon the BMW 730 will officially be handed over to him. Any interested customers are welcome to come and witness the ceremony.” Wu Yong said through gritted teeth, his smile strained.

Ordinarily, after someone won a grand prize in a lottery event, the dealership would seize the opportunity to promote it and create a sensation, thereby boosting its reputation. But Wu Yong was still sunk in the gloom of losing such an expensive car, and he had no desire to stand on stage with Zhang Wei any longer.

After Wu Yong finished speaking, the lottery event was officially over. The customers present all felt it ended somewhat abruptly. Since someone had won a car worth over a million yuan, the least they could have done was place a big red flower on the winner and have him say a few words of acceptance. Yet the dealership’s organizers brought the event to a hasty close.

After losing a luxury car worth over a million, Wu Yong truly had no mind to let Zhang Wei make any acceptance speech. No matter what Zhang Wei said now, it would feel like one more thorn stabbing into his heart. Anyone facing such a situation would find it impossible to steady their emotions in so short a time.

As the store manager, Zhang Qi should have stepped forward to主持 the event, but Wu Yong had told her in advance not to prepare any ceremony for the first prize, because no one would be winning it anyway.

Although Zhang Qi did not know why, she could not inquire too deeply about such a matter. She followed Wu Yong’s instructions and prepared nothing for the first-prize celebration. So now, with Zhang Wei having unexpectedly won the grand prize, she was also caught off guard. Not to mention the red flower, there wasn’t even a congratulatory speech from the host.

Once the crowd dispersed, Zhang Wei stepped down from the stage as well. Yang Guang hurried over to his side in a small run, slapped him hard on the shoulder, and said, “Well done, you little rascal. You won the grand prize and still kept me in the dark.”

“How can you blame me? You were the one who said that unless it was second or third prize, I didn’t need to tell you.” Zhang Wei laughed.

“Zhang Wei, congratulations.” Just as Zhang Wei and Yang Guang were talking, Zhang Qi came over and said expressionlessly.

“Your calm face doesn’t look much like congratulations to me. What, did it hurt to see me win the grand prize?” Zhang Wei teased.

“What would I be hurt about? I’m not the boss here.” Zhang Qi shot him a glare, her delicate nose wrinkling slightly.

“Well, that settles it. Your cousin has won the grand prize, so you ought to be happy.” Zhang Wei smiled, squinting slightly. “Anyway, it’s already noon. I’ll treat you and President Wu to a meal as a celebration. How about it?”

“No need. We have another batch of big clients coming at noon, and President Wu and I still have to receive them.” Zhang Qi brushed him off casually.

Zhang Qi could not say whether Zhang Wei winning the BMW 730 made her happy or annoyed. In any case, it had little to do with her. But Wu Yong surely hated Zhang Wei to the core. Considering that Zhang Wei was her relative, she could only deal with the matter in a detached manner.

“Tsk, what a pity. Since you both are busy, we’ll have to wait for another day.” Zhang Wei shook his head, his face full of regret.

“Tomorrow we’ll handle the procedures for your new car and the insurance, but we’ll need your relevant documents.” Zhang Qi adopted a businesslike demeanor.

“Sure. I’ve brought all the documents with me. They’re in this bag.” Zhang Wei handed her a kraft paper bag he had been carrying.

“All right. If everything is in order, you can come pick up the car at two tomorrow afternoon.” Zhang Qi glanced through the documents in the paper bag, found nothing missing, and nodded.

“Then I won’t disturb you any longer. Farewell.” Zhang Wei was not the sort to gloat after getting the better end of a bargain. He knew Wu Yong did not welcome him, and he did not want to remain here as an irritation to others.

“There are two more things I need to tell you. First, according to national law, lottery winnings count as occasional income, so twenty percent personal income tax must be paid. When you come the day after tomorrow, you must bring two hundred thousand yuan, otherwise the car still cannot be handed over to you.” Zhang Qi said.

“Fine, no problem.” Zhang Wei was briefly stunned, then remembered that such a rule did indeed exist. Though somewhat helpless, in order to get a car worth a million yuan, he could only agree.

“The other thing is that we hope you can cooperate with our publicity on the day you pick up the car.” Zhang Qi continued.

“I can’t agree to that condition.” Zhang Wei shook his head.

“You only need to stand in front of the BMW and take a photo. It’s just publicity for our dealership, and it won’t take you long.” Zhang Qi frowned. She was doing this to improve the dealership’s reputation and, as much as possible, recover some of the losses caused by the lottery.

“That won’t do. What if you publish my photo in the newspaper? Who would I go to in order to clear my name?” Zhang Wei refused.

“Our dealership has paid such a huge price, and you still won’t cooperate with a bit of publicity?” Zhang Qi said with some displeasure.

“When we held the lottery, nobody said anything about me being responsible for publicity. If you had stated it beforehand, I certainly would cooperate. But now it’s impossible.” Zhang Wei said firmly.

Zhang Qi fell silent for a moment. Though she was quite unwilling, since nobody had expected anyone to win first prize, they truly had not told the customers in advance that they would need to help with publicity. So now she really could not make such a demand of Zhang Wei.

“Anything else? If not, I’m leaving.” Zhang Wei asked.

“Then go ahead. We just held the event, and there are quite a few customers in the store, so I won’t see you off.” After saying this, Zhang Qi gave Yang Guang an instruction: “Yang Guang, see Zhang Wei out for me.”

“Manager Zhang, rest assured.” Yang Guang forced a smile onto his round face and chuckled. Even if Zhang Qi had not asked, he would have done the same.

After Zhang Wei and Yang Guang left the showroom together, Zhang Wei put an arm around Yang Guang’s shoulder and said, “It’s been a long time since the two of us had a proper get-together. Since it’s already noon, let’s go get something to eat.”

“You have to treat me, of course. If I hadn’t dragged you to the BMW dealership, would you have won this grand prize?” Yang Guang lifted his chin and thumped his chest. Then, as if remembering something, he changed his tone and said, “But not today. We get along so well, and besides, you were brought here by me. If I went out to celebrate with you, Wu Yong would hate me to death.”

“That’s true enough. After all, you still have to make a living under him, so let’s wait for another chance.” Zhang Wei had always worked outside as well, and naturally understood that some things were beyond one’s control. He would not force the issue.

“Zhang Wei, you’re doing pretty well now. Why don’t you think about helping me out too? Otherwise, I might as well follow you and sell houses.” Yang Guang said earnestly, without the least hint of joking.

This was the second time Yang Guang had brought up this topic. He was also a young man with dreams, and he did not want to be trapped in this city for the rest of his life. Yet in the big cities he knew almost no one, and Zhang Wei was his only good friend in the capital.

“Give me a little more time. There will be a chance.” Zhang Wei’s words carried a note of ambition. If, on this trip to the capital, he could become a store manager, he would surely recruit people and make a serious move. Yang Guang was undoubtedly the best choice.