Stronger by Paying Salaries and I Have 1 Billion Employees

Chunshen, in front of the National Guest Bookstore.

Chen Guobin was carrying a bucket of water, a car-wash towel draped over his shoulder. He circled a black BMW X5, working up a sweat.

”Brother Bin, you’re driving a BMW worth over two million, and you’re still washing it yourself?”

Wang the Bald from the photo studio next door chimed in, cracking open sunflower seeds as he spoke with a teasing smile.

”My son bought the car, but I have to pay to wash it. Gotta save where you should and spend where you must.”

Chen Guobin replied loudly, a smile on his face.

”Brother Bin, no offense, but what are you saving money for? To buy a house and find a wife for Xiaosen? Does he even need that?”

Wang the Bald pressed on with a chuckle.

’Buy a house and find a wife for Xiaosen?’

Chen Guobin froze at the words, his hands stopping their motion. A strange wave of negativity washed over him.

’It’s not always a good thing when your son is too successful. He’d earned tens of billions of US dollars in two years. The few hundred thousand in his own bank account wasn’t even enough for Chen Yansen to buy two wheels for his car.’

Lao Chen swallowed hard with a GULP, but the saliva went down the wrong pipe. He started coughing violently, his face flushing red.

Seeing this, Wang the Bald hurried over to pat his back, asking in confusion, ”What’s wrong? Why so worked up?”

Over the past year, owners of agricultural processing plants from all over the area had started treating Chen Guobin like a ’Grand Emperor’. They would come by every few days to curry favor, bringing gifts of tea, cigarettes, rice, or rapeseed oil.

During holidays, the fruit farmers from Beishan would deliver crates of crisp pears, grapes, yellow apricots, and honey peaches.

And you couldn’t refuse them!

They’d drop the stuff and run!

Since Chen Guobin didn’t know how to cook and couldn’t possibly eat it all himself, he would share the gifts with the neighboring shopkeepers.

This was the main reason Wang the Bald was so quick to call him ’Brother Bin’. It was worth noting he used to just call Chen Guobin ’Lao Chen’.

”It’s nothing, it’s nothing. Just choked a bit,” Chen Guobin said, catching his breath and waving his hand dismissively.

But he soon fell back into a daze.

Chen Yansen had always been his greatest motivation. When his son was little, he had to earn money for milk powder. When his son was in school, he had to earn money for tuition. After his son started high school, he had to save up for a house.

In this life, besides Liang Hui Zhen, his son was his only purpose.

But with Wang the Bald’s reminder, Lao Chen suddenly realized: Chen Yansen didn’t need him anymore.

It seemed there was no point in him minding this bookstore any longer.

At that moment, Chen Guobin’s mind was filled with the image of a young woman in a linen dress, her smile as beautiful as a blooming flower.

”Chen Guobin, we’re married!”

”Brother Bin, I’m pregnant. I’m scared, what should I do?”

”Let’s name our son Chen Yansen. It’s catchy and has a nice meaning.”

”Brother Bin, save me...”

As the memories flooded his mind, two streams of clear tears rolled down from Lao Chen’s eyes.

’Hui Zhen!’

Chen Guobin raised his arm and wiped away the tears. His lips turned down unconsciously before he let out a long sigh, forcefully suppressing the deep sorrow within him.

In that instant, Lao Chen lost all desire to continue washing the car.

He packed up his things, pulled down the bookstore’s rolling metal gate, and drove off toward the Salt Industry Company’s residential complex.

”Brother Bin, closing up shop?” Wang the Bald called out, his face full of confusion.

After returning home, Chen Guobin picked up Liang Hui Zhen’s photo frame, packed a few changes of clothes, and walked out the door. He got in his car and sped onto the highway.

「Elsewhere.」

Having received the news, Tang Lixin’s brow furrowed tightly when he learned Chen Guobin had ’run off’. He was terrified Chen Guobin might leave and never come back, and his heart began to pound.

”Boss, should I give Mr. Chen a call?” his assistant, Zhao Siyuan, suggested from the side.

”Alright. And no matter where he’s going, have the Inspection Institute send someone to follow him. Safety first.”

Tang Lixin looked tense, showing a level of concern for Chen Guobin that even surpassed what he showed for his own father.

Zhao Siyuan quickly took out his phone and dialed Chen Guobin’s number.

”BEEP... BEEP... BEEP...”

The continuous beeping for over ten seconds made Tang Lixin extremely agitated.