Chapter 11: A Fresh Intelligence Update—the Secondhand Sofa Hiding a Secret Stash! (Please keep reading!)

At the entrance of Xiaoshahe Village, inside a cargo truck.

Jiang Tao was calculating on his phone.

This morning at Pang Dongdong Supermarket, he had spent a total of 4,497 yuan.

He received a transfer of 5,250 yuan from Yu Dongdong, plus 2,400 yuan from the landlord, making a total of 7,650 yuan.

7,650 minus 4,497 equals 3,153!

He had earned over three thousand yuan just this morning!

Though not as much as yesterday’s watch sale, it was still quite good.

After finishing the calculations, he happily lit a cigarette.

Only then did Jiang Tao start the truck and head straight to the Red Star Secondhand Furniture Market.

At exactly 9 a.m., Jiang Tao parked the truck at the market entrance, quietly waiting for customers like a patient angler.

In the past, whenever he came to the furniture market, a wave of anxiety would wash over him.

Would business be good today? How much could he earn?

He was so desperate for money that money was all he thought about, and all he could see.

When business was good and earnings were high, he felt joyful and excited.

When business was bad and earnings low, anxiety gnawed at him, draining his energy.

Every time his phone rang, he worried it might be a debt collector calling.

But with a solid 3,000 yuan earned this morning as a base, Jiang Tao felt much more relaxed.

The world seemed clearer, and his breathing easier.

They say joy brings vitality—this must be exactly how Jiang Tao felt now.

“Boss, how much to haul a few beds over to Baigezhuang New Village?”

Jiang Tao hadn’t even finished his cigarette when work came knocking.

After some bargaining, he settled on 70 yuan.

Jiang Tao got in the truck, started the engine, and followed the customer into the wholesale market to start his day’s work.

Overall, luck was on his side today.

He completed three jobs in the morning, earning 230 yuan.

Lunch was a simple stir-fried pancake at a small restaurant near the wholesale market for just 10 yuan.

He rested in the truck for about an hour at noon, then took on four more jobs in the afternoon, making 300 yuan.

By day’s end, he earned a total of 530 yuan; after deducting fuel costs, his net profit was at least 400 yuan.

At 6 p.m., as dusk settled, the market closed, ending the day’s business.

Jiang Tao packed up and drove home.

Dinner was homemade tomato and egg noodles.

Three yuan for the noodles, four yuan for the tomatoes, plus two eggs.

Less than ten yuan for a full, hearty meal.

After eating his fill, sipping a little wine with some peanuts, life felt surprisingly pleasant.

“What kind of intel will come tomorrow? More money-making tips would be great!”

As he sipped his wine, Jiang Tao opened the intelligence system with hopeful eyes.

[Next intelligence update in 5 hours 27 minutes, please wait patiently…]

His phone rang—his wife, Xu Li, was calling on video. With a tap, he answered.

The screen flickered, revealing Xu Li’s figure.

Today she wore a light gray dress, tall and slender, radiating elegance.

Even after many years of marriage, Jiang Tao still felt a certain thrill seeing his wife in beautiful clothes.

“Oh wow, whose wife is this? She’s stunning!”

“What good is beauty if no one uses it?”

“Ha! If you want to use it every day, bring our daughter to stay in Beijing for a few days.”

“Tch, no way I’d stay in your doghouse, sleeping on your floor.”

“If you two come, you won’t stay in my doghouse. We’ll rent a place in a community.”

“If we had that kind of money, better to save it for new clothes for you and Xiaoxue for the New Year! By the way, honey, did you sell the phone?”

“Yes, sold it for 4,000.”

While speaking, Jiang Tao transferred 4,000 yuan to Xu Li via WeChat.

Of course, this wasn’t money from selling the phone, but from selling watches and wine.

He planned to keep the iPhone 15 he won from the iced tea lottery as a New Year gift for Xu Li.

“I saw brand new ones on JD.com for over 4,300 yuan, so you lost over 300 yuan!”

Xu Li’s face showed genuine pain—300 yuan could buy milk for their daughter for two months.

“Be grateful you got this price. If it wasn’t a good deal, why would anyone buy from us? They’d just buy online themselves.”

“True! Honey, I have something to tell you.”

“Go ahead.”

“My mom sent me 20,000 yuan today for emergencies.”

“Adding that to what you gave me before and the recent 4,000, I have about 30,000 yuan in hand now.”

“If anyone comes asking for debt, we’ll negotiate, pay some now, and clear the rest next year.”

“Don’t put so much pressure on yourself. Money can be earned and repaid slowly. Health always comes first.”

“The two of us are waiting to live a good life with you. Please take good care of yourself.”

Listening to Xu Li’s gentle words, Jiang Tao was deeply moved.

To have a wife willing to share both hardships and joys, so understanding—he felt truly blessed.

“Don’t worry, dear. Our good days aren’t far off. You and our daughter just wait and enjoy the life ahead!”

Jiang Tao’s eyes rested on the brilliant blue virtual panel before him.

He could almost see the happy days ahead for their little family.

The couple chatted for nearly an hour before hanging up.

Jiang Tao, full and content, washed up quickly and crawled into bed to listen to an audiobook.

A few years ago, he often went out wandering—sometimes ending up near the foot massage street.

But as he aged, life grew simpler, and he learned to embrace solitude.

Seeing the time on his phone read 12:01 a.m., Jiang Tao paused the audiobook and closed the app.

“May the God of Wealth bless me with another money-making tip!”

“Money, money, money! Important things said three times!”

Rubbing his hands and bowing to the air, he then reopened the intelligence system.

[Today’s intelligence]: While working at Red Star Secondhand Furniture Market today, you obtained the following tip—

A secondhand single sofa sold by merchant B25 contains someone’s hidden stash of 29,800 yuan!

“Someone’s 29,800 yuan secret stash!”

Jiang Tao was instantly thrilled upon reading the latest update.

Who hides a secret stash inside a sofa?

And it’s been sold to a secondhand furniture market!

“Thank you, God of Wealth! You’re my true ancestor!”

Seeing such a money-related tip made Jiang Tao’s heart race with excitement.

This was intelligence worth 29,800 yuan!

Moreover, the cost was much lower than the three bottles of wine he won earlier today.

Thus, the value for money was even higher!

If he could successfully acquire that “treasure sofa” hiding the secret stash,

He would make almost as much in one day as he had in three hard months!

“Sleep, sleep, rest well—I have to get that sofa tomorrow!”

After the excitement, Jiang Tao hurried into bed.

But as soon as he closed his eyes, his mind was filled with visions of the sofa and stacks of red bills, making sleep impossible.