Chapter 129: Quietly Making a Fortune (Requesting Subscriptions)

There is no such thing as an airtight wall, and news of the Su family’s investment in the supermarket eventually leaked out.

People looked on with envy; with a constant stream of customers visible to all, profit was a certainty. In such a short time, they had already opened a second supermarket, even expanding into downtown Los Angeles—no matter how you looked at it, they were clearly doing well for themselves.

They did not know how many shares the Su family held. In their conversations, they guessed it was likely a tiny amount, perhaps just a few percent. Being neighbors, everyone knew everyone else’s circumstances; the Su family had a little money, but they assumed it couldn’t be much, so they couldn't have put up a large investment.

When someone asked old Mr. Su, the old man remained tight-lipped, saying only that they held a small portion. This only confirmed their suspicions; they subconsciously felt he was just embarrassed to admit how little it was.

The truth was exactly the opposite. Old Mr. Su was worried that revealing too much would affect their relationship with the neighbors. Suddenly becoming wealthy, even among old friends, would inevitably stir up jealousy. There was no need to show off. He might not have been a genius, but he possessed high emotional intelligence, particularly in the art of "getting rich quietly." It was a philosophy of self-preservation learned through the trials of life, reflected in every aspect of his existence.

Recently, some had hoped to use Su Mu’s grandfather and parents to get their children jobs at Qu-Gou Supermarket. Since their relationship with Mr. Han, the boss, was only average, they couldn't just insert people into the company. Once that door was opened, more people would surely come knocking for work, so they politely declined. Kindness is rarely remembered, but small grudges linger, and in the end, they were left with no one pleased. Rumors began to circulate that they had become arrogant after making a little money. Old Mr. Su knew exactly who had started those whispers.

Seeing his grandfather praising him, Su Mu did not interrupt. Having grown accustomed to the quiet, comfortable life of an affluent neighborhood, walking through Chinatown felt jarring. Everything felt alien yet familiar: the trash everywhere, the stench from the sewers, the loud shouting, people jaywalking, and drivers who refused to yield.

Row upon row of dilapidated houses, dirty children in second-hand clothes—even though they lived on the same land, compared to Menlo Park, it felt like a different world. Someone drove past the alleyway in an old Mustang, the engine roaring. Su Mu had once longed for such a car, but now it meant little to him. If he gritted his teeth, buying a standard Ferrari wouldn't be difficult; it was just a few days' worth of company profits.

They say the view is better from the top, and he found that to be true. The perks of being wealthy were indescribable. If he didn't know that his Jaguar was parked just a short distance away, it would have felt like a dream. The shift to sudden wealth had been too rapid—too fast to fully digest the impact—and Su Mu needed time to adjust.

...

Evening arrived quickly.

When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Having lived in the United States for so many years, they celebrated Christmas Eve with a sumptuous feast. A massive king crab sat on a crude plate. The air was thick with the scent of fresh paint; unaware of the dangers of formaldehyde, the Su family lived in a room that had just been renovated, furnished with a few new pieces, though most remained old.

Su Mu didn't need them to save money. The elders were now earning and spending their own, yet they still couldn't bear to throw away the old tables and stools. It was incredibly difficult to get his parents to accept new concepts; they stubbornly believed that if something could still be used, it should be kept, convinced that what they had was perfectly good.

Worried that his parents would try to "save" his money for him again, he didn't dare tell them he wanted to buy a house. He decided to act first and explain later, planning to have them move only after the purchase was complete. Over dinner, they chatted about trivial domestic matters. Afterward, he asked his parents to sign several authorization documents; since Su Mu was a minor, many things required a guardian’s consent.

With his own room under renovation, Su Mu spent the night at Li Ping’an’s house. It was an equally old building, half the size of the Su residence, with a wrinkly Shar-Pei lying by the bedside.

After the lights were out, Li Ping’an whispered, "Did you give the money to your family? We earned so much, I didn't dare say a word."

"I didn't tell them either. I'm planning to look at houses tomorrow... once the deposit is paid, there won't be any turning back. My family is too stingy to go back on a deal," Su Mu replied.

Both families were strict, leaving these two "brothers in misfortune" lacking in assertiveness. They were decisive at the company, but around their families, they were cowards. From childhood, everything had been arranged for them. Now that they were facing situations their families hadn't planned for, they were at a loss.

Li Ping’an continued, "Then I’ll save up too. I’ll buy a house near yours so we can keep being neighbors. Mostly, I’m afraid that if my parents find out how much the company makes, they’ll nag me forever. They haven't been hovering lately, which is great. I told them I’m learning programming, so it’s easy to find work."

Su Mu felt the same anxiety. Like a caged animal, once freed, he was terrified of being locked up again. Having finally gained some autonomy, he feared being controlled by his family once more. Elders always felt it was their duty to manage their children, but the children didn't see it that way; they craved their own freedom.

"That works," Su Mu said. "We get dividends once a quarter. If things go smoothly, we'll save up fast. I want to start other businesses later. Whether you save for a house or invest, it’s up to you. We should bring Du Zhong in, too, or the relationship will definitely drift apart."

"That’s fine. I’ll keep saving for now. Should we pick up Du Zhong tomorrow? He just learned to drive this summer; he can drive us to look at houses."

California law allows driving at sixteen, provided an adult who knows how to drive is in the passenger seat to guide you. This rule wasn't strictly enforced; it was pure luck. As long as you didn't park illegally or get into an accident, no one usually checked.

"I haven't told my family about the car yet."

"Mu, I didn't think you were even more of a coward than me. You earned the money and bought the car yourself—what's there to be afraid of?"

"Should I go tell your parents right now that you brought home over twenty thousand dollars?"

"...Never mind. Forget I said anything."

On Christmas Day, worried about his new car being stolen, Su Mu woke up early. He dragged Li Ping’an out, briefly checked in with his parents, and left again. He had paid for a guarded parking lot the day before. Seeing the Jaguar sitting there without a scratch, he finally felt at ease enough to eat breakfast.

He had a car but couldn't drive it—or rather, he didn't dare. He knew the theory, but he had never put it into practice.

They walked to Du Zhong’s house and knocked. Du’s mother, who was quite "beautiful," opened the door and glared at them. "What are you doing here? Surprised you still remember me."

They preferred sharing secrets with friends rather than family. Du Zhong knew Su Mu and Li Ping’an had started a company and made money. He didn't care about the cash; he was just angry they hadn't brought him along.

Su Mu laughed. "We’re starting another venture, and you’re definitely in. Nothing to do today? Let’s go! Come try out the car we just bought!"

He wasn't truly angry. Half-reluctant and half-eager, Du Zhong let them pull him out the door.