How A Ride-Hailing Driver Comes To Dominate The World? [EN]: Chapter 129

Wang Jun didn’t dwell on it, figuring Yang Chen was just making conversation.

He had to pick up the bride from the wedding company, so he ended the call.

As his close friend, he couldn’t stand by and watch his wedding fall apart.

Yang Chen immediately grabbed his phone and called Qiu Yuhong, the chairman of Shield Security, ordering him to dispatch a dozen of his toughest guys immediately.

Since Yang Chen had acquired 67% of Shield Security’s stock, he’d stayed out of the company’s day-to-day operations.

But that’s exactly what made Qiu Yuhong nervous.

He felt like he hadn’t had a chance to prove his worth to Yang Chen and could be replaced at any moment.

Now that Yang Chen was calling for backup, Qiu Yuhong saw his opportunity to shine.

He skipped breakfast and quickly gathered a dozen men to rush to Golden Sea Resort.

Li Ming and his crew were really laying it on thick, trying to steal the bride and even bragging about it on Douyin [Chinese version of TikTok].

“Today, we’re here with our brother to snatch the bride. Either we leave with the bride, or we all end up flat on our backs!”

“What are brothers for? Brothers are the ones who have your back, right or wrong! One word from a brother, and we’re rushing to snatch the bride without a second thought!”

“If you want to marry our brother’s girl, you’ll have to get past these dozen brothers first!”

…

These guys were filming videos while talking a load of rubbish.

When Yang Chen first started using Douyin a few years back, he’d seen people live-streaming fake bride snatchings.

But he’d always thought it was just a publicity stunt. He never imagined there were actually people who did that in real life.

If Li Ming actually managed to steal Xiaojing today, Wang Jun’s life could be ruined.

What would his relatives and friends think of him?

How would people look at him when they saw him around town?

Especially since Xiaojing was pregnant with Wang Jun’s child, this could send him into a downward spiral.

As his brother, Yang Chen had to take this bullet for him!

Luckily, Yang Chen now had Shield Security at his beck and call, so he didn’t have to get his hands dirty.

Once Shield Security’s guys showed up, they could just run these clowns out of town.

Yang Chen and Yu Shishi were taking a leisurely stroll when someone called out his name.

“Yang Chen? Is that really Yang Chen?”

Yang Chen turned and saw his high school classmates Chen He and a few others.

Yang Chen grinned. “Damn, Chen He, Zhang Bin, Wang Xiang, long time no see!”

Yang Chen was a bit closer to these guys than his other classmates. They’d been teammates back in high school.

But Wang Jun was the one who really clicked with Yang Chen. They were the best of friends.

Old classmates hadn’t seen each other in ages, so they immediately stepped in for a hug.

After the hugs, they introduced their girlfriends.

Zhang Bin and the others had brought their girlfriends. If Yang Chen said he’d brought his “female secretary,” it would sound a bit pretentious.

So, Yang Chen introduced, “This is Yu Shishi, the woman I’m trying to win over. I’m working on it.”

Zhang Bin and the others chuckled, understanding the situation.

Yu Shishi lowered her head shyly, her heart filled with complicated emotions, and her pulse quickened.

Zhang Bin said, “Bro, I saw you being a hero in the news a few days ago. I didn’t realize you could be so awesome even as a ride-hailing driver. We’re really impressed.”

Chen He chimed in, “Yang Chen was always a good student. He was the best at everything. A no-brainer job like driving for a ride-hailing service is a piece of cake for him.”

Wang Xiang added, “True. Bro, how’s the money these days? I’m not enjoying being a department manager. I’m worn out every day, and I only make thirty to fifty thousand a month. If driving a ride-hailing car is profitable, I’ll quit and join you.”

Yang Chen replied, “It’s alright, enough to get by.

Sitting in an office is exhausting, and you’re always working overtime. The good thing about driving a ride-hailing car is the freedom.”

Chen He said, “That’s right. Unlike me, working as a supervisor, I have to deal with people giving gifts all the time, which is a real pain. You know, with the new regulations, everyone’s afraid to mess around. It takes me hours every day just to deal with these gifts.”

Zhang Bin sighed, “Sometimes I think, isn’t life just three meals a day and a handful of ashes after you die? Why are we working ourselves so hard? It’s better to be carefree like Yang Chen and drive a ride-hailing car. I had a physical a few days ago, and the doctor said I have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and high blood sugar. I’m numb from dealing with those suppliers every day.”

Wow, these guys were masters of workplace boasting.

But that’s just human nature.

Who wouldn’t want to show off in front of classmates who aren’t doing as well?

Today was Wang Jun’s wedding. Since they were all guests he’d invited, Yang Chen didn’t want to make things awkward.

So, he said, “Everyone makes their own choices in life. Let’s go give our gifts. I think the wedding car is about to arrive.”

The group went to give their gifts together.

Zhang Bin and the others took out cash, all giving 5,000 yuan [approximately $700 USD].

Zhang Bin said, “We’re brothers, after all. Just for the sake of playing ball together back then, we can’t be stingy. You agree, right, Yang Chen?”

Yang Chen nodded.

The person in charge of registration recorded their names.

“Xiaojun is lucky to have such loyal classmates,” the registrar said with a smile.

Zhang Bin replied, “We’re brothers, don’t mention it.”

Chen He added, “That’s right, what’s luck got to do with it between brothers? Being brothers is everyone’s good fortune.”

Wang Xiang said, “Yeah, there are no outsiders between brothers. Yang Chen, hurry up and give your gift, then we can find a place to chat.”

Yu Shishi took out a small red envelope from her bag and placed it on the table.

“Pfft…” Zhang Bin and the others couldn’t help but laugh, along with the registrar and others.

Chen He said, “Yang Chen, how much did you give? We’re brothers, you this… If you’re short on cash, I can lend you some, at least 5,000 yuan to start. We all gave 5,000, if you give so little, people will think we’re deliberately trying to embarrass you.”

Wang Xiang said, “I brought money. Take back your kindergarten-level red envelope. I’ll lend you 5,000 to make up for it, and you can pay me back later.”

Yang Chen smiled. “Thanks, brothers. I don’t think it matters how much you give, as long as it’s from the heart. If you’re doing well, give more; if you’re not, give less. Even a small gift can have deep meaning.”

Zhang Bin said, “That’s true, but you gave way too little. I bet a stack of hundred-yuan bills is thicker than that. It won’t do. If Wang Jun tries to give us back more than 4,900 yuan later, we can’t take it.”

Yang Chen didn’t want to embarrass his classmates, but Yu Shishi had no such concerns.

Without a word, Yu Shishi opened the red envelope and pulled out a check for 66,666 yuan [approximately $9,300 USD], placing it on the table.

The registrar was stunned, his eyes widening at the sight of so many numbers.

Zhang Bin and the others were also shocked into silence when they saw all those sixes.

Yang Chen said with a smile, “I told you it doesn’t matter how much, it’s the thought that counts. Even a small gift can have deep meaning.”

The registrar laughed and said, “Well said, well said. Wang Jun didn’t waste his time, his classmates are all impressive. You’re Yang Chen, right?”

Yang Chen nodded, smiling.

Damn, he got to show off.

Zhang Bin and the others were managers and supervisors, and they kept talking about being brothers, but they only gave 5,000 yuan.

Yang Chen, a ride-hailing driver, didn’t keep saying brothers, but he gave 66,666 yuan in gift money. The contrast was striking.

Okay, Zhang Bin and the others now understood that when Yang Chen said a small gift could have deep meaning, he wasn’t talking about himself, but about them.

Yang Chen said with a smile, “Let’s go, let’s go chat over there.”

Zhang Bin and the others nodded blankly.

Yang Chen and Yu Shishi strolled along, admiring the flowers and wedding photos.

Zhang Bin and the others trailed behind, muttering.

“Damn! That kid is putting on a show. He’s just driving a ride-hailing car, and he gives over 60,000 yuan at once. Anyone would think he’s a big shot,” Zhang Bin grumbled.

If Yang Chen was a company boss, Zhang Bin and the others wouldn’t have minded him giving so much money.

The problem was that Yang Chen was a ride-hailing driver, and he gave so much money, making them, the managers and supervisors, look bad.

Chen He said, “It’s like he’s trying to prove his relationship with Wang Jun is better than ours, showing off!”

Wang Xiang added, “He’s just pretending to be rich. He’ll have to work for half a year for nothing after giving out over 60,000 yuan. There’s a saying that the more you lack, the more you want to show off. He’s worried we’ll laugh at him for driving a ride-hailing car, so he deliberately gave so much money so we can’t laugh at him. It’s completely unnecessary, we’re not like that.”

Hehe…

If I hadn’t heard what they said earlier, I might have believed they weren’t deliberately showing off.

But none of that mattered.

Yang Chen’s gift money was planned in advance, not to show off, nor to deliberately embarrass Zhang Bin and the others.

There were two reasons for giving so much.

First, Yang Chen had the money now.

Second, Yang Chen and Wang Jun were good buddies from high school. His brother who he played ball with was getting married, so why shouldn’t he be generous?

After all, youth is priceless.

You could say this money was given to Wang Jun, but Yang Chen gave it for himself, not just because Wang Jun was getting married.

If Yang Chen agreed to acquire Golden Sea Resort in the future, the general manager’s position would definitely be reserved for Wang Jun to reassure him.

Wang Jun would definitely earn this money back for him.

Zhang Bin and the others lost face over the gift money and intentionally or unintentionally wanted to avoid Yang Chen.

They must be unhappy about being outdone after trying to show off.

It didn’t matter. You don’t need too many friends, just one you can talk to is enough.

So, it didn’t matter what they thought. Yang Chen didn’t care.

Ten o’clock.

The wedding car arrived.

It was really frugal. Besides the car picking up the bride, there was only a video car from the wedding company following.

It was fortunate that it was in a big city like Haicheng. If it were in some rural areas, a welcoming team of this size would be stopped on the road by people demanding cigarettes [a traditional custom of extorting money from wedding processions].

Yang Chen took Yu Shishi and went to watch the fun.

Wang Jun got out of the car first, then went to help the bride, Xiaojing, out of the car.

Wang Jun’s mother came over and gave a small gift for getting out of the car, and Xiaojing stepped out.

Although there weren’t many guests, the atmosphere was joyful.

Yang Chen went up and pushed Wang Jun to bump into Xiaojing, then said, “Kiss!”

Xiaojing recognized Yang Chen as the one who left with Wang Jun that night when she was drunk.

Wang Jun laughed and turned to kiss Xiaojing.

According to wedding customs, it’s even more excessive for the groomsmen to step forward and kiss the bride’s cheek.

But new era, new rules. That kind of impolite behavior wasn’t needed. Just watch the bride and groom kiss.

Zhang Bin and the others also came up to join the fun, and everyone happily led the newlyweds to the emcee.

Like in TV dramas, the officiant gave a speech, the newlyweds reminisced about the past, and then the two exchanged rings.

Emcee: “Mr. Wang Jun, are you willing to take Ms. Yuan Jing as your wife, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, to love her for a lifetime?”

Wang Jun: “I do.”

Emcee: “Ms. Yuan Jing, are you willing to marry Mr. Wang Jun, to wash and cook for him, and to have children?”

Yuan Jing: “I do!”

Yu Shishi looked at Yuan Jing with envy. At this moment, she must also have the urge to get married.

“I don’t!”

A loud roar shattered the happy atmosphere.

Li Ming, holding flowers and a ring box, stood in a Porsche 918, leading a dozen people behind him, and came over with a swagger.

The smile on Wang Jun’s face instantly froze, and he stepped forward angrily.

“Li Ming, what do you want?” Wang Jun demanded.

Li Ming replied disdainfully, “Isn’t it obvious? I’m here to snatch the bride! Xiaojing, marry me. I won’t force you to abort the child. If it’s yours, it’s mine.”

Yang Chen quietly sent a message to Qiu Yuhong.

“If Shield Security’s people don’t arrive within five minutes, you’re fired!”

It had been over an hour since Yang Chen called Qiu Yuhong. They should have crawled here by now.

Qiu Yuhong quickly replied.

“I’ve arrived at the entrance of the resort, but there are too many cars, we can’t get in. I’ll get out of the car and run over now. Where are you?”

“Come in and ask where the wedding venue for Wang Jun and Yuan Jing is, and come to me immediately!”

“Okay! Coming soon!”

…

Yuan Jing was moved to tears, threw away the bouquet in her hand, and ran to Li Ming.

Seeing this, Wang Jun’s heart broke.

Wang Jun stepped forward and grabbed Yuan Jing.

Yuan Jing cried and said, “Xiaojun, I’m sorry, you know I love him. I really can’t forget him! I apologize to you, I’m so sorry. I’ll repay you in the next life as a cow or a horse. After the child is born, you can visit him anytime. If Li Ming treats him badly, I’ll immediately hand the child over to you to raise. Let’s break up peacefully, okay?”

Wang Jun shed tears and said, “Before the wedding, I asked you to think clearly. You said you were willing to marry me, and we would raise the child together, so I hurriedly prepared this wedding. Now you tell me to break up peacefully? How can we break up peacefully? You’re rubbing my dignity in the dirt, trampling on it, and then telling me to break up peacefully! What do you take me for?”

“But I love him, I really can’t forget him. Are you really willing to have a wife sleeping next to you who’s thinking about another man?” Yuan Jing asked, crying.

Damn, she thought she was being reasonable. It was infuriating.

I’d seen news stories online before about ex-girlfriends or ex-boyfriends showing up to cause trouble on wedding days, but the wedding parties were always persistent and wouldn’t actually call off the wedding.

I don’t know what happens to the newlyweds afterwards, but they always gave enough face to both relatives and friends on the wedding day.

Yuan Jing really wanted to call off the wedding and go with Li Ming, not giving Wang Jun any face at all.

Li Ming said loudly, “Wang Jun, you can’t give her happiness. Let her go with me. It’s okay to hand the child over to you to raise after he’s born, or raise him here with us. I won’t let him go hungry. I was just being immature and unwilling to settle down, so Xiaojing left me in a fit of anger, and you picked up the pieces. Now I want to get married, and Xiaojing still loves me. If you keep pestering her, you’re standing in the way of true love, you’re being evil!”

Li Ming’s gang of cronies were filming videos while cheering.

“Bro, well said! We support you!”

“That brother named Wang Jun, you should give up voluntarily, don’t make yourself look bad!”

“My brother is still being nice to you now. If he gets angry, he’ll just ask the resort to fire you and cancel your wedding venue. You’ll be even more embarrassed!”

“People who are meant to be together will eventually be together. Don’t stand in their way. Be a man, let her go.”