Wealth and beauty beyond measure

  Dazed, Zhang Yang sat for a long time before getting up and boarding the bus to head back to his humble abode. With over 3,000 yuan in his pocket, this was a small fortune for him, considering he had only brought 2,000 yuan with him when he left home to work. He hadn't figured out how to deal with this money yet, but all he could think about was getting back home quickly - carrying so much cash outside was too risky.

  After returning to the rental house, Zhang Yang locked the door from the inside, pulled up the curtains, then picked up the pillow on the bed, unzipped it, stuffed 3,000 yuan into it, and patted the pillow until it looked normal again. Only then did his heart finally settle back down into his stomach.

  Lying on the pillow, Zhang Yang burst out laughing.

  It wasn't until nightfall that Zhang Yang woke up from his beautiful dream of getting rich, rubbed his belly and only then did he discover that there was an advantage to being in a detention center - meals were served on time and he would never have to worry about stomach problems again!

  Pfft, why think of that again? Let's just think about what to eat tonight instead!

  Walking on the street, looking at the restaurants on both sides of the road, Zhang Yang swallowed his saliva and lifted his feet to find a beautifully decorated restaurant to enter!

  In the past when I didn't have money, looking at the restaurants by the road, Zhang Yang always thought that once he had money, he would find a luxurious restaurant, order a lot of delicious food and drinks, and have a big feast all by himself!

  Who doesn't want to eat well and drink well these days? When Zhang Yang came out at night, he had 500 yuan in his pocket, enough for a good meal. After hesitating several times, he still didn't go in and turned around to leave.

  He is not a heartless person, thinking of his parents at home, who have been frugal for many years. His feet felt heavy as if they weighed a thousand pounds, and he couldn't bring himself to step inside.

  He walked quickly for a few steps, found a phone booth, and dialed his home number.

  "Mom, you and Dad are okay, right?" Zhang Yang asked.

  "You little brat, why are you just calling now? What have you been doing for half a month? You almost scared us to death!"

  Zhang Yang's mother, Wang Shuang, upon hearing her son's long-awaited voice, burst into tears and choked with sobs.

  Zhang Yang is the apple of his parents' eyes. Although they live a poor life, they have never failed to provide for Zhang Yang's food and clothing. After this year's college entrance examination results came out, the old couple planned to sell their pots and pans to support Zhang Yang in attending university, but unexpectedly, sensible Zhang Yang refused their arrangement.

  Because of this, the father and son had several intense arguments. Zhang Yang's father, Zhang Li, even hit Zhang Yang, but it didn't change his mind! No matter how he was persuaded, Zhang Yang refused to give up. In the end, he took 2,000 yuan and left home with a bundle on his back to work in Tianjin City.

  In their hometown, there are many people like Zhang Yang who go out to work. Zhang Yang's hometown has little land, and his parents retired early, so the young people in the area left their hometown to work in big cities very early on. Some even started working after graduating from junior high school.

  The old couple didn't have this precious child until they were almost 40 years old, how could they bear to let their son go out and work?

  Zhang Yang repeatedly assured them that if they encountered any difficulties, they would return home, and the elderly couple reluctantly agreed.

  Who would have thought that just over a month after leaving, Zhang Yang suddenly lost contact with his family. Half a month has passed and the old couple are worried to death! If not for Zhang Li holding her back, Wang Shuang would have rushed to Jin City to find Zhang Yang long ago!

  "Mom, I'm sorry, I've just been too busy!" Zhang Yang said with a choked voice. He thought about how he hadn't called his parents as soon as he left and felt a pang of regret for being blinded by money. The past half month's experience was like a movie, and he wanted to pour out everything to his mother! But he couldn't. After living independently for a while, Zhang Yang had matured a lot and knew that if he wanted to reassure his parents, he could only share the good news and not the worries, or else it would make the two elderly people even more anxious.

  Wang's tears couldn't stop flowing, she handed the phone to Zhang Li beside her, and lay down on the sofa, sobbing loudly. She finally had news of Zhang Yang and didn't have to worry anymore.

  "Alright, nothing's wrong, right?" At the critical moment, Zhang Li still calmed down and asked softly.

  "Dad's not here, I'm fine, just got a new job recently and have been busy, didn't get a chance to call you guys!" Zhang Yang made up an excuse.

  "Didn't you just start working a month ago? How can you change jobs already?! Didn't I tell you to be down-to-earth and not to be too ambitious? Why don't you listen to me, child?"

  In the past, when Zhang Yang was at home, he hated his father's political lectures the most. The endless preaching continued until he went out to face the hardships of society on his own, and then he suddenly discovered that his parents' voices were so warm and endearing, no matter how much he listened to them, he couldn't get tired of it! Besides those who truly care about him, where else would someone talk to him about these principles for being a person and dealing with things?

  Scolded Zhang Yang a few sentences, Zhang Li felt that he had said too much, and sighed: "Okay, I won't say anything else. You be careful when you're out there alone!"

  Zhang didn't ask about his own work situation from start to finish. Zhang Yang wanted to make his parents happy, so he said: "Dad, my new job pays 3,000 yuan a month! I'll send some back to you guys!"

  This was also what Zhang Yang thought about and reported, saying too little would make his parents worried, saying too much would make them suspect he did something illegal, so Zhang Yang said a relatively reliable salary.

  "Save what save! You're alone outside with big expenses, keep it for yourself! Remember to eat well and take care of your body. If you don't have enough money, tell your parents! Ah, they say that poor families have rich roads, I originally planned to give you more money, but you didn't want it. This time, you really scared your mom! When you have money, buy a cell phone so we can keep in touch conveniently!"

  Zhang Yang's income is of no concern to Zhang and his wife, as long as they know their son is safe and sound.

  "Mom and Dad, don't worry, I'm fine. Tomorrow during the day, I'll go buy a cell phone, and then we can talk on the phone every day!" After finishing speaking, Zhang Yang couldn't control his emotions and quickly hung up the phone.

  Put down the phone and looked at Wang Shuang, who was still crying: "Don't cry, our son is doing well. He has changed to a new job, with 3,000 yuan per month, more than what we two earn!"

  Wang Shuang wiped away her tears and said: "Really? What kind of work is it? Is it tiring?"

  Zhang Li touched his head and said, "Look, I was so excited that I forgot to ask! Da Yang said that tomorrow we'll buy a mobile phone, and whenever we want to call him, we can call him!"

  After hearing the news that they had a son, the couple put down their worries and excitedly discussed their son's new job, unable to sleep for a long time.

  They are ordinary parents and the most unassuming parents, not expecting their son to become a high-ranking official or make a fortune. For the elderly couple, as long as their son is safe and sound, that is their greatest happiness.

  Zhang Yang held back tears and came to a Lanzhou noodle shop on the street, ordering a bowl of knife-cut noodles.

  This Lanzhou noodle shop that fills every street corner in the big cities, for a very long time, was the only restaurant Zhang Yang had ever been to. A bowl of eight-yuan knife-cut noodles made Zhang Yang sweat profusely; actually, sometimes you don't need anything delicious, and your parents' sincere care and encouragement are the best seasonings.

  Back in the rental house, Zhang Yang made a silent vow to himself that he must earn more money, so his parents would no longer have to work hard and could live a good life. Originally, because of using his X-ray vision to buy lottery tickets during the day, it was an effortless gain, but his heart felt somewhat uncomfortable. Now this feeling had disappeared, for the sake of letting his parents live a good life, he could pay any price. Moreover, he hadn't stolen or robbed anyone, just used some means, and compared to those who killed people and set fires, he was much better!

  Finding a reason to utilize his powers, Zhang Yang slept very soundly that night.

  The next morning, Zhang Yang put on a few old clothes and walked to the bus stop. He chose a route he had never taken before. Tianjin City was so big that he could find a place where no one knew him to buy lottery tickets. After cashing in his prize, he would leave, believing it wouldn't arouse suspicion.

  To keep it a secret, Zhang Yang even made a special trip to the street stall to buy a pair of black sunglasses, so no one would know whether his eyes were open or closed. This was the best way Zhang Yang could think of to keep it under wraps.

  After carefully checking that he had nothing on him that would attract attention, Zhang Yang walked into an inconspicuous lottery station.

  Maybe it's too early, except for the lottery ticket seller, there isn't a single customer.

  Zhang Yang walked over quietly and said: "Boss, give me a few scratch-off lottery tickets, I'll pick some!"

  The boss casually pulled out a stack of 10-yuan scratch-off lottery tickets and said, "Newly arrived this morning, not bundled up yet, pick whatever you want!"

  Zhang Yang picked it up, the left eye behind the sunglasses closed, and the right eye stared at it. Suddenly, a number was imprinted in Zhang Yang's mind, two numbers matched fifteen, and the prize amount below was 400,000. Zhang Yang looked at it several times before slightly trembling to pull out this lottery ticket.

  He didn't have the heart to look anymore, and casually took out two: "How much, boss?"

  "Thirty yuan." The boss put away the other lottery tickets and said.

  Zhang Yang took out 30 yuan from his pocket and handed it over, pretending to ask casually: "Boss, if I win the first prize, where can I cash it in?"

  "It's written above, isn't it? The Welfare Lottery Center! Good luck to you, young man!" the boss said with a smile.

  "Thanks for the auspicious words!" Zhang Yang said, taking the lottery ticket and finding a stool to sit down. He first scratched open the other two tickets, neither of which had won, proving that he still wasn't lucky enough! After sighing in regret, Zhang Yang focused all his attention on the last remaining ticket.

  If I haven't miscounted, it should be four hundred thousand.

  Zhang Yang forcibly suppressed the excitement in his heart, scratching off one number after another. When the string of zeros behind 4 came out, Zhang Yang could no longer sit still and stood up excitedly.

  "Hey kid, hit the jackpot?" The boss joked.

  "I'd like to, but nothing's working out!"

  He said and put away the lottery ticket, kicking it into his pocket! Zhang Yang still knew that wealth should not be revealed.

  After finishing speaking, Zhang Yang didn't stay either and quickly walked out of the lottery station.

  Walking on the road, Zhang Yang had one hand in his pocket tightly grasping the lottery ticket. He didn't dare to let go. Every glance from passersby made Zhang Yang extremely nervous! They wouldn't know that he had won the prize, would they?!

  Everyone close by stared at each other with vigilant eyes, and after just a few steps, Zhang Yang's tense sweat started flowing out!

  The bus is too crowded, Zhang Yang doesn't dare to sit, afraid that the lottery ticket will be stolen by a thief! This is a matter of 400,000 yuan, Zhang Yang has never seen even 40,000 yuan before, how can he not be extremely careful.

  After walking on the road for half an hour, seeing that there was no one around, Zhang Yang took out the lottery ticket again and counted the amount.

  These two days were like a roller coaster ride, his heart was at the peak of the mountain one moment and in the valley the next, if this continued, Zhang Yang suspected he would get heart disease.

  Go and collect your prize! What are you waiting for?

  Zhang Yang slapped himself, without getting the money in hand, it's all empty talk, better to take out the money and feel more solid.

  For a prize of 400,000 yuan, Zhang Yang took a taxi for the first time in his life. He was more afraid of taking the bus and encountering pickpockets, as nowadays thieves are professionalized - one steals, another transfers, and several others provide cover. If you're really stolen from, don't even think about getting your stuff back! Within minutes, your belongings can be transferred to another bus.