Chapter 119: Second Uncle

Gao Ning opened a bank account and deposited his pocket money, careful not to deposit too much at once.

His current identity was that of an ordinary high school student. If he were to suddenly appear with a large sum of money, it would easily arouse suspicion, especially in an era where "rich kids" were not yet a common sight. Bank staff members, whose primary duty was not just to solicit deposits, were generally quite conscientious. If one of them with a strong sense of justice were to report him, the ensuing attention would be difficult to explain.

In truth, the mission in this plane was quite friendly to Gao Ning. At the very least, he had capital. With money and a good script, exposure would naturally follow. As long as he maintained visibility—constantly appearing before the eyes of the nation, or even the world—combined with his own talent and an eye-catching persona, completing the mission would be a simple matter.

However, since he had managed to arrive in a familiar Chinese-speaking plane and the storyline was one he quite enjoyed, he decided he should have some fun first.

Leaving the bank, he headed straight for the hospital.

He pushed open the door to the third-floor ward. As he entered, he heard a familiar voice shouting, "...You guys don't know, but my buddy is loaded! He runs his own auto repair shop, covering twenty thousand acres right in the southern suburbs, near the main parking lot of the bus company. That place might be a bit remote, but it’s huge. With thousands of vehicles and hundreds of employees working away, the daily revenue alone equals what we make in a year. A boss of that scale, would he bother cheating you out of that pittance? So, I’m telling you, if you want to buy a car, just come to me. I’ll talk to my buddy, have him pick out a good used car for you, and a simple wax job will make it look brand new. Don't believe me? I’m lying right here in this hospital bed; if there’s anything wrong with the car, just come find me. Could I possibly run away? How much? The price is always negotiable! Thirty thousand, fifty thousand, it’s all fine; there are even ones for 100,000 or 200,000, and even cars over a million are available. As long as you’re willing to spend the money, I can get you any car you want... Hey, don't go to sleep! What’s with covering your head? Brother, are you only looking to buy a minivan?"

Gao Ning walked in just as his grandmother was thumping his second uncle.

The old woman, wearing her reading glasses, was busy winding a ball of yarn. With autumn approaching, she was likely knitting long johns for someone. She had four children in her lifetime, and the fourth one was the most troublesome. In reality, one couldn't exactly blame the second uncle; in the eyes of the elderly, a son and a grandson are the apple of their eye.

Since the eldest uncle hadn't had any children, Gao Ning had taken the spot of the eldest grandson, becoming, along with the second uncle, the treasure of his grandmother's heart. Being spoiled and pampered from childhood had led to this.

"Ouch! Mom, why are you hitting me? I’m an injured patient!"

The second uncle complained. Before his grandmother could respond, Gao Ning chuckled and cut in, "I thought something terrible had happened, so I rushed over. Turns out it's nothing serious—you still have the energy to hustle your ward-mates. Grandma!"

Seeing Gao Ning, his grandmother beamed and scrambled to get him a chair, grumbling, "Oh, Gao Ning, why are you here? You're in your third year of high school and busy with studies; isn't this going to set you back?"

The second uncle jeered loudly, "Mom, don't be ridiculous. With my nephew's grades, does he even need to worry about being set back? His teachers would be thrilled if he took a break!"

He looked at Gao Ning with a look full of provocation. In the past, Gao Ning would have inevitably traded barbs with him; that was how they had grown up together. If they didn't exchange a few insults upon meeting, it wouldn't feel right.

His grandmother hit him again. "Not a single kind word in your mouth all day!"

Gao Ning added, "Exactly. You're not young anymore, yet you're still so unreliable!"

The second uncle huffed, "None of your business!"

"The two of you, can't you just talk properly? You fight every time you see each other, just like you have since you were kids. And you, stay lying down properly! You’ve broken your leg, yet you still can't be still. How old are you? Climbing walls and jumping off eaves—aren't you ashamed? Gao Ning, sit down. The apples your eldest uncle brought are very sweet; I'll go wash one for you."

His grandmother stood up, rummaged through a plastic bag, pulled out two large, red apples, and glanced at the fruit basket Gao Ning had brought. She turned back and grumbled, "Your second uncle isn't a stranger; why buy a fruit basket? You spent a lot of money, and it’s nothing but fluff. If you really wanted to buy something, you should have bought a pig's tongue and stuffed it in your second uncle's mouth to keep him from spouting nonsense."

With that, his grandmother gestured toward the second uncle and walked out of the ward with the two apples.

Gao Ning pulled up a stool, sat down next to the second uncle, and looked him over.

"How did this happen, exactly? Don't tell me you were climbing walls; it's too embarrassing!"

The ward was decent enough—not new, but reasonably clean. By the standards of this era, it was quite good. The second uncle was in the bed furthest inside, right by the window. On the other side was the patient he had been harassing, who had by now pulled his quilt over his head, curled into an oval shape. It was clear that the second uncle’s grandiose bragging had left him on the verge of a breakdown, and he was determined to refuse any further conversation.

Gao Ning crossed his legs and leaned casually against the windowsill, eyeing the cast on his uncle’s right leg with a hint of amusement.

With his grandmother gone, the second uncle dropped the act. Hearing Gao Ning’s question, a flash of ferocity crossed his eyes.

"The affairs of the streets are none of a brat like you, who only knows the school life. Once I heal up and get out of here, I'll have that punk in here the same day. You just wait and see!"

"Just make sure you don't end up in a different hospital yourself when the time comes!"

Gao Ning shook his head and met the second uncle’s round eyes. "I came here today because I have something serious to discuss. Do you know any intermediaries who handle company registration? I've gathered a group of guys at school, pooled some money, and we're planning to open a company to get a business going."

The second uncle scoffed. "Cut the crap. I’ve been on the streets for years, and even then I only dare to call myself a regional manager. You kid are truly wild—you haven't even graduated high school, and you're already dreaming of being a CEO? Wait... what's with that expression? Why is your gaze so serious? Damn, you're not actually serious, are you?"

The second uncle was genuinely shocked. He instinctively tried to sit up, but the movement tugged at his right leg, and a sharp pain sent him crashing back onto the bed with a yelp.

Gao Ning laughed with schadenfreude, "Serves you right for getting so excited. You know me—am I the type to talk big? Let me put it this way: I’ve got a million in hand right now. I want to start an internet software company. The registered capital requirement is around ten million. If you help me sort out the finances, the company seal, and all the necessary paperwork, how long will it take?"

"You're for real, kid?"

Seeing Gao Ning’s expression remained unchanged, the second uncle replied, albeit still half-doubtingly, "That's easy to handle. I know several professional agencies. As long as the money is right, it’ll take at most a week, maybe two at the latest!"