chapter 21 If you compare goods, you have to throw them away; if you compare people with others, you will die.

Five million two hundred thousand! No one expected the necklace to be so expensive. It's really out of reach for ordinary people. "Stanley Du, stop messing around. Even if you sold yourself, you don't have five million!" Leonardo Zheng shouted. "Dinah Yang, hurry up and persuade Stanley Du to stop his foolishness. Don't let us get embarrassed along with him." Joan Su said anxiously. "Stanley Du, this necklace is too expensive. You can't afford it," Dinah Yang whispered. Seeing this, the female manager Judy Wei became even more convinced that Stanley Du was just a poor guy. Her tone became more disdainful and aggressive. "Sir, I know what you're up to. You just want to look at and touch the most expensive diamond necklace in our store. Even if you can't afford it, you can at least feast your eyes and hands. Maybe you'll even sneak a few photos and post them on your social circle to show off." "Ha ha!" The other customers in the store, as well as the female sales associates, all started laughing. It was a laugh-filled with contempt. Leonardo Zheng and Joan Su quickly distanced themselves from Stanley Du. They certainly didn't want to share in Stanley Du's humiliation. Dinah Yang tried to pull Stanley Du away, but he was firmly rooted, and she couldn't budge him. Just then, the sound of high heels clicking on the floor approached. "Miss Yao, hello!" "Miss Yao, it's been a while since you last checked on our work." The person who arrived was Hedy Yao. What surprised Stanley Du even more was that as soon as Hedy Yao appeared, female manager Judy Wei and the sales associates rushed over to flatter her. "Stanley Du, what are you doing here?" "This Silver Phoenix Jewelry Store, do you own it?" "The Silver Phoenix Jewelry Chain is my uncle's business. My mom and I also have shares in Silver Phoenix." "I see. Then can you do me a favor?" "Sure, you teach me cooking, and I'll help you," Hedy Yao said with a smile. "I want to see the most expensive diamond necklace in your store. But this Manager Wei thinks I can't afford it and won't let me see." Stanley Du didn’t even glance at Judy Wei, speaking directly to Hedy Yao. Hedy Yao was taken aback. If it had been a few days earlier, Hedy Yao would have also thought that Stanley Du absolutely couldn't afford that five-million-yuan diamond necklace. But now, Stanley Du had cured Ma’am Chen's stubborn tinnitus, and this had spread among the top rich circles in Ning City. Ma’am Chen's son Michael Li and nephew Randall Chen were both generous and upright rich men. Having cured Ma’am Chen, Michael Li and Randall Chen would definitely reward Stanley Du handsomely. So, it was possible that Stanley Du could now afford that five-million-yuan diamond necklace. Hedy Yao came back to her senses and turned her gaze to Manager Judy Wei. "Miss… Miss Yao, it was my mistake, looking down on others. I've offended your friend." Judy Wei wasn’t stupid. The relationship between Hedy Yao and Stanley Du was obviously special. So she quickly admitted her fault. "Go settle your salary with finance for this month. Don’t come back tomorrow. Silver Phoenix Jewelry doesn’t keep employees who look down on others." "Miss Yao, you're just a shareholder of Silver Phoenix, not the general manager. You don’t have the authority to fire me!" "Heh, the general manager of Silver Phoenix is my cousin. Do you think if I tell him what you did, he will keep you?" Hedy Yao stared at Judy Wei, coldly saying, "You dress up so charmingly every day. Aren’t you just trying to attract my cousin? Let me tell you, my cousin's wife has wanted to get rid of you for a long time." "Miss Yao, please have mercy! My parents and younger brother are all depending on my earnings to live! Life isn’t easy for me either." Judy Wei immediately started to plead pitifully, with tears in her eyes. "Your life being hard is none of my business." Hedy Yao intended to punish Judy Wei severely, hoping to gain Stanley Du's favor. If she could get Stanley Du's cooking secrets, her family's Harmony Restaurant could dominate the national catering industry. "Hedy Yao, she's had it tough, too. Don't push her to a dead end." Stanley Du, feeling a bit soft-hearted, pleaded on Judy Wei's behalf. "Thank you, Mr. Du, thank you so much!" Judy Wei was deeply grateful to Stanley Du. She had just mocked Stanley Du excessively, never expecting that Stanley Du would actually intercede for her. "Since Stanley Du has spoken for you, I'll let you off this time. Now quickly show that 'Eternal True Love' to Stanley Du." Hedy Yao took the opportunity. "Thank you, Miss Yao. I'll do it right away." Judy Wei took out a finely made jewelry box. As soon as it was opened, the box shone brilliantly, dazzling everyone. "Wow, each diamond on this necklace is so big. At least one carat each!" "So beautiful, no wonder they dare to sell it for five million two hundred thousand. It's really worth the price." Stanley Du ignored the others' comments, only asking Dinah Yang, "Do you like it?" Dinah Yang hesitated to speak. Joan Su interjected, "What's the use if my cousin likes it? You surely can't afford it." Stanley Du was increasingly annoyed with Joan Su, the gossip. "I cured Ma’am Chen's tinnitus, and the Li family transferred a sum of money to me as a thank you, enough to buy this necklace." In fact, the Li family only gave Stanley Du two million. Stanley Du had to use three million of his own savings to afford the necklace. But Stanley Du's savings were over a hundred billion. Three million was just a small sum to him. However, Leonardo Zheng and Joan Su were shocked by Stanley Du's words. "You... you really have five million?" Leonardo Zheng's mouth was wide open, big enough to fit two duck eggs. Stanley Du couldn't be bothered with him and directly transferred 5,201,314 yuan from his mobile banking app to the jewelry store's account. "You're really extravagant, spending five million on a diamond necklace just to show off for your girlfriend." Hedy Yao teased while handing over the necklace and its box to Stanley Du. Stanley Du then passed the necklace to Dinah Yang, "Actually, I came here intending to buy a piece of jewelry as a birthday gift for you. I might be poor, but I'm capable. I will never let you lose face or suffer." This speech was really moving. The female customers and saleswomen wished they could kick Dinah Yang out of the way and replace her as Stanley Du's girlfriend. Especially Joan Su, who had always been jealous of Dinah Yang. Dinah Yang was better than her in studies and more beautiful. She had thought Stanley Du, Dinah Yang's boyfriend, was just a poor loser. But Stanley Du spent five million on a necklace for Dinah Yang, obviously pretending to be poor. This was infuriating. What was more unbearable for Joan Su was that her own boyfriend, Leonardo Zheng, had only bought her a necklace worth two hundred thousand. That was four million eight hundred thousand less than what Stanley Du gave to Dinah Yang. It really was a case of feeling inferior when comparing goods and people. And Leonardo Zheng was a shameless, opportunistic villain. After leaving the jewelry store, he immediately started flattering Stanley Du. "Brother Stanley, it was me and Joan being rude earlier, offending you with our words." "Don't hold a grudge against me and Joan. We're relatives, after all." "You're so close to Hedy Yao, and the Yao family's Harmony Restaurant is a leader in the catering industry in Province A. They need lots of tableware and condiments. Our Zheng family is in the tableware business, and Joan Su's parents are in the condiment business. So could you please put in a good word for me and Joan Su with Hedy Yao, to help our families prosper together?" Heh, this really was about groveling for personal gain. Stanley Du gave a few perfunctory responses, then sent Leonardo Zheng and Joan Su on their way.