Chapter 244: We Are Friends, Good Friends!
Called a designated driver for Xu Li and the others.
Jiang Tao went to the elevator door and pressed the down button.
Ding~
The down elevator opened at that moment.
Jiang Tao’s gaze swept and he saw several acquaintances in the elevator.
“Brother Jiang~ Good morning, Brother Jiang, are you going out?”
“Good morning, Manager Jiang.”
“Good morning, Manager Jiang.”
Jiao Jingtong, wearing a white sports outfit, and her parents in the elevator, saw Jiang Tao standing outside and greeted him enthusiastically.
“Uncle Jiao, Aunt Jiao, Jingtong, where are you going?”
Jiang Tao smiled and greeted Jiao Jingtong’s family while stepping into the elevator.
After he entered the elevator, Jiao Jingtong pressed the close door button, and the elevator continued to descend.
“Brother Jiang, we’re going to the supermarket to buy some things.”
“Jingtong is going to the Capital City, we’re preparing for her.”
“We’ll have to trouble Manager Jiang to take good care of our Jingtong in the future.”
It was their daughter’s first time going far away for work, so her parents were naturally a bit worried.
But thinking of the extremely high treatment Jiang Tao had offered their daughter.
Jiao Jiankang and Cao Huifang also strongly supported their daughter working at Jiang Tao’s company.
“Please rest assured, we are fellow villagers and neighbors living on the same floor. Jingtong will not be wronged in any way at my place.”
Jiang Tao smiled and gave Jiao Jingtong’s parents a guarantee.
He was recruiting Jiao Jingtong to his company because he valued her talent and wanted to cultivate her well, so he naturally wouldn’t let her suffer any grievances.
“With your words, we are a hundred percent at ease.”
“Thank you, Manager Jiang.”
“Oh, Mom and Dad, I’m not a child anymore, I can take care of myself.”
Jiao Jingtong felt a bit embarrassed as her parents kept instructing her boss.
Jiang Tao smiled at Jiao Jingtong and asked:
“By the way, Jingtong, Lili and Shasha are returning to the Capital this afternoon. There’s a spare seat in the car, do you want to go with them?”
“Ah? This… this is too embarrassing.”
Jiao Jingtong actually really wanted to go with Xu Sha and the others, to have a companion on the road, but it was indeed a bit embarrassing to hitch a ride.
“What’s there to be embarrassed about? As the saying goes, a distant relative is not as good as a close neighbor. Your Sister Lili and Shasha, and your Uncle Xu, they don’t treat you as an outsider.”
Jiang Tao said with a gentle smile, it was only right to give some preferential treatment to the “dark horse potential” of his company.
“You silly girl, why don’t you thank Brother Jiang quickly.”
“Then thank you, Manager Jiang! It’s good to have a companion and someone to look out for on the road. Our Tongtong has never traveled far by herself since she was so big. I was even planning to ask Old Jiao to take a day off so we could drive her to the Capital, but with her going with Lili and them, we’re much more at ease.”
Jiao Jiankang and Cao Huifang were full of joy and gratitude upon hearing Jiang Tao’s words.
“Then thank you, Brother Jiang. What time do you depart in the afternoon? I’ll prepare in advance.”
Jiao Jingtong no longer refused Jiang Tao’s kind offer, looking at him with gratitude and asking about the departure time.
“Around 2 PM, and we’ll arrive in the Capital before dark.”
As soon as Jiang Tao finished speaking, the elevator doors dinged open, and they had reached the first floor.
Jiao Jingtong nodded and said, “Okay, I’ll go to your place to meet Sister Lili and them before 2 PM.”
“Alright, I’ll call Lili later and let her know.”
“Thank you, Brother Jiang.”
“You’re welcome, I have something to do, I’ll be going now.”
Jiang Tao waved goodbye to Jiao Jingtong’s family and strode towards the Mercedes-Benz G-wagon parked not far from the front of the building.
“Boss Jiang is such a good person, so warm-hearted. Tongtong, you’ve found a good boss this time.”
“Tongtong, in the future, when we look for a partner, find someone like Manager Jiang.”
Jiao Jiankang and Cao Huifang watched Jiang Tao get into the Mercedes-Benz G-wagon with looks of envy on their faces.
“Someone as excellent as Brother Jiang is rare and hard to find, not someone easy to look for.”
Jiao Jingtong’s gaze followed the Mercedes-Benz G-wagon as it drove towards the residential area entrance, her mind filled with the recent conversation with Jiang Tao.
A height of 1.82 meters, handsome, an excellent runner, successful in his career, and doting on his wife.
As Jiao Jingtong said, such an excellent man is indeed hard to find!
…
Jiang Tao was unaware that he had become a role model for Jiao Jingtong’s family in finding a partner.
After driving out of the residential area, his first stop was the White Magnolia Hotel.
The clay pots in Qiao Shaguo wouldn’t grow legs and run away.
He wasn’t in a hurry to meet with the General Manager of Yicheng Real Estate Agency.
The priority was to deal with the deadly crystal chandelier in the main hall of the White Magnolia Hotel first.
Although the White Magnolia had strong backing, if a major accident occurred as mentioned in the intelligence.
It would likely have a significant impact on future operations.
Of course, the impact on business was secondary; human lives were paramount.
For Jiang Tao, one piece of intelligence that could save two lives was more meaningful than making money.
At 8:30 AM, the Mercedes-Benz G-wagon entered the parking lot amidst the eager greetings of two security guards.
After parking the car, Jiang Tao got out and walked directly towards the main entrance of the White Magnolia Hotel.
“Good morning, Manager Jiang~”
“Good morning, Manager Jiang~”
At the hotel entrance, two slender and graceful greeters in high-slit qipaos greeted Jiang Tao with smiles.
Jiang Tao smiled and nodded, “Good morning, has your President Bai arrived?”
One of the greeters said, “President Bai hasn’t arrived yet. Why don’t you go in and sit for a while, and let Manager Wu contact President Bai for you?”
“Thanks, I’ll contact her myself.”
After speaking, Jiang Tao reached into his pocket to find Bai Yulan’s phone number while stepping into the hotel.
As soon as he entered, his gaze was involuntarily drawn upwards to the massive crystal chandelier in the center of the hall.
This massive crystal chandelier was designed exquisitely and intricately, looking grand and majestic.
Around the main chandelier were a dozen smaller crystal lights.
Eight chains extended in eight directions beneath the dome.
If a flesh-and-blood person were hit by such a large lamp…
Just thinking about it sent a shiver down his spine!
“Don’t walk under the lamp!”
Seeing a client manager in a lady’s suit walk under the crystal chandelier, Jiang Tao subconsciously called out a reminder.
“Ah?”
Wu Xiaolan was stunned for a moment upon hearing Jiang Tao’s words.
Then, she looked up at the chandelier above with a confused expression.
Only then did she quicken her pace to leave the area under the crystal chandelier.
“Manager Jiang, you’re here. Is there something you need from President Bai? She hasn’t arrived yet.”
Wu Xiaolan walked up to Jiang Tao and greeted him respectfully.
Jiang Tao looked at Wu Xiaolan with a solemn expression and said:
“Xiao Wu, get a few people to set up a cordon under the crystal chandelier. No one should pass under the lamp anymore.”
“Ah? Set up a cordon?”
Wu Xiaolan looked confused upon hearing Jiang Tao’s words. This matter was beyond her authority, and she couldn’t make the decision.
Jiang Tao nodded and said frankly, “Yes, I think there’s a problem with that crystal chandelier, and it’s at risk of falling at any moment.”
“Ah? Risk of falling?”
Wu Xiaolan looked at the massive crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling, her face filled with surprise and a hint of lingering fear.
She had just walked under it!
“Thank you for the reminder, Manager Jiang, but I can’t make this decision. I need to contact our Vice President.”
Wu Xiaolan said, then took out her phone from her pocket, found the Vice President Zou Ruoqi’s number in her contacts, and dialed it.
After the call was connected, Wu Xiaolan explained the situation Jiang Tao mentioned to Zou Ruoqi.
At the same time, Jiang Tao also called Bai Yulan and explained the situation at the hotel to her.
Upon receiving Wu Xiaolan’s call, Zou Ruoqi rushed down from her office.
And, as Jiang Tao had suggested, had some logistics staff cordon off the area under the crystal chandelier.
Around 9 AM, Bai Yulan also arrived at the scene by car.
“President Bai.”
“President Bai.”
Several executives from the White Magnolia Hotel greeted Bai Yulan respectfully upon seeing her.
Bai Yulan merely nodded at them, acknowledging the greetings, and walked directly to Jiang Tao’s side.
“Sister Bai, you’re here.”
Jiang Tao looked at Bai Yulan and greeted her calmly.
“Jiang Tao, how did you realize this lamp had a problem?”
Bai Yulan looked at Jiang Tao, asking with some confusion.
This crystal chandelier had been there since the White Magnolia Hotel opened.
And every year, specialized personnel would perform maintenance, cleaning, and inspections on it.
It had been less than a month since the last maintenance, so the possibility of a problem was very small.
But Bai Yulan also knew that Jiang Tao wouldn’t joke with her about such a serious matter.
“Just as I was about to walk towards the crystal chandelier, I suddenly felt a chill down my spine, an extremely strong sense of danger.”
“Sister Bai, my intuition has always been accurate, so I suggest you find someone to go up and check.”
Jiang Tao met Bai Yulan’s gaze, his eyes unwavering and extremely confident.
“A premonition of danger…”
Although Bai Yulan found Jiang Tao’s reason a bit far-fetched, she took it very seriously.
“Old Han, find something to go up and check.”
Bai Yulan looked at a person in charge from the hotel’s maintenance department and gave an instruction.
“Okay, President Bai, I’ll contact the lift.”
Old Han immediately took out his phone and started making calls. In less than five minutes, several maintenance employees pushed a lift into the hotel lobby.
They positioned the lift directly below the crystal chandelier.
Two employees jumped onto the lift platform and secured their safety harnesses to the railing on the side of the lift.
Creak, creak, creak…
The lift platform began to ascend under the operation of one of the employees and quickly reached the top.
“President Bai! Several of the expansion bolts fixing the crystal chandelier have loosened!”
Upon hearing the report from the employee above, the crowd watching below instinctively took a step back, as if afraid of being affected.
“My goodness, it’s a good thing it was discovered in time, otherwise it would have been truly dangerous!”
“I walked under it several times this morning, my life is truly lucky!”
“Oh my, how could this happen? I won’t dare to walk under it anymore!”
“…”
A group of onlookers murmured to each other in hushed tones, all feeling a sense of lingering fear.
Everyone who worked at the hotel passed under the crystal chandelier several times a day.
If it hadn’t been for Jiang Tao’s reminder today, perhaps some unfortunate person would have been hit.
“Old Han! What kind of checks did you do before! Why is there such a serious safety hazard!”
Bai Yulan looked at Old Han from the maintenance department, her pretty face as if covered with a layer of frost.
“I’m sorry, President Bai, I, I don’t know how this happened. It was fine during our inspection.”
Old Han lowered his head, not daring to meet Bai Yulan’s eyes. Hearing the report from his subordinate, he was already sweating profusely.
He was responsible for installing that crystal chandelier on the ceiling, and he knew its weight best.
One loose expansion bolt was one thing, but if several loosened at the same time…
It would truly be a blade hanging over everyone’s heads, ready to fall at any moment!
“From now on, the inspection cycle for the crystal chandelier will be shortened to one week! Inspected once a week!”
“Now, hurry up and find a way to reinforce the crystal chandelier.”
“This time, thanks to Jiang Tao’s reminder, otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable.”
“This morning, Xiao Zou, you will be responsible for holding a safety meeting to raise awareness of safety precautions for all departments.”
“…”
Bai Yulan’s gaze swept across the faces of the hotel’s senior management, issuing a series of orders.
Naturally, no one dared to disobey, and they all nodded in agreement, then hurried to implement them.
After giving instructions to everyone, Bai Yulan turned to look at Jiang Tao, and the frost on her face instantly disappeared.
“Jiang Tao, let’s go up to my office and sit for a while. I’ve arranged for the manager of the real estate agency to handle the transfer for you.”
Bai Yulan’s bright smile gave a feeling of warmth, making her seem like a completely different person from just moments before.
“Sister Bai, Aunt Bai’s kind offer, I…”
Before Bai Yulan could finish speaking, Jiang Tao interrupted with a smile:
“Jiang Tao, don’t make things difficult for me. I’ve made a solemn promise to my mother that I will definitely help her get this done.”
“Hahaha, then I’ll gratefully accept. I can’t make Sister Bai have a difficult time, can I?”
Seeing the firm resolve of Bai Yulan and her mother, Jiang Tao no longer refused.
A house in Xicheng Huafu would cost at least a million or eighty thousand.
Ordinary people, saving diligently for 30 years, might not even be able to afford one.
If someone offered one for free, only a fool would refuse!
Moreover, it was foreseeable that the size of Bai Yulan’s family’s house wouldn’t be small either.
“Let’s go. Let’s go upstairs for some tea. The person I invited is almost here.”
“Then I’ll trouble Sister Bai for a while upstairs.”
After speaking, Jiang Tao followed behind Bai Yulan towards the hotel’s private elevator.
The two took the elevator upstairs together and entered Bai Yulan’s office, one after the other.
Upon entering, Bai Yulan personally served Jiang Tao tea and water; this treatment was not something others could enjoy.
“You’ve helped me eliminate such a major safety hazard this time, and I owe you another favor.”
Bai Yulan looked at Jiang Tao, who was sitting on the sofa to her left, with a gentle gaze and sincerely expressed her gratitude.
Jiang Tao smiled, “Sister Bai is being too polite again. Between friends, there’s no need for this.”
“Hehe, yes, we are friends, good friends.”
Bai Yulan nodded very seriously.
These past few days, she had often recalled her experiences meeting Jiang Tao.
The more she thought about it, the more she felt the profound fate between them.
She naturally remembered vividly the scene of their first meeting.
That night, if Jiang Tao hadn’t suddenly appeared and pulled her out of the icy lake water.
She would have already passed her seventh-day memorial service.
The subsequent few encounters allowed her to understand Jiang Tao better.
He, like herself, enjoyed running and was exceptionally skilled.
His sleep aid massages were miraculous.
His demeanor was graceful and dignified, possessing great personal charm.
Yesterday, he had brought her long-lost younger brother back to her and her mother.
Today, he had helped her eliminate a significant safety hazard.
“Is Jiang Tao a lucky star sent by heaven to my side!”
“Since meeting him, I’ve become luckier and my mood has improved a lot.”
As their interactions increased, Bai Yulan developed an indescribable feeling for Jiang Tao.
Especially when she thought of his superb massage techniques that made her body tingle and feel comfortable to the bone.
They held an unforgettable magic.
