novelraw Chapter 426 - 199: Cool Sunglasses
Chapter 426 - 199: Cool Sunglasses
Seeing the new attributes that popped up after the sunglasses were bound, Jiang Tao couldn’t help but brighten up.
Cool Sunglasses—attributes look average, but they’re actually crazy strong!
A 10% bonus to strength and 10% boost to running speed might not seem like much for ordinary people.
But if top-level athletes got this buff, it would be absolutely insane!
Forget about a 10% speed boost—even if it was just 1% more...
For those marathon gods at the top, that’s a super rare attribute boost!
Since the marathon was invented, no one has managed to break the 2-hour barrier.
Breaking 2 in the full marathon has always been the big focus in the running community.
Everyone’s waiting for a miracle.
Waiting for a "chosen one" who can run the marathon in under 2 hours.
"With my current strength, if I put on these cool sunglasses, I should be able to run a pretty nice time, right?"
Looking at the attributes of the [Cool Sunglasses], Jiang Tao felt a vague sense of anticipation.
If I become the first person to go under 2 hours in a marathon, it’d be harder not to go viral!
Finishing the [Sports Star] mission would be a piece of cake, super simple!
If word got out that I scored such a badass piece of gear, I don’t even know how many people would be jealous!
Of course, only Jiang Tao can see the attributes of the [Cool Sunglasses], and only he gets the effects.
Even if the world’s best research team got their hands on it, they wouldn’t figure out a damn thing.
So technically, there’s no risk of leaking the secret.
After messing around with the sunglasses for a bit, Jiang Tao put them on his nose and looked out the car window.
"Whoa, it’s so clear!"
[Cool Sunglasses] really stand out in the eyesight department too.
As soon as Jiang Tao put them on, the whole world looked way sharper.
Clarity instantly went from HD to Blu-ray!
"Nice, nice—really nice!"
Jiang Tao kept praising them out loud, absolutely amazed by his new gear, loving it to bits!
His eyes darted all around, checking out this and that, like he’d just unlocked a whole new world—everything was interesting.
After randomly peeking around the complex for a while, Jiang Tao finally collected himself, got out of the car and returned to the driver’s seat up front.
Started the car, floored the Mercedes G-Class out of the parking spot, heading for the community gate.
"Nothing can stop me, I’m yearning for freedom~"
Scoring a piece of super-powered gear first thing in the morning made Jiang Tao’s mood even better than today’s weather.
He hummed tunes the whole way; took just ten minutes or so to reach the entrance of Xiaoshanhe Village.
Jiang Tao parked the G next to his old 4.2-meter cargo truck that he used to haul goods, then got out.
"What the hell! Who the hell smashed my truck’s windshield?"
Soon as he got out, saw the cargo truck’s windshield smashed to bits—Jiang Tao was instantly speechless.
Even though he basically never drives this truck these days...
He’s still got feelings for this old buddy that’s stuck by him for five or six years.
If he sold it secondhand, he might get forty grand tops.
That kind of money—these days, Jiang Tao barely cares about it.
Might as well keep his "old buddy" around for old times’ sake.
"Damn, and one of the tires is gone, too! Who’s such an asshole?"
Circling the truck, Jiang Tao noticed the right rear wheel was missing too.
"If I leave it here any longer, people’ll strip my whole truck."
"Gotta find it a new spot."
Talking to himself, Jiang Tao pulled out his phone and dialed that auto shop owner, Tian Zhipeng.
"Hey Boss Tian, someone took a wheel off my cargo truck parked at the entrance of Xiaoshanhe Village, windshield’s smashed too."
"Can you fix it up for me? Quote me a price."
"Make it quick—the sooner the better. All right, that’s it for now, hanging up."
After the call with Tian Zhipeng, Jiang Tao put the phone back in his pocket and headed into Xiaoshanhe Village.
Early morning, Xiaoshanhe Urban Village was buzzing, too.
People weaving in and out of the alleys, heading off to work.
In five or six minutes, Jiang Tao reached the front of Old Lü’s old walk-up building, went up to his door, hand raised to knock.
The door creaked open from the inside.
Ma Dongmei appeared carrying a black trash bag.
Seeing Jiang Tao suddenly drop by, Ma Dongmei blushed, looking a bit awkward.
Even though everyone knows she’s already shacking up with Old Lü...
Knowing’s one thing—getting caught in the act, that’s a bit embarrassing.
"Good morning, Aunt Ma! Old Lü home?"
Jiang Tao gave a friendly smile and called out to Ma Dongmei, smoothing over her embarrassment.
"Ah..."
Ma Dongmei quickly returned to normal, gave Jiang Tao a casual wave, opened the door wide, and gestured for him to come in.
"Hey, Xiao Jiang, how come you’re up so early today?"
Inside, Lü Qian heard the noise and came out of the kitchenette, saw Jiang Tao entering, and greeted him with a big grin.
Jiang Tao laughed and teased, "Brother Lü, did you and the missus just finish a love-filled breakfast?"
"Haha, you little brat, quit teasing Xiao Mei! Xiao Mei, go take out the trash, don’t treat him like a guest."
Lü Qian waved at Ma Dongmei, looking as smug as can be.
Ma Dongmei already knew Jiang Tao well, greeted him, then headed out with the trash.
"Sit, sit, have a seat! You came visiting empty-handed, huh?"
Lü Qian invited Jiang Tao to sit and couldn’t resist ribbing him.
"Hahaha, we’re brothers—if I showed up with gifts, wouldn’t that be kinda distant and awkward?"
"Hey, acting a bit distant with your bro isn’t a bad thing! Next time, bring me some Eight Treasure Pickles or some barbecue sauce or something."
Last night, Lü Qian went to Jiang Tao’s BBQ party and just can’t stop thinking about the Eight Treasure Pickles and barbecue sauce he had there.
Both top-notch products from Jiang’s Food Factory—quality’s legit, basically everyone who’s tasted them loves them.
That’s the reason Jiang Tao’s always super confident about his family’s products.
Jiang Tao chuckled, "Hahaha, no problem—Brother Lü, however much you want, I’ve got it!"
After a little banter, Lü Qian poured Jiang Tao a cup of water, grinning:
"You’re not the kind to just randomly come over, so spit it out—what’s up? No need to beat around the bush!"
"Haha, you really know me well, Brother Lü. All right, I’ll be straight with you."
"I’m here for a reason today—got a bit of business."
"Heard from the boss at Pang Dongdong Supermarket that your niece-in-law is planning to sell her place in the village?"
Jiang Tao glanced at Lü Qian, casually making up a "source" for the info.
"Yeah, that’s actually true. So, Xiao Jiang, you looking to buy?"
Lü Qian nodded, didn’t deny it.
"Yep, I’ve got a bit of cash to spare—leaving it in the bank just gets you crumbs. Might as well invest."
"Not like I’ve got enough to flip houses anyway."
"Last time I was at Pang Dongdong Supermarket, I happened to hear your niece-in-law wanted to sell, so I came over. Figured I’d meet her and see what’s up. If the price is right, maybe we can work something out."
Jiang Tao looked at Old Lü with total sincerity, words full of honesty.
"Xiao Jiang, you really want to buy a village house?"
Lü Qian said honestly:
"Right now, the village won’t let you tear down and rebuild—if you buy a place, you can only renovate it as-is, no rebuilding."
Jiang Tao smiled matter-of-factly, "I’m aware, it’s fine. I’m not buying to live in it, just want to bet that it’ll appreciate someday."
"Xiao Jiang, I’ll level with you—in all honesty, I had the same thought thirty years ago."
"Now it’s been thirty years—a whole generation’s almost gone, and we still haven’t seen any resettlement."
Talking about relocation made Old Lü look a little wistful.
"Hahaha, I’m still young—even if I have to wait thirty years, I can handle it."
"And if I don’t benefit from it, my daughter will. Just treat it as her wedding dowry."
Jiang Tao knew Old Lü was only saying all this out of genuine care, so he clarified his own thinking with a smile.