The beautiful girl, speaking in a sweet voice to Huiang who was still lost in thought, said, "Thank you! It's a pleasure to meet you again!" She smiled and moved on. When Huiang finally regained his composure, the girl had already vanished. Everything had happened so suddenly—he hadn't even managed to catch a full view of her face, nor could he clearly see her features. All he could recall was her profile. He didn't know her name, only that she was exceptionally beautiful and had many admirers at the university. Huiang didn't dwell on it. After four years of undergraduate studies, he had seen his share of beautiful women at university, and at Kyoto University—ranked number one nationally in liberal arts and sciences—beauty was everywhere. To encounter a woman he hadn't fully appreciated yet was entirely normal; only that it had happened so unexpectedly. What mattered most now was resolving the funding issue for the relocation of the Kyoto City Farmers' Rights Association's office, and Huiang found himself at a loss. He himself was still a student pursuing further studies, and all the money Sheng Ningbing had given him had been invested in this association. What could he do? In the evening, Tang Hao, Du Hu, Wang Biao, He Qiang, and Yang Long all came over to report on the specific work of the association, each needing guidance from Gao Liang on various operational matters. Gao Liang led the five of them into the campus of Kyoto University. The campus gatekeepers were about to stop and question them, but upon hearing that they were there for further studies, Gao Liang produced his student ID and flashed it in front of the security officer, who then waved them through. Indeed, in recent times there has been a growing number of social youth pursuing further education, and with the university now offering open education, its educational targets have broadened—not only to include undergraduate and graduate students enrolled through the university, but also to welcome students from the broader society. From the very first step they took into the campus, He Qiang and Yang Long could not conceal their joy and excitement. Because this is the top university nationwide, it truly feels like Liu Auntie stepping into the Grand Garden. Although He Qiang had attended university for a year, the gap between that institution and a national first-rate university was simply overwhelming—this was exactly the university he had always dreamed of. The standardized teaching buildings, the park-like campus, the modern educational approach—all clearly reflect the university's status as a national leader. Yang Long was equally delighted, as he had dropped out of university after high school due to financial hardship. Now, while working in Kyoto, he has the rare opportunity to step into his dream university—Kyoto University. Even if he cannot study here today, simply experiencing the campus atmosphere is deeply satisfying. Besides He Qiang and Yang Long, Tang Hao, Du Hu, and Wang Biao were also deeply inspired by the beautiful and conducive learning environment of the campus. Though these three retired security guards have limited literacy, they understand that in today’s society, mere physical labor and strength alone are no longer sufficient to achieve success—education in culture and technology is essential. To stand out in this competitive society, one must be both well-versed in academics and skilled in practical matters. While immersed in the academic atmosphere of university life, everyone began to admire Gao Liang—how could it be that their own leader was a graduate student? Truly impressive! This leader, well-rounded in both academics and practice, surely brings bright prospects for the team. Gao Liang held his student meal card and led them to the campus canteen for a hearty, affordable meal. Then he took them to his and Sun Peng's two-bedroom apartment, a graduate student dormitory. After settling in, they began discussing the matter of the Kyoto Farmers' Rights Protection Association. Tang Hao asked, "Leader, what should we do about relocating the office of the association?" "We'll pool our funds!" Du Hu spoke up before Gao Liang could respond. "Can we really raise that much? It'll take a substantial sum!" Wang Biao interjected, shaking his head. "What do you all think?" Gao Liang then turned his gaze to He Qiang and Yang Long. They are going through the list of member associations, preparing to hand it over to Gao Huang. "Boss, here's the latest office expenses—we're shocked by how high they are! Look!" He passed over a document. Gao Huang took it, furrowed his brows. The expenses were clearly itemized, totaling 5,000 yuan for various call charges and other costs. In just half a month, such an amount is required—considering that the members are volunteering their time. It's no wonder running a public service initiative is so challenging; a steady financial foundation is essential to serve society effectively. Many excellent nonprofit organizations fail precisely because they lack consistent funding. Now Gao Huang finally understands this. "Boss, here are the member lists!" "Without even waiting for high-level affirmation, Yang Long handed over a stack of detailed materials to Gao Liang, who carefully went through them and was very satisfied. He said, "Just based on this, we absolutely have to make this beneficial initiative for migrant workers a reality—no matter how many difficulties arise, we must face them head-on!" "But boss, I'm not sure if I can sustain this," Wang Biao questioned. "Let the team think of solutions!" Gao Liang reserved the floor for his colleagues. Everyone fell silent. After all, the operation would require a significant investment, and since they themselves were all migrants, where would they find the extra funds? "Ha! I've got it! I've got it!" Du Hu pulled out a crumpled newspaper from his pocket, unfolded it, and everyone saw it was a report from the *Kyoto Daily*. "This was yesterday's news—someone won 500,000 in the welfare lottery. Let's buy lottery tickets too!" "Stop dreaming! I've been buying lottery tickets every day lately—my money's just vanished!" Wang Biao looked utterly dismissive, clearly no longer holding out any hope for the lottery. "We've all bought plenty of tickets. We've missed even the smallest prizes. Du Hu, stop dreaming—never in your life will you win the lottery!" Tang Hao seemed completely indifferent to the lottery. He and Yang Long kept shaking their heads in disbelief, as if to say, "Only when the sky collapses will I believe we can win a big prize—after all, big winners are so rare." Yet Gao Liang was completely different. He smiled warmly at Du Hu and said, "This idea is great! I'll take you tomorrow—we'll draw a prize right away!" Upon hearing this, everyone burst into laughter. The scene was truly engaging—their leader had finally developed a passion for drawing tickets! Yet, even as they were delighted, none of them treated it seriously, as though it were just a joke. It's a bit late now, and we're all too comfortable to go back. Luckily, Sun Peng's room is vacant, so everyone has a place to rest. The two-bedroom, one-living-room apartment has several fold-out beds, ensuring that all of us can enjoy a good night's sleep. The next day, after everyone had washed up, Tang Hao wanted to take us back to the construction site of Mengyi Home. Unexpectedly, Du Hu was not on board—he directly turned to Gao Huang and said, "It's Saturday today, and the head doesn't have any classes. Why don't we go to the welfare lottery station and draw tickets instead?" Gao Huang was just about to head to the ATM inside the campus to check his balance and see if he could gather enough funds to tide us over. Hearing Du Hu's suggestion, he nodded and said, "You didn't mention it—I almost forgot! Let's go! I'll take you all to buy lottery tickets and bring back a big prize!" So, the group gathered around Gao Huang and headed to the nearest welfare lottery station outside the campus. High-light and his brothers spotted far in advance a large red banner stretched across the top of the welfare lottery ticket booth, reading: "Warmest congratulations to this ticket booth for winning a 100,000-yuan prize in the ×××th drawing!" The ticket booth was bustling with people, filled with lively chatter. High-light and his companions pushed their way in, observing that every patron was fully focused on the multi-functional ticket machine. "I'm betting on: 02, 07, 09, 13, 25, 33, and 36! Print out my ticket now!" said a middle-aged man, holding a cigarette between his teeth, his eyes never leaving the ticket machine, and speaking to a young female salesperson beside him. "Right away!" the salesperson responded, quickly attending to the request, as the ticket machine issued out tickets with a steady rustle. "You dead thing! Still buying lottery tickets? You've been buying for two years now, yet you've never hit a big prize! You've even forced me and my son to eat instant noodles! Come on! Get back with me! I'm not coming here again for such money-wasting places!" A middle-aged woman with a waist like a bucket, one arm crossed over her chest, her eyes bulging with intensity, as if about to burst into flames, was sharply speaking to a middle-aged man across from her. "Stop shouting! I still want to win a big prize—I feel this issue is going to be a jackpot!" The man ignored his wife's words, pushed through under pressure and bought another ticket, then reluctantly left. Everyone saw that it was the woman who had gently pulled his ear as they walked home. Then one by one, others began to place their bets, each with distinctly different expressions and attitudes. Some were indifferent, simply calling out a sequence of numbers and then heading off with their tickets. Others, however, were extremely cautious and anxious, fidgeting nervously at the ticket machine, indecisive and hesitant—this made both the people standing nearby and the female salesperson visibly unhappy. After all, one person's hesitation was disrupting the flow; if everyone acted this way, the ticket booth might barely manage a few transactions a day. Finally, after enduring everyone's complaints, he departed. Once he was gone, everyone spat out a long stream of curses and stared at him with intense eyes. It was now high light's and his brothers' turn. Everyone was watching Du Hu, signaling him to place a bet. Du Hu scratched his head, saying, "Boss, I don't have any money. Could you place a bet for me?" The brothers all laughed—how could they have been so timid in front of High Light, someone they usually admired for being so outspoken? High Light smiled and said, "Certainly! I actually have some spare cash. I'll place the bet!" Then he handed the money to the female teller. With nimble fingers, the teller pressed the keys on the betting machine, saying, "Please place your bet." At that moment, everyone's eyes turned to High Light, watching closely to see how he would place his bet. Gao Huang had never placed a bet before. He quietly read through the various sequences of numbers on the betting machine, absorbing all the information displayed. After finishing, he felt his heart beat once, and then an invisible force gathered within him, building up over about half a minute. Suddenly, his thoughts became vivid and active. Without thinking, he said aloud, "Madam! The middle-aged man who just placed his bet used numbers 02, 07, 09, 13, 25, 33, and 36. I've slightly adjusted them to 02, 08, 10, 13, 25, 32, and 36. Please print out the ticket for me!" The crowd stirred—this was a method they, as seasoned stockholders, had never tried before. Now, witnessing such a fresh approach of subtle adjustment, they were truly impressed. The female sales associate habitually operated her computer, and a brand-new lottery ticket appeared. Gaoliang held up the lottery ticket and tossed it into Du Hu's hands, saying, "Du Hu, take a look! We've won!" "Won?" Du Hu held the ticket with no sense of excitement, for he was a seasoned stock investor—his past lottery tickets could fill several baskets. Based on his experience, winning prizes wasn't rare, but hitting a big jackpot was difficult. His biggest win had been 10,000 yuan, though it had cost him a total of 20,000 yuan, forcing him to draw funds from his home loan repayments. Today was Saturday, and the construction site of Mengyi Home had mostly quiet work. Tang Hao had arranged his security staff's duties over the phone, while the Beijing Rural Workers' Rights Association typically did not receive visiting workers on weekends—only a few hotline services remained open 24 hours. Since there was nothing urgent, the team decided to stroll around the urban area of Beijing. Considering that Sun Peng would be returning to stay, Gao Liang arranged a temporary accommodation for the brothers at a private guesthouse near Kyoto University—Chao Yang Guesthouse, which offers economical and convenient lodging. The brothers, who had been working on the construction site of Ming Yi Home for a long time, were thrilled to suddenly move into the bustling city and spent their days strolling around, exploring here and there, enjoying a relaxed and carefree pace. Gao Liang needed to deepen his computer-related knowledge, as he knew his ultimate goal was to assist Xie Ningbing in developing a new, high-end computer product to meet market demands. Thus, even after 10 p.m., he remained studying in his dormitory. Yet just then, Sun Peng hadn’t returned, and a sudden, urgent knocking sound came from outside the door. "Who?" Gao Liang asked without opening the door, peering through the doorframe. "We've got it! We've got it! The boss has finally made it!" Excited voices came through. Gao Liang recognized Du Hu's voice and opened the door to see his brothers all animated and deeply moved. Especially Du Hu, who held the lottery ticket like a rare treasure, as if afraid it would fly away. "Brother Liang has been accepted into college! 800,000! 800,000!" Tang Hao and the other brothers all cheered spontaneously. "We were watching TV at the inn, just as the today's welfare lottery draw was taking place. The official results were announced, and the serial number of the balls came out. We didn't expect much at first. Fortunately, He Qiang was attentive—he noticed how familiar that number seemed and reminded me to check the ticket. We never thought it would actually work out! It really did!" Du Hu's enthusiastic excitement only made everyone else even more joyful. "Brother Liang is now well-off! We won't have to worry about food and clothing anymore!" Wang Biao smiled happily. "Brother Liang, our migrant workers' rights protection association can finally move offices! We've got funding secured!" He was very excited, shaking the association document in his hands and taking a deep, relieved breath. "Boss, I just got a phone call about the proposed relocation— I didn't know how to respond! Now I feel confident. Our association will definitely move forward smoothly, and we'll keep improving!" Yang Long held the hotline tightly, his joy clearly visible on his face. High pointed at the two and said to Tang Hao, "You all come with me to collect the awards tomorrow!" "Yes!" Tang Hao, the security team leader and former bodyguard, responded firmly—like a soldier making a pledge before carrying out a mission. Of course, Wang Biao and Du Hu were also solid security personnel with excellent physical abilities. The next morning, the six of them went together to the Jingdu City Welfare Lottery Issuance Center to collect their awards. Huang held his ID card and lottery ticket, and filled out the "Award Claim Registration Form" according to the staff's instructions based on his actual situation. During this time, the winning tickets were verified by the central computer system, further cross-checked, and automatically calculated the prize amount, tax liability, and actual payout, with a "Winning Details Statement" issued. Then, the Finance Department worked together with the bank branch to open a prize savings account for Huang and handled the deduction and payment of personal income tax on偶然 income. At this point, many lottery enthusiasts might not be familiar with the tax regulations. According to the relevant rules, lottery tickets with a single winning amount exceeding 10,000 yuan are subject to a 20% personal income tax on occasional income. Therefore, the prize of 8 million yuan, after deducting the tax, amounts to 6.4 million yuan—quite substantial. Everyone is delighted, especially since they now enjoy the good fortune of being part of a group led by a millionaire. They returned to the Chaoyang Travel Inn and began discussing in a closed room. "Brothers!" Let's discuss how we should use this money! It's everyone's money, and we need to make sure we put it to good use!" Hao Liang opened up. "Boss, during my walk around today with the team, I noticed a hotel called May Blossom not far from here—its sign says the hotel is for transfer. Isn't it worth considering transferring it over?" Tang Hao's aunt runs a hotel that's doing very well, so Tang Hao values hotel development highly. "I've checked the hotel's records—it's changed hands several times, and the operations haven't been very successful," Yang Long said, frowning thoughtfully. "The location is excellent, though. I'm confident that with proper management and a well-thought-out approach, the boss can revitalize it!" Heung Qiang was optimistic, so his tone was upbeat and confident. Hao Liang didn't speak immediately—he simply turned his gaze toward Du Hu and Wang Biao, showing his openness to diverse perspectives and his belief in gathering input to gain clarity. Although he had never been involved in business himself, he felt it was a wise move to listen carefully to his brothers' opinions before making a decision. "Brother, I'm not going to hold back—opening a hotel is a great option. The dining industry is thriving in Kyoto, and I used to work as a security guard at a restaurant there. That hotel has a particularly distinctive operation. One of my hometown friends is in charge of the kitchen there—she can definitely share some valuable insights!" Du Hu spoke enthusiastically about hotels, flowing effortlessly from one point to the next.