“Did you find a job today? This brat never lets us worry less.” Dad started grumbling as soon as he walked in: “How can you find a wife if you keep mooching off your parents all day? How are we supposed to have grandkids… Where did you get that dog?!”

　　Little William: “Meow-woof…”

　　Dad: “Well, look at that, this dog is pretty well-behaved! Knows to greet us, much better than that brat David!”

　　“What are you talking about, you old man? Why do you always look down on our David?” At this moment, Mom couldn’t take it anymore and rushed out from the kitchen: “I’ve never seen anyone as annoying as you, let me tell you!”

　　“I’m not looking down on him! I’m just worried.” Dad changed into his slippers and said, “Why do I work myself to the bone every day? Isn’t it just to earn a bit more money to buy him a house and help him get married? The key is, we can’t keep working ourselves to death while he just enjoys life, right? He’s got to put in some effort himself, otherwise, when we’re gone, how’s he going to support himself?”

　　“Pfft, can’t you say it nicely?” Mom pouted and said, “Let me tell you, our David found a job today, as a temp at a company, 2,400 a month, starts next Monday!”

　　“Really?” Dad’s eyes widened instantly, excited: “Nice job, David, you’re making progress! Haha, let’s have a couple of drinks later, just the two of us! We have to celebrate this!”

　　David Clark grinned and sniffed: “Hehe, celebrate, of course we have to celebrate!”

　　Soon, the food was almost ready. Each of them grabbed a bottle, and Dad drank as he spoke: “Ah, you kid, I should’ve kept a closer eye on you back then. You ended up at some no-name college, which was useless, would’ve been better to do another year of prep. At least now you’ve grown up. That last job, damn, working from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. for only 2,200 a month, and they said if you didn’t like it, you could leave. Isn’t that just bullying? But now, even though this job doesn’t pay much, at least it’s a good start. Not bad.”

　　“Dad, it’s actually not that great.” David Clark said a bit sheepishly, “It’s only for two months, after that I’ll probably have to look for another job.”

　　“That’s nothing to worry about.” Dad didn’t mind at all: “Let me tell you, being a man isn’t about the result, it’s about the process! As long as you work hard and do your best, the result doesn’t matter! If you get a permanent position, that’s our luck. If not, it just means it’s not time yet. The key is you know you have to earn your own living, and that’s what matters! When this job is over, Shanghai is such a big city, there’s bound to be a job that suits you, right? So don’t overthink it. Come on, have a drink with your dad!”

　　David Clark quickly raised his bottle and clinked it with Dad: “Cheers!”

Chapter 11: Preparing to Climb the Rankings

　　Come to think of it, in all these years, Dad has only praised me like this maybe three times? The last time I remember was when I took an old lady who fainted on the street to the hospital. That was five or six years ago. Back then, Dad praised me for having the spirit of a hero, yeah.

　　“We really should have a good drink.” Mom was also beaming with excitement: “Our David finally has a real job! No longer unemployed, haha! Celebrate, we must celebrate! Oh, now that David has a job, shouldn’t we start looking for a girlfriend for him? I have a friend whose relative’s daughter is supposed to be pretty nice…”

　　Mother, isn’t your train of thought jumping a bit too fast?!

　　“Mom, hold on!” David Clark quickly called out, “I’m only 24, okay? Why are you in such a hurry to find me a girlfriend?!”

　　“You brat, how are you going to get married if you don’t date? And how will you have kids if you don’t get married?!” Mom’s eyes sparkled: “While your dad and I still have the energy to help you with the kids, you have to hurry up! Otherwise, when you’re older and have kids, I won’t be able to help, and do you know how much a nanny costs? Ten thousand a month! How many tens of thousands can you earn?”

　　“I…” David Clark was dumbfounded. Just a moment ago, she was talking about finding a girlfriend, and now she’s already planning for kids?!

　　“Alright, alright, you’re getting ahead of yourself, nothing’s even started yet!” In the end, it was Dad who came to David Clark’s rescue: “David, now that you have a job, you need to be careful from now on. If anything happens, be patient, don’t get hot-headed and start a fight.” Dad took a big swig, downing half the bottle: “Be more tolerant in daily life. This job wasn’t easy to get, don’t lose it again, you hear me?”

　　“Got it, don’t worry.” David Clark quickly nodded in agreement.

　　“As long as you know. Come on, let’s drink.” Dad’s face was flushed with happiness: “I’m so happy today, let’s have a few more!”

　　Dinner lasted from a little after five until eight thirty. Dad and David Clark each had four bottles.

　　After dinner, lying in bed, David Clark looked at the ceiling light, and a satisfied smile suddenly appeared at the corner of his mouth.

　　Just in one day, he felt like he had matured, like he was a man who could share his family’s burdens!

　　A real man! Absolutely!

　　When the future is full of hope, people become much more motivated.

　　Now that his career had officially started, and with nothing else to do, David Clark opened Fengyun Chinese Web and began browsing some main news.