Godly Beggar

The weight of the family's financial crisis hung over Jiang Han like a storm cloud. For most students, balancing schoolwork and preparation for the Olympiad would have been enough. But for Jiang Han, life had never been that straightforward—especially not with the Begging System constantly layering on its challenges.

Sitting at his desk late into the night, Jiang Han reviewed the notes he had compiled about his parents' logistics business.

"Rising fuel costs, maintenance fees, overdue invoices from clients…" he muttered, scrolling through the spreadsheet he had pieced together. "This is more than just a hiccup. The business is barely breaking even."

The system chimed softly as if to offer solace.

[Reflection: Challenges are opportunities in disguise. The host's task is to uncover the hidden opportunities.]

"Easier said than done," Jiang Han muttered, rubbing his temples.

Determined to make headway, Jiang Han activated the system's Skill Tree tab, focusing on his newly unlocked Resourcefulness Skill (Advanced Level). A wave of warmth coursed through him as the skill activated, sharpening his focus and creativity.

"Alright," Jiang Han said, leaning back in his chair. "Let's look at this from a different angle."

The skill illuminated connections he hadn't noticed before. Certain clients consistently delayed payments, creating a ripple effect that strained the business's cash flow.

"Late payments are the root of this," Jiang Han realised. "But how do I fix that?"

The system chimed again, this time with a proactive nudge.

[Daily Mission Available: Negotiate payment terms with a client on behalf of the family business.]

Reward: Communication Skill (Intermediate Level).]

Jiang Han frowned. "Negotiate? I'm a high school student. What am I supposed to say—'Hello, I'm calling on behalf of my parents. Could you please pay up?'"

The system offered no response, its silence making Jiang Han sigh in resignation.

"Alright, fine," he muttered. "Let's see how this goes."

The next day, after school, Jiang Han found himself sitting at his father's desk in their modest home office. His mother hovered nearby, her expression a mixture of scepticism and worry.

"Are you sure about this, Jiang?" she asked. "It's not as simple as asking nicely."

"I know, Mum," Jiang Han replied, his voice steady. "But it's worth trying."

He dialled the number of one of their key clients, a mid-sized retailer notorious for delaying payments. The phone rang a few times before a brusque voice answered.

"Hello?"

"Good afternoon," Jiang Han began, keeping his tone polite but professional. "This is Jiang Han, representing Jiang Logistics. I'm calling about the outstanding invoice for last month's delivery."

A pause followed. "Ah, right. We're processing that. Should be sorted soon."

"With respect," Jiang Han said, "this isn't the first time payments have been delayed. It's starting to impact our operations. I'd like to propose a solution that works for both of us."

The client hesitated. "What kind of solution?"

"We can offer a small discount for early payments," Jiang Han suggested, improvising. "In return, we'd appreciate timely settlements. It keeps things smoother for everyone."

The silence on the other end stretched long enough for Jiang Han to feel his nerves spike. But finally, the client spoke.

"Alright, send over the details."

Jiang Han exhaled in relief. "Thank you. I'll follow up shortly."

[Mission Complete! Reward Unlocked: Communication Skill (Intermediate Level).]

His mother stared at him in disbelief as he hung up. "How did you—?"

Jiang Han shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. "Just tried something new."

Later that evening, Jiang Han shared the situation with Hui Qi and Derek during a study session.

"You actually negotiated with a client?" Derek exclaimed, his eyes wide. "Man, you're full of surprises!"

"It wasn't perfect," Jiang Han admitted. "But it's a start. I need more ideas to stabilise the cash flow."

Hui Qi frowned, tapping her pen against her notebook. "Have you thought about diversifying the business? Maybe taking on smaller clients who pay faster to balance out the bigger ones?"

"That's a good idea," Jiang Han said, jotting it down. "What about marketing? My parents haven't done much of that."

Derek's face lit up. "Facebook!"

Jiang Han raised an eyebrow. "Facebook?"

"Yeah, man! It's blowing up right now. Set up a page for the business, post updates about your routes and services—it makes you look legit."

"That's actually… not a bad idea," Jiang Han said, intrigued. "How do I start?"

"I'll show you," Derek said, pulling out his phone.

Over the next few days, Jiang Han dived into creating a digital presence for Jiang Logistics. With Derek's help, he set up a Facebook page, complete with professional-looking photos and detailed descriptions of the company's services.

Hui Qi suggested adding a "timeline" feature to track delivery milestones, which quickly became a hit with followers. Comments poured in from customers praising the company's efficiency and reliability.

"Social proof," Hui Qi explained. "People trust businesses with good reviews."

Encouraged, Jiang Han began posting updates regularly, including behind-the-scenes photos of his father inspecting vehicles or his mother managing schedules. One post, featuring a timelapse of a delivery route, garnered hundreds of views within hours.

"This might just work," Jiang Han thought, watching the numbers climb.

As Jiang Han worked late one evening, the system chimed softly.

[Hidden Reward Unlocked: Networking Skill (Elementary Level).]

[This skill enhances the host's ability to build and maintain connections.]

"Networking, huh?" Jiang Han murmured, leaning back in his chair. "That could be useful."

The gentle hum of the skill settling into his mind sharpened his awareness of how to leverage relationships—not just for business, but for personal growth too.

By the end of the week, the small changes Jiang Han had implemented were already bearing fruit. Payments from clients were more consistent, and the increased visibility from Facebook had attracted inquiries from potential customers.

His parents noticed the difference, though they were still adjusting to the sudden surge of activity.

"You've done more in a week than we've managed in months," his father said one evening, his tone a mixture of pride and disbelief.

Jiang Han smiled faintly. "It's teamwork, Dad. And a little creativity."

As he lay in bed that night, Jiang Han felt a sense of accomplishment. But he knew the financial crisis wasn't entirely resolved. Bigger challenges loomed on the horizon, and he would need every skill and ounce of determination to tackle them.

[Reflection: Progress is a series of small victories. Keep building momentum, and even the largest obstacles will fall.]

Jiang Han nodded, determination etched into his expression. "Bring it on."

The week had been a whirlwind of progress, but Jiang Han knew there was no room for complacency. The increased visibility from Facebook and the improved client payment terms were steps in the right direction, but his parents' business still faced long-term challenges.

Late that evening, as he sat at his desk reviewing his progress, the system chimed softly.

[Reflection: Success requires sustained effort. Small gains must be consolidated into lasting growth.]

Jiang Han sighed, leaning back in his chair. "You sure know how to keep the pressure on, don't you?"

The system didn't respond, but its words stuck with him. He needed a plan to build on their momentum.

The next day, Jiang Han approached his parents with a new idea.

"Have you ever considered forming partnerships with other businesses?" he asked over breakfast.

His father frowned thoughtfully. "What kind of partnerships?"

"Think about local shops or small manufacturers," Jiang Han explained. "They might need reliable logistics services but don't have the resources to hire a big company. We could offer them tailored solutions—maybe even discounted rates for long-term contracts."

His mother looked intrigued. "That could work. We've relied on the same clients for years, but diversifying might stabilise our income."

"Exactly," Jiang Han said, a spark of excitement lighting his eyes. "I can start reaching out to potential partners this week."

With his Networking Skills (Elementary Level) active, Jiang Han crafted a list of small businesses in the area. He spent the afternoon calling and emailing, pitching the idea of a collaboration.

Most responses were polite but non-committal, though a few expressed interest. Encouraged, Jiang Han decided to visit one of the businesses—a boutique furniture maker—in person.

The owner, a middle-aged woman named Madam Lim, greeted him warmly. "So, you're from Jiang Logistics?"

"Yes," Jiang Han said, offering a confident smile. "I wanted to discuss how we could help streamline your deliveries. We specialise in flexible, local logistics solutions."

Madam Lim listened attentively as Jiang Han outlined the potential benefits. By the end of their conversation, she agreed to a trial partnership.

"This could be the start of something good," Jiang Han thought as he left the shop.

That evening, Jiang Han updated his parents on his progress. His father clapped him on the back, pride evident in his expression.

"You're showing us a whole new way of thinking, son," he said.

Jiang Han smiled, but his thoughts remained focused. The financial crisis wasn't over, but they were making progress.

As he lay in bed, the system chimed one last time for the day.

[Reflection: True leadership lies in finding solutions and inspiring others to embrace them.]

Jiang Han closed his eyes, a sense of quiet determination settling over him. The road ahead would be challenging, but he was ready to face it—one step at a time.