"That's a must. I didn't buy any wine today, let's have a drink some other time."
Xie Yu Gui ushered him into the main hall and said, "If you have something to say, just say it."
"I'm just concerned about your health..."
"You don't visit without a reason, weasels don't wish mice New Year's greetings, that's you. Don't you remember you took two of my chickens when you visited during the New Year?"
"Uncle, that's all in the past, let's not talk about it. I've really changed this time, don't believe me, ask the villagers?"
Xie Sui felt embarrassed. He had done countless foolish things since childhood, so many that he couldn't even remember them himself.
"You're here because Zhao Tie Lin is stealing your business, aren't you?"
Xie Yu Gui was not foolish; on the contrary, he was quite shrewd. Xie Sui's every move told him what he was up to.
"Uncle, you're wise, and not entirely. Listen to me explain..."
They talked until late into the night, and his sons, unable to stay awake, had gone to bed early.
...
The next day, Xie Sui loaded his cart as usual. There was more wild game, but fewer canned goods, only a little over forty bottles. There were no more peaches at home.
Wang Tie Zhu accompanied him today. He had caught over ten catties of fish, and they would sell it together to the state-run restaurant in town.
The duo turned into a trio. Wang Tie Zhu was even more taciturn than Zhang Wen Feng, as silent as a mute. As they were leaving, Mother Wang kept giving him instructions, afraid that Xie Sui would sell her son. Wang Tie Zhu found it embarrassing. Was he that useless?
"Tie Zhu, when you earn money, what kind of wife do you want to marry?"
Xie Sui teased him. He was a lively person who couldn't sit still. The journey was only half an hour, and it was too stifling to remain silent. He took the initiative to strike up a conversation.
"As long as it's a woman, it's all the same when the lights are out, right?"
Xie Sui: "..."
"Hahaha..."
Zhang Wen Feng was the first to laugh. "That's not true. How can someone skinny as a rake compare to someone plump? How can skin as delicate as an egg compare to skin as rough as sandpaper?"
"And then there's the gentle ones, who can melt your heart with a single whimper. Isn't that better than finding a shrew, who makes a fuss all day and causes endless arguments?"
Xie Sui chimed in, "Wen Feng is right. A good wife builds a family, while a bad wife ruins three generations. You have to be careful about this."
"You married a woman as good as Sister Wan Wan, but I don't see you getting rich."
Xie Sui was furious. This Wang Tie Zhu was truly a blockhead. How could he talk like that?
If this were his past life, this guy's EQ would be negative.
"Aren't I getting rich now? Wan Wan is of course a good wife who brings fortune and prosperity. I never deny that."
"Alright, let's not talk about this. When a man has money in his pocket, his back straightens up. Any girl within a three-mile radius that you fancy, your brother will help you win her over."
"Heh, I don't care for it. Your tricks are only good for bullying Sister Wan Wan. I'll find a wife who will happily marry me."
Zhang Wen Feng had nothing to say. Why was this guy so stubborn?
Xie Sui also fell silent. The conversation was dying because of him.
At the same state-run restaurant, Xu Dong Lai looked at Xie Sui's wild game. He didn't rush to weigh it, but instead smoked a cigarette, looking as if he had something to say but hesitated.
"Master Xu, is there a problem?"
Xie Sui still had to go to the county town; he had scorpion cans to sell and many things to do. He didn't have time to waste with him.
"It's like this, the restaurant's business hasn't been good lately, and no one from upstairs is coming. We rely solely on the people in town to eat. No one can afford large portions of meat and fish..."
"So, Master Xu's meaning is that you don't want this wild game anymore?"
Xie Sui's voice turned cold. They had accepted it all these past few days, and now suddenly they didn't want it, for the same amount of goods. There must be something going on.
"Not exactly..."
Master Xu rubbed his fingers. "Someone is offering you more."
Xie Sui sneered. Well done, Zhao Tie Lin. He was really trying to poach his business. What a sly old fox!
"Alright, then I wish Master Xu prosperity."
Xie Sui didn't say another word. He waved to Zhang Wen Feng to take the cages away. He wouldn't sell Wang Tie Zhu's fish to him either.
He turned his mule cart around and drove away, catching Xu Dong Lai completely off guard. After a long while, he came to his senses. "You brat, you're getting angry? Without our sales channel, where can you sell it?"
Xu Dong Lai flicked away his cigarette butt and turned back, only to see the head chef, Lin Zheng Xue, standing at the door. He didn't know how long he had been watching.
"Master Lin, are you done with your work?"
Xu Dong Lai's heart sank. Lin Zheng Xue was the head chef, the boss, and in charge of all of them. His expression didn't look good.
"I was just watching what you were busy with. You go out three or four times a day, have you forgotten your primary job? From now on, I'll handle all the purchasing for the restaurant myself. You're not needed." Su Dan Novel Network
Xu Dong Lai panicked. "No, you're so busy, don't trouble yourself with such trivial matters."
"Trouble myself? For you to make things difficult for the common people? You're taking kickbacks for the child selling wild game. I'm not senile. This is a state-run restaurant, serving the people. Your behavior is undermining the state and taking advantage of the people. A few years ago, you would have been sent to jail."
"This is a verbal warning. If there is a repeat offense, you will be fired directly."
"Yes, I know I was wrong. Master Lin, please don't be angry."
Xu Dong Lai was covered in a cold sweat, repeatedly apologizing. Losing his iron rice bowl for such petty profit was not worth it.
He inwardly resented Zhao Tie Lin. It was his greed that was instigated, otherwise, his cooperation with Xie Sui would have been stable.
People never reflect on their mistakes unless they are saints.
Meanwhile, Xie Sui left town, unaware that Chef Lin had reprimanded Xu Dong Lai. He had no acquaintance with Chef Lin. It wasn't that he didn't want to approach him, but he had heard that this Chef Lin had a bad temper, was upright, and was a very rigid old man, so he didn't bother.
Greedy people were easy to deal with. Xie Sui preferred mutually beneficial exchanges; dealing with such old men was too difficult.
His main focus was not on the town. If it weren't for the lack of startup capital, he wouldn't have set his sights on the town's meager consumption.
"Brother Xie, what do we do? Can't sell the wild game anymore?"
"What are you afraid of? He miscalculated if he thought he could control me. A villain succeeding, I won't indulge his bad habits."
Wang Tie Zhu said, "What's the use of tough talk? Making money is the real business."
"Hey, Wang Tie Zhu, I suddenly regret bringing you along. Are you here specifically to undermine me?"
"Heh, you and Zhao Xue..."
Xie Sui quickly covered his mouth. "Brother Tie Zhu, you are my real brother. Brother knows you're doing this for my own good. You're right, brother made a mistake."
Damn it, he didn't realize this Wang Tie Zhu was so sharp. He had found his weakness and dared to talk back like this.
If the matter between him and Zhao Xue Fei got out, the old women in the village would surely gossip about them, embellishing the story. He didn't fear it himself, but he worried about Wan Wan getting hurt.
After their relationship had just begun to improve, it would go back to square one.
Zhang Wen Feng's eyes flickered. "Brother Xie, did you wrong Sister Wan Wan?"