"It's nothing, just ran into a mad dog, already dealt with it. Sorry to keep you all waiting. We're done here, let's head back."
Xie Sui didn't want to elaborate, so Gu Lei didn't ask. After settling accounts with Xie Sui, he left with his men.
Looking at the yard, a gatekeeper was still needed. Someone to guard at night. The goods produced from now on would be delivered daily, bringing in money.
"Brother Xie, can we still go to the state-run restaurant today?" Wang Tie Zhu asked. Xie Sui slapped his forehead. "I forgot about your matter. It's too late now, they'll definitely be busy and won't have time to deal with your business. Are you coming home with us or staying here for the night?"
"I'll stay and guard for Brother Xie. There are still a few items left in the room."
"Good, thoughtful, and able to endure hardship. If the state-run restaurant doesn't hire you, you can follow Brother Xie, and I'll guarantee you'll make a fortune."
Wang Tie Zhu: "..."
He wanted to tell the truth. He felt that the state-run restaurant was more reliable. As for Xie Sui, he... well, it wasn't that he looked down on him, but Xie Sui was too clever. Wang Tie Zhu didn't feel entirely at ease. The old saying goes, he'd sell you and still count the change for you.
Besides, going to the state-run restaurant sounded better. He preferred to learn a trade.
In the current mindset, a "iron rice bowl" was more coveted than being a self-employed individual. In previous years, speculation and profiteering were punishable by death. Getting into a factory was the most prestigious thing.
In the past, poor and lower-middle peasants were the proudest. Now, workers were glorious. The future belonged to merchants.
Xie Sui didn't insist. He returned to the village with Zhang Wen Feng.
His bicycle was broken. Xie Sui left it at the factory. He'd ride it again after it was repaired tomorrow. He'd have to get intimately acquainted with the donkey's rear end again.
"When we have money, we'll replace it first. Get a tractor to drive."
Zhang Wen Feng said, "Speaking of tractors, it's actually not difficult. Our village has one. It was allocated by the higher-ups during the commune era. It's collective property, but it's never been driven. I don't know if it still works."
"Really? Why didn't you say so earlier?"
"Can you drive it? Or can I?"
Zhang Wen Feng had another reason he didn't mention. If he had a tractor, wouldn't his own donkey be out of work? Where else would he find a job that paid two yuan a day?
Remembering his wife's words, Zhang Wen Feng drifted off. No one dislikes having too much money. Could that really be done?
"I can drive it. Where is it?"
"Heh, it's no use telling you. It's at Zhao Tie Lin's place. He was the former brigade leader. When the commune broke up, he bought it with money."
Xie Sui: "..."
Fate is a funny thing. A ridiculous thought crossed his mind. If he married Zhao Xue Fei, could he save a year of hard work? Su Dan Novel Network.
The Zhao family had people and money. Zhao Xue Fei was also favored. Could she be considered a young lady of wealth, grudgingly?
He shivered afterward. Forget it. He might not even know if he was being cuckolded someday. A person's bottom line is broken step by step. Once she had the thought of taking advantage, betraying him would only depend on whether the profit was large enough.
Wan Wan was better. True love is forged in shared hardship.
Now, considering the tractor, one factor was money, and the other was the feud with the Zhao family.
"How much did he pay when he bought it?"
"One thousand yuan."
"Holy hell, he's ripping off the state! A tractor should cost at least three to four thousand yuan, right?"
Individuals couldn't even buy one, and it required coupons. A new one would cost five thousand.
"It was old, and besides, no one was buying it. Who could come up with a thousand yuan?"
"The old Zhao family didn't skimp on grabbing things!"
"Who says they didn't!"
The former brigade leader had immense power. Zhao Tie Lin was greedy. No one knew his true wealth. He was usually low-key, but during the most difficult times, his family could eat meat several times a month. Zhao Xue Fei even had two eggs a day and never lacked fine grains.
However, women are never satisfied. If her family couldn't fulfill her desires, she sought them from men outside. Her vanity was too strong, and it ultimately led to her downfall.
Xie Sui was lost in thought and unknowingly arrived home. Lin Wan Wan saw him and was so startled that she dropped the basin of flour. "Are you hurt again?"
"Is this one real or fake?"
Xie Sui: "..."
What a question. Of course, it was real.
"I took a punch, it hurt like hell, my teeth almost fell out. Help me up, I'm dizzy."
Lin Wan Wan was relieved. He was exaggerating so much, it must be fake. She felt bad about her spilled basin of flour.
"Who hit you?"
As soon as she asked, Zhao Tie Lin entered. News had already spread that Zhao You Liang had beaten someone and was taken away.
"Oh, my head hurts, my whole body hurts. Wan Wan, quickly help me sit down."
Lin Wan Wan saw Zhao Tie Lin's dark expression and cooperatively put on a pained look. How they fought behind closed doors was their business; they had to present a united front to the outside.
"Xie Sui, my little Liang is young and impulsive. I apologize to you on his behalf..."
Xie Sui glanced at him. "I'm also young. How about I beat you up and then apologize to you? Is that okay?"
Coming empty-handed to plead was insincere. There was no sign of any real desire to make amends.
Zhao Tie Lin's face darkened further. "What exactly do you want?"
"I don't want anything. He rushed up and hit me, even broke my bicycle. If it weren't for the kindhearted bystanders who saved me, he would have beaten me to death!"
"Say no more. It's all been handed over to the public security comrades to handle. Sentence him as they see fit. I have no objections."
Zhao Tie Lin: You don't care, of course. It's not you who will be locked up.
"I'm tired and want to sleep. You're welcome to leave."
Lin Wan Wan also extended her hand to usher him out. "It's inconvenient for us to entertain you. Please leave."
Zhao Tie Lin could only leave. He felt that his visit was already a concession, a gesture of respect to Xie Sui, but he didn't expect Xie Sui to be so ungrateful!
"Hmph, old man. What does he think he is? A few words from him and I should give him face? His old face isn't that valuable."
Lin Wan Wan worried, "The Zhao family is the village head, after all. We can't be too resolute about this matter. How about we just let it go?"
"No way! If we let it go easily this time, the Zhao family will only become more brazen. If I don't take a pound of flesh from him, I'm not Xie Sui!"
This was the first time Lin Wan Wan had seen him so domineering. Although he was boasting, it had a certain manly charm.
If there weren't any injuries on his face, he'd have even more presence. She reached out and poked a few times at the corner of his mouth. Xie Sui gasped in pain. "Wife, this injury is real, it hurts!"
Lin Wan Wan smiled. "You're so fussy. I'll go make dinner."
She cleaned up the flour scattered on the floor. It could be fed to the chickens tomorrow. Lin Wan Wan beat some eggs and made millet congee to nourish Xie Sui.
Smelling the aroma of eggs, Xie Sui felt a surge of happiness. His wife was the best!
"Xiao Sui, my dear grandson, how are you?"
Grandma Xie hobbled in, her whole body trembling. She was terrified when she heard he had been beaten.
"Grandma, why are you here? It's nothing, just a small injury. Don't worry!"