Human nature is selfish, and Xie Sui was no exception.
This time, out of the five spots allocated, Zhang Wenfeng's wife, Wang Tiegang's wife from next door, and Xie family's own sister-in-law had already taken them. Not a single person from the Zhao family was selected.
Zhao Xuefei, standing at the back of the crowd, watched Xie Sui being surrounded by people, his smile confident, wise, and decisive, with an indescribable feeling in her heart.
"Sis, let's go."
Zhao Youliang threw his cigarette butt, not wanting to see his smug face.
"Second brother, what do you think he's planning this time?"
"No matter what he does, second brother won't stand by and watch. Let's wait and see. Sooner or later, we'll trample him underfoot. He's just a good-for-nothing scoundrel, is your brother inferior to him?"
Zhao Youliang was unconvinced. Xie Sui wasn't even worthy of playing with him back in the day. He was a smart and capable child. He graduated from high school but didn't get into university and was currently unemployed.
Everywhere he went, he enjoyed everyone's praise and was the center of attention. Now, he was overshadowed by Xie Sui and had lost all face.
"You're right. This time, we'll plan properly, and we'll definitely be able to beat him. Let's go home."
From their arrival to their departure, Xie Sui only glanced at them once, knowing they would still cause trouble. So what?
Often, taking the first step is already winning.
Chasing after others, you wouldn't even catch up to their droppings while they were still warm.
With the team assembled, the courtyard became lively, with everyone gathering around Lin Wanyuan, curious about what they would be doing.
Standing at the doorway, watching, Xie Sui felt a sense of emotion. In the future, the house would be full of women; it would be quite lively.
"Brother Xie, are we leaving?"
Zhang Wenfeng called out to him. The sun was getting stronger, and it would be scorching if they didn't leave soon.
"Let朕 (I, as emperor) see my empire. We'll leave immediately."
Zhang Wenfeng: "..."
Brother Xie was having an episode again.
"So, Your Majesty, your harem seems a bit old. There are even grandmothers among them. Your taste is a bit heavy."
Xie Sui retorted irritably, "Look at you. I'm talking about my career, and you're only thinking about those things between men and women. How vulgar."
"Yes, the not-so-vulgar Brother Xie, can we leave now?"
Finally on the road, Xie Sui instructed Zhang Wenfeng, "From now on, you'll deliver the Chinese medicinal herbs to the Chinese medicine station yourself, and the wild game to the state-run restaurant. I won't be going with you anymore. I'll make arrangements for them."
The sales and accounting departments weren't in the same place. After Zhang Wenfeng sold the goods, he'd give the receipt to Xie Sui to settle the accounts. Zhang Wenfeng would just do the legwork.
"Alright, Brother Xie, you're busy with important matters. These small sums of money can no longer satisfy your appetite."
"Exactly. If we rely on this little bit of money, when will we be able to upgrade?"
Xie Sui's hand was itching, and he slapped the mule's butt. The mule retaliated with its tail, hitting Xie Sui in the face. It raised its tail and defecated a pile of dung, disgusting Xie Sui. "Damn it, if it weren't for the fact that you're still useful, I would have killed you right now."
"Ptooey, it stinks! I'm going to sit in the back."
Zhang Wenfeng burst into laughter. "Brother Xie, we're farmers, and you still dislike the smell of dung? You're too pampered. You've never done any heavy labor. Mule dung is a good thing. If my father were driving, he'd even pick it up."
"Stop talking. I suspect your mule has a problem with me. I don't want to see it."
Xie Sui was indeed pampered, and he didn't deny it himself. He made money with his brain, not by working himself to death. Those who did manual labor would always work for those who did mental labor.
Upon arriving at the county town, Xie Sui told Zhang Wenfeng to sell their goods and meet at the entrance of the supply and marketing cooperative after lunch. Xie Sui had his own business to attend to.
He went directly to the family housing complex of the cotton textile factory. Several young men were gathered by the wall, looking lewd. They whistled at pretty girls, scaring them into fleeing. They then laughed heartily, as if it were a great joke.
A familiar scene, a familiar smell. Xie Sui had once been one of them.
"Brothers, I'm looking for someone."
Xie Sui was friendly and pulled out cigarettes to distribute. Upon seeing they were Shilin cigarettes, the men's eyes lit up. They took them and lit them, and as the smoke swirled, their relationship grew closer.
"Who are you looking for? There's no one in this county town that we brothers don't know. You've come to the right place."
The young man at the head was fair and plump with small, squinting eyes that held a hint of cunning. He wore a white undershirt over a floral patterned shirt and blue pants with canvas shoes. His attire suggested a well-off family.
"Gu Lei, from the cotton textile factory's family housing."
The group of men was stunned. The chubby guy immediately burst into laughter. "You're looking for Gu Lei? Who are you to him?"
"I'm his cousin, a distant cousin."
"Hahaha..."
The group burst into laughter, leaving Xie Sui baffled. After they finished laughing, he asked, "What's so funny?"
"I don't even know when I got a cousin. Tell me honestly, what do you do?"
The chubby guy pushed Xie Sui. His demeanor instantly changed.
Xie Sui also smiled. "Oh, a misunderstanding. I only heard about you from Sister Gu. This is my first time meeting you. My name is Xie Sui. Director Gu is your mother, so I haven't come to the wrong person."
"My mother said you were idle at home. Brother has a money-making opportunity, so I'm here to make a fortune with you."
Gu Lei was initially dismissive. His mother was the women's director and knew many people. He didn't care about someone named Xie Sui or Li Sui.
However, when Xie Sui mentioned making money, he immediately became serious. "How much money? We don't care about petty cash."
"It's not much, really. But money is earned bit by bit. Right now, it's only three or five yuan, but later, it'll be ten or dozens of yuan, and it won't be a problem."
"Heh, only that little bit of money..."
"Per day."
"What did you say your name was again?"
"Xie Sui."
"Brother Xie, have a cigarette. I'll treat you at the state-run restaurant."
Xie Sui smiled. What a talent.
They went to the state-run restaurant and ordered a table full of delicacies. Gu Lei wanted to drink, but Xie Sui stopped him. "It's not that I'm stingy with the money for alcohol, but we need to discuss important matters. Drinking can lead to mistakes. When we make money, we'll drink until we drop."
"Alright, I'll listen to Brother Xie."
Nowadays, everyone lacked good food. Even children of workers with state-owned jobs couldn't eat meat every meal.
Firstly, there were many children in the family, leading to high expenses. Secondly, who didn't have a few poor relatives who needed support? Even during holidays, the meals weren't this sumptuous.
He saw the ruffians dressed in fine clothes, looking respectable, yet their pockets were cleaner than their faces.
Xie Sui just drank tea. After they had eaten their fill, he refilled their tea and said, "I'm starting a small food business and need a few salesmen. Gu Lei, are you interested?"
He only invited Gu Lei, showing little enthusiasm for the others. He only needed one useful person, and that was enough.