Xie Sui and Gu Lei’s group left, their slightly tipsy demeanor vanishing instantly, their eyes clearing up.
"Brother Xie, were you faking being drunk?"
"What else? Anyone who gets truly drunk at a banquet is a fool. Do you believe me, Yan Xiaoliang wasn't drunk either? He was trying to trick me the whole time. That guy is something else."
Gu Lei suddenly felt his mother was right not to let him hang out with Yan Xiaoliang. It wasn't just about their different social circles; Yan Xiaoliang was too smart, and he was too foolish. If they insisted on playing together, he’d be sold and still help count the money. Only someone like Brother Xie could handle such situations.
"Where are we going now?"
"Did you find the place you were looking for?"
Gu Lei’s dejected look disappeared. "Found it. It used to be a slaughterhouse. Later, the county built a big factory and abandoned that place. It's near the market, in a decent location. It's a bit dirty and messy, though, needs a good cleanup."
"That's fine. How much is the rent?" Xie Sui only cared about money matters. In the early stages of entrepreneurship, money was needed everywhere. Some expenses were necessary, while others had to be saved.
"Ten yuan a month. It's public property; a small token amount."
Upon arriving, Xie Sui took a look, lit a cigarette, and exhaled smoke rings with a pensive air. "Is this what you called a bit dirty and messy?"
Gu Lei scratched his head. It was his first time here too, and he hadn't expected it to be so desolate. The rusted gate lay on its side, the grass in the yard was waist-high, and he even spotted a rabbit. Several stray cats meowed from atop the wall, making it almost a zoo. However, it was quite large, very large, about three mu in size. The courtyard alone was over a mu, surrounded by sturdy brick and tile houses.
"Forget it, this is it." What else could Xie Sui do? With no money, he had to make do. He truly wanted to check his bank account to see if the balance was still there. He even wished he could send a message to his past life's lawyer, not to be so selfless and donate everything, but to at least leave something behind. Unfortunately, such thoughts were unrealistic now; he had to focus on the present.
"Find a few workers to clean it up. Here's ten yuan. Can it be done in two days?"
"Yes, we'll do it ourselves. We'll definitely get it cleaned up." Xie Sui didn't want to go inside and see it; it was depressing. He followed Gu Lei to find Director Gu and sign the lease agreement. The rent was paid for three months upfront. Director Gu didn't say much, knowing how difficult entrepreneurship was.
Zhang Wenfeng was waiting by the supply and marketing cooperative. On the mule cart were ten thousand packaging bags for tomorrow. Xie Sui lay in the cart, having slept the whole way. He felt a bit tired after drinking at noon.
"Brother Xie, we're home." Xie Sui was woken by Zhang Wenfeng shaking him. He stumbled out of the cart, not yet fully awake. A commotion from the courtyard reached his ears, and amidst it, Lin Wanwan's wronged voice. Xie Sui immediately sobered up and quickly walked in. He saw several women surrounding Lin Wanwan, chattering and arguing about something.
"What's wrong? What's going on? Why are you all here instead of working?" Xie Sui approached, shielding Lin Wanwan behind him, and stared coldly at the women. "Wanwan, are you okay?"
"I'm fine." Lin Wanwan's voice was subdued; she was mostly unharmed.
"Who can explain? What's the matter? You're all gathered around my Wanwan, making noise. Have you no manners?"
Cai Jinhua stepped forward. "Little Xie, it's nothing. We're not bullying your wife, don't be nervous."
"Bullying or not depends on what you did, not on what you say." Xie Sui was no longer the smooth-talking person he used to be. His serious, cold demeanor and an aura of unspoken authority made the women feel guilty and lower their heads.
"It's like this, the third sister-in-law spat a couple of times while working, and it accidentally fell into the dried fruit. Wanwan told her off, and she said it was an accident..." It was Cai Jinhua who mediated. Xie Sui had appointed her as the team leader, and these women were under her responsibility.
"And then? They don't accept it, right?"
"It's just spitting a bit of phlegm, I cleaned it up. What's the big deal?" The woman who spat mumbled. She was Cai Jinhua's sister-in-law, and by seniority, Xie Sui should have called her Grandma.
"No big deal, you say? Alright then, the dried fruit you spat into, you eat it yourself!" Third Grandma Xie's face turned green. "Isn't that disgusting? How can you eat something so dirty?"
"You know it's disgusting, yet you still spat? So long as it's not you eating it, you can make a mess? I'm in the food business, this is a factory, not your home's communal pot, where you can do as you please!" Xie Sui was furious. Food production required the utmost hygiene. Although it was a small workshop now and many conditions didn't meet standards, basic cleanliness was essential.
"Starting tomorrow, you don't need to come. Anyone else who isn't satisfied can leave with her. Wanwan, pay them their wages."
"Xie Sui, you..." Third Grandma Xie’s face darkened. Xie Sui was so unyielding.
"Proper conduct must be maintained. If you don't admit mistakes and bully Wanwan, there will be no leniency!" Xie Sui cut her off directly. The women were both angry and resentful, throwing down their aprons. "Fine, we'll leave. Earning a few cents from you and having to endure your temper, I quit!" They refused to back down, even knowing they were wrong, and weren't ashamed to apologize.
Xie Sui said coldly, "Money is hard to earn, and shit is hard to swallow. Every cent earned requires following rules. You tend to your crops; if you water them less or weed them less, your harvest will be smaller. At your age, don't you understand this?"
Lin Wanwan tugged at him. "Let it go. If they admit their mistake and promise to do better, forgive them this once." After all, they were neighbors and relatives; it wouldn't look good to fall out.
Xie Sui remained silent, his face cold, and walked into the house. Cai Jinhua quickly pleaded, "Wanwan, we all know we were wrong. Please plead for us. We'll definitely be obedient next time. We'll do as you say." Third Grandma Xie also gave a wry smile. "Third Grandma apologizes to you. I shouldn't have spoken to you that way. It won't happen again."
Lin Wanwan said, "It's not up to me. I'll ask Xie Sui. Let's leave it at this for today and discuss it tomorrow." They had no choice but to leave, heads drooping like defeated roosters.
Lin Wanwan went into the house, thinking about how to plead for them, only to see Xie Sui lying on the bed, legs crossed, humming a tune, no longer looking angry at all. "So, you sent everyone away? That's how it is when you employ relatives. It's hard to scold them. I'll be the bad guy, and you can be the good one. We'll take turns playing good cop and bad cop. After this period, when the factory moves to the county, we'll find some obedient people." Lin Wanwan felt an indescribable complexity in her heart. He was giving her the best, considering her so thoughtfully, taking all the blame and bad reputation himself. This Xie Sui was truly a man!