novelraw Chapter 247 - 244: Money is Hard to Earn
Chapter 247 - 244: Money is Hard to Earn
Li Xiangyang returned the handcart to his acquaintance at the station and asked him to hold two tickets to East Market for the following Sunday. Then, he took a look around the clothing factory’s black market before heading to Liu Da’s place through the back door.
Liu Da looked at him. "Hey, kid. Didn’t you go to the provincial capital with your girlfriend? How come you’re back so soon?"
"I came back as soon as we were done!" Li Xiangyang plopped down on a chair in front of the brazier and looked at Liu Da. "I’ve booked tickets for Sunday. Are you guys driving to Yangcheng City or taking the train?"
Liu Da had a small house in the provincial capital where he kept a smuggled truck, parking it there when he wasn’t hauling goods.
"I’m taking the train. Biaozi and the others will drive," Liu Da said, looking at Li Xiangyang. "If your girlfriend isn’t going, I’d like you to help escort the truck. The roads have been getting more and more dangerous these past two years."
"Little Lan is going," Li Xiangyang said. Then he asked, "How dangerous are we talking? Even an old hand like you is getting scared?"
Liu Da said angrily, "My last shipment was stopped by a dozen guys before we even entered Sichuan. Luckily, we didn’t slow down and just powered through. The truck behind us slowed down and people swarmed it. Not only was the cargo stolen, but the men were beaten and injured, too."
Li Xiangyang frowned. "These people are getting way too bold."
"Sigh! Money’s hard to make, and life’s a bitch," Liu Da sighed. "A whole truckload of goods stolen and two men seriously injured. That’s two years of work down the drain."
’Smuggling might pay well, but the risks are huge,’ Li Xiangyang thought. ’You have to worry about the law and watch out for crooks. It’s no different from risking your neck.’
After sitting at Liu Da’s for a while, Li Xiangyang went home.
Old Li asked him a few questions, then grabbed his fishing rod and a small folding stool and went to fish by the river.
Li Xiangyang took a shower, changed his clothes, and rode his bike to Yucai Road.
The old madam saw him enter the courtyard and watched him with a cheerful smile. "Ding Bang brought a hot pot table home. He said you had it custom-made. We had a mutton hot pot last night. It’s perfect for this cold weather."
"I’m glad you like it, Grandma. I’m going to go check if the house has been painted." Seeing that she didn’t mention Xie Tian, Li Xiangyang didn’t ask about her.
"It’s done, and he left the key with me. He said you should look for him when you got back." The old madam turned, went inside to get the key, and handed it to him. "Come back over after you’ve taken a look. I made some fermented rice pudding for you to take home."
"Thank you, Grandma." Li Xiangyang took the key and went to the house across the street. He opened the gate and entered the courtyard. The flowerbeds had already been built, and the backyard had been tidied up.
After coming back from the backyard, Li Xiangyang thought for a moment. ’It would be more fun to bring Lin Lan and Little Douzi here to see it.’ With that, he closed the courtyard gate and went across the street to Yang Dingbang’s house.
The old madam came out holding a net bag and handed it to him. "One jar for your dad, and one for Lin Lan."
Li Xiangyang took it and hung the net bag on his bike’s handlebars. "Grandma, did Dongzi say which day he’s moving?"
The old madam thought for a moment. "I heard them say they’re moving on Saturday."
"Okay. Thanks, Grandma. I’ll be heading back now." Li Xiangyang rode his bike toward the Eucalyptus Forest.
The winter days were short. By the time he reached the Eucalyptus Forest, Lin Lan and the others were already closing up their stalls. He said hello to Lin Lan and went over to the pork stall.
When Yang Zhigang saw him, he waved happily. "Bro! I saw Sister Lin was back and thought you might not have returned yet!"
Li Xiangyang flicked him on the forehead. "You dummy, you could have just asked."
Yang Zhigang pouted. "There have been a ton of people buying pork these last two days. I’ve been busy from the moment I got here until now."
Li Xiangyang smiled and ruffled his hair. "Thanks for all your hard work. Tomorrow, let’s get Brother Yong and Shuiqing to come over to my place for hot pot."
These past few years, he’d been lucky to have Zhigang’s help. Otherwise, trying to work at the slaughterhouse and manage the stall all by himself... he really couldn’t have been in two places at once.
Yang Zhigang grinned. "Yeah! I heard from Qiaohui that the barbecue is delicious."
Li Xiangyang laughed and patted him. "If you want barbecue, that’s easy. Put the copper basin on and it’s a hot pot. Put the iron plate on and you can grill stuff."
Yang Zhigang nodded cheerfully. "Let’s go after this busy period is over."
"Xiangyang," Li Wu said with a smile as he walked over. "Any news about the market stalls?"
Hou Gui came over as well. "Xiangyang, thanks for helping us ask around."
"I heard..." Li Xiangyang told them what he knew, then added, "I think you two should ask around and find out if the things you sell can even be sold at a stall."
Li Wu and Hou Gui sold grain, salt, and ration coupons. It was unclear if grain was regulated, but selling salt and coupons at the market would be big trouble if they were caught.
Hou Gui and Li Wu thought about it and realized he was right, which made them worried. "Xiangyang, we never would have thought of that if you hadn’t mentioned it. We just assumed we could set up a stall and sell grain privately!"
Li Xiangyang thought for a moment. "You two ask around first. I’ll also help you check if private individuals are allowed to sell grain."
The two of them said gratefully, "Okay, thank you so much."
Li Xiangyang smiled. "We’ve been friends for so many years. Don’t be such strangers."
Li Wu clicked his tongue, looked at him, then nudged Hou Gui with an exaggerated wink. "Remember? He never used to be this agreeable. I’d say it’s all thanks to Little Lin."
"That’s right," Hou Gui said with a sly grin. "A man nourished by love is a different creature. Look at him, all radiant and full of swagger."
"Get lost! You’re the one full of swagger." Li Xiangyang laughed and kicked him in the butt, then aimed another kick at Li Wu to shove him away.
Seeing Li Wu and Hou Gui flee in mock disarray, everyone burst out laughing.
Seeing Li Wu reminded Lin Lan that they were low on rice at home, so she asked him to deliver two bags. She also asked Hou Gui to send over a few bags of flour.
Zhou Xiaohong remembered she had more than ten bags of flour at home that she couldn’t use up, so she also offered to give them to Lin Lan.
After the stall was packed up, Lin Lan told Li Xiangyang she wanted to go to the east side of the city to see how the display cases were coming along.
Li Xiangyang nodded and gave her a ride on his bike to the shop on the east side.
They opened the door and saw that the inside had been tidied up and was spotless. The compartmented boxes for holding spices had, indeed, all been coated with tung oil. The natural wood grain was shiny and looked beautiful.
The shelves on both sides had been painted as well and were arranged neatly. Both the shelves and the counters had been propped up with pieces of broken thin bricks.
After looking at the front, the two went to check the warehouse in the back. The warehouse shelves had also been coated with tung oil and propped up with bricks. The carpenters had even left two back-baskets full of wood shavings for Lin Lan to use as kindling.
Li Xiangyang nodded. "The Li brothers do good carpentry. They’re meticulous, too. We should hire them for future work."
Lin Lan was also very satisfied. "Mhm! Did you show them the design drawings from the other day?"
"Woodworker Li said he would study them carefully and get back to me when he’s confident he can do it."
"Alright, we should head back. Our things are still at the Eucalyptus Forest!"
"Little Lan," Li Xiangyang said, raising his hand to take hers. He leaned forward, trapping her against the wall. Bending slightly, he gazed deeply into her eyes before lowering his head and kissing her deeply.
A moment later, Lin Lan pushed against his chest, breathless. "We have to go back. Liying is still waiting!"
Li Xiangyang gazed at her cherry-red lips, leaned down for a quick peck, and said, "Okay!"