Northeast: My Absurd Woman

Chapter 238 Ignoring the life or death of the little brat behind you

Outside, Yang Wuni leaned over the wall and called out towards the house.

"Dad, Aunt Xiulan, I'm going back now. Wang Ga is coming to my house to give us a share of the profits. The rice noodles sold well this year."

Zhang Changyao was so flattered by the old couple that he didn't know which leg to step with when he walked; he was practically floating on air.

Upon hearing Yang Wuni's shout, he quickly boasted that he also had a stake in the noodle shop.

"My dear son, your Aunt Xiulan loves wide rice noodles. Remember to get a bundle from the noodle shop and send it over during the New Year."

"Okay, Dad, I understand."

Zhang Kaiju reluctantly followed Zhang Changyao, and didn't forget to take the opportunity to ask for a bundle of vermicelli.

Zhang Changyao was so overwhelmed with emotion that he readily agreed and nimbly scaled two walls to get home.

"Brother Ga Zi, how come you still have time to come out and visit during the day? Isn't the noodle shop busy?"

As soon as Zhang Changyao entered the room, he took out half a pack of ginseng cigarettes from under the quilt of Liao Zhi and handed it to Wang Ga, who was sitting on the kang (a heated brick bed).

"Changyao, we've been brothers for so many years, I won't beat around the bush with you, I'll just tell you the truth."

Your back is injured, could you help me find a couple of free helpers? I'd be truly grateful.

"The New Year is almost here, so I'll give them each twenty yuan to play cards or something during the holidays."

Wang Ga paused here, lit a cigarette, and took a deep drag.

"Brother Ga Zi, why are you still discussing this with me? You can decide for yourself."

Even though we're business partners, I won't interfere with the finances.

Zhang Changyao moved a stool and sat opposite Wang Ga, waiting for him to continue.

"Changyao, I feel bad for you, that's why I came to see you today." Wang Ga took another puff of his cigarette, then stopped talking.

"Brother Ga Zi, what are you saying? What have you done to wrong me?"

You were the one who set up the rice noodle shop, so I invested two hundred yuan as a shareholder.

This wretched back of mine has been hurting so much that I haven't been able to work. If anyone should feel sorry for, it's me who should be apologizing to you.

Zhang Changyao didn't understand what Wang Ga meant by those words, so he could only respond modestly.

"Changyao, what I'm trying to say is that I plan to open my own noodle shop and don't want to partner with anyone else anymore."

After stammering for a long time, Wang Ga finally revealed the purpose of his visit.

"what?"

Zhang Changyao was momentarily stunned, staring blankly at Wang Ga.

"Changyao, I know it's wrong to do this, but I have no other choice."

You said your back hasn't gotten better. I can't keep using Hou Jiu and Du Qiu for nothing, can I?

Besides, spring planting is short this year; planting will begin right after the Lunar New Year.

If they both go home and farm, I'll be all alone.

When that time comes, if I hire more people, who will be willing to work with me instead of farming?

You should know how difficult it was for your brother to set up this noodle shop.

We can't let it be ruined by nobody doing the work; that's the last place where problems should occur.

Wang Ga tried his best to explain, pushing all the blame onto Zhang Changyao for having back pain and being unable to work.

"Brother Ga Zi, stop talking, let's just leave it at that, I agree with your idea."

Partnerships are never easy to run, and I knew this day would come.

As I always say, you're shrewd, I'm naive, so just don't try to outsmart me.

"Divide things however you want. As long as you have the right heart, we'll still get along like brothers."

With the offer of being a substitute teacher backing him up, Zhang Changyao agreed quickly.

"Hmph! What are you talking about!"

Wang Ga cleared his throat, sniffed, and rubbed his nose.

"Brother Ga Zi, don't be in a difficult position. I can't split you in half."

You contributed manpower, effort, care, and money, so I invested two hundred yuan.

"I only need 20% of your income this year, plus my initial investment."

Zhang Changyao mentally assessed the possibilities before speaking his thoughts aloud.

"Changyao, it's not that I don't want to give you money, it's just that I don't have the money to share the profits with you."

If you don't believe me, go look at the basement of my house; it's full of potatoes that I traded for.

Also, I bought a new electric grinder, which cost quite a bit of money.

My pockets are cleaner than my face right now. You can see for yourself.

Wang Ga stood up and pulled out the linings of all four of his shoulder pockets to show Zhang Changyao.

"Brother Ga Zi, what do you mean? You don't want to give me a single penny, you just want to kick me out?"

You didn't say that when you first approached me to invest.

You've bought an electric grinder now, and the potatoes are piled up like a mountain.

He pocketed the money for the vermicelli he bought, then came to my house to complain about being poor.

Let me tell you, I'm not so easily fooled out of my two hundred dollars. You'd better be prepared.

Seeing that Wang Ga was shameless, Zhang Changyao felt he no longer needed to show him any mercy and spoke much more sharply.

"Changyao, what are you saying? How could your brother do something so inhuman and lie to his own brother?"

It's true I don't have money, but we have goods. I'll use those goods to offset your two hundred yuan. Neither of us will lose out.

Wang Ga grinned slyly, patting Zhang Changyao on the shoulder and trying to get on his good side.

"Thing? What thing?"

Zhang Changyao was truly dumbfounded this time, muttering to himself as he looked at Wang Ga with a furrowed brow.

"Changyao, have you forgotten the donkey-pulled stone mill we used to use to grind potatoes?"

I bought that for 350 yuan, and I'm giving it to you as a discount.

You're guaranteed to make a profit, and it saves me the trouble of arranging to sell it.

There's still some leftover black powder at home, I'll give it all to you, it'll make a really delicious soup.

And I'll give you the potatoes that were brought along by the wind.

"Pull it back, pick and choose. It just gets a little sweet when stewed, but that doesn't affect the taste."

After Wang Ga finished speaking, he reached for a cigarette again, but Zhang Changyao snatched it away and stuffed it back under Liao Zhi.

"Brother Ga Zi, you're really incredibly shrewd. You're so good at scheming against people."

What? You think my house, Zhang Changyao's house, is some kind of cesspool? You're stuffing all sorts of junk into my hands.

That was a brand new two hundred yuan you took! We even had a written agreement.

People say that even if a deal falls through, goodwill should remain. You're not even concerned with goodwill anymore?

We've been friends for over twenty years. Ever since I could walk, I've followed you around calling you Brother Ga Zi.

Based on our brotherhood, you shouldn't have cheated me, right?

Now that you're rich, you don't care about the life or death of a little bastard like me following behind you. Wang Ga, you're really ruthless.

Zhang Changyao became more and more emotional as he spoke, and couldn't help but cry.

"Changyao, what you're saying isn't right. How could I not care about your life or death?"

If I really didn't care about your life or death, I would have told others how you make popcorn long ago.

My relative who owns a shop asked me several times, and even though my dad wanted to tell me, I didn't let him. Isn't that protecting you?

I figured we were both in business, and it wasn't easy for either of us.

If you let me off the hook, I'll help you out this time. Wouldn't it be better if we were even?

If you really won't let this go, I'll go all out and fight to the death.

At worst, we can both suffer great poverty and hardship together, just like before.