Just as Zhang Liunian was about to dismantle the truck, he finally heard someone unable to hold back. He stopped his actions and turned to see two unfamiliar middle-aged men. Zhang Liunian, holding a steel pipe, stared at them as they ran and, before they could stand firm, charged at them.
In less than two moves, he had them lying on the ground begging for mercy.
"Brother, stop hitting, you'll kill someone if you keep going."
"Let's talk things out, talk things out. You'll get the death penalty if someone dies."
"..."
After hitting for a long while, Zhang Liunian grew tired. He stopped his actions, placed the steel pipe on their heads, and questioned, "Speak up, who sent you to harm me?"
Upon hearing this, both drivers looked bewildered, "We don't know anything!"
"Then why did you drive your trucks to my shop entrance and block my path?"
"Someone paid us to do it. We just wanted to earn some easy money." These two drivers were hauling sand for a factory. Halfway there, someone hired them for a part-time job: park their trucks here for a morning.
They thought the pay was good and accepted.
Who could have imagined that Zhang Liunian would be such a brute, attacking without a word and even wanting to dismantle their trucks? He didn't even spare the sand they were hauling.
Too terrifying. This man truly wouldn't let anything go.
"Describe the person who hired you. If you lie to me, I'll throw you into the river like sand." Zhang Liunian stepped on them, as if saying that if they didn't tell the truth, he would crush them to death the next moment.
Seeing Zhang Liunian's ferocious expression, the drivers, fearing for their lives, dared not hide anything and told him everything. Unfortunately, it wasn't anyone Zhang Liunian knew.
"You disrupted the auspicious time for my shop's opening. Don't you owe me some compensation?" Since he couldn't find the mastermind, he would get blood from them.
"We were also misled and deceived by others. That's why..."
"If you don't pay, you can leave. Leave the trucks." Zhang Liunian, too lazy to talk nonsense with them, interrupted.
The two drivers dared not speak out of anger and ended up handing over all their possessions before fleeing as if their lives depended on it.
As soon as they left, Zhang Liunian immediately began preparations for the opening, but the incident caused a significant delay.
Therefore, it wasn't until four in the afternoon that Zhang Liunian officially opened for business.
At the opening, he organized a free giveaway and a buy-one-get-one-free promotion for small bottles of lobster sauce.
Coupled with the aroma of the braised meat wafting out, which could be smelled for miles, it further whetted everyone's appetite.
"No need to crowd, everyone. We have plenty of braised meat today, and delicious lobster sauce. Buy one bottle, get a small one free. Only three days, don't miss out."
Grandpa Huang stood at the entrance, acting as a loudspeaker.
Around him stood a crowd of people waiting to buy things. Most of them chose to buy the braised meat because the smell was too enticing.
This resulted in a sea of customers at the braised meat counter, while the lobster sauce counter at the back had no one.
Zhang Liunian wasn't sad about this at all; instead, he was quite happy.
The number of people buying braised meat far exceeded his expectations. They had to close shop only after selling out all five large pots of meat.
"Phew! Finally sold out." Grandpa Huang's throat was parched with exhaustion. He picked up his teacup and gulped down a cup.
"Brother Liunian, we sold all the meat. How much did we earn today?" Du Ziteng massaged his arms. He was responsible for cutting the meat and was both famished and exhausted.
"We bought four pigs, a total of twelve hundred catties. At two yuan per catty, we made two thousand four hundred yuan. However, we gave away quite a few small bottles of lobster sauce, which counts as part of the cost. We earned about a thousand yuan." Zhang Liunian knew how much they had earned without even looking at the ledger.
Just as he finished speaking, there was a "thump." Everyone looked and saw Grandpa Huang and his two subordinates fall together.
"What happened to you guys?" Du Ziteng looked at the trio curiously.
Grandpa Huang awkwardly got up from the ground, wiping the drool from his mouth. "Hahaha, it was an accident, believe me?"
Mother, to earn a thousand yuan in one day? Is opening a shop this profitable?
What kind of lives did they live before? Pockets empty, minds empty, every day.
Indeed, one must follow the right leader. With a capable big brother, what fear is there of not having money in the future?
"Comrade Zhang, from now on, can we call you Brother Nian? You are our big brother, our boss, and our benefactor. If you're willing, we can even call you Father Nian." Grandpa Huang shamelessly approached Zhang Liunian, wanting to call him father.
Zhang Liunian kicked him away, "You can call anyone father, but where's your dignity?"
Kicked away by Zhang Liunian, Grandpa Huang still shamelessly leaned in, "Whoever has money is father. If you're willing, I'll be your son."
"..."
Everyone was stunned by Grandpa Huang's shamelessness.
Looking at the two brothers behind Grandpa Huang, who also had a matter-of-fact expression, everyone suddenly understood why the Huang gang was looked down upon.
Truly a nest of shameless people.
"You are true men. I admire you." Du Ziteng cupped his fists slightly towards Grandpa Huang, then looked at Zhang Liunian, "I agree to call you Brother Nian, but Father Nian can be forgotten."
"Scram!" Zhang Liunian kicked Du Ziteng.
Returning to the county town, Zhang Liunian followed Zhao Zhijie to look at houses. It was an old complex, only three stories high, with the house on the second floor. Both families wanted to sell due to family matters, and it happened that Zhao Zhijie was inquiring, so he got his hands on them.
After understanding their family situations and confirming they weren't undesirable individuals, Zhao Zhijie notified Zhang Liunian to view the properties.
When Zhang Liunian entered, the house was indeed very old. The furniture was unusable, and the lime on the walls was peeling everywhere. The house would need renovation to be habitable, at least a layer of lime needed to be applied, and new furniture would have to be purchased.
"Are these the only two options?" The house was too old, Zhang Liunian turned and asked.
Zhao Zhijie helplessly replied, "Not many people sell houses at this time, especially ones next to each other. I only have these two families at the moment."
Zhang Liunian also knew that buying a house wasn't easy at this time; he was just asking.
Since there were no others, it would be these two units.
"Alright, let's go through the transfer procedures tomorrow!" Zhang Liunian didn't want to waste time searching or waiting; this was it.
Anyway, he had money now, and there would be plenty of opportunities later to buy a better house.
At worst, he could build one himself!
"Then it's settled, we'll go through the transfer tomorrow." The landlord didn't expect Zhang Liunian to be so straightforward and sent him off with a smile.
"Uncle Zhao, I'll have to trouble you again to find two people to paint the house. I'll buy the furniture. Remember to make preparations.
Can we move in together in three days?" Zhang Liunian sent Zhao Zhijie to his home and then looked meaningfully at the four households he had beaten.
These four households hadn't recovered from the injuries they sustained when Zhang Liunian beat them last time, so they didn't dare to provoke Zhao Zhijie again.
They didn't bother him again until Zhao Zhijie moved out.
"What kind of incompetent people did you find? You couldn't even find reliable people, and now Zhang Liunian's shop is booming and filled with customers. It's infuriating!" Brother Tang threw an ashtray at Qian Fei's face, smashing it and causing Qian Fei's head to bleed.