As a few people were entangled, several more people emerged from the swimming pool. There were men and women among them. Upon seeing the situation, someone immediately intended to step forward to intervene, but was quickly stopped by an informed person nearby: "They're just a bunch of hooligans, idling around all day. They're notorious troublemakers in this area. You'd better not meddle, or getting beaten up is the least of your worries. If they set their sights on you, you'll have no good days ahead."
The man said indignantly, "But you can't just stand by and watch them bully two women like this, can you? They dare to be so brazen in broad daylight, it's too rampant!"
"It's just asking them to go swimming with them, it's not like anything is lost. They've done worse than this. Last time someone couldn't stand it and went up to argue, and the result was, tsk."
The informed person tutted twice and shook their head helplessly: "That person was beaten for a full half hour. Only when he was lying on the ground with just a few breaths left did they leave, still grumbling unhappily."
"With them being so arrogant, isn't anyone going to manage them?" one of the female comrades asked out of curiosity.
"Manage what? They have great abilities. Every time they're caught, they're released within two days. They can't be managed. So, if you get beaten, you can only consider yourself unlucky. Can you still manage this matter?"
Although the man was indignant, after hesitating for a while, he finally gave up. As the saying goes, out of sight, out of mind. He turned and left directly.
Chen Lishu and Wang Aixiang were unaware of the situation opposite them, but this did not prevent Chen Lishu from assessing the situation.
There were a total of four men on the other side. If they went head-to-head, the two women would definitely suffer. However, it was absolutely impossible for her to yield. Now there were only two possibilities: either someone would come to help, or they would directly subdue these people, making them wary.
"A bunch of riff-raff who just returned from the countryside, unwanted by the factory and a nuisance at home. They loaf around all day, picking fights with cats and dogs. And Brother Biao, I think you few are quite something, your heads must have been hit by a door frame. Why should we go with you? And show you respect? Did you ask if you've gained any face?"
Wang Aixiang's temper flared up, and she pointed at the younger man who spoke last and retorted.
"Heh, quite a sharp tongue." Er Biao's cheek muscles twitched. He suddenly raised his hand and slapped Wang Aixiang across the face.
Wang Aixiang did not expect him to act so quickly. Covering her face, she looked at Er Biao with a mixture of shock and anger.
"Why are you staring at me like that? Not many people dare to disrespect me, Er Biao. I'm telling you, you two are going today, whether you want to or not..."
"Slap!"
Before Er Biao could finish his harsh words, a heavy slap landed on his face. Before he could react, another crisp sound followed, and his other cheek was also slapped hard.
Not to mention the person involved being stunned, even the onlookers instinctively held their breath at the situation.
Has that woman gone crazy? Er Biao is a notorious thug in this area, and it's rumored he often engages in fights and stabbings. To think that the girl, so slender and weak, actually slapped Er Biao twice. If Er Biao were to become enraged and draw a knife, would she still have a chance to live?
Seeing Er Biao glaring, clenching his teeth, and raising his hand with a fierce expression to retaliate, everyone's hearts skipped a beat. Some who couldn't bear to watch turned their eyes away.
"Try touching me today, and I guarantee you won't see tomorrow's sun."
Chen Lishu looked at Er Biao with cold eyes, her chin slightly raised, showing no retreat. Her imposing aura made Er Biao instinctively pause.
"I, Er Biao, am not scared of threats. What capability can you, a mere stinking broad, possibly have?"
Chen Lishu let out a cold snort, "Then I can only say that you're really unlucky today to run into me. There's a leader named Wan in the Municipal Bureau. You can inquire about it. If you want to spend the rest of your life in there, then go ahead and make a move today."
Chen Lishu knew that if she had mentioned any other name, Er Biao might not have taken it seriously. But it was the Municipal Bureau. No matter how arrogant he was usually, he knew that if he offended a leader from the Municipal Bureau, no one would be able to save him.
Er Biao stared at Chen Lishu, whose eyes did not show any sign of evasion, and he became uncertain.
"Brother Biao, I heard that the Deputy Director of the Municipal Bureau is also surnamed Wan," a henchman whispered as he came closer.
Seeing that Er Biao and his group had stopped talking, Chen Lishu pulled Wang Aixiang and turned to leave.
They didn't look back until they reached the street corner and found that no one was following. Finally, she let out a long sigh of relief.
"Sister, do you even know the big leaders from the Municipal Bureau?" Wang Aixiang finally couldn't help but ask curiously.
Chen Lishu waved her hand, "I don't know them. Everything I said just now was to deceive them."
It was a coincidence. She had accidentally overheard two police officers talking at the Public Security Bureau when Yang Shuang had asked her to identify someone. They were talking about a leader named Wan in the Municipal Bureau, and she happened to use it today.
Wang Aixiang's mind turned, and she understood what Chen Lishu meant. Thinking of her demeanor just now and the dejected expressions of Er Biao and his group, she couldn't help but let out a chuckle.
"Sister, you're really something."
Recalling the scene at that time, Chen Lishu couldn't help but purse her lips and smile.
As the two were about to part, Chen Lishu instructed, "Through this trial sale, I think the prospects for swimwear are still very good, and the craftsmanship is not too complicated. If you know anyone reliable, you can find someone else to help with the processing. Just make sure the quality is well controlled. After it's done, ask those two agents if they want to stock it. We can sell it to them at four yuan and five cents each."
"Okay, I'll look for someone when I get back," Wang Aixiang replied. Then the two parted ways and went home respectively.
Before returning home, Chen Lishu first found a phone booth to call Lin Qi.
With the opening up of policies, several private shops had already opened along the commercial street. In the future, that area would become the most prosperous part of the city, so she also wanted to open a store.
However, opening a store involved too many things, such as looking at properties and renovations, which required professional personnel. With the end of the semester approaching, and considering the courses Chen Lishu had missed, she would definitely not have much time in the coming period for studying and revision.
Lin Qi had experience in renovation before, and it would be the slack season after a while. This time, she also wanted to let Gu Xingye and others come to practice.
She remembered that next year, the city would specifically build a vegetable market to uniformly manage small vendors.
The vegetable market would be quite large, and she wanted to see if she could contract a part of it, which would require establishing her own construction team.
When Lin Qi heard that Chen Lishu wanted him to come to the provincial capital, he readily agreed, saying that he would arrange his work first and would arrive within three days at the latest.
After Chen Lishu hung up the phone, she went home.
Lin Qi arrived on the afternoon of the third day. He first checked into the guesthouse with his credentials and then called Chen Lishu.
After understanding the specific requirements, Lin Qi went to the commercial street the next day to look for a shop.