vrcanaries Chapter 196 He was completely captivated
Chapter 196 He was completely captivated
Aunt Hua was so anxious she was almost in tears. "My Yanzi is a respectable girl. How could she get involved with that kind of scoundrel?"
"Why would I lie to you? It's broad daylight. I'm only reminding you because we're neighbors in the same courtyard."
Seeing that Aunt Hua was really anxious, Sister Liu softened her tone a bit, "Although Zhao Guangming has a bad reputation, his family is rich! I heard that motorcycle cost more than three thousand yuan! Young girls are easily blinded by sweet talk and sugar-coated bullets."
Li Xianglian listened from the side, feeling worried for Aunt Hua.
Although she disliked Wang Chunyan's arrogance, she knew that if she were to be deceived by such a spoiled brat, it would be a lifelong ordeal.
"No! No!" Aunt Hua suddenly stood up. "I have to go back! I have to go ask that brat!"
She put down several unfinished pieces of fabric, not even bothering to settle her wages.
"That brat! If she really dares to get involved with that Zhao Guangming, I'll break her legs! Is he someone I can entrust my life to? He's a spendthrift! He indulges in everything—drinking, gambling, whoring—marrying him would be like living a life of widowhood!"
Aunt Hua cursed and swore as she rushed out of the yard as if her pants were on fire.
Watching Aunt Hua's disheveled figure disappear into the distance, the women in the courtyard looked at each other, and then burst into a sigh.
"It seems that climbing high branches isn't so easy," the plump aunt shook her head. "It's still more reliable for us to earn money with our skills."
-
The noise from the transport team's backyard was shut out by the heavy iron gates of the warehouse.
Qin Rushan stood in front of several large wooden crates, a cigarette dangling from his mouth.
He grabbed a crowbar, inserted it into the gap in the wooden crate, his arm muscles bulging, and with a sudden burst of force.
"Creak—"
The wooden plank was pried open, revealing that it was stuffed tightly with straw.
Xu Yuecheng leaned forward and reached out to peel back the layer of withered yellow disguise.
Then, the oil paper was torn open.
It's a digital watch.
In an era when even a Shanghai-brand mechanical watch costs over a hundred yuan and requires connections, this box of electronic watches is like walking RMB, a status symbol coveted by countless fashionable young people.
"This is the black one with a plastic strap, and that's the silver one with a steel strap." Qin Rushan reached out and grabbed a handful, casually tossing one to Xu Yuecheng. "The latest stuff from Guangzhou, it can even tell time and has an alarm clock."
Xu Yuecheng took the watch, pressed the button on the side, and the screen instantly lit up with a faint green glow. The small "beep" sound was particularly crisp in the quiet warehouse.
"Good stuff." Xu Yuecheng's eyes flashed with surprise. "This thing would cost at least forty yuan at the counter of a department store in the provincial capital, and that depends on the salesperson's attitude. It's not uncommon for it to be sold for fifty yuan on the black market."
"We get our prices low," Qin Rushan flicked his cigarette ash. "This box contains five hundred watches. The two boxes over there are calculators; accountants and business people need them the most."
Xu Yuecheng squatted down and pried open the small box next to him.
The black calculators were neatly stacked.
"A total of two thousand watches and five hundred calculators," Qin Rushan announced the quantities.
Xu Yuecheng stood up, dusted off his hands, and frowned slightly: "The goods are good, but the quantity is too large. If we go to the black market to distribute them ourselves, firstly, it's risky and we're likely to be targeted by the Red Armbands; secondly, the payment is too slow. This thousand-plus yuan tied up in our hands is a hot potato."
Although policies have been relaxed, the term "speculation and profiteering" still hangs like the Sword of Damocles over people's heads.
Selling a few here and there is no problem, but if we get caught selling these thousands, it will be a serious case.
"That's why I'm here to discuss this with you." Qin Rushan leaned against the wooden crate. "This batch of goods can't be distributed entirely within our county. It's too conspicuous."
The county town is only so big, and suddenly so many scarce goods have appeared. Even a fool would know that the source is questionable.
Xu Yuecheng took out a cigarette, lit it, took a deep drag, and exhaled a thick cloud of smoke. "I have connections in Huai City."
"Oh?" Qin Rushan raised an eyebrow. "Is this approach reliable?"
"stable."
Xu Yuecheng flicked his cigarette ash. "I used to know a guy over there called 'Leopard.' This guy's really making a name for himself in Huai City now. He owns a few underground stalls and has some shady dealings with the supply and marketing cooperative there. What he needs most is this kind of hard currency that can put him in charge."
"Huai City is more than 400 miles away from here, and it's a transportation hub. It'll be a piece of cake for them to process this batch of goods."
Xu Yuecheng estimated, "I just did some mental calculations, and if the price is lowered a bit, he can eat half of it by himself."
"Giving him a discount is no problem, the key is speed." Qin Rushan made a decisive decision, "As long as it's cash payment, give him two yuan off each watch. Give him five yuan off each calculator."
This is a big investment.
Xu Yuecheng grinned: "Brother Qin is generous. With this profit margin, that kid Leopard will probably drive over in the middle of the night to pick up the goods. What about the other half?"
Qin Rushan took the cigarette out of his mouth: "I have my own plans for the other half. Although our county is small, the unions and purchasing departments of those factories and mines are not to be underestimated. As long as we pave the way and say it's 'internal benefit,' this batch of goods will be perfectly legitimate supplies."
He wants to take the "public-to-public" route, using the collective's name to make his own money.
"Okay, then I'll call Huai City tonight." Xu Yuecheng was a decisive person, and he turned to leave.
He had just reached the warehouse entrance when he paused, as if remembering something, and turned back.
"Is there anything else?" Qin Rushan was bending over to seal the boxes. Hearing the noise, he didn't even look up. The cigarette in his mouth trembled as he spoke.
Xu Yuecheng hesitated for two seconds, a rare hint of unease flashing across his face.
He coughed lightly, his gaze drifting to the box of digital watches, his voice a little strained: "Brother Qin, um... I'd like to take a few watches. And a calculator too."
Qin Rushan stopped what he was doing.
He straightened up, took the cigarette out of his mouth and held it between his fingers, looking at Xu Yuecheng with a half-smile, his eyes so sharp they seemed to see right through him.
"For your family?" Qin Rushan asked knowingly, gesturing with his chin in the direction Xu Yuecheng had just returned from. "Or for that pretty widow who makes hair ties?"
Xu Yuecheng's ears instantly turned red, a blush that seemed particularly striking on his otherwise cold and stern face.
He reached up and touched his nose, his eyes darting around, and stubbornly said, "It's for my brother too. He works at the supply and marketing cooperative, and this digital watch can set an alarm, which is perfect for him. The calculator... the calculator is for keeping accounts at home."
That's such a lame excuse that even a three-year-old wouldn't believe it.
Qin Rushan chuckled, but didn't expose him for pretending to bring it to his brother, when in fact he was trying to curry favor with his lover.
He flicked off his cigarette ash, leaned back against the cargo box, and asked, "How did it go? Did you really manage to win over that woman, Xiao Lan?"
Xu Yuecheng's mind flashed instantly to the image of Xiao Lan sitting on his lap last night, puffing away, and the excuse that she said, "My period is here."
He cursed inwardly: "Get my ass! I'm completely under her thumb!"
But in front of his elder brother Qin Rushan, a man cannot lose face.
Xu Yuecheng stiffened his neck and forced a "hmm," then mumbled, "Going to sleep."
Qin Rushan's smile faded slightly, and he became serious.
He stepped forward and slapped Xu Yuecheng's shoulder hard, so hard that Xu Yuecheng swayed.
"Old Xu, now that we've slept together, we're family. But I have to remind you of something."
Qin Rushan narrowed his eyes, speaking earnestly, "Xiao Lan is no simple woman. She's ambitious. Unlike a devoted wife like A-Lian, Xiao Lan is like a rose with thorns—beautiful, but prickly."
"Don't end up getting yourself trapped before you've even managed to get the person under control, and then you won't be able to get out."
This is the experience of someone who's been there, and it's also heartfelt talk between brothers.
In this day and age, widows are often the subject of gossip, especially a beautiful widow who is so capable and resourceful.
Xu Yuecheng was stunned for a moment.
He knew, of course, that Xiao Lan was no ordinary person, but that enchantress had him completely captivated.
He then smiled knowingly, a rare hint of candor appearing on his usually stern face: "I know. She's after profit, I'm after people, it's a mutually beneficial arrangement. If we really get caught up in it and can't get out, then it's my own choice, Xu Yuecheng's choice."
After saying that, he stopped being coy, bent down and picked out a men's black plastic-strapped digital watch from the box, then picked out a more delicate silver steel-strapped women's watch, and finally took a black calculator, stuffing them all into his pocket.
"Thanks, Brother Qin." Xu Yuecheng patted his pocket. "These three things can be deducted from my share of the interest when we settle the accounts later."
"Get lost!"
Qin Rushan laughed and cursed, raising his leg as if to kick him, "Why deduct money from a few broken watches? We brothers risked our lives to make this trip, what's a little bit more? Use it to please the women!"
"Let's go!" Xu Yuecheng didn't mince words, waved his hand decisively, turned around and strode out of the warehouse.
Watching Xu Yuecheng disappear into the night, Qin Rushan exhaled the last smoke ring and crushed the cigarette butt under his foot.
"They're all fucking romantics."
He chuckled self-deprecatingly and turned to look at the pile of shipping containers that resembled a small mountain.
Xu Yuecheng has taken care of things in Huai City, so the rest will depend on Qin Rushan's local methods.
Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.
Important Notice: The title of this book has been blocked by the platform (I was wondering why my data was getting worse and worse, sob sob sob!). So I have applied to change the title. The new title may be (note, it is possible, it is possible): The Empty Room, the Unborn Man Next Door Craves Her.
Please don't get lost! I will continue to work hard. I see everyone's comments every day; your comments will motivate me to write even more!