Chapter 77

Since they were already working together, Li Chen spoke directly: “You can only provide a thousand jin of grain?”

He didn’t believe that she only had a thousand jin of grain when she was willing to use it as bait to lure him out.

Of course, she had more.

A thousand jin was just a conservative estimate given by Shen Yiyi. However, she was curious and asked: “If I can provide grain by the ton, would you dare to sell it?”

Weren’t they afraid of being investigated?

“Why wouldn’t we dare? A ton is just two thousand jin.” Li Chen scoffed. As if he had already anticipated her concerns, he added: “If all this grain were concentrated in the county, of course, it would attract attention. But if it were distributed across the entire country, even hundreds of tons wouldn’t be much.”

???

She was being looked down on again.

In reality, Shen Yiyi thought very simply—right now, even traveling required an introduction letter, let alone transporting large quantities of goods across the country.

If they were discovered, disaster would surely follow.

She also didn’t want to take risks alone. She just wanted to do some small business, earning enough to live comfortably.

After all, once the college entrance exams reopened, there would be plenty of opportunities to make money. When the policies became more relaxed, she wouldn’t have to worry about her future.

But she hadn’t expected Li Chen to be so bold!!!

Of course, this also proved that he really had connections.

Because of that, Shen Yiyi felt much more reassured about doing business with Li Chen. She simply said: “I can give you five tons, but it’ll cost eight yuan per jin!”

“Deal!” Li Chen agreed without hesitation. “You still have wristwatches, right?”

“A hundred wristwatches.” Shen Yiyi replied. Since they were cooperating, she had to show some sincerity. However, she added: “Do you even have that much money to pay me?”

There was a hint of mischief in her words. She clearly remembered Li Chen saying he only had 700 yuan in private savings—and all that money was with her.

“Don’t worry.” Li Chen sneered. “As long as you can supply the goods, I can get you the money!”

???

He really did have money!

Shen Yiyi thought back to the 7,500 yuan from last time. Maybe Li Chen was the one who gathered it.

As for how he managed to do that—that was another one of his secrets.

Shen Yiyi narrowed her eyes. Her man was truly capable.

Since that was the case, if she didn’t take advantage of the opportunity, she’d be letting herself down! “Then, can you help me collect some old items?”

By “old items.” Shen Yiyi was referring to antiques. In later years, antiques would be worth a fortune, but in this era, they weren’t valued much and weren’t considered particularly expensive.

If she could seize this chance to find a rare treasure, she wouldn’t have to worry about making money ever again—she could just enjoy a carefree life.

Li Chen didn’t think too much about it. No matter how smart he was, he couldn’t predict the future. However, the bosses at the Black Market had plenty of such things. Trading some goods with them could yield a decent collection!

But he wasn’t foolish either. Since Old Hei had deliberately mentioned those items, they must hold some value.

So, he seized the opportunity and said: “I can do that, but if I take fifty wristwatches, you should lower the price by ten yuan. Now that I’m taking a hundred, shouldn’t you give me a twenty-yuan discount?”

Shen Yiyi: ???

Alright. Very good. He knew how to negotiate!

“Deal!” she agreed. There was no need to haggle too much between partners. Besides, she was still making a pure profit of 140 yuan per watch.

Li Chen asked: “When is the delivery?”

“Tomorrow morning at ten.” Shen Yiyi replied. Although things were easier to handle under the cover of darkness, she didn’t feel comfortable leaving the Three Baos at home alone at night. So, daytime it was.

“Alright!”

Li Chen nodded, set the meeting location, and the two parted ways.

Shen Yiyi left Xinbao Alley, rode her bicycle back to Qingshui Village, and stopped in the middle of the journey to change her outfit in the woods. She also took some meat from her personal stash before heading home.

By the time she arrived, it was already around five in the evening.

Li Chen hadn’t returned yet.

Shen Yiyi guessed he was probably out gathering money and antiques.

She didn’t bother with him and instead went next door to the old house. The entire Old Li’s Family was there, but the atmosphere was heavy.

The third branch of the family was eating in the main hall. Father Li was weaving baskets in the courtyard, Li Dabin had gone to fetch water, He Zhaodi was busy in the kitchen, and Mother Li was sitting under the eaves sewing shoe insoles, muttering complaints under her breath—

“You’re like a starving ghost reincarnated. It’s only the first day after the family split, and you’re already hogging the kitchen. What? Do you think the kitchen belongs to your family now?”

“You’ve been in there for two hours. What, planning to ascend to heaven? I don’t see you cooking any meat!”

Inside, Jiang Ailing mumbled: “As if you could cook any meat yourself.”

“You shut the hell up!” Li Sanhong immediately scolded.

But Mother Li had already heard it and erupted in fury. “So just because you can’t cook meat, that gives you the right to hog the kitchen for two hours, huh? Huh?”

Jiang Ailing shrank her neck back and didn’t retort.

She was just furious. During the division of assets today, they had talked about fairness, but in reality, all the good stuff had gone to the eldest branch of the family.

Why?

Her husband was also their son. She had also given birth to two grandsons for Old Li’s Family. Shouldn’t they have received a bigger share?

And over the years, all the money they had earned had been handed over to Mother Li. Yet, in the end, they were only given a pitiful 200 yuan.

They claimed that was all the money left—but who knew if those two old foxes had hidden some away?

Jiang Ailing was full of resentment. However, after what had happened yesterday, she didn’t dare to openly challenge them, so she resorted to petty tricks.

Nowadays, since there wasn’t much heavy labor to do, every household in the village had returned to eating two meals a day—breakfast around ten in the morning and dinner around four in the afternoon.

Jiang Ailing had deliberately gone into the kitchen at three o’clock and lingered there on purpose, only coming out close to five.

By then, Father Li, Mother Li, and the eldest branch of the family were already starving. It was no wonder Mother Li was furious.

“If you do this again, I’ll overturn your pot and see what the hell you eat then!” Mother Li scolded.

Then, seeing Shen Yiyi enter, she softened her expression slightly. “Second daughter-in-law, what brings you here?”

“I’m looking for the Three Baos.” Shen Yiyi said.

“They’re not here.” Mother Li replied. Out of habit, she glanced at the kitchen. Seeing that He Zhaodi was focused on cooking, she sighed in relief.

Shen Yiyi didn’t notice Mother Li’s odd reaction. She guessed that Li Chen had probably taken the Three Baos to Chen Qiang’s house and nodded.  

Just as she was about to head there, a thought suddenly struck her. She glanced at Jiang Ailing and smiled. “Mother, I just came back from the county and bought some meat. I’ll bring you a pound later as a celebration for the family splitting up.”  

Mother Li was taken aback. “Oh, how could we possibly accept that…”  

“Then thank you, Second Daughter-in-law.” Father Li suddenly interjected. “Old woman, go get the money and pay her.”  

Mother Li was stunned. Her husband had always been frugal—why would he suddenly be willing to spend money on meat?  

Then, out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of the third branch of the family and immediately understood. A smile spread across her face. “Yes, yes, we should celebrate! Second Daughter-in-law, wait here, I’ll be right back.”  

With that, Mother Li scurried off to fetch the money, her hips swaying as she walked—clearly in a good mood.  

Her old man and her second daughter-in-law were standing up for her!  

Shen Yiyi: “…”  

She had only wanted to annoy Jiang Ailing.  

Since they were already getting the money, she saw no reason to refuse.  

Originally, she had planned to fetch the Three Baos first before bringing the meat over, but now she decided to take Dahua along to grab it.  

Then she remembered—the meat she had was all lean, but in these times, people considered fatty meat to be the real delicacy.  

So, just before stepping inside, she used her thoughts to retrieve a pound of fatty pork from her space and placed it on the table. As soon as she entered, she handed it to Dahua.  

Dahua took the meat back to Mother Li, who was so delighted that her eyes practically disappeared behind her smile.  

That night, the aroma of meat from the old house drifted all the way to Shen Yiyi’s place.  

Jiang Ailing nearly ground her teeth to dust.  

Why had those two old foxes never been willing to buy meat before the family split?  

And her children, driven mad by the smell, deliberately played in the main hall while Mother Li’s family ate.  

But Mother Li didn’t give them a single bite.