dmims Chapter 141 Forming a Group to Make Money, Everyone Follows My Command
Chapter 141 Forming a Group to Make Money, Everyone Follows My Command
That night, no one in the Li family slept soundly.
Just as dawn was breaking and the east was beginning to lighten, commotion broke out in the Li family's courtyard.
"Dad, you're up too early." Li Weimin rubbed his sleepy eyes as he came out of the house and yawned.
"Early my ass!" Li Jianshe didn't even look up, turning the wheels to listen to the sound. "You guys were lucky yesterday, you got a good spot. If you go late today, all the good spots will be taken, and you'll be crying your eyes out! That's all money!"
Liu Xiaocui also rushed out of the kitchen, carrying several freshly steamed cornbread buns in her arms.
"Hurry up and get started! I've already checked out the early melons in our field; we need to pick at least 800 jin today!"
Liu Xiaocui's eyes lit up. "Yesterday, 600 jin could sell for more than 50 yuan. Today, 800 jin will sell for 70 or 80 yuan! Oh my!" She was thrilled just thinking about it.
The whole family was like they'd been injected with chicken blood; they didn't even have time for a proper breakfast. Each of them grabbed a cornbread bun and rushed to the fields with their carts.
When we arrived at the melon patch, the dew was still very heavy, soaking our trouser legs.
The three of them worked together, picking only the big, round ones.
Li Xiaotao directed the operation, Li Weimin was in charge of moving the goods, and Li Jianshe was in charge of stacking them.
In less than an hour, a small, trembling mountain had been piled up on the cart, a little taller than yesterday's.
"That's enough, there's no more room. If you add any more, the shaft will break."
Li Jianshe patted the mud off his hands, looked at the truck full of "golden nuggets," and his face broke into a wide smile. "Let's go! Let's set off!"
Li Weimin tightened the rope around his shoulder, preparing to exert force.
"Wait a minute," Li Xiaotao suddenly called out, her gaze fixed on the dirt road at the village entrance.
In the morning mist, a similar cart was seen huffing and puffing as it made its way this way.
The one pulling the cart was the second brother, Li Dalin, and the one pushing it from behind was the second sister-in-law, Yu Min.
The cart was also packed full, though not as neatly as Li Xiaotao's cart, but it was definitely not light.
"Hey! Peach! Wait for us!" Yu Min waved the pink handkerchief from afar, her face beaming with smiles. She looked so affectionate that anyone who didn't know better would think she was her long-lost sister.
Seeing this, Liu Xiaocui's face immediately fell. She glanced at Li Xiaotao and said, "They've already stuck to us? They're like a litter of cats that smell fish! Xiaotao, this is a route our Li family discovered. Bringing them along means we'll get a share of our money, won't it?"
This daughter-in-law went back to her parents' home and revealed her way of making money.
It seems her heart is still with her maternal family.
Can we trust her with this family in the future? Won't she drain the Li family's coffers to subsidize her own family?!
Li Weimin hesitated for a moment and looked at his wife.
Li Xiaotao remained calm. She didn't know what Liu Xiaocui was thinking, nor did she care.
She knew perfectly well that business was never-ending these days, and even if Old Li's family worked themselves to death, they could never monopolize the town's trade with just one truck.
Since we can't stop them, we might as well all work together as one and put our efforts in the same direction.
"Mother, the road belongs to the government. If we can walk on it, so can others."
Li Xiaotao reassured him, "Besides, traveling in two cars together will be good for mutual support on the road. If we run into a scoundrel like Lai Ziliu, Second Brother's physique is strong enough to take on a man."
As they were talking, Li Dalin and his wife arrived, panting heavily.
"Xiao Tao, brother-in-law! Luckily we made it in time!"
Li Dalin wiped the sweat from his brow and chuckled foolishly, "When I got back yesterday, your second sister-in-law didn't sleep a wink all night. She insisted that I go to the fields this morning too. I figured I'd feel more at ease going with you guys."
Yu Min also joined Li Xiaotao, her eyes sweeping over the overflowing melon cart, her envy barely concealed: "Xiaotao, you really are clever. Today, let's join forces and bring all the money from that town back!"
Li Xiaotao ignored her comment, instead crossing her arms and standing between the two cars with a serious expression.
"Second brother, second sister-in-law, you can come along if you want, but we have to be upfront about this beforehand."
Yu Min was taken aback, and the smile on her face froze slightly: "We're family, why are you talking about such unpleasant things..."
Even close brothers should keep clear accounts.
Li Xiaotao interrupted her, her tone leaving no room for argument, "The town is only so big, and there are only so many people who want to buy melons. If our two families try to undercut each other to win business, with you selling for one cent and me selling for nine cents, in the end neither of us will make any money, and the ones who get the best deals will be outsiders."
Li Xiaotao held up one finger and waved it in front of the two men: "When we get to town, we'll stick to the same story: one cent a pound, not a penny less! Anyone who dares to lower the price or try to steal our business will face my wrath, and you can forget about me helping you out again!"
She knew her second sister-in-law's character all too well. Selfish, greedy for small gains, she was definitely capable of doing such a thing if there hadn't been a prior agreement.
Li Dalin understood. If the two of them lowered their prices to attract customers, he would be the one who lost out.
He nodded frantically, like pounding garlic: "Whatever you say! We'll do whatever you say! We definitely won't lower the price!"
Yu Min's little scheme was seen through at a glance.
She was thinking of selling the melons quickly at a low price. With so many melons in her field, if the price was lower than others, they would definitely sell faster.
But when he saw Li Xiaotao's piercing eyes, he immediately lost his nerve.
This sister-in-law is no longer the pushover she used to be; she has a way to make money in her hands, and you can't afford to offend her.
"Alright! I'll do whatever Taozi says! Whoever lowers the price is a coward!" Yu Min slapped her thigh and promised.
And so, with two carts and four people, they set off on the road in a grand procession.
The villagers who had just gotten up to empty the chamber pots or carry firewood all stared in disbelief.
"What are Old Li's family and Old Li, the Party Secretary's family, up to?"
"It seems they went to sell melons... Did you hear? Yesterday, Weimin and his wife sold out all the melons they took to the county town!"
"Really? That's incredible! They'd make a fortune!"
Amidst a chorus of whispers and envious, jealous glances, the wheels rolled ever onward.
Li Youtian hadn't slept well all night; there were dark circles under his eyes.
He was carrying a large, chipped tea mug, pacing back and forth in his yard.
The aroma of the two bottles of Xifeng liquor that his daughter and son-in-law brought back yesterday still lingers in the house, but his heart is in turmoil, as if being scratched by a cat's claws.
In principle, he was 100% against it.
But what went into their pockets was real money.
"Dad, what are you wandering around for? You're practically stomping a hole in the ground!" Fan Lihong came out of the kitchen carrying a basin of pig feed, giving him a disapproving look. "What, still feeling sorry for your pathetic principles?"
"You old hag, what do you know!"
Li Youtian slammed his teacup down on the stone table. "Now the whole village knows! Where am I supposed to put my face? I'm the village party secretary, leading the way in promoting capitalist remnants. If the commune finds out..."