Siheyuan's Silly Pillar has been replaced by someone else

When Yan Bugui barged into Yi Zhonghai's house, he happened to see Qin Huairu taking three hundred yuan from Yi Zhonghai's hand.

The greed in his eyes flashed briefly, then disappeared quickly.

Trying to steal this money might backfire and result in more losses than gains.

Moreover, he had something more important than three hundred dollars.

It would be even better for Qin Huairu to be in Yi Zhonghai's room.

With Qin Huairu present, the chances of persuading Yi Zhonghai would be even greater.

"Old Yi, guess what I just heard outside Old Liu's house?"

Yi Zhonghai sensed that Yan Bugui had ill intentions, and before he could stop him, Qin Huairu spoke up.

Just now, Yan Bugui gave Qin Huairu a wink.

Qin Huairu, seeing the look in Yan Bugui's eyes, guessed that something good was coming and would certainly not refuse.

"What happened to the Liu family this time?"

Yan Bugui then directly revealed the Liu family's business.

Upon hearing that a single shipping container could earn 210,000 yuan, Qin Huairu's eyes lit up like a 25-watt light bulb.

"Are you telling the truth?"

"Would I lie to you? Old Liu already agreed when I came over."

He was preparing to send Guangtian and Guangfu to negotiate with Xu Damao.

I reckon they'll start taking action once they've finalized the profit-sharing agreement.

Qin Huai couldn't sit still any longer: "We're all one family in this courtyard."

You three old men are as close as family.

Old Liu's family is making money, they can't leave us behind.

I'll go find him right now.

"No way." Yi Zhonghai and Yan Bugui stopped him at the same time.

Yi Zhonghai was quite surprised to see Yan Bugui refuse, so he waited on the side to see what Yan Bugui would say.

Yan Bugui came to find Yi Zhonghai because he was worried that Liu Haizhong would find out that he was eavesdropping.

If Qin Huai were to go and find Liu Haizhong, wouldn't that be telling Liu Haizhong that he had been eavesdropping?

That would offend Liu Haizhong.

"Qin Huairu, I overheard this. If you go and ask him directly, aren't you just betraying me?"

Qin Huairu was a little embarrassed: "I just wanted to find out what happened."

"How can we participate if we don't go?"

Yan Bugui then turned to look at Yi Zhonghai: "That's why I came to discuss this with Lao Yi."

Yi Zhonghai secretly hoped that Yan Bugui's stopping of Qin Huairu meant he didn't want Qin Huairu to participate.

As expected, Yan Bugui was still Yan Bugui; he wouldn't let go of any opportunity to profit.

Yi Zhonghai wasn't unmoved, but he was also somewhat afraid.

If he were to cooperate with He Yuzhu, he certainly wouldn't be worried; he might even be able to escape faster than Qin Huairu.

Although He Yuzhu is not filial, his father-in-law is no ordinary person.

That kind of person cares about his reputation. If He Yuzhu dares to cheat him, he'll go after He Yuzhu's father-in-law.

At that point, he might be able to force He Yuzhu to take care of him obediently in his old age.

But Li Huaide was different.

Everyone at the steel mill knew who Li Huaide was.

In Yi Zhonghai's eyes, Li Huaide was a person who had done all sorts of bad things.

Such a person cannot be trusted at all.

Not to mention, he invested all his retirement money in Li Huaide.

"What's there to discuss? This is unreliable," Yi Zhonghai objected directly.

"How is it unreliable?" Qin Huairu was even more enthusiastic than Yan Bugui.

Yan Bugui chimed in, "Yes, that sounds pretty plausible to me."

Li Huaide had done this many times before, and nothing had ever happened to him.

Moreover, both Xu Damao and Lao Liu participated.

If they're not afraid, why should we be?

Yi Zhonghai explained earnestly, "Old Yan, you've never worked at a steel rolling mill, so you don't know Li Huaide's character."

He was a greedy and lustful man who never did a good deed.

Also, you mentioned Xu Damao. Is Xu Damao a good person?

If the Japanese hadn't left early, he would have been a traitor. Those two scoundrels, working together, how could they possibly have good intentions?

"Old Yi, you can't judge people with prejudice." This reason obviously failed to convince Yan Bugui.

Yan Bugui knew that it wouldn't be easy to persuade Yi Zhonghai; he would have to get Qin Huairu to step in.

“Huai Ru, you used to work in a steel rolling mill, so tell me, who is Li Huaide?”

Without thinking, Qin Huairu said, "Director Li certainly has his flaws, but he's the kind of person who will do things for money and is especially generous to his own people."

Yi Zhonghai said angrily, "Huai Ru, how can you lie like that?"

Qin Huairu said, "Zhonghai, I'm not lying. You used to be Director Yang's man, and you didn't have much contact with Li Huaide."

It's normal not to know him personally.

But if you ask those who follow Li Huaide, you'll find out.

I was absolutely right.

"That's impossible." Yi Zhonghai still didn't believe it.

Yan Bugui looked at Qin Huairu, wanting to confirm whether what she said was true.

Qin Huairu was not lying, and nodded with great confidence.

Yan Bugui now felt more confident: "Old Yi, you can't judge people with prejudice."

I think Huairu is right.

If Li Huaide wasn't good to people, how could he possibly defeat Director Yang?

Since Li Huaide takes money to do things and is generous to his own people, I think this business deal is fine.

Yi Zhonghai wanted to refute, but didn't know how.

Aside from attacking Li Huaide morally, he couldn't find any other fault to use against him.

"People change. Do you know that smuggling is illegal?"

Yan Bugui and Qin Huairu both laughed.

Of course they know that smuggling is illegal, but if they want to make money, how can they not break the law?
Li Huaide has done it so many times and nothing has happened, it's impossible that they're just unlucky and something happens after they do it once.

"You still want to report it?"

Yi Zhonghai was stumped. He really hadn't considered reporting it.

Ultimately, if Qin Huai hadn't participated, Li Huaide's smuggling wouldn't have had much to do with him.

If Qin Huai had participated, he would be even less likely to report it.

"Even if Li Huaide is fine, what about Xu Damao?"

"There's even less to worry about with Xu Damao. He'll be participating himself," Qin Huairu said confidently.

She has a close relationship with Xu Damao and is confident that she can keep him in check.

Yi Zhonghai was at his wit's end and sat there without saying a word.

Qin Huairu then asked Yan Bugui, "If you don't let me go find Lao Liu, how can we join?"

Yan Bugui said, "If you go to him, he'll know I was eavesdropping. Do you think he'll still agree to let us join?"

"Then what do we do?" Qin Huai glanced at Yi Zhonghai, then turned to Yan Bugui.

Given Yi Zhonghai's character, it would be good enough if he didn't hold them back; he's unlikely to offer them any advice.

Yan Bugui realized this too, so he had to figure out a solution on his own.

"Here's what I'm thinking. We should keep a close eye on Lao Liu lately, and if we find anything amiss, we'll confront him."

"Then we'll force him to tell us. That way he won't suspect us."

Qin Huai thought about it and decided it was a good idea. The eavesdropping absolutely couldn't be exposed.

Of course, she also caught what Yan Bugui hadn't said.

That means we need to get Yi Zhonghai to take the lead.

Without Yi Zhonghai, she and Yan Bugui alone wouldn't have been able to persuade Liu Haizhong.

"Zhonghai, I think this is a good idea. We only need to succeed once, then we won't do it again."

With the money I earned, I can help Bang Geng find a stable business.

"Just once, it's impossible for it to be discovered."

Yan Bugui chimed in, "Yeah, Lao Yi. Let's do it once."

Moreover, we can take a look first, and if there is really no risk, then we can join.

At our age, if we don't find a way to make some money...

"Where will I get the money for medical treatment when I get sick and need to be hospitalized?"

After being persuaded by the two men in turn, Yi Zhonghai had no choice but to compromise. (End of Chapter)