Era: Starting with the struggle to refuse being taken advantage of

Chapter 287 Chance Encounter
Nodding, Wang Chengpeng gave his address directly: "Wangjia Village, take the left-hand road, the second house is my home."

Upon hearing Wang Chengpeng's words, Zhang Dongyan, who was filling out the address, immediately paused and asked to confirm:

"Comrade Wang, are you sure it's Wangjia Village?"

In a time when even electricity was scarce in rural areas, it was astonishing that someone in the village had purchased so many things, which explains why Zhang Dongyan asked such a question.

Nodding firmly, Wang Chengpeng said, "My surname is Wang, and I live in Wangjia Village. There's nothing wrong with that."

"Don't worry, Wangjia Village is relatively close, and a road has been specially built near my home, so it won't affect the driver's transportation."

With an awkward smile, Zhang Dongyan quickly explained, "Comrade Wang, don't misunderstand, I'm just routinely checking the examples."

"For a big client like you, since we've promised to come and install it, we'll naturally keep our word."

At this point, Zhang Dongyan tore off a copy of the invoice and handed it to Wang Chengpeng, saying:
"Take this purchase invoice. When the installer arrives, he will need to verify the invoice before he can proceed with the installation."

Wang Chengpeng put the invoice into his bag, nodded, and said, "Okay, then I'll trouble you."

"I have something to do, so I'll be leaving now. I'll be waiting at home this afternoon."

After leaving the shop selling electric fans, Wang Chengpeng wiped the sweat from his forehead and muttered to himself that he still needed an electric fan on such a hot day.

He hadn't walked far when he found his new target: a clothing store.

A faded red cloth sign hangs at the entrance of the store, with the words "Xinfeng Clothing Store" written crookedly in calligraphy.

The store has several rows of wooden shelves, which are filled with all kinds of clothes, including polyester shirts, polyester pants, and a few fashionable polyester dresses.

The clothes were mostly red, blue, green, white, and gray, with a few pieces having small patterns that looked particularly beautiful, completely different from the dark blue work clothes Wang Chengpeng was wearing.

Although the clothes in the store are quite nice, very few people browse them, since most families are still used to buying a few pieces of cloth and making their own clothes at home.

Even from a distance, Wang Chengpeng spotted Liu Xihua immediately, assuming she was the saleswoman at the clothing store.

Her service was quite good, and Wang Chengpeng was happy to patronize her business here.

As soon as he entered the clothing store, Wang Chengpeng was surprised to find two familiar faces inside.

These two people were none other than Zhao Yuju and Wang Xia'an.

I heard a while ago that Wang Xia'an had run away because of something bad, and in the end Wang Chengpeng stepped in to resolve the matter because of Wang Degong's influence. I never expected to run into them here.

"Grandma, I'm not going back!"

Wang Xia'an was clearly indignant, but his feet seemed to be nailed to the ground, showing no intention of leaving.

Looking at the stubborn Wang Xia'an, Zhao Yuju gently comforted him, "My dear grandson, please stop making a fuss."

"The family has already taken care of things at the sugar factory for you. They even got Director Wang to rescind the decision to fire you. Keep up the good work, you're still the pride of the Wang family."

It's likely that Wang Degong was too ashamed to tell his family about asking Wang Chengpeng for help.
Therefore, Zhao Yuju always thought that the three thousand yuan they spent was the key to success, but she didn't know that Wang Chengpeng was the key to success.

After all, money is useful in many situations, but there are times when it's not enough to make a difference.

Listening to Zhao Yuju's persuasion, Wang Xia'an's face was full of rebellion, and he said impatiently:

"That lousy sugar factory, let whoever wants to go go, I'm not going."

“I would have to think about it even if he begged me to go back, but now he’s demanding that I meet certain performance standards before I can go back. It’s a joke.”

Hearing Wang Xia'an's outrageous remarks, Zhao Yuju's face was full of doting affection:
"Fine, Xia An, if you don't want to go to this lousy sugar factory, then we won't go."

"I just heard that the Dapeng white sugar produced by the factory can't be sold at all. It's been sitting in the supply and marketing cooperative for days and no one has bought it. This kind of lousy factory will go bankrupt sooner or later. There's no need to go there at all."

Hearing Zhao Yuju say that, Wang Xia'an immediately felt relieved and said:

"Grandma, you're so insightful. You knew this lousy factory wouldn't last long."

“I’ll go back with you. Then you’ll come with me to the sugar factory. I need to have a serious talk with Wang Yong.”

“Opportunity? I don’t care about it at all. He’ll have to fire me. Even if he doesn’t, I’ll look down on him.”

"I want to let those fools who believe him know that it's not that the sugar factory doesn't want me, but that I voluntarily gave up the sugar factory."

Zhao Yuju went to great lengths to find Wang Xia'an, and it was only with great difficulty that she finally found him.

Although she felt it was a bit of a waste to give up the job she had worked so hard to get, she thought the most important thing was to persuade this little devil to go back.

In addition, the news that Dapeng sugar produced by Dapeng Sugar Factory could not be sold had spread in the village, and she also felt that this job was not good at all and she was better off not doing it.

Thinking this, Zhao Yuju disregarded everything else and immediately began to coax Wang Xia'an, saying:
"Xia An, Grandma will listen to you. After we get back, I'll go to the sugar factory with you."

"The people in this sugar factory are all bastards. We were targeted when we went there last time. This time we're going to see them make a fool of themselves."

"But you should come back with me now, your family is very worried about you."

Faced with Zhao Yuju's persuasion, Wang Xia'an turned his head away and said:

"Go back? No, let's not go back yet. You have to buy me some clothes first."

"Look at my clothes, they're all dusty and grimy, can I still wear them?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Chengpeng sneered.

If he remembered correctly, Wang Xia'an bought the clothes she was wearing during the Chinese New Year.

Although I bought it six months ago, considering it's summer clothing, I haven't worn it for more than four months in total.

Faced with Wang Xia'an's request, Zhao Yuju was at a loss.

In the past, she wouldn't have even thought about Wang Xia'an making such a request; she would have agreed immediately.

But in order to save Wang Xia'an, she had exhausted her savings, so how could she afford to buy clothes in the store now?
However, she didn't dare refuse Wang Xia'an's request, so she tried to persuade him indirectly:
"Xia An, come back with me first. Grandma doesn't have any money with her right now, so she can't take the clothes from here for the time being."

"After we get back and have the money and receipts, we'll have another chance to come back and buy you some clothes."

Despite Zhao Yuju's persuasion, Wang Xia'an remained unconcerned, pulled out twenty or thirty yuan from his pocket, and said:

"Grandma, I have the money, you just need to issue the ticket."

Seeing the money in Wang Xia'an's hand, Zhao Yuju's eyes widened in shock, and she said in bewilderment:

"Xia An, where did you get this money? You didn't go astray while you were gone, did you?"

Faced with Zhao Yuju's questioning, Wang Xia'an's face was full of displeasure, and he muttered in dissatisfaction:
"It's just a few dozen yuan, I, Wang Xia'an, can earn it easily."

"Grandma, please give me the ticket, I've got my eye on that dress over there."

Following Wang Xia'an's finger, there hung a white short-sleeved shirt, looking particularly neat and tidy—the kind of clothes only office workers in the city could afford. After all, it was a white shirt; if worn for work, not only would it be difficult to wash, but it would also quickly fade and lose its bright, new appearance due to too many stains.

Upon hearing Wang Xia'an say that the money he had was earned by himself, Zhao Yuju grinned from ear to ear, saying:

"You've only been away for a few days and you've already made so much money. You're really capable."

“I knew my grandson was a true dragon. That dilapidated Dapeng Sugar Factory couldn’t contain him at all. Once he breaks free, he will rise to great heights.”

"Grandma didn't bring the tickets with her when she went out today. You should come back with me first, and we'll come back to buy them next time we get the tickets."

While saying that, Zhao Yuju was secretly planning to have her daughter-in-law buy two bolts of cloth and sew a new outfit for Wang Xia'an.

Thinking of this, a hint of jealousy flashed in her eyes, because she remembered the Butterfly brand sewing machine that sat in Wang Chengpeng's house.

If we had this sewing machine, making clothes would be much easier.

Although Liu Chunhua is extremely generous and usually lends her a sewing machine when someone asks, the Wang family is too embarrassed to go to her house to borrow one.

Therefore, they can only sew stitch by stitch, and the stitches are not neat, and the quality of the clothes they sew is not as good as those produced by sewing machines.

Without receipts, it's true that you can't buy clothes even if you have money.

Wang Xia'an's eyes were filled with resentment as she asked the sales clerk at Xinfeng Clothing Store:
"Salesperson, we were in a rush today and forgot to bring the receipts."

"Could you sell me that dress if I pay a little more?"

Faced with Wang Xia'an's question, Liu Xihua, a saleswoman at Xinfeng Clothing Store, hurriedly shook her head and said:

"Comrade, I can't sell you this garment without the fabric."

“I wouldn’t dare to do something like reselling cloth coupons even if you gave me ten lives.”

Wang Xia'an looked at the white Dacron shirt with longing in her eyes, yet also with a sense of helplessness.

However, just as he was about to leave, Wang Chengpeng felt it was time for him, being a helpful person, to step in.

As he said this, Wang Chengpeng stepped forward and deliberately shouted in an extremely loud voice:

"Oh, isn't this Grandma and my good cousin Wang Xia'an?"

"What's wrong? Judging from your troubled looks, you must have forgotten to bring your cloth coupons."

“We’re practically family. I happen to have brought some extra cloth coupons. If you really want them, I can lend them to you first.”

As he spoke, Wang Chengpeng waved the cloth coupons in his hand, indicating that he really had extra cloth coupons.

Attracted by the familiar voice, Liu Xihua turned her head and saw Wang Chengpeng. Her joy was evident.

This is a big customer who can buy a lot of things, so I have to take good care of him.

Before Liu Xihua could say anything, he saw Wang Xia'an suddenly take action.

Wang Chengpeng's appearance, especially with the cloth ration coupon that Wang Xia'an needed in his hand,

This scene instantly dispelled his resentment at not being able to buy clothes, turning it all into joy.

Wang Xia'an was extremely impolite, striding over and reaching out to snatch the cloth coupons from Wang Chengpeng's hand.

With his mediocre skills, how could he possibly snatch anything from Wang Chengpeng's hands? With a slight sway, he dodged Wang Xia'an's outstretched dog paw.

Not only that, Wang Xia'an also fell down due to excessive force, crashing into a clothes rack next to her.

Seeing the clothes scattered all over the ground, Liu Xihua rushed over with a heart full of heartache.

While packing her clothes, she scolded Wang Xia'an, saying:

"What's wrong with you? How dare you cause trouble in the store?"

"Don't let me see you get these clothes dirty, you can't afford to pay for them!"

At the same time, I was also a little surprised. How could someone as respectable as Wang Chengpeng have such an unrespectable family member as Wang Xia'an?

Fortunately, Wang Xia'an, who had been pampered since childhood, was a respectable person, and since the clothes here were all dark-colored, no obvious marks were left.

Even so, after being scolded by Liu Xihua, his face turned extremely ugly, and he immediately rebuked Wang Chengpeng, saying:
"Wang Chengpeng, what's going on with you? Didn't you say you wanted to borrow my cloth coupons? Why were you hiding just now?"

"If you hadn't dodged randomly, how could I have bumped into the clothes rack?"

Enemies are extremely jealous when they meet!

Zhao Yuju chimed in, "Wang Chengpeng, are you doing this on purpose? How could I have such a heartless son who would harm his own cousin's grandson?"

Faced with their accusations, Wang Chengpeng remained calm and composed, showing no embarrassment whatsoever, and retorted with a question:

"So you knew I wanted to borrow the fabric. When you came over and tried to snatch it, I almost thought I was offering it as a gift."

"And my cousin knocking over the clothes rack has absolutely nothing to do with me. The sales clerk saw it; I didn't even touch the hem of his clothes."

“If you’re planning to stage an accident to extort money, then I can’t consider our family ties anymore, and I’m going to call the police.”

"If you intend to borrow cloth coupons, it's very simple. Write an IOU for me in the presence of the sales clerk, and agree to return the cloth coupons to me before the end of the year. Only then can I give you the cloth coupons."

Hearing this, Liu Xihua finally understood the relationship between the three of them.

Although they may be related, they clearly don't get along.

I knew Comrade Wang couldn't possibly have such family members. It turns out that everyone has a few unreasonable and poor relatives.

Thinking this through, Liu Xihua stepped forward and became Wang Chengpeng's witness:
"Are you two trying to stage an accident in public?"

“I clearly saw that this comrade didn’t even touch the hem of your clothes, so you can’t blame anyone else for your fall.”

She was telling the absolute truth, based on what she had seen and heard, and she wasn't afraid of being falsely accused by Wang Xia'an.

Speechless after being confronted by Wang Chengpeng, and with Liu Xihua as a witness, Wang Xia'an was completely speechless, her face turning bright red – quite a sight!

Only Zhao Yuju was secretly delighted. It was good that she had a falling out with Wang Chengpeng; then she wouldn't have to borrow the cloth coupons, buy clothes, or waste money. She immediately shouted at the top of her lungs:

"If you don't want to lend it, then don't. It's just a tattered cloth coupon. Our Wang family doesn't care about it."

"Xia An, come with me, don't pay any attention to this clueless person."

Before Zhao Yuju could finish speaking, Wang Xia'an interrupted, saying:

"Borrow, I'll borrow this cloth coupon. I'm really going to buy this dress today."

(End of this chapter)