Year 1983: I was a carpenter in Northeast China

Chapter 165 This is outrageous!

Xu Bei was unaware that Song Guomei had secretly helped him and Zhou Qingwan get together.

While waiting for the business registration officials to come and inspect the rented premises and issue the business license, he didn't sit idle.

On one hand, he was hiring people to renovate and plaster the walls, and urging carpenters to make shelves and counters. On the other hand, he continued his business without any initial investment in an orderly manner.

Currently, the sales of wooden stools and folding tables at the Forestry Bureau are handled by two buddies, Dahei and Song Guodong. In the city, they've bypassed Lao Ba, and Fan Baoli, who directly collaborates with him, has also returned from his hometown in the south, weary from his journey.

Fan Baoli genuinely wanted to befriend Xu Bei, a man of courage and helpfulness, and even brought him many local specialties.

Xu Bei was deeply moved by the fact that the person had brought him Longjing tea and cured meat from so far away.

Although he was unsure how to properly prepare the glistening cured meat, he still specially invited Fan Baoli to a state-run restaurant for a meal.

Even at a table where only two people sit facing each other, there are four dishes and a soup.

They ate and drank heartily, making quite a scene.

During the conversation, in addition to talking about their experiences during the Chinese New Year, they also naturally talked about old scars from past conflicts with each other.

Xu Bei briefly recounted his last meeting with Fan Baoli before the Lunar New Year, how he paid the bill and left, how he ate noodles at a snack bar, and how he encountered Lao Ba and his friend, which led to a fight.

Hearing that Fan Baoli had gained a few pounds during the New Year and had a rosier complexion, Fan Baoli was full of admiration.

"Brother Xu, you're really something! You managed to settle things one-on-two without suffering any losses! Did you learn this before?"

Xu Bei put down his wine glass, smiled modestly, and said, "I've only learned a little bit. If it really comes down to a fight, the tough are afraid of the reckless, and the reckless are afraid of the fearless. I guess my fearless attitude intimidated me."

Fan Baoli had already witnessed it once on the train, so he could imagine some scenes of three people fighting. "That should be it. I also want to learn more from you, Brother Xu, but my physical condition doesn't allow it."

However, will this old scar really be willing to stop causing us trouble? I doubt it.

Xu Bei narrowed his eyes and sneered indifferently, "That's his own choice. If he continues to overestimate himself and cause trouble, he shouldn't blame us for being impolite!"

In short, we weren't the ones who were wrong first; on the contrary, he felt extremely wronged. It's absolutely outrageous!

Fan Baoli raised his glass in agreement and laughed, "Yes, he was in the wrong to begin with. We're not going to cause him any trouble, and he thinks he's in the right. It's ridiculous."

After the two had eaten and drunk their fill, they parted ways at the restaurant entrance.

Xu Bei, carrying a bag containing cured meat and tea, first walked to a shop near the department store.

As we entered March, spring's footsteps were slow and hesitant, but the temperature did rise, becoming much warmer than during the Lunar New Year.

The afternoon sun, in particular, feels even warmer on people.

After walking for a while, Xu Bei's forehead was covered in sweat.

When I arrived at the shop, I found that it was well-lit, with sunlight streaming into the room. With the help of the stove, it wasn't cold even if I wore a sweater inside, as there was a warm breeze blowing in.

The whitewashing was done by a husband and wife team. They had essentially contracted the job, and the sooner they finished, the sooner they would get paid. So, they had a quick lunch and then got back to work.

Upon seeing Xu Bei enter, looking like he'd been drinking, the couple greeted him in unison, "The boss's here."

Xu Bei casually closed the door, glanced around at the progress of the work, and asked, "Hmm, how much longer will this take?"

The man rubbed his chin with his hands covered in white ash and said with a chuckle, "Two more days, and it'll be done."

"Okay, you guys better do a good job. I'll come back to you next time I need work."

Xu Bei started making grand promises without even trying.

The couple really fell for it, and worked even more diligently and energetically.

Later that evening, Zhao Fengying returned from helping out at the forestry bureau shop.

At the same time, he excitedly brought back a telegram and remittance slip from the provincial capital.

"Son, it seems the Chen brothers are selling quite smoothly and quickly. They transferred six hundred yuan this time."

Xu Bei raised an eyebrow and smiled, taking the receipt in the manila envelope while remarking, "Really? That must have been quite a lot."

Zhao Fengying said with a beaming smile, "Absolutely. When the postman delivered it to the shop, Sister Liu from the tailor shop was also there chatting and visiting. She was so excited; this is no small sum of money."

This table required a lot of folding; I don't know if your boss can make it.

Xu Bei had already pulled out the telegram inside.

He carefully examined the contents and found that, just as his mother had said, they only wanted fifty wooden stools, and the rest of the payment would be used for tables.

"It should be about right. Anyway, we'll just send out as many as we make first."

Although the automated production line in the game system produces at a rapid pace, Xu Bei will keep it within a reasonable range that will not arouse suspicion, taking into account some real-world factors.

We can't let our eagerness to make money cause us to slip up and lose more than we gain.

Just then, Zhao Fengying discovered the cured meat in her pocket.

"Oh my god, son, where did you buy this? How are we going to eat it?"

Xu Bei was not surprised at all by his mother's reaction.

After all, they usually eat fresh pork or freeze meat using the outdoor temperature in winter.

He stuffed the telegram and money order back into the envelope, smiling as he said, "I didn't buy it. It was brought back to us from my hometown in the south by that woodworking guy I'm pretty good friends with. There are quite a few ways to eat it, but there aren't many kinds of vegetables available right now. It would taste good if you put some in fried rice."

Zhao Fengying already knew this person, and also knew that he was quite generous and loyal. He was even willing to lend his son such a valuable thing as a camera, which made her have an excellent impression of him.

"Then let's try adding some to the fried rice with eggs. We've never had it before, so we don't know if it will taste weird. Besides, it would be a waste of their good intentions if we ate it."

So, that evening, cured meat appeared on the family's dinner table.

However, Xu Bei had to admit that dietary habits are deeply ingrained, and even with careful preparation and cooking, he still couldn't get used to the food.

Zhao Fengying and Xu Juan have eaten far more variety than Xu Bei over the years, so they forced themselves to try the food, and in the end decided not to waste any of the good stuff and ate a little more.

The next morning, Xu Bei didn't rush to deliver the goods to Fan Baoli. Instead, he went to the city post office to collect the 600 yuan remittance.

Compared to the Forestry Bureau, which only has one post office and whose staff are particularly interested in and gossip about large sums of money, the situation in the city is much better.

Therefore, Xu Bei didn't have to say much to get the sixty yuan bills.

Making so much money from a business with no initial investment naturally brings great joy.