The entire courtyard is full of villains

"There are 500 jin of meat and a little over 1,000 jin of flour. There are also some fruit candies and milk candies, but these were originally intended for export to our big brother company. They still need to inspect them, so the packaging might not be very neat."

"No packaging is no big deal!" Li Huaide's eyes lit up. "Just find some workers at the factory to wrap it up with paper! Oh, Erhe, you've really helped me a lot!"

"The price might be a bit high..."

"No problem! As long as it's not outrageous, the factory will cover it all!"

"Flour costs 35 cents a pound, meat costs 1.9 yuan, and sugar costs 2.4 yuan."

Li Huaide hesitated for a moment: "Three and a half cents for flour is fine, I'll round up the meat to two yuan, it's two yuan and three or four on the black market now. I'll buy sugar for two yuan and fifty cents a pound." He slapped his forehead, "Look at my memory! You'll have to pay for this first, right? Xiao Wang—"

Wang Chao responded and came in.

"Take my note and go to the finance department to withdraw three thousand yuan."

After sending Wang Chao away, Li Huaide took out a key from his waist and went into the inner room. A few moments later, he emerged carrying two bottles of fine wine and two cartons of specially supplied cigarettes.

"Erhe, this is all the stock I have left this year. Your sister-in-law is under house arrest by my father-in-law and can't come over. I'll get you another batch after the New Year." He thought for a moment, then pulled out a watch receipt from the drawer. "This is the only receipt I have left this year. Don't be stingy, take it back and buy your sister-in-law a watch!"

"See that?" Zhang Erhe thought to himself, secretly admiring Li Huaide's methods. No wonder those time travelers were all eager to get in touch with Li Huaide; this man was indeed straightforward and had a broad vision.

"Brother Li, we can get the stuff, but the other party knows you're an official, so they have some reservations..."

"Okay, okay, I understand." Li Huaide nodded repeatedly. "I'll leave this entirely to you. Just make sure the stuff gets into the factory."

“You need to give them a place to deliver the goods, and then they will hand over the keys to me. Once they have stored the goods, I will notify you to pick them up. Just tell everyone that you got them, and I won’t show my face in the middle—you’ve just become the deputy factory director, and you need this kind of achievement to solidify your position.”

Li Huaide was deeply moved and held Zhang Erhe's hand tightly: "Erhe, I never expected you to think of me so much! Enough said, just watch what I do next!"

"To be honest, Erhe, I really need this credit to solidify my position."

Just then, Wang Chao returned with the money. Li Huaide said no more, turned around and took out a key from the inner room: "This is the key to the small warehouse at the south gate of our factory. It used to be used to store miscellaneous items, but it's basically unused now. After you put your things in there, let me know and I'll send someone to pick them up right away. It'll be quick."

"Okay." Zhang Erhe didn't linger and left after taking the keys and money.

After dinner, Guan Xue was about to pour out the water for washing her feet when Zhang Erhe waved his hand and said, "No rush today, I'm going out for a bit."

Guan Xue's heart immediately jumped: "Erhe, you...you're not going to do business in Pigeon Market again, are you?"

"No, that's not true," Zhang Erhe quickly explained. "I just went to talk to a few friends about something."

"That's good." Guan Xue was relieved to hear that they weren't going to the black market.

In the small courtyard outside the south gate, Zhang Erhe looked around—it was very quiet. With a wave of his hand, a batch of supplies appeared neatly in the warehouse. After locking the door, he quietly left.

The next day, as soon as he arrived at work, Zhang Erhe first went to the workshop for a look around, and then took the key to Li Huaide's office.

"Brother Li, I've accomplished my mission; everything has arrived. Here's the remaining money; please count it."

"So fast?!"

Li Huaide took the remaining money, opened the drawer without even looking at it, and put it inside: "How much supplies are there exactly?"

"Five hundred catties of meat, one thousand one hundred catties of wheat flour, and four hundred catties of sugar, a mixture of fruit candy and milk candy."

"Wow! So much sugar?" Li Huaide had originally thought the amount of sugar was small, but he didn't expect there to be four hundred catties. After a quick calculation, a smile appeared on his face—now every worker could get some sugar.

"Xiao Wang!" he called out towards the door.

Wang Chao answered and came in. Li Huaide didn't take the key Zhang Erhe handed him, but instead took out another one from his office drawer: "Take a few logistics guys to that abandoned warehouse at the south gate and bring back all the supplies inside. Remember: 500 catties of meat, 1,100 catties of flour, and 400 catties of sugar."

"Hey!" Wang Chao took the keys and quickly left.

"Brother Li, what's going on?" Zhang Erhe had already guessed what was going on when he saw that Li was not taking the keys from his hand.

"Erhe, keep that key," Li Huaide said with a meaningful smile. "If I need to deal with supplies again in the future, I'll have to trouble you."

"Alright then." Zhang Erhe casually put away the keys. "Brother Li, where do you live? I'll have someone deliver some local specialties over tonight."

Li Huaide understood immediately and whispered the address to him.

After leaving the office building, Zhang Erhe strolled over to the security department. Ma Qianli was sitting at his desk, idly lost in thought.

"Knock knock—" Zhang Erhe knocked on the door frame. "Come out for a moment, I have something to tell you."

Ma Qianli strolled out lazily, and just as he was about to take out a cigarette, Zhang Erhe tossed him his special-supply cigarettes.

"Wow! Second Brother, you've upgraded from a slingshot to a cannon!" Ma Qianli hurriedly caught the cigarette, lit it, and took a deep, satisfied drag. "Mmm, this is the taste! Got something planned for tonight?"

"It's nothing," Ma Qianli said, rubbing his lower back.

Zhang Erhe noticed this detail: "What? You got ridden by a Mongolian horse?"

"Bullshit! I'm the one riding it!" Ma Qianli retorted stubbornly, but he increased the pressure of rubbing his waist.

Zhang Erhe laughed and tossed over a match, lowering his voice: "Tonight, call the eldest and third brothers to go to that abandoned warehouse outside the South Gate."

Ma Qianli's eyes lit up: "Second Brother, are you going to do business?"

"What kind of business are you doing! Don't you even know what the black market is like right now?" Zhang Erhe glared at him. "I've got some supplies and left them there. You guys come over tonight and give them to the boss and third brother. They both have families to support, and life isn't easy for them."

"Oh, I see," Ma Qianli replied sullenly.

Zhang Erhe lightly kicked him: "What? You're not happy? If you're not happy, I'll find someone else."

"No, no!" Ma Qianli hurriedly explained, "It's just that I used to be so carefree... Now that I'm being managed by others, it feels strange."

Chapter 75 Worrying Every Day

It was late at night, and the area outside the South Gate was pitch black.

Ma Qianli led Sun Xiangdong and Wu Qian, walking unsteadily in the dim moonlight. Wu Qian complained irritably, "Fourth brother, why don't you lead the way! If you had told me we were coming here earlier, I would have at least brought a flashlight!"

“Alright, alright, you’re the most precious one,” Ma Qianli replied.

“Don’t you see?” Ma Qianli said in a low voice, cautiously probing the way by the dim moonlight, “The security guards patrol inside every ten minutes or so. If we use a flashlight, wouldn’t we be walking right into a trap? And wouldn’t we be putting Second Brother in danger?”

"Alright, alright, let's all keep quiet." Sun Xiangdong quickly smoothed things over, then asked, "Fourth brother, your second brother didn't say exactly what he wanted to talk to us about?"

Just then, a small door creaked open from the inside, and Zhang Erhe poked his head out, looking around warily. He whispered, "Come in, all of you, quickly!"

Several people filed in. As soon as the door closed, Zhang Erhe turned on his flashlight, the beam illuminating several piles of things that had already been separated on the ground.

"Eldest brother, third brother, you two have families to support." Zhang Erhe pointed with his flashlight, "Here's ten jin of meat, fifty jin of flour, and ten jin of sugar. Is that enough for you to celebrate the New Year?"

"Enough! More than enough!" Sun Xiangdong, who had been worrying about New Year's goods these past few days, nodded repeatedly upon hearing this. This year's factory benefits were about to be canceled. Although his father-in-law was the deputy factory director, in these times, without supplies, even the deputy director was helpless.

Wu Qian swallowed hard, then tentatively asked, "Second Brother, how about... you get some more? Let's go to the black market..."

Zhang Erhe raised his hand and slapped him, scolding in a low voice, "I've already said we've retired from the black market! Why do you keep bringing this up every other day? Are you looking for death!"

Wu Qian rubbed his neck and gave an embarrassed smile: "Second brother, it's just... a habit."

"Alright, stop joking around." Zhang Erhe pointed to the corner of the wall. "I have another piece of ribbonfish there, from the seaside. You two take it apart and split it up. We can't let our wives and kids be craving it during the New Year." His tone became serious. "But you two have to keep your mouths shut when you're out! You know what to say if someone asks, right?"

"I know, I know!" Sun Xiangdong quickly assured him.

He hesitated for a moment, then tentatively asked, "Erhe, do you still have enough supplies? If so, could you give some to our factory too...?"

"Don't even think about it!" Zhang Erhe interrupted him directly. "Boss, your father-in-law is the deputy factory director. Don't you know that supplies are hard to come by this year?"

"It's so difficult! It's incredibly difficult!" Sun Xiangdong blurted out. "My father-in-law has called me into his office several times, trying to get me to find a way in, but where am I supposed to find one? Now I have to avoid him whenever I see him!"

"That's it!" Zhang Erhe said. "Do you know how much effort I put into getting these things? Just so you guys wouldn't have an embarrassing New Year. If you want to get supplies for your factory—turn right at the door, no see!"

Zhang Erhe turned to Ma Qianli, his tone more relaxed: "Fourth brother, I won't give you your share. You're all set for yourself, come to my house for the New Year, let's have some fun together."

Unexpectedly, Ma Qianli blushed, a rare occurrence, and stammered, "Second...Second Brother, how about...you give me one too? I...I have somewhere to spend the New Year this year."

Zhang Erhe was taken aback, then realized what he meant and lowered his voice with a mocking smile: "No way? It's not that 'Mongolian horse', is it?"

Ma Qianli lowered his head and gave a nasal "hmm," which was taken as an admission.

"Hmm?" Zhang Erhe's smile faded, sensing something was amiss. "That Mongolian horse who runs a mutton restaurant, how could he be short of meat?"

“Second Brother,” Ma Qianli explained, “two months ago, Qiqige’s hometown sent a letter saying that the government had requisitioned more sheep this year, and it would be difficult to drive the sheep to Beijing in the future. Her mutton restaurant has already closed down.”

"Fourth brother," Zhang Erhe's tone turned serious, "what are you thinking? You're not really going to live with that 'Mongolian horse'?"

Ma Qianli suddenly raised his head, as if he had made up his mind, and his words became much smoother: "Second brother, I've thought about it, I've thought about it for a long time! I really like Qiqige! Although she's a widow, I genuinely like her! Over the years, seeing you all get married one by one, to be honest, I've been envious. The other day, Qiqige mentioned this to me, and I... I agreed. From now on, I'll live with her!"

Upon hearing this, Sun Xiangdong frowned immediately: "Fourth brother, have you thought this through? That 'Mongolian horse' is a widow, and you're still a young, unmarried man, a security officer with a bright future. Marry her..."

Ma Qianli was quite casual with Sun Xiangdong, interrupting him directly: "Boss, stop with the widow stuff. What's that saying? Money can't buy happiness! I just love this kind of thing!"

Sun Xiangdong tried to persuade him again, but Zhang Erhe grabbed him.

“Alright, eldest brother.” Zhang Erhe stepped forward to set the tone, “Since fourth brother has made up his mind, we, as his older brothers, should give him our best wishes.”

After saying that, he turned around and went into the inner room, where he brought out another portion of meat and noodles, and also threw out two pieces of ribbonfish.

"Fourth brother, now that you've decided to be with her, let's live a proper life together. Mongolian horse... oh no, Qiqige is from the grasslands, so she probably doesn't eat much seafood. Take these two pieces of ribbonfish back with you and let her try something new."

"Alright! Thank you, Second Brother!" Ma Qianli swallowed hard, then announced to his brothers, "Brothers, Qiqige and I have discussed it, and we won't have a big wedding banquet at this time of year. Come to my house on the second day of the Lunar New Year, and we'll have a good meal together. Consider it a favor to us!"

“Okay!” Zhang Erhe nodded first, and Sun Xiangdong and Wu Qian quickly followed suit.

"Oh, by the way," Zhang Erhe asked again, "who else is in Qiqige's family?"

"It's her, and she has a five-year-old daughter."

"That's good." Zhang Erhe nodded. "When the little girl grows up, she can get married. Unlike a son, who might kick you out of the house when he grows up and make you a 'Dorgon'."

"Second Brother, I understand, I understand," Ma Qianli quickly replied.

"It's good that you understand the consequences!" Zhang Erhe nodded. "Alright, it's getting late. Eldest brother and third brother, take your things and get out of here in the dark. Remember, keep your mouths shut! If any rumors get out, I'll settle accounts with you two!"

Sun Xiangdong and Wu Qian hurriedly picked up their respective New Year's gifts, repeatedly assuring each other, "No, no, Second Brother, don't worry!"

After the two quietly left, Ma Qianli also tied up the things that had been given to him and prepared to take his leave.

"Fourth brother, don't rush," Zhang Erhe called out to him, handing him a slip of paper. "Could you deliver these things to this address for me on your way?"

Ma Qianli took the note and was taken aback: "This is... the residence of the steel mill's leaders?"

"It's Li Huaide's house!"

"Second brother, how did you get in touch with him?"

“He approached me first,” Zhang Erhe explained, “asking me to help him get some supplies for the factory. Otherwise, how do you think the eldest and third brothers got their New Year’s gifts?”

"Second brother, he didn't give you any trouble, did he?"

"No." Zhang Erhe waved his hand and lowered his voice. "Fourth brother, let me tell you, this Li Huaide is a pretty good guy, and he's generous. I'll organize a get-together later and introduce you to him. His father-in-law has some connections in the Ministry of Metallurgy, and he's just been transferred to the steel rolling mill. That's exactly the time when he needs his own people. If you get close to him now, once he's settled in, he'll definitely take good care of you!"

Ma Qianli scratched his head and chuckled sheepishly, "Second Brother, these things are too much of a brain drain. I'll listen to you; whatever you tell me to do, I'll do!"