Chapter 211: Up Late Without Sleeping, Yet Went to the Widow

Lu Cheng changed his posture, tightening his coat: "You still shouldn't doubt it; the waste from several large factories around here is all shipped to that place. The garbage produced by factories is not ordinary waste."

So what they pick up isn't paper scraps or Newspaper, but discarded aluminum, iron, and copper.

"Aluminum, iron, copper?" Guo Tuzi squinted: "That's impossible; for stuff like that, any worker trying to take it home would be inspected by the Security Department."

Lu Cheng shook his head and said: "Nothing is that absolute. It's certainly a violation for workers to take it out, but during work, if something becomes inconvenient, they casually toss it away—it's quite normal. The factory isn't their home; you can't guarantee every worker is that conscientious."

Guo Tuzi instantly found it reasonable; the small items workers discard can easily be swept up with other waste and then shipped to the East Suburb Landfill.

"So, by your account, the East Suburb Landfill can actually pick up valuable scrap?"

"I wouldn't say that; it's not that easy. Since they're discarded, they're certainly not large items, but even small pieces, if accumulated, can fetch a decent sum."

You have to know that you might find anything in there—lead lumps, iron plates, copper locks, copper wires, and even brass.

"Brass?" Guo Tuzi's eyes lit up when he heard it; that stuff is valuable. He once talked with the manager of a scrap buying station, and a catty of brass scrap could sell for one yuan two jiao, a few mao more than pork.

Lu Cheng took another sip of wine, feeling warm all over, and continued: "I once went to the East Suburb Landfill; the smell was extremely pungent, so this job, you could say, is both dirty and exhausting..."

Guo Tuzi suddenly stood up, clearly excited: "As long as I can earn money to cure my wife's illness, I'm not afraid of it being dirty and tiring. Even if it's a cesspit, I'd jump in."

No matter the era, this world always has ungrateful men, ungrateful women, and those who strike down their intended partners before they get ashore...

Yet it cannot be denied that there are also people with pure feelings who silently protect their other half.

Guo Tuzi's unwavering devotion to his wife moved Lu Cheng sincerely, so tonight he was also willing to talk this much with Guo Tuzi.

It's not Lu Cheng bragging; having been reborn with memories of his past life, anyone who can receive a few pointers from him must have great destiny.

For example, hoarding Monkey Tickets for a few years, knowing when to invest in property, which stock to buy—any one of those can make an ordinary person soar quickly.

"Facts speak louder than rhetoric, Guo Dage, the factories are basically on holiday these days; if you wait until the eighth day, you can try working on site for a few days. I can't promise anything else, but at least it's better than you now earning money as a day laborer."

Whether or not he can make money, just that Lu Cheng is willing to give him such advice made Guo Tuzi resolve to accept him as a friend.

"Lu San'er, thank you. If I really can earn money, I must treat you to a restaurant."

"Don't mention it. If you truly earn money, don't invite me to any restaurant; just ask me for a small favor."

Upon hearing that Lu Cheng had a request, Guo Tuzi immediately became solemn.

"I consider you a buddy; say whatever you want, no need to bring up whether it's help or not."

"Actually there's nothing special; it's just that you live near my Master. He's old; I asked him to move here, but he refused. I still have to work and can't visit him daily, so if the old man needs anything, I need you to lend a hand."

Guo Tuzi, upon hearing, said very straightforwardly: "Huh, what do you think this is? Not to mention you've arranged it; even if you hadn't, my relationship with Xu Erye gives me no reason to stand by idly."

Lu Cheng smiled and nodded; hearing Guo Tuzi say that, he felt reassured.

The two continued drinking, sipping slowly, until fine snowflakes drifted from the sky, adding a festive touch to the year's end.

Children in Hu Tong Li hopped and shouted, "It's snowing, it's snowing!"

Having drained half a bottle of wine, Guo Tuzi also prepared to go home; just then, Lu Cheng suddenly remembered something.

"By the way, Guo Dage, when you go to the East Suburb Landfill, don't go alone; it's best to bring a few people."

Guo Tuzi didn't understand: "You said this is a low-key way to get rich; shouldn't fewer people be better?"

Lu Cheng laughed and shook his head: "Even low-key wealth-making has its trades. At the East Suburb Landfill, many Blind Drifters gather; they each run their own operations, divided into several small factions."

So even though they're outsiders, if you go there, you'd be an outsider yourself. Picking up trash there is like taking away someone's livelihood; would they be willing?"

Guo Tuzi then understood; those Blind Drifters, driven by xenophobia, would definitely try to drive him away, even resort to violence.

From this perspective, the trash‑picking trade isn't as easy as imagined; without a few fierce battles, it likely won't hold up.

After Guo Tuzi left, Lu Cheng sat on the steps for a while, twirling a wine bottle in his hand; he'd drunk over half a jin tonight, his head feeling dizzy.

At that moment, a few children's quarrels echoed from nearby Hu Tong Li; Lu Cheng paid no mind—children's scuffles are normal.

Yet after a while, Li Aunt from the neighboring courtyard, cradling her little grandson, came over, cursing and grumbling.

"Lu San'er, are you still looking after your child? The little girl has no ladylike bearing; she came up and started fighting my grandson. I've never seen such a girl, behaving like a rural woman..."

Lu Cheng waited for her rant to end, then asked directly: "Did my Qing'er win the fight?"

Da Hu said beside him: "He won; he tried to snatch Qing'er's Firecracker, and when Qing'er wouldn't give it, he kept grabbing, so Qing'er pushed him, causing him to fall on his backside."

Lu Cheng nodded satisfactorily: "Hmm, as long as he won, that's fine."

Li Aunt, hearing this, was displeased: "Hey, how can you speak like that? That child has no manners, and the adult has none either..."

Lu Cheng was too lazy to respond: "You say that, yet your grandson snatches things from others—does that count as manners?"

"You…"

"Just shut your mouth, rural woman; you think you have manners?"

"You…"

"You what you! If I recall correctly, your old lady is from the countryside, right? If you have the guts, go say your mother-in-law has no manners."

Li Aunt didn't dare to retort; how could she speak against her mother-in-law?

Lu Cheng stopped paying her any more attention, scooped up Qing'er and returned to the courtyard, leaving Li Aunt stamping her foot there.

The Da Za Yuan was quieter without the din of meals, yet every household still had lights on, and the family gathered to make dumplings.

Lu Cheng noticed that Sun Yan Hong's House also had its lights on; looking back, Da Hu was still playing in Hu Tong Li, likely to play all night.

"Qing'er, go find your aunt to sleep; uncle needs to use the restroom."

Watching Qing'er dash toward Xi Er Fang, Lu Cheng clapped his hands, adjusted his clothes, and turned back toward Sun Yan Hong's House.

Little did they know, Lin Qingyan in the kitchen saw the whole scene.