Chapter 130: The building stands empty, its occupants gone

Being handsome won't fill your stomach!

Quickly go fetch a bucket of hot water to soak your feet!

It's smoked in here like pickled cabbage!

Hong Bo pulled Li Yihu to his feet.

A bit of foot odor isn't a big problem; the main worry is that he might freeze.

After Li Yihu returned to the dorm, Hong Bo moved a small stool to sit by the fire bucket and lit a cigarette.

While puffing smoke, he reminded Li Jiaci: 'Boss, we need to be careful these days; who knows what dirty tricks Zheng Degui might have up his sleeve against us!'

Now the Nian Yong Mu Cai Chang is basically ruined.

Bei Xiong Guo will no longer supply Zheng Degui with raw timber.

Once Zheng Degui has free time,

that pent-up anger will need an outlet.

Whoever made him this way, he'll surely go take revenge on them.

Li Jiaci and the workers of Shiqiang Mu Cai Chang are undoubtedly his targets for revenge.

Hong Bo narrowed his eyes, took a drag, and continued: 'Our factory has plenty of people, so we're not afraid of him, but the newly opened warehouses are short-staffed; I'll run extra trips with Liu Jiang just in case.'

No need.

Li Jiaci gave a faint reply.

Hearing that, Hong Bo asked, somewhat surprised: 'Aren't you afraid Zheng Degui will stir up trouble behind the scenes?'

Li Jiaci lowered his head, tidying the tea table, and let out a few soft chuckles.

I've already thought of everything you're thinking about!

This afternoon I'll go to the precinct to file a report, saying Zheng Degui is incorrigible, threatening our personal safety, and demand that Maozi provide us protective measures!

Now Zheng Degui wouldn't dare seek revenge—he'd have to dodge our Car Fleet if he saw it on the road!

He wouldn't dare come looking for trouble with me even if he had ten times the courage!

Hong Bo hearing this couldn't help but furrow his brows.

He asked: 'Boss, when did Zheng Degui threaten us? I haven't heard a whisper about it.'

He hasn't threatened us!

No threat, then why are you filing a report?

This is called preventing trouble before it happens!

What you're not saying, Boss, your methods are pretty sneaky too!

Hahaha...

Li Jiaci laughed loudly.

To deal with someone as despicable and shameless as Zheng Degui, you have to fight fire with fire!

'Brother Hong, I just wanted to file a record so Maozi could keep an eye on Zheng Degui's movements, but Police Officer Liu insisted I call Zheng Degui; as soon as I got through, he said he'd stab me to death, and Liu happened to overhear—can you blame me for that?'

Li Jiaci still finds it funny when he thinks back on it.

It's like he just bought a mousetrap, hadn't even opened it, and the mouse chewed through the box and dove right into the trap.

Hong Bo also laughed till his shoulders shook, complaining: 'This is totally a disastrous move!'

So Brother Hong, from now on we'll just let it go; we don't need to take him seriously!

Got it, Boss!

……

Evening.

Li Yihu woke up, put on a cotton jacket, and went to wash his motorcycle.

It was freezing cold; the water he poured on it froze into a thin ice shell in less than ten seconds.

People passing by urged him to wait until the snow stopped, but Li Yihu paid no heed, happily squatting by the bike to rinse off the mud.

This was his very first motorcycle in life.

He treasured it more than a woman.

Huzi, you're about done!

Grab the keys and take me out for a spin!

Li Jiaci suddenly walked over.

Hearing that, Li Yihu hurriedly stood up and asked: 'Brother, it's snowing hard outside—where are you headed?'

Just going to check a few warehouses!

Li Jiaci put on leather gloves; as he spoke, the breath he exhaled seemed about to turn to frost, lingering a good while before dissipating in the cold air.

Li Yihu said nothing more, grabbed the keys, and took Li Jiaci along as they set off.

The snow on the road was already deeper than the tops of their shoes.

Li Yihu didn't dare go too fast; the cold wind scraping his face felt like a blade.

After finishing the patrol of the last warehouse,

Li Yihu, seated on the motorcycle, shivering, told Li Jiaci: 'Brother, you've seen the state of these warehouses too—they're completely empty of stock!'

I know; tomorrow I'll have the Car Fleet deliver supplies!

Li Jiaci gave a faint nod.

Then he turned and snapped his fingers at Li Yihu.

Come on, let's head to the next spot!

There's no next spot—this is the last warehouse!

I said, if I say it's there, it's there!

After Li Jiaci urged him several times,

Only then did Li Yihu start the motorcycle and head forward.

After passing a fork in the road, Li Jiaci suddenly pointed to the left fork and shouted, "Go straight ahead; the end is the destination!"

Isn't that the way to Nian Yong Mu Cai Chang?

Li Yihu slowed down, asking somewhat puzzled.

What are we doing going to that unlucky place at this hour?

Li Jiaci didn't explain.

Having no choice, Li Yihu had to turn the motorcycle onto the left fork.

He kept going until the end.

The two arrived at Nian Yong Mu Cai Chang.

This was Li Yihu's first time coming; looking at the huge factory before him, to say he wasn't envious would be a lie—its size was three times that of his own factory.

Li Jiaci got off the bike, patted his head, and said, "Come in with me!"

"No, brother, what are you going in there for?"

Li Yihu asked, but his body was honest—he promptly followed.

He was also curious.

How on earth does such a huge factory operate?

How many usable machines are inside?

How many tons of raw timber can the warehouse hold?

Just thinking about it gets him excited.

Li Jiaci came to the gate and pushed at the heavy lock.

Click—

Only a crisp sound was heard, and the lock opened by itself.

Li Jiaci chuckled lowly: "This lock is as useless as its owner!"

"Brother, what if Zheng Degui is inside?"

"If we just barge in like this, he'll take us for thieves, and that'll be trouble!"

Li Yihu looked around and felt somewhat uneasy.

"I bet there's no one inside!"

Having said that, Li Jiaci shoved the gate open and walked in.

What met their eyes was a mess of burnt wood, black and smoky, with wisps of smoke still drifting.

Dozens of machines were torn apart or taken apart; anything valuable was looted, leaving only empty frames scattered on the ground.

Zheng Degui's office door was also dismantled, the windows smashed beyond recognition.

Inside, the leather sofa, office desks and chairs, tea tables, potted plants, and so on were all looted without exception.

Li Jiaci also went to check the workers' dormitory.

Even the bed frames were moved out.

Li Yihu looked at the scene before him and burst out laughing: "Heh…"

"Brother, Zheng Degui wouldn't have been… done in by these people, would he?"

Li Jiaci turned back: "What do you mean by that?"

All that was seen was Li Yihu making a throat-slashing gesture.

Li Jiaci poked his forehead.

"Killing is illegal, you don't know that?"

"I only found out recently…"

"What did you say?"

"Back when we were hanging out in society, nobody talked about law!"