Chapter 142: How could this happen?

Wang Zhen knew Li Jiaci wasn't short of money, so the villas he had recommended were all quite impressive.

Then he handed over a business card, saying, "This is the real estate agent; just give my name!"

Li Jiaci put the card away.

Brother Wang Zhen, once I'm settled over there, please take your siblings to the greenhouse!

That's easy to say, but...

What's up?

Nothing much, how's your factory been lately?

Wang Zhen suddenly changed the subject.

He's obviously hiding something.

Li Jiaci saw through it but didn't expose it, going along with the topic: "Lately the timber's been selling well; I gave the workers two days off, and they'll be busy again tomorrow!"

You're now a leading figure in Pingzhou's timber market—your future is limitless!

Wang Zhen laughed and patted him on the shoulder.

Not long ago, he thought Li Jiaci making it as a street tough would be the height of success.

But who would have thought that after Zhang Shiqiang died, this guy would just switch trades, without a hint of hesitation.

In just a few months he opened a timber factory whose business took off.

I heard he's recently opened several branch factories in a row.

Looking back on his own years, Wang Zhen couldn't help but admire Li Jiaci's ability and courage.

Li Jiaci gave a modest smile and said, "Brother Wang Zhen, I've learned everything from you; I've only picked up a bit of your skill so far, and I'll still need your help in the future!"

You little rascal, you're getting slicker with your words!

Wang Zhen knew it was just polite talk, but it felt good to hear.

The two chatted a bit more about recent events.

It was four in the afternoon.

Li Jiaci called the real estate agent.

After agreeing on a time and place to meet, he bade farewell to Wang Zhen.

After Li Jiaci left,

Wang Zhen poured himself some drinks, his face no longer as relaxed as before.

He let out a soft sigh and murmured, "The righteous path isn't that easy to walk..."

The outskirts of Pingzhou.

Li Jiaci got out of the car and walked toward the real estate agent waiting under the trees.

The man was dressed in a black suit and looked sharp.

Mr. Li, hello, hello!

I heard from Boss Wang that you're his most loyal buddy!

I'll definitely secure this villa for you today!

Li Jiaci smiled brightly.

He told the man, "That's Brother Wang Zhen giving me face!"

My surname is Fang; just call me Xiao Fang!

That surname is perfect—you were born for this line of work!

Hahaha!

Xiao Fang laughed a few times and gestured for Li Jiaci to proceed.

The villas we'll look at shortly are all in the nearby woods.

The greenery here is well done.

Li Jiaci's first impression of the place was decent.

Only the location is a bit desolate.

After viewing three in a row, Xiao Fang kept watching Li Jiaci's expression; seeing him remain noncommittal, he also grew nervous.

Mr. Li, there's just one left!

Li Jiaci nodded lightly and said, "I'll make a decision after seeing all the houses."

All right!

The two walked a stretch.

Up ahead appeared a lit villa.

The villas we'd seen before were vacant, with the landlord handing the keys to Xiao Fang for safekeeping, but this last villa required going inside to greet the landlord.

Xiao Fang went up and knocked on the door.

Li Jiaci looked around, very interested in the villa's large yard that came with it.

In the yard stood pine trees, a full set of crafted tables and chairs, and a small pavilion.

In his mind, images suddenly sprang up.

When the weather's nice, we can barbecue skewers here with the brothers, drink and chat.

The villa's door was pushed open.

A stoutly dressed middle-aged woman appeared in the doorway.

She exchanged a few words with Xiao Fang, then turned her gaze to Li Jiaci.

Her eyes showed a hint of impatience.

His looks aren't any better either.

Xiao Fang said, "Mr. Li, the landlord is asking us to come in!"

Coming.

Li Jiaci stopped daydreaming and followed Xiao Fang into the villa.

The woman wore a knit cap, her smile was clear, cold, and arrogant.

She said, "If it weren't for my father's promotion, I would have been transferred elsewhere soon, and I wouldn't be willing to sell this villa!"

Xiao Fang smiled and glanced at Li Jiaci's reaction.

Then he said to the woman, "The property market is decent now; selling the house now could still net a small profit!"

"Do you look like someone who's short on money?"

The woman gave him a cold, sideways glance.

Li Jiaci had taken a dislike to this woman from the moment he entered, treating her words as nonsense, and focused on observing the villa's internal structure and décor style.

Xiao Fang nodded: "I know you're not short on money, um… Is Old Master Liu in?"

"My father is resting upstairs; there's no need to bother him over such a small matter!"

After saying that, the woman walked around Xiao Fang in front of her and came to Li Jiaci's side.

She sighed and asked, "How much budget do you have on hand?"

As she spoke, the woman's sharp gaze swept over Li Jiaci from head to toe.

As if questioning his ability.

Li Jiaci let out a light laugh.

"Never mind how much budget I have; just tell me how much you intend to sell this villa for!"

Leaving the woman aside, Li Jiaci was still quite satisfied with this villa.

All I saw was the woman taking off her knit cap, casually tossing it onto the sofa, and sitting sideways.

She held her tea cup, blew off the foam on the surface, and her peripheral vision fixed intently on Li Jiaci.

"I want 600,000; can you afford it?"

600,000 is already a high price among high prices at present.

And Li Jiaci dressed so casually, he didn't look like someone who could afford 600,000.

Li Jiaci looked at her without responding.

The woman, as if she had already guessed, sneered: "Nowadays, any Tom, Dick, or Harry dares to come view my house; if there's no mirror at home, there's always urine—you didn't even piss to see if you have the capital!"

Xiao Fang furrowed her brows.

Li Jiaci, after all, was introduced by Wang Zhen, who had bought several villas from him—he's a genuine big spender; his friends shouldn't be neglected!

"Sister Liu, your words… are totally unreasonable!"

"How unreasonable?" the woman rolled her eyes.

Xiao Fang said: "You're looking down on people!"

Heh!

"You bring this kind of thing to my door, wasting my time; I haven't even scolded you yet, and you're the one scolding me first?"

"I think you got your head stuck in a door and can't tell the difference between the big and small kings!"

The woman slammed her tea cup down, speaking with a stern expression.

"Sister Liu…"

Xiao Fang was so angry the corners of her eyes kept twitching.

During their argument, Li Jiaci stared at the woman's face the whole time without saying a word.

It wasn't because he couldn't outtalk her.

But because he felt the woman's face was very familiar.

He couldn't recall where he had seen her for a moment.

But the feeling of disgust in his heart was rapidly expanding.

Li Jiaci combined the several pieces of information the woman had said.

Father's promotion, the whole family moving, this family surnamed Liu…

Could it be…

Damn, could it be Lin Niansheng's father-in-law's family?