Chapter 168: You dare check my goods?

It's really surprising to hear such high praise from Lao Maozi's mouth.

But Li Jiaci's reaction remained indifferent.

His expression showed no change.

Liu Yanxi probed, asking, "Are we allies now?"

"Not."

Li Jiaci shook his head.

That answer left Liu Yanxi feeling quite disappointed.

"I thought the past was already behind us……"

Li Jiaci puffed on his cigarette, chuckled lightly, and said, "For you it's in the past, but for me it's something I can never get over!"

Liu Yanxi glanced at him curiously.

"Is it because of Lin Niansheng?"

"No."

"Then why?"

"Lin Niansheng is only part of it; those who helped him wear the same uniform as you, and without their help, Lin Niansheng could never have succeeded!"

The meaning of those words is already clear.

Liu Yanxi lowered her head, feeling deeply ashamed of her colleague's actions.

She had been transferred here relatively late.

It's unclear what Li Jiaci had experienced before this.

But everything has two sides.

"Li Jiaci."

"Have you ever thought that if you hadn't done those wicked deeds, my colleagues wouldn't have targeted you?"

Upon hearing that, Li Jiaci gave her a deep look.

He exhaled a puff of smoke and didn't reply.

Liu Yanxi thought he had seen reason and continued, "All of that happened because you were the ones who caused trouble first, triggering this chain of reactions. I'm not defending my colleague's behavior; I'm telling you that these consequences are the price for your initial mistaken choices, and from now on……"

"Liu Team!"

"Your family must be very happy, right?"

Li Jiaci suddenly asked.

Liu Yanxi first stared, then gave a slight nod and said, "My parents are both highly educated intellectuals; they've supported each other for many years."

"No wonder you speak so lightly!"

"You just brush off others' suffering—no, you turn suffering into error and force it onto others!"

"If I could have chosen back then, wouldn't I want a happy family?"

"Wouldn't I want parents who are highly educated intellectuals?"

"Wouldn't I want to study, work, and become a pillar of the nation like you?"

"Is it because I don't want them that heaven hasn't given me these?"

"No, people are divided into ranks from birth, and we are the lowest of the low—like ants!"

"We have no parents, no one to teach us what the right choice is!"

"Is it wrong for ants to want to survive?"

Li Jiaci asked seriously.

Those words hit Liu Yanxi like a massive blow.

She has lived a smooth life, following the conventional path to become someone everyone envies.

From the moment she was born, she had everything.

What she possesses is what Li Jiaci dreams of having, yet it remains utterly out of reach.

Thus, their lives differ as greatly as heaven and earth.

Mutual understanding between them is impossible.

Liu Yanxi sighed softly, "I was thinking too simply!"

"It's fine; we were born unwanted, even our biological parents could cruelly abandon us, let alone outsiders."

Li Jiaci shrugged calmly.

After all he's been through, he's long since grown indifferent.

Outsiders' gazes and prejudices are mere clouds.

What matters is how one acts.

Liu Yanxi felt a lump in her throat.

She quickly reviewed her own life.

Then she imagined Li Jiaci's life in reverse.

The conclusion left her feeling suffocated.

Li Jiaci was abandoned by his biological parents as a child and could only stay in the orphanage with these similarly abandoned brothers; they had no money for schooling, let alone food, possessed no marketable skill, and even finding work was a problem.

Becoming gangsters wasn't their fault.

It was merely a choice made out of desperation to survive.

If a life like this is to be blamed,

then it would be terribly unfair to him.

Liu Yanxi felt a sharp pang of heartache.

She thought her advice and reminder were actually tearing open Li Jiaci's scar, sprinkling chili powder inside, then splashing hot oil—countless needles stabbing…

Sorry……

Liu Yanxi spoke with difficulty.

At this moment.

Wang Yingna walked in holding a hot water kettle.

Seeing the two people maintain a one‑meter safe distance, she nodded satisfactorily.

Hmm, not bad!

Quickly open the tea leaves, let me have a taste too!

Liu Yanxi wiped her eyes with her sleeve, then put on a down jacket, stood up and said, "I still have something to do—I'm leaving first!"

Wang Yingna asked suspiciously, "So sudden?"

The bureau has a mission!

Liu Yanxi didn't elaborate.

She hurriedly left.

Wang Yingna set down the hot water kettle and asked Li Jiaci, "Jiaci bro, what's wrong with her?"

Afraid you'd splash hot water!

Li Jiaci stubbed out the cigarette butt and teased.

Then he opened the tea leaf bag and let Wang Yingna brew two cups.

The so-called Warm Winter Tea is nothing special.

Li Jiaci smacked his lips, spat out a mouthful of tea foam, and said, "Forget it, give me my old tea!"

I think it's okay……

Wang Yingna smelled the tea aroma.

Then she said, "If you don't like it, just keep this tea to entertain guests!"

You decide.

Li Jiaci leaned on the sofa and yawned.

Winter is just like that.

By the fire, one often gets sleepy.

Wang Yingna couldn't quite understand Li Jiaci's mood.

Obviously just now she was warmly hosting guests, but just the time to boil a pot of hot water, her attitude suddenly took a downturn, and the other party even ran off with tail between legs.

Never mind him.

As long as Li Jiaci doesn't have that woman in his heart, Wang Yingna will be happy.

Employee dormitory renovation finished.

Everyone moved their own luggage back.

As long as the door is closed, regardless of whether outside it's windy and snowy or hail like knives, they won't be affected; indoors there is an endless supply of hot water, not fearing pipes freezing from ice and snow.

Old Chen led the workers in thanking Li Jiaci for his thoughtfulness.

Such a boss is hard to find even with a lantern.

And on the other side.

Wang Zong didn't have it so easy.

The biggest furniture mall in the city.

Wang Zong's Car Fleet had just unloaded the finished furniture when Jia Fengyuan, the boss of Jiaju cheng, hurried over, waving his hand and saying, "Wait a moment, don't unload the cargo yet!"

What's going on?

Wang Zong asked with an unpleasant expression.

These days he's basically hit a big snag.

His emotions are very sensitive now.

Jia Fengyuan came up to the Car Fleet, frowning, and said, "The furniture you sent over the past few days has been returned by the buyer; they lay on the sofa all night, got up covered in red rashes; when they opened the sofa cover, they saw the wood inside was rotten and gave off a foul smell."

Wasn't everything fine before?

Wang Zong felt a bit guilty but didn't dare show it.

Upon hearing that, Jia Fengyuan ignored him and instead waved to call a few senior craftsmen.

"You guys go up and check the quality of this batch of furniture!"

"Understood, boss!"

A few craftsmen were about to get on the vehicle.

Wang Zong hurriedly said, "Jia Fengyuan, I'm a shareholder of yours—do you dare inspect my goods?"