Chapter 49: I Want to Go With You

No, no, it's not needed!

I can't trust anyone else, but I can trust Boss Li.

Hong Bo chuckled and said, "Boss Li is busy first; I'll go line up over here as well."

What are you talking about?

Li Jiaci said, "Do you still need to queue when you come to me? Yihu! Take Hong Bro to load the lumber—no matter the amount, have Boss Li's truck load first!"

Got it!

Li Yihu grunted in acknowledgment, then ran up to Hong Bo and said, "Hong Bro, bring the crew and follow me to the back door—there's nobody here."

Okay, okay.

Hong Bo's smile widened: "Thanks, Boss Li."

No problem!

Li Jiaci waved at him.

After Li Yihu led Hong Bo away,

Wang Lan walked over, eyes full of curiosity, and asked, "Brother, you've already knocked fifty off the lumber for him—why are you also giving him a hundred yuan per person for tea?"

Of course it's to get him to work harder for me.

Li Jiaci said, "We need to sell this lumber fast and turn it into cash."

Huh? Why?

Wang Lan looked at the lumber dealers and said, "Isn't it going well right now?"

It's pretty good right now.

But no one stays lucky forever, and no flower stays red for a hundred days.

Li Jiaci shook his head and said, "No industry can stay hot forever."

Wang Lan pursed their lips.

Obviously they didn't quite grasp Li Jiaci's meaning.

Li Jiaci gave a faint smile.

Think about it.

How much is the lumber per cubic meter now?

Ordinary people need to spend at least a few thousand yuan to buy a set of furniture.

Li Jiaci said, "And how much does a person earn in a month these days? If this keeps up, who can afford to buy anything?"

If he remembers correctly.

This lumber market boom will continue until March next year.

By then, the government will sign a new border trade agreement with Xiong Guo, which includes timber imports.

Once Xiong Guo's birch timber flows steadily into the country, the current hot scene will naturally cool down.

And that's why.

That's the reason Li Jiaci wants to win Hong Bo over to his side.

First, Hong Bo has a wide network and can bring in many customers, even direct sales, which would earn him a lot of money.

Second, he is also preparing for future transformation.

Given the future trend of the lumber market, if they keep doing only low-end lumber processing, they'll never achieve his goal.

So after the lumber market heat subsides, transforming is also an inevitable choice.

And his idea is simple: first enter the home furnishings manufacturing market, then expand into other industries.

Of course.

That's all for later.

Even if he explained it to Wang Lan now, he might not understand.

Li Jiaci reached out and patted Wang Lan's shoulder, saying, "Don't overthink anything else—just remember: demand determines the market."

If ordinary people shy away from lumber because of the price, then naturally there will be no demand, and the market will shrink on its own.

Oh...

Wang Lan nodded, half-understanding.

And this little brother, though young,

but his mind is still quite sharp, and Li Jiaci also believes that given time, he will surely understand.

And for now.

Li Jiaci also doesn't say much more about this with him.

Alright!

You go rest a bit.

Tonight I have to go with your third and fifth brothers to Jiangcheng to haul logs.

Your second and third brothers have been busy all day.

Li Jiaci said, "When the night shift crew arrives, you'll have to work a bit harder and help keep an eye on things for the brothers a little longer."

No problem!

Wang Lan thumped their chest and said.

……

Outside the lumber yard, traffic bustled.

Those who had hauled the lumber were elated, while those who hadn't weren't downcast.

After all, Li Jiaci had already told them the yard was running a night shift, so even after dark it wouldn't affect loading.

Because tomorrow is the time we agreed with Xiao Cui to receive the second batch of timber.

After the night-shift workers arrived.

Li Jiaci then summoned Zhang Chuqiang and Zhao Chen, preparing to head to Jiangcheng.

But before leaving, he specifically went to tell Wang Yingna.

"This time I go to Jiangcheng, I'll probably be back tomorrow afternoon."

"There's a bed in the office; Liu Jiang will bring you an electric heater tonight, so you can sleep here for the night."

"I won't!"

Wang Yingna stood up directly and said: "I want to go with you."

"What are you going with me for?"

Li Jiaci frowned and said: "Your situation makes it inconvenient to go out."

"Then no."

"I just want to go with you."

Wang Yingna sniffled and said: "Otherwise I'll sneak out, binge eat, then tell my brother that you made me eat."

"???"

This woman is somewhat lacking in conscience.

Li Jiaci raised his eyebrows and said: "I saved you, and you're threatening me?"

"That's right."

"Exactly, I'm threatening you."

Wang Yingna grabbed his arm and said: "Are you taking me or not?"

She's put it that bluntly.

What else could Li Jiaci do?

In the end, he could only bring Wang Yingna along in the car.

Seeing Li Jiaci bring her into the car, Zhang Chuqiang and Zhao Chen both froze.

"She's going too?"

"Yeah."

Li Jiaci nodded helplessly: "She's never been to Jiangcheng; she just wants to wander around, it won't delay anything."

The two heard him say that and didn't ask anything further.

Then Zhang Chuqiang started the car and headed straight for Jiangcheng.

……

Because the journey is quite long.

Plus, I have to drive back myself tomorrow.

Li Jiaci took this time to catch up on sleep.

But in his daze, he suddenly felt a tightness in his chest, his whole body felt extremely heavy, as if something were pressing on him.

Li Jiaci opened his eyes in pain and saw a deathly pale face like a ghost's.

"Holy shit?"

Li Jiaci was startled.

But just as he was about to kick that thing away, he realized it was a ghost‑like figure—it was Wang Yingna.

This person herself was in withdrawal, very sensitive to cold, and with winter just setting in, she instinctively clung to Li Jiaci as a heat source.

She clung to Li Jiaci so tightly that even with all his strength he couldn't push her away.

Finally.

Li Jiaci could only relent and let her stay.

Who asked him to have promised to help her in the first place?

When they arrived in Jiangcheng,

they still went to the inn where they had stayed before.

But when the two in front turned back to look, they were quite shocked by the sight before them.

All they saw was that woman clinging like a pendant in Li Jiaci's embrace, one hand even slipped into his clothing.

Li Jiaci, meanwhile, was like a statue, staring unblinking out the window, his face devoid of any will to live.

"Brother, you…"

"Cut the nonsense!"

Li Jiaci turned his head and said to the two: "Ah Chen, you go get a room, Chu Qiang, you contact the truck driver!"

"Okay!"

After the two left,

Li Jiaci then lowered his gaze at that deathly pale figure constantly swaying, and sighed helplessly.