Chapter 98: Bad Premonition

That's right, in our big brother's heart, making money comes first!

Now... it's hard to say!

Li Yihu stroked his chin, showing his agreement.

If it were just an ordinary woman, it wouldn't matter, but this Wang Yingna is the famous top star of the Splendid Song and Dance Hall!

Her older brother is a ruthless boss who kills without shedding blood—Wang Zhen.

Moreover, inside the Splendid Song and Dance Hall, all kinds of trades go on, most of them shady deals.

Even Wang Yingna herself was harmed by a drug dealer.

Getting involved with her is no good thing.

Liu Jiang said: "Since this woman showed up, our big brother spends all day circling around her, personally handling even the tiniest matters!"

"This is a beauty trap—whoever runs into such a sexy temptress can't resist!"

Li Yihu lit a cigarette, narrowed his eyes, and said.

Zhao Chen came back from the toilet, wiped his hands, and asked: "What are you two whispering about?"

"Our big brother canceled Hong Bo's order!"

"Why?"

"Look at our big brother—he doesn't have the mind to make money now!"

"That's orders from over a dozen furniture factories—our big brother said cancel and just canceled it? All for this woman?"

Zhao Chen couldn't figure it out.

He glanced a few times toward Wang Yingna's dorm and happened to see his older brother tidying up her change of clothes.

Each piece was neatly folded.

Just as if they'd been ironed.

Meanwhile, Wang Yingna lay on the bed leisurely reading a magazine; occasionally she'd reach out and ask Li Jiaci for something, and he never refused, trotting off to fetch it.

Zhao Chen twitched the corner of his mouth and said: "Looks like it's really for her!"

"No doubt about it!"

Liu Jiang let out a snort.

Li Yihu waved at the two of them: "Alright, our big brother's affairs are none of our business—just look after yourselves!"

Hearing that, Zhao Chen nodded and suddenly smiled at him.

Do you still have any liquor?

"Yeah, you're not on duty tonight—drink what liquor? Drink water!"

"I'll drink a little, it won't interfere!"

"Tomorrow you still have to go to Bei Bang to haul timber!"

"Oh right, then I won't drink now—I'll save it for when I get back!"

Li Yihu and Zhao Chen left together.

Liu Jiang, meanwhile, yawned and went back to the dorm to rest.

……

The cold wind was bleak.

Snowflakes tore open the misty sky.

Goose-feather-sized snowflakes struck Li Jiaci's sleeping face.

It hurt like a needle prick.

Damn it!

Li Jiaci sprang up, hurriedly rolled up his bedding, and rushed into Wang Yingna's dorm.

Outside the window, the cold wind rose.

Heavy snow flew everywhere.

Wang Yingna was awakened by the noise, saw Li Jiaci standing in the doorway holding a blanket, and rubbed her eyes, saying: "Jiaci bro, why not just bring the bunk bed in? Daybreak is still a while away!"

"No, I need to hurry and check the timber, the blankets and such—first I'll leave them here with you!"

Li Jiaci replied briefly.

He put down the bedding, grabbed an umbrella from the wall, and rushed out.

This heavy snow came too suddenly and too fiercely.

The workers didn't have time to set up snow shelters, and a lot of the timber got soaked by the snow.

After Li Jiaci arrived, seeing the scene in chaos, he tossed aside the umbrella in his hand and helped the workers pull the snow‑shelter canvas.

He worked for half an hour.

At least it turned out safe and sound.

At that moment, Zhang Chuqiang and Zhao Chen came over wearing raincoats.

"Bro, we're setting off!"

Li Jiaci instructed: "With such heavy snow, drive slowly on the road—those petty traders won't come too early either; safety first in everything!"

Hearing that, Zhang Chuqiang laughed and said: "What storms haven't we seen? A little snow won't trouble me!"

"Exactly, big brother, you can relax—I guarantee we'll arrive on time!"

Zhao Chen patted his chest to guarantee.

"I don't need you to be on time—I just need you to be safe, got it?"

"If you understand, just say you understand!"

Under Li Jiaci's instruction.

Both said in unison: "Understood!"

Li Jiaci then nodded, signalling them to set off.

Watching the loaded trucks leave the lumber yard, for some reason Li Jiaci felt uneasy, unable to settle.

Another gust of cold wind blew by.

The heavy snow showed no sign of letting up; instead, it fell harder and harder.

Soon a thick layer of snow piled up.

In such conditions, work couldn't proceed.

Li Jiaci waved at the workers on site and shouted loudly: "Everyone, take shelter under the eaves!"

"Boss, if the delivery is delayed, how will we explain it to the customers?"

An older worker asked.

Li Jiaci said: "Even if it's delayed, there's nothing we can do; the heavens aren't cooperating—protecting the lumber is the priority now!"

"Later I'll bring a few apprentices to build a snow‑shield shed, guaranteeing the machines run normally and not delaying our delivery time!"

"Old Chen, I think the same; later you go get money from Wang Lan and set it up as soon as possible!"

"Okay, okay!"

Before long, it was noon.

The strong snow finally weakened.

Slowly, the dark clouds dispersed from overhead, and the sky gradually cleared.

But the snow on the ground remained, making every step difficult.

As Li Jiaci had expected, the middlemen waited for the snow to stop before coming in succession to collect the goods.

But at this point Zhang Chuqiang and Zhao Chen still hadn't returned.

If it were according to the usual schedule, they should have been back before ten o'clock.

Perhaps because of the heavy snow, they were delayed a full four hours and still no sign of the truck convoy.

Li Jiaci, while calling Zhang Chuqiang, had the workers load the timber that had been prepared the night before onto trucks, letting the middlemen take a batch first.

But no one answered on the other end of the phone.

Li Jiaci grew a bit anxious.

Half of the hauling route runs along the mountains.

With such a heavy snowstorm, it's easy to impair the convoy's visibility.

Liu Jiang hurried over to Li Jiaci and said: "Brother, it's almost three o'clock—we can't just sit here; let's go look for them!"

At the same time, Li Jiaci heard a busy tone on his phone, and his brow tightened involuntarily.

He told Liu Jiang: "I'll go look; you stay here!"

"Alright, be careful on the road!"

Liu Jiang really couldn't leave.

Otherwise he would have wanted to come along.

Li Jiaci set his face and drove out.

All the way he sped like wind and lightning.

After driving several dozen kilometers, Li Jiaci suddenly slammed the brakes.

Ahead lay the very convoy he had lost contact with.

But all the drivers of the convoy were squatting by the roadside, wearing worried expressions as they smoked in silence.

Li Jiaci got out of the car, his heart still not fully at ease.

Only when Zhang Chuqiang and Zhao Chen appeared safe and sound before him did he bend down, brace his knees, and let out a long sigh of relief.

God knows how fast his heart had been racing all the way.

Seeing Li Jiaci, Zhang Chuqiang hurried over and said: "Brother, we've been set up!"

"Explain!"

Li Jiaci lit a cigarette and took a deep drag.

"After we loaded the cargo and headed back, the trip had been going smoothly!"

"But when we passed through that mountain gully, suddenly all the tires blew out at once!"

"And a few drivers couldn't react in time, slamming straight into trees, while the vehicles behind piled up in a chain‑rear‑end collision!"

"When I and Zhao Chen got out to look, the ground was covered thick with nails!"

"Damn it! Someone definitely did this on purpose!"

Zhang Chuqiang brushed the snow off his clothes, growing more agitated as he spoke.