Chapter 60: A Powerful Background!

That price was certainly not cheap!

After all, buying ordinary cotton cloth at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative these days only cost about one yuan and fifty cents a meter, while slightly more expensive Dacron or polyester was only around one yuan and eighty cents.

Yet just the Special Supply Fabric Coupon alone cost ten yuan for twenty meters!

Broken down, that was fifty cents a meter!

And that was not even counting the actual cost of buying the cloth!

Yet Xie Zhao did not even blink. He reached straight into his pocket, pulled out a Da Tuanjie, and handed it over.

“Oh! You really don’t mind spending!”

Wu Liu’s eyes lit up.

At this moment, a flattering smile appeared on his face. For no other reason than that a customer who could whip out a Da Tuanjie in one go was bound to have some serious financial backing.

Earlier, judging by Xie Zhao’s clothes, he had thought he was just some stingy fellow, which was why his attitude had been somewhat casual.

Money was truly a wonderful thing. The moment the Da Tuanjie was placed in Wu Liu’s hand, he could change his expression on the spot.

But Xie Zhao was used to this.

Smiling tigers, he had seen plenty of them in his past life.

“I also want to buy cigarettes.”

Xie Zhao said, “Ten packs. Do you have them?”

For people in business, cigarettes were a foot in the door.

But nowadays, for fear of speculation and profiteering, these things were strictly rationed. You could only buy one pack at a time, and you needed coupons, which was incredibly troublesome.

If someone bought too many at once, they might get reported by someone with bad intentions and end up locked in the station for a few days. In severe cases, they might even get a bullet to the head!

Wu Liu’s smile instantly grew radiant.

“Ha! Look at that! I might not have much of anything else, but when it comes to cigarettes, you can have as many as you want!”

He laughed heartily and performed a magic trick for Xie Zhao right then and there!

Wu Liu reached down and felt around beneath the wooden box filled with melon seeds. Then, with a sudden tug and a loud clatter, the box was pulled out.

Xie Zhao was taken aback.

Good heavens!

There was actually a hidden compartment inside!

Inside, filling up half the box, was a massive pile of red and yellow cigarette packs.

Hongtashan, Daqianmen, Lushan, Ashima, Hudiequan, and so on.

Brands from every region, everything you could think of!

Xie Zhao’s expression turned subtle.

He realized something.

This Wu Liu was probably no ordinary character.

Or, to be precise, he was just a small-time lackey at the very bottom of an organization. Being sent out to sell these goods was equivalent to risking his neck.

After all, this was textbook speculation and profiteering!

If undercover police officers came by, they would catch him red-handed every single time.

But.

Here lay the catch.

Looking at Wu Liu’s seasoned and experienced manner, it was clear the gang behind him was no small matter.

To be precise, the gang behind him must have significant influence in Hudong County, perhaps even with someone protecting them at the police station, which was why they could be so brazen.

With these thoughts flashing through his mind, Xie Zhao understood. He reached out and picked up Hongtashan, Ashima, and a few others, buying ten packs in total, all of which were relatively expensive brands.

Seeing Xie Zhao pick only the premium ones, Wu Liu grew increasingly astonished.

Just what was this young man’s background?

These ten packs of cigarettes were certainly not cheap!

Altogether, it had to be nearly thirty yuan!

That was a whole month’s salary for some government employees, yet he bought them without even blinking. Could he be some new figure who had just risen in the county?

But he hadn’t heard of anyone!

While Wu Liu’s mind raced, Xie Zhao had already gathered the cigarettes. He tapped the wooden box and said with a smile, “Calculate the total.”

Wu Liu snapped out of it and glanced over. “Twenty-eight in total!”

Xie Zhao pulled out three Da Tuanjie bills and handed them over.

He then grabbed another pack of Hongtashan. “Keep the change. That makes it even.”

Wu Liu grinned widely.

“May you strike it rich, boss!”

He closed the box and said to Xie Zhao, “Boss, if you ever need anything else, just come find me, Wu Liu! I guarantee I can get you whatever you want!”

Xie Zhao smiled and chatted for a few more moments. He checked the time, estimating it was almost lunchtime, and he needed to make a trip to the department store before it closed!

*

Hudong County No. 1 Middle School.

The bell signaling the end of class rang, and students poured out of the classrooms. The boarders rushed toward the cafeteria clutching their lunchboxes, while the students who went home for lunch walked out of the classrooms in twos and threes.

Chen Qiming carried a messenger bag over his shoulder, dressed in ready-made clothes that Zhao Lanzhi had specially asked someone to bring back from the provincial capital. He walked through the crowd looking exceptionally smart.

Girls around him stole glances in his direction, whispering among themselves.

He subconsciously straightened his back, thoroughly enjoying the attention.

Life with money was truly wonderful!

Chen Qiming could not help but think.

Back then, when he was eight years old, he had accidentally found out that he was not the Xie Family’s biological child. Since then, he had been desperately searching for his birth parents.

He knew it!

He was destined for greatness!

How could he be the offspring of some dirt farmers?

And sure enough!

When he learned that his biological parents were the richest family in Hudong County, he had not hesitated for a second. He did not even take a single piece of clothing or shoes from his old home, seeking out the Chen Family on his own.

His appearance was the spitting image of Chen Donghai.

From the very first glance, he knew there was no mistake.

His good life had begun!

He had finally turned his life around completely!

Hmph.

Who wouldn’t bow their head when they saw him?

He was the only son of the richest man in Hudong County!

Even if he failed to get into college, the entire Chen Family would be his in the future!

He puffed out his chest, walked to the bicycle shed, and wheeled his bicycle out. Turning his head, he spotted Huang Yuwei.

Chen Qiming’s eyes lit up slightly.

“Yuwei!” he called out. “Are you heading home? Let’s go together!”

Huang Yuwei turned her head and saw Chen Qiming. Her expression instantly became somewhat subtle.

Chen Qiming was really not much to look at.

He had single eyelids, a flat nose, and was not very tall. His teeth were particularly crooked, making his smile look rather frightening.

If that were all, it might be fine, but Chen Qiming was also incredibly uncouth.

Having grown up in the countryside, he was prone to petty theft, peeping on widows bathing, and would even kick any passing dog he saw.

When eating, he would use his tongue to pick his teeth. He could not sit on a stool without crossing his legs, and whenever he napped, he would drool all over the desk, leaving a foul smell that repulsed everyone.

Huang Yuwei couldn’t help but compare him to Xie Zhao over and over again.

They were worlds apart.

She really couldn’t bring herself to like him.

But.

He was, after all, Chen Donghai’s son.

The textile industry had been struggling these past two years, and her family’s business was a shadow of its former self. Because her father had offended someone higher up and was being squeezed out, their assets had shrunk by half.

If they lost the Chen Family, their biggest client, the Huang family would truly go bankrupt.

At this thought, Huang Yuwei forced a smile and put on a pleasant front for Chen Qiming.

“I still need to go to the department store to buy some things. You go on ahead, we can hang out next time.”

She smiled sweetly, her voice gentle.

But Chen Qiming’s eyes were practically glued to her!

“The department store? Great! I’ll go with you!”

He excitedly pushed his bicycle over, grinning broadly at Huang Yuwei. “Whatever you want, I’ll buy it for you! Don’t stand on ceremony!”