Reborn in 1979, with a female educated youth lying next to me.

“Cao Xiangyang’s connections are not simple. His backer is definitely not just his father. Just because he is the head of the sales department, Cao Xiangyang wouldn’t dare to be so arrogant.”

There's another reason why I'm so certain.

That is, in his previous memories, Liu Jia had heard Guo Xiaoyan mention more than once that Cao Xiangyang was very capable and had a wide network of connections.

Liu Jia had already figured out that Director Li of the Hongxing Supply and Marketing Cooperative owed Cao Xiangyang a favor.

But for Cao Xiangyang to dare to intercept his own contract based solely on this, it's still somewhat arbitrary.

After all, the bamboo basket material comes from Xili Village, and the labor is readily available; the people there are very experienced in basket weaving.

This is also why Liu Jia was so confident.

But for Cao Xiangyang, these are the difficulties that need to be solved.

Raw materials are a problem, labor is a problem, and transportation is a problem.

Cao Xiangyang is good at meticulous calculations; there's no way he wouldn't have foreseen these things.

Knowing full well what was going on, why would you still intercept the contract? Was it just out of spite?

impossible!

"Third son, could Cao Xiangyang's backer be that woman?"

As soon as Li Zhenhe finished speaking, the image of the woman in red with permed hair flashed through Liu Jia's mind.

What was his name again?

For a moment, Liu Jia couldn't remember.

"Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will win every battle. We still need to investigate Cao Xiangyang carefully."

Liu Jia did not say the rest to Li Zhenhe.

At this point, Cao Xiangyang considered him an enemy, and the matter was now out in the open, so there was no way to avoid it.

The only way is to learn more, so that even if Cao Xiangyang makes a move later, they won't panic too much.

Being mentally prepared is always a good thing.

"Don't worry, after we get back this time, I'll find out how deep this kid's hiding!"

The two walked back while discussing, and by the time they returned to Yecheng Hongxing Supply and Marketing Cooperative, it was already past three in the afternoon.

Summer days are long, and it's currently very hot.

As soon as Liu Jia got off the bus, he stopped an old man selling popsicles. After some haggling, Liu Jia waited for Li Zhenhe at the entrance of the supply and marketing cooperative with six popsicles in his hand.

After parking the car in its designated spot, Li Zhenhe jogged out.

Seeing Liu Jia with so many popsicles, Li Zhenhe...

"We have water in the car, and you didn't say you wanted any. Why are you so thirsty after getting out of the car?"

Li Zhenhe stared at Liu Jia in shock, his eyes almost popping out of his head.

Liu Jia took a bite of half an ice pop, chewed it quickly a few times, and felt the coolness travel down her throat—it was incredibly refreshing.

After regaining his composure, Liu Jia finally spoke up: "Drinking water feels completely different from eating an ice pop. Come on, you should cool off too!"

So much had happened on this trip to Qingcheng that Li Zhenhe was still struggling to process it all. Seeing Liu Jia devouring an ice pop, Li Zhenhe's own cravings were stirred up.

"Then let's eat a few!"

Li Zhenhe laughed as he took the popsicle from Liu Jia and immediately started eating it, just like Liu Jia did.

I have to say, eating a popsicle in big bites feels completely different from eating it in small bites!

The two men were catching their breath under the big tree when suddenly Li Zhenhe raised his neck and hummed in agreement.

There was so much popsicle in my mouth that it was too cold to talk.

Liu Jia followed Li Zhenhe's gaze and looked ahead, a hint of curiosity flashing across his face.

Not far away, an older woman was gesturing to two other people.

The woman was wearing dark blue trousers, white cloth shoes with black soles, and a coarse cloth top, clearly a typical rural person. There were six or seven baskets at her feet.

The two women opposite were neatly dressed, one of them with short, ear-length hair, a typical city dweller.

Just as Liu Jia had a clear look at the scene in front of him, Li Zhenhe's voice came over.

"It seems that not only Cao Xiangyang has his eye on the bamboo basket business, but everyone in the village has started selling bamboo baskets. Sanzi, we're doing quite well!"

When Cao Xiangyang was mentioned, Li Zhenhe curled his lip in disdain.

However, when he said the last two sentences, Li Zhenhe showed no sign of looking down on anyone.

At this moment, Li Zhenhe's message was very simple: he was just telling Liu Jia that the basket weaving business was feasible.

It's not easy for ordinary people to earn money. They work from dawn till dusk all day and only earn a few work points. If they don't rely on other subsidies, life will be even harder.

Liu Jia nodded in agreement, his gaze never leaving the woman.

The woman spoke with humility, glancing at the expressions of the two people opposite her from time to time, and sometimes even showing a troubled look on her face.

Judging from this, it's obvious without even thinking that the other party must have driven the price down too low, making it impossible to make a profit. If they had loosened their grip even a little, this basket would have been sold long ago.

"I doubt these baskets will sell," Liu Jia muttered to himself.

"No way, the basket she's holding is definitely cheaper than what the supply and marketing cooperative sells, unless those two people just don't want it."

Just as Li Zhenhe finished speaking, the two city folks turned around.

Li Zhenhe rubbed his eyes in disbelief, watching the two people leave.

"What's going on? You really don't want it? Ugh, what's with this? If you don't want it, don't keep talking for so long, it's such a waste of time!"

Li Zhenhe also disapproved of the behavior of the two city dwellers.

Although buying and selling requires both parties to be willing to buy and sell, there will inevitably be times when bargaining is involved.

However, the back-and-forth discussion just now really took up some time.

If you don't like something, just leave. If you do like it, just pay up without hesitation. Isn't that better?

Anyway, I have a straightforward personality, and I just can't stand the behavior in front of me.

Liu Jia didn't say anything. Having lived a second life, Liu Jia had become indifferent to many things.

Therefore, what Li Zhenhe said most often was that Liu Jia, despite his young age, always had an air of being prematurely old.

The composure he exuded was unlike that of someone his age.

Don't you want to say anything?

Seeing Liu Jia's deep expression again, Li Zhenhe couldn't help but say something else.

Just as Liu Jia was about to speak, his brows suddenly furrowed!

Just now, the woman selling baskets was about to pack up her stall when several young men suddenly appeared in the distance.

Those people were in a hurry, carrying tools in their hands, and went straight to the woman selling baskets.

Liu Jia was startled.

what happened?

Did you offend someone because you didn't sell the basket?

Thinking of the two city folks who had just left, and then looking at the four or five big men rushing towards them, Liu Jia couldn't help but think of them together.

"Would you like to go over and take a look?"

At this crucial moment, Li Zhen instinctively wanted to hear Liu Jia's opinion.

The popsicle in Liu Jia's hand was now reduced to just the stick. As he stood up, Liu Jia snapped his middle finger, and the stick flew to the side.

"Let's go see what's going on."

Liu Jia has always kept a low profile, but when he saw someone bullying the weak, he naturally wouldn't stand idly by.

Besides, this is Yecheng now. If something really happens, Li Zhenhe can shout and summon a lot of people.

Based on this, there's nothing to be afraid of!

The two walked a few steps quickly, but before they reached the woman, they could already hear the burly men shouting and yelling.

"Get out of here with your things! This isn't a place to sell baskets. If you don't leave, we'll throw your basket into the river!"

"Exactly! The protection money is already at rock bottom, and they're still complaining. But we're like bodhisattvas!"

"Pay up if you have money, get lost if you don't. We'll beat you every time we see you!"

The group of people were talking amongst themselves, and some of them were spitting on the ground from time to time.

The woman selling baskets had never seen anything like this before and was completely stunned.

His legs were shaking uncontrollably, and his face was completely pale.

"Brothers, this is my first time here. I don't know your rules. I haven't sold my basket yet, and I don't have any money on me."

"What nonsense! Do you have to make us search you before you give up? I don't believe it. If you're planning to do business in the city, why didn't you bring any money?"

As soon as someone finished speaking, the person next to them immediately chimed in.

"Even if I sell you the basket and give you a whole one, you still need to give me change. I don't buy into your pleading poverty here!"

"Forget it, what's the point of saying all this? Just get lost. There's nothing to say to this poor bastard!"

"Hurry up and pack your things, don't get in my way. If you don't leave, I'll cripple you!"

The last person to speak even raised his fist, baring his teeth and gesturing in front of the woman.

"oops!"

The woman was terrified, cried out in alarm, and sat down heavily on the ground.

"boom!"

With a muffled thud, several baskets at his feet were kicked and scattered all over the place.

"Ha ha ha ha……"

The group laughed unrestrainedly, completely oblivious to the woman on the ground who was about to cry.

Seeing a basket at his feet, the little guy raised his foot, as if to stomp it down.

"Stop right there! What are you doing?!"

Liu Jia gave a shout, and the short man was startled, and he indeed pulled his outstretched foot back.

However, upon seeing Liu Jia and Li Zhenhe, the short man's face revealed a ruthless expression.

"These days, there are really too many busybodies!"