The reborn of paranoid boss cannon fodder wife(131-135)

Chapter 131: Instructions from the Expert

Xiao Wei was struck dumb by his elder brother's unusually heartfelt farewell, and amidst his confusion, his brother dropped a piece of advice.

"Don't let men into the house."

Xiao Cheng's expression remained indifferent, as if it were just a casual remark. Xiao Wei, however, felt even more bewildered after hearing this.

"Do we sell sugar-coated chestnuts to rich Uncle Fu and Chen Dafu, or should we go and sell candied chestnuts?"

Xiao Cheng glanced at him with a deep look, then glanced at Luo Shiliu and Xiao Dazhuang, who were nonchalantly observing the surroundings. Acting as if nothing happened, he cleared his throat and said, "Except for those who come to get chestnuts."

Xiao Wei nodded in a seemingly understanding manner. "Alright, I got it. No men who don't buy chestnuts can enter the house."

Luo Shiliu looked at the hesitant man and earnestly added, "For men who come to get chestnuts, they still can't enter the house at other times~"

"If any man dares to force his way in, you go find your brother, let Brother Haozi come and knock him down!"

"Yes!" Xiao Dazhuang also nodded in agreement. "When we come back, you tell us who dared to break into your house, and we'll beat him until he's looking for his teeth all over the ground!"

Xiao Cheng remained silent for a moment without refuting. Xiao Wei understood, "Got it."

"If there's anything, tell me on the phone." Xiao Cheng gave one last glance inside the house and turned to leave.

"I'll call back every day."

What's a phone?
Before Xiao Wei could ask, the three men outside had already walked far away. The sky was still gray, with only a faint layer of light illuminating the endless road ahead.

Light footsteps sounded from behind.

Xiao Wei closed the door, turned around, and indeed saw Bai Lu stretching lazily, walking from the main house to the kitchen.

"My brother has left."

Bai Lu covered her mouth with a yawn. "Hmm," she said, indicating that she knew, and continued walking towards the kitchen.

Xiao Wei found it strange. His brother had a look of reluctance, but why was Bai Lu completely unaffected?

Could it be that Bai Lu hadn't realized yet that his brother was going on a long journey, and it wouldn't be like usual, where he could come back the same day after going out?

"My brother has gone on a long journey," Xiao Wei kindly reminded, "and it will take a long time for him to come back."

"I know. Hurry up, brush your teeth, wash your face, and have breakfast." A light, ethereal voice came from the kitchen.

On the small kitchen table were dumplings, steaming hot. Xiao Wei wondered when his brother bought them.

After washing up, Xiao Wei sat at the table with his small backpack. He listened to the faint buzzing of the three electric chestnut roasting machines on the stove and felt that today was unusually quiet compared to other days.

"How come there's another machine?" Xiao Wei finally noticed something was wrong after listening for a while.

"It was made by your brother," Bai Lu replied calmly.

Xiao Wei was surprised. "When did he make it? I've been at home this weekend, and I didn't see my brother go anywhere to dismantle a fan and make a new chestnut roasting machine."

"I don't know," Bai Lu lightly shook her head. "Maybe he dismantled it when buying the fan, and then assembled it when he came back. Maybe you were out buying groceries with me at that time."

"But how did you know before me?" Xiao Wei asked.

"He told me," Bai Lu replied.

"You didn't send him off today. How did he tell you?" Xiao Wei asked innocently, not understanding.

Bai Lu's lips twitched. "He told me in a dream."

Before Xiao Wei could refute, "I did send him off," she said.

"You didn't. When my brother left, you were still not awake." Xiao Wei felt sorry for her.

Bai Lu repeated, "I sent him off."

"You didn't."

Xiao Wei became a little argumentative today. "You told me that being a person requires practicality, speaking counts, and actions count. If you did it, you did it; if you didn't, you didn't, right?"

"Yes, yes, yes. You're right; I sent him off," Bai Lu conceded. She couldn't compete with this little argumentative one.

"But I didn't see you send my brother off." Xiao Wei still didn't believe.

Bai Lu: "..."

"Hurry up and finish breakfast and go to school!"

Although the volume wasn't high, the voice wasn't even as loud as the humming of the roasting machine, Xiao Wei immediately became obedient.

There was a feeling of being sent to school by his brother again.

After breakfast, carrying a small backpack, Xiao Wei didn't forget the task his brother entrusted him with and turned to instruct Bai Lu.

"Brother said not to let men into the house."

Bai Lu laughed, "Do I need to open the door to do business?"

"Except for Uncle Fu and Chen Dafu." Xiao Wei thoroughly understood his brother's words and gave the correct answer.

"But if I have a new male partner who wants to sell chestnuts, should I also not let him in to pick up goods?" Bai Lu questioned.

Xiao Wei hadn't thought about this issue and hadn't asked his brother what to do. With a small hand holding the straps of his backpack, he furrowed his little eyebrows, pondering, unsure of how to answer.

After thinking for a while, he finally squeezed out a sentence, "Haven't you already cooperated with many people to sell chestnuts?"

Bai Lu leisurely leaned against the door frame, teasing him, "Who would complain about having too much money?"

Xiao Wei thought about the leaky roof that often let in wind and rain, nodded, "Yes, save more money to build a big house. When the big house is built, you and my brother can have a nephew."

Bai Lu was caught off guard by this remark, feeling a bit speechless. Okay, the little baldy completely couldn't get along with the idea of having a little nephew.

"Alright, alright, go to school quickly. I'll remember what you said later."

Xiao Wei had just turned around and saw Chen Dafu, who came to pick up candied chestnuts on a motorcycle, immediately stopping his steps.

Without saying a word, he turned back and followed Chen Dafu home.

Looking at Chen Dafu carrying the last basket of chestnuts, saying goodbye to Bai Lu, and leaving, Xiao Wei did not argue, "Hmm, I'm going to school."

As a result, just as he stepped outside.

Seeing Chen Dafu returning and following him back, after taking all the chestnuts, why did he come back? Apart from taking chestnuts, other times he couldn't enter the house.

Xiao Wei stood next to Bai Lu with a tense little body, his big eyes tightly staring at Chen Dafu.

This made Chen Dafu feel hairy in his heart, as if he had been glanced at coldly by Xiao Cheng, and immediately explained his intention, "There is a textile factory in the town where I sell candied chestnuts. There are quite a few female workers in it. They often buy chestnuts on their way to and from work, and the business is very good. I want to take more chestnuts over to sell."


























Chapter 132: Outsmarting the Opponent

Chen Dafu now had 80 kilograms, so he decided to round it up to 100 kilograms.

Bai Lu brought out a basket of chestnuts from the kitchen. "Here's 20 kilograms; take it."

Chen Dafu, with a large cloth bag prepared, poured the chestnuts into it, returned the basket to Bai Lu, and left. Xiao Wei's intense gaze made him a bit uncomfortable.

Finally, there were no men left in the house.

Xiao Wei went to school peacefully.

Wang Cuihua, knowing that Xiao Cheng had left for a distant journey, came to Bai Lu's house to pick up chestnuts but didn't rush to leave. She followed Bai Lu to the kitchen, persisting until Bai Lu blocked her at the door, asking, "Aren't you doing business today?"

Wang Cuihua blinked innocently, "I just wanted to help you out. With Xiao Cheng gone, and you alone at home dealing with roasting so many chestnuts, it must be tough. Why not let me move in and live together? I can help you roast chestnuts."

Compared to Li Shuixian's crafty schemes behind the scenes, Wang Cuihua's intentions were more apparent.

Anyone could see what she was up to.

Bai Lu smiled and delivered a merciless blow, "You won't learn. Roasting chestnuts is a skill."

"It's okay; I'll learn after a few times." Wang Cuihua thought Bai Lu had finally relented and looked excited.

"If I can't learn in one day, I'll learn in two days. If I can't learn in two days, I'll learn in three, four, or five days. I'm not afraid of hard work, and moving here is convenient. I can help with anything. If you agree, I'll move in right away."

Bai Lu hesitated and shook her head, "Xiao Cheng and I share a room, Xiao Wei has his own room, and the other room is used for storage. There's no room for you. If you don't mind..."

"I don't mind!" Wang Cuihua didn't wait for Bai Lu to finish; she decisively made up her mind.

There's still a firewood room, right? If I tidy it up, it can be used as a room. As long as I can move in, it's fine. Later, we can switch rooms.

"The firewood room is full of things too." Bai Lu dealt another blow, "Are you willing to sleep outside by the main entrance?"

Wang Cuihua: "..."

Is Bai Lu messing with her?

Sleeping outside by the main entrance is basically sleeping on the street!

Although Bai Lu still had the appearance of a gentle lady, Wang Cuihua felt that Bai Lu was messing with her.

Without saying another word, she ran off to sell chestnuts.

She would figure out a better plan to deceive Bai Lu later.

Bai Lu didn't actually deceive Xiao Wei. Today, indeed, a married couple would come to pick up goods, and there would be a man.

The new sales route was discussed with Yu Fugui when he came to pick up goods yesterday. The couple had a shop in the city, not in the same city as Yu Fugui but in Baicheng.

Baicheng was not far from Pingcheng, both under the jurisdiction of Nan City, with a slightly higher economic level than Pingcheng.

The couple would come with a small tricycle to pick up goods.

Accompanying them were Yu Fugui and Wu Xiuyun.

After Yu Fugui and Wu Xiuyun picked up the goods and, as usual, chatted with Bai Lu for a while before heading out to set up their stall.

Gao Jianchuan and Wen Li, as a couple, didn't rush to leave. They expressed their intention to discuss with Bai Lu how to sell sugar-coated chestnuts.

After seeing off Wu Xiuyun and Yu Fugui, the couple followed Bai Lu into the main house, drinking tea and chatting.

Unlike the satisfied and fortunate appearance of Yu Fugui and Wen Xiuyun, Gao Jianchuan and Wen Li had a sharp, shrewd look. As soon as they entered, their eyes were drawn to the kitchen, where the scent of sugar-coated chestnuts wafted.

But they only took a glance and withdrew their gaze, giving an appearance of accidentally seeing it and immediately withdrawing with a sense of integrity.

Wen Li, on the other hand, didn't look around and subtly inquired about the origin of the chestnuts during their conversation.

Bai Lu, experienced in reading people, had some skill in judging character, and it was clear that this couple wasn't here for cooperation but to swallow her business.

Considering the relationship with Yu Fugui and Wen Xiuyun, they refrained from getting straight to the point.

After chatting for a while and failing to get to the main point, Wen Li, anxious, changed her tone to a more friendly and approachable one.

"You must find it hard to handle so many chestnuts alone, right?"

"Not really. I'm used to it."

"Is your husband not at home? He left early in the morning, and we've been here for a while, but it seems we haven't seen anyone?"

"He's out on business."

"Out on business so early. You two are really hardworking. No wonder the sugar-coated chestnut business is doing so well. Do you usually roast chestnuts alone?"

"My husband also helps."

"That's good. But with your husband leaving so early, probably having his own business to attend to, who knows when he'll finish and come back. With you alone at home, managing everything and roasting so many chestnuts, it must be hard."

"You roasting hundreds of kilograms of chestnuts alone, waking up early every day, handling various tasks throughout the morning, buying groceries, and cooking... It's a whole day without rest. Actually, you don't have to work so hard."

Bai Lu didn't respond, "People need to eat and drink. Buying groceries and cooking are normal things to do."

Gao Jianchuan, after the casual chat didn't yield any results, couldn't help but speak up, "We've seen sugar-coated chestnuts in Nan City before. At that time, we had a lot of chestnuts stored at home and wanted to try making them ourselves. Unexpectedly, we didn't learn the method and ended up losing all the chestnuts."

Starting with a tale of woe, sharing a history of setbacks and obstacles in business.

Bai Lu only smiled, not saying a word.

Gao Jianchuan finished the story but found the effect minimal. Presuming Bai Lu wasn't a fool, she must be as shrewd as him.

Without beating around the bush, he went straight to the point, "The chestnut trees are in the flowering season now, and selling against the season won't last long. Why not think of a more sustainable way to make money? Earn a big profit and live a carefree life."

Bai Lu, unperturbed, said, "Chestnut trees have just started flowering. The prime time for selling against the season is still four or five months away. By then, making enough money and then considering

selling the method won't be too late."

She wasn't in a hurry, but Gao Jianchuan and Wen Li were anxious.





























Chapter 133: The Phone

Wen Li took a sip of tea, attempting to calm her restlessness, but it had no effect.

After some small talk, she was forced to open the conversation by proposing a price increase: "Bai Lu, let me be straightforward. We also have some chestnuts at home and were thinking of boosting our fruit store's business by making sugar-coated chestnuts. Your sugar-coated chestnuts taste good, and we're wondering if you're interested in partnering with us?"

"We can offer ten thousand yuan to learn the method."

Ten thousand yuan for the recipe? Isn't that asking for the moon? If Bai Lu were an inexperienced country girl, she might have been tempted by this meager profit.

However, Bai Lu, with her keen business sense, saw through Gao Jianchuan and Wen Li's intentions of monopolizing the market after obtaining the method.

"Rare for you both to appreciate sugar-coated chestnuts. I quite like the current business model, and I'm not planning to explore a new path for now," Bai Lu calmly responded.

Gao Jianchuan sensed Bai Lu's dissatisfaction with the price and suggested an increase: "If you're not satisfied with this price, we can discuss it further. Eleven thousand, how about that?"

Bai Lu smiled, "The income from sugar-coated chestnuts is stable for now; there's no rush for quick money."

"You see, partnering isn't about making quick money. If you sell us the method, there will just be another store selling sugar-coated chestnuts in the market. You can continue selling your sugar-coated chestnuts, and with our store opening outside the city, the reputation of sugar-coated chestnuts will spread even further. Our sugar-coated chestnut business will be better than it is now. It's a win-win situation!" Wen Li, using her business perspective, tried to amplify the benefits, attempting to change Bai Lu's mind.

Gao Jianchuan also highlighted the potential benefits Bai Lu could gain after selling the method.

However, Bai Lu remained silent and didn't respond to their proposals.

After elaborating on the benefits for a long time, Gao Jianchuan and Wen Li were puzzled by Bai Lu's lack of reaction.

They began to suspect whether Bai Lu was a fool for not seizing an opportunity to earn big and quick money.

However, Bai Lu continued to dodge their questions about where she sourced the chestnuts, completely disrupting their prepared strategies.

In the end, Gao Jianchuan and Wen Li could only buy a few dozen sugar-coated chestnuts and leave. Whether they would continue to cooperate in selling chestnuts depended on whether they could figure out the recipe.

After a busy morning, Bai Lu finally sent away all the buyers and sellers of chestnuts.

As she closed the door, ready to go to the market to buy vegetables with a small basket, another customer knocked on the door.

Opening it, she found a middle-aged couple she didn't know.

The woman held a moderately sized new box, and the man had a small toolbox in his hand.

"We're here to install the telephone. Is this the home of Xiao Cheng and Bai Lu?"

Bai Lu was momentarily stunned but nodded, "Yes, it's our home."

The woman, assuming there were no other voices in the house, concluded that the girl in front of her must be the mistress of the house, Bai Lu. She explained the situation, "Your husband, Xiao Cheng, bought a telephone from our store yesterday, already paid for it. He asked us to come today to install it but told us not to come too early. So, here we are at this time."

"Xiao Cheng mentioned that there's his wife, Bai Lu, at home, and we just need to find Bai Lu."

"Oh... alright."

Bai Lu opened the courtyard gate and invited the two in.

The telephone couple was led into the main house.

While the woman unpacked the new box, she asked Bai Lu, "Have you decided where you want the telephone installed?"

Bai Lu, pouring tea for the two, felt a bit puzzled, "Didn't Xiao Cheng say anything?"

The woman smiled and said, "He said it's entirely up to you. You can decide where you'd like it installed."

Bai Lu looked slightly dazed, smiled, and handed the tea to the telephone couple, "Then let's install it in the main house."

The telephone couple drank the tea and started installing the telephone.

Throughout the process, the man, from entering to leaving after the installation was complete, didn't exchange a single word with Bai Lu.

The woman, meanwhile, communicated with Bai Lu throughout the installation.

Bai Lu felt a bit perplexed but didn't dwell on it. Perhaps, like Xiao Cheng, this man wasn't much of a talker.

Once the telephone was installed, usage instructions, phone number, service hotline, and various precautions were explained to Bai Lu. After completing their job, the telephone couple left.

As Bai Lu escorted them to the door, Xiao Wei, who had just returned from school, stood outside the gate, watching attentively and following the couple with his gaze as they left.

As soon as they were gone, the little guy rushed into the house, stood still, and stared at Bai Lu with a serious and vigilant expression. There was a subtle hint of wariness in his tone as he asked, "Are they the new chestnut sellers?"

"No."

Bai Lu noticed the little guy's alertness, wanted to pat his head, but refrained, thinking it might hurt. She smiled and nodded, "They came to install the telephone."

"Did we get a telephone?"

Xiao Wei, with his small school bag on his back, was full of excitement and eagerness in his bright eyes.

Bai Lu couldn't resist and patted his bald head, "Yes."

"Is it the one I passed by Li Shuxian's store today, where the owner picked it up, talked to someone, and there was a person talking inside the phone?"

The little bald head, full of excitement, seemed ready to burst into little flower buds.

Bai Lu couldn't help but laugh, nodding, "Exactly. Your brother said he would call every day."

"Why would my brother call you?"

The little guy, with a slightly mistrustful expression, excitedly asked, "Did he say he would call me?"

Bai Lu: "..."

Why would he call her? The aloof and tsundere big brother wouldn't say such things. If it were a tipsy three-year-old, it might be possible. Xiao Wei seemed to have misunderstood again.

On May 19, 1997, Xiao Cheng and Bai Lu's home finally got its first telephone.
























Chapter 134: The Big Shot is Calling

Bai Lu carried a vegetable basket to the market to buy groceries. Before leaving, she asked Xiao Wei if he wanted to come along. Lately, the little guy had been accompanying her to buy groceries and helping carry the basket.

Today, he unexpectedly declined.

Bai Lu, puzzled, looked towards the main house where voices were heard.

A small figure sat upright at the Eight Immortals table, doing homework. Opposite the table, there was a tall desk with a new white telephone. The small figure would write for a while, then glance at the white phone.

Afraid of missing something important.

When Bai Lu returned with the groceries, everything seemed unchanged.

After washing the vegetables, the small figure remained motionless, like a sculpture on the Eight Immortals table.

Was it too much homework, or was the phone too attractive, or perhaps longing for Xiao Cheng?

Maybe Xiao Cheng often stayed out before... Could there be an urgent matter he needed to discuss?

Bai Lu couldn't figure it out and went back to the kitchen to chop vegetables. Just as she finished, Xiao Wei walked in.

Without a word, he sat at the stove and started a fire.

In a second, he resumed his usual diligent appearance.

Bai Lu looked him up and down, asking softly, "Were you bullied at school?"

Xiao Wei shook his head, "No."

Thinking about it, everyone knew he was Xiao Cheng's brother; who would dare to provoke him?

"Then, is there something important you want to tell your brother?" Bai Lu asked curiously while cooking.

Xiao Wei looked serious, "There's a man in the house."

Bai Lu: "..."

She accidentally spilled the salt into the pot.

Well, let's all have salted fish for dinner!

"He's here to install the phone."

"He's a man."

"It's your brother who asked him to install the phone."

"So, I need to tell my big brother that the phone is installed." The little bald head spoke earnestly.

Bai Lu suspected he was reporting something.

As expected, her suspicion was confirmed in the evening.

"Ding Ling Ling—"

In the dark night, by the well in the front yard, Bai Lu was twisting the last piece of freshly washed clothes. The main house echoed with a crisp and pleasant ringtone, penetrating the night and striking the heart.

Finishing bathing and washing clothes, Xiao Wei, with his hair dried, rushed out urgently.

"Sister-in-law, did the phone ring?"

Bai Lu sighed, "Yes, it's so loud, couldn't you hear it?"

Xiao Wei touched his bald head and adjusted his clothes, his voice full of restrained excitement, "Is it my big brother calling back?"

"Yeah, only your brother knows the home phone number. If it's not him, who else could it be?"

Bai Lu carried the bucket of clothes to the corridor to hang them. "You should go answer the phone quickly. If your brother calls and no one answers, he might think no one is at home, assuming we're all busy. He might call back much later."

As soon as she finished speaking, the main house rang again.

"Ding Ling Ling—"

Bai Lu's words proved accurate.

Xiao Wei's whole body shook, whether from nervousness or excitement. He stood still, holding the handset stiffly, seemingly forgetting what to say.

"Quickly, go answer it," Bai Lu urged, pushing his shoulder.

The small figure rushed back to the main house.

The white phone handset was swiftly grabbed by a small hand and placed next to the bald little ear.

Silence.

Xiao Wei stood as if struck by lightning, frozen in place, his little face puzzled, nervous, and confused.

Had his big brother waited too long and become impatient?

Following the same steps, he returned to Bai Lu in the corridor, lowering his head with a guilty look. "The phone stopped ringing; big brother must be angry."

"It's not like that." Bai Lu comforted, patting his shoulder lightly. "Even phones need breaks. If the ring goes unanswered several times, it automatically stops. The person who needs to make a call has to redial for it to continue. It's not that the call was hung up, and it's not that your brother doesn't want to call anymore."

"Really?"

Xiao Wei looked up, and his eyes slowly regained brightness.

Bai Lu knew many things, and what she said was always correct.

Nodding in response to the small figure's hopeful gaze, Bai Lu said, "Really. Hurry back to the Eight Immortals table and wait. If your brother calls again and no one answers, he might think no one is home, assume we're all busy, and he might call back much later..."

As soon as she finished speaking, the main house rang again.

"Ding Ling Ling—"

Bai Lu's words were indeed fulfilled.

Xiao Wei's whole body trembled. Whether from extreme nervousness or excitement, he stood still, immobile.

Bai Lu gave him a nudge, "Go quickly."

The small figure dashed back to the main house.

The white phone handset was quickly grabbed by a small hand, placed next to the bald little ear.

Silence.

Xiao Wei's brain went blank. Holding the handset tightly, he stood upright in front of the tall desk, forgetting everything he wanted to say.

Until, from the other end of the phone, a man's deep and magnetic voice came, "Hello..."

The familiar voice unexpectedly entered his eardrums, instantly waking up the excited but nervous little brain.

"Hello!"

He finally remembered the greeting Bai Lu taught him.

Listening to the man's voice on the phone, Xiao Wei's heart and eyes were filled with joy.

Big brother was calling him!

Big brother was calling him for the first time!

"Where's Bai Lu?"

A basin of cold water poured over Xiao Wei from head to toe, making him shiver all over, from his ears to his heels.

Feeling beaten down, he had to answer, "She's hanging clothes."

There was silence on the other end of the phone.

A heavy silence spread from both ends of the call.

After an unknown amount of time, the handset's voice came again, "Done hanging?"

Xiao Wei: "..."

"Not yet."

Another long silence.

Xiao Wei turned his head to look, and Bai Lu hadn't finished hanging the clothes yet. He clenched the edge of the table with the hand that held the phone, while the other hand squeezed the phone tightly.

"Today, a man came to our house."

The silent handset immediately heard a man's voice, "Who?"

"The one installing the phone."

Xiao Cheng: "..."

Silence again. Xiao Wei paused and continued, "When I came back from school this afternoon, I heard the neighbors chatting. They said a couple came to take our chestnuts. They arrived on a small tricycle in the morning."

Xiao Cheng generously gave a one-word response, "Oh."

Xiao Wei wanted to continue the conversation, but he really couldn't find any topics to chat about. "I'll go see if Sister-in-law has finished hanging the clothes."

"Mm."

No trace left.

The little bald head walked away sadly.

"Sister-in-law, Sister-in-law!"

Bai Lu had just finished hanging the clothes, put the bucket back in the bathroom, and was about to leave when a small figure ran up to her.

The small figure lifted the bald little head, and the big eyes were full of tiny grievances. Puckering his small mouth, he said, "Big brother asked you to answer the phone."

Bai Lu looked puzzled, "I don't have anything to say. You should talk to him. Didn't you want to talk to your brother just now? Why don't you chat with him a bit more?"

The gaze from Xiao Wei was even more resentful, "I'm done chatting. You go talk to Big Brother."



























Chapter 135: Long-Distance Yearning

Bai Lu picked up the receiver and placed it by her ear.

On the other end, there was the sound of wind blowing, the distant hooting of ships passing on the river.

But there was no familiar deep, mellow voice of a man.

Wondering where he might be, Bai Lu tentatively called out that name, "Xiao Cheng?"

The receiver immediately responded, "Hmm."

His low, slightly lazy voice, amidst the chaotic sounds around, sounded exceptionally clear.

"Have you eaten?" Bai Lu, searching for something to say, anything really.

Talking on the phone felt different from face-to-face conversations; there was an odd sensation of ambiguity.

The man on the other end responded with a simple "Yes." After a moment of silence, he spoke again, "Finished washing the clothes?"

Bai Lu, not understanding his mundane inquiries, absentmindedly scratched the edge of the table with her fingers.

"Yes," she replied.

"Aren't you here yet?"

Regardless of his previous statement about the longer time it takes to travel by water to Guangdong, Bai Lu decided to ask. It was said; it couldn't be taken back.

Not waiting long, a laugh echoed from the other side, "The day after tomorrow."

That faint chuckle seemed to mock her poor memory or maybe appreciate her care.

Bai Lu covered the receiver, turned around, poured a glass of water, and drank it in a few sips.

Her scattered thoughts gradually returned to normal, and her words flowed smoothly as she continued, "When you reach another province, be careful not to act recklessly. Don't get into fights easily; it's a complex world out there, and even a strong dragon can't suppress a local snake. You know this better than I do."

"Confrontations only lead to your disadvantage. Endure for a while, compromise when needed. If you can't stand it, try not to resort to physical violence in public. It's not like in Nan City, Ping Cheng, or Xin Zhen, where someone might come to your aid."

Outside is a world of interests; with money, you're a big shot; without it, you're a victim.

On the other end of the phone, Xiao Cheng leaned on the ship's railing, listening silently to the girl's lengthy advice.

In her words, he could almost see her standing in front of him, speaking softly, with the sweet smile on her face.

The way she looked when she scolded him.

The smile when she served him food with extra chili.

When she turned her back on him in bed.

The images became clearer, and Xiao Cheng's brow, initially cooled by the wind, warmed under the moonlight. His deep and mellow voice lowered a bit more.

"Got it."

A simple acknowledgment, but it reminded Bai Lu of a stubborn three-year-old: "It's not just about understanding; you need to take it to heart. I'm not joking with you."

Xiao Cheng looked up at the moon in the sky, imagining a face that spoke with a sincere expression. The corners of his mouth slightly lifted.

"All right."

"I'll listen to you."

The promise of a big brother was more effective than that of a three-year-old.

Satisfied, White Lu continued her advice. "There are many fraudsters and pickpockets outside. If you sell the logs, keep the money safe. Regular backpacks are unreliable; pickpockets can easily open them with a small knife."

"Be cautious when staying in a hotel at night. Not only protect your money but also beware of scams like the 'Jumping Immortal.' Don't accept business cards handed through the door crack; it's a trap."

At home, with Xiao Cheng's notorious reputation, no one dared to play tricks on him like slipping business cards.

But outside is a different story.

No one knows who Xiao Cheng is, and nobody cares. Knowing who has money is enough for scammers to set traps.

In the future, dealing with silly people requires silly methods. Dealing with smart people involves a sophisticated and secretive set of customized tactics.

Forget about a novice kid just entering society; even well-known entrepreneurs in the future had fallen victim to traps set by competitors, eventually stepping down from their established companies.

At this moment in the past, Xiao Cheng and Luo Shiliu were still in the police station, and Xiao Wei was missing. There were no tales of impressive achievements or the lumber trade in another province.

Now, their paths have changed, and they headed south early. The encounters and events would be different.

Bai Lu couldn't guarantee that they wouldn't encounter the "Jumping Immortal." Reminding them a bit more wouldn't hurt.

On the other end of the phone, Xiao Cheng leaned on the ship's railing, his left ear filled with the sound of the rolling river.

"Anything else?" he asked.

Bai Lu hesitated for a moment before inquiring, "How did you make this call? You haven't reached the other province yet, and back in this time, there are no wireless or satellite phones on ships. What did you use?"

Curiosity was always accompanied by action in Bai Lu's case.

"A mobile phone," came the reply.

Ah... It perfectly fits the identity of a big brother.

Big brothers use big brother phones.

An expensive big brother phone.

Xiao Cheng used to have one, provided by the big boss. Probably, when he left, he wanted to cut ties completely and didn't take anything with him, a clean break.

If Bai Lu guessed correctly, the big brother phone Xiao Cheng was using now should be from Jiang Zhengang.

Satisfied with the clarification of her curiosity, Bai Lu had nothing else to say.

It seemed that even the other end of the phone had nothing to say.

A long silence ensued.

Finally, he broke the silence with a question, "Asleep?"

"No."

"Sleeping?"

Bai Lu explained, "The phone is in the main house."

So, there's no possibility of falling asleep, especially with a small figure sitting upright at the Eight Immortals table, full of resentment, staring at her.

Bai Lu finally realized that she had talked too much. She raised the handset, looking at the little guy with questioning eyes, asking if he wanted to listen.

But the little guy heartlessly refused.

The phone's receiver suddenly echoed with the man's voice, "Put it wherever you like."

Xiao Wei was struck again.

His big eyes, full of resentment, hesitated between his left and right hands. He nervously pushed the phone back.

Bai Lu directly pressed the speakerphone button.

The reborn of paranoid boss cannon fodder wife(136-140)