The reborn of paranoid boss cannon fodder wife(101-105)

Chapter 101: White Dew Stabilizes the Big Shot


A bulky figure behind the crowd, as soon as the man's face became clear, he immediately turned and left.


Swiftly, afraid of being noticed.


The onlookers stopped their steps when they saw a more brutal and familiar face appearing, curious if the situation would take a turn.


"Speak, who should pay and apologize?" The man's devilish, life-threatening voice thundered down like the night.


Li Bingkun was suddenly awakened, subconsciously opening his mouth, "Bai..."


A foot on the throat suddenly exerted force.


Li Bingkun couldn't make a sound.


"Speak."


The devil's voice sounded again.


Li Bingkun was not stupid; seeing the expressions of the people around him, he could guess that he had definitely offended someone he shouldn't have.


Wanting to beg for mercy, the man's face full of murderous intent was disdainful, clearly indicating death for those who resisted.


Li Bingkun had to speak again, answering the devil's question, "Bai..."


The foot on the throat exerted force again.


"Speak!"


Li Bingkun: "..."


Can't you loosen your foot and let me speak!


Wu Xiuyun gradually realized that Xiao Cheng seemed a bit off today. In the past, no matter how brutal and ruthless he was, it was just a beating, not this kind of torture.


Whether it was the rumors or the time when Liu Tiezhu bullied Bai Lu, Xiao Cheng directly dealt with the person, saying nothing more, his face devoid of any expression except for a killing intent.


Now, it seemed like he was venting some long-suppressed emotions; his face looked more irritable.


His actions were somewhat uncontrollable, tormenting the stubbled man to the brink of death and still not letting go.


After a cold laugh, he walked over slowly, appearing to continue the torture.


If this continued, someone might end up dead.


Wen Xiuyun asked Old Li to watch the stall and quickly ran back to find Bai Lu.


She had seen Xiao Cheng's fierce appearance before, but also witnessed his gentle demeanor in front of Bai Lu.


Bai Lu should be able to persuade Xiao Cheng, right?


Turning a corner, the two almost collided. After seeing the person clearly, Wen Xiuyun immediately pulled the person back.


"Quick, go to the market, Xiao Cheng is about to kill someone!"


Bai Lu's face changed. "What happened to him?"


"Here's what happened..."


At the entrance of the market, more and more people gathered, forming layers inside and outside.


Under the electric pole, a man with a violent and murderous aura was about to exert force on the purple-blue neck.


"Ah Cheng."


A gentle and clear call, amidst the discussions of the surrounding crowd, stood out prominently.


The man's gloomy eyes were slightly stunned; he turned his head, and his gaze pierced through the crowd, accurately locking onto "her."


Unable to push through the crowded Bai Lu, after the big shot's gaze swept across, scattering the crowd, she ran all the way to his side.


She pulled his hand and stepped back, retreating.


After retreating three steps, she spoke softly, "Didn't you come to buy groceries? Why did it take so long?"


Xiao Cheng looked at Bai Lu's clothes, his cold eyes softened, then turned cold again, looking at the half-dead person on the ground.


The meaning was self-evident.


On the way there, Bai Lu had learned the facts from Wen Xiuyun.


She knew that at this moment, she must make the stubbled man reveal the truth behind Xiao Cheng's loss of control and the renewed infamy.


"You said there was a problem with our candied chestnuts, causing your wife's stomach to be upset. Who is your wife? What time did you come to buy chestnuts this morning? How much did you buy? Were there other people present when you bought the chestnuts?"


Bai Lu asked while signaling Wu Xiuyun with her eyes.


Wu Xiuyun immediately understood, quickly ran to the nearby small shop, bought a bottle of mineral water, and came back to wake up Old Li.


Old Li was also a keen observer. He fed the water to the dizzy man, and accidentally, the old and weathered hand shook, spilling water on the stubbled man's face.


Li Bingkun woke up with the water splashing on him. He had no idea what Bai Lu had just said.


Opening his eyes and seeing the devil's face again, he immediately begged for mercy, "Please let me go..."


"I won't dare anymore. I promise to disappear immediately. I'll go as far away as possible and won't appear in front of you again. Please spare my life..."


He had been tortured miserably, witnessed by everyone around. His entire body's bones were probably displaced. Now, hearing the plea, the onlookers couldn't help but be afraid when they saw Xiao Cheng's gaze, mixed with fear.


Fear mixed with a lot of repulsion.


Bai Lu held Xiao Cheng's hand, and asked the stubbled man coldly, "Who is your wife? Are you sure it was Aunt Wu's candied chestnuts that made her sick?"


"No." Li Bingkun, who had been taught a lesson, dared not lie again.


Seeing the man's still dark and fierce expression, he hurriedly clarified, "I don't have a wife, and I have never bought candied chestnuts from Aunt Wu's fruit stall. Everything was made up by me. I wanted to extort money from Aunt Wu's fruit stall."


The gazes of the surrounding people, originally rejecting Xiao Cheng, instantly shifted to Li Bingkun.


Doubt, disbelief, and incredulity.


Bai Lu pulled Xiao Cheng's hand again, asking Li Bingkun with a faint tone, "Since you have never bought candied chestnuts from Aunt Wu's fruit stall, where did the chestnuts you brought come from?"


















Chapter 102: It's None of Your Business


Li Bingkun's throat tightened, a pain spreading throughout his body. Dislocated bones reminded him that he had to choose between money and life.


"Chestnuts were given to me by Li Shuixian."


"Li Shuixian gave me two hundred yuan, asking me to use bad chestnuts to frame and sabotage Aunt Wu's fruit stall, tarnishing the authentic reputation of Aunt Wu's candied chestnuts. Li Shuixian also told me that Aunt Wu's candied chestnuts were made by Bai Lu, and she wanted me to ruin Bai Lu's reputation too, so that Bai Lu couldn't do business, and her chestnuts would sell better."


After the onlookers understood the truth, the sympathy in their eyes for Li Bingkun turned into disgust and condemnation.


"This is a bunch of scum!"


"Churning out chestnuts that are not tasty or authentic, and when no one buys them, trying to ruin the reputation of Aunt Wu's authentic chestnuts. I didn't expect Li Shuixian to be such a person. I really misjudged her. I even bought something from her grocery store last time. Who knows what kind of problems are in the products there!"


"I'll never buy anything from Li Shuixian's store again, helping her earn ill-gotten money while putting myself at risk!"


"This guy is no good either, taking dirty money to ruin people's reputations, sabotaging Aunt Wu's candied chestnuts and tarnishing Bai Lu's reputation, making sure Bai Lu has no business. He deserves to be beaten to death!"


"This kind of trash deserves a severe lesson, or he'll keep causing trouble in the street, harming people, forcing us to buy unhygienic, disease-inducing dirty stuff!"


Li Bingkun was verbally attacked by the crowd, spat on, and even had rotten eggs thrown at him.


Like a rat crossing the street, everyone called for his punishment, but he couldn't move. Wanting to crawl away, the roads around him were blocked.


People who were deceived of their sympathy, people who almost had to eat dirty things, cursed him relentlessly.


Blocking his way, they wanted everyone passing by to see what he looked like so that no one would sympathize with him in the future.


In the end, it was Bai Lu who showed mercy. She made him compensate two hundred yuan, bought Aunt Wu's fruit stall, and bought the overturned candied chestnuts and big jujubes.


She even kindly accepted a hundred yuan from him as a taxi fare, called a motorcycle for him, and had him taken back to Li's Village.


Li Bingkun did want to go to the hospital, but all the money in his pocket was taken by Bai Lu.


He could only roll back to Li's Village under the barrage of insults.


After the matter was resolved, Bai Lu and Xiao Cheng went to the market to buy vegetables, and the crowd dispersed.


In an inconspicuous corner, a slightly chubby boy shrank his neck and said to the middle-aged woman beside him, "Should we ask Bai Lu for the recipe for candied chestnuts?"


The middle-aged woman looked at Xiao Cheng's retreating figure, shivering all over, firmly shook her head, "No, let's wait until Xiao Cheng is away."


"But Aunt Wu's chestnuts sell so well. Bai Lu must have earned a lot of money during this time."


"Didn't you see how ferociously Xiao Cheng beat someone just now? Did you forget the lesson from last time?"


"Of course not! My hand still hurts now. Let's wait until Xiaocheng is away and then go ask Bailu for money."


In front of the pork stall, the pork boss, holding a pig-killing knife, couldn't control his trembling. A devil had come to buy pork from him.


It was even pork trotters, and they had to be chopped into small pieces. His hands were so nervous that he felt they might be broken in the next second.


Fortunately, there was a little girl holding the devil's hand, and the devil's face wasn't as terrifying as before.


Otherwise, he would have immediately run away with his knife.


Bai Lu saw the pork boss shaking while chopping the pork trotters, his eyes sticking to the trotters, and the butcher knife constantly approaching his fingers. She couldn't help but remind, "Boss, your hand."


"What's wrong with my hand?" The pork boss's hand holding the killing knife stiffened, and he immediately stared at his hand.


There was a bit of minced meat on his hand.


Thinking that he might be despised by the little girl and the devil, he quickly turned around, put his hand in a bucket of water, and washed it as quickly as possible. Then he turned back, continuing to shake his hands while chopping the pork trotters.


After finally chopping the pork trotters, putting them in a valuable plastic bag, he handed them to the gentle girl.


Payment and change.


"Boss."


The pork boss's hand delivering money stiffened, "What's wrong?"


Bailu looked at the money handed to her, smiling and reminded, "Did you give me the wrong change?"


"Pork trotters cost twelve yuan, and I gave you twenty yuan. Did you give me a hundred yuan?"


The pork boss lowered his head to look at the hundred yuan in his hand, raised his head to see the man's impatient and gloomy expression.


Immediately, he poured all the scattered change from the basket, quickly found eight yuan, and handed it to the little girl, smiling stiffly as he sent the customers away.


After strolling around the market, the basket was full, and Bai Lu also discovered a major issue.


When buying vegetables with Xiaocheng, not only did the situation of receiving less change not occur, but they always received more change.


For every additional type of vegetable they bought, she had to remind the seller again. Her mouth was almost bubbling.


On the way back home, Bai Lu decided that she must talk to Xiao Cheng and let him know that this situation was not good.


"Can you pay attention in the future? Beating someone so violently in public will have a bad impact on you."


"I don't care."


Xiao Cheng, carrying the vegetable basket, walked leisurely and looked at her with a sideways glance. "I didn't hit."


His voice and tone were unusually serious.


Bai Lu rolled her eyes in her heart, coldly smiling, "Yes, you didn't use your hands. Of course, it's not hitting."


"You just kicked, just beating people. There's a world of difference between beating and hitting."


Seeing the puffed cheeks, the cold smile in her eyes, and the somewhat gritted words, Xiao Cheng's inner irritability inexplicably dissipated a lot, without retorting.


Continuing their leisurely pace, walking side by side.


Bai Lu decided to pick all the chili peppers in the vegetable garden. Red peppers, green peppers, let's make chili peppers stir-fried with chili peppers.


Suppressing the inexplicable irritability in the big man, lest he not show mercy and his mouth remains as hard as a stone.


Chili peppers need to be stir-fried, and admonition should not be lacking. Bai Lu turned her head to look at the man beside her, speaking in a soft tone,


 "Can you control yourself a bit more in the future? Don't be so impulsive."


"You mind?"


Xiaocheng turned his head, his deep gaze fixed on her.


Bailu couldn't help but laugh, "Yes, I shouldn't have said so much. You like it, do it your way. It's none of my business."


Not hearing the answer he wanted, Xiao Cheng withdrew his gaze dejectedly, lowered his eyes, and remained silent.


Bai Lu also turned her head, not speaking.


When Xiao Wei came back from school today, she was surprised to find the two walking in front.


Although the two were different in height, they both wore big brother's clothes, and he remembered it clearly.


"Whoosh," he ran over.


When the distance was only ten meters, he instantly switched back to small steps, steadily and quickly moved forward, sneaked a peek.


Sure enough, it was Big Brother and Bai Lu.


"Your clothes today look nice."


For the first time in history, the little guy complimented, and Bai Lu was stunned for a full second before looking down at her clothes.


Only then did she realize that the black coat she was wearing was a bit long, a bit wide, a bit big, and a bit thick.


It was a bit, not like her clothes!















Chapter 103: Couple Outfits


The more I look, the more it resembles, the big boss's clothes!

Bai Lu was dumbfounded, unwilling to believe that she could make such a low-level mistake.


Just as she was about to take it off for a careful check.


Suddenly, a big hand grabbed her wrist, turned it in a direction, and stuffed it back into the coat pocket.


Bai Lu raised her head in a daze, seeing the slightly gloomy face of Xiao Cheng, she decisively admitted her mistake: "I didn't mean to, I was in a hurry when I left this morning, and didn't see clearly for a moment..."


"Wear it." He didn't let her take it off.


Bai Lu: "..."


If she remembered correctly, Xiao Cheng only had two coats, both of which were black, and their styles were exactly the same.


He was currently wearing a black coat.


She was also wearing a black coat now.


In the modern world, in such a situation, it is generally referred to as a couple outfit!


Yes, that's right, a good brother outfit!

Bai Lu felt at ease and didn't take it off. The hand pressed against the pocket no longer struggled.


As long as I'm not embarrassed, the embarrassment is on others.


The embarrassing ones are the gossip eyes of the aunties in the market, the teasing gazes of the neighbors passing by, not her.


Seeing Bai Lu's cheeks turning red for a second and then returning to normal, Xiao Cheng raised his eyebrows slightly, as if nothing had happened, and withdrew his hand.


The warmth spread in the palm of his hand, from the main vein all the way to the chilly fingertips, lingering softly.


Xiao Wei was surprised to find another big thing.


The big brother's face now was not as irritable as when he told him to go to school in the morning.


He was walking slowly, and Xiao Wei could keep up with his normal steps, unlike before when he couldn't catch up even if he ran wildly.


The sun really came out from the west.


Once back home, Bai Lu went to the closet to search for clothes. Sure enough, the short black jacket she had worn last night had been shaken by Xiao Cheng to the corner.


Above the closet, there were originally clothes of both her and Xiao Cheng—thick coats, various lengths of jackets.


Xiao Cheng only had two black coats, one black jacket, and the rest were her clothes.


Her jackets were fewer, only a thin black cotton jacket and a short camel jacket.


Last night, they were all put back into the cloth bag, but Xiao Cheng shook them back into the closet before she had a chance to hang them back.


This morning, she accidentally took the wrong one when changing clothes.


Bai Lu quickly changed back into her own clothes, hung Xiao Cheng's coat back, and tidied up the rest of the clothes.


In the kitchen, Xiao Wei was already sitting in front of the stove, cooking, and another stove was burning.


Xiao Cheng was stir-frying.


Having been here for so long, Bai Lu saw Xiao Cheng stir-frying for the first time, the last time was during breakfast.


It was only during breakfast that he could cook noodles, fry eggs, and cook porridge. Apart from that, he had never done anything else.


In her memory, Xiao Cheng rarely cooked, often just ate casually outside, and only stir-fried rice at home.


Bai Lu was a bit suspicious that Xiao Cheng's cooking might not be edible, so he didn't do it.


But today, he suddenly felt like cooking. Maybe he wanted her to taste it, and she wondered about the consequences of deceiving him.


For the sake of her life, Bai Lu thought it would be better to hold the reins in her own hands.


"I'll do the stir-frying."


"No need."


Xiao Cheng still held the spatula, calmly stir-frying the vegetables, not allowing the fair and delicate hand to reach in.


If Bai Lu wanted, he wouldn't give it.


If Bai Lu wanted to fry chili, he wouldn't give it.


If Bai Lu wanted to cook by herself, he wouldn't allow it.


Bai Lu walked away angrily, and Xiao Wei, who was burning the fire in front of the stove, watched the whole process, dumbfounded.


For the first time, he saw Big Brother refuse Bai Lu so many times, and for the first time, he saw Big Brother cooking.


For the first time, he saw Big Brother make a table of delicious dishes, shocking Bai Lu who was originally angry.


Braised pig's trotters, steamed fish, stir-fried meat with broccoli and carrots, tomato and egg stir-fry, stir-fried spinach...


All without chili, all with color, fragrance, and taste. Not to mention comparing them to the traditional delicacies of the Hua country, even with the royal chefs of the national feast cuisine, at least they could compete with the chefs of the restaurants on Ninth Street.


Bai Lu was not only shocked but also stuffed.


Xiao Wei was the same. He originally wanted to eat whatever Big Brother cooked for the first time, even if it was bad.


Unexpectedly, it was so delicious that he couldn't stop!


Big Brother's cooking is so delicious, why didn't he do it before? Why did he only do it today?


Xiao Wei was full of doubts and confusion, and finally, they all disappeared in the two bowls of rice, and the action of finishing the plate.


Full and in a good mood, Bai Lu was ready to talk.


Returning to the room and seeing Xiao Cheng sitting at the table by the window, leaning on his left hand, a cigarette playing between his agile fingers, his eyes fixed on the window, not knowing what he was thinking.


Bai Lu quietly moved a wooden chair over, sat next to him, and gently pulled his sleeve.


Softly opening her mouth: "Can we talk?"


The annoyance in Xiao Cheng's eyes deepened, and the smoke played between his fingers, falling onto the table.


He picked it up and pinched it off: "Speak."


Bai Lu's eyes twitched slightly, and she said the words that had been organized countless times in her heart: "Do you agree to use the method of sugaring chestnuts to settle the debt, or do you agree to let me stay here, earn thirty thousand yuan, and then pay you back?"


"Either is fine."


Xiao Cheng was concise, with a nonchalant tone, an indifferent expression, and you couldn't even hear a hint of concern.


Bai Lu couldn't figure out his thoughts, so she could only deduce the conclusion based on his behavior of frying chestnuts in the morning.


"Do you agree to let me stay here?"


"Yes."


"Do you rent out the kitchen utensils... the electric chestnut flipping machine, the chestnuts in the firewood room, will you lease them to me?"


"Yes."


Xiao Cheng answered casually.


Letting Bai Lu's nervousness gradually disappear.


Her tone also became more relaxed: "The chestnuts you fried this morning should belong to you according to the facts, but you agreed to the second plan. It should be me who makes sugared chestnuts, sells them, and earns money to pay you back."


"You helped me fry chestnuts this morning, which is also a fact. How do you think the money should be calculated?"


"Either is fine."


Xiao Cheng obviously didn't want to discuss this topic again. His tone became more and more perfunctory, and his impatience was evident.


The cigarette that had been cut into two pieces just now was cut into four, six pieces, and finally crushed into fine tobacco by his long and powerful fingertips.


The scattered dark brown tobacco on the table, like his gradually irritable face, couldn't be hidden.


Bai Lu didn't want to bother him, but since things had been laid out, everything had to be settled to avoid trouble in the future.


After all, she and Xiao Cheng didn't have a marriage certificate, and they weren't considered husband and wife. They would have to part ways in the future.


Every penny had to be settled, and she didn't like dragging things out or owing favors.


Things had to be handled decisively.


Bai Lu pondered for a moment and thought of a method. Just as she was about to speak, she lifted her eyes and met a pair of deep eyes.


Xiao Cheng was looking at her, his eyes deep and unfathomable. The irritability seemed to be temporarily suspended, and she didn't know how long he had been watching her.


Instead of avoiding her gaze, he spoke first: "You're not feeling well these days. I'll fry the chestnuts, and you can cook."


Equal mutual assistance, a reasonable explanation and suggestion.


Bai Lu thought it was more feasible than the method she had just thought of, nodded in agreement, and then asked: "I'll be eating and staying here. How much is the rent per month?"

















Chapter 104: Big Boss's Rent Collection Method


Xiao Cheng looked at her deeply, silent for a while. It was only after what seemed like a considerable amount of time that he spoke with a tone that seemed well thought out: "You cook, and it covers the rent."


Bai Lu was slightly stunned. Did he mean that by just cooking, she could cover both accommodation and food expenses? Wasn't that a bit too good to be true?


However, if she covered the cost of groceries and electricity, it seemed like a somewhat balanced mutual assistance.


Unexpectedly, the next moment, Xiao Cheng said, "Deduct the cost of groceries and electricity from the thirty thousand yuan."


Bai Lu couldn't believe her ears. Did he mean that she didn't have to pay for groceries and electricity separately, and everything would be deducted from the thirty thousand yuan she owed him? She could use the money she earned from selling sugared chestnuts to buy groceries. Once she gathered enough money, she would deduct the grocery expenses and then return the remaining amount to him?


Xiao Cheng nodded slightly, confirming her understanding.


Bai Lu stared at him in disbelief. "So, by just cooking, I can cover all the rent, food, and accommodation expenses, and I don't have to pay for groceries and electricity separately. Isn't this a bit too favorable for me?"


Moreover, being able to establish herself in this chaotic territory, successfully selling sugared chestnuts, had undoubtedly benefited from Xiao Cheng's protection under his feared reputation.


She could sell on her own, but it would likely be troublesome without the current smooth sailing.


The incidents involving Wang Cuihua and Wen Xiuyun, where their stalls were disrupted, were clear examples of the turbulent market in this area.


Xiao Cheng's unexpectedly accommodating attitude, not collecting rent from her, and not charging her any protection fees for the convenience, left Bai Lu astonished.


Xiao Cheng caught the surprised and puzzled expression on Bai Lu's face and spoke with an indifferent tone, "Not at a loss."


His tone carried an air of a wealthy landowner who didn't care about money.


Bai Lu was truly shocked. When she first proposed a 50-50 profit split with Wu Xiuyun, she felt like she was being looked at as if she were a foolish child. Now, it seemed like she was the one thinking he was a foolish child. Could it be because of their undefined husband and wife relationship without any legal effects?


Feeling the need to clarify, Bai Lu said, "When I moved back to your place, it was because I received a pregnancy confirmation after a hospital check. I thought I was pregnant, so I packed my things and came to your place to discuss with you and my mom about the dowry..."


"The dowry matter." When she mentioned the dowry, Bai Lu recalled the situation where the original body was forced by Li Xuelan to come to Xiao Cheng's house, inviting him out and using the child as leverage to force him to compromise.


Although she wasn't the one who did it, she still felt a bit guilty. It seemed like she had tricked Xiao Cheng.


With a softened tone, she continued, "I know you didn't want to marry me. At the time of the so-called wedding dinner, you were just going through the motions. Besides, we didn't get the marriage certificate, so we can't be considered a real couple."


At that time, the original body was not of legal age to obtain a marriage certificate. During the wedding dinner, her parents were present, but Xiao Cheng didn't have any family members, and it was Lao Hu who represented him.


According to the marriage laws, a marriage relationship without obtaining the certificate doesn't qualify as a legal marriage.


Xiao Cheng must be aware of this, and she guessed that he probably only agreed because he wanted a child.


After hearing her words, Bai Lu expected Xiao Cheng to respond with a perfunctory "Mm," similar to when they discussed rent. However, when she looked up, she saw Xiao Cheng's previously eased expression turning cold again.


Speaking in a cold tone, he asked, "What do you want to say?"


Bai Lu paused for a moment, ignoring the icy gaze fixed on her, and tactfully continued, "Since we didn't get the certificate, you don't have to treat me so well, as if we were a real couple. We can handle everything normally."


She hesitated for a moment before broaching the issue of sharing a bed, but before she could finish her sentence, Xiao Cheng stood up and walked away. The chair he left behind made a creaking sound as it swiveled, and his indifferent and aloof figure vanished into the darkness.


He was angry again.


Bai Lu sighed, unable to understand the unpredictable temperament of the big boss. Well, she would talk to him later tonight.


Li Bingkun publicly disrupted Wu Xiuyun's fruit stall, causing all the sugared chestnuts to fall to the ground, and he even spat on them twice. She couldn't sell them to customers now.


The batch had already been packed for Li Bingkun to take away. He had to take it, and if he didn't want it, he still had to take it. He could enjoy the spittle he spat on it.


So, in the afternoon, she needed to fry another batch of chestnuts and deliver them to Wu Xiuyun's stall.


Bai Lu quickly sorted out her chaotic emotions, got up, and headed to the kitchen to continue earning money.


When she entered the kitchen, she saw Xiao Cheng, with a gloomy expression, already standing by the stove frying chestnuts.


Yes, he was frying them himself.


He didn't even use the electric chestnut-flipping machine.


The muscular and powerful forearm, encased in the black shirt sleeve, held the spatula. With every flip, the sand and chestnuts in the pan made a clanging sound.


For some reason, Bai Lu suddenly thought of the three-year-old big boss who threw a tantrum in the bathroom when he was drunk that night.


It seemed similar—silent, ignoring people, and getting angry when he got hold of something.


That night it was water, now it was sand and chestnuts, and also a seemingly innocent spatula.


Bai Lu wanted to laugh but didn't dare to. She just stood there.


It seemed like he noticed her.


Without even looking at her, he tossed out three words, "Bring the sugar."


Bai Lu obediently took the maltose jar from the table and handed him two pieces.


Finally, he looked at her. His handsome face was still gloomy, and he even frowned. "Too Sweet."

Bai Lu stared at her hand in confusion, realizing she might have picked the wrong thing; chestnuts should be sweetened with sugar syrup.

Roasting chestnuts with maltose? What on earth!

Hastily, she fetched the jar of sugar syrup from the small table. Only half a jar was left; she would have to dilute it later.


Standing by the stove, Bai Lu watched the big boss fry chestnuts. Every now and then, she gave him a highly commendable thumbs-up and offered a sweet smile that could make people nauseous.


Wu Xiuyun came with a small wooden cart to pick up the chestnuts. She saw Xiao Cheng, who had beaten someone half to death in the morning, holding a sieve and pouring chestnuts into a large basket.


The violent temper had been replaced by calm indifference, and if you looked closely, there was a hint of lingering tenderness.


Wu Xiuyun looked behind him.


Sure enough, with a sweet smile all over her face, the lovely little sugar girl, Bai Lu, was following him.


Who said that only villains could be softened?


Cute and sweet little sweets could do it too!
















Chapter 105: I'm On Top


Talking about grabbing chestnuts is one thing, but saying that Chen Dafu is playing rogue with Wang Cuihua, he definitely wouldn't agree.


"I don't care about playing rogue with her!"


"I used to come at eight o'clock to get chestnuts. Today, I was late by half an hour due to some business, and she occupied my spot, grabbing my chestnuts all the time."


Chen Dafu went to a distant place, so Bai Lu asked him to come early to get chestnuts, always at eight in the morning.


Wang Cuihua went to Dashizhen, not too far away. She, along with the couple Wu Xiuyun, came to get chestnuts at nine in the morning.


As a result, today, Chen Dafu was half an hour late, and Wang Cuihua came half an hour early.


The two collided.


Still staring at the same basket of sugar-fried chestnuts.


Xiao Cheng scanned the five baskets of chestnuts and coldly said, "All the same weight, one basket for each person."


Wang Cuihua and Chen Dafu rushed to grab the same basket again, and it happened to be the one in the middle.


"Let go!"


"You let go, I grabbed it first!"


"Mine!"


"Mine!"


Xiao Cheng's deep eyes filled with impatience, and the word "roll" was about to land when Bai Lu quickly pulled his sleeve.


Quickly, she spoke to allocate, "The middle basket is for Auntie Wu, Chen Dafu, take the one on the left, Wang Cuihua, take the one on the right. Don't fight anymore."


Chen Dafu and Wang Cuihua came to their senses when they heard Bai Lu's words. Seeing Xiao Cheng's face ready to kill, they immediately put down the baskets.


Following Bai Lu's allocation, one person took the chestnuts on the left, and the other took the chestnuts on the right.


When they went to get the small wooden cart, they started fighting again.


"I got it first!"


"No, I did!"


There was only one small wooden cart in the front yard, and the large baskets were too heavy. Using the small wooden cart to pull them out of the door was more convenient.


Chen Dafu and Yu Fugui were both men and had strong strength. They usually didn't need the small wooden cart.


Wu Xiuyun had Yu Fugui's help and didn't need it either. It was usually Wang Cuihua who used it, but now, including Wu Fangli.


It's not clear what happened to Chen Dafu today, but he clashed with Wang Cuihua and insisted on grabbing the small wooden cart.


Wang Cuihua, angered, discarded her delicate appearance, "What does a big man like you need a small wooden cart for? Move it yourself. The small wooden cart is for us women!"


Chen Dafu, unwilling to yield, argued, "Who said men can't use a small wooden cart? I sold a lot of sugar-fried chestnuts yesterday. I told Bai Lu last night that I wanted to increase the quantity. Today's chestnuts are heavier, so of course, I need a small wooden cart to pull."


"You're not delicate like Bai Lu. Unable to carry and unable to lift, can't handle the basket, so you can only use a small wooden cart. You have tough skin and strong muscles, like a bull. Why use a small wooden cart? Move it yourself!"


Wang Cuihua choked and, angry and wronged, raised her pitiful face to silently complain to Xiao Cheng.


Xiao Cheng wanted to throw both of them out.


Bai Lu helplessly suggested, "Then, pull it out together. Stack the two baskets of chestnuts, each person holds one side of the small wooden cart's handle. No need to argue."


Chen Dafu and Wang Cuihua agreed to this suggestion.


As a result, they started fighting again over whose chestnuts were on top.


"I'm on top!"


"You're a woman, you're at the bottom!"


"Men should let women, you're at the bottom!"


"Get lost!"


The big shot finally erupted, and a "get lost" resounded, instantly making Chen Dafu and Wang Cuihua dare not move.


The volcano hadn't stopped yet, "Don't sell them anymore."


Chen Dafu didn't dare to speak, put down the small wooden cart, and stood stiffly, like a little kid being scolded.


Wang Cuihua dared not speak either, putting down the small wooden cart at the same time, feeling wronged and almost crying.


Bai Lu felt that these two were just asking for trouble. They didn't listen to polite words and had to be scolded by the big shot to behave.


"You guys figure it out yourselves."


Leaving a self-explanatory look regarding chestnuts, Bai Lu then turned around, holding Xiao Cheng's arm, and went back to the kitchen.


If these two people don't behave, don't go out immediately to sell chestnuts and make money for her, she will see how the big shot handles it.


Chen Dafu was sensible, swept a disdainful glance at Wang Cuihua, and left with the chestnuts in his hands.


Wang Cuihua got the small wooden cart but was full of anger. She had to pull the chestnuts and leave.


When Yu Fugui, Wu Xiuyun, and Wu Fangli arrived, they saw Xiao Cheng's calm face again and Bai Lu's smiling face. They praised the two for having the appearance of a married couple.


They were all experienced business people, good at talking. Wu Fangli was not at all reserved and quickly became close to Bai Lu, letting her directly call her sister.


Although Wu Fangli was not as old as Wu Xiuyun, she was seven or eight years older than Bai Lu, making "sister" a more appropriate term.


Bai Lu naturally wouldn't refuse this friendly intention to strengthen business relationships, immediately inviting Sister Fang to have tea.


Not forgetting to invite Yu Fugui and Wu Xiuyun as well.


Currently, these three sales channels are the most stable and profitable. The future network of contacts they will establish is the widest.


Bai Lu wouldn't treat them badly, offering the best hospitality. The tea was a century-old good tea, and the fruits were the freshest of the season.


Eating and drinking were secondary; the main purpose was to chat and strengthen business relationships. Even so, the things presented had to be of high standard to make people feel valued.


Bai Lu and Wen Xiuyun and Wu Fangli chatted about typical women's topics and family matters.


Xiao Cheng and Yu Fugui were both big men and couldn't engage in family chatter. They couldn't establish connections in the usual way.


They chatted directly, discussing business matters.


Hearing Xiao Cheng inquire about the situation with the transport fleet, Yu Fugui also spoke frankly, "There is only one large truck transport fleet in Pingcheng. It is said that the boss behind it is Li Chengbin's person. They set their own standards for fees, and there are also their people at the toll booth. Other transport vehicles leaving the city have to pay a high crossing fee, very high."


"Very high" is an industry euphemism, equivalent to controlling the market, with the pricing power in the hands of a few people.


"The neighboring counties are all the same. I have a few old buddies in the adjacent counties, and the situation is similar. Although it's not all Li Chengbin's doing, there are people from Nanshi behind it. For other vehicles to leave, they have to establish relationships with those people first." Yu Fugui knew what Xiao Cheng wanted to know and focused on the key points.


The situation at the toll booth, Xiao Cheng had also inquired before, but not in such detail. It was more general.


The ten-day deadline for the Chinese fir was approaching. Selling it to the local wood factory was a waste, but selling it outside was different.


Last year, when Xiao Cheng went to collect an account from a wood merchant in Nanshi, the other party wanted a few more days. In the process, he revealed some insider information about the wood industry. Prices outside the province were more than ten times higher than those of local wood factories.


But there was a catch; crossing the checkpoint was troublesome.


Buying low locally and selling high outside the province could bring in significant profits. However, if the checkpoint becomes an obstacle, it's impossible to make big money.


If not for this, the funds wouldn't be so tight, and they would be able to wait a little longer.


Xiao Cheng pondered for a moment, picked up the tea, and took a sip. "What about water transport?"


"The canal from Pingcheng to the neighboring province goes through the city's wharf, crossing provinces. About twenty percent is guarded by Li Chengbin's people, and the rest, I heard, is controlled by a powerful force in Nanshi." Yu Fugui also took a sip of tea, revealing the real situation he had learned over the years.

The reborn of paranoid boss cannon fodder wife(106-110)