Chapter 141 Let's all make money

Lu Jianping felt a tightness in his chest from the rebuke and almost spat out a mouthful of blood.

Liu Xiangyang chuckled and added, "Captain, there were a lot of participants this time, so nobody actually got much. My one-yuan referral fee came out of my own pocket! If you don't believe me, go ask your Xiaohui how much she got."

"Besides, you got a dollar for nothing, that's a lot! Enough to buy several pounds of meat!"

Looking at Liu Xiangyang's smug smile, Lu Jianping snorted coldly, pointed at him, and said in a fierce but cowardly tone, "You just wait and see!"

Unfortunately, that tough talk is now just a paper tiger; it can't even scare away a mosquito.

That evening, the Liu family closed their doors to celebrate, enjoying a delicious braised pork.

Liu Zhixia picked up a big chicken leg for Da Bao and gave the other one to Liu Xiangyang.

"Thank you so much, brother, for running around and helping out this time!"

Liu Xiangyang took a bite of a chicken leg, his mouth greasy, and said proudly, "I didn't expect it to go so smoothly. It's all thanks to the villagers' unity!"

Zhang Xiuying was beaming with joy: "If we can all make money together, how can we not be united? Seeing Lu Jianping get humiliated makes me feel so happy!"

Liu Zhixia smiled slightly: "This time we've snatched the state-owned factory's business. If they want to order again in the future, they'll have to come to our brigade. Lu Jianping wants to go it alone? No way! We've made money for the villagers and blocked the Lu family's path at the same time. It's a win-win situation."

Liu Xuejun was somewhat worried: "But didn't Lu Xiaohui learn the formula? What if she hands it over?"

Liu Shouren shook his head, his eyes clear: "That girl is shrewd! She learned it a long time ago, but in the end, the job still fell into the hands of the brigade. What does that mean? It means she didn't want to learn it! She saved Da Bao, and we'll remember that favor. As long as she doesn't help the Lu family cause trouble anymore, we won't make things difficult for her."

Liu Zhixia looked at Liu Shouren: "Father, I've prepared the goods for the lumber mill. You and eldest brother can take them to second brother when you have time. Also, mention the state-owned factory to second brother."

Liu Xiangyang was taken aback: "You want to take over the orders from state-owned factories in the future?"

Liu Zhixia shook her head: "No. The state-owned factory is a legitimate business, everyone's watching, we can't embezzle it. But it's a perfect cover! Let my second brother take this opportunity to get some new orders, and we'll expand our business!"

One lumber mill alone is not enough.

Now that the state-owned factory serves as a shield, the villagers have tasted the benefits and know they can't function without the Liu family. Even if they suspect the Liu family is doing business on the side, they won't report them; instead, they'll help cover for them.

Liu Xiangyang instantly understood his sister's intention and excitedly gave her a thumbs up: "Third sister's brain is amazing!"

Liu Shouren grinned, his eyes full of approval: "Alright! I'll discuss it with the second brother later!"

The moonlight was perfect outside the window, and laughter filled the Liu family's courtyard, brimming with hope for the future.

The Liu family was filled with laughter and joy, while the Lu family was deathly still.

Li Xuemei went back to her parents' home in a huff, leaving all the housework to Lu Xiaohui and Gu Mansheng.

During this period, Lu Xiaohui used the excuse of being busy with her pickled vegetable business to push all the housework onto Gu Mansheng. Although Gu Mansheng was financially supporting the family, she was, after all, the daughter-in-law. In this family that favored sons over daughters, she had to grit her teeth and do it no matter how unwilling she was.

The family was already used to the few plates of dark, unappetizing food on the table. Fortunately, Gu Mansheng had practiced for a few days, and although the dishes still looked terrible, at least they were edible.

Lu Xiaohui didn't care about any of that. She picked up the bowl and shoveled rice into her mouth as if she hadn't eaten a full meal in ages.

Lu Jianping looked at her and sneered, "You've been getting quite close to the Liu family these past few days, haven't you? Tell me! Did you steal their recipe? Are you helping outsiders fool your old man?"

Lu Xiaohui rolled her eyes and swallowed the food in her mouth: "Dad, what are you thinking? The formula is such a secret, would Liu Zhixia let me touch it? I'm just an assistant, at most I can watch the show. My eyes aren't a scale, I can't tell how much someone weighs just by looking at them."

Gu Mansheng didn't believe this explanation and stared at her coldly: "Sister-in-law, you usually have a good eye for people, how come you can't see this? When Liu Dabao first came back, you stayed at the Liu family's house for a whole day, and came back with a jar of pickled vegetables in your hand. I think the Liu family used the recipe to shut you up, right?"

Lu Xiaohui was startled.

Surprisingly, Gu Mansheng, who seems stupid, is quite quick-witted when it matters.

But she absolutely cannot admit it now! This recipe is her bargaining chip to turn things around when she returns to her husband's family!

Lu Xiaohui slammed the bowl down and shouted, her neck stiff, "I said I don't know, and that's final! Stop trying to smear me!"

When Lu Jianping saw that she dared to smash the bowl, his temper flared up instantly, and he raised his hand to hit her: "You've gone too far! How dare you smash a bowl with your father?!"

This time, Lu Xiaohui didn't dodge; instead, she brought her face closer, her eyes defiant.

"Come on! Hit me here! Beat me back to my husband's family! If I leave, let's see who will serve you bunch of lords in this house!"

Lu Jianping reluctantly withdrew his hand, still grumbling, "You brat! Can't I even say a few words to you?"

Lu Huaiyuan also complained, "Sister, really! We're so close, why can't you learn it? If we had the formula, wouldn't the state-owned factory's business be ours? How could the Liu family be so arrogant?"

Gu Mansheng watched as the two men stood up for her and criticized Lu Xiaohui, a smug smile curling at the corner of her lips.

No matter how much she caused trouble, she was still the center of attention in this family.

Lu Xiaohui took in her smugness, her eyes darting around before she sneered, "Lu Huaiyuan, you have the nerve to mention the formula to me? If we hadn't ruined the marriage with the Liu family, wouldn't Liu Zhixia's formula have been ours long ago? Why would I need to steal it? You're the one who pushed the cash cow away!"

After saying that, she ignored the two idiots and picked up her bowl to shovel rice into her mouth.

These words were like two slaps to the face of Lu Jianping and his son.

The two of them froze, their gazes falling on Gu Mansheng, their expressions becoming complicated.

Gu Mansheng felt her scalp tingle under his gaze and screamed, "Don't listen to her nonsense! If it weren't for me, would you have been able to get the orders from the state-owned factory?!"

With food in her mouth, Lu Xiaohui mumbled an insult: "Liu Zhixia is already secretly doing business with the lumber mill, so how far away can the state-owned factory's orders be? Only you guys are making a mountain out of a molehill."

The Lu family father and son completely lost their appetite.

yes!

If I had married Liu Zhixia back then, the Lu family would be the ones making a fortune now! Even the Liu family wouldn't have needed a share!

The thought that not only had he not made any money, but he was also being gossiped about and called a capitalist by the whole village made Lu Jianping feel a surge of anger.

But when he thought that Gu Mansheng could help arrange a job at the police station, he swallowed back the curse.

The dinner table was deathly silent, but Gu Mansheng could clearly sense that the way the father and son looked at her had changed. Gone was the fawning; now there was a hint of disdain and suspicion.

She glared at Lu Xiaohui through gritted teeth.

I always thought she was just a simple, hardworking woman, but I never expected her to be so cunning! She managed to sow discord between her and the Lu family father and son with just a few words!