He chatted with Li San for a while longer.

Then the two of them left.

After the two left.

Li Si leaned closer: "Third Brother, who are those two young women?"

Li San smacked him on the head in an annoyed tone: "What little wench? Watch your mouth. That's your brother Da Tou's niece."

"Hiss, why didn't you say so earlier? If you had, we would have given those clothes to them."

“Do you think everyone is like you, only knowing how to look at what’s in front of them?” Li San said helplessly. “After all these years, can’t you improve? Back then, when Big Head Brother assigned these tasks to us, you laughed at him a lot behind his back, didn’t you?”

“How can you blame me?” Li Si cried out, feeling utterly wronged. “Back in our day, we earned at least this much a month.” He gestured with his hand to show a number. “You gave up so much money and went to be some kind of workshop director. A workshop director only makes a few dollars a month.”

"And now..."

“Uh…” Li Si fell silent. Everyone knew Kui Datou's status now. He was the deputy director of the “Dayun” automobile factory. Rumor had it that they planned to set up a group company and make Kui Datou a director. At that point, Kui Datou's abilities would be on a completely different level from theirs. Even now, there were rumors that Kui Datou's position was so secure that even a mayor wouldn't be able to take it from him.

"You, you never think about why our business was so successful back then. It was all thanks to Brother Big Head."

"But……"

"But what 'but'... Think about it carefully. Back then, when we went south and brought the goods back, whose connections did we use? Do you really think Brother Big Head has such powerful connections? Could he get a word with Big Brother?" Li San curled his lip: "Brother Big Head has people above him!"

"Is this Factory Director Wang?"

"I have no idea."

"Big brother, you don't know either?"

"Nonsense! Who are they, and who are we? They are phoenixes soaring in the sky, and we are toads in the ground. Big Head was lucky; he followed the phoenixes and got some of their fortune, so he went up to heaven with them. The reason he was able to decisively share with us, even though he hardly got any benefits himself, is because the phoenixes up there wanted to take him flying."

"Including all this stuff we have here now, do you really think we could have gotten this place with just our little bit of money? It's all thanks to the big boss taking care of us behind the scenes. You have to know how to be grateful. Watch out, I've noticed you're getting more and more arrogant lately. Do you think you deserve everything you've gained over the years?"

"Brother...we were talking so nicely, why are you lecturing me now!"

"Nonsense! If I don't teach you a lesson, you'll think you're invincible. Look at the two girls I politely sent over, and you're already having designs on them. What about everyone else? In this city, you could throw a brick and hit someone with connections to the higher-ups. And you, you're getting more and more arrogant every day. If you cause trouble one day and I can't handle it, don't blame me for being ruthless. Do you really think your skills are invincible?"

"You rely on sheer ruthlessness, but is ruthlessness useful? Have you forgotten about the Cleaver Gang?!"

Li Si thought of the "Cleaver Gang" and couldn't help but shudder.

That guy was so domineering, but when it came to ruthlessness, his intuition told him he wasn't as ruthless as that group. Besides, what those people did was truly inhuman.

He felt that his rise to wealth was traceable; buying and selling goods was considered a legitimate business after the reform and opening up. At most, he might be able to bring himself to kill someone during transport. That was a form of passive defense, not something to be said about conscience. You can't just stick your neck out and let someone kill you, can you?

But the cleaver gang is really ruthless; they steal, which is not something decent people do.

"Think it over carefully, and you'd better figure out what's going on here. Otherwise, if you get killed, don't blame me for not warning you."

Li San took out a cigarette from his pocket. He hadn't smoked it when the two women were there, but now he could be a little more unrestrained.

These words were meant for Li Si, but weren't they also meant for himself?

There are always people better than you. That was the last piece of advice that Kui Datou gave them when he had his farewell dinner with them that day.

With Kui Datou around, they can't get too cocky, but once Kui Datou leaves, things might change.

Just as Kui Datou had predicted, three of his brothers ended up in jail after that incident, and one of them even ate peanuts.

It was then that he truly realized what Kui Datou meant.

Who does he think he is?

Yes, compared to ordinary people, he was considered wealthy and successful. But compared to those in power, taking their lives was just a matter of a word. Those brothers who went to jail each had their own affairs; it was impossible for them to do business cleanly. As time went on, his business grew bigger and bigger.

As he met more and more people, he realized how important the words Kui Datou had said to them back then were.

Once a person gets carried away, they easily lose their way.

The deaths of several close brothers over the years have kept him deeply in mind. His subordinates cannot be too arrogant, or they might implicate him.

In this life, many things are determined at birth. Striving may be useful, but for most people, the result of striving for success is nothing more than glimpsing a small part of the giant crocodile in the deep sea.

Wang Xirou and Cheng Xin carried two large bags of things but did not go to the market immediately.

They had already discussed it: first, they would take the items back, and then sort them. As business owners, they couldn't be like that auntie who put everything on her stall; that would not only prevent sales but also lower the overall image of the stall. So, they first took the items back, mended and repaired them, and then modified one set.

It was already evening.

Cheng Xin then took her leave.

Wang Xirou wiped the sweat from her forehead, while Qin Jingru picked and chose, offering criticisms along the way: "Tsk, this thing looks good, but the materials are a bit poor. And this one, the material just feels cheap to the touch."

"Mom!" Wang Xirou said with dissatisfaction, "It's fine if you don't help, but you're still picking and choosing!"

"What's wrong! What's wrong! You've been making clothes all this time, but you can't even make one for your mom?"

Wang Xirou's face darkened: "Mom, your closet is almost overflowing with clothes!"

Qin Jingru has a good eye for aesthetics, especially considering that over the years she has frequently gone on shopping sprees in Hong Kong.