Chapter Forty-Five

Ji Wanmei suddenly couldn't help but laugh.

That explains it. No wonder the noodle shop owner, whom her father had contacted, suddenly raised prices. It turns out that Lei Tingjun's people had also approached this shop.

People from both sides came to ask about the price, and they all seemed determined to get it. How could the couple not raise the price on the spot?

At that time, a transfer fee of 100 yuan was acceptable for a storefront in a good location with good foot traffic, while 150 yuan would be reasonable.

As a result, her father and Lei Tingjun managed to fight each other for a transfer fee that was only worth 150 yuan, eventually pushing it to a high price of 300 yuan.

After Ji Wanmei realized what was going on, she was both amused and exasperated.

"What's wrong, Meimei?" Luo Chunyan, who was walking ahead, turned around and asked when she saw Ji Wanmei stop.

Ji Wanmei remembered what Lei Tingjun had told her: his friend seemed to be collecting scrap metal on the street behind, and his name was something like Xiaoqiang.

So instead of rushing into the noodle shop, she turned back and said to Uncle Xu, "Uncle Xu, please wait here for me for a while. I'll go and call someone over."

Old Xu was also confused: "Wanmei, who are you going to call?"

“Let me tell you, when I came to look at this shop yesterday, Xiao Qiang, the guy who collects recyclables on the back street, also came over. I don’t know who he’s trying to help secure the shop for, but the way his eyes were darting around, he probably had his eye on this shop too. If you really want it, I’ll take you there and we can negotiate a price with that couple. Three hundred is a bit expensive, but for this location, two hundred isn’t actually that expensive.”

Ji Wanmei thought to herself, "Even two hundred yuan is too expensive for me."

However, since Lao Xu was a friend whom her father had asked for help, Ji Wanmei didn't say anything in front of him. She only said, "Uncle Xu, this is a misunderstanding. Xiao Qiang, who collects recyclables, was probably also here to help me look after the store. You two bumped into each other."

"What?" Old Xu's mouth dropped open.

"Please wait for me for two minutes, I'll go find him."

Ji Wanmei led Luo Chunyan and quickly headed to the back street.

The environment and shop layout of the street behind it are not as neat and clean as the central street in front. Some shops are selling all kinds of businesses, making it a mixed bag.

The people on the street were stunned when they suddenly saw a modern and beautiful young woman like Ji Wanmei appear.

Many people stared blankly at Ji Wanmei.

She had walked quite a distance, but those eyes were still fixed on her back.

Ji Wanmei didn't like the way people stared at her as if she were some kind of foreign object. She lowered her head and jogged forward with Luo Chunyan.

When I arrived at the recycling station, I saw a young man with a buzz cut working shirtless inside.

Ji Wanmei looked around and saw that there was only one person there. He was probably Lei Tingjun's friend.

"Hello, are you Xiaoqiang, Lei Tingjun's friend?"

The young man with the crew cut was loading goods when he heard a soft, gentle voice. He turned around and saw two young women standing at the entrance of his scrap metal recycling station, looking at him.

One of them, dressed in a yellow top and white long skirt, was as beautiful as a fairy from a TV show, and Xiaoqiang was stunned.

"Are you Xiaoqiang, Lei Tingjun's friend?" Ji Wanmei asked again.

Xiao Qiang then came to his senses, scratched his head sheepishly, and gave a simple, honest smile: "Yes, I am Xiao Qiang, the person in charge of this scrap metal recycling station. You are... Brother Lei's friends?"

Luo Chunyan, who was standing next to him, glanced at Xiao Qiang, then looked around and stood there without saying a word.

Ji Wanmei nodded: "Yes, I'm Lei Tingjun's friend. He asked me to come and find you."

"Could you spare some time right now? We're about to head over to that noodle shop to discuss prices. Would it be convenient for you to come with us?"

Upon hearing this, Xiaoqiang realized that it was Brother Lei's friend, and such a beautiful girl at that. He quickly jumped down from a stack of cardboard boxes, wiped the dust off his hands, and said with a warm smile, "Please wait a moment, I'll go wash my hands and be right out."

After the young man named Xiaoqiang went inside, Luo Chunyan frowned, patted her chest, and said, "Meimei, you know these people, who are they? They don't seem reliable to me."

Luo Chunyan felt that this Xiao Qiang looked like someone involved in the underworld. Look at his two outstretched arms, thick and strong, his whole body dark, and his muscular physique. Even two thinner men probably wouldn't be a match for him.

Ji Wanmei said disapprovingly, "Chunyan, we can't judge people by their appearance."

Looking at Ji Wanmei's pretty face, Luo Chunyan thought to herself, "It's fine for an ordinary person like me to deal with these people, but I always feel uncomfortable when Ji Wanmei comes to a place like this, and I'm always worried that she will be deceived or bullied."

Besides, with her face and looks, which man wouldn't be tempted by her?

Luo Chunyan thought to herself, "It's a good thing I came out with her today. If Ji Wanmei had come here alone, I don't know if Xiao Qiang would have taken advantage of her."

Ji Wanmei thought that Lei Tingjun's trusted friends must also be of good character.

Despite his sometimes carefree and irresponsible demeanor, he is incredibly devoted to his brothers.

If these brothers were not worthy of his friendship, he would have excluded them from the circle of sworn brothers long ago.

Ji Wanmei didn't realize that after just a few days of getting to know Lei Tingjun, she had actually gained a deeper understanding of him and was more willing to trust him.

Besides, this guy named Xiaoqiang seems quite honest and warm-hearted. How could he be like what Luo Chunyan thought, doing dirty work and having a dirty mind and character?

Everyone earns a living through their own hands and labor; there's nothing shameful about it.

Soon, Xiaoqiang washed his face and hands, and even changed into clean clothes before coming out.

When Luo Chunyan saw Xiao Qiang, whose face had been washed clean, she was taken aback and felt a little ashamed for judging him by his appearance.

When he came in, Xiaoqiang had been moving and loading goods. The scrap metal and old iron were dirty and greasy. His hands, face, and clothes were covered in black stains, making him look slovenly and messy.

But now that he's cleaned up and come out, he smiles at Ji Wanmei and realizes that he's actually a clean-cut, sunny young man.

Square face, crew cut, sturdy build, and a simple, honest smile.

Ji Wanmei glanced at Luo Chunyan and said, "Then let's go."

Luo Chunyan lowered her head uncomfortably and walked at the very back.

When Xiaoqiang saw this, he even turned around and called out to her, "Miss, you go ahead."

Looking at Xiao Qiang's dark and honest smile, Luo Chunyan suddenly blushed and quickly said, "Oh, thank you."