Xu Weimin and his group didn't see Xu Weiguo. When they arrived at their house, they locked their bicycles first. Then, instead of going inside, they went straight up the mountain.
Chen Ermei asked, puzzled, "Didn't we say we were going back to the village to recognize everyone? Why did we go up the mountain?"
"Now I'm taking you to recognize people, so shut up and stay close."
Xu Weimin led the way. Lin Chunyan and Chen Ermei followed closely behind, while Xu Jingui brought up the rear, keeping an eye out for anyone else following them.
When Huang Qinqin saw them going up the mountain, she felt that there must be something strange about it.
She wasn't the only one who thought this way; Xu Weiguo and Xu Junhui shared the same opinion. However, they couldn't rashly follow them; it was too dangerous.
Xu Weiguo thought for a moment and said to Xu Junhui, "Didn't you say you were going to ask the village chief for some pickled bamboo shoots? Let's go."
......
Seeing them return, the village chief became worried that something had changed and asked anxiously, "Why are you back? Is there something you forgot to tell me?"
Xu Junhui said somewhat embarrassedly, "No, no..."
"We came here to ask if you, village chief, still have any pickled bamboo shoots? I haven't had them in a long time, and I was thinking if you had a lot, I'd like to buy some from you."
"Hey, there's no need to buy any, we have plenty at home. I'll have your aunt pack some for you right now."
After saying that, he shouted towards the main room, "Old woman! Old woman! Help me get some pickled bamboo shoots out."
"Okay!"
Xu Weiguo walked up to the village chief and casually said, "Village chief, we just went back to the old house to take a look. No one lives there anymore, and the house is deteriorating much faster."
The village chief wholeheartedly agreed: "Indeed, a house needs to have some human presence. If no one lives there for a long time, it will deteriorate very quickly."
Xu Weiguo then casually remarked, "Yes, but brick houses are much better. I don't think there's anything wrong with my parents' room."
The village chief didn't think too much about it and blurted out, "Because they come back to stay for a few days every month, otherwise it would just fall apart. The most important thing is to have people around."
"Oh, I see. I thought the brick houses were of better quality, which is why they're so well preserved."
Xu Weiguo was now certain that Xu Weimin had done something in the village, and it seemed he could look for clues there.
Just then, the village chief's wife came out with the pickled bamboo shoots. Xu Weiguo and the others took the pickled bamboo shoots, thanked her, and left.
......
As Chen Ermei watched them walk further and further away, she felt extremely uneasy. Fortunately, besides Xu Weimin and Xu Jingui, Lin Chunyan was also there.
Otherwise, she would really think that Xu Jingui planned to sell her. Chen Ermei felt that they had been climbing for a long time, and they should be deep in the mountains.
She had no idea where Xu Jingui was taking her. Just then, Xu Weimin and the others stopped. Chen Ermei quickly stopped as well.
Xu Weimin took out a whistle and blew it rhythmically a few times. Then Chen Ermei heard a whistle coming from not far away.
After a while, a few people appeared out of nowhere.
They are mountain dwellers who live in the mountains. Because they are considered unregistered residents, they can only live in the mountains and cannot live in the villages or cities below the mountains.
They thought they could occasionally go down to the mountains to trade with the villagers or sell wild game in the city to earn some money. But ever since they started needing a letter of introduction to go out, they've basically been stuck in the mountains.
Upon seeing Chen Ermei, Xu Zhuang looked at Xu Weimin with displeasure and questioned, "Why did you bring a stranger along?"
Xu Weimin explained, "My parents are old and it's inconvenient for them to go up and down the mountain. This is my son's wife, and she will be the one to do the transactions with you in the future."
Xu Zhuang looked Chen Ermei up and down and, finding her to be no threat, nodded in agreement this time.
Then they asked about what they cared about most: "How much stock do they need this time? We shipped too little last month and are almost unable to keep up with demand."
Xu Weimin patted him on the shoulder: "Don't worry, Scarface and his team are ordering a lot of goods this time. You just need to prepare them."
"As long as there's stock, Scarface and his crew can handle it. Even if they can't finish it in a month, they can manage for two. Let's head over there."
Chen Ermei hadn't reacted to their conversation until they entered the mountain people's dwelling.
Chen Ermei saw an entire pig farm and chicken farm!
Good heavens!
Chen Ermei had never seen so many pigs and chickens in her life. She looked at the others in shock and found that everyone's expression was normal.
Even Lin Chunyan seemed used to it. Chen Ermei felt a little uneasy; she seemed to have guessed why the Xu family ate meat almost every day.
But this should be considered speculation and profiteering. If they get caught, they might be in serious trouble. How could they be so bold...?
Noticing Chen Ermei was lost in thought, Xu Jingui gave her two forceful shoves. Chen Ermei stared at him blankly, wondering why he was pushing her.
"Say hello to him, this is Uncle Zhuang. From now on, you'll go back to the village every few days to cover for Uncle Zhuang and the others, understand?"
"Uncle Zhuang..."
Chen Ermei called out tremblingly, then said in a panic, "Me?! I can't, I dare not..."
"What's wrong with that? If you can't even handle this little thing, what use are you?"
Xu Jingui got angry when he saw Chen Ermei's pathetic face. At home, she only knew how to make Grandma Xu angry, but now when asked to do something else, she said she didn't dare.
"I can do laundry and cook at home, and I can take care of my two children at home!"
Chen Ermei was genuinely afraid. Even now, with Xu Jingui and the others still around, she was a little scared. The thought of her coming alone to find these mountain people was daunting.
She was terrified. These mountain people were all burly, with fierce eyes, and their arms were thicker than Chen Ermei's thighs.
It gave her the feeling that they could smash her head with a single punch.
"Do you think you can make money just by doing laundry and cooking? Do you think the meat you eat every day comes from your meager salary at work?!"
After Xu Jingui finished speaking, he offered a tempting offer: "As long as you are obedient, I guarantee you can eat meat to your heart's content every day, and I will even allow you to take meat back to your parents' home."
Chen Ermei initially wanted to struggle a bit, but as soon as she heard him say that she could take the meat back to her parents' home, she immediately lost her fear.
She asked incredulously, "Really? Can I really take it back to my parents' home?"
"You can take it, but no more than twice a month. And you can't tell them where the meat came from."
"Otherwise, you might not even survive, let alone eat meat."
Xu Jingui wasn't afraid that Chen Ermei would tell anyone. Given her personality, even if she wanted to show off, she wouldn't dare to risk her life.
Sure enough, Chen Ermei practically swore to the heavens: "I can! I promise I won't tell a single word!"
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