Chapter 48 (Exclusive on Jinjiang Literature City): I knew it couldn't be that easy.
"No, I didn't, don't talk nonsense!" Su Ruyi was startled. "Don't spread rumors, that's not what I said."
To her face, he directly distorted her words.
Lu Ting looked regretful: "I knew it couldn't be that easy."
The other party was so direct that Su Ruyi felt a little embarrassed.
This direct approach caught her off guard. Aren't people supposed to be more reserved these days? Lu Ting didn't seem like the straightforward and bold type of artistic youth.
Su Ruyi pretended not to understand the deeper meaning in his words, ignoring the other person's burning gaze, and asked again:
"What brings you here?"
Lu Ting remained smiling, not exposing her clumsy attempt to change the subject.
"Come and check on the situation at the Zhaoguang City distribution center. Besides, don't you still owe me a meal?"
Su Ruyi had informed Lu Ting before hanging up such a sign in Liulin County. As long as people from Zhaoguang City came to purchase goods, the plastic factory would inform them that there was a distribution center there.
While Su Ruyi was advertising for their plastic factory, the plastic factory was also helping her attract customers.
Lu Ting felt that this approach was effective and saved a lot of trouble, so he also set up distribution offices in other cities.
Some plastic factories send people to manage it directly, while others apply voluntarily by coming to the factory themselves.
If you send people to manage it yourself, you can create more jobs; if they come to you on their own initiative, you can get a higher commission. Either way, you make money.
"Welcome, Mr. Lu, to visit and provide guidance."
Lu Ting's lips twitched: "Why do I feel like what you said was sarcastic?"
"No, how could that be? I meant it sincerely. Mr. Lu, please don't misunderstand," Su Ruyi swore.
"Please don't call me Boss Lu anymore. It makes my heart skip a beat. We're so close, we've grown up together and supported each other. We have a revolutionary friendship. Calling me that is too formal."
Su Ruyi: "Then shall I call you Comrade Lu?"
Lu Ting looked at her coldly.
Su Ruyi restrained herself and stopped her playful smile.
She has a habit of using jokes to cover up her nervousness.
Because of this flaw, Su Ruyi used to befriend several outstanding young men, unable to control herself at all.
“I’m a few years older than you, you can call me brother.”
"Brother Lu Ting?" Su Ruyi shuddered, feeling so embarrassed that her hair stood on end.
Lu Ting, however, was quite pleased: "That works, and we can omit the surname as well."
"Go to hell!"
Su Ruyi kicked him directly, but Lu Ting dodged very quickly and regretted it afterward.
“I’m used to it. If you kick me again, I definitely won’t budge this time.”
Su Ruyi rolled her eyes at him: "Forget it, I'll have to pry you off the wall anyway."
Lu Ting laughed for real this time, "You know what, you really do have that skill."
"Speaking of which, you didn't bring Xu Dazhi with you?"
Lu Ting looked wary: "Why did you bring him up?"
"Only his strength can rival mine," Su Ruyi sighed.
She has a cheat code, while that person is truly gifted.
Lu Ting thought to himself that he would never let Xu Dazhi appear in front of Su Ruyi again.
"Here." Lu Ting handed Su Ruyi a package.
"You're here, why bring a gift?"
Su Ruyi still took it, and was stunned when she opened it.
Inside was a stack of business cards, with her name, pager number, and the words "Manager of Zhaoguang City Distribution Office of Hongxing Plastics Factory" written on them.
The overall design is very simple, with subtle patterns and a very high-quality feel.
"Why did you make a copy of my business card?" Su Ruyi was quite surprised.
"I only realized after hanging up the phone that it was too late to remind you, and I was afraid you wouldn't have time. Besides, this is what our plastics factory should do."
Although hula hoops are currently in short supply, that doesn't mean they don't need to be sold.
That makes sense.
"Your service is so thoughtful," Su Ruyi exclaimed.
Regardless of Lu Ting's intentions, the fact that he remembered this matter shows that he is very thoughtful.
This also solved a huge problem for Su Ruyi, who hadn't yet finalized the business card arrangement.
It wasn't that she was procrastinating or being lazy; it's just that things are different now than they were decades later, when you could just find a printing shop on the street and get a stack of business cards printed out for you that same day.
Nobody in Liulin County does this kind of work, so Su Ruyi needs to find a printing factory. Printing factories don't even consider such small orders, and Su Ruyi can't even get through the gates.
What seems like a simple thing decades later becomes very complicated here.
Su Ruyi was thinking of going to the city tomorrow to take a look. The city is definitely more commercialized than the county, and maybe she could find a shop or small factory that can help make business cards.
Su Ruyi had even prepared everything by hand; she had already cut the paper.
In such a large county, there wasn't a single notepad for sale. Su Ruyi didn't know what to say.
"It's good that you can use it. I'll make another copy once your phone is installed."
Lu Ting had clearly anticipated that things wouldn't go smoothly with Su Ruyi, and he wasn't worried about having to repeat the process.
"No need for all that trouble, just write it on the surface. I've hired some helpers now, so I'm not worried about not having anyone to help."
Li Xiaobao has been discharged from the hospital and his condition is relatively stable. However, he will need surgery to recover to the point where he can live a normal life.
His body is still quite weak, so he can rest for a while longer before considering it, but it shouldn't be delayed for too long.
According to the doctor's estimate based on similar surgical cases, a single surgery would cost over 50,000 yuan, because the heart stent and other components are imported from abroad and are very expensive.
Furthermore, the surgery would have to be performed in the provincial capital, as the county hospital lacked the technology and equipment. The doctor even suggested hiring a specialist from Beijing to perform the surgery, as they have more experience with similar procedures and would be more reliable. However, this would significantly increase the cost.
Old Li and Grandma Sun are still considering selling the house, but they're not in a rush anymore. They'll sell it when the price is right.
Otherwise, even selling at a low price wouldn't be enough to cover the surgery fees, which would be a waste of time and would only increase the child's psychological burden.
The elderly couple had been working with Su Ruyi for some time and had saved some money. Although they were still far from covering the cost of the surgery, seeing their savings growing gave them a glimmer of hope.
The paper pieces that Su Ruyi had prepared were cut by Li Xiaobao. He can't run or jump now, and he can't experience great joy or sorrow. He can't even go to school, but cutting paper is still no problem for him.
Once her phone is installed, Li Xiaobao can help write down the phone number; all we need to do is send the child a book.
It wasn't that Su Ruyi didn't want to give money, but Old Li would definitely not agree to give money for such a small matter.
Therefore, giving books to children is the most suitable thing to do, otherwise it would be really boring for them to stay at home alone.
When they arrived at the storefront, Li Guangqian and Gao Zongming had already cleaned it and opened the door.
Su Ruyi handed the storefront key to Li Xiaobao for safekeeping; they could simply come and get the key from Li Xiaobao.
Su Ruyi currently trusts these two helpers who have come to her door.
As for Gao Zongming, needless to say, if he dares to act recklessly, his parents will be there to protect him.
Su Ruyi now knows about Li Guangqian's situation as well.
There was no need to inquire; Ma Lefeng told her that everyone in the neighborhood knew about his family's situation.
Li Guangqian's father went to the south to do business a few years ago. At first, he would send money back, but later he gradually disappeared.
Li Guangqian's mother had previously taken him to the south to find his father, only to discover that his father had made a fortune there and had found a young and beautiful woman who had given birth to a healthy son.
Li Guangqian's mother was furious, and the two got into a fight. It is said that no one noticed Li Guangqian was nearby, as they were all focused on their own struggle and he was almost kidnapped.
Later, Li Guangqian's mother also ran away, leaving Li Guangqian and his sister behind. Over the years, the two siblings have lived together with their grandmother, who is somewhat deaf.
Li Guangqian's father not only abandoned his wife and children, but also neglected his elderly mother.
Ma Lefeng sighed, "They say men with money go bad. I know that couple too. They used to seem quite loving. They had a son and a daughter, and their life was harmonious and happy. Li Guangqian's father was a cunning man. Before the opening up, he secretly did business and was even arrested. As soon as the opening up, he immediately ran to the south, feeling that our environment was not good and that to make money, he had to go to the south."
He certainly made money, but who would have thought that success would bring such a different attitude? Not only did he abandon his wife, but he also disowned his children and mother. Why doesn't this kind of person get struck by lightning?!
“Li Guangqian used to be a smart and sensible child with excellent grades. But after he went to the south, he completely changed. After his mother ran away, he became like a hooligan, stopped studying properly, and just hung around everywhere.”
"This kid isn't bad, he's just been held back by his family. If you could lend a hand, with his intelligence inherited from his father, he could definitely help you. His father, to say the least, is quite shrewd."
Many people from the county went south to do business or work, but so far, the only one I know of who made it big is Li Guangqian's father, who is also the most heartless of them all.
"Boss, you're here!"
Li Guangqian saw Su Ruyi and quickly ran over to greet her warmly.
Upon seeing Lu Ting beside her, she couldn't help but tense up, her smile freezing on her face.
As a former petty thug who had dabbled in the underworld, he sensed a different aura emanating from Lu Ting, even more terrifying than that of Brother Dao and his gang.
His eyes were filled with vigilance, and his little face was tense.
Su Ruyi sensed his unusual behavior and patted him on the shoulder:
"This is Mr. Lu, the owner of the plastics factory, who is here to inspect the work."
"A plastics factory?" Upon hearing this, Li Guangqian relaxed a little.
He knew that their business depended on the plastic factory. Many people wanted to bypass Su Ruyi and go directly to the factory to buy goods, but they didn't have Su Ruyi's ability to get low prices, and they often couldn't get the goods. In the end, they could only come back to Su Ruyi.
Many suppliers, upon seeing the young and beautiful Su Ruyu, couldn't help but make a few envious remarks, saying that Su Ruyu was incredibly resourceful and had managed to get on such good terms.
Some people's words implied that Su Ruyi relied on her looks and physical appearance.
Li Guangqian didn't understand at first; it was Gao Zongming who told him.
Li Guangqian was furious when he found out and wanted to confront them, but Su Ruyi stopped him and told him to ignore them.
The other party was just being sarcastic and didn't dare to say anything really hurtful, after all, they still needed her help. Su Ruyi just liked seeing the other party dislike her but couldn't do anything about it.
Of course, anyone who dares to act recklessly in front of her will find her fists to be a threat.
How could Lu Ting, a man like that, be a legitimate businessman?
Li Guangqian felt that the person in front of him was much more ferocious than he appeared.
Although he appeared quite upright on the surface, with thick eyebrows and big eyes, Li Guangqian could still sense the ruthlessness beneath his skin.
Therefore, Li Guangqian kept a close eye on Lu Ting like a wolf cub.
Although he knew his boss was no pushover, he wouldn't let his guard down because of that.
Although he had only been with Su Ruyi for a few days, he already followed her lead.
Ever since his grandmother found out that he was now hanging out with Su Ruyi, she was overjoyed and even wanted to cook something to send to Su Ruyi as a token of her gratitude, but he stopped her.
Li Guangqian knew that his grandmother was worried that he would go astray, but he didn't know how to make money, so he could only drift along like this.
Now that she has a place to stay, Grandma is at ease, and she also has a stable income.
Li Guangqian has passed Su Ruyi's initial assessment, but because he is not old enough, he is currently only a helper. Su Ruyi only gives him ingredients every day. Once he turns sixteen and performs well, he will become a full-time employee.
The base salary is 100 yuan, and the bonus depends on the monthly sales volume, plus a commission on the hula hoops he sells every day. He also gets a meal every day.
These benefits are comparable to those of state-owned factories. Not to mention the bonuses, the base salary alone is quite substantial.
After all, Li Guangqian was still young and only an apprentice when he entered the factory. Unless it was a factory with particularly good profits or a government institution, he wouldn't get much money.
With the bonus added on, Li Guangqian felt like he was on top of the world. Following Su Ruyi, he was sure he would have plenty to eat!
When Fang Yongnian heard about it, he even considered dropping out of school to come and help, but Su Ruyi scolded him away.
The only one who can stay by Su Ruyi's side is Li Guangqian. The other members of the gang who have graduated or dropped out of school are currently selling hula hoops outside to earn commissions.
If needed, we'll have them come and help, and pay them based on the number of times they're asked to help.
They traveled all over the county, selling hula hoops and gathering information.
Su Ruyi remembered that someone had tried to break into her house in the middle of the night.
She had the windows reinforced and never concealed her strength, which probably had a deterrent effect, and no one has come to steal from her since.
Lu Ting ignored the burning gaze; he didn't care about a little brat.
Although Su Ruyi wasn't much older than these two little brats, they were clearly not on the same level.
Su Ruyi handed some business cards to Li Guangqian and said, "From now on, give one to every customer who comes to buy wholesale."
Li Guangqian then turned his attention back to the table and carefully put the business cards away.
"You've been doing business outside for a long time, you must know quite a few people, right?"
Su Ruyi poured tea for Lu Ting, which Li Guangqian had prepared beforehand.
Since he arrived, the tea service at the shop has never stopped.
If there was no water, he would very cleverly start boiling it.
Lu Ting took a sip of tea: "What?"
Su Ruyi did not answer, but continued, "Are your comrades scattered all over the country?"
"Just get straight to the point. There's no need for you to beat around the bush with me."
Su Ruyi didn't beat around the bush and brought up the matter of Old Li's family with Lu Ting.
"In a vast sea of people, it's hard to find someone, but having more avenues means more hope."
Lu Ting frowned deeply, his face as black as if it could drip blood.
Anyone with a modicum of conscience would be outraged to hear about such a thing.
Do you have their photos?
Su Ruyi: "Yes, I'll get it from Grandpa Li in a bit. We can't mention this in front of Xiaobao, it will upset him."
"Was there not a single clue about the child's disappearance? I see many people living along this route. The child disappeared during the day. A child who is only a few years old is not a small child. Didn't anyone see the kidnapper?"
The child disappeared in a residential area with many residents, all of whom are neighbors. If a stranger came in, they would at least have some recollection of him.
Su Ruyi shook her head: "Grandpa Li said that no one saw anyone passing by with a child at that time. It was cooking time, and there were relatively few people chatting and relaxing outside. Also, someone got married that day and brought a dragon and lion dance troupe to tour the county, so many people went to watch the excitement. At first, everyone thought that Niannian had also gone to watch the excitement, because the commotion was so loud that it could be heard all over here."
Under normal circumstances, people would be able to provide some clues, but because of this special event, the police investigation did not yield any useful information.
In Liulin County, dragon and lion dance troupes usually only perform during festivals like Chinese New Year. This is the first time I've heard of someone putting on such a show for a wedding.
So everyone found it novel, and those who heard the noise all ran to see what was going on.
Niannian also wanted to go see it, but Li Xiaobao was busy, so she asked him to wait a while.
Unexpectedly, after he finished his work, Niannian disappeared.
"Currently, everyone believes that Nian Nian ran away on her own and was abducted, which is why no one in the vicinity has found any trace of the abductor."
However, Li Xiaobao did not believe that Niannian had run out on his own, because although Niannian was very young, he was very well-behaved and would not go out on his own even if he really wanted to go see the excitement.
However, many people felt that Niannian was still young, and even if he was obedient, he could easily be attracted by the excitement. Moreover, this was a familiar place for him, so it was normal for him to sneak out to play.
Nowadays, children aren't confined to the house; they start running around outside at a very young age.
Li Xiaobao deeply regretted it. If he hadn't been preoccupied with what he was doing and had instead taken Niannian to see the excitement, Niannian wouldn't have been stolen from his home.
This guilt worsened his already poor health.
Who were that married couple?
Su Ruyi: "They should be fine. The groom is in the oil business. I heard that his family used to be very poor, and no one would marry him even though he was getting on in years. Now that his business is thriving, he married a beautiful girl who is more than ten years younger than him. He feels proud and honored, so the wedding was very grand."
The wedding was planned well in advance. On the day of the wedding, a dragon and lion dance troupe paraded around the county, setting off firecrackers along the way and scattering handfuls of candy to passersby.
Such a large-scale operation couldn't possibly be just for abducting a child; the money from selling the child wouldn't cover these expenses, and that's how one child would disappear every year.
"So, someone knew there would be a dragon and lion dance performance that day before?"
Li Guangqian, who had been listening intently to their conversation, interjected when he heard this:
"Yes, it had been circulating for a long time back then."
His sister was waiting by the roadside very early, ready to hand out wedding candies. She received quite a lot that day and was happy for a long time.
Those candies weren't cheap, and they would never normally be willing to buy them, so Li Guangqian remembered them very clearly.
Su Ruyi: "Grandpa Li said that the police probably also suspected that it might be an acquaintance who committed the crime. But after investigating, they did not find any suspicious people."
Nothing like this has happened again in a long time.
With no clues, finding someone was like searching for a needle in a haystack. No matter how extensive Lu Ting's connections were, finding someone in this era was not easy.
Su Ruyi hesitated whether to mention this to Grandpa Li, but thinking that something might happen, she eventually asked Grandpa Li for the photos.
Grandpa Li was so excited that he wanted to kneel down before Lu Ting. Although he knew the chances were still slim, he was already extremely grateful that someone was willing to help him.
If it weren't for their sickly grandson, Grandpa Li and Grandma Sun would already be on a long and arduous journey to find their relatives.
Countless parents of abducted children spend their entire lives searching for them, never giving up even when they know the chances of success are extremely low.
Lu Ting solemnly agreed. Although he didn't promise anything, Su Ruyi knew that he took this matter to heart.
Dinner was at the Li family's house, but Li Mei was the one who cooked.
Su Ruyi had also thought about taking Lu Ting out for a meal, but she couldn't find a suitable restaurant.
Most of these are small shops; the food is okay, but hygiene is often a concern.
The largest restaurant was still the state-run T restaurant, and the taste and service were both mediocre, so Su Ruyi thought it would be better to let Li Mei take charge of cooking.
Lu Ting had no objection to this: "I'm always eating out, and I've been craving this home-cooked food for a long time."
"Aren't you from the provincial capital? Isn't it easy for you to come home for dinner?"
"I'm the only one left in my family now."
Su Ruyi: "I'm sorry."
“No need for an apology. This is the truth, and it doesn’t matter whether it’s mentioned or not,” Lu Ting said calmly.
Su Ruyi sensed the underlying sadness beneath the calm and didn't continue the topic, saying:
“Aunt Mei’s cooking skills are exceptional. We’ve always thought she could open a shop, but she’s never been confident. You, the food connoisseur, could give us some advice on whether she’s suitable to open a shop.”
Lu Ting laughed and said, "Great! This is the kind of work I love to do."
Li Mei knew that Lu Ting was the big boss of the plastics factory, so she did her best to prepare a big feast.
Since the family started earning money, Li Mei has been cooking different delicious dishes every day. Su Ruyi thought she already knew how capable Li Mei was, but today she realized that she had underestimated Li Mei's abilities.
Su Ruyi exclaimed, "Aunt Mei, you're amazing! Where did you learn so many dishes? I asked you to prepare a feast for our guests, not a Manchu Han Imperial Feast!"
Li Mei said shyly, "I just like to think things through. Your dad even bought me a cookbook before."
Although she is not short of money now, the kitchen environment at home is too bad. It is so small that even one person feels cramped and cannot stretch out their arms, so it is very difficult to cook anything complicated. There is no place to put the ingredients.
Moreover, many people in the factory don't eat meat more than a few times a month, so it would be too ostentatious for their family to prepare meat in different ways. Therefore, they are more restrained.
But it was different at the Li family's house. The spacious kitchen immediately boosted my desire to cook, and I couldn't help but show off my skills.
She spent most of the day simmering just one pot of braised food.
This stuff has an incredibly strong flavor; its aroma quickly filled the entire street, and the kids were clamoring to eat it.
Lu Ting was only being polite at first, but when he tasted Li Mei's cooking, he said sincerely, "Aunt Mei, it's a pity you don't open a shop with such skills."
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