There were several empty boxes of pastries on the table.
"Uncle Fang, you ate all the snacks?" Ning Yuan was a little dumbfounded. There were more than twenty kinds of snacks here.
That's enough tea and snacks for six or seven people.
How can this skinny old man eat this?!
Uncle Nine suddenly rushed to the table and slapped his thigh angrily: "You, surnamed Fang, are at it again, trying to eat alone! We agreed that when I get back after I've finished my business, we'll split it in half!"
Uncle Fang pushed up his glasses, a smile on his face: "Oh dear, Jiu'er, how can you be so fierce to your older brother?"
When Uncle Nine was called by his childhood name, his originally honest face, which concealed shrewdness and fierceness, instantly turned red: "You old bastard, don't call me that!"
He actually called him by his nickname in front of the younger generation. After saying that, he subconsciously glanced at Ning Yuan.
When Ning Yuan suddenly heard that this fierce-looking uncle's nickname was... Jiu'er, she subconsciously suppressed her laughter.
Uncle Nine got even angrier, glaring angrily at Uncle Fang: "How could you..."
"Oh, alright, alright, don't be angry. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have met Xiao Ning and made a fortune."
Uncle Fang said with a smile.
"You ate one of your desserts and you're still angry? You're such a child."
Uncle Nine was both ashamed and furious, slamming his fist on the table: "I'm over fifty, you..."
Ning Yuan quickly reassured him: "Alright, alright, Uncle Jiu, don't be angry. This is only the second time we've met. I know you and Uncle Fang both like sweets. From now on, you and Uncle can come to my shop for desserts for free."
A few days ago, when the police failed to catch Lao Xing and his gang, she knew they wouldn't let it go.
In this kind of situation, you have to find thugs to deal with thugs, so I asked Uncle Fang for help and leverage.
So Uncle Fang introduced her to Uncle Jiu—a former leader of the Green Gang and now a level-six senior technician at a steel mill.
She herself did not expect the effect to be so shocking.
No wonder the steel mill was able to weather the chaos of the past few years; he deserves much credit.
As for the methods used, just look at the groups of arrogant militants who stormed into the steel mill a few years ago and then disappeared without a trace.
This guy can be considered the "chief director" behind the 1970s suspense drama "The Vanished".
In addition, steel chain work is physically demanding, and since the era of large steel chain work, the workers have always been well-paid and physically strong.
Uncle Nine's men are all more ruthless than the last; a few years ago, they worked with him to deal with the militants who stormed the steel mill.
A group of people stood there, and some people believed that they were from the once-powerful Axe Gang that dominated Shanghai.
However, this formidable boss, just like Uncle Fang, has an incredibly sweet taste for candy! Long live desserts!
Two ruthless, cunning, and unfathomable old men are willing to fight over a snack.
Ning Yuan didn't know what to say for a moment, so she could only give each person a free dessert card.
Upon receiving Ning Yuan's words, Uncle Fang and Uncle Jiu were overjoyed and asked in unison, "Really?"
Ning Yuan's shop, Heart of the Era, is famous for its pastries and coffee. You can't buy them in state-run stores outside, and they often come up with new products.
Ning Yuan nodded: "Of course it's true!"
Anyway, after Grandma Xia stopped selling sparkling water, she became obsessed with making Chinese and Western pastries and often came up with inventions.
If they fail, they sell the strangely-tasting failed products to foreigners, euphemistically calling it—
A hidden perk menu is available only to special guests.
Foreigners, however, seem to fall for this.
Uncle Jiu patted Ning Yuan's little shoulder happily: "Oh, I knew it was Ning Yuan who was the most loyal."
Ning Yuan nodded, her expression serious: "Of course, when you're out in the world, loyalty is the most important thing. You can't survive long without loyalty!"
She knew what older men with this background liked to hear.
Then, she took out an enormous envelope—containing a full five thousand dollars—and respectfully placed it in front of Uncle Nine.
"Please take this back and share it with the brothers who helped us today. Thank you all for your help."
Uncle Jiu and Uncle Fang exchanged a glance and couldn't help but chuckle, even though they could tell that the little girl was trying to curry favor with them.
However, it cannot be denied that a clever and pragmatic young girl is likable.
Uncle Fang took the envelope, weighed it in his hand, and smiled with satisfaction, saying, "From now on, if any tactless people in the underworld cause you trouble, come find me."
Ning Yuan smiled brightly and sincerely, her big eyes crinkling: "Okay, I've been waiting for you to say that!"
Uncle Fang pushed up his glasses and sneered, "You little rascal."
Previously, his relationship with Ning Yuan was a transaction of money and goods, but this incident made him quite admire the girl's decisiveness and ruthlessness.
Not everyone is willing to spend so much money and possesses such outstanding and decisive judgment; he has the makings of a good businessman.
After the two adults and one child finished their whispered conversation, the matters outside were mostly settled.
Uncle Fang and Uncle Jiu left with their people, completely satisfied.
After seeing everyone off at the door, Ning Yuan's smiling face instantly crumbled as she returned to her room.
"What's wrong? Is there some trouble?" Aheng asked, looking at Ning Yuan's gloomy face as he drank water.
I could tell that both the steel chain technician, Uncle Jiu, and the tailor, Uncle Fang, were hidden talents.
He probably had some status and ability in Shanghai before the liberation.
Ning Yuan sighed deeply: "I'm going to become a pauper..."
She sat down, picked up the abacus, and began to examine the account books.
She made over 30,000 yuan from the goods she sold this time, after deducting the several thousand yuan she would have to spend on the newly acquired store and renovations near the school.
The price of two freight cars plus the cost of clearing the blockage after acquiring the freight cars would amount to several thousand yuan, which would take up more than ten thousand yuan.
She asked Uncle Fang for help twice, and the brokerage fee was calculated separately—it would cost a total of two thousand. Adding Uncle Jiu's five thousand, this had already wiped out her profit of eighteen or nineteen thousand.
She only has a little over 10,000 yuan left for purchasing goods, which is definitely not enough to cover the pre-sale inventory and the goods she wants to sell.
It really hurt her financially!
After listening to Ning Yuan's words, Aheng scratched his head. She was good at killing enemies, but when it came to money, she was no good.
Even if her captain brother were here, he might not be as rich as his sister-in-law.
Manhua frowned, also feeling the pinch: "Xiaoning, we've been working so hard to earn money, it really hurts to spend it like this. If we encounter any thugs next time, let's call the police."
Last time they went to get the goods, they almost lost their lives.
Ning Yuan sighed helplessly: "It's not that simple. Do you think you can get the police to act as our bodyguards?"
In cases like this, where thugs are eyeing the target out of envy, the police can't arrest people beforehand unless they actually do it.
She paused, looked out at the thick darkness of the night, and said softly—
"The domestic private economy has just reopened, and everything is growing wildly with imperfect rules. So sometimes we have to resort to force to solve the business problems we encounter."
Almost everyone who was able to ride the wave of opening up in the 1980s and 90s encountered the same problem as her.
Therefore, besides working hard to build a network of connections within the legitimate world, she also had to spend money, even if it hurt, to buy this black-clad peace.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
