Ma Yunfei felt somewhat ashamed, realizing that he couldn't possibly have wholeheartedly served the yam growers. However, before Ma Yunfei started purchasing yams, the price of yams in Qinglong Town had been hovering below 40 cents per pound.
Now, Ma Yunfei has raised the purchase price of yams to 50 cents, bringing tangible benefits to these yam growers.
From this perspective, Ma Yunfei did indeed work for the benefit of farmers.
"Mayor, you flatter me. I was just doing what I was supposed to do."
Chang Xiaobao patted Ma Yunfei on the shoulder and said, "You should prepare yourself well. In ten days, I will hold a grand meeting so that all the staff of our town government will learn from you and establish the idea of wholeheartedly serving the farmers."
Ma Yunfei was somewhat flattered. He wanted to decline, but then he thought that this was a good opportunity to enhance his prestige in Qinglong Town and lay the groundwork for the next step of building a yam processing plant.
"Mayor, then I will write a speech according to your suggestion and submit it to you for review."
Chang Xiaobao shook hands with Ma Yunfei, and the other town leaders also shook hands with Ma Yunfei.
Ma Yunfei seems to have become a hero in Qinglong Town.
He never dreamed that after his godfather Gu Le left, he would gain Chang Xiaobao's appreciation.
Ma Yunfei returned to the sales station in high spirits, but when he saw Li Sha talking to his wife Chen Yuyan, he immediately stopped in his tracks.
He was just about to leave the sales agency, but it was too late.
Li Sha greeted him excitedly, "Brother Ma, you're such a busy man! I haven't seen you for days, I've missed you terribly."
Li Sha actually said she missed Ma Yunfei to Chen Yuyan's face, which was extremely inappropriate.
Fortunately, Chen Yuyan is a magnanimous woman and did not take Li Sha's words to heart.
Ma Yunfei asked coldly, "Li Sha, what do you want from me? If you have something to say, say it quickly, I'm busy."
"Brother Ma, can you be a little nicer to me? Stop with that stern face."
"Li Sha, I'm very busy and don't have time to chat. If you have something to say, just say it. If not, you can go home."
“Brother Ma, I want to tell you: I have already laid my cards on the table with Erlv and made it clear to him: from now on, he and I are just acquaintances.”
Ma Yunfei asked, "You know that Erlu committed suicide by cutting his wrists, right?"
"Of course I know. That day, when I confronted him, he actually took out a fruit knife, held it to his wrist, and threatened me: 'If you break up with me, I'll commit suicide.' At that time, I decisively said: 'If you want to commit suicide, that's your freedom.' After saying that, I turned around and left. Later, I heard that Erlv really cut his wrist and was rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment."
Chen Yuyan interjected, "Honey, I heard that Erlv almost lost his life and is still staying at the town's health center. Why don't you go and see him?"
"I've already gone there."
Li Sha pouted and said, "Brother Ma, you be the judge. Erlv's suicide has caused quite a stir. Many people think I'm too heartless, and some even call me a cold-blooded animal. Tell me, why should I be in a relationship with Erlv?"
Ma Yunfei stated unequivocally: "Whether you and Erlv are friends or not is your freedom, and no one has the right to interfere. As for Erlv's suicide, that was also his freedom."
Li Sha asked, "How's Erlv now? He's not dead, is he?"
"Erlu was pale and dazed, lying on the hospital bed looking sickly. It seems that this wrist-cutting suicide attempt has had a significant impact on his physical and mental health."
"Brother Ma, is Erlv criticizing me?"
"No, that's not the case. But then again, what gives him the right to condemn you?"
Chen Yuyan asked, "Is Erlv depressed? If he has depression, that would be a real problem. I've heard that it's a difficult disease to treat, and that people often try to commit suicide."
"He probably won't become depressed, but his uncle and aunt leaving Qinglong Town is a blow to him. I think Erlv might become listless in the future."
Chen Yuyan suggested, "Honey, now that Erlu's uncle and aunt have passed away, his business at Tianxia Diyi Pu will probably become even more sluggish, and he might even go hungry. I think we should let Erlu work at the sales station. He can keep accounts and weigh things; he should be able to manage."
Ma Yunfei shook his head and said, "Although it's just weighing and keeping accounts, it's a very grueling job. Sometimes you have to work overtime. Erlv can't handle this hardship. Besides, Erlv is a bad influence. Wherever he is, he'll spoil the whole pot of soup."
Li Sha chuckled and said, "Brother Ma, your analogy is spot on. Erlu is a real rotten apple."
Looking at the carriages coming and going, Ma Yunfei asked, "Wife, how's business these past few days?"
"Not bad, we can harvest more than 20,000 catties every day, keeping me and Yeya very busy."
Ma Yunfei looked around and asked, "I don't see Ye Ya. Where did she go?"
"It's market day today. A couple of days ago, Yiqiangzhun sent over a lot of wild animal hides. Yeya went to the market to sell them. I asked the abbot to take charge of the scale."
Ma Yunfei was a little worried and said, "It's no problem to let the abbot do some hard work, but it would be a bit much to ask him to do bookkeeping. Wife, you'll have to work a little harder. If Yeya isn't here, use a scale to collect the yams."
The abbot was busy weighing and recording the accounts. It was clear that this kind of work was much more strenuous than carrying yams.
Ma Yunfei called out, "Third brother, come here for a second."
The abbot ran over, wiping his sweat as he asked, "Boss, I saw you come back a while ago, but I was busy keeping accounts and didn't dare to be distracted at all. If I made a mistake, I would be in big trouble."
"Third brother, Erlu attempted suicide by cutting his wrists and is still staying at the health center. After lunch, let's go see him together."
The abbot said unhappily, "Boss, I don't have time to see her. Look, the sales station is in a complete mess. Besides, Erlu isn't sick. Why is he making trouble for himself and playing the suicide trick? I don't think it's necessary to visit him."
Ma Yunfei advised, "Third brother, no matter what, the three of us brothers have drunk blood wine and made a vow. Now that Erlu is going downhill, he's pitiful enough. Let's go see him; it will be a comfort to him."
The abbot reluctantly agreed.
Li Sha seemed to have something to say to Ma Yunfei, but she was too embarrassed to say it in front of everyone.
She secretly tugged at Ma Yunfei's clothes and whispered, "Brother Ma, come to the barbershop when you have time. I need to discuss something with you."
Ma Yunfei nodded.
Li Sha had been kind to him, so he couldn't be too heartless towards her.
After lunch, Ma Yunfei took the abbot to the health center to visit Erlv.
The abbot did not utter a single word from beginning to end.
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