When Yi Zhonghai heard that a belt cost ten yuan, he almost choked and passed out.
His face scrunched up, and he pointed a finger at Yan Jiekuang: "You...why didn't you just rob me..."
Yi Zhonghai glared at Yan Jiekuang, holding his breath and growling, his eyes seeming as if he wanted to devour the other man whole.
"Am I robbing someone?"
Yan Jiekuang spread his hands, grinned at the weakened Yi Zhonghai, and shook the belt in his hand. "Ten yuan a belt. Give me a straight answer, are you going to buy it or not? If you don't buy it, I'll keep hitting you. My hands are itching for more."
Yan Bugui had been shouting fiercely, but when he heard his youngest son raise the price tenfold, he immediately got the idea, and his little eyes started darting around.
However, he also knew in his heart that forty yuan for four belts was indeed a bit too much, and even if Yi Zhonghai was rich, he wouldn't take out that much.
"Old Yi, you're still angry with me and Old Liu from yesterday, even though you used to call me Old Yan!"
Yan Bugui sighed heavily, "My third son does ask for a lot. How about this, let's not charge ten yuan a belt, let's make it eight yuan. That number is auspicious. What do you think, Lao Yi?"
"Yan Bugui, you're talking nonsense! Do you think my money grows on trees? Do you even know how much eight yuan is?!"
Yi Zhonghai, enduring the pain, straightened up slightly while holding onto the bench and looked at Yan Bugui and his son. "Even if you two were robbing someone, you wouldn't do this. It's practically extortion."
Yan Jiekuang nodded in deep agreement: "That's right, I'm just raising the price on the spot."
"You...you bastard..."
Yi Zhonghai was furious and began to berate Yan Jiekuang, "Yan Bugui, is this the good son you raised? He's no different from a robber. He's so young, yet so cunning and treacherous. All he ever talks about is money."
*Smack!!!*
Yan Jiekuang lashed the bench with his belt, startling Yi Zhonghai.
“Yi Zhonghai, I’m not going to take your money. I don’t care about your money. Now, get down on the bench right now!” Yan Jiekuang shouted, pointing at the bench. “Didn’t you say I only care about money? Now I’ve taken your advice and decided not to take the money. I’m going to finish beating the remaining four belts.”
"After this period of rest, I've regained my energy, and my hands are itching to get back to work."
Seeing Yan Jiekuang swinging the belt around, Yi Zhonghai felt a pang of fear, and his previously numb buttocks began to ache slightly.
Xu Damao, Liu Haizhong, Liu Guangtian and others came over to watch the excitement. When they heard the price being negotiated down to eight yuan, they couldn't help but gasp.
There are four belts left. If each belt costs eight yuan, then that's thirty-two yuan!
Who wouldn't envy an ordinary worker who earns a month's salary so easily?
Seeing that Yan Jiekuang was serious, Yi Zhonghai was also scared. "I'm not saying I won't pay, but what you're asking for is just too much."
Liu Haizhong and Xu Damao watched from the sidelines, wanting to stop it but afraid of offending Yan Bugui's family, so they could only stand by and watch helplessly.
"Old Yi, we still need to discuss how much this is." Yan Bugui couldn't hide his excitement and hurriedly leaned closer. "How about this, since you don't agree with our price, you give us a price and we'll continue to discuss it."
Yi Zhonghai glanced at Yan Bugui thoughtfully, then at the belt in Yan Jiekuang's hand, and finally slowly extended two fingers, "Two pieces, I really don't have any more."
"Come on, let's continue."
Yan Jiekuang really didn't want to talk to Yi Zhonghai anymore, so he picked up his belt and walked over to Yi Zhonghai.
Yi Zhonghai, with one hand on his hip, took a small step back. "Two yuan and fifty cents, four belts to make a total of ten yuan, that's all. Any more and I'd rather get beaten. Anyway, I've already been beaten so many times with belts, a few more won't make a difference."
Yan Jiekuang ignored him and pointed to the bench, indicating that Yi Zhonghai should lie down on it.
Yi Zhonghai also hardened his stance, snorted coldly, and turned to lie down on it.
"Hey, Lao Yi, what are you doing? Why are you getting so worked up over a child?"
Yan Bugui quickly reached out and grabbed Yi Zhonghai, his eyes filled with goodwill. "Let's do as you say, Lao Yi. We'll just settle for ten yuan and let this matter drop. You should also hurry home to recover from your injuries. Don't delay, you have to go to work tomorrow."
Upon hearing that Yan Bugui had agreed to buy the remaining four belts for ten yuan, Yi Zhonghai straightened his back, sighed, and looked at the old woman.
The woman was already in tears, but seeing that her husband had finally agreed to pay for the punishment, she didn't care about the money anymore and quickly got up and ran home to get it.
Before long, ten yuan was handed to Yan Bugui.
After snorting, Yi Zhonghai was helped home by an older woman.
Yan Bugui clutched the large black ten-dollar bill, his lips curling into a wide grin that reached his ears. Only after stuffing the money into his pocket did he notice that Liu Haizhong and Xu Damao were watching from the side.
"Ten yuan is a bit too little..."
Yan Bugui saw the meaning in their eyes; they simply wanted a share of the pie. "He really didn't want to share the ten yuan with anyone, but it wouldn't be right not to share it, since Xu Damao had promised him nine yuan."
Liu Haizhong and Xu Damao did not pressure Yan Bugui; they simply watched quietly.
"Let's just have one. Lao Liu, Da Mao, how about you and Da Bao each have one?"
Yan Bugui stamped his foot and sighed heavily, "There's still not enough money. I have no choice but to accept it. Otherwise, everyone could get a bigger share."
Liu Haizhong and Xu Damao exchanged a glance, which was considered an acceptance of Yan Bugui's suggestion, since something was better than nothing.
After the meeting ended, the crowd dispersed. Sha Zhu struggled to his feet and shuffled home, only to trip and fall on the steps. It took him a while to drag himself inside.
Yi Zhonghai is gone, Sha Zhu is gone, and the deaf old woman is left unattended. Everyone watched as she moved towards the backyard.
Wang Dabao also received one yuan, and like everyone else, he put it in his pocket, thinking it was a waste not to take it.
It was almost 10 p.m. when Wang Dabao got home, and he went to rest in the small island ranch.
After a series of events, the compound began to calm down.
Nothing happened for half a month, which was beyond Wang Dabao's expectations.
Yi Zhonghai seems to be biding his time, treating people kindly in the compound, hoping to one day reclaim his status as a senior figure.
Sha Zhu's arm wasn't fully healed yet, but the injury on his buttocks had basically healed, and he had already returned to work at the factory.
Jia Dongxu's foot is almost healed, and he started working a week ago. Now he has been demoted, and his family is short of money, so he dares not stay any longer. Without Yi Zhonghai backing him up in the compound, he has also learned to keep a low profile.
Xu Damao was a bit idle. Since becoming the third uncle, he had only held one hospital-wide meeting. He hadn't had enough time to show off his power as the third uncle.
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