Chapter 162: Scarface

After leaving the county bureau, Li Yi drove the black horse-drawn cart straight to the Supply and Marketing Cooperative.

As for whether Wang Anguo would take up a position at the municipal bureau, Li Yi didn’t get too involved.

Just as he had said, everything happens as fate would have it!

If Wang ultimately chose to take the position in the city, it would be a good thing for Li Yi as well—it would mean he had a backer there, which would benefit the expansion of his future business ventures.

Of course, to ensure he’d have a powerful ally to lean on in the future, Li Yi would certainly do everything in his power to help Wang Anguo.

If Wang Anguo ultimately chose to stay in Qing Shan County, that was fine too; after all, Li Yi had no plans to leave the area anytime soon.

In short, whatever decision Wang Anguo ultimately makes is entirely up to him; Li Yi won’t interfere!

But as long as Wang Anguo needed help, Li Yi wouldn’t stand idly by.

After the big black horse-drawn cart arrived at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative, Li Yi didn’t go inside right away. Instead, he went into the alley next door to find Liu San.

Liu San looked quite sharp today—nothing like his usual slovenly self.

Upon seeing Li Yi, Liu San immediately greeted him respectfully: “Brother Li!”

“Hmm, not bad. You look like a young man who gets things done!”

“My mom dressed me up. She said Brother Li runs a legitimate business, and I can’t go around looking like a slacker and bringing shame to him like I used to!” Liu San explained.

“Alright. I went home yesterday and thought it over. Current policies don’t allow hiring employees, so I plan to bring you on as my business partner.”

“A business partner?”

“Well, your pay will still be as we agreed before—25 yuan a month—but instead of being paid as a salary, you’ll receive it as a share of the profits!”

Seeing that Liu San still didn’t quite understand, Li Yi immediately added, “In short, from now on, we won’t be in an employer-employee relationship—we’ll be partners!”

“Brother Li, whatever you say goes. I, Liu San, will stick with you from now on!”

“Alright! Let’s go. I’ll go buy some supplies first, then I’ll take you to meet my older sister!”

With that, Li Yi led him straight to the nearby supply and marketing cooperative.

After buying several hundred pounds of flour at the supply and marketing cooperative, the two of them set off in a horse-drawn cart toward the textile factory.

By the time they arrived at the textile factory, it was already 11:30 a.m., and Li Na had already set up her stall!

Seeing Li Yi driving up in a black horse-drawn cart with an eighteen- or nineteen-year-old young man sitting inside, Li Na was instantly taken aback.

Li Na had seen this young man a few times before; she knew he was a small-time crook from the city who dealt in scalped tickets. She had no idea why her brother had brought him along!

After tying up the carriage, Li Yi walked over with Liu San.

He then reiterated his request for Liu San to come by every day to help out at the dxmbang.

Li Na had originally intended to refuse, but with Liu San standing right there, she ultimately said nothing.

However, she secretly resolved that once she got home, she would have a serious talk with her dim-witted younger brother—she didn’t need anyone’s help.

For one thing, it would cost money; for another, the liangpi business was their family’s exclusive trade—what if someone else picked up the trick?

Although Li Yi could tell his third sister wasn’t too keen on the idea, he had already made up his mind. Compared to her safety, what was a little money?

What Li Yi and the others didn’t know, however, was that while they were busy waiting for the female workers to finish their shifts, someone not far away had already set their sights on them.

At 11:45, accompanied by the rapid ringing of the factory bell, the female workers from the textile mill began streaming out of the factory one after another.

They made their way to Li Na’s little stall as if on autopilot, then gathered around.

Everyone knew that this little stall didn’t prepare much food each day.

Usually, there were only two or three hundred servings of liangpi and another two or three hundred white pancakes—nothing more.

Not to mention the over a thousand employees at the textile mill, there were also nearby starch and brewing factories. Although the staff at these factories wasn’t large, their combined workforce still numbered in the thousands.

Based on past experience, this small supply would be snapped up in less than an hour; if you arrived late, you’d miss out.

So, anyone wanting to eat liangpi basically comes over as soon as they get off work.

Li Na was already familiar with the routine: even before the female workers had finished their shifts, she’d start slicing the liangpi and placing it in bamboo tubes, ready to be mixed as soon as customers arrived.

However, just as their small stall opened for business, a commotion erupted from the surrounding area.

Immediately, Li Yi saw a dozen or so young men, their faces grim and menacing, wielding sticks and closing in on their stall.

Li Yi recognized a few familiar faces among them at a glance—they were clearly the same petty thugs he’d beaten up yesterday.

Seeing this, Li Yi immediately told the customers to step back, then stepped forward to confront them.

Seeing this, Liu San didn’t hesitate either; he grabbed the kitchen knife nearby and followed suit.

Soon, the two sides were facing off against each other.

Just then, a guy with two knife scars across his face stepped up to Li Yi. He looked at him with contempt and said, “So you’re the one who beat up my brother yesterday?”

Just as Li Yi was about to respond, Liu San, holding the kitchen knife, glared fiercely at the scarred man and said, “Scarface, I don’t care what grudge you had with Brother Li before, but from now on, let’s call it even, okay?”

“Liu San, this isn’t your business, or else I’ll take you down too!” the scarred man roared.

“Go ahead and try!”

“Liu San, don’t forget you’re all alone right now. I’ve got over a dozen men with me!” Scarface said menacingly.

But Liu San showed no fear. He shouted, “Hmph, Scarface, you may outnumber me today, but I might not be your match!”

But then, changing his tone, he shouted, “Unless you kill me today, if you don’t, I’ll settle the score with you slowly but surely!”

Hearing Liu San’s murderous words, Scarface’s heart skipped a beat.

Don’t let his young age fool you—this kid is the kind who’ll pull no punches.

Not long ago, he’d beaten a street thug from another neighborhood half to death over a few pounds of grain coupons—a true desperado.

To be honest, he really didn’t want to mess with this kid.

But now that the arrow was on the string, he had no choice but to shoot; otherwise, he could forget about ever making it in the county town again.

“Since you’re asking for it, I’ll grant your wish. Get ready…”

As Scarface roared, Liu San looked at Li Yi with a serious expression and said, “Brother Li, when the fight breaks out, you better get Sister Na out of here fast. I’ll hold them off!”

However, Li Yi walked right past Liu San and stood directly in front of Scarface, asking coldly, “Are you their boss?”

“That’s right. You were the one who laid a hand on her yesterday, weren’t you?”

“Yes!”

“Damn it, didn’t you even bother to find out? You actually dared to hit one of Scar-Face’s men…”

But before Scarface could finish his sentence, Li Yi suddenly moved.

He lunged forward in a single stride and slapped Scarface’s ugly mug, sending him stumbling backward several steps.

Li Yi, not one to let his opponent off the hook, followed up with a straight kick to Scarface’s chest.

“Boom!”

Scarface’s body flew backward like a kicked soccer ball, landing seven or eight meters away before crashing face-first onto the ground.