Chapter 288: Brother Li Yi, Help!

Stepping out of the office, Li Yi couldn’t help but sigh.

Jiang Longcheng really was a unlucky guy—he’d just shaken hands with the Grim Reaper, and now he was about to face another massive ordeal.

In his previous life, Li Yi had spent over three months at this cotton mill, so he was naturally well aware of what had been happening there recently.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the State-Owned Second Cotton Mill was soon to be engulfed in a massive man-made disaster of unprecedented proportions.

This disaster would not only reduce the mill’s main warehouse to ashes but also claim the lives of many people.

Originally, this incident had nothing to do with Jiang Longcheng; after all, in his previous life, he had already died in an accident by this point.

When a person dies, it’s like a lamp going out; naturally, the matter had nothing to do with him.

Of course, taking the fall for it was a different matter.

But now that he had rescued him from the criminals, and since he was still the factory director, he would naturally be held primarily responsible if anything went wrong at the mill.

However, this matter was a bit complicated and couldn’t be explained in a few words.

Li Yi decided to give him a heads-up for now, just to put him on guard, and he’d find an opportunity later to explain the whole thing in detail.

After returning from the cotton mill, the shop was indeed already bustling with customers!

Although there were only three tables of customers, Dongzi and the others were already hard at work!

Li Yi didn’t disturb them but returned to the front desk. While preparing to welcome the arriving customers, he began thinking about his plans for the next phase.

Long Zhanjun’s arrival was a huge relief to Li Yi!

Compared to his second older sister Li Lan, as well as Dongzi, Qiangzi, and the others, Long Zhanjun’s abilities in every respect were far superior.

Over the years, he’d been focused on treating his mother and younger sister’s illnesses, and since most of the kids under his care were orphans, he’d had to lead them in making a living.

So, over the years, he had been quietly running a small business on the side.

Given these circumstances, the fact that he’d managed to save several thousand yuan over the past few years clearly showed he’d already figured out the ins and outs of business.

All it would take was some proper guidance, and he’d soon be able to stand on his own.

At the very least, with him there, I wouldn’t have to worry about things in the capital.

By then, with a shop here in the capital and a farm back home, I would have effectively established a complete chain from production to sales.

If managed well, not only would he make money himself, but he could also help the villagers get rich.

The only problem was that the current policy environment wasn’t very favorable.

Before that document was issued in 1987, business was allowed, but expansion couldn’t be carried out without restraint.

Otherwise, with Li Yi’s intellect and business acumen, he was confident he could expand his barbecue and hot pot chain to every major city in northern China within three years.

But unfortunately, this remains nothing more than a pipe dream.

If he were to actually go through with it, the fool Nian Guangjiu would be his role model.

So regarding his plans for the future, Li Yi’s idea is to focus on making money over the next few years—as for the business itself, he’d rather not draw too much attention to it for now!

This may sound contradictory, but in reality, it isn’t—making money and running a business are two different things.

While doing business is certainly about making money, making money doesn’t necessarily depend on doing business!

In his previous life, Li Yi started by trading mountain produce, then moved into farming, but what ultimately propelled him into the ranks of the super-rich was real estate and venture capital.

In short, in his previous life, he endured a great deal of hardship and suffering, but he also accumulated a wealth of experience!

Although he doesn’t necessarily have to replicate those exact ventures in this life, they have given him tremendous confidence!

……

It was another busy lunch rush, and by the time he saw off the last table of customers, it was nearly 3:00 PM.

After a quick bite to eat, Li Yi once again sent Dongzi and the others back to their rented apartment to rest, while he stayed behind alone to clean up the leftover food.

Just as he was busy, he saw Ye Jianhua rush in!

“What are you doing here?”

Ye Jianhua said with a grim expression, “Brother Li Yi, help me out!”

“Calm down and explain. Besides, I’m just an ordinary guy—if you’re really facing eighty-one trials, I don’t have seventy-two transformations up my sleeve!” Li Yi said with a laugh.

“Brother Li Yi, I’m not joking. My mom went to the Lin family today to ask for her hand in marriage, and they agreed. They said the engagement is in a couple of days. I’m done for…”

“Hold on, it’s just getting married. Look how scared you are!” Li Yi said.

“It’s all because you scared me!” Ye Jianhua said, sounding a bit aggrieved.

“So how do you want me to help you?”

“Um… I haven’t figured it out yet!”

“Forget it. Let me ask you instead—what’s the deal with the bride?” Li Yi asked immediately.

“Her name is Lin Ying. She’s a direct descendant of the Lin family, and I think she just graduated from college this year!”

“Anything else?”

Ye Jianhua thought for a moment before continuing, “The girl is quite pretty, and her personality is decent enough. To be honest, I get along pretty well with her older brother, but as for her, I’ve only met her a few times—I don’t know her very well!”

Li Yi nodded and said, “Since you’ve come to me to ward off this disaster, I’ll tell you what I know. But there’s one thing you need to understand: Good advice falls on deaf ears when someone is destined to die, and compassion cannot save those who have chosen their own path!”

“I’ll just say what I have to say, but whether you listen or not is up to you!”

“Alright, Brother Li Yi, speak up—I’m listening!” You Shuai said solemnly.

“Actually, the key to resolving this lies with you. The problem stems from you, not the girl!”

Li Yi continued, “Actually, the most important thing you should be doing right now isn’t asking me—it’s asking yourself!”

“Ask myself what?” Ye Jianhua asked, puzzled.

“Ask yourself: do you want to spend your whole life chasing women and living the playboy’s life, or do you want a stable, secure home?”

“Well…”

“It’s not like you don’t have other options. If you want to be a playboy for the rest of your life, as long as you don’t get involved with the daughters of prominent families, no one will stop you.”

Then Li Yi changed the subject and continued, “But if you want a beautiful, virtuous wife and a stable home, you’d better put an end to your wandering ways and tighten your belt!”

Ye Jianhua paused briefly, then nodded and said, “Brother Li Yi, you’re right!”

Just then, Li Yi suddenly added, “I think you should have a chat with that girl named Lin Ying!”

“Talk about what?”

“Ask her what she’s thinking. You said she’s good-looking, well-educated, and comes from a top-tier family—so why on earth would she be interested in a guy like you?” Li Yi said with a laugh.

“Don’t talk like that—it sounds like I’m some kind of loser!” Ye Jianhua shot Li Yi a withering look.

“You and Jiang Longcheng are cut from the same cloth. You’re not exactly scum, but you’re not much better either!”

Li Yi continued, “She’s such a great girl, not even that old, and she’s got so many options. Why on earth did she pick you? Don’t you find that strange?”

Hearing Li Yi’s words, Ye Jianhua couldn’t help but furrow his brow, his mind filled with doubts.

It was true. Although the Lin family’s influence didn’t match that of the Ye family, they were a distinguished military family who wouldn’t stoop to using their children’s marriages as a means of forming alliances with other families.

In other words, for him and Lin Ying to be together, the girl herself would have to give her consent.

So why would she agree to marry him?

After a long silence, Ye Jianhua suddenly said, “You’re right. I need to ask that girl myself!”

As he spoke, Ye Jianhua stood up to leave, only to be held back by Li Yi.

“You think you can just leave after asking your questions? It’s not that easy—you’re staying to help me clean up first!”

Ye Jianhua: &%%￥%……