Soon, Zhang Xiaoshan reached the entrance of Luo ili’s two-story house.
By this ti, quite a few people had already gathered here.
Many villagers were pushing their carts filled with the goods from the mountains and farm produce to sell to Luo ili, who would then sell them in the city.
As a widow, Luo ili had been getting by these years by purchasing agricultural and sideline products, which was a pretty decent business.
But at this mont, Luo ili’s doorstep was being blocked by soone.
The one blocking the door was Wei Bao.
Following him were several of his lackeys, and on the ground lay five or six workers covered in blood, howling in pain.
These were the workers hired by Luo ili, all of whom Wei Bao had knocked down.
"Leave White Dragon Village imdiately, or I will break your damn legs if you stay one more minute," Wei Bao shouted, brandishing a wooden baton at the workers.
The workers were all honest peasants who couldn’t stand up to Wei Bao’s threats and struggled to their feet, ready to leave.
"Don’t go, everyone, please don’t leave. I will pay you double wages today," said Luo ili anxiously.
With a look of terror, the head of the workers replied,
"Boss Luo, it’s not about the money. These bullies from your village are too vicious, we can’t earn this money."
With that, they ran off without looking back.
"Ah..."
Luo ili was frantic with tears in her eyes, but she didn’t want to lose face in front of others, so she forced herself to be strong and challenged Wei Bao angrily.
"Wei Bao, I have never provoked you. What do you an by coming to my house and causing trouble?"
"This is broad daylight; is there no law? If you keep this up, I’m calling the police."
As she spoke, Luo ili reached for her phone to call the police, but Wei Bao snatched the phone away with an arrogant sneer,
"The law? In White Dragon Village, I am the law."
"I decree that from today on, your purchasing station is closed for good."
"What, closed?"
Before Luo ili could say anything, the villagers pulling small carts to sell their goods were the first to object,
"Wei Bao, you’re being unreasonable! Regardless of whatever personal grievances you have with Luo ili, those are your private matters. We don’t care to intervene, but this is the only purchasing station in the whole village. If it closes, who will we sell our goods to in the future?"
"Yeah, indeed. We all rely on selling so mountain goods for money. If the purchasing station closes, are we all going to eat at your house?" the villagers imdiately protested.
Clearly, Wei Bao had aroused public fury.
But Wei Bao simply replied with a smile,
"Who says there’s only one purchasing station in the village?"
Suddenly, a mother and son stepped forward from the crowd.
It was none other than Zhang Xiaoshan’s forr mother-in-law, Zhang Yulian, and forr brother-in-law, Wu Yong.
"What do you an by this?" the villagers looked at Zhang Yulian with puzzled expressions.
Zhang Yulian, beaming, announced,
"I have so good news for everyone. Starting today, my family’s purchasing station is open for business. My son Wu Yong is the boss, and from now on, everyone can sell their goods to us."
Wu Yong stood up straight, looking smug,
"That’s right, from now on we will buy everyone’s goods."
The villagers looked at each other, and one of them said,
"Give a break, your family is notorious for being stingy, and Wu Yong is a known scoundrel. Who would dare sell their goods to you?"
"Exactly, besides, Luo ili has always offered a good price for the goods, and she, a widow, relies on the purchasing station for a living. We’re all from the sa village; shouldn’t you act a little nicer?"
"Yes, indeed. She’s a widow from your Wu family, after all. It’s too immoral to act this way," another villager added.
Everyone knew only too well the nature of Wu Yong and his family—could there be any good in doing business with them?
Furthermore, over the years, Luo ili had offered higher prices than those in the town, giving the villagers many benefits. They were inclined to side with her.
But Zhang Yulian and her son Wu Yong knew this, which is why they colluded with Wei Bao, trying to use violence to force the issue.
"What did you say?"
Wu Yong rolled up his sleeves and approached the villager who had first spoken up for Luo ili, looking like he was about to start throwing punches.
"Direct all your grievances at ; this has nothing to do with anyone else," Luo ili stepped forward at this point.
Although she was a woman, in the years since her husband’s death, she had grown quite a fiery temper.
"Heh heh,"
Licking his lips at the sight of Luo ili’s attractive appearance, Wu Yong thought about the last ti he was thwarted by Zhang Xiaoshan in the cornfield and felt a pang of regret.
"Auntie, we’re all family here. Peace leads to prosperity. Just close your purchasing station willingly, and I promise I won’t make things difficult for you," Wu Yong suggested.
"Don’t you dream of it," Luo ili replied without a hint of compromise.
Zhang Yulian, hands on her hips, cursed like a shrew,
"What’s the use of you playing the martyr here as a widow? Listen, you’re agreeing today whether you like it or not, because you’re a widow from our Wu family. These years we’ve let you run your business without competition, but your man has been dead for so long, and you’ve made enough money, right? It’s about ti you let us have a share of the profits. Besides, the village chief has already given his consent, so don’t waste your energy."
"You, you..."
Humiliated by Zhang Yulian’s rant, Luo ili turned red in the face, and uncontrollable tears began to flow.
As a widow, with no one to rely on, she was no match for these people.
"How about I make a suggestion?"
Suddenly, a voice ca from the side.
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