Chapter 234: Chapter 230: Enemies Cross Paths

Another two days passed in a flash. Master Chen helped bring back over ten baskets of pumpkins, and Lin Lan piled them all in an empty room.

These days, she could make a few yuan a day selling roasted pumpkin seeds. After baking the pumpkin cakes, she filled four baking trays with seeds. The residual heat was perfect for roasting them.

Lin Lan had just finished rolling and packing the kidney bean rolls when Li Xiangyang rode his bicycle into the courtyard.

He had just come from the pig farm and told Lin Lan that the rent had increased by twenty yuan a year. He had signed a five-year contract with the local production brigade.

Lin Lan thought for a moment before saying, “Xiangyang, for our long-term plans, it would be best to find a production brigade with hilly land near the East Market. We could find a plot that no one is farming, pay the contract fee to the commune, and lease it.”

Li Xiangyang agreed that it was a good idea. After a moment of thought, he said, “The commune with hilly land near the East Market is actually where my uncle lives. I’ll find some time to go and ask around.”

Lin Lan nodded. “Let’s go to the east side of town and check on the shelves I commissioned!”

“Okay!” Li Xiangyang said with a smile. “Last time, Dongzi said he wanted to have a barbecue. I saved a piece of pork belly and some lamb. How about we grill tonight?”

“Get some pork intestines, too. Grilled small intestines are delicious,” Lin Lan said, then turned to Qiaohui. “Tonight, make a pot of mung bean porridge, and also toast and grind a bowl of soybeans into powder. We’re having a barbecue.”

“Alright!” Qiaohui agreed.

Li Xiangyang patted the rear seat of his bicycle. “Don’t ride your bike. I’ll give you a lift.”

Lin Lan shook her head. “Nope. It’s too bumpy riding on the back!”

“How dare you diss me!” Li Xiangyang laughed, flicking her on the forehead.

Lin Lan rubbed her forehead, giving him a playful glare. “If you make me stupid, you’ll have to support me.”

“Deal. I’ll support you,” Li Xiangyang said, smiling at her fondly. Lin Lan blushed and hurried into the main hall to get her bicycle.

When the two of them rode their bikes to the road where the vehicle factory was, Lin Lan noticed the glass display windows of the supply and marketing co-op. It suddenly occurred to her that her pastry display cases would need glass, and despite being here for so long, she hadn’t seen any for sale.

She turned to Li Xiangyang. “Do you know where I can buy glass? I need it for the pastry display cases.”

Li Xiangyang laughed. “At the glass factory, of course! They can cut it to any size you need.”

“Oh, so there’s a glass factory right here in the East Market!” Lin Lan exclaimed.

Li Xiangyang nodded. “It’s over by the train station. Just tell me the dimensions you need, and I’ll get someone to help you buy it.”

Lin Lan replied, “I’ll draw up a design when I get back and show it to the woodworker. We can buy the glass after he confirms it can be done.”

The two arrived on the east side of town and saw Woodworker Li and his two younger brothers working in the backyard. They had already completed several of the shelves.

Lin Lan thought the solid wood shelves looked much sturdier than the composite board ones she had used in the past.

After inspecting the shelves, Li Xiangyang asked, “Little Lan, for things like the dried mushrooms, Sichuan peppercorns, and star anise… won’t they get damp once the rainy season arrives? Will it be okay to store them on these shelves?”

Lin Lan pointed to the space beneath the shelves. “Once the goods are in the storeroom, we’ll spread a layer of lime or charcoal under the shelves. Both of those will help prevent moisture buildup.”

“That’s good.” Li Xiangyang then remembered their trip to the provincial capital. “It’s only going to get busier as the year ends. When do you think we should go?”

Lin Lan recalled the message from Lin Guoliang and said, “Let’s wait a couple more days. My brother is bringing our older cousin over. We’ll go after we’ve helped them buy what they need.”

After looking around a bit more, they went out into the yard.

Woodworker Li smiled at Lin Lan. “The shelves are simple enough, but the cubby-style cabinets are more work. Once they’re built, you’ll need to buy some tung oil and varnish. My third brother knows how to paint, so he can give them two coats for you. They’ll look much better with a nice, glossy finish.”

Lin Lan knew that everything was handmade now, a far cry from the mechanized production of the future. She smiled and nodded. “No worries, I just wanted to check on the progress. Please take your time. After these are finished, I’ll also need pastry display cases and more shelves.”

Hearing this, the three brothers nodded eagerly. They reassured Lin Lan not to worry, promising they would do an excellent job and guaranteeing the quality of the cabinets.

Lin Lan agreed with a smile and started riding back with Li Xiangyang. As they passed the department store, they saw Yang Dingbang and Yang Xiaoman emerging, their hands full of shopping bags.

Li Xiangyang put a foot on the ground to steady his bike and grinned at Yang Dingbang. “Well, well! Look at all those bags. Are you two buying a dowry or betrothal gifts? When’s the wedding banquet? We need to get our red envelopes ready.”

Yang Dingbang glanced cheerfully at Yang Xiaoman. “We’re getting engaged on the Laba Festival, and the wedding is on the eighth day of the second lunar month. You two better get some big red envelopes ready—and remember, one from each of you.”

“Done!” Li Xiangyang readily agreed with a laugh. “A big red envelope is easy. You’ll just be giving it back to us on the eighth day of the fourth lunar month.”

Yang Xiaoman gave Yang Dingbang a playful glare, then said to Lin Lan, “Sister Lin, have you ever met two people so shameless?”

Lin Lan laughed. “They’re the very definition of shameless.”

Suddenly, the color drained from Yang Xiaoman’s face. “Xie Tian’s here,” she whispered.

Lin Lan turned her head to see a beautiful woman with a wavy perm, dressed in a khaki cashmere coat. She was shouting Yang Dingbang’s name as she rushed right up to him, pointing a finger in his face.

“Yang Dingbang! You still have the nerve to say there’s nothing going on with Yang Xiaoman? That you’re just colleagues? Here you are, out in public like a lovey-dovey couple! I’d like to see you talk your way out of this one!”

A crowd of gawkers quickly gathered, pointing at Yang Dingbang’s group and whispering amongst themselves.

Li Xiangyang’s face hardened, and he yelled at the onlookers, “Move along! There’s nothing to see here.”

The crowd backed away slightly but continued to stare and whisper to each other.

Yang Dingbang glanced at Yang Xiaoman. Seeing her composed expression, he felt a wave of relief.

Yang Dingbang turned to face Xie Tian, his gaze cold. “Who are you? And why would I need to explain anything to you?” He stared at her with utter scorn. “This is an ugly look for you. I suggest you save some face, for your own sake and for Dandan’s.”

“You…” Humiliated, Xie Tian flew into a rage and tried to slap him.

“That’s enough!” Yang Dingbang grabbed her wrist, his eyes like ice. “You may have no shame, but we do.” With that, he shoved her away.

Xie Tian clutched her wrist, her glare at Yang Xiaoman pure venom. “I’m going to the Public Security Bureau to report you for having an illicit relationship.”

Yang Dingbang’s face turned ashen with rage. “You…”

“Ding Bang!” Yang Xiaoman stopped him. She stepped forward and faced Xie Tian squarely. “My relationship with Ding Bang is not afraid of any official scrutiny. Please, feel free to report us wherever you’d like.”

Xie Tian’s face twisted in fury as she stared at Yang Xiaoman.

“Let’s get going.” Li Xiangyang and Lin Lan helped the couple pick up their scattered belongings and place them in the baskets on their bicycles. Then, Li Xiangyang smiled at Yang Dingbang. “I ordered some grilling tables from the blacksmith. There’s one for you and one for Dongzi. If you want to get started early, go pick yours up.”

Yang Dingbang nodded. “Alright! We’ll go get it right after we drop our things at home.”

Lin Lan smiled at Yang Xiaoman. “I’m going to make the barbecue seasoning when I get home. Once it’s ready, I’ll drop it off with Xiuyun at the police station for you. You can grab it when you go to work.”

Yang Xiaoman gave Lin Lan a sweet smile. “Thank you, Sister Lin!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep