Chapter 191: Doing Business with the Big Boss
Chapter 191: Doing Business with the Big Boss
Xiao Wei still had homework to do. After watching TV for a while, he voluntarily went back to his room to work on her assignments.
Bai Lu lowered the volume and switched channels during the commercial break. Several channels were showing advertisements; apparently, even popular TV dramas had commercials. Left with lifestyle programs, Bai Lu asked Xiao Cheng if he wanted to watch. Xiao Cheng replied, "Up to you."
So, she changed the channel.
It happened to land on the provincial TV station, currently broadcasting the evening news: "Last night in the early hours, there were multiple incidents of group fights and illegal gambling in South City. Hospitals are on 24-hour alert. The provincial government is taking this seriously and has appointed... to investigate..."
A few official statements, some marginal photos—it was enough to make Bai Lu pause her channel-changing actions.
Official statements were often carefully worded, downplaying significant events to maintain social stability.
Multiple group fights in South City—gang conflicts were erupting in various streets and alleys.
Illegal gambling discovered—issues at He Yongli's gambling den, likely related to the ongoing gang conflicts.
Hospitals on 24-hour alert—overnight, chaos ensued, and hospitals were filled with the injured.
Provincial government taking it seriously—the scale and severity of the incidents prompted intervention from higher authorities.
Appointed... to investigate—until the situation was clarified, South City would be under constant surveillance. The vice mayor would be confined at home for investigation.
The gangs undoubtedly referred to the four major powers in South City—representing the hidden forces of the Big Boss, local bosses, He Yongli, and Li Chengbin.
Looking at those seemingly insignificant photos, the clothes of the injured, tattoos, and scattered weapons on the ground revealed that members of all four powers were present.
Even though Bai Lu knew that the four powers, involved in various illicit activities, would be eliminated twenty years later, witnessing the conflict unfold now was still shocking.
These weren't small gangs in the alleyways; they wouldn't engage in fights over trivial matters.
Only someone extremely familiar with the styles, nature, and underground dealings of the four major powers could orchestrate a plan to incite them into conflict without being detected.
This person had to be an insider or, more specifically, a former insider who had reached a certain level in one of the powers. Someone with broad access to information, connections in all directions—someone like a brother, a friend.
They didn't interfere with each other unless necessary, responding collectively when needed.
In this era and place, having such influence and being able to walk away unscathed meant one thing—a single individual.
There was only one...
Bai Lu suddenly felt a chill down her spine. The fingertip holding the remote control, from the top of her head to her heel, went cold.
Without turning around, she knew that at this moment, Xiao Cheng, seated behind her, was watching her.
Moreover, he wasn't blinking—an intense gaze fixed on her. If she stood up, his eyes would follow her; they wouldn't disappear until she spoke.
Feeling somewhat floaty, Bai Lu hadn't even said thank you and was already thinking of going back to cover herself with a blanket to sleep.
What a dream!
The actions of the four major powers had caused great harm, tearing families apart, breaking marriages, leaving people homeless. Everything that happened from last night until dawn was their deserved retribution.
Bai Lu wasn't ungrateful; it's just that the matter was too significant, beyond her expectations, and needed some time to buffer.
If she couldn't handle it, she could simply change the channel.
It's not that big of a deal.
Bai Lu took a deep breath.
Her formidable emotional control, honed in the field of psychology, quickly processed and dissipated the emotions.
Turning her head, she revealed a perfect smile, just like usual: "Manager Xiao, interested in partnering for a lucrative business?"
Without deviation, Xiao Cheng, directly meeting the clear gaze of the girl, showed a slightly surprised expression.
After the news report, she sat leisurely in the chair, but her body suddenly stiffened.
However, in an instant, she returned to normal.
He hadn't even speculated on what she was thinking, and she had already turned around, flashing a sweet smile at him.
In a few words, she diverted his attention.
Xiao Cheng leaned back, casually crossing his legs, picked up the cup of cold tea on the table, took a sip, and shifted his gaze from staring to focused.
"What business?"
Bai Lu refilled the empty water cup for him and slowly began, "Wait until the dust settles in the next two days. Those people will be dealing with the aftermath, busy with their own matters, and won't have time for us. During this period, I'll teach Auntie Wu and Uncle Fugui, along with eight others, the technique. After learning, let them test the market."
"In the meantime, you contact Luo Shiliu, Xiao Zhuang, and others. They can learn the roasted chestnut business from us. Once we confirm there's no problem in the market, you can let them teach in the towns and cities beyond Shitiao. We'll start with a limited number."
Pausing, Bai Lu glanced at Xiao Cheng, finding no signs of disagreement. She continued, "We won't just provide training but also establish a supply channel. The reputation of roasted chestnuts has already been established for quite some time, and the business won't be bad. You can decide the commission for your brothers. After deducting their share, the remaining profit will be split equally between us."
Xiao Cheng raised an eyebrow, "How much is the tuition?"
Bai Lu smiled gently, extending one hand and pressing down with two fingers, showing three fingers in total, "Three thousand per person."
Xiao Cheng furrowed his brows slightly.
"Three thousand is not much," Bai Lu explained, "Before, Gao Jianchuan and Wen Li came to buy the technique, offering twelve thousand. It shows that roasted chestnuts have a considerable market share, and the off-season sales are successful. It's worth this price."
"Moreover, we also provide a supply channel. By limiting the number of students, we ensure that the market for roasted chestnuts won't saturate quickly. This way, the new and old chestnut-selling bosses can make steady profits. Three thousand is really not much."
In the future, classes teaching the art of making roasted chestnuts would charge at least twenty to thirty thousand. Adjusted for the prices of the 90s, three thousand was just right—close enough.
During this time, when buying vegetables at the market, Bai Lu didn't just chat with people. Through their words, clothing, and expenses, she had already deduced their true financial situation.
Although the economic level here was low, there were still families able to afford three thousand. Especially the bosses doing business on the streets, three thousand in savings was considered less.
Xiao Cheng, looking at Bai Lu's face, which appeared a bit anxious, lightly laughed.
"What I meant was that it's too little."
Bai Lu was momentarily stunned, then confirmed that she hadn't misheard—Xiao Cheng said too little, not too much.
"It's not little. Selling one technique is a one-time deal, selling many techniques means popularizing the business on a large scale. Different positioning," she explained.
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