Chapter 43: No Reward Without Merit

  The yard of the Shi family is still a distance from the parking lot. Shuang walked while looking at the bustling crowd celebrating today, and couldn't help but feel a little emotional. When he first came to university, the Shi family was not so prosperous. In just a few years, the village has changed several times, and more than a dozen small villas have been built. The Shi family, who were once richer than others, are now even wealthier. Just looking at this nearly one-acre courtyard is impressive, it's almost like a European-style manor.

  As for the legendary Old Man Shi, Shanyong had only seen him from afar. He was too embarrassed to tell his brothers that he had visited him several times before but hadn't even caught a glimpse of him. Who knew that today would be different and he would actually get to meet Old Man Shi?

  "What are you staring at, hurry up." The girl in front, Shi Xiaojie, urged. Shan Yong hastened his pace, giving a friendly smile to Shi Xiaojie who had turned back to scold him, but she didn't even acknowledge the enthusiastic smile, looking even more beautiful than any other beauty he had ever seen.

  Shan Yong didn't mind, quietly following behind. This Miss Shi had been recognized since the beginning of the donkey garden's entrance to the donkey meat market. Those who knew Old Man Shi were aware that the Shi family had two treasures. The first treasure was this Miss Shi, whose full name was Shi Baoying. Although she hadn't attended school for many days, she managed the Shi family business with great order and discipline. At a young age, she was already capable of taking charge of half the household. As for the other treasure, it goes without saying - today's birthday boy, Shi Baogui. That child had dared to confront a male goat at six or seven years old, learned to ride horses and tend to donkeys before turning ten, and by the time he was ten, he was notorious for his mischievous ways: gambling, drinking, smoking, and sneaking peeks at village girls bathing. Every aspect of his behavior was deplorable, yet in the donkey garden, one could always hear stories about Young Master Shi's antics - a true living treasure.

  Just as he was thinking, Shi Baoying pulled him unintentionally and walked towards the side building. The main hall was bustling with people, and Shi's relatives were greeting guests from all over. This side building was relatively quiet. After entering the side building, Shi Baoying stopped for a moment and reminded Shanyong: "Shanyong, I'm taking advantage of my dad's good mood to mention your matter today, so be careful what you say, don't upset him on this happy day."

  "What's my business... I, what business?" Shan Yong was puzzled, seemingly having no connection with Shi Baoying, and today buying the young master Shi was just for his own enjoyment.

  "What are you talking about?" Shi Bao Ying raised an eyebrow, seemingly thinking that Shan Yong didn't understand the situation, and reminded him: "I thought you were a good person, so I let my dad help you out, but now you just want to be a second-generation trafficker?"

  Oh, Shanyong finally understood and had a good impression of this cold-faced but kind-hearted girl. It turned out that she wanted to point him in the direction of wealth because it was not easy for him to come here to purchase goods all these years. Shi Lao Yezi was indeed a powerful figure in this area, and many people who followed him became rich. Shanyong smiled and said thank you. Shi Bao Ying finally gave Shanyong a good face, and the two of them went upstairs together, one after the other.

  Actually, Historian's little sister isn't ugly, but only when judged by the standards used for men. Thick eyebrows and big eyes, dignified appearance, striding along with vigor... whoa, going up the stairs makes the staircase creak loudly. Before she arrives, her voice is heard: "Dad, Shan Yong has arrived...... That's him. He even brought some gifts for you, take a look."

  He had never been to the Shi family before, but what he saw still shocked him. The house was luxurious and magnificent, not at all like a rural household. In the center of the room sat a robust man in his fifties, with hair and beard that were flecked with gray, and a dark complexion that seemed chiseled from stone. He sat there with an air of authority, rolling a cigarette, with a bowl of freshly brewed Dah Yeh tea by his side. He smiled and beckoned to Shan Yong, while simultaneously lifting the lid off a wine jar, taking a sniff, and expressing surprise. "Heh heh, someone with taste," he said, "this is a few years' vintage... but not strong enough."

  Drinking and smoking, the old man from Shijia Village was a stubborn mule driver. Even though he had become wealthy, he still hadn't given up this habit. He rolled his own cigarettes, and his daughter lit one for him. With a deep drag, he inhaled strongly, then exhaled through his nose, releasing puffs of smoke. This was the taste of small dry tobacco, very strong. Shan Yong instinctively rubbed his nose, not daring to sit down... In this place, there wasn't even a seat for the daughter, just one person sitting. Behind him, on the wall hung a large, ornate character "mule" in traditional script, shining brightly with the old man sitting in front of it. The old man had a long face and fierce eyes, tall and imposing, sharing some commonality with both the character and the animal it represented.

  People without money are all poor and timid, while those with money look unique and have a strong presence no matter what they wear. Even the old master still has this rustic and wealthy appearance, and Shan Yong doesn't dare to underestimate him at all, standing upright and properly.

  "Little fellow, do you know why I called you specifically?" Old Master Shi asked, having smoked half a cigarette, and observed Dan Yong for quite some time, just like checking the teeth of livestock, but his eyes seemed to be dissatisfied with something.

  "I don't know." Shan Yong shook his head, and indeed, the answer was very dissatisfying to Old Man Shi.

  "This is simple. Old Master Shi straightened up and said, 'I heard my daughter say that you've been purchasing goods in our village of Shihjia for over three years now.'"

  "Three years and eight months." Shi Bao Ying reminded.

  "Right, three years and eight months." Old Master Shi said, stretching out his thick fingers, and asked suspiciously: "In such a long time, the donkey's offspring have had several litters. Following me, Old Shi, when tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands were small households, even millions were not rare. I'm also curious, how come you haven't made progress... Daughter, I looked at your account, three years ago you only purchased 100-200 catties of goods, and now after three years, it's still 100-200 catties... Can you explain why?"

  It's embarrassing, it turns out that others think you haven't made progress. The reason for this is difficult for Zhong Yuan to mention, the sales of the farmhouse music in Xiang Ma Village are not large, and another part is only provided to a few familiar vendors after deep processing, which can earn some money and also make up for tuition and living expenses.

  "This... Old Master Shi, I'm just a small household, can't compare with the big households, besides, I'm still in school, and only do business part-time. You... you wouldn't be displeased that I bought less goods and called me over, would you?" Danyong faced this rough man, really didn't know how to respond.

  "That's not the case, as long as you come to my door, you are all the clothes and food parents of our Shi family village, you can take one or two catties, I don't mind if it's less." Old Master Shi put down his cigarette, took a sip of Dah Yeh tea, and asked Dan Yong: "I just think you young man is a bit pitiful, ah..."

  "Really?" Danyong stared blankly, unsure where these words came from.

  "Don't be pitiful. Don't think I don't recognize you, you haven't come a few times and I've already recognized you, riding a broken bicycle here, from here to the city, it's over 40 kilometers? Running over 100 miles to get one or two hundred kilograms of meat, you can't make much money...... It's been three years now, and you're still riding that broken bike. Do you think I'm blind?" The old man said, as if finding excuses for his own kindness, Shanyong cried and laughed, saying: "Old man, my bike has been modified, it's electric, not very tiring."

  "Can it be more fuel-efficient than a car? Not even as good as a donkey cart."

  The old man said, staring at Shanyong with a look of annoyance, as if he was annoyed that this kid had interrupted his words. Shanyong shut up immediately. This old man seemed to have the same temperament as the donkey in the village enclosure outside. Suddenly, he beckoned to Shanyong and grabbed his hand, punching him playfully on the chest. He laughed: "You've got a good build, come to the village and go to the braised meat shop with Laoxin and Genwa first, if you want to learn this trade, you must first learn how to..."

  This is getting more and more unreliable, Lao Xin and Genwa are all butchers, it seems that the old master's promotion is to let Dan Yong follow them to slaughter donkeys. You say Hao Dige is also a second-rate university student who will graduate soon, he didn't realize when he got infected with the potential of a butcher, and was favored by the old master like this, his expression changed several times, the old man noticed it and glared at him: "Hey! What's wrong? You're not happy? Can't treat you unfairly. In this place, you earn no less than in the city."

  "No, no, old man, I'm still reading books." Dan Yong said with a hint of pride, definitely not to the point of being reduced to being a butcher.

  "What's the point of reading books, can't you just recognize some characters and do some math? Look at our Baoying, didn't she become a boss after only studying for a few days? There are people in the village who went to university, but they're raised like wolves, always asking for money from home without knowing how hard their parents work!?" The old man sighed with emotion. His daughter was unhappy and shouted: "Dad, let's talk about serious things, don't go off on a tangent!"

  "Oh, right, let's talk about Shanyong." The old man came back to his senses, pulled Shanyong over and said seriously: "It's not just that I pity you, there's something else. I really can take a liking to you, do you know what?"

  He shook his head and said honestly: "I don't know."

  I didn't know that someone had taken a liking to this place, it would be great if some wealthy state-owned unit could take a liking to it. Shan Yong thought to himself. Unfortunately, it's not the case. This old man from a humble background patted his thigh and praised: "Youth is bitter, old age is leisurely, these are all precious things, you've got one of them, think back when I, Shi Baoquan, drove a donkey cart to run in Shandong and Henan, relying on selling donkey hides to start my business. If you can't bear hardships, I wouldn't dare use it... By the way, I asked you, there are several types of meat materials in this donkey farm, why did you only buy the most expensive one?

  Wow, this is a real problem, and I didn't expect Old Historian to bring it up. After all, he's from a humble background, and this old man has the natural cunning of a peasant. The donkey meat is divided into three six nine grades: free-range, used for grinding and cart-pulling, fed with fodder to fatten them up, and taken for their skin - they're not even priced the same, only insiders know the details. There are even more deceitful ones, mule meat is cooked in a high fire and then mixed into donkey meat to make sauce meat, passing off inferior as superior.

  "The expensive one tastes good." Danyong gave a simple answer.

  "Haha, no, it's not that you ate it all... In these three years, the only one who has been raising and selling donkey meat is you. You calculate, although it's not a lot, but in these three years, you've also earned a lot less money." The old man finally got to the bottom of it, and it turned out that this was the key point, as well as the theme, and also the part that he couldn't understand. The highest profit margin can reach over ten yuan per kilogram, but not earning more is not like a businessman's nature.

  "Must you answer?" Dan Yong asked, turning his head to glance at Shi Bao Ying. This Miss Shi smiled and said: "What? Is there something you don't dare tell my dad?"

  "This is nothing special, just delicious." Shan Yong said, this is also the only reason, never thought of any other reasons, and because the ingredients are good, slightly processed, even the reputation of Lingma Village has been improved.

  "Haha...... honest person, just like your dad. Your dad's name is Shan Changqing, right? Is he doing well?" Old Man Shi suddenly said.

  Shan Yong was shocked and didn't expect that the old man actually knew his father. He exclaimed in surprise: "Old sir, you know my dad?"

  "I didn't know you well, but when your family opened a small restaurant on Huan Dong Road, I was the one who supplied the donkey meat. This wine, I remember clearly, is from Lüjiu Winery's old cellar... Later, when your family opened the Donkey Garden Wine House, I also supplied goods to you. Your dad would come to pick up the goods once a week. As soon as I opened this bottle of wine, I knew it was him. Making good liquor is not easy, your dad used to work in a winery, he had the skills." Old Man Shi said with a smile, and at this time, Shanyong felt that it wasn't strange anymore, people who do business related to donkey meat would naturally know the Shi family.

  However, when it comes to home, Dan Yong is even more silent. The donkey courtyard wine building has become a past event, and every thought is a pain in his heart.

  Shan Yong was speechless, but the old man was very talkative. However, his talkativeness made Shan Yong laugh and cry at the same time. The old man patted Shan Yong's hand and said:

  "Hey, don't be discouraged. Being poor doesn't mean you're worthless and being rich doesn't mean you'll have a bright future. This is just a small matter, it's not the end of the world. When your uncle finds out that you've been working hard to deliver meat on your bicycle, he'll know that you're going to make something of yourself... You're much better than my own good-for-nothing son... You're different, I had Bao Ying specifically go to your house to check and it's not bad. Old Shan is a honest man and this son of his is also a honest man, unlike those people in the village who have money but waste it on food, drink, whoring and gambling, they're not even human... They'll eventually bring their own family down..."

  This sigh was so long, and Dan Yong's face turned bitter. Living for so many years, he finally met someone who appreciated him, but it was such an unscrupulous guy. Not only did he appreciate him, but it seemed like he also wanted to recruit him. The old man stopped abruptly, his words not matching what came before. After thinking for a moment, he said:

  "Where was I? Ah yes, you're not a spendthrift, you absolutely won't be a spendthrift. Although your family is a bit worse off, if we count back several decades, it's still a decent match, right? Why don't you come work under me? It wouldn't be beneath you, and who knows, maybe we'll even become one big happy family..."

  The more I listen, the more absurd it sounds. Danyong's eyes widened, and he turned to look at Shiboying, could it be that this job also comes with a son-in-law? No wonder that young master of the Shi family always jokingly called himself brother-in-law. This is embarrassing, pretending to be a son-in-law to get a free meal is one thing, but marrying such a wife and having to deal with a brother-in-law like Shibao is unbearable!

  Her face changed color, Shi Bao Ying found out, frowning and shouting: "Dad, what are you talking about? You're supposed to be discussing serious business, how did you get sidetracked?"

  "Ah, right, got a bit off track." The old man chuckled, his eyebrows and beard all raised, revealing his smoke-stained and tea-stained teeth. He was still as fierce as ever. With a punch on the table, he raised the employment conditions and said: "What I mean is that it's better for you to start from scratch. It won't take a year or two before you can hold up your own shop... If you don't want to start from scratch, you can open a store in Luoyang. I can lend you money, but you have to pay me back with interest. I'm not afraid that you won't pay me back. I trust both of you, the father and son of the Single family. How about it?"

  Opening a store? A small one would cost tens of millions, a big one would be hundreds of millions. This tone really scared Shan Yong, not because he doubted the old man's ability, but because he was shocked by the sudden appearance of such a large temptation. Could it be that his brother was so handsome that the old man wanted to recruit him as a son-in-law?... Shan Yong looked back at Shi Baoying in horror, and at this time Shi Baoying lowered her head, her hands unnaturally fiddling with something, this slightly shy appearance had never been seen before, only seeing this fierce girl whip others with a donkey whip.

  Others dare to try, but even with a few leopard's guts, they may not dare. In an instant, Dan Yong's face changed several times, trying hard to recall where he had been favored by the Shi family. At most, he had tutored Young Master Shi for two days, but that guy was still ranked last; at most, he had delivered a few jars of wine to Miss Shi, purely to curry favor and get a better price, with no other intentions. Even if he racked his brains, he couldn't remember Miss Shi ever giving him a good face. Every time they settled accounts, she wouldn't even round down the change, absolutely a merchant's nature, being stingy.

  This sudden event was not a surprise to Shan Yong, but rather puzzlement and astonishment. He really couldn't figure out how his character could have exploded to such an extent that it would make these two people look at him with different eyes.

  "How about it? Kid, give me a definite answer. If not, don't rush, go back and discuss with your dad, this is a good thing, he will agree."

  Dan Yong thought for a moment, the old man patted his hand and stood up. Someone downstairs shouted "Baoquan's" name, it was Shi Jia's mother, also a loud-voiced woman. The old man responded with a sound, patted Dan Yong's shoulder, and instructed him to take good care of his daughter before heading straight downstairs. As he went down, he even turned back to look at Dan Yong with great interest.

  Needless to say, Dan Yong was not very pleased, and the old man looked at Dan Yong's hesitant appearance, which was not quite satisfactory. The old man curled his lips in distaste.

  If fake son-in-law acts like real one, it's ridiculous. After Old Master left, Shuang Yong glanced at Shi Bao Ying sideways, and Shi Bao Ying restored her usual heroic posture, glared at Shuang Yong and asked: "What are you looking at? You're a big guy, but your words and actions are all hesitant, not a single straightforward word? If I didn't think you were sincere, such good things wouldn't be available to you. Every day, there are many people coming to my father's door asking for me."

  "What are you referring to? Working for you or borrowing your dad's money to start a business?" Dan Yong asked with a confused expression.

  "It's all right, your dad has done donkey meat business before, opening a store should be easy for him. However, doing the best in donkey meat business is not that simple. You saw the top chefs from various places today, those who truly do their best are the ones who start with cutting knives." Shi Bao Ying said slowly, seemingly still worried that Shan Yong wouldn't agree, and no longer spoke in her previous loud and clear voice.

  "So you want me to go learn butchering?" Dan Yong asked, feeling quite depressed. With this temperament, he really doesn't look like a butcher at all!

  "Uh-huh." Shi Bao Ying gave a correct answer that made Shan Yong even more depressed.

  "Alright, Shi Jie, let's talk about it after I graduate. I'll think about it carefully... My friends are still outside, why don't we go out first?"

  Shan Yong's smile was a bit unnatural, but he invited her to go down with him. Shi Bao Ying nodded and the two went downstairs together. Fortunately, there were many guests on the first floor, which eased the awkwardness between them. The people who came to congratulate had almost arrived. Shi's mother somehow brought back that ugly little boy, Shi Bao Guo, and invited him to see Master Yin Yang. He was burning yellow paper and offering a table of good dishes. The little boy was pressed by Shi Bao Quan to kowtow several times, and it seemed like he didn't want to do it. After finishing the kowtows, he slipped away. When Old Man Shi turned around to call out to his daughter, Shi Bao Ying patted Shan Yong's shoulder and said: "Think carefully about it, give me a definite answer..."

  He rushed into the crowd, talking loudly. Shan Yong didn't dare to respond, and quietly slipped out of the crowd, rushing straight out of the Shi family's large courtyard, as if escaping, and running towards the modern car parked at the village entrance. When he reached the car, he pulled open the door, but only saw Wang Huating sleeping soundly inside, her face covered in slobber. This was quite amusing - it seemed that the saying "Meng Xiaolu" (a legendary sleep-inducing deity) was indeed not an exaggeration, and she had already been put to sleep by him.

  However, only Wang Huating was seen, but the other two were not seen. She knocked on the car window, and Wang Huating woke up dazedly, shaking the car window, rubbing her eyes, and asked: "Why are you back so late?"

  "What's taking them so long to come back? It's been a while," asked Shuang Yong.

  "I don't know, I fell asleep in a daze," said Wang Hua-ting.

  "You know the trouble with Mongolian donkeys now, right?" Dan Yong laughed, looking at the chaotic crowd and donkey group. There were too many guests, but he couldn't find them anywhere. He took out his phone, dialed a number, but no one answered. Lei Dapeng wasn't even in the service area! And Si Mu Xian's phone was also unanswered... This made him suspicious - could those two be up to something again? But this place was too remote for anything to happen.

  They searched back and forth, asking familiar donkey drivers and villagers who slaughtered donkeys, but they all spoke vaguely. Just as he was puzzled and returned to the car, Si Mu Xian ran out from a distance, panting and running to the front of the car, scaring Shan Yong, who grabbed him and asked: "What's wrong again? Where is Da Peng?"

  "Quickly, Da Peng and Zai Lu's wine-drinking contest has begun... I can't even hold on."

  Si Mu Xian pointed to the slaughterhouse and said, so anxious that he didn't even hear his phone ringing.

  "What? Isn't he asking for death?" Dan Yong was scared out of his wits and dragged Si Mu Xian to run away, while Wang Hua Ting watched the two of them flee and also got off the car to chase after them, but who knows what other embarrassing things will happen next...