"Huo Chen, this time I really helped you out big time, remember what you promised me?" Xu Dalizi said with a gleam in his eyes.
Xu Qingqing did give quite a bit, but Xu Dalizi was looking at the bigger picture. Qingqing was all about plots and schemes, unlike Huo Chen and his wife, who were genuinely smart.
He clung to Huo Chen’s coat-tails, knowing his future was surely bright.
"Your uncle is currently drunk at my house, but I feel like Xu Qingqing intentionally let you know that Huo Hanjie is here.
She deliberately ran into me early this morning and brought up your uncle." Xu Dalizi thought of Qingqing’s foolish appearance and found it amusing.
The girl was somewhat cunning, but not overly so.
Huo Chen furrowed his brows slightly upon hearing this, and his eyes unconsciously swept around, landing on a piece of clothing.
His thin lips curved up slightly, and he turned to Xu Dalizi with a smile, "Huo Hanjie is pure trash, daring to bully my grandmother. I have to kill him."
Xu Dalizi was startled by these words and the ferocity in Huo Chen’s eyes, blurting out in fright, "Huo Chen, you can’t just say things like that, we live under the rule of law now.
If you commit murder, that’s a crime. You’ll get arrested by the police. Your wife is about to give birth, you have a child on the way and can’t be doing such foolish things."
Huo Chen sneered, "If you don’t say anything, how will anyone know?"
Xu Dalizi broke into a cold sweat, looking around anxiously. Damn it, what kind of powerhouse had he latched onto?
Why the hurry to kill someone at the first disagreement?
He could end up an accomplice.
Although Xu Dalizi was a bit of a slacker and shady, he had never done anything so atrocious.
"Huo Chen, we really can’t kill anyone!" Xu Dalizi’s palms were sweating nervously.
From afar, Xu Qingqing’s eyes sparkled upon hearing this; she knew Huo Chen was no pushover and was solving such a big problem for her.
Sun Yiliang was also stunned by the sidelines. He hadn’t expected Huo Chen to be so ruthless.
Xu Ying, such a capable woman, had ended up with such a fierce man. The days ahead would likely be tough.
"Let’s go, let’s go home!" Sun Yiliang did not want to witness such a bloody scene. He was somewhat aware of Huo Chen’s character, who indeed seemed capable of committing murder.
So, he felt there was no need to watch; as long as Huo Hanjie was out of the picture, that was enough.
"No, I must see Huo Hanjie truly gone before I’ll be at ease. What if he isn’t completely dead and pops back up to threaten us?" Xu Qingqing said uneasily.
"Then you go by yourself!" Sun Yiliang said irritably before turning and heading home.
Xu Qingqing glanced at him, angry. She knew it. When it came to the issues of the past, Sun Yiliang now acted as if he were an outsider, unaffected by the situation.
Huo Chen and Xu Dalizi quickly entered the courtyard. Once inside, he ordered in a stern voice, "You stay outside and watch. Don’t worry, this has nothing to do with you."
Xu Dalizi couldn’t have been happier to hear this. Relieved, he immediately began to stand guard.
Xu Qingqing followed them to the doorway, watching Xu Dalizi standing there, anxiously pacing. She had hoped to get a glimpse inside, but it seemed unlikely now.
Huo Chen entered the room and saw Huo Hanjie, his hand gripping his neck fiercely.
"Ah!" Huo Hanjie gasped in fear, his eyes wide, as his breathing became labored.
"Huo, Huo, Chen, let’s talk this out," Huo Hanjie struggled to get the words out.
Huo Chen looked at him and sneered, "Actually, I should thank Xu Qingqing. She told me you were back, so I could settle the score with you."
"Xu Qingqing, that bitch!" Huo Hanjie stammered, his eyes blazing with flames.
"Darn that cunning jerk, daring to trick him."
"Huo Chen, I know Xu Qingqing poisoned the vegetable greenhouse..."
After a long while, the room fell silent.
Huo Chen picked up a sack and vanished into the night.
Xu Qingqing’s heart was still pounding after she returned.
Huo Hanjie was killed just like that by Huo Chen, she wondered if he’d kill her too if she provoked him.
That very night, Xu Qingqing came down with a high fever.
Meanwhile, the food factory was undergoing a major overhaul, with many employees being fired and orders piling up.
With the production at Xujia Village factory halted, the orders for Anthony and Henry began to slow down.
Anthony even called to express his concern, "Hey, Xu, is it the holiday season already?
Your factory’s production is so sluggish, always delaying shipments, even though I’m considering your face.
You can’t keep holding up my earning."
"I’ve been suspended and am currently not working at the factory," Xu Ying’s voice drifted.
Anthony was immediately shocked, "Suspended? Has your factory director gone mad? Why did that old man suspend you?
You’ve made so many contributions at the factory; has he lost his mind?"
"We’ve changed our factory director," Xu Ying explained.
"No wonder," Anthony said and then realized something was off, his voice softening slightly, "Xu, you’re not being bullied by your new factory director, are you?
If I were you, I’d quit. You might as well work independently. I’m only trusting your expertise."
Anthony wasn’t bluffing; with her skills, she wouldn’t have to worry about making money.
Xu Ying sighed, "I’d love to go solo, but it would have to get approved first.
Things in Yu County are a bit complicated right now, alas~"
Hearing her sigh, Anthony felt a pang, "Xu, is there anything I could help you with?"
Xu Ying was waiting for his words; her expression became serious, "Anthony, if you consider me a friend, let’s collaborate on something!"
Caught off guard, Anthony asked, "How do we collaborate?"
"Cancel the orders with Yu County Food Factory, don’t follow up anymore. You might lose profits for the next few months, but as compensation, I can guarantee an exclusive food recipe afterward. Think about it," Xu Ying finished, also uncertain in her heart.
After all, Anthony had a huge business and earned a lot; stopping the cooperation with Yu County Food Factory would be a massive loss.
They were merely business partners, not close friends.
"Xu, this is too big; I need to think about it."
Xu Ying nodded and hung up the phone.
Old Sun really left her a huge problem. If she’d known earlier that this guy was going to be sidelined, she would have partnered sooner with a food factory in Shanghai and handed over the recipe.
Now, the recipe was exclusive to Yu County Food Factory and in Director Ma’s hands, making it really impossible to save the braised duck and fried goods.
Sigh, she’d worked hard on perfecting that recipe, making it big only to be forced to give it up, she felt reluctant.
At the moment, the only thing stopping it was Anthony and Henry’s orders; without orders, they wouldn’t continue production.
It was just too costly.