GBP Chapter 544 We will never sit idly by and wait for death.
Chapter 544 We will never sit idly by and wait for death.
Li Xiangyang pondered for a moment: "Mr. Chen, since you know so much about the situation, do you have any suggestions?"
"Two paths," Boss Chen held up two fingers. "First, pay to avoid trouble. Give Zhao Jianhua a bribe and tell him to stop bothering you. Second..."
He paused, looked around, and said, "Secondly, we should strike first and let him know you're not to be trifled with."
Li Xiangyang sneered: "Boss Chen, which path do you think I should choose?"
“My personal suggestion is the second one,” Boss Chen said in a low voice. “Someone like Zhao Jianhua, if you give him money today, he’ll dare to ask for more tomorrow. The only way is to make him fear you.”
Just then, Wang Ergou rushed in: "Brother Xiangyang, something bad has happened! Someone reported safety hazards at the factory and demanded a shutdown for rectification!"
Boss Chen sneered from the side, "See? This is Zhao Jianhua's method. If open attacks don't work, he'll resort to underhanded tactics."
Li Xiangyang thought for a moment, then turned to Boss Chen: "Boss Chen, if I choose the second path, how can you help?"
“I have some connections in the province. I can help you find out Zhao Jianhua’s background and even get some friends to back you up,” Boss Chen said, stubbing out his cigarette. “But this is risky; you need to think it through.”
“Risk?” Li Xiangyang laughed. “I’ve known since I was a hunter that to survive, sometimes you have to be fiercer than the wild animals.”
Ma Laosan nodded: "Xiangyang is right. We've built our business from scratch over the years; what storms haven't we weathered?"
"Good!" Boss Chen clapped his hands. "Since you're so determined, I'll give you a hand. However, we still need to plan the specifics carefully."
In the afternoon, Li Xiangyang returned home and found Li Xiaoyun busy in the kitchen, while Li Wangchen was playing with Xiaobai in the yard.
"Xiangyang, how did things go at the factory today?" Li Xiaoyun asked while chopping vegetables.
"We're starting to see some progress." Li Xiangyang walked to his wife's side. "Xiaoyun, things might get a little turbulent from here on out. You and the baby need to be careful."
Li Xiaoyun stopped what she was doing and turned around: "Xiangyang, are you planning to confront them head-on?"
"We have no choice but to confront them head-on." Li Xiangyang held his wife's hand. "Some things, if you keep giving in, the other party will only take advantage of you."
"I'm not scared, I'm just worried about your safety," Li Xiaoyun said with concern in her eyes. "How about we sell the factory and start over somewhere else?"
Li Xiangyang shook his head: "Xiaoyun, we've come this far, we can't just give up like this. Besides, what about those workers? They're all counting on the factory for their livelihood. Xiaoyun, remember, some problems will never be solved if you don't fight them."
Li Xiangyang gently stroked his wife's cheek, "I won't let anyone hurt our family, and I certainly won't let those workers lose their jobs."
Just then, the sound of a car engine came from outside the courtyard gate.
Li Xiangyang walked out of the kitchen and saw Boss Chen's black sedan parked at the door through the window. The car door opened, and Boss Chen strode in, looking somewhat anxious.
"Boss Li, something's happened!" Boss Chen exclaimed as soon as he entered the courtyard. "Zhao Jianhua's side has made a move; they're planning to bring people to the factory tomorrow to cause trouble."
Li Xiangyang frowned: "Who is it?"
"A bunch of thugs and scoundrels plan to enter the factory under the guise of an inspection, then deliberately cause trouble, and may even frame someone."
"What are you framing us for?"
"They'll say your factory has contraband or is polluting the environment," Boss Chen lit a cigarette. "If things get out of hand, whether it's true or not, your reputation will be ruined."
Li Xiangyang paced back and forth in the courtyard, quickly thinking of a solution.
"Mr. Chen, when will your friend arrive?"
“They should be here tonight.” Boss Chen flicked his cigarette ash. “But I must warn you, these people are no pushovers. If a fight breaks out, it could get very violent.”
"I'm not afraid of intensity," Li Xiangyang sneered. "I'm just afraid they won't be intense enough."
Just then, Wang Ergou rushed in from outside: "Brother Xiangyang, something bad has happened! Some strangers have come to the village and are going from house to house asking about our factory!"
Li Xiangyang and Boss Chen exchanged a glance, both understanding that Zhao Jianhua was probing their situation.
"Ergou, go and tell Fatty Ma right now to call a meeting of all the workers tonight," Li Xiangyang quickly ordered. "Also, go find Old Secretary Zhang and tell him that some outsiders are coming to the village to cause trouble, and ask for his help."
"Okay!" Wang Ergou turned and ran.
As night fell, all the workers gathered in the workshop. Ma Qingfu stood at the front, explaining the situation to everyone with a serious expression.
"Comrades, some people might come to the factory tomorrow to cause trouble, their goal is to ruin us." Ma Qingfu looked around at everyone. "Boss Li asked me if I was willing to fight them to the end, and I said yes! Now I ask you all, are you willing to protect your own livelihoods?"
"Yes!" the workers answered in unison.
Old Mr. Li stood up, his voice trembling, and said, "Boss Li, we old folks may not be very capable, but we still have the awareness to protect our factory!"
"That's right!" a young worker shouted, waving his fist. "Anyone who dares to cause trouble in our factory, we'll fight them to the death!"
Looking at these simple and honest workers, Li Xiangyang felt a surge of warmth in his heart.
“I appreciate everyone’s kindness,” Li Xiangyang said, stepping forward. “However, we are law-abiding citizens, and we can’t act recklessly like them. No matter what happens tomorrow, everyone must remain calm and follow instructions.”
At this moment, Old Party Secretary Zhang also arrived, walking into the workshop with his cane.
"Xiangyang, a few outsiders did come to the village just now, going door to door asking about your factory." Old Party Secretary Zhang's eyes gleamed. "I've already made sure the villagers give the same answer; no one is allowed to reveal anything about the factory to outsiders."
"Thank you, Grandpa Zhang," Li Xiangyang said sincerely.
"Don't mention it. If your factory is successful, the whole village will benefit." Old Party Secretary Zhang looked around at everyone. "If anyone really comes to cause trouble tomorrow, we old folks may not be able to do much, but we can still testify for you."
After the meeting, Li Xiangyang arranged for people to work the night shift to ensure that the factory was guarded 24 hours a day.
When they got home, Li Xiaoyun had already put Li Wangchen to sleep and was sitting on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) waiting for him.
"Xiangyang, you're not going out again tonight, are you?" Li Xiaoyun asked with some concern.
“I’m not going out.” Li Xiangyang sat down next to his wife. “Everything for tomorrow is arranged. Get a good rest tonight.”
"That's good." Li Xiaoyun leaned on her husband's shoulder. "Xiangyang, it's not that I don't support you, it's just that I'm worried about your safety."
"I know." Li Xiangyang hugged his wife. "Xiaoyun, once this matter is handled well, things will be peaceful again."
It was late at night, and Li Xiangyang lay on the kang (a heated brick bed) but couldn't fall asleep.
He reflected on his experiences over the years, from the initial confusion of his rebirth to his current success, acknowledging that every step had been hard-won. Now that someone wanted to destroy everything he had painstakingly built, he would not sit idly by and wait for his doom.