Chapter 276

Chapter 276

"Who can come up with so much glutinous rice at once? There are few people around here who grow it, and we've already bought from all the surrounding villages. My husband and Old Fourth work in the factory during the day and go out to collect grain at night.

They're more exhausted than our donkey.

At least the donkey gets some rest, but they only get one or two hours of sleep a day.

If you think they're not doing enough, why don't you just let them not sleep at all?"

Zhao Cuihua shot Zhou Jiaojiao a glare, thinking she had no conscience at all.

Zhou Jiaojiao felt somewhat embarrassed but was mostly angry: "Third Sister-in-Law, what are you saying? Didn't I give money to Third Brother and Fourth Brother? Aren't we all one big family? Shouldn't we all work hard for the family?"

"Then you collect it yourself, and my husband and I won't share any money with you." Zhao Cuihua's response was firm.

If this continued, her husband would be worn out, and what good would money do then?

Zhou Jiaojiao was left speechless by Zhao Cuihua's retort.

If Third Brother didn't go, then Old Fifth would have to go.

She knew her husband's temperament well; he wasn't even as capable as Third Brother when it came to work.

How she wished Wang Qinghe were here right now. With his strength, he could handle everything on his own.

Unfortunately, why didn't Bai Xiuxiu die back then?

Zhou Jiaojiao was deeply frustrated.

Seeing his two daughters-in-law arguing, Wang Shoucheng tried to mediate: "Stop fighting, both of you. Our pastries are selling so well now, and better days are ahead. As for collecting the grain, we shouldn't rush too much.

Rushing and demanding too much will only make others suspicious.

That wouldn't be good.

Fifth Sister-in-Law, we'll earn the money gradually, don't worry."

Not worry?

Zhou Jiaojiao wanted to strangle them. How could she not worry? Bai Xiuxiu was about to leave this place and move to the provincial city, while she was stuck here with the entire Wang family.

If this continued, wouldn't she always be overshadowed by Bai Xiuxiu?

That couldn't happen.

Du Juan, that old woman, knew about her desire to move to the provincial city and kept asking for favors.

She needed Du Director's help to go to the provincial city, and she was desperately short of money.

"Something's wrong, Dad, you'd better take a look." Outside, Wang Laosan rushed in, panicked.

Wang Shoucheng was trying to calm the two daughters-in-law when he saw his third son run back.

He was puzzled: "What's wrong?"

"Dad, Old Fourth and I were with Old Fifth at the black market, settling today's pastry profits with that Hu guy. As soon as we came out, we were surrounded by a group of people. Old Fourth and Old Fifth were beaten up, and I got hit a few times too.

I managed to escape in the chaos.

Dad, you'd better come and see."

Zhou Jiaojiao was alarmed: "Third Brother, why didn't you help my husband? He doesn't know how to fight!"

"What are you talking about? There were over ten of them, and I didn't know what was going on. We should report this to the police."

"That's out of the question. This is the black market. If we report it, the black market will be shut down," Zhou Jiaojiao said, suddenly very clear-headed.

"Alright, everyone, let's hurry and go help."

Wang Shoucheng couldn't sit still anymore and rushed out.

Zhou Jiaojiao followed him.

When they arrived at the black market, the crowd had already dispersed.

Wang Laosi and Wang Qingqi were bruised and battered. Seeing their family, Wang Qingqi angrily shouted: "Why did you take so long to come? Were you waiting for them to beat me to death?"

"How are you?" Zhou Jiaojiao asked, worried about her husband.

"What do you think? I'm alive, but all the money was taken. These people must have planned it. It might be that Hu Brother you know. He wants our money and deliberately had someone beat me up."

Wang Qingqi had never liked Hu Tian, who was always close to his wife, as if he had designs on her.

Hearing this, Zhou Jiaojiao's face darkened: "How could it be Hu Brother? Does he need that little bit of money? I'll take you to find him, and we'll figure out what to do. This can't be left like this."

With that, Zhou Jiaojiao dragged her husband toward Hu Tian's house.

The others followed.

As the Wang family went to settle the score, they heard a commotion before they even reached the place.

"Something's wrong, run! Who reported us? Get out of here quickly!"

Someone shouted, and the people who had been watching and trading at the black market scattered immediately.

And the group that had just finished beating someone up was caught right as they were about to disperse.

Caught red-handed.

In one room, the eldest brother of the Zhang family, who had been reminded by his younger brother and wasn't particularly interested in the matter anyway, was now utterly bewildered.

He glanced at his younger brother: "Isn't this just too unlucky for them? If I'm not mistaken, these people were all incited by Old Liu. How could they get caught right after giving someone a beating and before they even had a chance to leave?"

The eldest Zhang brother was now extremely grateful that he hadn't joined in the commotion.

Those people had been watching him for a long time. His business was big and well-known.

If he had been caught with them, it would have been the end of him.

Xiao Zhang was also feeling the aftermath: "Brother, why don't you listen to my friend Wang Qinghe and stop doing black market deals? Let's find a factory job and work properly until the heat dies down. We can always go back into business in a few years."

"Do we really need more money than we have now?"

Xiao Zhang was frustrated.

He had advised his brother countless times.

The eldest Zhang brother had never fully trusted his younger brother's friend. He knew Wang Qinghe was strong and good at fighting.

And he was smart and loyal.

He had even saved his younger brother.

But those qualities had nothing to do with the black market, and he always believed that different trades were like different mountains.

Things had been going smoothly for him these past few years.

But today's incident was a wake-up call.

Objectively speaking, Wang Qinghe had saved him today.

"I'll think about it and see what to do," the eldest Zhang brother said, already formulating a plan in his mind.

On the other side, Zhou Jiaojiao had already brought her whole family to Hu Tian's place.

Hu Tian had just split the money with Old Wang's family and was about to head home when he saw them approaching. Seeing the entire family, his smile faltered.

If he had a choice, he would only deal with Zhou Jiaojiao alone.

First, she was attractive, and second, the secret recipe was in her hands.

He didn't like any of the others in her family.

"Brother Hu, I need to ask you something," Zhou Jiaojiao said straightforwardly as she approached.