CHAPTER 454: CHAPTER 454: CAN’T HELP

Two days before the festival, Zhao Gang was tidying up the herbs at home when he saw Li Jian Country enter, and it made him dumbfounded, especially with several men following behind Li Jian Country, which really surprised Zhao Gang.

Zhao Gang knew that the visitors were likely captains or secretaries from nearby villages, as he had interacted with them before and recognized them.

Since Li Jian Country brought them here, Zhao Gang felt he should show them some attitude.

Gong Ruini was utterly shocked to see the neighboring village’s leaders come at this time. Despite what they might have heard during the so-called radio exercises, she had no intention of cooperating with them.

It’s not that Zhao Gang is petty, but rather, "I don’t have much money in hand, so..."

Zhao Gang couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief; luckily, there was not much money involved; otherwise, he truly wouldn’t know how to refuse, especially with so many people coming to his door.

Zhao Gang remembered that Li Jian Country might have mentioned these useless fellows even went to the commune leaders, and it must have yielded some results, like something about mutual help.

Zhao Gang really didn’t understand what the leaders were thinking. Of course, if help could be provided, one would naturally help in every way possible, but they also needed to consider one fact, "Before I came back, I borrowed money from an uncle."

"Borrowing money." Li Jian Country really didn’t expect Zhao Gang to be this good, as there’s really no profit involved in this matter, so why be so diligent in helping out? It’s truly not just Li Jian Country being pretentious; he just doesn’t want to see Zhao Gang struggling to help so many people and end up being caught in trouble.

But Li Jian Country also sighed with relief; over the past few days, people were coming and going, and everybody asked Zhao Gang how many herbs he had sold. Everyone could add things up to some extent, and everyone was truly shocked by Zhao Gang’s generosity in pulling out so much money.

No one understood how Zhao Gang had so much money, leaving everyone quite confused. Yet even then, they couldn’t resort to filing complaints; some acquaintances with various pointless stint even considered writing letters to report Zhao Gang.

"Yeah, where else would I have so much money?" Li Jian Country had a knowing expression, which Zhao Gang noticed, making him feel all sorts of gratitude that he had premeditated how to cover this issue, otherwise, what if someone got jealous and reported them?

They were already at the final extreme sprint; Gong Ruini didn’t want others to alter content sneakily, otherwise, she’d be the one suffering.

"If I hadn’t promised everyone before, I wouldn’t have purchased so much." Zhao Gang showed a face full of all sorts of remorse.

Could it be that they really came late? The men beside Li Jian Country found themselves variously troubled. After working hard for so long, it turned out to be in vain, causing them all kinds of frustration.

Yet they couldn’t afford to lose their temper; could they blame Zhao Gang excessively?

After all, this was someone who kindly loaned money to purchase herbs, then had to transport them to Beijing—what else could they blame him for? Saying he wasn’t helpful?

Here’s someone willing to help, but how can help be given without money? Right, Zhao Gang’s reason for not helping was the lack of funds; if he had money or could somehow get the goods without funds, would he agree?

Everyone was shrewd and soon figured this point, although they couldn’t make the call on this matter right now, they wished to ask Zhao Gang, not wanting to prepare thoroughly and end up futile on this side.

"Zhao Gang, I think you’re worried about the money not being enough. If you don’t have to pay upfront, how about sending us the money after you sell the goods?" Someone thought of this after a long time and could only suggest this.

Is this doable? Initially, a few youngsters hadn’t suggested this idea, and Zhao Gang thought about how impossible it was. If their roots remained here, there’d be no issue, but their foundation was soon going to Beijing; what if they didn’t come back?

"I have no problem." Zhao Gang certainly didn’t object, more buying means more earning; at most, he could requisition more cars this time for transport, anyway, it’s a favor.

"If you’re assured, although I’m not very willing, after all, this time I am letting someone drive and take our goods to Beijing. I’m unsure if everything can fit; if there’s more, I don’t know how the costs will be calculated." For this shipment, Zhao Gang didn’t charge those people any fees, the rationale being to send the goods to Beijing via cars, so costs were ignored.

Regarding surrounds villages, Zhao Gang had no such goodwill to help transport their goods freely without owing them anything; why should he bother supporting them?

Last year, the village already gave enough support, but what came of it? Furthermore, today’s goods could be marketed, what if one day they couldn’t be sold; who knew what faces these people would show—better be cautious.

"This needs to be charged for."

"Actually, if possible, you could send someone to Beijing on your own." Zhao Gang suggested kindly.

It’s not that Zhao Gang wasn’t willing to earn this money, it’s rather a tactical withdrawal, "Family plans to go to Beijing after the festival, by then someone could be sent along."

Going to Beijing, that’s indeed a good choice, yet considering the expenses on this road, it would definitely be more costly than Zhao Gang helping to market, given more people’s expenditure.

Don’t be fooled by his mother’s usual leader-like demeanor in front of villagers, as they’ve only visited a county at most; the so-called Beijing was just a dream.

Claiming to not be tempted and not wanting to go to Beijing is all false, but genuinely going to Beijing meets a very tricky problem, "Is the expenditure large to go to Beijing?"

The cost isn’t something Zhao Gang would declare; he detailed the expenses along the way, "If you say it’s large, it truly isn’t; it’s just very exhausting for people."

"Upon reaching Beijing, with big and small bags, if one doesn’t know the way, one needs to ask for directions; surely after several visits one would become proficient."

Since Zhao Gang already opened his mouth, "I could take someone along this time."

Upon hearing such a figure, many people gasped; this expense definitely wasn’t low, "How much luggage can be taken onto the train?"

"It’s mainly about whether there’s space available on the train, and if only one person is going, how about when they need to go to the bathroom and such?"

Don’t think that this era is entirely safe; at any time, there’ll always be one or two petty thieves around.

Could it be that one person isn’t safe enough, a second person is needed, making many hesitate; with two, the costs double, truly a major cost for one trip.

People contemplated but couldn’t make a decision, giving up and leaving despondently.

Li Jian Country watched these colleagues depart this way, feeling neither good nor bad; yet thinking about them failing their tasks and returning to get scolded, his mood brightened instantly.

"Just let them experience the hardships I once suffered." Li Jian Country truly didn’t want to recall the days when he was openly criticized by villagers and privately cursed, truly upon reminiscing, there were tears.

Initially, they were watching the joke from the sidelines quite eagerly, but now it’s alright; he can proudly cross his legs and watch the excitement from the side.