21: Chapter 21 Taking Over the Vegetable Market

"The Vegetable Market?" Mr. Li frowned.

His body, which had straightened up, slumped back down.

Selling assets to pay off debts wasn't as comfortable as using someone else's money to pay them off.

"How much are you planning to offer?"

"300,000."

Hearing the offer, Mr. Li chuckled as if he had anticipated it.

This price was lower than his expectation, far too low.

Yet it was higher than anyone else's offer.

He took a deep breath and decided to have a serious negotiation.

"My Vegetable Market is the largest fruit and vegetable retail base in Xiong City; it has high foot traffic and a large area. I won't sell it for less than 1 million."

The seller asks an exorbitant price, and the buyer bargains on the spot.

Mr. Li believed that business negotiations were a game of strategy.

Whoever had the psychological advantage would gain more benefits.

Zhao Jian didn't play his game.

He turned around and was about to walk out the door.

"Hey? Hey? Give me a counteroffer!"

Mr. Li panicked.

Why are young people nowadays so unwilling to follow the rules?

They don't like drinking at the dinner table, and they don't like testing the waters at the negotiating table.

"350,000, I am very sincere, Mr. Li. You can ask others for their quotes."

Zhao Jian was telling the truth.

The Vegetable Market was located on vacant land in an urban village; the nature of the land meant it could not be used for commercial residential construction.

No matter how large the area was, if it couldn't be turned into residential property, it would be hard to sell at a high price.

As for the profit from stall fees, the return cycle was too long.

No one could guarantee what things would look like in ten years.

Most interested bosses offered at most 250,000.

Zhao Jian was already the most sincere among them.

Seeing that Zhao Jian was about to leave again, Mr. Li sighed and said, "Add a bit more, 400,000. Just consider it doing me a favor."

He suppressed his inner joy.

Zhao Jian nodded in agreement, "Fine, I know you need money, Mr. Li. Once the contract is signed, the money will be transferred."

They signed the transfer contract and processed the property title transfer.

After all the procedures, it was almost evening.

Zhao Jian hadn't even eaten lunch.

Mr. Li, being in debt, clearly had no intention of treating him to a celebratory meal.

Zhao Jian was the same.

Thus, the handover was completed, and they went their separate ways.

Having bought the Vegetable Market, the first thing to do was, of course, to purge dissenters.

For example, Huang Xu.

He took a copy of the contract and headed to the Vegetable Market.

By this time, Huang Xu had already received the news that the boss had changed.

He and Yao Xiaohui were waiting early at the entrance of the Vegetable Market.

In fact, he didn't know if the new boss would come over; waiting at the entrance was just to show a respectful attitude.

But after waiting and waiting, the new boss was nowhere to be seen.

Instead, he saw Zhao Jian strolling over.

"Poor wretch, have you forgotten whose territory this is? You still dare to come here!" Yao Xiaohui glared at him fiercely.

"This is, of course, the people's territory."

When Zhao Jian saw the two of them, he thought: It's time to show off!

On the way, he had already sent messages to Tofu Beauty and Administrator Aunt Liu.

Telling them to return to the Vegetable Market to work as usual.

He had expected a dull and peaceful handover.

He didn't expect an unexpected gain.

"Don't try to be a smart aleck with me. I'm telling you, this is my husband's territory, and we don't welcome you here!"

As Yao Xiaohui said this, she tried to push Zhao Jian away.

He dodged it by stepping to the side.

It was currently the peak time for people to buy groceries after work, and the foot traffic was heavy.

The argument at the entrance attracted more and more people to stop and watch.

Free entertainment was much more interesting than going home to cook.

The more people there were, the more smug Yao Xiaohui felt.

She wanted to ruthlessly trample on Zhao Jian in front of everyone.

To let this poor wretch know what happens when you go against a beautiful woman!

"Only dogs mark their territory everywhere." Zhao Jian was expressionless.

He was holding back laughter.

Just thinking about the wonderful expression on Yao Xiaohui's face when she found out the ownership of the Vegetable Market was in his hands.

Made him unable to stop himself from wanting to laugh.

"Zhao Jian, right? In my capacity as manager, I ask you to leave immediately. Don't hinder our normal operations."

Huang Xu held back his girlfriend, who wanted to start swearing.

There were many people around; having poor manners would leave a bad impression on others.

It was currently a period of changing bosses, a time of transition between old and new power.

He couldn't afford any slip-ups.

The onlookers didn't understand their grievances.

Hearing Huang Xu claim to be the manager of the Vegetable Market, and his reason for driving Zhao Jian away was hindering normal operations.

They were subjectively more inclined to side with Huang Xu.

Thus, whispers reached Zhao Jian's ears:

"This guy is really something. Is it easy to sell vegetables? Yet he's causing trouble."

"Could he be collecting protection money? I've seen in TV dramas that some thugs specifically target vendors for money."

"That can't be it, he looks quite handsome, not like a bad guy."

Zhao Jian ignored them.

Soon, Tofu Beauty arrived, pedaling her tricycle.

She looked inside and saw Zhao Jian and Huang Xu confronting each other. She abandoned her tricycle and squeezed over.

Whether it was an argument or a fight, having an extra person was never a disadvantage.

"Li Yinling? What are you here for? Didn't I tell you that your tofu doesn't meet our Vegetable Market's hygiene standards and you aren't allowed to sell here anymore!"

Seeing Tofu Beauty, especially this fragrant, beautiful woman taking the initiative to stand by Zhao Jian's side.

Huang Xu was furious inside.

Before driving Tofu Beauty away, he had given her a choice: as long as she agreed to be his girlfriend.

He could let bygones be bygones.

Even if this woman had an unclear relationship with Zhao Jian, he was willing to give her a chance to turn over a new leaf.

But she refused.

She had silently pushed her unsold tofu and left the Vegetable Market.

Now, what was she back for!

"Huang Xu, you know very well whether my tofu meets hygiene standards! Acting recklessly by relying on your power as manager, someone will deal with you sooner or later!"

Tofu Beauty frowned.

Her tofu had been tested by the Food Safety Bureau and had a license.

It was ridiculous that Huang Xu didn't even look at it and just spouted nonsense that her tofu wasn't clean.

Huang Xu snorted coldly and didn't reply; his girlfriend Yao Xiaohui said arrogantly:

"What nonsense? My husband not letting you sell tofu is also for the customers' health, how is that nonsense!"

It was getting livelier.

The customers buying vegetables were talking louder and louder:

"I often buy that girl's tofu; it's clean, nothing to say against it. Saying her tofu is unhygienic is really wicked."

"That's right, I eat it every day. If there were really a problem, wouldn't I know?"

"It's hard to say if it's hygienic; even if a bit of spit falls on it, it's not poisonous if you eat it, but it's disgusting."

Most people at Chengxi Vegetable Market were regulars.

They trusted Tofu Beauty more.

The few skeptical voices were quickly cleared up by enthusiastic customers.

Huang Xu noticed that public opinion was starting to turn against him.

"Zhao Jian, I am the manager, and I have the right to ask you to leave. Otherwise, I'm going to call the police!"

His gloomy expression cast a shadow over Huang Xu's forehead.

Just like the look of someone with black luck.

Zhao Jian was about to take out the copy of the contract and start the face-slapping mode.

Another person stood beside him.

It was the former Administrator, Aunt Liu.

"Let me tell you, Manager Huang, you are truly shameless. You're calling the police? When the police come, will they be investigating you for abusing power for personal gain, or for taking bribes and extortion?"

Aunt Liu started with a trump card.

Two streams of sweat ran down Huang Xu's forehead.

"Aunt Liu, don't spout nonsense; you have to take legal responsibility for slander!" He said loudly.

To Zhao Jian's ears, however, it sounded weak.

Before Aunt Liu could speak again, Huang Xu said fiercely but weakly:

"The three of you, get lost immediately. Our Chengxi Vegetable Market doesn't welcome you, do you understand!"