163: Chapter 163 Is it really true? Godfather?

After Nie Zhen finished handling the matter, he told Su Ye and left. He still had to hurry back to the Municipal Public Security Bureau for a meeting. If it weren't for that talent Zhao Wanyong, Nie Zhen wouldn't have planned to come over at all.

When Xiao Yong was released, he felt dizzy. He had only been in the interrogation room for an hour, and when he came out, everything had changed? Director Wu Youdao was out, and Zhang Zhiwen was up? And it looked like it was all because of his brother, Su Ye.

Looking at Su Ye in front of him, Xiao Yong felt he had become a bit of a stranger. A sense of inferiority couldn't help but well up in his heart. After all, they had agreed to be ordinary people, but now you tell me you're not pretending anymore and you're a big shot? This inevitably made Xiao Yong overthink. Did his brother Su Ye still acknowledge him?

Su Ye saw the look in Xiao Yong's eyes and knew what the kid was thinking. He didn't say anything, just punched Xiao Yong in the chest and said with a smile:

"How about it, brother is awesome now, right? If you want, you can acknowledge me as your godfather, and I'll allow you to be a pendant on my thigh."

Hearing Su Ye's playful laughter, for some reason, the heavy stone in Xiao Yong's heart crashed to the ground. He punched him back, feigning disdain, and said:

"Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west, don't bully the young for being poor. Luck changes, so watch out, maybe I'll be successful in a couple of years too."

Su Ye teased:

"Don't bully the middle-aged for being poor, don't bully the elderly for being poor. Is this my, is this my pathetic life?"

Xiao Yong rolled his eyes at Su Ye and said:

"Get lost."

Then the two walked out of the Security Station with their arms around each other's shoulders.

"Are we still working today?"

"The people collecting are gone, so why the hell would we work?"

"Then let's go see my foster parents?"

"No need. My dad just had a small cut on his forehead. It looks scary, but it's actually nothing. He's already on his way back."

"Alright then, let's go buy some stuff. Barbecue tonight? Have some beer?"

"Let's go."

"You're treating—"

"I'll treat, I'll treat. Seriously, and you call yourself a big shot, being so stingy."

"You don't understand, the things you buy taste better. It has nothing to do with how much money it costs."

"Damn you—"

Zhang Zhiwen watched Xiao Yong's retreating figure with envy. Even though he was in his twenties and about to take over as the head of the Security Station, and this time he had even gotten to know Bureau Chief Nie, he was considered young and promising with a bright future. But in reality, Zhang Zhiwen knew that all of this was just a benefit from having kept his position straight.

He had only performed well in front of Su Ye and received such generous rewards. What about Xiao Yong, being Su Ye's brother? His future must be immeasurably brighter than his own. It seemed that in the near future, a big shot would emerge in this town.

Watching the two figures disappear from view, Zhang Zhiwen turned and walked into the Security Station.

"Old Liu, make calls. Call everyone back. Even those on leave, get them back here quickly. If they absolutely can't make it, have them file a report."

Zhang Zhiwen knew he still had a lot to deal with. After all, he hadn't been there long, and he was young, so he didn't have many people under him. Now that he had taken over the station's affairs, he definitely needed to have everyone in his grasp. This was a basic quality of a leader.

At night, a table and two charcoal brazier grills had already been set up in the small courtyard of Xiao Yong's house.

Brazier barbecue is a specialty of Chang City. To put it simply, it's a square piece of sheet metal with a round hole opened in the middle, then a wire mesh made of thick iron wire is woven over the hole, and a basin filled with burning charcoal is placed underneath.

This way, you can grill multiple items at once without needing skewers. It's convenient for large quantities and doesn't require much skill; just make sure it's cooked through and not burnt.

"Those who want to eat, get to the table. Those eating barbecue, make your own dipping sauce."

Su Ye's foster mother, Luo Cuiping, brought out a large basin of marinated pork belly and placed it on the table. Dried tofu, beef, chicken, and a large basin of vegetables were laid out, filled to the brim. That's how it is in the countryside; they might not be able to make exquisite dishes, but they focus on large portions and value.

Su Ye took a disposable paper box and kept adding seasonings to it: salt, MSG, chili powder, then added some scallions, cilantro, and houttuynia cordata. All set.

"Little Su, your godfather won't be drinking with you today. The doctor said I can't drink for the next two days."

Xiao Long had gauze wrapped around his forehead. His face was full of smiles, but if you looked closely, there was an inseparable sorrow in the depths of his eyes.

Su Ye smiled and replied:

"Don't worry, Godfather. I'm not an outsider. I'll take care of myself; you don't need to worry about me."

As for why Xiao Long had sorrow in his eyes, Su Ye understood. After all, fruit has a growth cycle. Now was the time for the Xiao family's grapes to be shipped out. Previously, due to the relationship between Jin Youcai and Director Wu Youdao, almost all the grapes in the surrounding ten miles and eight villages had been monopolized by Jin Youcai, and outside buyers couldn't get in.

In previous years, although Jin Youcai would suppress prices, it wasn't as ruthless as this year. It was probably because the market was genuinely bad this year.

Now that Director Wu Youdao had stepped down, Jin Youcai probably wouldn't have a good ending either, but the grapes in these ten miles and eight villages were finished. Who would collect over ten thousand acres of grapes? Even if they went to find buyers outside now, it wouldn't be easy. The volume was too large, and no one dared to take it on.

Others might be able to wait, but the Xiao family couldn't afford to. If they didn't sell them quickly, they wouldn't be able to sell them for any price after a while.

However, Su Ye already had a plan in mind.

Picking up a bottle of beer, Su Ye sat on a small stool. He pressed the beer bottle cap against the edge of the stool, and the cap popped off.

After taking a sip, Su Ye looked at Xiao Yong, who was turning the barbecue, and said:

"Yongzi, there's something I want to tell you."

Xiao Yong didn't even look up and said:

"Spit it out."

Su Ye chuckled inwardly. Oh, he's pretty tough now, but I wonder how he'll be in a moment.

"Do you know how much your grapes were sold for outside before?"

Xiao Yong looked up at Su Ye:

"Why wouldn't I know? Our grapes here are of good quality. The average price this year is 2.2 yuan. Selling them outside, it's at least around 5 yuan. If it goes out of the province, it goes up to 7 or 8 yuan. I've heard there are even those sold abroad, with a unit price of 15 or 16 yuan per jin."

"But this has nothing to do with us. We don't have the channels, no transportation routes, and no capital. If you want to collect, small-scale operations aren't looked at by others. You need at least over a hundred acres of land. One acre is over 20,000, so a hundred acres is over 2 million."

Su Ye smiled lightly and looked at Xiao Yong, saying:

"That's a coincidence. You know Hongxing Chain, right? It has some connection to me. And coincidentally, Yuanda Logistics also has some connection to me. I can also lend you the capital. Our grapes here are of good quality, and now I want to get involved. You are responsible for helping me collect and pack, and I'll handle the channels and logistics. How about we split the profits 50/50?"

"Clatter." The chopsticks in Xiao Yong's hand dropped to the ground, and then he exclaimed:

"Is that for real? Godfather?"