Chapter 126: Li Lao Er's Extraordinary Encounter

Seeing the scene, the newcomer sensed something was off and promptly opened the car door and got out.

As soon as the door opened, people began to disembark from the two cars. There were only four people, but their imposing presence made everyone nearby instinctively lower their heads.

It wasn't that these individuals looked unattractive; it was because they were too intimidating.

The person in the front passenger seat of the first car was dressed in an over-the-knee black mink coat. His build was as robust as a bear's, and his face was covered with scars, including a centipede-like scar running from his mouth to his ear. He looked just like an escaped convict.

Not only did his appearance seem menacing, but his gaze was also fierce beyond anything the lumberyard workers had ever seen. His glance made everyone around quickly avert their eyes.

However, it seemed this person wasn't the leader.

The first person to get out of the car glanced at the crowd ahead and asked in a deep voice, "Is this where Li Xian lives?"

Hearing that they were looking for Li Xian, someone immediately pointed at the heavily damaged gate, which had been hacked apart with an axe.

Amid the murmurs, someone whispered, "I heard Li Lao Er owes over 1.6 million outside. Could this be someone coming to collect?"

"Goodness, these people look too fierce. Are they from the underworld or something?"

As people discussed, the leader of the group walked down the path cleared by the crowd and approached the gate. He saw Li Xian turning around to look at him and smiled with his teeth showing.

"Zhao Ge!"

This person was Zhao Si, the one who had been ordered by Cheng Liu to escort Li Xian and Xu Maohe back to the country. Zhao Si was accompanied by Zhao Dajun!

Seeing Zhao Si, Li Xian handed the dog leash to Li You and stepped forward. He slapped Zhao Si on the shoulder with a heavy hand, saying, "What brings you here?"

Zhao Si laughed and slapped Li Xian's shoulder in return, "Damn it, you're hard to find! I first asked Xu Maohe and found out you were back at the lumberyard, then I asked for your address on the main road. Damn, I took a wrong turn and went around in circles before I finally found it."

After exchanging pleasantries with Li Xian, Zhao Si turned around and gestured behind him, "What's this? Any trouble?"

The people around took a step back, clearly intimidated by these unknown, fearsome outsiders.

Considering the situation was already quite complex, Li Xian waved his hand, indicating he wanted to keep things under control. He fabricated a story about some neighborhood disputes to downplay the situation to Zhao Si.

Li Xian stretched his neck, looking through the crowd at the two cars parked outside the yard, "Where's Liu Ge? Is he here too?"

Zhao Si chuckled, "No, Liu Ge is in Harbin. We just returned a couple of days ago, and he couldn't make it."

"Then what's this about?" Li Xian asked, puzzled.

"Hey," Zhao Si grinned and pointed behind him, "This trip was quite fruitful, and Liu Ge was pleased. He said that no matter the market conditions for machine tools, this deal wouldn't have gone smoothly without you. Since the New Year is coming up, Liu Ge arranged some New Year's goods for you."

"New Year's goods?"

Zhao Si smirked, pulled Li Xian through the crowd, and pointed at the two cars parked outside.

One was a battered Honda Accord with multiple scratches, despite its seemingly new paint.

The other was a shiny white Cherokee with red ribbons still attached to the wheels.

"Liu Ge thought that since the roads here are bad and a sedan isn't practical, he got you a Cherokee."

Seeing the Cherokee outside, Li Xian was secretly astonished. Such a big gesture!

Cars were rare in those days and highly valued. For context, the Forestry Bureau's director drove a BJ212, and even the mayor of Beilin City only had a Santana.

Walking around the car, Li Xian saw the gleaming "4X4" badge and was amazed.

"How much did this cost?" he asked, bewildered.

Zhao Si grinned, "Over 250,000."

Hearing the price, Li Xian quickly declined, "No, this is too expensive. Zhao Ge, take it back. I appreciate Liu Ge's kindness, but I can't accept this car."

Zhao Si grabbed his shoulder and pressed down, smiling, "Before coming, Liu Ge specifically said that he's too busy in Harbin before the New Year and can't move around. You have to accept the car, or he'll feel bad and won't enjoy his New Year. Once things settle down after the New Year, he'll treat you to drinks. Besides, if I were to take the car back, he'd probably skin me alive. Don't make it hard for me."

Everyone around was stunned; someone actually came all the way from Harbin to give Li Lao Er a car!

Heaven, that car, though they hadn't seen it before, looked far superior to the old jeeps in the bureau. Who could afford such a vehicle?

The bureau chief?

Nonsense.

Even the Forest Management Bureau doesn't have this kind of style! Didn't he owe over a million outside? What's going on?

People murmured among themselves, and opinions about Li Xian's recent success or failure became increasingly blurred.

Not only the onlookers but also Li You and Wu Shengli at home were equally astonished.

Especially Li You.

He was dumbfounded, glancing at the three burly men by the car, the car itself, and then at his son.

His mind was consumed with one thought: What has this kid been doing outside?! Has he taken a crooked path and sold his life?

His narrow-minded thinking couldn't fathom what kind of fortune could lead to someone delivering a car worth over 200,000 as New Year's goods.

A car worth that much given away so casually, what kind of big shot must this be? Do they have a mine at home, or are they robbing people?

At this moment, he was more concerned about his son's safety than feeling any joy.

Li Xian, however, did not notice the varying reactions around him. He thought for a moment and asked Zhao Si quietly, "How many machines did Liu Ge bring back from the north?"

Zhao Si grinned and made a "nine" with his hand, "Almost a thousand machines, with over 1,300 carloads."

Hearing this number, Li Xian was secretly impressed. This was indeed the style of a big-time trader.

Thinking of the potential profit from the over 900 machines, he stopped refusing and waved his hand, "Alright, I accept Liu Ge's kindness!" He then pulled Zhao Si and waved to the three men, "Come, brothers, come inside. We're home now, let's have a good drink at noon."

Zhao Si didn't move and politely declined, saying he had been away all winter and hadn't returned home. Since it was still early, he needed to head back immediately. If he delayed by drinking, he would have to wait another day.

Li Xian knew he was from Hailin City, not far from Beilin. Though Zhao Si enjoyed some fame, he had a tough life, constantly traveling between Russia and Harbin. With the New Year approaching, it wasn't right to insist on keeping him.

He had Zou Ni pack some pig head meat and braised meat from yesterday, and some cigarettes and liquor from the New Year's goods, and stuffed them into Zhao Si's car.

After sending them off, Li Xian noticed the crowd at the gate had dispersed significantly. Even the remaining onlookers no longer had the same level of confidence as before.

Seeing Gao Dayi, who had been stunned in front of him, Li Xian smiled and said, "Uncle Gao, want to come in and chat?"

Gao Dayi, who had watched Li Xian grow from a bare-bottomed kid into what he was now, was perplexed.

He had known Li Xian managed to secure a large batch of timber logs and learned yesterday that he had taken a retired section chief as a godfather.

While he wasn't afraid of this, seeing the shining Cherokee in the snow made him feel uneasy.

When faced with Li Xian's invitation, he remained silent, turned, and walked away.

With his departure, the remaining people also left with puzzled looks. Liu Guangfa, seeing he no longer had any supporters, muttered a harsh remark and melted into the crowd.

Watching this, Li Xian smiled. He waved to his family, who were full of questions, and went back inside.

In the afternoon.

"Li Lao Er made a fortune outside!"

"Li Lao Er has joined the underworld!"

"Li Lao Er has paid back the 1.6 million debt and made a lot of money!"

"Li Lao Er has been taken in by a wealthy woman from Harbin named Liu Ye! It's said she's over sixty, returned from Hong Kong, and has a lot of money!"

And so on, dozens of versions of the latest gossip spread rapidly among the households in the lumberyard, from stoves to dining tables and walls.

Meanwhile, in the main room of the old Li family's house, Li You sat upright, adopting a stern demeanor, and slammed his hand on the table.

"Damn it! Honestly explain what you've been doing outside!"