Chapter 2260 - 2163: Vengefulness
Ma Liwen cast a cold glance at Huo Sining and said, "I don’t have the kind of luck Miss Huo has, nor am I as dedicated as Miss Huo. I’m just making a living, but Miss Huo, you’re a billionaire. Why are you interested in such small profits? And working with such a big belly, what’s the matter, is the Gu Family treating you poorly?"
When Huo Sining heard Ma Liwen’s sarcastic remark, she knew this person had nothing good to offer. After such a big lesson, he still wouldn’t change his ways. Sooner or later, someone would deal with someone like him, even if it wasn’t her.
Huo Sining couldn’t be bothered to argue with such a person. She smiled and said, "There’s nothing shameful about women being self-reliant and financially independent. I, Huo Sining, have always stood upright, relying neither on parents nor on the husband’s family. As for small profits, in this world, is there anyone who thinks they have too much money? Art walnuts might not look like much, but they have a market. Otherwise, you and Boss Wang wouldn’t be going to such lengths to come to this village. Am I right?"
"You!"
Ma Liwen was left speechless by Huo Sining’s words and simply flung his sleeves, heading straight into the old village chief’s courtyard without giving Huo Sining another look.
Zhong Zifan and Liao Song, having seen Wang Zhongwei earlier, already looked concerned. Now, seeing Huo Sining having a skirmish with Ma Liwen, their frowns deepened.
Seeing these few people enter the courtyard, Zhong Zifan hesitated outside. If they went inside, the trees of the old village chief’s house wouldn’t come cheap, and given Liao Song’s temper, he would not be willing to bid against Wang Zhongwei. Yet, leaving just like this would be embarrassing, as if they were conceding defeat, leaving themselves open to mockery from Wang Zhongwei and Ma Liwen.
After Ma Liwen went in, he was still annoyed. Glancing at Huo Sining and the others outside, he leaned over to Wang Zhongwei and whispered:
"I’ve got a beef with that woman, and I won’t go into details, but today, for this purchase, we’ll take all the farmers’ walnuts unless the prices are outrageous. I won’t let that woman get what she wants. She won’t get a single tree today!"
Wang Zhongwei was surprised by these words but couldn’t help but smile the next second and said, "Your words are just what I like to hear. Truth is, I don’t get along with the folks outside either. Some time ago, they made me lose several million. I’ve been itching for a chance to settle the score. Even if you hadn’t said so, I wouldn’t let them leave with anything today!"
Ma Liwen smirked: "Looks like this woman isn’t any good, she swindled you out of millions. In that case, this grudge mustn’t be let go easily! I suggest we change our plan and lure this woman in."
Wang Zhongwei was stunned for a moment upon hearing Ma Liwen’s words: "What do you suggest?"
Ma Liwen had a hint of malice in his eyes and leaned close to whisper something to Wang Zhongwei.
The more Wang Zhongwei listened, the more intrigued he became, getting visibly excited.
"Will this...work?" Wang Zhongwei hesitantly asked.
Ma Liwen laughed: "How will we know if we don’t try?"
Huo Sining and the others hesitated briefly outside and were about to leave.
Anyway, today’s trip was in vain, even Liao Song felt disappointed and planned to head back. But just then, Cousin Xiao, who had been silent, suddenly spoke up:
"Brother, it was my oversight today that made you come for nothing. Let me check around, see if there are other villages growing these walnuts, okay?"
Liao Song nodded, though he was somewhat worried.
Wang Zhongwei was already at odds with them, and now that he had contracted all the walnuts in this village, he’d have enough goods for the year. He got a step ahead of them, and if they couldn’t gather the same quantity of walnuts now, Wang Zhongwei would lead the Fuzhou Market once it opened. Then, it would be too late for them to squeeze in and win over customers.
Early movers always have the advantage. Now that they knew Wang Zhongwei had the same plan, it made Liao Song more vigilant, not wanting to be in a passive position in this war.
But the current situation was indeed unfavorable for him. In such circumstances, he couldn’t come up with a good solution and had to leave it to fate.
Huo Sining, who hadn’t spoken, became curious after hearing what Cousin Xiao said:
"Big Brother Xiao, are you from this village too? Why don’t you have any walnut trees when so many families in this village do?"
Since they came to this village, Cousin Xiao had been taking Liao Song to other houses, not even entering his own. This made Huo Sining curious. If everyone in this village knew that art walnuts were profitable, why didn’t Cousin Xiao’s own family plant any trees?
Cousin Xiao looked embarrassed upon hearing Huo Sining’s question:
"My family used to have one, but you should know that art walnuts only became popular again in recent years. Back in the ’80s and ’90s, people couldn’t even be fed or clothed properly. Who knew these things would sell for money? So, seven or eight years ago, my dad cut down the old walnut tree to make room."
"The old walnut trees only started becoming valuable five years ago. When many merchants came to purchase, the villagers discovered that their art walnuts were worth so much. When my dad realized others were making ten or twenty thousand a year from their walnut trees, he was so upset he passed away, just like that."
"My mom complained a lot about this, but complaining was useless since my dad was gone. After the villagers learned about our situation, they mocked my dad for being foolish, which really got to me. The year my dad passed away, I cleared the barren land in the back of our house and planted a dozen art walnuts."
"But you should know, old walnut trees’ fruit isn’t useful for the first ten years. The fruit set rate is low and it’s hard to pair them. Even if merchants see these fruits, they won’t want them due to their poor quality. It takes at least fifteen to sixteen years before old walnut trees bear valuable fruit."
"So, for my trees to bear fruit, it’ll take at least another ten years. I didn’t want to mention this to my younger brother since he’s just started in this field and I’m his relative. I can’t deceive him, right?"