"Little Qiang, why did you let Zhu Erpeng be the supervisor? That guy is just a lazy bone…" Xia Sanwa shook his head vigorously at the mention of Wang Erpeng.

Wang Xiaoqiang could detect the jealousy in Xia Sanwa's tone and said, "Don't worry, once the fruit saplings are planted, I'll assign a few people to specifically manage the orchard, and you'll be the supervisor for that section…"

Upon hearing this, Xia Sanwa's eyes revealed sheer ecstasy. He had never held any official title in his life. Before, just seeing the village production team leader would make him incredibly envious; sadly, no one had ever given him the chance. Frankly speaking, he would die with no regrets if he could be a leader in his lifetime.

While he was overjoyed inside, he pretended to be indifferent on the surface and said, "Actually, Little Qiang, I don't care much about being a supervisor. I'm just afraid that others won't lead the team well. We know each other inside and out and Zhu Erpeng is an outsider after all—how can we be sure he won't have his own agenda…"

"You make sense, which is why, besides managing the orchard, you'll also need to secretly keep an eye on Zhu Erpeng for me… Remember, do it secretly…" Wang Xiaoqiang emphasized.

As soon as Xia Sanwa heard this, he became serious and patted his chest saying, "Rest assured, Little Qiang, I'll get this done for you!"

"Hmm! How should I handle your salary?" asked Wang Xiaoqiang.

"Ah, Little Qiang, let's not speak like strangers when we're family. Talking about money makes it seem too transactional," Xia Sanwa replied courteously, yet his face showed an expectant look at Wang Xiaoqiang.

However, Wang Xiaoqiang's response not only failed to meet his expectations but also made Xia Sanwa anxious: "Your salary will be the same as Zhu Erpeng's—it could be higher than that of an average worker, but it could also be lower. Whether it will be higher or lower will depend on your work performance…"

"Actually, Little Qiang, no matter how much you pay me, I'll work hard for you. We are and will forever be family. I'm really just putting in the effort for my own home," Xia Sanwa was indeed good with words.

At last, they arrived at a fruit sapling base on the outskirts of the county town. Wang Xiaoqiang drove the Hummer in, and they could see a wide driveway extending up to a hundred meters away, with large plots of fruit saplings on both sides.

The Hummer finally stopped in front of a six-room office building.

Wang Xiaoqiang and Xia Sanwa got out of the car. Xia Sanwa looked at the endless fruit saplings and then at the imposing office building, saying with envy, "This is quite a setup!"

Wang Xiaoqiang responded indifferently, "Our vegetable base won't be any worse than this in the future. The office building will even be eight rooms up and down…"

"By the way, Little Qiang, do I have an office?" Xia Sanwa asked expectantly.

"Whether you have one or not is not for me to decide; it will depend on your job performance…"

"Err, I will definitely strive to get one…" Xia Sanwa promised.

Just then, a middle-aged man came out to greet them from the office building. The man came up to them with a big smile and extended his hand very friendly, "Welcome to my fruit sapling base."

Wang Xiaoqiang shook his hand, "May I know if you are the person in charge here?"

"Yes, my surname is Wu. I've been operating this fruit sapling business here for six years," Boss Wu pushed his glasses up with his left hand and started in a genteel tone… "May I ask for your distinguished names?"

"Uh, there is no need for formality—I'm Wang, Wang Xiaoqiang. This is the supervisor of my orchard, surnamed Xia…"

"Ah, Boss Wang, Supervisor Xia… nice to meet you," said Boss Wu politely.

When Xia Sanwa heard himself being called Supervisor Xia, he felt as thrilled as if he had been bathed in a spring breeze, as if he had become a high official. He immediately straightened his back and clasped his hands behind him. But just as he put his hands behind his back, Boss Wu reached out to shake his hand, forcing Xia Sanwa to awkwardly extend his hand again for the handshake.

Boss Wu led the two men into the office building and then requested a staff member to bring documents about the company's fruit saplings for them to review.

There were dozens of types of fruit saplings listed in the documents, all premium varieties. After looking through them for a while, Wang Xiaoqiang and Xia Sanwa finally chose three hundred Red Fuji apple trees and three hundred red grape saplings.

These Red Fuji apple saplings were quite expensive, costing 38 yuan each. Wang Xiaoqiang asked, "Boss, will these apple saplings grow to taste like Red Fuji apples from Yantai, Shandong?"

Boss Wu chuckled bitterly, "Boss Wang, you're quite the joker. Different soils yield different flavors, though the difference is minor…"

"Then will they sell for the same price as those produced in Yantai, Shandong?"

"That they will not," Boss Wu said uncomfortably, pushing his glasses and thinking to himself that although this young man wasn't old, he knew how to nitpick.

"Since there's a difference in taste and the price can't match that of those from Yantai, Shandong, why are your apple saplings more expensive than those from Shandong?"

"Young man, you don't understand the market. The price of these fruit saplings fluctuates all the time. Perhaps the price is one thing today and will change tomorrow."

"Fine then, when your price drops to thirty yuan each, I'll come back to buy," said Wang Xiaoqiang, preparing to leave with Xia Sanwa. He had just checked the price of this sapling variety yesterday. They were nowhere near thirty-eight yuan each—thirty-five was already the ceiling. He hadn't expected Boss Wu to try to rip him off, seeing him as a new face.

"Hey, Boss Wang…" Boss Wu grabbed Wang Xiaoqiang's arm, "The price can still be negotiated, right...?"

"Thirty yuan per sapling, not a penny more," Wang Xiaoqiang stated resolutely.

"Fine, thirty it is. To make your acquaintance, I'm willing to take a loss today," Boss Wu said with a pained expression.

After agreeing on the price, Boss Wu asked Wang Xiaoqiang to pay half of the payment upfront, and they would dig up the saplings overnight to deliver them early the next morning. Wang Xiaoqiang questioned why they couldn't deliver them now.

Laughing, Boss Wu said, "Clearly, this is Boss Wang's first time planting fruit trees. It's June, and the weather is not suitable for planting new saplings because as soon as they're dug up, they might die from the heat. Therefore, we have to wait until the evening..."

Xia Sanwa also said, "Yeah, boss, it's too hot right now. It's better to listen to Boss Wu!"

"Alright, Boss Wu, let's do as you say…" Wang Xiaoqiang wasn't worried about the saplings drying out because he had the Five Elements Spirit Spring. However, if he insisted too much, it could arouse suspicion. Besides, whether they're delivered today or tomorrow, it didn't matter since it was Boss Wu who would be delivering them.

Once the matter of the saplings was settled, Wang Xiaoqiang and Xia Sanwa returned to the Vegetable Base. There, they saw Zhu Erpeng energetically leading the workers in erecting greenhouses. Eradicating his usual lethargic demeanor, Zhu Erpeng was running around on-site, directing and coordinating efforts with serious focus.

Seeing Zhu Erpeng working with such vigor surprised Xia Sanwa. He silently resolved not to be outdone by him.

After the saplings arrived the next day, Wang Xiaoqiang assigned ten workers to Xia Sanwa, instructing them to plant the saplings as quickly as possible. Of course, before this, Wang Xiaoqiang had infused each sapling with some Wood Element Spiritual Qi brimming with life.

At noon that day, just as the workers were about to knock off and head home for lunch, a modified off-road vehicle sped into the Vegetable Base, pulling off a stylish drift before stopping. As everyone stared in shock, a tall and burly figure stepped out from the off-road vehicle.

Wearing sunglasses, short-sleeved camo, and with a handsome face draped in long arm hair, he looked like a massive brown bear, intimidating and not to be trifled with. When the onlookers focused on him, he removed his sunglasses, revealing eyes of a naturally commanding nature. With one sweep of his fierce gaze, everyone involuntarily lowered their heads.

"Hey, who here knows Wang Xiaoqiang?" the man asked arrogantly.

"What do you want with Wang Xiaoqiang?" Xia Sanwa was much more assertive since becoming the Supervisor, but his voice still came out softer upon seeing this person.

"I'm his friend, here for a visit. Please ask him to come out…" The man deliberately made his voice sound friendlier.

Just at that moment, Wang Xiaoqiang, who had finished inspecting the planting of the saplings, walked over and noticed a group of workers gathered. He approached them.

It wasn't until he got closer that he noticed the off-road vehicle and the tall man standing in front of it. Wang Xiaoqiang recognized him at a glance—it was Lin Juxiong, the same man he'd previously outdrank.

"What's this guy doing here?" Wang Xiaoqiang wondered aloud, but then it dawned on him. As a former military man likely trained in recon, and since Wang Xiaoqiang was often seen in the Provincial Capital with many acquaintances, it wouldn't have been difficult for him to find out.

"But what's he here for again? Surely he can't still be sore about losing? If we compete again… Pfft… he's setting himself up for another loss, and that's just asking for misery!" Wang Xiaoqiang thought disdainfully to himself as he walked up.

"Wang Xiaoqiang, finally out," Lin Juxiong lifted his chin.

"Lin Juxiong, what do you want from me?"

The workers, seeing their boss knew the stranger, just listened to the conversation, which didn't seem too friendly.

"What else but to compete…" Lin Juxiong said directly.

"Didn't we already compete? And you're still bound to lose…" Wang Xiaoqiang said with contempt, fed up with his persistence.

"You don't need to worry. This has nothing to do with Xu Qingxue. It's just between you and me. I admit drinking is not my strength against you, but in a fight, you're definitely no match for me!"

On hearing Lin Juxiong's words, the workers were surprised yet looked at their boss with newfound respect: it seemed that Wang Xiaoqiang could really hold his liquor, enough to outdrink someone as burly as Lin Juxiong. Although they didn't know Lin Juxiong's drinking capacity, his formidable presence suggested that he was no slouch in that department.

Everyone but Xia Sanwa was surprised, as he had witnessed Wang Xiaoqiang's drinking ability during the Spring Festival, which was indeed remarkable!

"Why should I compete with you…" Wang Xiaoqiang simply wasn't interested.

At that point, the workers assumed Wang Xiaoqiang was scared and didn't dare to challenge Lin Juxiong. Judging by their physiques, Wang Xiaoqiang appeared far outmatched; only Xia Sanwa didn't think so. He had seen Wang Xiaoqiang's skills in action—Guo Biao and his gang, armed and all, couldn't defeat Wang Xiaoqiang.

This guy wouldn't stand a chance against Wang Xiaoqiang, even though he looked more imposing.

"Of course, I won't have you fight for nothing. If you win, from now on, you're my big brother, and you'll have the right and opportunity to command me three times—as long as it's not illegal, I'll comply with your orders," said Lin Juxiong as if he had this prepared and blurted it out spontaneously.

For the workers, this condition didn't seem like much—they were probably more interested in a monetary bet—but for Wang Xiaoqiang, it was quite enticing. He understood Lin Juxiong's background, and making him do things would be more valuable than taking his money!

"And what if I lose?" Wang Xiaoqiang asked.

"If you lose, then that's that. I just want to regain what's rightfully my dignity," Lin Juxiong turned out to be someone who prided himself on face, willing to go to lengths like visiting this remote village just to save face with Wang Xiaoqiang. (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly passes at Qidian.com.

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