Chapter 72: Scolding the Old Crone! That’s What You Get for Speaking So Maliciously!

Li Junsheng had no idea that Chen Dazhu had gone all out to meet with Section Chief Zhou. After Chen left, he personally checked the workshop’s goods to ensure everything was in order, then secured them with several heavy locks. He also assigned two men to stand watch in shifts, twenty-four hours a day, to prevent any theft.

Only after all this did Li Junsheng prepare to pay Qin Yong for the transportation work this time. Thanks to Tang Liang’s help, after Fang Youcai finished resolving the equipment issues, he personally brought over a kettle to pour water for Li Junsheng and his team, and fetched several stools so they could rest for a moment.

“Qin Yong, you and your men worked hard today loading and unloading the goods. I should show my appreciation, so, on top of the agreed price, I want to give each of you a little extra. Here, count it, and then split it with your brothers.”

Li Junsheng handed the money to Qin Yong, who was surprised and grateful—he hadn’t expected Li Junsheng to look after his business so well.

“Uncle Li, I really can’t accept this. We already agreed on the price beforehand,” Qin Yong said, feeling embarrassed to take the extra.

Li Junsheng smiled, “No need to be so formal. You’ve earned it. If you keep this up, next time I have work, I won’t come to you.”

Li Junsheng wanted to make as much money as possible while the scrap was still sellable, so lately, he had often needed Qin Yong’s help transporting goods.

Seeing Li Junsheng insist, Qin Yong dared not refuse and quickly accepted the money.

“Thank you, Uncle Li. Don’t worry, next time you need us, we’ll definitely help again. This is what we should do.”

“I have another load for you to haul tomorrow, so go home and get some rest tonight. Don’t wear yourselves out for tomorrow,” Li Junsheng said.

Qin Yong was delighted—two jobs in a short time was more than enough for him.

“Of course, just call us tomorrow and we’ll come right away.”

After agreeing to contact each other by phone the next day, Qin Yong drove his truck away from the machinery factory.

Li Junsheng chatted a bit with Fang Youcai, then used the factory’s landline to call Old Dao.

“Old Dao, it’s me, Old Li.”

“Old Li! What brings you calling at this hour?”

“Nothing big. I just wanted to ask how you managed the last batch of goods. I struck while the iron was hot today and brought another load to the Dongfanghong Machinery Factory, just waiting for you to pick it up.”

On the other end, Old Dao sighed, not expecting Li Junsheng to act so decisively.

Old Dao found himself admiring Li Junsheng. He quickly replied, “The batch I took a few days ago isn’t fully dealt with yet. Give me a few days—once it’s done, I’ll come for the scrap you have now. Don’t you dare sell to anyone else!”

Old Dao was afraid Li Junsheng might turn to someone else and cut him out of the deal.

Li Junsheng let out a rare hearty laugh. “Don’t worry, I bought it in advance just for you to pick up. I’m only worried others will catch wind of this scrap business and compete with us.”

“Alright, with your foresight, I can rest easy!” Old Dao’s side was a bit noisy, so he didn’t chat long before hanging up.

Li Junsheng also began thinking about heading home.

He was almost at his building when, thinking of how Li Chun’ya missed her daughters, he decided to stop by Sun Gui’s home first.

He didn’t often visit Sun Gui’s house; the last time was probably for Li Chun’ya’s wedding. Li Junsheng nearly got lost, and had to ask for directions before finding the place.

The Sun family lived in an old, cramped house at the end of an alley—a veritable slum of the city.

Li Junsheng arrived at an unfortunate moment, just as Wu Dongmei was beating and scolding the two girls. The elder, being braver, shielded her younger sister and took the brunt of her grandmother’s slaps.

The older girl’s face was stubborn, refusing to shed a single tear despite the blows. The younger, timid by nature, hid behind her sister.

Both children looked thin and small for their age.

Wu Dongmei hadn’t noticed Li Junsheng step through the doorway. She continued berating the girls, “You two are nothing but burdens, still want to eat? Why haven’t you starved yet? Always whining about being hungry, begging for food—born to collect debts, that’s what you are. If it weren’t for that wretched mother of yours, I’d have tossed you into the river by now!”

“Don’t you dare talk bad about my mother,” the older girl shouted, biting Wu Dongmei’s arm in defense of Li Chun’ya.

Wu Dongmei, in pain, shoved her to the ground and kicked her twice. “You little brat, you dare bite me? Think you can defy me? Your mother’s nothing but a shameless wretch—and you two are just as worthless!”

“Your mother went and had another girl, too ashamed to come home, so she’s hiding at her parents’ house. If you ask me, you two should be sent off to the Li family—let them feed you.”

Hearing this, Li Junsheng’s face darkened. He strode over, grabbed a basin of laundry water from the yard, and dumped it over Wu Dongmei’s head.

“Wu Dongmei, you vicious old hag! You won’t even let the children eat. You don’t have to say another word—I’m taking these girls with me. If you don’t want them, I, Li Junsheng, will raise them myself!”

Wu Dongmei, her hair dripping, was at first furious, but upon hearing Li Junsheng’s words, she was overjoyed.

“Fine, raise them if you can! Take your two worthless girls and get them out of here. Just seeing them brings me bad luck!”

“Shut your mouth! Always calling them worthless—you’re the real curse, you shameless old woman. With that foul mouth of yours, it’s no wonder your husband died young and your son’s no good either.”

Wu Dongmei’s eyes widened in disbelief—no one had ever dared speak to her like this, let alone curse her for her dead husband.

She flushed red, pointing at Li Junsheng, at a loss for words.

Li Junsheng felt no guilt for his harsh words—such a poisonous woman deserved no better.

The two girls were bewildered, never expecting their grandfather to rebuke their grandmother like this.

But he was right! The older girl was secretly delighted—who would have thought her grandmother would be put in her place for once? Serves her right for always cursing their mother.

If she weren’t scared of another beating, she would have applauded her grandfather on the spot.

After his outburst, Li Junsheng calmed himself, shielded the two girls behind him, and checked them over for injuries.

Thankfully, aside from being thin, they had no serious wounds. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have let Wu Dongmei off so easily.

Standing up, he said coldly to Wu Dongmei, “You don’t need to worry about Chun’ya or my three granddaughters. Once Chun’ya is out of confinement, she’ll be divorcing your son, and you won’t be getting custody of any of the girls.”