Wasteland Border Inspector - Chapter 773

Chapter 773: Chapter 256: Yongxing Community, Hou Genbao!_4

“After speaking, he changed his tone and lowered his posture, saying, ‘But if you need extra hands to help, I can send some people over to do odd jobs, as a way of paying the rent for Yongxing to Celestial Essence.’

‘Rent?’

Long suddenly slammed the water cup in his hand onto the table with a bang, causing Hou Genbao’s heart to tremble.

He slightly leaned back, a coldness creeping into his gaze: ‘Your warehouse pays a rent of four thousand Happiness Coins to the Civil Affairs Bureau every month, and you only dare to offer menial labor jobs as rent to Celestial Essence?’

‘Long, you can’t put it like that.’

Even though Long was being overbearing, Hou Genbao had to suppress his temper and offer a wry smile, ‘The Civil Affairs Bureau’s rent is a rule set by the authorities. If Yongxing doesn’t pay, we’d be kicked out. But both Celestial Essence and Yongxing are communities, how can they be compared by that standard?’

‘So you’re saying you think my Celestial Essence can’t drive your Yongxing out?’ Long’s tone instantly turned cold, his mouth curling into a sneer.

‘Ping Dalong! Are you trying to stir up trouble?’ The old Xu standing beside Hou Genbao couldn’t hold back any longer and stepped forward to retort angrily.

‘Oh?’ Long raised his eyelids, his gaze locking onto Old Xu with a fierce glare that made Old Xu instinctively step back, swallowing his words.

The atmosphere in the meeting area suddenly froze, as if the air was thick with gunpowder.

‘Old Xu, I’m discussing serious matters with Long, don’t interrupt.’ Hou Genbao quickly stood up, first bowing to apologize to Long and then turning to quietly chide Old Xu.

Old Xu’s face flushed red, but he had no choice but to step back sulkily and remain silent.

Hou Genbao turned back to Long, lowering his stance even further. ‘Long, our Yongxing truly wants to cooperate with Celestial Essence. But thirty percent of our income is really beyond what we can bear. You know, we survive by repairing old appliances and selling second-hand goods for a living. After covering the rent and community expenses, there’s hardly anything left. Besides, your Celestial Essence has Inspector Cheng’s support, and the funding keeps coming down. You don’t need our meager profit.’

He gritted his teeth, as if making a huge concession, wearing an expression of going all out: ‘How about this, ten percent! We’re willing to give ten percent of our income to Celestial Essence as rent, will that work for you?’

Ten percent would be a significant strain, but Yongxing could still maintain a semblance of peace on the surface.

Hou Genbao initially thought Long would haggle or even flatly refuse, but to his surprise, Long’s expression suddenly changed, and the previous coldness vanished, replaced by a hint of interest.

Did they have a deal?

Hou Genbao’s heart skipped a beat, and he was filled with a sense of regret. If he had known Long would soften so easily, he should have started with five percent. Now offering ten percent felt like a huge loss.

But before he could think further, Long suddenly sat up straight, leaning forward, and asked, ‘What did you just say? Repeat it again.’

‘I… I’m willing to give ten percent of our income to Celestial Essence as rent.’ Hou Genbao was taken aback, instinctively repeating his words.

‘Not that part, the one before!’

‘Before?’ Hou Genbao’s mind worked rapidly, recalling their earlier conversation. ‘I said… your Celestial Essence doesn’t need our meager profit?’

‘Earlier still?’

‘…You have Inspector Cheng’s support?’ Hou Genbao finally realized and hesitantly said.

‘That’s right! That was it!’ Long slapped his thigh, an excited expression appearing on his face. ‘Inspector Cheng wants to see you, will you go?’

‘What?’

Hou Genbao’s heart trembled, a strong sense of astonishment flashed in his eyes, quickly replaced by caution, ‘What does Inspector Cheng want?’

‘If he’s calling you, naturally it’s a good thing. Otherwise, replacing you Yongxing would be a simple matter.’

Long stood up, flexing his neck, ‘Houzi, I’m here in person today. Whether you want to or not, you’re going. Is my reputation as Poison Hand Dragon not enough to move you to visit the District Head Hou?’

‘Long, how could I not go at this point?’

Hou Genbao hurriedly stood up, plastering a smile on his face, while inwardly he was a tumultuous mix of surprise and upheaval.

Has Inspector Cheng finally returned?

And it’s a good thing… But what does a good thing mean for Yongxing?

Could it possibly mean receiving the same support from Inspector Cheng that Celestial Essence has received, to grow and thrive?

He suppressed the myriad emotions in his heart, finding an excuse, ‘Long, please wait for me a moment. I’m going to change into cleaner clothes. I can’t meet the Inspector dressed too casually.’

With that, he quickly left with his two companions, giving constant instructions as they went.

‘If Inspector Cheng does come, make sure to keep the place in order, understand?’

‘Yes, Uncle Hou, we’ll make sure everything is in place.’

After they left, he went into the secluded room in the depths of the warehouse, about ten square meters in size, and took out fresh jeans and a short shirt from the closet to change into.

Standing in front of a blurry mirror, Hou Genbao looked at his own face in the reflection.

A middle-aged face full of fatigue, with sagging corners at the eyes and mouth, even forcing a smile looked stiff.

Dealing with pressures from all sides and handling community problems for the past month, he rarely had a decent rest, and the exhaustion was impossible to conceal.

After thinking for a moment, Hou Genbao bent over and took a dusty box of miscellaneous items from under the bed, opening it to take out a small box of hair gel.

In front of the mirror, he clumsily sprayed some hair gel on his messy hair, trying his best to look more spirited.

‘Who would have thought that I, Houzi, would one day be able to meet face-to-face with the Inspector of Happiness City…’

Looking at himself in the mirror, he couldn’t help but smile self-deprecatingly.

But within that smile, he found, unexpectedly even to himself, a trace of light-heartedness and anticipation.

…