Zhang Qiang actually grew a little flustered when he heard Li Long say that.
But seeing the piles of big brooms in the Li family's yard reassured him, and he sneered.
"Li Long, don't talk so tough. We both know you give everyone work, and the people on the team appreciate it. You make money, and so does everyone else.
"But without these big brooms the team members tied, you'd be in trouble too. If you want to talk tough to save face now, fine. But when the deadline comes and you can't deliver, you'll be the one in trouble. Think it over!"
With that, Zhang Qiang left.
Li Long sneered and started loading the big brooms he had collected that day.
Li Qingxia helped beside him. Although he had wanted to give Zhang Qiang a beating earlier, he was actually quite worried too. In the old man's view, Zhang Qiang had a point: delivering the goods to the people above was what mattered. If Li Long failed to deliver, he would certainly take the blame.
"Why not give him some money and buy those big brooms?" Li Qingxia suggested. "Not too much. Just negotiate with him. We've only got ten days or so left, and all the achnatherum grass around the team has been cut. There's a limit to how many brooms people can bring..."
"Dad, just leave this to me." Li Long waved a hand. "I can't give in easily on this. Once I do, since I take on big jobs every year-taibazi, big brooms, reed bundles-if Zhang Qiang gets his way this time, someone will copy him next time. I might as well forget making money."
That made sense, but the deadline was almost here.
Naturally, Li Qingxia didn't know that the date Li Long had given