Li Xiangqian had only told him part of it, but Li Long pieced together a fairly accurate picture.
He had diverted a truckload of fritillaria from the Happiness Purchasing Station, and things had snowballed from there. At first, a few people had come to Ma County to test the waters, then large numbers had arrived to sell fritillaria and hides. His side had made a fortune and become swamped with work, but the other purchasing stations had suffered losses-this was not something where both sides could win.
It was a zero-sum game. If one side got more, the other naturally got less. There was only so much to go around.
He had cut off other people's source of income, so he could hardly blame them for striking back.
He just had not expected Director Qian and Director Wei to bring Director Li along to block that counterattack, and "wipe out" the other party in the process.
Yet he, the troublemaker at the center of it all, had known absolutely nothing about any of it.
Li Long was deeply touched. Society in those days was not as indifferent as it would become later, and people generally still had a strong sense of morality, but that did not mean someone would take risks, resolve trouble, and remove obstacles for you without wanting anything at all.
"Thanks are definitely in order!" Li Long said. "Well, Director, actually... actually, I have some good stuff too. I'll bring it over for you this afternoon."
"I really didn't do much. It was mainly Director Qian and Director Wei," Li Xiangqian said. He was not really after anything from Li Long. Although he knew Li Long handled things reliably, he still could not help reminding him.
Li Xiangqian had watched Li Long grow step by step, so