The renovation of the Xinglin Herbal Hall proceeded quickly. Luan Jiping would check on the progress every two days, which made Long Xiao very grateful, though he dared not show it.
Long Xiao found Luan Jiping’s behavior strange. He had known her for only a few days, yet she treated him like a close older sister, which was a bit too much.
"Sister, why the long face? What’s bothering you?" This day, Long Xiao, who was chatting with Mi Tianfu under a tree, saw Luan Jiping enter looking unhappy and immediately asked.
Luan Jiping sized Long Xiao up, then suddenly smiled and said, "I have an idea, Long Xiao, would you do me a favor?"
"What favor? It depends on whether I can do it."
"Of course, you can. Come home with me for a few days soon. It will only take about five or six days of your time."
"Go home? Isn't your home in the East Sea? Why would it take five or six days?"
Luan Jiping smiled and said, "I'm not from the East Sea, I just developed my career here. My hometown is in the capital, and I need your help with a small matter. You'll know what it is when we get there."
Seeing Luan Jiping's mysterious demeanor, Long Xiao pretended to be displeased and said, "Sister, if you don't tell me what it is, I won't go."
Luan Jiping sighed and said, "Brother, I want you to pretend to be my boyfriend for a few days. My family is pushing me to go on blind dates, and I find their nagging troublesome, so I want to use you to fend them off."
This was indeed a small matter, and Long Xiao couldn't refuse, so he agreed.
It was Sunday, and there were many people eating at home for lunch. Therefore, Long Xiao didn't stay at the Xinglin Herbal Hall for long. He asked Mi Tianfu to take him to the vegetable market to buy some groceries and then returned to the Lin family's house.
Carrying a large bag of vegetables into the living room, Long Xiao saw Nangong Yue chatting animatedly with Young Master Jin, with several gift boxes on the coffee table.
Seeing Long Xiao return, Nangong Yue's face fell. "Long Xiao, please cook a few more dishes that Young Master Jin likes for lunch."
Long Xiao agreed and glanced at the cane placed by the sofa. It seemed that the news from Brother Hu of Xicheng about breaking Young Master Jin's leg was true.
"Jin Shaohuai, is there something wrong with your leg?"
Young Master Jin glared at Long Xiao and said, "What's it to you? My leg is uncomfortable, so what?"
Long Xiao chuckled and said, "I was just asking casually. If your leg is broken, it's naturally none of my business."
After returning from the capital, before Young Master Jin could contact Xiao Hui, he was found by Brother Hu's men and had his leg broken. He felt depressed. He had asked Brother Hu of Xicheng to help him collect his debt, but not only did he not get the money, his leg was broken, and Long Xiao was completely unharmed.
Long Xiao worked hard on lunch, adding five more dishes than usual, and putting extra chili in each one.
When the Lin family returned, Lin Xuan saw Long Xiao smiling broadly and thought, this guy is truly heartless. Young Master Jin came to pursue your wife, and you have no reaction.
After serving everyone, Long Xiao sat beside Lin Xuan.
"Wife, Young Master Jin is visiting us today. I’ve cooked some of his favorite dishes. Do you think they are good?"
Lin Xuan glared at Long Xiao, thinking, are you crazy? Don't you know Jin Shaohuai's intentions?
"What does that have to do with me?" Lin Xuan said indifferently.
Nangong Yue smiled and said, "Long Xiao, you did well today. It would be even better if you divorced Lin Xuan."
Lin Xuan glanced at Nangong Yue and ate without saying anything, wanting to see Long Xiao's reaction.
Long Xiao was still smiling. He even put a spicy chicken leg on Jin Shaohuai's plate and said, "Mom, you all think I'm useless, but Jin Shaohuai is even more useless than me. Look, his leg is already broken. If he's not careful, he might break his arm too, and then he'll be completely finished."
Jin Shaohuai, who was happily eating the spicy chicken leg, did not expect Long Xiao to call him useless. He put down the chicken leg and said, "Long Xiao, who is useless is obvious. I'm handsome and rich, while you live off your wife."
Long Xiao sneered, "Making money is child's play for me. Nowadays, money is everywhere, it's just a matter of knowing how to pick it up. Your money is all from your family, and you have no ability to earn it. You're far behind me."
Jin Shaohuai felt deeply humiliated by being looked down upon by a live-in son-in-law.
"Who says I can't make money? I'm the general manager of our Jin Corporation. It's absurd to say I can't make money."
Seeing Long Xiao belittle Jin Shaohuai, Nangong Yue became furious. She threw her chopsticks on the table and said, "Long Xiao, you get a smile and you beam, don't you? How dare you look down on Young Master Jin? You're not even fit to carry his shoes."
Young Master Jin looked at Lin Xuan and said, "Long Xiao, I know you're not convinced by me. Can you solve the difficulties the Lin Corporation is facing now?"
"Can you?" Long Xiao retorted.
Young Master Jin chuckled and said, "Of course, I can. How about this: if you can solve it within three days, I'll back out. If you can't solve it and I solve it, you back out."
"Three days? Heh, what difficulties does the Lin Corporation have? I can solve them right now. Solving them in three days is still considered ability? You're too incompetent."
Lin Xuan suddenly stood up and said, "Long Xiao, Jin Shaohuai, what do you take me for? I don't agree."
Seeing Lin Xuan angry, Long Xiao said, "Wife, don't be angry. Tell me what difficulties the Lin Corporation is facing, and I'll solve them for you right away."
"Boast all you want. You, a poor bum living off your wife, what can you do?"
Lin Yi saw that Long Xiao and Jin Shaohuai were making a bet and thought it would be fun to watch. He said, "Long Xiao, I support you. Solve the Lin Corporation's problems immediately and show them you're not living off your wife."
Young Master Jin was secretly pleased. The recent difficulties of the Lin Corporation were all orchestrated by him in secret, with the aim of trapping Long Xiao.
"Sister, tell us, what are the difficulties? I believe Young Master Jin can solve them." Lin Hao, wanting to stir up trouble, added more fuel to the fire.
Lin Xuan didn't speak. Long Xiao seemed to have changed recently, but she still didn't believe he could solve the Lin Corporation's problems.
Seeing Lin Xuan's silence, Young Master Jin said, "Let me tell you. The Lin Corporation is facing financial difficulties and needs a loan. The pharmaceutical company can't buy raw materials. The third difficulty is that the Tianyun Company needs to settle freight charges tomorrow, and the Lin Corporation doesn't have the money in its accounts to settle it."
After listening, Long Xiao smiled and looked at Lin Xuan, "Wife, weren't these the same issues from last week? I thought you had already solved them."
Lin Xuan had been overwhelmed for the past seven or eight days. She had hoped to solve the problem by cooperating with Jingkou Gorou, but unexpectedly, the Pulse-Opening Powder provided by Jingkou Gorou had caused trouble.
Long Xiao took out his phone and first called Brother Hu of Xicheng. "Ah Hu, isn't Tianyun Company yours?"
Hearing Long Xiao's voice, Brother Hu of Xicheng hurriedly said, "Yes, yes, Brother Long, what can I do for you?"
"Change the settlement of freight charges with the Lin Corporation to monthly settlement."
"Okay, I'll arrange it immediately."
After the call, Long Xiao said, "The freight settlement issue is resolved."
Everyone looked at Long Xiao as if he were an idiot.
"Long Xiao, are you kidding? You solved it with one phone call?" Young Master Jin didn't believe it at all, nor did he believe the person Long Xiao was talking to was Brother Hu of Xicheng.
"It's not hard to verify. Call Tianyun Company later and ask, and you'll know."
With that, Long Xiao dialed Li Yizhen again, asking him to procure pharmaceutical raw materials for him. Li Yizhen was one of the three great physicians in the East Sea and a patriarch in the medical field. With his intervention, any pharmaceutical company would give face.
As for the loan, it was even simpler. Ruixiang Bank belonged to Luan Jiping. Although the bank was small and a local bank in Donghai City, it could provide loans of tens of billions.
Long Xiao didn't call Luan Jiping. He called Director Li, who had replaced Director Zhao. Because Director Li was present when Long Xiao taught Yang Xiaoyue a lesson, he dared not offend Long Xiao and agreed readily.