Making a living in Dongguan, her fiery red lips offer me tenderness.

Li Xiulian remained silent. She seemed to have gained a deeper understanding of Li Yang. This boy was not simple. His inner world was completely different from that of ordinary people. He was not so superficial.

We soon arrived at the building materials market, which seemed to be called Caiwuloupai Street.

"Thank you, I'm getting off now."

"You're welcome."

Ding Yang got off the bus, but to his surprise, Li Xiulian also got off.

"Sister, are you buying building materials too?"

"No, I'll show you around. I know this area pretty well."

"Thank you!"

Ding Yang went to the building materials store and asked about the price of cement and sand, trying to get some information out of them.

The wholesale price of ordinary 325 cement is about 16 yuan per bag, or 320 yuan per ton.

Ordinary river sand has a wholesale price of approximately 40-45 yuan per cubic meter.

After asking at several stalls and finding that the prices were all about the same, Ding Yang had a general idea of ​​what was available.

"Sister, let's go back, there's nothing else to see."

"OK!"

The two got back into the car.

"Xiaoyang, please don't call me 'sister' anymore, okay? You can call me Xiulian or Axiu, calling me 'sister' makes me sound so old."

"OK!"

"Xiulian, your father's name is so strange. It reminds me of a very famous novel."

"You mean Lu Yao's 'Ordinary World'?"

"Yes, this novel is very good. I finished reading it all. However, the story of He Xiulian didn't end well. She died of cancer."

"People call her He Xiulian, but I'm called Li Xiulian. Besides, I was born in 81, and I think 'Ordinary World' was only completed in 1988."

"But speaking of this book, it reminds me of someone whose situation is similar to yours."

"You mean Sun Shao-ping?"

"Hmm, do you think it looks like it?"

"No, Sun Shao-ping isn't lecherous, but I am. I like being around beautiful women. I'm shrewd and cynical."

"Go away, you're so young and already learning bad habits, aren't you?"

"Sigh, I also want to keep a low profile, but my abilities don't allow it. When I was in the factory, many young girls were chasing after me, but I didn't fancy any of them."

"Will you die if you don't brag?"

"Don't you believe me? With my figure and looks, I'd be a stunning sight just standing at the factory gate. Which girl wouldn't tremble at the sight of me?"

"Seriously, can you stop being so narcissistic? It's giving me goosebumps."

"Hahahahaha!"

"Hey girl, you're not thinking of pursuing me, are you?"

"Pah! Can you stop being so narcissistic? You poor wretch, I wouldn't even look at you."

"That's right. You mustn't fall for me, otherwise I'll feel guilty. We get along really well, it's good to be buddies. I'm the kind of person who would go to great lengths for a friend."

"Young lady, you are a kind and generous person, and I am worth getting to know better. If you ever need my help in the future, just let me know."

Xiulian cursed inwardly, thinking how awkward those words sounded, almost like a dirty joke.

Ding Yang is really good at picking up girls; he quickly closed the distance between him and Xiu Lian, and the two of them no longer felt shy.

"Xiaoyang, what kind of girlfriend are you looking for?"

"Tell me the truth or a lie?"

"Of course it's true?"

"Stylish on the outside, conservative on the inside, seductive in bed, rich, wealthy, and with high emotional intelligence."

"Damn, you poor loser, you have such high standards. You might as well just date a rich woman."

"Sister, a capable woman lets her husband drive a Land Rover; an incapable woman makes her husband suffer. I'm not afraid of people saying I'm a gigolo, and I don't mind that my wife is a rich woman."

"Come on, you're so realistic."

"Hey girl, you're a local and work in the community, you must know a lot of rich women, right? Introduce me to one."

"Didn't you say before that it was kind of you not to look for someone now that your circumstances aren't good, and that you'd look for someone when your circumstances improve? How come you're contradicting yourself now?"

"That's for poor people, they don't want to harm others, but rich women are different, aren't they?"

"Get out, get out, get out..."

"Ha ha ha ha!"

"Big sister, I was just kidding, trying to get closer to you. I'm definitely going to be your buddy from now on."

"Hmph, I have no respect for guys who live off women!"

"Sister, when a person is free from desires, their character is naturally noble. I'm not that kind of coward, a spineless coward. I have a very strong backbone. When I told you I'd be a kept man, I was just teasing you. If I really wanted to be a kept man, I would have found one long ago."

"Actually, being free from desires makes one invincible. When I make friends, I can give my heart to those I get along with, and I don't want to say a word to those I don't get along with."

No matter how successful or capable you are, you mean nothing to me unless I ask you for a favor.

"Don't look down on me just because I'm poor and my clothes are tattered. As long as I don't rely on you for food, that's my own ability. You may look down on me, but I look down on you just the same. When people don't ask for help, everyone is on the same level. When water doesn't flow, everything is level."

"You have your dazzling brilliance, I have my quiet stubbornness. I don't compare myself to others, I'm free and easy—that's my strongest foundation!"

"Wow, that's impressive. You can go on and on with a long speech."

"Xiulian, slow down and turn over there. There's a food stall over there. Let's go eat. Thank you for accompanying me to the building materials market. I'll treat you to dinner."

"That's more like it!"

They arrived at a roadside food stall, which was packed with people. The two of them sat down at a table by the roadside.

Ding Yang picked up the menu!

"Ah Xiu, let's order!"

"Xiaoyang, there are too many people here. Shall we go somewhere else?"

"It's bound to be crowded right after get off work. Let's just make do. I can't afford a fancy hotel anyway."

Sweet and sour pork with peaches, steamed spare ribs with fermented black beans, eggplant casserole with fish-fragrant sauce, and blanched bok choy.

"Alright, hurry up and serve the food!"

"Xiulian, do you drink?"

"No, I'm driving. You drink it yourself."

"Boss lady, a bottle of Pearl River beer, please!"

"Xiaoyang, why are you only thinking about selling sand and cement? Why don't you want to do something else? Like opening a small shop and doing some other business?"

"Sigh, I have no experience or capital for anything else, and I don't want to work in a factory. This is simpler."

"Besides, compared to working in a factory, the wages for this kind of odd jobs and manual labor are much higher. I've earned more than 500 yuan in the last two days, which is equivalent to almost half a month's wages in a factory."

"I'll sell you some cement and sand. Unlike other things, this stuff won't spoil or deteriorate. I'll rent your tin shack for 500 yuan a month. If I were to rent a single room, it would cost at least 100 or 200 yuan a month."

"It means that I only spent an extra 300 yuan a month to get a storefront."

"If I can sell it, I will. If I can't sell it, I can go to the neighborhood to find work. It's just physical labor, so it won't interfere with my work."

"More importantly, this job is more flexible and free, with no one to restrain me. I hate being restrained, so I simply couldn't stand working in a factory."