Pursued by the Heavenly Dao, first level up in the courtyard.

Around 5 p.m., Yan Bugui returned to the courtyard house with a sigh.

Yang Ruihua asked thoughtfully, "Boss, no business today?"

Yan Bugui's face was gloomy. He said helplessly, "Open for business? It would be good enough if anyone even glanced into the bookstore. Right now, the entire Great Xia is focused on industrialization. Who cares about the miscellaneous books in our store?"

Yang Ruihua asked, "What are we going to do? Our whole family depends on that bookstore for a living!"

Yan Bugui stood up, rubbed his hands together, and said in a more urgent tone, "I've been sitting in the bookstore all day. The people passing by are either going to work in the factory or buying industry-related books. Nobody has even glanced at our bookstore."

Yang Ruihua, on a sudden inspiration, said, "How about we sell all the books in the store at a low price, then stock up on other goods and sell other things? We can't just sit around and do nothing, can we?"

Yan Bugui said irritably, "Selling them off cheaply? Wouldn't we be losing money then? All those books in the store were carefully selected by me; every single one is a good product. It's just that nobody wants them now."

Yang Ruihua lowered her head and said helplessly, "I know I'm losing money, but the books aren't selling!"

Yan Bugui fell silent, recalling the rumors he had heard. He gritted his teeth and said, "I heard that the shop is going to be a joint public-private enterprise. Even if we do other businesses, we'll still face that situation. I want to sell the bookstore!"

The Yan family became small business owners because of the bookstore. If they hadn't owned the bookstore when the class system was initially divided, they wouldn't have become small business owners. Now, many small business owners don't speak with much confidence.

Last November, Beicheng began requiring flour to be purchased with ration coupons.

After flour in the northern part of the city was purchased with ration coupons, many families had money but did not have enough coupons to buy more flour through official channels.

The shrewd and calculating Yan Bugui discerned some information and decided to sell the bookstore.

The next morning, Yan Bugui posted a sign outside the bookstore that said "Store for Sale".

Around 3 p.m., Li Wansan walked into the bookstore.

"Yan Shuzhai, are you selling this shop?"

"Mr. Li, are you buying?"

"How much money do you want?"

"My shop is large, in a good location, and has so many books, worth fifty million."

"Yan Shuzhai, it's not even dark yet and you're already dreaming. I'll only offer a maximum of eighteen million."

Yan Bugui's face instantly darkened, and he sneered, "Boss Li, that's not fair of you. My bookstore is in a prime location, and I have so much inventory worth over 60 million, yet you're only offering 18 million. This is taking advantage of my misfortune!"

"Taking advantage of someone's misfortune?" Li Wansan sneered. "Small business owners are having a tough time these days. It's uncertain whether your bookstore will even survive in a few days. I'm already being generous by taking it."

Yan Bugui's heart tightened, but he pretended to be tough and said, "I've been running this bookstore for so many years without hiring anyone, how could I possibly lose it? Don't try to scare me with that!"

Li Wansan said with a half-smile, "Believe it or not, I'll give you three days to consider. Once this opportunity is gone, it'll be gone forever. By then, even if you want to sell it at this price, nobody will want it."

Watching Li Wansan's retreating figure, Yan Bugui stomped his foot in anger, cursing inwardly, "That heartless bastard! Just wait, I refuse to believe we can't find a better buyer. Eighteen million to buy my bookstore? He's dreaming!"

After meeting with more than twenty people over several days, Yan Bugui was getting anxious.

That morning, Yan Bugui took the initiative to go to Li Wansan.

Upon seeing Li Wansan, Yan Bugui's tone softened considerably, and he said with a fawning smile, "Boss Li, let's talk again. Could you raise the price you offered a little bit more? Even just a tiny bit would be fine."

Li Wansan glanced at Yan Bugui, feeling somewhat smug: "Yan Shuzhai, I told you, you can't find a better buyer. The price I'm offering can't be raised by a single cent. Either sell, or forget it."

Yan Bugui cursed Li Wansan for being heartless, but when he thought of his own status as a small business owner, he couldn't help but shudder.

Yan Bugui said with great reluctance, "Boss Li, give me thirty million, and the bookstore is yours."

Li Wansan remained unmoved and calmly said, "It's 18 million. That's how things are right now. If you hesitate any longer, I'll have to lower the price again in a few days. Think it through yourself."

Yan Bugui fell silent. He knew Li Wansan was telling the truth. These days, he had heard many people sell their property and run away. He was already panicking and dared not gamble.

"Fine, I'll sell." Yan Bugui's voice was filled with reluctance and helplessness: "Boss Li, you have to promise me that you'll pay today. Everything in the bookstore is mine, and I'll make room for you tomorrow."

Li Wansan readily nodded: "No problem, I only need the shop, I don't need the things inside."

The two signed the sales agreement, and Li Wansan turned and left.

Yan Bugui began to deal with the things in the bookstore, moving all the usable tables and chairs back to his home in the courtyard house.

Some of the things we don't need are sold to secondhand markets, while others are disposed of at low prices.

After several hours of work, the bookstore was completely empty.

Looking at the empty shop, Yan Bugui sighed, "I'm not reconciled!"

The bookstore was inherited by Yan Bugui, who has been running it for more than ten years and is known by many as Yan Shuzhai.

When the bookstore was at its peak, the net profit each month could be several hundred dollars.

A few years ago, even when business was slow, the bookstore could still earn several dozen dollars a month.

Back in the courtyard, Yan Bugui hid the money, sat on a stone bench in the yard, lit a cigarette, and smoked it one puff after another. In the swirling smoke, his face was full of exhaustion and helplessness.

When the neighbors saw him, they all gathered around to ask him questions. Yan Bugui handled them with ease, unwilling to talk about the bookstore. He knew that it would be useless to talk about it; it would only attract sympathy or ridicule from others.

A neighbor who knew the reason couldn't help but ask, "Old Yan, did you really sell the bookstore? How much did you get for it?"

Upon hearing this, the surrounding neighbors were all curious about how much money Yan Bugui's bookstore had made.

Yan Bugui feigned composure and said, "The bookstore was sold for very little money. No one in our family is making any money now."

8 PM, Chongqing.

In order to produce the thermal generator as quickly as possible, Qi Bing worked at least eighteen hours a day.

As an eleventh-level human, his potential is eleven times that of a first-level human.

Even if he only sleeps for one or two hours a day, he still has an abundance of energy.

During the production of thermal power generators, Qi Bing solved all the problems encountered.

The existing machinery and equipment could not process certain parts, so Qi Bing led a team to upgrade and modify the machinery and equipment.

He divided the people involved in the thermal power generator project into two groups, with each group working nine hours a day.

Qi Bing works at least eighteen hours a day, with two teams taking turns to assist him.

On March 19, the thermal power generator was installed and commissioned.

Tests have shown that the power generation efficiency of the thermal power generator exceeds that of the Chisha thermal power generator by 10%, and it is also more environmentally friendly.

Having successfully completed his mission, Qi Bing rode his motorcycle straight to the north of the city.

With finished thermal power generators, technical data on thermal power generators, and teams involved in their manufacture, the factory in Chongqing has the capacity to produce more thermal power generators.

"Having solved the production technology of top-and-bottom blown steelmaking furnaces and thermal power generators, and upgraded and transformed many machine tools, I should focus on studying and practicing martial arts for the next period of time."

On March 25th, the Qi army successfully returned to the north city.

After selling his bookstore and losing his source of income, Yan Bugui goes out every day to look for work.

Yan Bugui initially wanted to work at Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill, but he was unsuccessful.

Now that workers are in charge, Yan Bugui really wants to become a worker.

The positions in the factory all have corresponding requirements, and Yan Bugui's status as a small business owner directly excluded him from the job.