Xiang Xi and his brother Xiang Dong nodded when Chen Lan said this. Xiang Xi replied, "That's right, it's easy to attract attention and suspicion if we suddenly come up with such a large sum of money to buy a house. But, Xiao Lanzi, what does that have to do with you giving them so much extra money? That's no small amount, almost three thousand yuan?"
Chen Lan replied as she walked, "Xiao Xigua, I'm telling you, it has a lot to do with it!"
At this moment, Xiang Dong, who was walking ahead with Er Hu, suddenly stopped and turned back, asking curiously, "Xiao Lan, tell us all, what's the connection with giving them so much extra money?"
When Chen Lan heard Er Hu ask, she stopped and looked around the street, noticing that there weren't many vehicles or pedestrians.
Chen Lan couldn't help but think to herself, she had to admit, the environment on the street where the Housing Management Office was located was really good. Not only were there few vehicles coming and going, but there were also few pedestrians, and the environment was excellent! The roadside was lined with lush green trees, and it was very quiet.
Chen Lan withdrew her gaze and replied, "Brother Er Hu, Brother Xiang Dong, Xiang Xi, it's the same saying, 'It is not poverty that is to be feared, but inequality.' Think about it, if we suddenly have so much money, the people at the Housing Management Office will first be filled with jealousy. You also know the serious consequences of being envied by others! We can't be on guard against these people all the time, and we don't know who might try to trip us up, do you agree?"
Er Hu, Xiang Dong, and Xiao Shuan all nodded in agreement.
At this moment, Xiao Shan, who had been quiet, suddenly spoke up, "Sister Xiao Lan, I know that once people develop jealousy, they are very prone to imbalance and extreme emotions. Then they will easily find fault with others and try to trip them up."
Xiao Shuan also chimed in, "Sister Xiao Lan, I guess you specifically gave the Housing Management Office over two thousand yuan under the guise of repairing the house, just to make them feel more balanced; Sister Xiao Lan, am I right?"
Chen Lan smiled and replied, "Xiao Shan, Xiao Shuan, you are both correct in your guesses. That's exactly what I meant! I think if we eat meat, others should get to drink some meat broth with us, right? Don't you think so."
Seeing Xiao Shan and Xiao Shuan nod, Chen Lan continued to explain, "I don't know if you noticed earlier, but I looked carefully at the Housing Management Office. I found that there are less than ten people in the entire office, probably only seven or eight. If that's the case, even if they spend two hundred yuan to hire three or four workers to help tidy up the house, each of them will receive at least three hundred yuan after the work is done."
Xiang Xi said indifferently, "Only three hundred yuan per person, it's not that much!"
Chen Lan replied, "Xiao Xigua, for an ordinary family in the capital, three hundred yuan is not a small amount. It's equivalent to their annual salary. Do you know that even if they work hard and save diligently for a whole year, they might not be able to save three hundred yuan?"
Xiang Xi finally understood and asked in surprise, "Xiao Lanzi, so this is your goal! You plan to use these over two thousand yuan to shut everyone at the Housing Management Office up. Xiao Lanzi, your strategy is brilliant! Am I right?"
After saying this, Xiang Xi even gave Chen Lan a thumbs up.
Chen Lan smiled and nodded, replying, "I really had no other good way. If we don't give these people some benefits, this matter definitely won't end well! So, only when they all benefit will they keep their mouths shut! This is considered us spending money to avert disaster."
At this moment, Xiang Dong smiled and said, "Xiao Lan, by doing this, you are completely dragging everyone at the Housing Management Office into it, am I right?"
Chen Lan smiled and explained, "Brother Xiang Dong, I haven't made them do anything? It's all voluntary. It shouldn't be considered dragging them into it, right? If anything, it's just 'a willing seller and a willing buyer'."
As the group walked back, chatting and laughing, Chen Lan suddenly remembered that she had forgotten to ask about their trip to the black market last night.
So she asked, "Brother Xiang Dong, Brother Er Hu, how did your investigation go at that place last night?"
Chen Lan's sudden change of topic to the black market surprised Er Hu, so he asked, "Xiao Lan, is the money we have for buying the house not enough?"
Chen Lan hurriedly explained, "Brother Er Hu, I still have this little bit of money. I was just asking casually."
At this moment, Xiang Dong replied, "We haven't found out who exactly is in charge of the black market in the East City district yet. We have, however, inquired about the prices. This is the capital, after all, with a larger population than Harbin and greater demand for various goods. Therefore, the retail prices are generally slightly higher than in Harbin, but there are no other differences. I think selling retail in the black market is both a waste of time and unsafe, and it also wastes a lot of manpower, so it's more appropriate to wholesale the goods directly to the black market boss."
Chen Lan nodded and asked, "Brother Xiang Dong, Brother Er Hu, do you have any clues?"
Xiang Dong and Er Hu replied, "Not yet. The people in the black market are very cautious, and it's difficult to inquire. We plan to go again tonight to gather more information."
Chen Lan thought for a moment and said, "Brother Xiang Dong, Brother Er Hu, I'll go with you tonight then!"
Xiang Dong turned his head and said, "No need, Xiao Lan. We two can handle this small matter! It will just take some time."
Chen Lan replied, "Brother Xiang Dong, Brother Er Hu, I think people who deal in the black market are always cautious. If there's nothing enticing enough to them, you probably won't get to see the real people in charge. I think we should bring some good items with us tonight and explore the black market. Maybe we can really catch a big fish!"
Hearing Chen Lan say this, Xiang Dong and Er Hu also felt it made sense, so they no longer objected and nodded in agreement with Chen Lan's suggestion!
Unexpectedly, Xiang Xi spoke up, "Xiao Lanzi, we'll all go together tonight. You said we can catch a big fish tonight, so we definitely will. We'll go with you to help."