Chapter 49: A New Hidden Threat

By the time the driver brought him home, it was already four in the afternoon.

Liu Xing, lying on his bed, did not get up immediately in order to keep up appearances. He continued to sleep until after seven in the evening, when he finally got up and went to the main room to join his family for dinner.

Halfway through the meal, Liu Dazhao, unable to contain his curiosity, finally spoke up. "So what exactly were you up to at the Hengshui Distillery? You said you went to fix something, but you haven't had much schooling. What could you possibly fix for someone like Director Li?"

"Can you just not ask? I wasn't doing anything bad, anyway," Liu Xing replied with a smile.

"That's right! My brother wasn't doing anything bad," Guazi chimed in, tilting her little head.

Liu Dazhao had no choice but to drop the subject. "So did you manage to fix it for Director Li? I hope you didn’t get into any trouble."

"I fixed it, and he even gave me a thousand yuan as payment." As Liu Xing said this, he looked into his father's eyes and saw that the number had startled him. He couldn't help but smile.

It wasn’t just Liu Dazhao who was shocked; Liu Dongju, Zhao Dongkui, and Zhou Qiuxiang were all taken aback as well. They exchanged glances, unable to find words for a moment.

After all, such a large sum would take them years to earn. That Liu Xing could make so much in one trip was almost unbelievable.

Zhou Qiuxiang noticed that Liu Xing hadn’t taken out the money, but she didn’t press the issue. Instead, she asked, "Son, now that you’re grown up, what do you plan to do with this thousand yuan? Your father and I know you have your own ideas. Now that things are a bit better at home, you can pursue your own plans. We won't interfere—in fact, we’ll support you if we can."

"No need for that. Take care of yourselves first." Liu Xing set down his chopsticks, thought for a moment, and then handed five hundred yuan to Zhou Qiuxiang. "Mom, take this money. Buy whatever you want, and don't try to save it for me."

"I don't want it," Zhou Qiuxiang refused hurriedly.

"You have to take it. Don’t forget we owe money to Uncle and some other relatives." Liu Xing placed the money in her hand. "Don't forget, I know the family’s situation inside out."

Zhou Qiuxiang looked to Liu Dazhao, uncertain.

"Take it," Liu Dazhao sighed softly.

With a quiet sob, Zhou Qiuxiang wiped a tear from her eye as she accepted the money. She could hardly believe how much Liu Xing cared for the family's well-being.

"What about the other five hundred? What do you plan to do with it?" Liu Dongju couldn’t help but ask. It wasn’t that she wanted to control Liu Xing’s money, but his recent actions all hinted at money-making schemes. She wanted to know in advance so she could benefit as well.

"Hmm... Well!" Liu Xing thought for a moment. "Tomorrow, I'll go to your house and take a look. Since you live next to the market, I’m considering making shoes from old tires to sell there."

In his memory, such daily necessities as shoes and clothes were scarce in rural areas during the eighties, though less so in the cities. So, putting his pre-rebirth shoemaking skills to use at the market should be profitable. As for the city, he wasn’t sure—after all, black markets had begun to emerge even in the eastern suburbs, which would soon make it much easier for people with money to buy shoes without difficulty.

"Tomorrow isn’t a market day," Zhao Dongkui reminded him.

"I know. I’m just going to scout out the area," Liu Xing replied teasingly.

His words were a bit enigmatic, leaving Liu Dazhao and Zhou Qiuxiang puzzled, but they didn’t ask further. After all, Liu Xing had already bought the things Liu Dongju needed for her new household, and tomorrow it would be time to go to Old House Village to help her save face.

Liu Dongju was delighted at Liu Xing’s suggestion. "Brother, do you need help making the shoes? If you do, I have plenty of time at home and can help with many things."

"Of course I need help. When we start earning money, we’ll split it fifty-fifty," Liu Xing agreed with a smile, well aware of Liu Dongju’s intentions.

"Can I join too?" Zhao Dongkui raised his right hand.

"Sure," Liu Xing nodded.

"Uncle, uncle! I want to join too," the little one piped up, tilting her head.

"You think this is some child’s game?" Liu Xing couldn’t help but laugh.

Liu Dongju and Zhao Dongkui exchanged glances and burst out laughing as well.

"Oh!" The little one pouted unhappily.

...

On the morning of April nineteenth, Liu Xing rose early.

He first went to the cowshed to check on the black calf. Seeing nothing amiss, he went back to wash up.

He hadn’t taken the calf out to graze yet, as today they were going to Old House Village to plow the fields, so there was no rush. When they reached his sister’s house, there would be plenty of rice bran soaked with wild greens for the calf to eat, giving it strength for the plowing.

But what Liu Xing hadn’t expected was that, just as he finished washing and before he’d even had breakfast, a guest arrived.

Who the guest was truly surprised him.

It was Wang Dachui’s daughter, Wang Aixian, standing at the door with a basket of eggs, chatting with his mother. At a happy moment, she covered her mouth and laughed quietly.

But her smile seemed forced—or rather, she didn’t dare laugh out loud, for fear of pulling at the ghastly wound on her face.

The wounds had been inflicted by Wang Zhuoshi and Wang Dachui. Though they were much better now, they were still shocking to see and would likely leave scars.

When she saw Liu Xing come out of the kitchen, she hurried over. "Good morning, old classmate!"

"Good morning. What’s this?" Liu Xing pointed to the basket of eggs in her hand.

"My mother asked me to bring these to you as thanks for saving my life," Wang Aixian replied shyly.

"That’s not true—I barely know your mother. She’s just being dramatic," Liu Xing quickly denied. He was joking at the time when he spoke with Director Wu; it was supposed to be confidential. If Wang Aixian managed to get it out of him, it could be dangerous.

No matter what, with Wang Zhuoshi being caught, Wang Dachui could not know that he’d been the one to spur Director Wu into action. Even though the cow had been stolen by Wang Zhuoshi, Liu Xing didn’t want to admit it—the trouble that could follow was too great, and he knew it well.

Wang Aixian couldn’t help but smile at Liu Xing’s reaction. "Don’t worry, I won’t get you in trouble, and I won’t repeat anything you say. In fact, when Director Wu told me to thank you, I was a hundred percent unwilling—after all, we had little to do with each other before. But later, when I learned the truth... I..."

She didn’t finish before Liu Xing cut her off. "Don’t tell me you’re planning to repay me with your life—I couldn’t possibly accept that. But can I at least accept this basket of eggs?"

What on earth was Director Wu thinking, selling him out like this? It was rather unkind.

Wang Aixian picked up on Liu Xing’s meaning but didn’t pursue it. "You’re still as vain as ever; who would want to marry you? Even if you wanted to, I wouldn’t."

She paused, then added, "I’m leaving with my mother and sisters—we’re going far away to work. Who knows when we’ll meet again?"

"Is your father, Wang Dachui, going too?" Liu Xing couldn’t help asking.

He knew the inside story: Wang Aixian’s parents had divorced long ago because they had no son. He wanted to know whether Wang Dachui would be leaving as well.

If so, that would spare him a lot of trouble—at least, Wang Dachui would be far away and wouldn’t come after him over Wang Zhuoshi’s affair.

"Him? Don’t mention him. All the days I spent in the hospital, he didn’t visit me once." Wang Aixian looked downcast. "But it’s just as well; now I can leave without regrets."

"That’s a bit of a lie; it’s obvious you’re still a little attached to me," Liu Xing teased.

"Shameless," Wang Aixian retorted, blushing.

"Alright, I’ll stop joking. Since you’re leaving, I wish you a safe journey," Liu Xing said seriously. He knew she couldn’t take too much teasing—if he continued, she might actually take him at his word.

"Thank you. Before I go, I should warn you: my uncle wasn’t the only one stealing cows—it was a whole gang. Director Wu cracked the case, but the ringleader, Zhu Dachang, is still at large. Your family raises cattle, so you should be careful," Wang Aixian whispered.

"Did you hear that from Director Wu?" Liu Xing’s expression darkened.

The name Zhu Dachang was infamous. If he remembered correctly, both Zhu Dachang and Wang Zhuoshi were executed for cattle theft in the same year.

But because of his intervention, the butterfly effect had allowed Zhu Dachang to escape.

If Zhu Dachang found out that it was Liu Xing’s tip that allowed Director Wu to solve the case, he would never let Liu Xing or his black calf go.

"Yes, I heard it from Director Wu when I was giving my statement at the station yesterday. He’s being promoted because of this case and will soon be transferred to the city as deputy chief," Wang Aixian replied with a faint smile.

"I see," Liu Xing nodded gently.

If Director Wu said so, it must be true.

So, in the coming days, he would have to be careful—at the very least, he’d need to check on the black calf more often. If Zhu Dachang set his sights on it, there would be real trouble.

"I’m off, old classmate. Take care of yourself," Wang Aixian said, placing the basket of eggs in Liu Xing’s hands. She gave him a shy smile and turned to leave.

"If you can, come back to Xiaoshi Village from time to time," Liu Xing couldn’t help calling after her.

"I will," Wang Aixian replied, waving before disappearing down the country road.