Chapter 98: Every Cause Has an Effect

Liu Xing’s response, however, was: "I’m doing it, of course I am. Why else would I have asked Team Leader Nie to come and get you personally? That wouldn't be a joke, would it?"

Joking with family was one thing, but joking with someone like Nie Quan was a different matter. While it might seem trivial, it would damage his personal credibility, which was why he would never do such a thing.

"If you need ten glass shoe cabinets, that’s going to cost at least a hundred yuan or more!" Nie Quan reminded him.

"Money is not the issue; the deadline is. I want to open the shoe store within the next four or five days. Can you do it?" Liu Xing picked up his teacup and took a small sip.

"Five days? Are you crazy?" Nie Quan stared at him, unable to hold back his criticism. "If you let me hire more people to build the glass cases, that’s no problem, but opening a shoe store right under the noses of the Supply and Marketing Cooperative? Isn't that just asking for trouble?"

He didn't elaborate on the reasons, but he trusted that Liu Xing wasn't foolish and already knew the inside story. If individual households like shoe shops, tailor shops, or pork stalls could just open for business in the marketplace at will, the Supply and Marketing Cooperative wouldn't have a piece of the pie left.

"Let me show you something, and you'll see whether I'm asking for trouble or not." Liu Xing smiled and went to the backyard. A moment later, he returned with the individual business license for the shoe store and the relevant documents that Zhang Xiangjun had given him, placing them on the small stone table next to Nie Quan.

"You... this..." Nie Quan stared at the business license and the bright red stamp from the Bureau of Industry and Commerce, completely stunned. For a moment, he didn't know what to say.

Seeing that he had silenced Nie Quan, Liu Xing quickly put the license away. "Well? Do you have confidence in me now?"

"You're something else. But how did you manage to get this business license?" Nie Quan couldn't help but ask.

"It took a lot of connections to get it done, naturally," Liu Xing replied, not wanting to reveal the full truth to avoid bringing trouble to Zhang Xiangjun. Of course, there was no need to. It was enough to indirectly let Nie Quan know that obtaining such a license was no simple feat.

"That's true," Nie Quan had to admit. For an ordinary person to become a private business owner without solid connections was truly impossible. Thinking of this, his gaze toward Liu Xing shifted. "So, when do you plan to start on the glass shoe cabinets? If you trust me, I can take you to Zhao Long’s place in Laowu Village to buy cedar wood. The price is much cheaper than in the market, and you don't need ration coupons for it."

"How does Zhao Long have cedar wood?" Liu Xing asked with some curiosity. Cedar in the eighties was a very scarce material. Of course, if he wanted to buy it now, it wouldn't be difficult, and he wouldn't need coupons either; he had seen wood vendors at the black market in the eastern suburbs before, though he hadn't asked about prices since he didn't need any at the time.

"Zhao Long, like me, hasn't received a single cent of his wages from the construction site for the past few months. But he’s a bit better off than I am—he used a tractor to haul back a load of high-quality cedar. Using that for the shoe cabinet frames would be absolutely perfect," Nie Quan explained.

"I see!" Liu Xing had a sudden realization.

"Then go talk to Zhao Long. Just have the wood transported here by tractor when the time comes. As for the money, that’s easy to settle," Liu Xing said.

"It’s a deal, then. I’m going to find Zhao Long now." Nie Quan finished his tea in one gulp, stood up, and left.

Liu Xing didn't see him off, watching the departing figure with a faint smile. To be honest, he liked people who were decisive and efficient. That drive was something many people lacked.

Nie Sun, who had been talking with Liu Dongju, saw Nie Quan leave without a word and hurried after him. "Why are you walking so fast? Wait for me! Is the deal settled?"

"It’s settled," Nie Quan replied. "We're going to Zhao Long’s to haul the wood now."

"Do you need a hand?" Nie Sun asked with a grin.

"You're not a carpenter," Nie Quan replied.

"I can be a helper," Nie Sun insisted.

"Will Liu Xing agree?" Nie Quan looked hesitant.

"I don't need wages; I just need a meal," Nie Sun finally confessed. There was no other way; a renovation project on this scale was a rare sight in the market. If he didn't seize this opportunity, he might never get another one.

Nie Quan understood his brother's feelings, and after a moment of hesitation, he nodded. There was no choice; life was hard for everyone. Nie Sun was his older brother, so he would help him where he could. He also trusted that Liu Xing wouldn't object; from their previous conversations, it was clear that Liu Xing was a generous and straightforward person.

...

After Nie Quan and Nie Sun left, Liu Xing wasn't idle; he took over looking after Guazi and Xiao Budian. Xiao Budian had been bitten by a ground bee earlier and had cried herself to sleep in his arms; she would wake up in a panic the moment he put her on the bed. With no other choice, Liu Xing carried her and took Guazi for a stroll along the market street.

The sun in the west began to dip, casting the remains of the sunset over all of Laowu Village. Seeing that Xiao Budian was drooling in her sleep, Liu Xing headed toward his eldest sister’s house.

Guazi skipped along behind him. "Brother, Big Sister said earlier that Brother-in-Law is going to buy a big fat pig to slaughter tonight. Is that true?" If it were true, that would be wonderful, because if they slaughtered a pig, they would have more than enough meat to eat for the next few days.

"Mm," Liu Xing nodded.

"Are we holding a banquet tomorrow?" Guazi asked, unable to contain her excitement. In her mind, in the countryside, pigs were never slaughtered unless it was for the New Year or a major celebration.

"No, your brother-in-law just wants to slaughter a pig to sell in the market," Liu Xing explained. Everyone knew the profit in this; it was just a matter of who would be the first to "eat the crab" after Xiao Daode had been arrested. If things went smoothly, he believed other businesses would spring up in the market like bamboo shoots after a spring rain. But the risks were proportional to the profits.

"Oh!" Guazi tilted her little head, nodding as if she understood.

"Let’s go! I'm hungry," Liu Xing quickened his pace toward the mud-brick house.

"Wait for me!" Guazi smiled sweetly and hurried to keep up.

A moment later, the siblings arrived at the road across from Liu Dongju's front gate.

"Oh, Liu Xing! You're finally back." A deep, boisterous voice came from under the lush pomelo tree on the right side of the gate, followed by a slightly hunched figure. It was clear he had been waiting for some time. Behind him were three farmhands with tanned skin and muscular frames, each carrying a small tool bag on their shoulder. Judging by the trowels protruding from the bags, they were clearly masons.

They exchanged glances, and under the lead of Zhao Ji, they met Liu Xing at the intersection.

"Hello, everyone," Liu Xing greeted them with a smile. Seeing that Liu Xing had serious business to attend to, Guazi made a funny face and ran off on her own.

"These three are the best masons in Laowu Village," Zhao Ji said, skipping the pleasantries and introducing them. "You should recognize Zhao Hu; he’s the master of Ma Lei from your Nitestone Village." He pointed to the tallest man.

"I see," Liu Xing nodded. Zhao Hu’s masonry skills were famous throughout Zhangmu Township. That Village Chief Zhao had managed to invite him on such short notice showed he had put in quite an effort. As for the other two, he actually recognized them. If his memories from his previous life were correct, one was Zhao Biao and the other was Zhao Jianzhong—both cousins of Zhao Hu. He wasn't sure about their skill levels, but with Zhao Hu in charge, he was confident they could handle the renovation.

However, the moment Zhao Hu heard the name Ma Lei, he looked annoyed. "Don't mention that rascal Ma Lei in front of me! He told me he wanted to go work at the Hengshui Distillery instead of learning the craft, but his mother says he’s been at home catching river snails to sell every day. He hasn't gone to work at all."

"He just had bad luck," Liu Xing explained with a sheepish smile.

"I don't think so. That’s being impractical. A village kid thinking he can go to the city and eat official rations? Does he even have the fate for it?" Zhao Hu grumbled.

Seeing the atmosphere sour, Zhao Ji acted as the peacemaker. "Alright, alright! Zhao Hu, stop rambling. Liu Xing invited you here to renovate Dongkui's house, not to vent your frustrations."

"That’s right, Big Brother," Zhao Biao added.

Zhao Jianzhong smiled. Seeing Liu Dongju bring out a teapot, he led the way to the small stone table at the entrance.

Zhao Hu followed, his tone softening. "Liu Xing, I’m older than your father, and we worked together in the past, so I consider us friends. I don't know if I should say this, but..."

"Of course you can," Liu Xing said quickly. He knew Zhao Hu and his father had a good relationship; after 1985, his father had even learned masonry from him. It was just that Zhao Hu was too blunt and had offended many people with his words. If it weren't for his son being capable, his family would have fallen apart. Thinking of this, he felt a sense of melancholy—life was unpredictable, and every cause had its effect.

Seeing that Liu Xing was much more humble than that lad Ma Lei, Zhao Hu sat down and said earnestly, "Making money isn't easy, especially for your father, managing such a big household. You shouldn't spend it all; you need to leave something for a rainy day."

"Uncle, I have," Liu Xing replied with a wry smile.

Zhao Hu wanted to nag a bit more, but Zhao Ji stopped him. "It’s getting dark. Can we talk about business? If you want to chat, we can do it over dinner later."

"That's right, Big Brother!" Zhao Biao agreed. After all, Liu Xing wasn't part of the Zhao family, and saying too much would likely be unwelcome.

Zhao Jianzhong, seeing Zhao Hu’s annoyance, changed the subject. "Liu Xing, for your brother-in-law's house, renovating it is just a matter of whitewashing with lime and patching the cracks in the walls. Other than that, there's nothing else to change, right?"

"You have to widen the main entrance for me! Otherwise, it won't work." Liu Xing walked to the door, handed the sleeping Xiao Budian to Liu Dongju, and gestured with his hands. "I'm renovating my brother-in-law's house for a shoe store. If it stays a regular house, who’s going to come in to buy shoes?"

Seeing the three masons listening intently, Liu Xing continued, "All the rice straw on the roof needs to be replaced. If possible, replace it with clay tiles. If it leaks, it’s my money being lost." His implication was clear: he could not afford to be sloppy regarding safety.

Just as Zhao Hu was about to offer some suggestions, a shrill, miserable scream of a large fat pig erupted from the marketplace to the right. The sound caught the attention of not only the pedestrians on the road but also Liu Xing, Zhao Ji, and the others.

"What’s going on?" Zhao Hu asked.

No one answered. Liu Dongju, having snapped out of her daze, happily carried Xiao Budian forward to greet the arrival.

"Hee hee... the big fat pig is here!" Guazi trotted along behind her on her short legs.

Liu Xing followed, no longer mentioning the shoe store renovation. Zhao Ji and Zhao Hu exchanged glances, confused about what this young man was planning. It wasn't the New Year, and there were no weddings or funerals. Why have a pig delivered?

Could it be... that the Dongkui family was planning a banquet in the next few days?