Chapter 127: The Family’s Fortunes

The wooden kang table made a muffled sound as Li You slammed it, clearly enraged. It was evident that the old man was truly upset. His son, who had grown up under his watchful eye, had always been straightforward and trouble-free, from elementary school through forestry technical school. Li You once thought that of his three sons, only the youngest, Li Pi, was somewhat unruly.

But who would have thought that the son he had high hopes for would now cause him so much worry?

Zou Ni, standing beside him, was also deeply concerned. As a woman who had rarely left the forestry station, she couldn't fathom what her son had been through outside.

Li Daoyun, on the other hand, remained calm, simply puffing on his dried tobacco and observing his grandson. He leaned against the large cabinet by the kang, not speaking, only watching.

"Old brother, isn't it good that the child has made something of himself? Why are you so upset?" Wu Shengli, who had just acknowledged Li Xian as his godson, felt particularly protective and couldn't stand seeing him being wronged.

Li You sighed. "Old brother, it's not that simple! If he were following the right path, I'd be overjoyed, but look at the people who came today—none of them seem reputable! If he doesn't associate with good people or follow a righteous path, how can things turn out well?"

Wu Shengli agreed with this sentiment and nodded, but he was also curious about what Li Xian had been doing during his absence from the forestry bureau. He asked Li Xian, "Godson, why don't you tell your father what you've been up to?"

Faced with his father's inexplicable anger, Li Xian felt bewildered. "Dad, what's wrong with me? Every penny I've earned is honest and clean!"

As his father and the rest of the family looked on with curiosity and suspicion, Li Xian sighed. He had returned yesterday and had been preoccupied with Liu Guangsheng's matter and entertaining his new father. He hadn't had the chance to update his family about his recent activities.

Misunderstood as engaging in improper activities, Li Xian decided to sit on the kang and recount his experiences over the past period. In this day and age, everyone knew that speculators made money, but it was also known that it was a risky business. To avoid worrying his family, he downplayed the process, fabricating a story that he had met Cheng Liu in Manzhouli by chance and had provided some information that helped him make money.

This lie was rather clumsy, but given the miraculous development of Li Xian's paper mill and the fact that he had borrowed 1.6 million to acquire the Beilin Paper Factory, Li You overlooked the timing and feasibility of the story.

Instead, he focused entirely on the points about "borrowing 1.6 million for the paper factory" and "spending 200,000 on provincial TV advertising."

Having been stimulated by such big news before, Li You's tolerance for surprises was now quite robust. Suppressing his excitement, he trembled as he pointed at the family's black-and-white television.

"Did your factory put up those ads?"

Li Xian nodded. "Yes."

"Twenty thousand a month?"

"Yes, but that includes both TV and radio ads."

"You made back over fifty thousand in two weeks from those ads?"

"Yes, Dad."

Li You patted his chest, unsure of what to say, and turned to Li Jie. "Is what your second brother said true?"

Li Jie, not knowing much about how her second brother operated outside, could confirm some details about the Sina Paper Factory.

After verifying the information with what Li Xian had said, the whole story fell into place.

Li You had seen the ads for the sanitary paper on TV but never imagined they were the work of his son. In fact, when he saw the ads a few days ago, he had been lamenting about how other paper companies were making a name for themselves on provincial TV while his own son was still struggling with debts.

He hadn't expected it to be his son's work.

The disparity between his expectations and reality was stark!

However, it wasn't surprising he didn't realize this; the provincial TV station held a prestigious place in his mind. It was where news about provincial and national leaders was broadcasted, a place where one could see famous singers like Mao Amin. For someone who had never seen much of the world, associating his son's achievements with such high-profile media was beyond his comprehension.

Even Wu Shengli was astonished. He had been unaware of the significant accomplishments Li Xian had achieved during this time.

Both fathers were stunned for a while before adjusting their perceptions of Li Xian.

Old Wu, realizing his son-in-law had indeed made something of himself, thought that he hadn't made a mistake in recognizing him as a godson.

Li You, being direct, decided to celebrate. He gestured to Zou Ni, "Prepare some good dishes. I need to drink a bit."

Although Zou Ni didn't fully understand the details of the advertising and restructuring, she did grasp that despite their son owing over a million in debts, he was still making money. To her, earning fifty thousand in two weeks made the debt seem manageable. Delighted, she nodded vigorously, "Alright!"

As she moved towards the stove, she thought; previously, she considered introducing her daughter to a match with Li Pi, but now, it seemed that such a match wouldn't suit her son.

By the kang, Li Daoyun, who had been relighting his tobacco, casually said, "Tomorrow, get up early and take me to the mountains to visit your grandmother's grave."

Although he didn't understand cars or English, the old man had sharp eyes. The logo on the front of the Jeep was the same as the one on the American Jeep he had seen during his army days. He hadn't expected to experience such a high status even in his old age.

Li Xian, pushing aside his adoring younger brother Li Pi, nodded. "Sure, Grandpa."

In reality, Li Daoyun's wish to ride in a Jeep was not fulfilled by the next morning.

After breakfast, Wu Shengli, unable to contain his excitement, urged Li Daoyun and Li You to get into the car.

Seeing Old Wu in the driver's seat and starting the car, Li Xian was alarmed. They had drunk quite a bit of liquor earlier, and their faces were flushed. Li Xian didn't want them driving.

"Dad! Don't you know the rule of not drinking and driving? And do you even have a license?"

He grabbed Wu Shengli urgently.

Old Wu, his eyes wide, replied, "I don't have any license, but my mind is clear! Move aside, I'm taking Old Li and my uncle for a drive."

Seeing that Old Wu was clearly drunk, Li Xian quickly removed the keys, called Xu Bing from inside, and gave him the keys to take the three elders for a drive around the forestry station.

After all, he didn't know how to drive.

Half an hour later, Xu Bing, who was driving a high-end Jeep for the first time, took them to the forestry station checkpoint at Wu Shengli's request.

At the checkpoint, Old Wu used the station's phone to call Wang Linhe.

Wang Linhe answered quickly.

"Old Wang, guess where I am?"

"At the 89 Forestry Station? What for?"

"Just visiting my son's home for the New Year! Which son?" Old Wu proudly announced, "Li Xian! My godson! Haha, of course he has to recognize me! Enjoy your New Year at Xu Chaoyang's house, and after the New Year, I'll treat everyone to drinks!"

After hanging up, Old Wu took out a small phone book and dialed a Harbin area code. "I'm looking for Zheng Weishi!"

After some time, Old Wu made another call. "I'm Qin Dashi! Hey, kid, are you the third Qin Shou?"

At the checkpoint, Sun Mantun, the quality control officer at the 89 Forestry Station, overheard the conversation and was stunned by the names being mentioned, which sounded like a list of forestry bureau leaders from three years ago. He was deeply shocked.

He had heard about the matters involving Old Li's family and had wondered what kind of trouble Li Xian might be in. But no matter what, in the forestry station, the factory manager and accountant had to be useful.

However, when he heard the old man claiming to be Li Xian's godfather and making calls to Xu Chaoyang and Zheng Weishi, boasting about his godson, Sun Mantun was left speechless.

Forty minutes later, after finishing his bragging and looking satisfied, Wu Shengli was seen off at the checkpoint, and Sun Mantun immediately called Accountant Liu's home.

"Old Liu, you've got a big situation!"

---

That evening.

As Li Xian was contemplating visiting Zhang Yabao and taking some prepared New Year goods to Su Hui, so he could take them down the mountain the next day, Accountant Liu arrived at Li's home with a large box of New Year goods, accompanied by his second son, looking complex.