Chapter 204: Determination (1)

At the San Mountain Scrap Collection Station.

Next to a pile of disorganized cardboard boxes and bottles, four people were gathered around a tattered blanket, eating and drinking.

There wasn't much to eat on the blanket—just two pieces of pig head meat and a plate of peanuts—but there was a large number of empty liquor bottles scattered around.

Zhao Er Xiazi didn't look happy; his face was as red as a monkey's butt, and he was cursing angrily.

"Damn it, if it weren't for me protecting him back in prison, Zhu Feng would've been toyed with like a rabbit. I got out thinking we'd make some money together, but this son of a bitch has made it big now and hasn't even thought to show any respect. If it weren't for Gao San coming to find me, I wouldn't have known. What a fucking ingrate."

An old scrap yard colleague chuckled, "Er Xia, you're overthinking it. Zhu Feng's doing really well now, running a factory with hundreds of employees, calling the shots. They say the factory makes several million a year. If he's managing it, he's probably making thirty to fifty grand a year himself. If I had that kind of money, I wouldn't give a damn about you ex-cons either."

"Hey, that's right. Er Xia, we need to face the reality. Zhu Feng's in a good spot now, and County Head Liu really values that distillery. His future is bright. You should just lay low and follow what San Ge says. He won't let you suffer."

Hearing this, Zhao Er Xiazi felt even more frustrated.

Previously, Gao San had found him through connections in Hailin and asked him to come to Bangye to help with some tasks. The deal was two thousand bucks and a job at the scrap yard.

At the time, Zhao Er Xiazi was satisfied with the deal, not knowing what Gao San was planning.

But seeing Zhu Feng, who had been in prison with him, now thriving, while he was merely used as a pawn for two thousand bucks and stuck working in this shabby place, was a bitter pill to swallow.

"Damn it, I'm going to find Zhu Feng."

Feeling increasingly aggrieved, Zhao Er Xiazi stood up and headed for the door.

But before he could take his second step, someone pulled him back. "San Ge said, until the job's done, you can't leave. Er Xia, don't make things difficult for us. If you go see Zhu Feng on your own and mess things up, we'll all suffer."

Seeing their stern faces, Zhao Er Xiazi cursed inwardly.

However, those who had spent time in prison knew how to recognize the times. After a moment's thought, he spat on the ground and said, "Damn it, fine. I'm just angry. I'll drink."

Seeing him sit back down, the other three laughed, and the sound of clinking bottles filled the dim, hot, and foul-smelling scrap yard.

In the middle of the night.

The sounds of snoring filled the scrap yard.

Zhao Er Xiazi, who had previously been "intoxicated," suddenly opened his eyes in the darkness.

After observing for a while and confirming that the other three were sound asleep, he quietly got off his military bed, not even bothering to take his clothes from underneath him, and left wearing only his underwear.

A short while later, distant dog barking could be heard.

In front of a small shop near the passenger station in Bangye Crossroads, Zhao Er Xiazi took fifty bucks out of his underwear pocket, bought a pack of cigarettes, and made a phone call.

"Liu Zi, bring Lao Xin and come to Bangye quickly. Zhu Feng has become really wealthy! He's got a distillery, and they say he makes several million a year. 'Seeking refuge'? Seek my ass, he's made it big and hasn't told us, so he doesn't want to deal with us. If he's ungrateful, we'll be unjust. I know where his old lady is now. You guys come over, and we'll take some money from him. Once we're done with this job, we'll head south!"

Thunder rumbled in the sky, and large raindrops began to fall.

"Hey, it's thundering. Let's make it quick, or we'll ruin the phone."

The shop owner urged as he glanced at the rain outside.

...

By morning, Yang Shuzhen had come to a realization.

In life, good and bad are all destined, and whatever comes, comes.

In the morning, while guiding the apprentices at the factory in making ceramic bottles, she thought to herself:

Now that her family's business was completely connected with Li Xian's distillery and ceramic factory, it wouldn't be good to hide if someone was eyeing her business. Recently, people had been trying to get their hands on her black pottery skills, and now even scoundrels were involved. How her family would fare was another matter, but she needed to alert Li Xian.

Having made up her mind, she handed over her tasks to a few senior craftsmen in the association, tidied up, and rode her bicycle to the distillery.

The factory had been busy with upgrades recently, and Li Xian was there every day.

After a heavy rain last night, Bangye looked freshly washed, and the streets were exceptionally clean.

Just as she left Pig Hair Village, she saw Su Ya carrying a plastic bag with a big lunch box and looking as cheerful as a little sparrow.

"Girl, where are you going?" She slowed down and rang the bell.

Seeing Yang Shuzhen calling, Su Ya turned with a smile, pointing to the lunch box and making a face almost identical to Li Xian's.

"Delivering lunch to Li Xian?" Yang Shuzhen smiled and patted the back of her bicycle. "It's far. I'm going to the distillery too. I'll give you a lift."

Zhu Juan always took her time with household chores, and Yang Shuzhen knew her daughter's thoughts. Li Xian was handsome and capable. Among the unmarried girls in Pig Hair Village, eighty out of a hundred had him on their minds. The remaining twenty probably hadn't seen him—otherwise, they would be smitten too.

Young and successful, living in a mansion worth over three hundred thousand, with a car and driver at his disposal. His temper and character were good too. Yang Shuzhen thought if she were thirty years younger, she'd probably fall for him too.

But Li Xian was too high up.

Yang Shuzhen knew her daughter well—she had no beauty, was careless with housework, and had a fiery temper just like her father. The only thing she had going for her was strength, which was not enough to attract someone like Li Xian.

But Su Ya was different.

Though she wasn't articulate, she was pretty and perceptive. Given Zhu Juan's grumbling and the incident where the local scoundrel bullied Su Ya, Yang Shuzhen guessed that Li Xian had some interest in this girl too.

After spending several months together, Yang Shuzhen had come to see these children in her house as her own. She was happy to see them doing well.

In recent days, Li Xian had been going to the distillery every day, leaving early and returning late. Su Ya, who had grown accustomed to having someone with a mischievous look around at mealtimes, felt empty when she couldn't see him at all.

She thought the factory's cafeteria food wasn't very good and that Li Xian didn't like greasy food. With the weather getting hot, she was worried he might get a stomachache, so she had specially prepared a few light dishes this morning, hoping to deliver them before noon.

The distillery was quite far, with one at the west end and the other at the east end. She set out over an hour early, hoping to arrive by noon.

Seeing Yang Shuzhen offer a ride, Su Ya immediately smiled and hopped onto the back of the bicycle.

Feeling the weight settle behind her, Yang Shuzhen pedaled a bit harder. Looking back at Su Ya, who was holding the lunch box and swinging her bare legs happily, she smiled and said, "Girl, you're nineteen now, right?"

Su Ya nodded with a smile.

"Ah, nineteen, it's time to find someone. When I was nineteen, I was already pregnant with your brother. You're skilled and pretty, why hasn't anyone asked your mother for your hand yet?" Yang Shuzhen teased.

Hearing this, Su Ya blushed and lowered her head.

Yang Shuzhen laughed, "How about I introduce someone to you?"

"Ah," Su Ya blinked and quickly shook her head.

"Tsk," Yang Shuzhen looked at her flustered expression and teased, "Li Xian is no spring chicken and doesn't have a partner. What do you think of him? Should I play matchmaker?"

Su Ya was stunned.

Realizing Yang Shuzhen was just teasing, she pouted and made a mischievous smile like Li Xian's, then pointed at her nose and chest, giving a thumbs-up.

Yes, he's both naughty and silly.

Seeing Su Ya's face turn red and her description of Li Xian, Yang Shuzhen couldn't help but laugh, "Then why are you delivering lunch? Let's go, I'll take you back! We don't need to bother with him."

"Ah," Su Ya quickly shook her head, pointing to the lunch box and then to the sun, indicating it wouldn't taste good if it got cold.

"You little devil! I see you've caught the

 spring fever! What's there to hide?"

Yang Shuzhen pretended to pinch her, and Su Ya laughed, afraid of the tickling.

At that moment, a Shifeng tricycle slowly approached.

"Er Xia, why are there two people?" The driver with a pockmarked face wondered.

In the passenger seat, seeing the wobbly bicycle ahead, Zhao Er Xiazi chuckled, "Didn't Zhu Feng always mention he had two sisters back when he was inside? This must be one of them. Damn it, I wanted to deal with his old lady, but now there's an extra sister. Serves him right for losing money!"

The pockmarked-faced driver looked at the girl in the passenger seat and grinned, "Zhu Feng's sister is quite good-looking. If I'd known this while inside, I'd have gotten close to her and made her my sister-in-law or something."

Seeing Lao Xin's lecherous grin, Zhao Er Xiazi knew his thoughts all too well. He slapped him and said, "Damn it, Lao Xin, stay focused. We're here for money, you get it? Zhu Feng has money now, and he's filial. We can probably squeeze out thirty to fifty grand from him. But if you mess up, Zhu Feng's big business might have connections. Don't make him angry or we might not get out with the money. There are plenty of girls once we have the money!"

After the slap, Lao Xin sullenly nodded, "Got it."