Chapter Thirty-Seven: Arrival

Xu Fei knew that now was not the best moment to come to blows with Zhang Dajun. After all, Wang Guoqing was still the leader of Workshop One. His words, by default, became the rules. Was anyone really going to listen to him or Old Liu instead? He had to endure it.

Xu Fei pulled Old Liu out of the office. Meanwhile, Zhang Dajun shooed everyone else away to get back to work.

Outside the workshop, Old Liu puffed heavily on a cigarette, smoke swirling around his furrowed brow. Xu Fei took a few drags himself. The smoke seemed to linger like Wang Guoqing's character, clinging to the air around them. Xu Fei fanned the haze away from his back.

“Brother Liu, maybe you should let this go,” Xu Fei said quietly.

Old Liu turned and shot him a glare. “Are you just going to take this lying down?”

Xu Fei forced a bitter smile and shook his head. “Given the current situation, what reason do I have to argue?”

“That may be, but you can’t just let those two walk all over you. Even if it comes to blows, at least people wouldn’t look down on you.”

Xu Fei only smiled faintly. “It’s not worth it. People like that aren’t worth the trouble.”

“Not worth it? Then what do you think is worth it?” Old Liu asked, clearly annoyed.

Xu Fei pondered for a moment, then looked at Old Liu. “Brother Liu, do you really want to spend your days here, breaking your back for just a few coins every time you heft a sack?”

“What else could I do?” Old Liu took another drag. “I’ve been doing this most of my life. I thought about learning a trade, but I don’t have much education. I couldn’t pick anything up, so I gave up.”

Xu Fei grabbed his arm, eyes shining. “Brother Liu, why not work with me?”

“Work with you? Doing what?”

“I’ve got a business idea. Haven’t you noticed how well all those small traders outside are doing these days?”

“A business?” Old Liu mulled it over and shook his head with a rueful smile. “I’m no good for that. I can carry sacks, but using my head? If you sold me off, I probably wouldn’t even know to count the money.”

Xu Fei nodded. “But you can carry sacks—that’s your strength.”

“What, even that’s a skill?”

“It is.” Xu Fei explained his plan.

The details left Old Liu a little dazed, but something about Xu Fei’s words filled him with a sense of trust.

“All right then, let’s give it a shot,” Old Liu said with a grin. “But are you sure your third brother can really introduce you to the manager of the provisions store?”

Xu Fei nodded. “My third brother is reliable.”

...

That evening, Xu Fei had just stepped through his front door when a car horn blared outside. Zhang Mingyang pushed open the courtyard gate.

“Fei, let’s go.”

Xu Fei hadn’t even had time to take off his coat. He stepped outside.

“Third Brother, is it settled?”

Zhang Mingyang nodded. “Li Laosi, tonight it’s my treat.”

Hearing this, Xu Fei could barely contain his joy. As long as Shen Shuming agreed, his new venture was already half done.

He called into the house to inform Du Man, then followed Zhang Mingyang out the door.

At that hour, Li Laosi’s restaurant was packed, every table outside taken, leaving only a private room in the back.

Xu Fei poured tea for Chen Da, Wang Yiming, and Zhang Mingyang.

“Laosi, I think this is a good idea,” Wang Yiming said after hearing Xu Fei’s plan.

“You two really are something—just a bit of millet? What kind of business is that?” Chen Da raised his cup to his lips, blowing on the tea with evident skepticism.

“Come on, Big Brother, this is Laosi’s first time doing business. Don’t look down on him. Anyway, what does it matter what he’s selling?” Zhang Mingyang protested.

“All right, all right, Third Brother, I’m not looking down on Laosi. I just think, if we’re going to do this, why not try something else down south?” Chen Da replied.

Xu Fei nodded. “You’re right, Big Brother. But we need to accumulate our first pot of gold. With more capital, we can look further afield.”

“Well said!” Zhang Mingyang slapped the table, startling Chen Da so much he nearly spat out his tea.

“What the hell, Third Brother, why the sudden outburst?” Chen Da grumbled.

Zhang Mingyang laughed, waving a hand. “I’m just impressed. Laosi really is a college man—‘the first pot of gold’—isn’t that a fitting way to put it?”

Xu Fei smiled to himself. There was much more he knew, far more than he let on.

“That’s right. Laosi’s idea is solid. We don’t have much capital right now. If we tried to resell goods from out of town with just a few thousand yuan, we might not even cover travel costs,” Wang Yiming admitted, and even Chen Da nodded in agreement.

“Laosi, I’ll take a share in your millet business.”

Wang Yiming was the first to declare his support.

“Hey now, Second Brother, you beat me to it. I told you yesterday I wanted in, right, Laosi?” Zhang Mingyang turned to Xu Fei.

“That’s right, there’s no need for us brothers to stand on ceremony.”

“Exactly. Laosi, we all have jobs, so all we can contribute is money. The rest is up to you,” Wang Yiming said.

Zhang Mingyang snorted. “That’s just like you, Old Wang—putting in money and leaving the rest to Laosi. Doesn’t he have a job too?”

Xu Fei waved a hand. “It’s fine. I plan to go at night and be back by morning. If Director Shen agrees, it shouldn’t interfere with my work.”

“Perfect!” Wang Yiming nodded.

At that moment, Shen Shuming lifted the curtain and entered.

“There you are, Uncle Shen!” Zhang Mingyang stood up with a grin and welcomed him in.

Shen Shuming glanced around at the others, finally resting his gaze on Xu Fei.

“I thought I heard someone talking about me just now. The voice was so familiar. So it was you.”

Zhang Mingyang showed him to the seat of honor. Though Shen Shuming was a guest, he was also the eldest present, so he accepted the place without ceremony.

“Let me introduce you, Uncle Shen.”

But Shen Shuming looked at Xu Fei. “No need. We’re already well acquainted. Xu Fei, my wife made your pork into a meat sauce—I’m still enjoying it.”

Xu Fei smiled. “I’m glad you like it, Director Shen. I’ll bring you more in a few days.”

“Bring me more? You thank me once, but why bring more?”

Zhang Mingyang jumped in, “Uncle Shen, Laosi has another favor to ask this time.”

“Laosi?”

“Right, since you two have been talking, let me introduce everyone. This is our sworn brother, Chen Da—our eldest. He works at the Industrial and Commercial Bureau.”

Director Shen shook hands with Chen Da.

“This is our second brother, Wang Yiming. He’s at the Transportation Bureau, a deputy section chief.”

“Oh, Section Chief Wang,” Shen Shuming said.

Wang Yiming quickly stood. “I don’t deserve the title, Director Shen.”

Zhang Mingyang patted his own chest. “As for me, Uncle Shen, you know me—I’m the third brother.”

Director Shen smiled and pointed at him, then turned his eyes to Xu Fei.

“So, that makes you their fourth brother?”