Chapter Sixty-Four: A Profit

“Breakfast is ready.”
Du Man set out the morning meal.
“Sister-in-law, our family’s meals lately have been almost too good, haven’t they?”
Xu Qing glanced at the dishes on the table.
“It hasn’t been that long, has it? Sister-in-law, where did you get this money? Did your family give it to you?”
“Second, what are you saying?”
Xu Fei stepped out, glaring at his sister. “Listen up, this is money your brother earned.”
“Oh sure, you earned it. Who would believe that?”
Xu Qing picked up a red-skinned egg, peeling it as she cast a sideways glance at Xu Fei. “Comrade Xu Fei, if you aren’t in debt, we’d be burning incense in thanks.”
Du Man came out just then, carrying a basket full of steamed buns.
“There are steamed buns, too? Xu Yun, come out quickly, or they’ll get cold and won’t taste as good.”
Xu Qing called into the house.
“I’m coming, I’m coming.”
Xu Yun emerged, buttoning his shirt as he walked out.
He grabbed a bun, but it was too hot, so he quickly tossed it back onto the basket.
“Slow down, or you’ll burn yourself again.”
Du Man smiled, gently pushing Xu Yun into a chair.
She used her chopsticks to place a bun in his bowl.
“By the way, Comrade Xu Fei, have you paid back Ma San yet?”
Xu Fei was startled by Xu Qing’s question.
“His money? I’ve had it ready for ages. I just don’t want to give it to him yet.”
“Stop bluffing. Five hundred yuan—how could you possibly have that much to pay him?”
“Fine, you don’t believe me? Just wait…”
Xu Fei, angry, stood up and went into the room.
A moment later—
“Look at this.”
He placed five hundred yuan on the table.
“How did you get so much money?”
“I earned it myself. What do you think?”
Xu Qing and Xu Yun both stared in astonishment.
“Brother, it’s only been a short while. How did you manage to earn so much?” Xu Yun looked up at Xu Fei, a hint of admiration in his expression.
“Haha, this is nothing. Third, before long, your big brother will be the richest man in Donghai City.”
“Bragging again—richest in Donghai? Why not say the richest in the whole country?”
Xu Qing stood up and said, “Third, let’s go. I don’t want to listen to him brag anymore.”
Watching his younger siblings leave,
Du Man couldn’t help but laugh softly.
“Why are you laughing at me?”
Seeing Xu Fei a bit annoyed, Du Man ladled out some rice porridge and set it before him. “Alright, don’t get upset with your own siblings.”

“No, I must prove it to them.”
“You, honestly, are like a child.”
Xu Fei stood up, stuffed the last bite of bun in his mouth, and said, “You don’t understand. Others can look down on me, but them—I need them to know that their big brother isn’t as useless as they think.”
With that, Xu Fei grabbed his work clothes and headed out.
“Lunch!”
Du Man called after him, turning to the kitchen for the packed lunchbox.
“No need.”
Xu Fei, still fuming, had already left the yard.
…
“What? Bank people? I really don’t know any.”
Old Liu shook his head.
“Why do you need to find someone at the bank?”
“To borrow money.”
“Borrow money?” Old Liu thought for a moment. “Is it for that debt to Ma San? But I heard from Old An that you made quite a bit from your last two grain runs.”
“That’s right.”
“Then why borrow more?”
“It’s not for Ma San. I want to make a business deal, but I need capital.”
“How much? Let me see if I can help.”
Xu Fei held up one finger.
“One hundred?”
Xu Fei shook his head.
“One thousand?” Old Liu asked, surprised.
Xu Fei shook his head again.
“What?! Surely you don’t mean ten thousand?”
Xu Fei nodded.
“That much—you really do need a bank loan. No ordinary household would have that kind of money.”
Xu Fei glanced worriedly at the workshop roof.
He’d spent the entire morning thinking about how to get a loan from the bank.
Just by himself, even if he went to the bank, they wouldn’t actually lend him the money.
These days, you needed someone you knew to refer you, no matter what you wanted to do.
In his own time,
He could have taken those few houses he owned, gone straight to the bank, and used them as collateral—they’d probably lend him the money.
“Wait!”
Old Liu suddenly remembered something and slapped Xu Fei on the back.
The abrupt gesture startled Xu Fei.
“Brother Liu, what are you jumping around for?”
“Haha, I just thought of someone. He can definitely help you.”

“Who?”
…
Cinema.
“Brother An San.”
Xu Fei walked over to the Liberation truck. An San, who was under the truck fixing it, crawled out, smiling. “Xu Fei, what brings you here?”
Xu Fei reached out and helped him up.
“I came to ask you for a favor.”
“A favor?”
An San walked aside, took off his gloves, and poured two cups of water from the kettle.
“Go ahead, don’t stand on ceremony with me.”
He handed Xu Fei a cup and drank his own in big gulps.
“Brother An San, I want to get a loan from the bank.”
“A loan?”
An San was taken aback.
“Did Old Liu send you to me?”
Xu Fei smiled.
“That’s right, Brother Liu said you know someone at the bank?”
“Know someone? Hmph, that’s not quite accurate.”
Seeing An San’s odd expression, Xu Fei asked, puzzled, “Why do you say that, Brother?”
“My older brother used to be close with a woman—she was like a sister-in-law to me. She works at the bank. After my brother got into trouble, she broke things off.”
“Sister-in-law?”
“Not really. Just a woman. My brother treated her so well, but the moment something happened, she ran faster than a rabbit.”
“Brother An San, I understand how you feel, but this is purely business. Could you introduce me?”
An San thought for a moment. “Alright, but I don’t know how much sway I have. I absolutely won’t go myself.”
Xu Fei nodded, “Of course. You don’t need to go. I’ll find her.”
“I’ll give her a call, then.”
“Perfect.”
An San called his former sister-in-law right in front of Xu Fei.
After he hung up,
“See? I told her about you. She said to come to the bank at two this afternoon.”
Xu Fei grabbed An San’s hand, saying, “Brother, you really came through for me this time. Consider this your technical investment—if this deal works out, I’ll make sure you get a share.”
“Alright, no need for formalities between us.”
Xu Fei bid An San farewell.
There was still over an hour until two o’clock. Xu Fei returned to the factory and asked Wang Guoqing for time off.
Nowadays, Wang Guoqing barely interfered with Xu Fei—first, he figured Xu Fei wouldn’t last long anyway; second, he was genuinely afraid Xu Fei might turn out like Zhang Dajun.
After all, for Xu Fei, fighting one or two was all profit.