Chapter Sixty-Seven: The Part of Being Bullied

Zhang Mingyang examined the paper parcel carefully.

“What’s this? Why all the secrecy…” he muttered as he reached out and unwrapped it.

Inside lay two neat stacks of crisp, new bills, perfectly aligned.

“What—!?” Zhang Mingyang was startled by the sight of so much money. He looked at Xu Fei and asked, “Why is there so much cash here?”

Xu Fei smiled, taking up one of the bundles. “This, my friend, is our capital.”

“You went to the bank?”

“Yes.”

Zhang Mingyang looked at Xu Fei, nodding firmly. “Well done, Third Brother. You really are something. Weren’t you asking me to guarantee a loan for you? How did you get the money?”

“It’s a long story…” Xu Fei proceeded to recount the events to Zhang Mingyang.

“An Guohao’s woman? The manager of Donghai Bank? I know her—her name is Sun Ying, isn’t it?”

Xu Fei nodded.

“Her real name is Sun Yindi, she’s from the south. Brother An says she came here for her studies, and one night while she was out alone, she ran into some thugs. They tried to take advantage of her, but An Guohao saved her. Since then, she’s been with him.”

“So that’s how it happened!” Zhang Mingyang clapped Xu Fei’s shoulder. “Heaven is truly helping us.”

Xu Fei gave a small nod. “Now that we have this money, we can set out.”

“Set out?”

“Yes, Third Brother—you know a lot of people. Can you reach out to someone at the department store? Preferably someone in charge of procurement. We need to find out exactly where the television factory is. Once we have the location, we’ll go there ourselves.”

Zhang Mingyang thought for a moment. “Actually, I do have a friend in the Number Two Department Store—he’s a buyer. I’ll ask him tonight.”

Xu Fei took out fifty yuan.

“Here.”

“What’s this for?”

“Third Brother, you can’t go asking for favors empty-handed.”

Zhang Mingyang accepted the money with a grin. “Boss Xu, you’re generous! Handing out fifty yuan just like that?”

“Come on, Third Brother, don’t tease me. I’m keeping accounts of all this. It’s for all of us.”

Xu Fei’s words made Zhang Mingyang pause, then he laughed. “You’re really clear about public and private matters, aren’t you!”

“Third Brother, for now it’s small business, and trust among brothers is enough. But if our venture grows, and the sums get large, we’ll need detailed accounts.”

Seeing Xu Fei’s serious expression, Zhang Mingyang nodded as well. “Third Brother, you’re destined for big things. The rest of us should follow your lead.”

Xu Fei waved his hand with a smile. “Third Brother, we’re in this together. On my own, I wouldn’t have been able to borrow this money.”

“Well said! Very well said!”

…

That night.

Xu Fei arrived at the Moon Pavilion ahead of time.

The braised yellow croaker here was a signature dish—one needed a reservation to order it.

Tonight, no matter what, Xu Fei was determined to order it for Sun Yindi.

He walked into the Moon Pavilion.

By chance, there were several people standing in the lobby.

“Xu Fei?” Zhang Lei shot him a sideways glance. “What are you doing here?”

Xu Fei smiled. “Obviously, I’m here to eat. What else would I be doing here?”

Standing beside Zhang Lei was Chen Rong, Du Man’s close friend. Xu Fei knew well that most of the trouble at his house lately had likely been her doing.

“Who do you think you’re talking to?” Chen Rong glared at Xu Fei. “Such an ingrate! Lei, your uncle helped him, and not only does he not say thank you, just look at how he talks to you now.”

Zhang Lei had always looked down on Xu Fei. Normally, Xu Fei would just listen to whatever he said, but today, Xu Fei was talking back, which caught him off guard.

“You bastard! Xu Fei, you’re asking for it, aren’t you?” Zhang Lei stepped forward, reaching for Xu Fei’s collar.

But this time, Xu Fei didn’t back down like he had in the cinema before. He took a half-step back and caught Zhang Lei’s wrist in one hand.

“You dare fight back?” Zhang Lei was stunned.

Xu Fei gave him no quarter, twisting his wrist sharply.

“Aaagh!” Zhang Lei’s arm was forced behind his back, and he crouched on the floor, crying out in pain.

“What did you say?” Xu Fei’s expression was dark as he leaned over, staring coldly at the subdued Zhang Lei.

“Xu Fei, you—damn it! Ah, aaah…” Chen Rong, watching the scene, rushed over to grab Xu Fei’s arm. “Let go! Let him go, Xu Fei! Don’t forget, Uncle can have you thrown out of the sugar factory at any moment!”

Xu Fei loosened his grip on Zhang Lei’s hand. Zhang Lei, still howling in pain, shouted, “Xu Fei, let go of me! Do you want to lose your job at the sugar factory? Let go!”

Just then—

“Xu Fei, what are you doing!” someone shouted from the entrance, hurrying over. Xu Fei glanced up and saw it was Sister Zhang from the provisions store, accompanied by a burly man with a thick beard.

Xu Fei recognized the man’s face, though he couldn’t recall his name immediately.

Sister Zhang stepped forward and shoved Xu Fei aside.

The man beside her was her husband, Li Dabiao, who helped Zhang Lei up. “Brother-in-law, are you all right?”

Seeing it was Li Dabiao, Zhang Lei pointed at Xu Fei. “Brother-in-law, this guy hit me!”

Li Dabiao sold meat at the market and was a notorious tough—no one dared cross him. He glared at Xu Fei.

“So you’re Xu Fei, huh?” Li Dabiao said, stepping up to Xu Fei, towering over him.

His presence was menacing, and with Zhang Lei and Chen Rong at his back, the two seemed to find their confidence and crowded around.

“Brother-in-law, beat him up!”

Li Dabiao, hoping to win Zhang Lei’s favor, reached out and grabbed Xu Fei’s collar with one hand and raised his other hand, ready to slap him.

But Xu Fei didn’t wait for him to strike. Instead, he kicked Li Dabiao hard between the legs.

“Argh!” Li Dabiao never expected Xu Fei to fight back, especially in this situation. In his mind, this notorious good-for-nothing was only ever a victim.

But that kick landed unexpectedly.

Li Dabiao’s face turned deathly pale with pain. Clutching himself, he howled like a butchered pig, hopping in agony—clearly, the blow had found both his eggs.

“You bastard… Xu Fei, you—” Xu Fei shot a glance at Zhang Lei and Sister Zhang.

“Anyone else want to try?”

Zhang Lei was a bully, and Sister Zhang, though she usually looked down on Xu Fei, was still a woman and didn’t have the nerve to get physical.

“Xu Fei, just you wait!”

“Honey, are you all right?” After a while, Li Dabiao managed to straighten up, albeit with difficulty.

Suddenly, he pulled a switchblade from his pocket.

“You son of a bitch! I’ll kill you!” Li Dabiao snarled, advancing toward Xu Fei.