Chapter Seventy-One: The Sought-After Prize

Xu Fei stepped outside. He saw Shen Shuming push open the courtyard gate and walk in.

"Director Shen, what brings you here?" Xu Fei asked, a bit surprised.

Shen Shuming, however, looked displeased. "You rascal, you haven't come to see me in days!"

Xu Fei laughed and ushered him into the house.

Du Man got up to greet him and went to the kitchen to brew some tea for Shen Shuming.

"No need to fuss, Du Man. Take care of your own business, I just want to chat with Xu Fei," Shen Shuming said.

Du Man smiled and nodded, tidying up the dishes without another word.

Xu Fei looked at Shen Shuming. "Director Shen, I've really been busy these past few days."

"Busy with your new business, right?" Shen Shuming gave him a slight smile.

"You know about it?" Xu Fei asked quickly.

"Yes, I ran into Old Liu yesterday. He told me you were working on a loan."

Xu Fei nodded.

"Any progress?"

"I've already secured the loan."

"Oh?" Shen Shuming looked at Xu Fei in surprise. "Xu Fei, is there anything in this world you can't make happen?"

"Director Shen, please don't tease me. Honestly, I owe it all to Brother Liu. He advised me to seek out Brother An, and that's how I managed to get the loan."

"Oh, Old An? I didn't know he had such influence," Shen Shuming chuckled. "Xu Fei, I didn't come for anything else today. We're out of millet. Can you get some more?"

"So soon?" Xu Fei was taken aback. He had expected the sales to slow down this time, especially since the last batch had only just been sold.

"Yes, I didn't expect it either. Now, it's not only people from Xinghai Street buying from our Xinghai Grocery, but folks from the north and west of town are coming as well," Shen Shuming said, glancing at Xu Fei. "Can you get more this time? Ideally, two tons."

"Two tons?" Xu Fei shook his head with a wry smile. "Director Shen, that's not the issue—it's just that my funds are limited right now."

"Didn't you just get a loan?"

"I have other uses for that money..."

"I see," Shen Shuming thought for a moment. "How about I have the accountant advance you part of the payment?"

"Is that okay?"

"Consider it part of our partnership," Shen Shuming said, rising to his feet. "It's settled, then. Come to the grocery to collect the money as soon as possible. A few grain stations are pressing me already."

Xu Fei nodded.

"I'll see you out."

He accompanied Shen Shuming to the gate.

"By the way, Xu Fei, why not come work at our grocery?" Shen Shuming said.

"What?" Xu Fei was startled.

"What's the matter, you don't want to?"

"Not exactly, it's just..." Xu Fei pondered. His current job at the sugar factory was fairly relaxed. Wang Guoqing was no longer as harsh as before. Zhang Dajun, ever since Xu Fei had stood up to him, had become much more subdued.

"Maybe..."

"Alright, I won't push you. The door to the grocery is always open for you. If you decide, just let me know," Shen Shuming said, patting Xu Fei's shoulder.

"Kid, I have high hopes for you. You're destined for great things."

Xu Fei laughed and waved him off. "Director Shen, please stop joking about me."

"Hahaha... Enough said," Shen Shuming replied, wheeling his bicycle away.

"Brother, we’re off to school," Xu Yun called from behind.

"Alright, be careful," Xu Fei said, ruffling Xu Yun’s hair.

"Got it."

Xu Fei glanced around the courtyard.

Where was Xu Qing?

"Where’s your sister?"

"She said she's going to sleep a bit longer."

Xu Fei frowned. Usually, his little sister was the most punctual of all. With the college entrance exams so close, how could she be slacking off?

He went into the courtyard, walked to Xu Qing’s window, and peered inside. Xu Qing was indeed lying in bed, but her face looked pale.

Xu Fei hurried inside.

"Du Man, come here."

"What’s wrong?" Du Man asked, stepping out of the kitchen.

"Go in, I think Xu Qing might be sick."

"Is that so?" Du Man quickly opened Xu Qing's door.

"Xu Qing, what’s wrong?" Du Man went to the bedside.

"Nothing, really. I’m just a bit sleepy," Xu Qing said, slowly opening her eyes.

Du Man saw her eyes were bloodshot.

"Did you stay up late last night?"

Xu Qing nodded.

"I haven’t been able to sleep for days. I only start to drift off around four or five in the morning."

"Why didn’t you say something sooner?" Du Man reached out to touch her forehead.

"Oh dear, you have a slight fever. Get up, I'll take you to the hospital."

Xu Qing shook her head. "It’s nothing. I’ll be fine after a nap."

"No," Du Man said, grabbing her clothes.

Xu Qing got up reluctantly, dressed, and followed Du Man out.

"What’s wrong?" Xu Fei asked, concerned.

Du Man glanced at Xu Qing. "She’s had insomnia for days, and I just felt her forehead—she has a low fever. Let’s go to the hospital."

"Alright, let's go," Xu Fei said, grabbing his coat.

Though Xu Qing protested, Xu Fei and Du Man led her out.

The three of them hurried to Donghai Second Hospital nearby. They registered, and soon it was Xu Qing’s turn.

Du Man accompanied her into the consultation room. Xu Fei found a bench outside, sat down, and lit a cigarette.

At that moment, two other people approached—a woman and a teenage boy.

The woman looked to be in her thirties. The boy coughed as he walked.

"Mom, I’m tired. Can we rest for a bit?" the boy asked.

The woman nodded, but her expression was full of worry, her brows tightly knit, and traces of tears still on her face.

"Mom, I’m thirsty," the boy said.

He was a cute child, but illness had drained his energy.

The woman pulled a half-eaten cucumber from her pocket.

Just then, a little girl carrying a soda walked past them.

"Mom, look, soda," the boy said.

He clearly wanted some.

The woman smiled at him. "That’s too sweet. If you drink it, your cough will get worse."

The boy nodded reluctantly, his eyes following the departing girl.

Xu Fei took all this in and asked, "What's your child sick with?"

The woman hesitated, looking at Xu Fei’s worker’s uniform before forcing a smile. "A lung problem."

Lung problem? Xu Fei glanced at the boy’s pale face. The mother seemed to be hiding the seriousness of her son’s illness.

"I see," Xu Fei said, refraining from further questions.

"Mom, I want to sleep," the boy said.

The woman nodded, holding him in her arms.

Soon, the boy fell asleep. To Xu Fei, he seemed utterly exhausted—weak from illness.

"Why are you here?" A burly man walked over from a distance.

When he reached them, he glared at the woman with annoyance. "I've been looking for you everywhere. Hey, give me a yuan."

"For what?"

"I haven't eaten yet," the man grumbled.

The woman reached into her pocket and pulled out half a bun.

"Here."

The man glanced at it.

"Is this even fit for a person?"