Chapter 85: The Report

“All right, all right, only you two are good enough to her, is that it?” Xu Fei shook his head. He was more worried about Chen Da, and took a mouthful of rice porridge. Xu Fei stood and left the house.

“Where are you going?” Du Man still chased after him.

“I’m going to check on my big brother—what if his wife really beat him to a pulp?” Xu Fei called as he ran out of the courtyard.

Du Man watched him go, shaking her head helplessly. “Your own wife just got scolded by someone, and you still have the mind to meddle in others’ business, really…” She turned and went back inside.

Xu Qing and Xu Yun were both smiling at her.

“What are you two laughing at?”

“Sister-in-law, you seem different toward my brother now, don’t you?” Xu Yun’s words left Du Man a little stunned.

“Do I?” She walked awkwardly toward the kitchen.

“Comrade Du Man, you’re becoming more and more obedient. One day, if Xu Fei sells you off, you’ll probably help him count the money,” Xu Qing said, leaning against the kitchen door, watching Du Man do the dishes.

“Mind your own business,” Du Man replied without turning her head, but a smile tugged at the corner of her lips.

Xu Qing shook her head. “Suit yourself. I’m off to school.”

...

Donghai Bureau of Commerce and Industry.

Xu Fei glanced into the courtyard. Chen Da’s car was there, which eased his mind a bit. He walked to the gatekeeper.

“Who are you looking for?”

“Chen Da.”

“Sign in here.”

Xu Fei signed. The Bureau was a two-story building. As soon as he entered, he saw Chen Da coming down the stairs.

“Big brother!”

“Hey, what brings you here?”

Xu Fei smiled. “I was worried about you.”

Chen Da shook his head. “You’re a good brother. If it weren’t for you and your wife helping me earlier, I’d have been in real trouble this time!”

“By the way, big brother, about me owing you money…”

Chen Da smiled awkwardly.

“Fei, don’t take it to heart. Also, help explain to your wife as well. I really had no other choice.”

“No choice?” Xu Fei looked at him, smiling. “Big brother, did you spend the money on someone else?”

Chen Da glanced at Xu Fei and gave him a thumbs-up. “Sharp as ever, Fei. You see through everything. That’s right. I really had no choice. She’s been following me, so I had to buy her something, at least.”

Xu Fei shook his head. “Big brother, once or twice is one thing, but what if this keeps happening?”

“We’ll see—one step at a time. If it really doesn’t work out, I’ll just cut it off with her.”

“Cut it off? And if you can’t?”

Chen Da was momentarily speechless.

“Well…”

“Big brother, have you never considered that possibility?”

In truth, Chen Da had never thought about it. “If I can’t cut it off, then I’ll really be ‘cut off’—hahaha…”

Xu Fei glanced downward at Chen Da. “Big brother, you can still laugh?”

“What else can you do? We’re alive, might as well live happily. Why worry so much about the future?”

Xu Fei couldn’t help but admire Chen Da’s attitude. Anyone else would probably have been in a panic by now.

“All right, as long as you’re okay.”

“You’re leaving already?”

“Yeah.”

“Oh, Fei, about explaining to your wife…”

“It’s fine.”

“Uh…” Chen Da hesitated.

“What is it, big brother?”

“It’s nothing, just… if you or your wife ever run into my tigress, try to steer clear of her.”

Xu Fei hadn’t thought of that. “All right.” He nodded helplessly. What could he do? It was just his lot.

Xu Fei left the Bureau, intending to find Zhang Mingyang, but unexpectedly ran into him head-on.

“Third brother! What are you doing here?”

When he saw it was Xu Fei, Zhang Mingyang was surprised. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine, third brother, what’s wrong?”

Zhang Mingyang looked him up and down. “I just ran into Guo Suhua.”

Now Xu Fei understood why Zhang Mingyang was asking. “Did she tell you about what happened with big brother at my house yesterday?”

“She did.” Zhang Mingyang pointed to the Bureau. “Chen Da’s all right?”

“He’s fine.”

“Oh, that’s good.”

Xu Fei forced a wry smile. “But I’m not so fine.”

“You?”

Xu Fei repeated what Chen Da had just told him.

“That Chen Da, how could he…? No, I’m going to talk to him.” Zhang Mingyang was about to go in when Xu Fei grabbed his arm.

“My dear third brother, let it go. That’s just how it is. Besides, how likely is it that my wife and I just happen to run into his wife again?”

“But…”

“It’s fine.” Xu Fei waved his hand. “By the way, third brother, I was just about to look for you.”

“For me? What is it?”

“Third brother, you forgot, didn’t you? The thing I asked you to check on last time.”

“Oh, right.” Zhang Mingyang reached into his pocket and pulled out a crumpled slip of paper.

Xu Fei took it. It was an address.

“Nanjing?”

“Yes.” Zhang Mingyang pointed at the paper. “My friend says that’s where the Number Two Department Store gets their goods. It’s the closest place to Donghai.”

“Good.” Xu Fei nodded. “With this, we can set off.”

“Today?”

Xu Fei looked at Zhang Mingyang. “Third brother, come with me?”

Zhang Mingyang smiled and nodded. “I came to tell you just that. This is no small matter, not like buying millet. Being out on the road, two people are better, so I’m all set. Let’s go together.”

“All right.” Xu Fei put away the slip of paper. “Third brother, go get ready. I’ll go to the train station to buy tickets.”

They parted ways.

Xu Fei headed straight for Donghai Railway Station. When he arrived at the ticket office and inquired, he found that all tickets to Nanjing for today were sold out.

“Comrade, what about tomorrow?”

“Sold out.”

“Tomorrow’s too?”

Xu Fei looked at her, puzzled.

“The day after tomorrow?”

“Also sold out.” The ticket seller’s tone was growing impatient.

What was going on?

Xu Fei frowned and left the ticket window. He had only walked a few steps when two shifty-eyed men approached him, one on each side.

“Hey, going to Nanjing?” one of them asked.

“Yes… why?”

One of them grinned and waved Xu Fei over, lowering his voice. “Take a look at this.”

Xu Fei glanced at the ticket in his hand. It was a train ticket to Nanjing.

“What are you getting at?” Xu Fei asked, eyeing him warily.

“I bought too many tickets. If you want one, just five yuan extra, and I’ll sell it to you.”

Ticket scalpers.

“Brother, don’t bother looking. With just five more yuan, it’s a good deal. The next three days to Nanjing—let me tell you, you won’t get a ticket by normal means.”

Xu Fei glanced sidelong at the other scalper, thinking to himself, Of course—how could there be tickets when you people buy them all up?

“Forget it, let’s not waste time with him. Let’s find someone else,” the two said, putting on their act.

Xu Fei was furious, but what could he do? This was the reality. These people operated in gangs, and even the ticket sellers were probably involved. Even if he reported them, they could just walk away afterwards and would no doubt seek revenge.

Xu Fei thought for a moment, then grabbed one of them. “How do I know your ticket is real?”