Xu Shengwu gently ruffled his sister’s hair. “I’ll be driving off this afternoon, so take this.”
Xu Ying’s eyes widened with curiosity as she opened the small cloth bag. When she saw its contents, her jaw dropped. “Third brother, have you robbed a bank?” Her brother’s monthly salary was only fifty-eight yuan; he gave thirty-eight to their mother, leaving him only twenty for himself. Even buying her clothes and shoes, he couldn’t save much. And he’d only been working for less than two years! How could he have so much?
Xu Shengwu rolled his eyes and playfully tapped her head. “What are you thinking? Your third brother is feeling hurt!”
“How did you get this money?” Xu Ying’s face grew serious, fearing her third brother had done something foolish.
“I earned it myself,” Xu Shengwu said proudly.
Xu Ying’s expression darkened. “Are you working with Huo Chen?”
Xu Shengwu hadn’t expected his little sister to guess so quickly. He touched his earlobe and nodded. “Nothing will happen, don’t worry.”
Xu Ying glared at him. She decided she would find Huo Chen after work and tell him that while business was fine, smuggling was absolutely not. And he needed to stay far away from that Zhou Kun. Xu Ying’s heart ached at the memory of her brother being arrested for going to the black market in her previous life.
Xu Shengwu’s eyes reddened when he saw his sister’s concern. He grew anxious, quickly explaining, “I’ve only been involved a few times, and I promise I won’t do it again. Don’t cry.”
Xu Ying glared at him. “I’m not crying! Making money is good, but you have to be careful. It’s better to do less of this kind of thing. What will happen to our parents if something happens to you?”
Xu Shengwu nodded, promising nothing would go wrong. After another meal at the restaurant, Xu Ying packed him some dry rice for his journey, then watched him leave.
That afternoon, after work, Xu Ying quickly pedaled her bicycle back home. Xu’s mother, seeing her daughter return, burst into tears of joy. She hadn’t seen her in days and had missed her terribly.
“Daughter, why are you back today? Are you taking a rest tomorrow?” Xu’s mother asked.
Xu Ying shook her head. The new hire was still recovering, leaving just her and Chef Ge to cook. Rest was impossible. She had only come back to find Huo Chen.
“Mom, I just needed to go out for a bit and now I’m back,” Xu Ying said, then ran off. Xu’s mother, with so much more to say to her daughter, watched her leave, feeling a pang of disappointment.
Xu Ying left the house, intending to go to Huo’s place, when she spotted an old acquaintance. “Wu Qingsong, why are you at Sister-in-law Lancao’s house?” Are they related?
Wu Qingsong, ever casual, replied, “Sister-in-law Lancao and I are from the same village. She’s kind to me, so I often bring her food.”
Xu Ying nodded.
Wu Qingsong grew curious. “Aren’t you living in the county now? Why come back at night?”
At the mention of it, Xu Ying thought of Huo Chen. She looked at Wu Qingsong, hoping he’d pass on her message. “I came to see you for something. My third brother is clever, but sometimes he can be easily misled by others. I know you and Huo Chen are smart, but I don’t want anything to happen to my third brother. Please help me deliver this message to Huo Chen. Also, I don’t think Zhou Kun is a good person.”
Wu Qingsong was a little confused but promised to tell Huo Chen.
“Brother Chen, what did Xu Ying mean?” Wu Qingsong later asked Huo Chen, still puzzled. “Does she think we’d harm her third brother?”
Huo Chen understood Xu Ying’s warning. He had met and dealt with Zhou Kun and found him to be too cunning. Xu Ying was right; they needed to be more vigilant. “What Xu Ying means is that our business is very dangerous. We should be more careful with outsiders. Her third brother isn’t as perceptive, so don’t let him get too involved.” Huo Chen then dismissed him.
After sending Wu Qingsong away, Huo Chen went to the captain’s house. In the village, when people built houses, they asked the team leader to find workers, paying one dollar a day plus lunch.
“Why did you suddenly think of building a house?” Father Xu asked, a hint of suspicion in his voice.
Huo Chen told the truth. “My house is too dilapidated, and I’m afraid it will collapse under the weight of the snow this year. I happened to make some money recently, so I thought about building a house. Also, my grandma said I’m not young anymore and it’s time to get married. If I’m getting married, I can’t shortchange anyone. The house must be new. I’ll even carry the sedan chair, and I’ll give everything I’m supposed to give.” Huo Chen said this to Captain Xu, but his gaze flickered toward Xu Ying.
Xu Ying glanced at Huo Chen suspiciously. This man wants a wife! Then why was he looking at her? He probably didn’t want her to introduce someone.
Father Xu smiled hearing this.
Xu’s mother chimed in, “Huo Chen, since you want to build a house, then build a better one. Isn’t it popular to build brick houses now? I think that kind of house is good. It would be even better to build a two-story building. Oh, and you should pay more attention to the toilet. My daughter loves to be clean, you…”
Huo Chen’s head snapped up in surprise.
Before Xu’s mother could finish, Xu’s father coughed, interrupting her. “Okay, I’ll help you find someone in the next few days.” There hadn’t been much work in the fields lately, and with winter approaching, everyone was idle, staying warm indoors. If there was any money-making job, everyone would certainly be willing to do it.
When Huo Chen left, Xu’s mother looked displeased. “Why did you stop me? What if my daughter doesn’t like it?”
Father Xu glared at her. “Why are you talking about Xu Ying? Besides, didn’t you notice there’s something wrong with our daughter?”
“What? Something’s wrong?” Xu’s mother grew anxious, hearing her daughter might have a problem.
Father Xu shook his head. He didn’t know what it was exactly, just a feeling.
Seeing his vague answer, Xu’s mother curled her lips. “I can’t tell what nonsense you’re talking about. It’s boring.” She turned and entered the house.
Father Xu, hearing her complain about him, simply chuckled.
Inside, Xu’s mother expressed her longing for her daughter. “Daughter, you don’t know how much Mom has missed you these past few days when you weren’t home. If I had known you’d go to work and be away every day, I shouldn’t have let you go. Our family isn’t short of money. Tell me, how comfortable you were at home.”
Xu Ying brightened at this. She took out her day’s salary and pulled out ten yuan. “Mom, this is the filial piety money your daughter is giving you and Dad—five yuan each.”
Xu’s mother’s eyes widened like gongs when she saw the money. “The salary has been paid? How much is it? You gave me and your father so much! What about yourself? Your brother gave us money too; you can keep this for yourself.”
Xu Ying refused with a smile. “My brother’s money is his. This is the filial piety money I gave you and Dad. You must accept it.” Then, Xu Ying pulled out a stack of tickets she’d received with her salary. She wouldn’t need them at all, with her space full of meat, sugar, and fabric. “Mom, take these too. And give this brown sugar ticket to my sister-in-law to drink.”
Xu’s mother looked confused. “What are you doing for her? Why would she drink this at her age?”