Chapter Thirteen: Three Dollars

The person who stopped the car was none other than Zhang Lichun. Director Zhang grabbed Old Liu’s handlebars and seized Xu Fei’s arm.

“Director Zhang.”

“Get off the car.”

Old Liu glared at Zhang Lichun, saying, “What’s wrong with you? What if I hit you?”

“Hit me? Even if you do, I won’t let this kid leave today.”

Xu Fei stepped down from the car with a smile.

“Director Zhang, I…”

“No ‘I’ about it. You lied to me so bitterly last night. Tell me, weren’t you back already?”

“My dear Director Zhang, isn’t it obvious I was on my way to your house?”

Zhang Lichun’s eyebrows relaxed. “You were coming to my house?”

“That’s right.” Xu Fei glanced at the basket in Zhang Lichun’s hand and took it with a smile. “Director Zhang, are you buying groceries? Let me carry it for you.”

Zhang Lichun handed over the basket, though his expression remained stern. “Did you start work today?”

“Thanks to the introduction letter you wrote for me, I officially became a member of Donghai Sugar Factory today.”

“And what about what you promised me?”

Xu Fei sighed deeply, looking troubled. “My dear Director Zhang, you know it’s my first day. I haven’t received my wages yet, so…”

“Hmph, I knew you weren’t up to anything good when you left yesterday. So you really did trick me.”

Xu Fei glanced at Zhang Lichun’s face. Though angry, there seemed to be a chance for negotiation. “Director Zhang, I will definitely do what I promised you. As soon as I get paid, I’ll bring it to you first thing.”

“You mean it?”

Truth be told, Zhang Lichun had his own thoughts. As long as Xu Fei didn’t cause any more trouble, it saved him a headache.

“Of course.” Xu Fei looked inside the basket, noticing a slab of pork belly. Director Zhang was indeed living well.

Xu Fei himself couldn’t even afford rice, let alone meat. His heart was both angry and bitter. He remembered how Du Man had braved ridicule from her family today, just so he could have something decent to eat, begging for rice and flour.

“Director Zhang, is that meat?”

“Yes, my youngest wanted some, so I bought half a pound.”

Xu Fei thought for a moment and turned to Old Liu. “Brother Liu, you can drop me off here. I still have a few things to discuss with Director Zhang.”

Old Liu nodded, then looked at Zhang Lichun. “Next time don’t just stop my bike without warning, alright?”

Zhang Lichun rolled his eyes. “Alright, alright, ride your bike.”

Old Liu glared at him, nodded to Xu Fei, and rode off.

“Well, what else do you want from me?” Zhang Lichun stood with hands behind his back, exuding the natural air of authority.

Xu Fei glanced at the meat in the basket, then looked at Zhang Lichun. “Director Zhang, I owe my job to you. As for the ‘Great Unity’ I promised, rest assured, as soon as I get paid at the end of the month, it’ll be in your hands first. But tonight, my workshop supervisor Wang insists I visit his house. I just told Old Liu I wanted to borrow money to buy some groceries.”

Hearing this, Zhang Lichun grabbed the basket. “What are you getting at?”

Xu Fei held fast to the basket. “Director Zhang, my good director, won’t you help me to the end? If I don’t bring something to Wang’s house tonight, my days at Donghai Sugar Factory will be numbered.”

“How is that my concern?”

“Of course it’s your concern. If I can’t stay at the factory, won’t I have to come begging you again?”

Zhang Lichun snorted. “Why should you come to me?”

“As the saying goes, send the Buddha to the west. You’ve already helped me this far, why not go all the way? Just let me have these groceries.”

“Bah!” Zhang Lichun angrily tugged at the basket.

But Xu Fei was determined—like a man with a gun to his head, he wouldn’t let go.

“Let go!”

“I won’t.”

Xu Fei pulled harder, but couldn’t budge it. Realizing force wouldn’t work, he changed tactics and smiled. “Director Zhang, aren’t you afraid I’ll show up at your house with my wife and siblings?”

“What? You’re just being shameless now!”

Xu Fei offered a bitter smile. “If I lose this job, all that’s left is to be shameless.”

Zhang Lichun frowned, considering Xu Fei’s plight—if this man ended up clinging to him in the future, it would be real trouble.

“These groceries…”

His grip slackened.

Xu Fei seized the moment and yanked the basket away.

“You!”

“Haha, Director Zhang, you really are a good man.”

“Borrowed, Xu Fei! Let’s be clear: this is borrowed. It cost me three yuan!”

“Fine, borrowed. We’ll settle up at the end of the month.”

Xu Fei, basket in hand, headed toward home.

He hadn’t gone far before Zhang Lichun hurried after him, grabbing his arm.

Xu Fei jumped—had Director Zhang realized something?

Impossible!

“Director Zhang, didn’t you agree?”

“The basket—if you take my groceries, shouldn’t you at least leave me the basket?”

“Oh, right…”

Xu Fei laughed, took out the meat and vegetables, and stuffed them into his coat.

“You rascal—just this once!”

“Rest assured, Director Zhang. I’ll never forget your kindness.”

“Alright, just work hard.”

Xu Fei, clutching the meat and vegetables, turned and walked away.

After a few steps, he looked back at Zhang Lichun. “Director Zhang, I thank your ancestors for eight generations.”

“Alright… hmm?”

Zhang Lichun walked a few steps, then sensed something off about that remark. Was he cursing me?

He turned to search for Xu Fei, but the man was already gone.

At that moment, Xu Fei had slipped away, darting into the alley.

He ran until he reached his own door.

“Du Man, Du Man…”

Du Man was inside, worried about that evening’s meal. All she had left was half a basin of white flour from her mother’s house; the household oil was gone, and they were truly at the end of their food and oil.

Hearing Xu Fei call her, she pushed open the door and went out.

She saw Xu Fei laughing as he ran into the courtyard.

“What’s got you so happy?”

Xu Fei stood before Du Man, grinning. “Guess.”

“I really can’t guess,” Du Man replied, still troubled.

“What’s wrong?”

“Tonight, Xu Yun came first in his exam. He said that in other families, when a child does well, there’s always something good to eat. I wanted to make something nice for him, but…”

“Really? He came first? That boy’s something!”

Seeing Du Man worried about food, Xu Fei opened his coat. “Look—what’s this?”

“Meat!”

“And vegetables.”

“Where did you get the money?”

“Look at this…”

Xu Fei pulled three yuan from his pocket.

“Where did all this come from?”