Chapter Fourteen: Blood Without Tears

“Honey, I earned the money myself. As for these vegetables and meat, I got them from Zhang Lichun.”

“Got them?”

Du Man glanced at Xu Fei and said, “Earlier, you had him sign his name and write you a referral letter. I already felt there was more to it than meets the eye. Now you come home with his vegetables and meat. These things must cost at least several yuan—how could he just give them to you?”

She handed the vegetables and meat to Xu Fei.

“Tell us, what really happened?”

At that moment, Xu Qing stepped out from the house, sneering, “Did you go gambling again?”

“Gambling?” Xu Fei glared at Xu Qing. “Why are you home so early today?”

“That’s none of your business.”

“If I don’t care, who will?”

“Enough. Just tell us quickly, how did you get the vegetables and meat, and the money?”

Xu Fei was left speechless, frustrated by Du Man and his own sister.

He shook his head. “Why won’t you believe me?”

“We’ll believe you if you tell us who you gambled with. Then my sister-in-law and I will believe you.”

“Get out of here!”

Xu Fei was at a loss for words because of Xu Qing’s remark.

“Alright, can you try to see me in a better light for once?”

“Brother, my dear brother, who do you think you are? My sister-in-law and I know you well enough. If you said you’re lazy and love to eat, we’d believe you. But you claim you made this money? Who can earn three yuan in a single day? You think you’re Factory Director Zhang?”

Du Man nodded in agreement with Xu Qing.

“Honey, you don’t believe me either? You went to the factory today—you saw it yourself. I earned this money by carrying sack after sack out.”

Du Man recalled how exhausted Xu Fei looked earlier, barely able to eat lunch.

“So you really earned it.”

“Yes, piecework—five cents a sack. I carried a hundred sacks today.”

“Five cents a sack, a hundred sacks?”

Xu Qing and Du Man were both stunned.

“Brother, did you slip up? Sister-in-law, look at him, lying right to your face with a straight eye.”

Xu Qing glared fiercely at him.

“Xu Fei, you just said five cents a sack and a hundred sacks—that’s five yuan, isn’t it?”

Xu Fei was momentarily taken aback.

He forced a bitter smile. “Wasn’t it that Director Wang, Wang Guoqing, docked two yuan? Just thinking about that man makes me angry.”

“Docked?” Xu Qing said coldly, “Brother, keep spinning those tales.”

“How could he do that?”

Seeing Du Man’s face filled with anger, Xu Fei explained, “There’s no choice. I work under him, and I just want to earn a bit more. If we rely on our monthly wages, how can our family make ends meet?”

“You carried a hundred sacks?” Du Man looked at Xu Fei with concern.

“Sister-in-law, don’t let him fool you again. You really believe him?”

Du Man turned to Xu Qing. “When I brought him lunch today, your brother was resting against the stack of sacks.”

Xu Qing could only glare at Xu Fei. “You might fool my sister-in-law, but you won’t fool me.”

Xu Fei shook his head. “As for these vegetables and meat, I happened to bump into Zhang Lichun on the way. He insisted I give him two large unity bills.”

“Wait!” Du Man and Xu Qing were both shocked at the mention of two large unity bills.

“What’s going on now?”

Xu Fei, seeing he had come this far, told them the whole story from beginning to end.

When he finished, Xu Qing burst out laughing.

“Brother, that was really satisfying.”

Xu Fei grinned, “So, am I impressive or not?”

“Mm.”

But Du Man’s face suddenly darkened. “So, we now owe Zhang Lichun twenty yuan?”

“Honey, don’t worry about it. I never intended to pay him.”

“But Zhang Lichun is the factory director. If he tries to sabotage you behind your back, won’t you have a hard time at the sugar plant?”

Xu Qing nodded, “Sister-in-law is right. What if Zhang Lichun gives you trouble?”

Xu Fei sighed. “If he does, so be it. We’ll deal with things as they come. Today, when I got the vegetables and meat from him, he didn’t press me for money.”

“But…”

“Enough, I’ll find a way. At least you believe me now, don’t you?”

Du Man glanced at her sister-in-law. Xu Qing nodded.

“Alright, let’s eat. I’m starving. And today, we should make something nice for Xu Yun to celebrate his top score.”

“Yes, yes, we still have flour. I’ll make some pancakes.”

“Wonderful! My wife’s pancakes are the best.”

Xu Fei reached for Du Man, intending to guide her into the house, but before he could lift his arm, his shoulder flared with a sharp, tearing pain.

“Ah!”

He cried out in pain.

Du Man hurried to him, worried. “What’s wrong?”

“N-nothing.”

Xu Fei gritted his teeth, determined not to let Du Man see his discomfort. But his body felt as though it had been filled with concrete—every movement was an effort.

“Brother, what’s wrong?” Xu Qing noticed something was off.

Du Man took the vegetables and meat from his arms and handed them to Xu Qing. Then she removed his coat.

“Oh my!” Xu Qing, standing beside him, saw his shoulder was bruised and purple.

“Xu Fei, did this happen while you were carrying sacks?” Du Man gently touched his shoulder, heart aching.

Xu Fei’s body trembled with pain.

“Does it hurt?”

Xu Fei forced a smile, shook his head. “It’s nothing, just…”

Before he could finish, the pain forced his eyes shut.

Du Man looked up and saw tears at the corners of his eyes.

“Brother, I—I misunderstood you just now.” Xu Qing lowered her head in embarrassment.

“It’s alright, little sister. You were right—before, I really wasn’t worth much. But from today onward, I promise you both better days.”

“Better days, but not at the cost of your health,” Du Man said, placing his hand around her neck.

Xu Fei, seeing her gesture, quickly protested, “What are you doing? I can walk on my own.”

“Can you really?”

Xu Fei defied her, tried to take a step, but his legs felt foreign, unresponsive.

His muscles were taut, and every touch felt as though they might snap.

“Don’t push yourself,” Du Man said as she slowly walked forward, supporting him.

Xu Fei looked at Du Man, head bowed, gently helping him. He was deeply moved.

Perhaps, at this moment, he finally felt like a man.

Even if it killed him, it was worth it.

When she helped him into the house and he lay down, Du Man called Xu Qing to pick vegetables, while she headed to the kitchen.

Xu Yun, who had been reading in the inner room, heard there was delicious food and ran over, seeing Xu Fei lying in bed like an invalid.

“Brother, what’s wrong?”

Xu Yun was young but sensible. Having just heard Xu Qing’s account, he had cried.

“Don’t cry, Xu Yun. Remember, a real man bleeds but does not shed tears!”