Chapter Sixteen: Dinner Away from Home

"Brother, how are you feeling?" Xu Qing glanced at Xu Fei as he walked out from the inner room.

"Much better," Xu Fei replied, rubbing his still sore shoulder, then casting a look at Du Man, who had followed him out.

Du Man glanced sheepishly at Xu Qing.

"Sister-in-law, are you alright?"

"Me? What do you mean?"

"Why are you blushing so much?"

Du Man quickly reached up to touch her face, stammering, "No, maybe I just got up in a hurry."

With that, she turned and went into the kitchen.

Xu Fei, knowing the real reason, stepped forward and took his sister's arm. "So, little sis, how was dinner last night?"

"Brother, last night our younger brother was still laughing under the covers, saying that if he keeps getting first place, he'll always get to eat such delicious meat."

Xu Fei nodded with satisfaction and smiled. "As long as he keeps doing well, I promise he’ll always get meat for his meals."

"Really?" Xu Yun emerged from the room, toothbrush in hand.

"Don’t worry, kid," Xu Fei said, lightly tapping him on the nose.

"Sis, we can have meat again," Xu Yun said with delight.

Xu Qing laughed. "Then you have to keep being top of your class."

"I will!"

Watching Xu Qing take their brother outside to wash up, Xu Fei turned and headed into the kitchen. He glanced outside, then suddenly wrapped his arms around Du Man’s waist.

"What are you doing? The kids are right outside," Du Man protested.

"My dear wife, you worked so hard last night," Xu Fei whispered.

Du Man turned to glare at him with a smile. "You’re one to talk! You were exhausted last night, and still—"

Thinking back to their passionate morning, her cheeks flushed again.

Xu Fei, deeply content, rested his chin on Du Man’s shoulder, inhaling deeply. The scent of her skin stirred him once more.

Du Man laughed and gave him a playful slap below the belt.

"Really, again?" she teased.

Xu Fei nipped her neck, grinning.

"Not now, tonight," he whispered.

He stepped out of the kitchen to set the table, just as Xu Qing and Xu Yun finished washing up. Soon, Du Man had reheated yesterday’s leftovers, and the whole family sat down for breakfast.

Xu Fei glanced at the time, then headed out first, leaving his brother in Xu Qing’s care. He had just stepped out of the alley when a voice called out, "Xu Fei, where are you off to?"

Xu Fei turned to see an old acquaintance, Sun Qigong, who used to run with him—one of his gambling buddies.

"Why haven’t you come by the last few days?" Sun Qigong said, walking up and clapping Xu Fei on the shoulder. "I heard about Ma San—what a scoundrel. We all grew up together, always hanging out, and it’s not like he wouldn’t pay back the money. Why go after him like that?"

Xu Fei knew well that Sun Qigong never had anything good in mind when he came calling.

"Did you need something?" Xu Fei asked bluntly.

Sun Qigong laughed. "Not really. It’s just that Zhang Mingyang and the others keep mentioning you—it’s no fun without you around."

Xu Fei understood exactly what he meant. When he was in the game, no one else ever lost. They just wanted him back so they could win his money.

But mentioning Zhang Mingyang made Xu Fei pause. Like him, Zhang Mingyang used to be a street loafer, but his father was the powerful director of the Donghai Supply and Marketing Cooperative. In this era of planned economy, that system wielded enormous power—everything was purchased and distributed through it.

If Xu Fei could get in with Zhang Mingyang, perhaps he could seize some opportunities. For him, that meant reselling goods under the table.

Du Man's words last night had reignited his ambition for business. His brother-in-law had just returned from the South with more than seven thousand yuan in profit. If he seized the right moment, just one deal could make him a ten-thousand-yuan household overnight.

Xu Fei knew full well he only lacked the opportunity.

"So, what do you say? Free tonight?" Sun Qigong pressed.

Xu Fei gave him a look. He knew perfectly well what this was about—they wanted his money. They’d picked the wrong man.

"My wife—"

"Xu Fei, that’s not like you," Sun Qigong interrupted.

"Well, I just don’t want to go back to how things were."

"Alright, alright, you’re a changed man. But don’t forget your old friends! And think about it—you need money, and what you make at the factory is a pittance. How are you ever going to pay Ma San back?"

Xu Fei hesitated, glancing at Sun Qigong.

"Don’t think too hard. Tonight, the usual place—we’ll be waiting!" Sun Qigong called as he walked away.

Xu Fei watched his retreating figure, a sly smile tugging at his lips.

You’re the one begging me to play.

I won’t be holding back.

***

The day passed as usual. Zhang Dajun had another hundred sacks of burlap. Perhaps because Xu Fei had performed well the day before, he wasn’t assigned any heavy lifting in the afternoon, just another hundred sacks on piecework.

By the end of the shift, Xu Fei had earned six yuan—after splitting the share with Wang Guoqing and Zhang Dajun, of course.

Though it stung to part with the money, Xu Fei was satisfied. He could use this as his gambling stake tonight with Zhang Mingyang and the others. Their games weren’t exactly small—one yuan a round. Six yuan would give him time to get a feel for their style.

Could he win? Xu Fei was full of confidence. He’d seen much bigger stakes than this. In his leisure days, he’d frequent gambling dens just for fun. He was familiar with most forms of gambling, and although not an expert, he enjoyed a high win rate.

It wasn’t just about brains—luck played its part, and as a future billionaire, Xu Fei trusted his luck.

After work, he walked home with Old Liu, who dropped him at his door. Xu Fei told him about the events of yesterday, earning Old Liu’s admiration—few could take anything from someone like Zhang Lichun.

Xu Fei had wanted to invite Old Liu in for dinner—there was still a piece of meat left from yesterday, and Du Man’s flatbreads were always good. He hoped to learn more about the factory from Old Liu. But Old Liu’s brother-in-law had just arrived from the countryside, so they agreed to meet the next day.

Xu Fei entered his home to find Du Man busy in the kitchen. The three yuan from yesterday had solved their problem of rice and flour, at least for now.

"Smells wonderful!" Xu Fei exclaimed as soon as he stepped in, catching the aroma of rice. He lifted the lid from the pot to find a steaming, snowy-white mound of rice that reminded him of Du Man’s fair skin.

"Go wash up. I’ll make you some tea. Once Xu Qing and the others are back, we’ll eat," Du Man called.

But Xu Fei shook his head. "I won’t be home for dinner tonight."

"Oh?"