Chapter Forty-Six: Still Not Here

As Xu Fei entered the factory, he hadn't even made his way to Workshop One before a group of people blocked his path. He recognized the leader—it was Peng Yu from Workshop Two. Peng Yu was someone to be reckoned with at the Donghai Sugar Factory; even the workshop supervisor would curse in front of him, or so it was said. Apparently, he relied on the backing of his brother, who worked in the city.

"Are you Xu Fei?"

Xu Fei nodded.

"Come with me."

"What for?"

Peng Yu snorted coldly, glanced at the people beside him, and said, "Did you all hear that? He wants to know what for? Ha! In this factory, no one's dared talk to me like that."

One of the hefty guys next to him swung at Xu Fei, aiming a slap at his face, but Xu Fei managed to dodge just in time.

"You little punk, you dare dodge? Fine. Rain Bro wants you, and you dare refuse? Do you want to keep your job here or not?"

"Enough, enough, Fatty, let's talk here." Peng Yu waved his hand, then stepped in front of Xu Fei, straightening Xu Fei’s collar with a practiced hand. "Kid, a friend asked me for a favor today. I’m here to deliver a message—tonight, in the grove."

The grove!

A fight?

Xu Fei wasn't afraid of fighting, but the man before him was known as the best brawler in the Donghai Sugar Factory.

"Who sent you to find me?"

"Want to know?" Peng Yu sneered at Xu Fei, jabbing his finger hard into Xu Fei’s chest. "Then show up at the grove tonight."

"Fine!"

Watching Peng Yu and his crew walk away, Xu Fei frowned deeply.

When he returned to Workshop One, Old Liu approached, clapped him on the shoulder, and grinned, "Well, I heard from Old Third that your matter went through?"

Xu Fei nodded, but his expression was far from cheerful.

"What’s wrong?"

Xu Fei recounted how Peng Yu had challenged him to a fight.

"What? That brat came looking for you?" Old Liu was startled at the mention of Peng Yu, and his face grew serious. "Are you planning to go alone?"

"Yes."

Xu Fei had no choice. If he didn’t go, people would look down on him even more, and might even trample on him like a dog.

It would only get worse.

"Alright. These days, there’s hardly anyone at Donghai Sugar Factory who dares meet Peng Yu in the grove. Count me in."

"Huh?"

Xu Fei was taken aback.

"Old Liu, what are you doing? You’re not young anymore, you really shouldn’t—"

"What, you look down on me?"

"No, no," Xu Fei waved his hands hurriedly, "How could I possibly look down on you? I just… those guys are young and don’t know when to stop. I’m worried—"

"Worried about what? It’s not certain who’ll get beat up. Back in my day, I never missed out on things like this," Old Liu said, turning back to his post.

At lunchtime, Zhang Dajun approached the wall with a sneer. "Hey, Xu Fei, I heard you actually agreed to fight Peng Yu?"

Xu Fei nodded.

"You even know your own limits?"

"One hundred and thirty-one pounds," Xu Fei tilted his head and looked at Zhang Dajun, "Why?"

"Damn, you really have no idea what’s good for you. Fine, I’ll be there at the grove tonight. I want to see with my own eyes how Peng Yu beats you up!"

With that, Zhang Dajun stormed off to the workshop.

Xu Fei stuffed a mouthful of rice into his mouth, chewing absentmindedly, while pondering how to win this fight.

That afternoon, Xu Fei took off two hours early, got leave, and headed straight to Sun Qigong’s home.

When he entered, Sun Qigong’s wife was kneading dough.

"Isn’t this Xu Fei? Come here, little brother, I’m making dumplings tonight, stay and eat with us."

Xu Fei smiled and shook his head. "No, sister-in-law, I have something to do."

"Xu Fei, why do you always seem to be avoiding me?" Sun Qigong’s wife walked up, pushed Xu Fei against the doorframe, her delicate brows knitted, almond-shaped eyes glaring wide. "So, you play with me once and ignore me after, is that it?"

"It’s not—"

Xu Fei was genuinely startled by this woman.

Debts of the flesh left by his predecessor, and now he had to clean up the mess.

"Sister-in-law, listen, let’s talk about this later, okay? I really have something urgent today."

"What urgent business? That old man is out buying liquor, he won’t be back for half an hour at least. Come on, let’s lie down and talk for a bit."

She tried to pull Xu Fei into the bedroom, but he was so frightened he shoved her away and dashed out the door without a backward glance, not daring to wait for Sun Qigong to return.

Curses from the woman echoed behind him.

Awkward.

Xu Fei ran until he burst out of the alley and bumped straight into Sun Qigong.

"What’s wrong with you?"

"Brother Sun, I—nothing, no, I have something urgent—"

Sun Qigong laughed, "Come, let’s go back. My wife’s making dumplings, let’s have a drink and talk."

"There’s no time."

Xu Fei quickly explained about the fight he’d been challenged to, not wanting to see Sun Qigong’s wife again.

Some women were truly terrifying.

"I’ll go tell Mingyang and the others right away," Sun Qigong said, hurrying toward the street corner.

"Brother, tell them—the grove behind the sugar factory."

Sun Qigong waved him off.

Xu Fei found Zhang Mingyang and the others, then went to see Old Third An.

"Alright, I’ll gather a few guys. Don’t worry, Peng Yu at the sugar factory—I’ve known about that brat for a while. Perfect, I’ll get to meet him."

After what happened at the Moon Tower last time, Xu Fei felt confident in Old Third An’s abilities.

About a dozen people in total.

Only then did Xu Fei head home.

To his surprise, Du Man wasn’t there.

He made himself a quick pot of noodle soup, ate until he was half full, then grabbed a hoe handle from the house.

He glanced outside—the sky was already dimming. The clock on the wall pointed to six-thirty.

Xu Fei was worried about Du Man, but he had no time to search for her. All he could do was pick up the hoe handle and leave.

…

The grove behind the sugar factory.

This was a secluded patch of woods behind the factory—hardly anyone ever came here. In the center of the grove was a clearing, several hundred square meters wide.

"Rain Bro, you think that kid’ll show up?"

It was the fat man speaking.

Peng Yu took a drag on his cigarette.

"And if he does? What then?"

Fatty grinned.

"Yeah, in front of you, Rain Bro, he’s nothing but a punching bag."

Everyone who knew Peng Yu knew he was a two-time champion of Donghai City’s Sanda tournament. In Binhai’s martial arts circles, he was fairly well-known. People at the sugar factory feared him for this reason—plus, Peng Yu fought viciously. No one who’d ever brawled with him escaped without broken bones or torn muscles.

"He’s here!"

One of Peng Yu’s lackeys pointed to the grove ahead.

Zhang Mingyang and two others appeared.

"Where’s Old Fourth?" Chen Da looked around.

Just then, Old Liu pushed his cart into the clearing.

"Old man, you are…?" Zhang Mingyang glanced at him.

"I’m Xu Fei’s coworker."

"Oh…" Zhang Mingyang grinned. "But old man, you really shouldn’t be here at your age—"

"Hey, what about age? Who are you anyway?"

"I’m his sworn brother."

"You guys really are alike. Where’s Xu Fei? Why isn’t he here yet?" Old Liu asked irritably.