Chapter Sixty-One: Running Out of the Alley

Early the next morning.

Xu Qing stepped out of her room, sniffed the air, and asked curiously, “Sister-in-law, what are you making? It smells amazing!”

“I went to the market this morning and bought some meat. Your brother said you’re about to take the college entrance exam, so I should make something nourishing for you,” Du Man replied, smiling as she walked out of the kitchen. She placed a plate of stir-fried meat on the table and then served Xu Qing a bowl of steaming hot rice.

Xu Qing stared at the glistening grains of white rice, her mouth watering.

“Sister-in-law, you’re no longer angry with my brother?” she asked.

Du Man was taken aback. “When was I ever angry with him?”

Xu Qing cast her a sidelong glance. “Oh, come on, Sister-in-law. You can't fool me. You weren’t yourself yesterday.”

“You, you little sprite, enough chatter—eat up,” Du Man laughed, gently pinching Xu Qing’s cheek.

Xu Qing ducked away with a grin.

“It smells so good—meat! Sister-in-law, I want some!” Xu Yun followed the aroma out of his room.

“Alright, alright, third child, Sister-in-law will serve you some rice,” Du Man said, scooping a bowl for him.

“Where’s my brother?” Xu Yun asked, chewing a piece of meat as he looked up.

“He’s still asleep.”

“He’s so lazy,” Xu Qing said, casting a glare toward Xu Fei’s door.

“Your brother’s been working so hard lately. Let him sleep a little longer,” Du Man replied, her eyes filled with affection as she spoke.

“Tsk tsk,” Xu Qing frowned. “Sister-in-law, what’s gotten into you? Have you forgotten how Xu Fei usually treats you?”

Du Man merely smiled and shook her head. “Eat your breakfast.”

“Hmph! Honestly, you’re hopeless!” Xu Qing grumbled, but Du Man only smiled and said, “I wonder sometimes if you’re really his sister.”

“I wish I didn’t have a brother like him,” Xu Qing said, swallowing the last bite of her rice. She stood up, grabbed her backpack, and headed out the door.

“Second sister, wait for me!” Xu Yun hastily got up, not even setting down his bowl and chopsticks.

“Third child, don’t rush. Finish your food before you go,” Du Man said.

But Xu Yun was already shoveling the rest of his rice into his mouth. “Wait for me!” he called, dropping his bowl and chopsticks and grabbing his backpack to chase after Xu Qing.

He had just reached the doorstep when Mrs. Wang from next door walked in.

“What’s got that boy in such a hurry?”

Xu Yun collided right into Mrs. Wang’s arms.

“Sorry, Mrs. Wang!” Xu Yun said, dodging past her and running out.

Seeing that it was Mrs. Wang, Du Man opened the door with a smile. “Mrs. Wang, good morning.”

“Ah, Man, you’re home?” Mrs. Wang stood at the door, glanced at the food on the table, and said, “Well, Man, your family must be doing well now, eating so well this early in the morning!”

Du Man quickly explained, “Oh, it’s not like that. Xu Qing is about to take her exams, and Xu Fei asked me to make something nice for her.”

“Mm, mm, the college entrance exam is so exhausting. Our Xinghai Street hasn’t produced a proper college student in years.”

“Did you come for something, Mrs. Wang?”

“Oh, Man, nothing much. My family just bought a television. If you’re free tonight, you and Xu Fei, Xu Qing, and Xu Yun can come over to watch TV.”

“Really!?” Du Man looked at Mrs. Wang in surprise. “Televisions are so expensive now. I heard you can’t even buy one with money these days.”

“That’s right. My husband had to pull some strings. He waited two months to get it.”

“Mrs. Wang, this must be the first television in our alley, right?”

“Yes.”

Just then, Xu Fei walked out of his room.

“Morning, Mrs. Wang.”

“Ah, Xu Fei, you’re up. I just came to let you know—your brother Wang got a television. If you’re free tonight, come over and watch.”

“Television?”

“That’s right.” Mrs. Wang waved her hand. “You all eat up—I have to go tell the others. Remember to come tonight.”

After seeing Mrs. Wang out, Xu Fei and Du Man exchanged glances and smiled.

“That Mrs. Wang loves showing off,” Du Man nodded in agreement.

“But, honestly, owning a television these days really is something to brag about,” Du Man remarked.

Her words lit up Xu Fei’s mind. This was a business opportunity. At present, televisions were only available in department stores. It wasn’t that the government prohibited their sale, but only a few factories in the south produced them, and the supply channels were limited. Besides, televisions were extremely expensive.

A black-and-white television sold for four or five hundred yuan. To sell a hundred sets, you’d need tens of thousands of yuan—something ordinary people couldn’t afford.

“Eat up,” Du Man said, serving Xu Fei his meal and placing the bowl in front of him.

Xu Fei picked up his chopsticks, lost in thought.

“What’s wrong?” Du Man asked, watching him curiously.

“Oh? Nothing…” Xu Fei shook his head, finally remembering the food in his hands.

He ate a few hurried bites.

“I’m off,” he said.

Du Man hurried from the kitchen, handing him his lunchbox for work.

“What do you want for dinner tonight?” she asked.

Xu Fei was caught off guard. “You decide.”

Du Man nodded. “Then how about I cook you kidneys tonight?”

Xu Fei’s mouth twitched.

Kidneys?

What was Du Man up to?

He grabbed his lunchbox and hurried out the door, feeling a little uneasy at his wife’s sudden kindness.

Before heading to the factory, Xu Fei stopped by the Chengdong Grocery Store. As he expected, there was a long queue out front. He asked around—all were there to buy millet.

The price, sixty-five cents, was written on the small blackboard at the entrance.

Xu Fei estimated that, at this rate, he’d be able to return to Xiao Zhang Village by the weekend.

Leaving the store, his mind wandered to the idea he had earlier that morning.

If he could get his hands on a batch of televisions, the profit would be far greater than millet.

Decision made, Xu Fei headed straight for Sun Qigong’s place.

When he arrived, Sun Qigong was just about to leave.

“Ah, Fei, what brings you here?”

“I was just looking for you,” Sun Qigong replied with a smile. “How’s your millet business going? When will I get to try some?”

“No problem, I’ll bring you some soon. By the way, tonight, gather everyone—I have something important to discuss,” Xu Fei said.

Sun Qigong nodded.

“Who is it?” A waft of scented cream drifted from the courtyard as Sun Qigong’s wife stepped out in a bright red dress.

Seeing Xu Fei, she cast him a flirtatious glance and said, “Isn’t this Xu Fei?”

“Sister-in-law.”

“Mm, haven’t seen you lately. I heard your business is booming—selling all the way to Chengdong Grocery Store?”

“Not really…” Xu Fei always felt uneasy around this woman. It wasn’t for any particular reason, just her seductive manner made him nervous.

“Well then, Sun, I’ll come back tonight. I have to go now. Goodbye, sister-in-law!” Xu Fei turned and ran out of the alley.