Chapter Seven: Two Different Matters

Donghai City Sugar Factory.

Since the founding of the nation, the sugar factory had already become the pillar industry of Donghai, thanks to the local sugarcane plantations. The sugar produced here supplied several nearby cities and counties.

Xu Fei had always mastered steelmaking techniques; though he was a complete outsider when it came to sugar production, he was a technical school graduate and possessed a solid educational foundation.

Despite his background in clerical work, he was far from physically weak.

For the sake of his family, Xu Fei now had only one purpose: to earn money. No hardship was too much for him.

Of course, as someone who had once possessed a fortune in the millions, working for a modest salary was not his main goal. With debts weighing heavily on him, the most urgent matter was to pay back Ma San.

As for his next step, Xu Fei had already made up his mind. After saving up some capital, he would return to the world of business, putting his commercial talents to good use.

There was no grand ambition yet; first, in this golden era of the eighties, when opportunities abounded, he would become the richest man in Donghai.

If Du Man and his younger siblings learned of his plan, they would probably think he had truly lost his mind.

Xu Fei’s lofty ambitions were beyond the comprehension of others.

As he walked to work, Xu Fei faced the morning glow, the corners of his mouth curling slightly.

“Just wait—soon you’ll see me, Xu Fei, living the good life!”

Ring ring...

A bright, clear sound of a bicycle bell rang behind him.

“Isn’t that Xu Fei?”

Xu Fei glanced over; it was Zhou Lina from the same alley.

“Nana,” he greeted.

Zhou Lina and Xu Fei had grown up together.

“Where are you going?”

“To work.”

“To work?!”

“Donghai Sugar Factory.”

Zhou Lina was taken aback. She got off her bicycle and walked beside Xu Fei.

They had played together since childhood, even attended the same class at school.

Later, Xu Fei was admitted to technical school, while Zhou Lina’s father brought her into the sugar factory.

At that time, Zhou Lina often envied Xu Fei.

She even pursued him for a while.

But Xu Fei eventually married Du Man, and after trouble struck his family, Zhou Lina’s father firmly forbade her from having any further contact with Xu Fei.

Zhou Lina was heartbroken for quite some time.

She knew that Xu Fei had later fallen from grace, becoming a notorious wastrel—a loafer and a street rogue.

Zhou Lina shed many tears in secret over his downfall.

She even tried to persuade Xu Fei, quietly.

Xu Fei was well aware of all this. He glanced at the girl beside him—her hair draped over her shoulders, a dress the color of creamy rice flowers, her figure strikingly impressive.

Her beauty rivaled that of any star Xu Fei knew.

This girl possessed all the qualities a true beauty should have.

“Xu Fei, are you joking?” Zhou Lina blinked her large, watery eyes at the man beside her, whose face shone with the morning sun.

She hadn’t seen Xu Fei smile like this in a long time.

The last time was the day they had just graduated.

Zhou Lina remembered clearly how bright and sunny Xu Fei had been then.

“I’ll need you to look after me more in the future,” Xu Fei said half-jokingly.

“Mm,” Zhou Lina nodded seriously, but inside, her heart was bursting with joy.

Were they together again?

The wheels of Zhou Lina’s bicycle whirred softly.

The man beside her swung his strong arms, and for a moment, she was transported back to earlier days.

“Hey, isn’t that Xu Fei? Xiao Na, didn’t your dad forbid you from being with him?”

Xu Fei looked over at the man walking out of the alley.

Zhao Quan, also from this street, had grown up with Zhou Lina too.

But this guy’s character wasn’t great—his hands weren’t exactly clean, and back in school, he’d often fought with Xu Fei.

“Mind your own business,” Zhou Lina shot Zhao Quan a sharp look.

Zhou Lina had once been courted by him.

Back then, Xu Fei had just gotten married, and she was feeling low, so she tacitly accepted Zhao Quan’s advances.

But she soon realized Zhao Quan’s character was lacking and broke it off.

Still, Zhao Quan hadn’t given up.

He, too, had been assigned to work at the sugar factory.

Now he continued to pester Zhou Lina from time to time.

Zhao Quan spun his bicycle in a dramatic arc, stopping right beside Zhou Lina.

“So, Xu Fei, where are you going? Off to hang out with Ma San and his crew? I heard Ma San and his buddies paid a visit to your place yesterday.” Zhao Quan deliberately brought up the incident, clearly trying to embarrass Xu Fei in front of Zhou Lina.

“Zhao Quan, why do you always bring up what shouldn’t be mentioned?” Xu Fei retorted directly.

“Come on, Xu Fei, you did it—so what if people talk?”

Zhao Quan cast a sidelong glance at Xu Fei, then smiled at Zhou Lina, saying, “Lina, he owes Ma San a lot of money. I heard his wife almost got taken away by Ma San.”

“You’re surprisingly well-informed,” Xu Fei replied with a cold laugh, glaring at Zhao Quan.

“I’m just warning Lina, so she doesn’t get deceived by you.”

“I’m not a child,” Zhou Lina said, caught between the two men, her head bowed, brows furrowed tightly.

Of course, she knew about all this.

The incident with Ma San yesterday was so loud that everyone on the street had heard about it.

Zhao Quan smiled obsequiously, “I’m just worried he’ll drag you down—keep your distance, or he’ll borrow money from you next.”

“Shut up!” Xu Fei stepped right in front of Zhao Quan’s bike and stomped on its wheel.

“What are you doing?” Zhao Quan glared at Xu Fei, his eyes full of contempt. “Xu Fei, do you think this is still school? What gives you the right to act tough now?”

Xu Fei pressed down hard, kicking the wheel aside.

Zhao Quan was thrown off balance.

“Damn it, Xu Fei, are you looking for trouble?”

Xu Fei stared at him coldly, “Zhao Quan, no matter what, Lina would never choose you. Take a good look at yourself.”

“Hmph!” Zhao Quan righted his bike, snorting, “Yeah, Lina’s a good girl, but you, Xu Fei, are just a street bum now. At least I have a steady job. Look at you—what are you now? Nothing, not even a job! What makes you think you can compete with me?”

Xu Fei sneered, pulling the letter of introduction from his pocket and waving it in front of Zhao Quan, “Take a good look—I’m working again.”

“What?”

Zhao Quan stared at the letter in surprise.

“You? Working? You were fired—what factory would hire you?”

Xu Fei unfolded the letter and thrust it toward Zhao Quan.

“Open your eyes and read—Donghai Sugar Factory. I’m working there now, with Lina. So stop pestering her, understand?”

When Zhao Quan saw the words “Donghai Sugar Factory,” his face instantly darkened.

Xu Fei folded the letter and put it back in his pocket.

He turned, blocking Zhao Quan’s bike, then smiled at Zhou Lina, “Lina, come on, take me to your office.”

Zhou Lina smiled and nodded.

She mounted her bicycle.

Xu Fei leapt onto the back seat.

“Goodbye to you!”

Zhao Quan could only watch, dumbfounded, as Zhou Lina pedaled away with Xu Fei.

“What on earth is going on here?”