Chapter Seventy-Six: Outdrunk

After entering the city, night had already fallen. Xu Fei instructed Old Third An to drive the cart into the cinema. There was a gatekeeper here, and it should be safe to leave the goods here for the night. Old Third An had a quick word with the gatekeeper, Old Li. To be extra cautious, Xu Fei bought Old Li a pack of cigarettes. Old Li assured him in an official tone that the rice stored here would be absolutely safe.

As the two of them left through the cinema’s main entrance, Li Dabiao and his wife emerged from the alley across the street. Watching Xu Fei and his companion walk away, Sister-in-law Zhang nudged Li Dabiao and said, “What are you looking at? Did they leave their rice at the cinema?”

“Mm.”

“‘Mm’ what? You’d better think of something. We can’t just stand by and watch Xu Fei make money so easily!”

Li Dabiao nodded, scratching his head. “Wife, what are you getting at?”

“What do you think?” Sister-in-law Zhang glanced at the cinema. “Let’s go have a look and talk.”

The two crossed the street and walked up to the cinema gatekeeper’s booth. Old Li was enjoying the cigarette Xu Fei had just bought him. Normally, he only smoked cheap, locally-produced cigarettes—he’d never have splurged on Red River himself.

“This smoke really tastes different,” Old Li said, blowing smoke rings.

With a creak, the door was pushed open. Old Li glanced up.

“What are you two doing here?”

Li Dabiao grinned and walked up to him. “Dad, did Old Third An just park his cart in the yard?”

“Yeah. What do you want?” Old Li eyed his son and daughter-in-law suspiciously. These two never showed up without wanting something—if it wasn’t for money, they wouldn’t visit at all, not even at home.

“Dad, I’d like to take a look at it.”

“A look?” Old Li wasn’t stupid. He knew his son had sticky fingers. Selling meat was his legitimate business, sure, but he knew all too well his daughter-in-law stole it from the grocery store. These two would take anything that wasn’t nailed down. They lived in the same courtyard and didn’t even spare their neighbors; just the other day, Old Wang from next door complained to him that Li Dabiao had stolen his eggs.

“Exactly.”

“Go mind your own business.” Old Li glared at the pair. “Have you no shame? You’re not even going to spare what I’m guarding here?”

“No, that’s not it…”

“Not what? The man just gave me specific instructions. If something happens tomorrow, how am I supposed to explain it?”

At this, Sister-in-law Zhang smiled and stepped forward. “Dad, listen to yourself, what are you saying?”

“Out with it.” Old Li didn’t want to say more to his daughter-in-law, but his tone turned chilly.

“Fine, fine, Dad, there’s really no need to hide it from you…” Sister-in-law Zhang shot Li Dabiao a look.

“Yes, Dad, the two of us have been running a grain purchasing business. Everything was going well, and then Xu Fei swooped in and stole our market.”

“What?” Old Li stubbed out his cigarette.

“Xu Fei? Young guy, tall, looks sharp?”

“That’s the one,” Sister-in-law Zhang nodded.

“Dad, that punk bought up all the rice that should have been ours, and he paid less than us, so now we’ve got nothing left to buy. Tell me, how am I supposed to take that lying down?”

Family is family. Old Li eyed the Red River cigarettes on the table.

“Damn it, that little bastard, trying to pull one over on me.”

Li Dabiao grinned at Sister-in-law Zhang.

“Dad, we can’t just let this slide, can we?”

Old Li thought it over. “Daughter-in-law, so what are you two planning?”

“We move that cart of rice out tonight.”

“Steal it?”

Hearing Old Li’s tone, Li Dabiao quickly stepped forward. “Dad, it’s not stealing. He broke the rules and undercut us first—this is payback.”

“That’s right, Dad, Dabiao’s right. At worst, it’s just self-defense.”

“Exactly. Even if you kill someone in self-defense, it’s not a crime.”

The couple’s words swayed Old Li.

“You’re right,” Old Li said, standing up and heading outside. Seeing this, Sister-in-law Zhang pulled Li Dabiao along to follow. The three of them stopped in front of the cart. Li Dabiao climbed up and peeked under the rain tarp—inside were bags and bags of rice.

“So much!” Sister-in-law Zhang called up to him from the ground. “How much is there?”

Li Dabiao jumped down and glanced at the other two. “At least ten tons.”

“That much?” Old Li frowned. “How are you going to move it?”

“Don’t worry, Dad, I’ll find a vehicle. We’ll take as much as we can—no way I’m letting him walk away with all that money.”

He looked at Sister-in-law Zhang. “Wife, you and Dad wait here for me. I’ll get the cart.”

Sister-in-law Zhang and Old Li returned to the gatehouse. Li Dabiao jogged all the way home. He had a tricycle he used for his meat business, which was currently idle. As he entered the courtyard, Old Wang, his neighbor, happened to be coming out to use the latrine.

“Who’s there?”

Li Dabiao glanced at him and smiled. “Wang, it’s me, Dabiao.”

“So late, and you’re just getting back?”

“Had some work to do.”

Old Wang seemed to get the implication. Everyone in the neighborhood knew what kind of people the Li couple were. He turned straight for the outhouse.

Meanwhile, Li Dabiao pushed out his tricycle and headed straight for the cinema.

…

At this time, Xu Fei was drinking with Old Third An.

“Fei, you made another killing this time, didn’t you?”

“Brother An, I told you before to invest with me, but you wouldn’t listen. By the way, the grain business doesn’t make much, but would you like to partner with me on the TV deal?”

Old Third An shook his head with a smile. “Fei, leave those business deals to yourself. If you ever need help, I’ll come—just give me some money for the ride.”

Xu Fei knew Old Third An was never one to chase profit or fame. He raised his glass and said, “Come on, Brother An, as long as I have food on my table, you’ll never go hungry.”

They polished off a good half-liter of liquor. Old Third An could never outdrink Xu Fei, and finally called it a night. Xu Fei saw him off. He had planned to go home, but something still unsettled him. For some reason, his right eyelid kept twitching.

Since the cinema was on his way, he turned down the street and headed there. When he arrived, he found the main gate—which should have been locked—only half-closed. A sense of unease gripped him.

He hurried into the back courtyard and stopped by the gatekeeper’s window. Glancing inside, he saw Old Li lying on the bed, the radio beside him still playing Peking opera.

Xu Fei felt somewhat reassured. He knocked on the door. Old Li sat up, saw it was Xu Fei, and greeted him with a smile as he opened the door.

“Well, my friend, what brings you back?”

Xu Fei smiled. “I was just passing by on my way home and thought I’d check in.”