Chapter 82: The Gift

"Isn't it so?" Shen Shuming reached out and patted Xu Fei on the shoulder.

"So, this time you got edged out by them, and if you look at it, it’s not entirely unfair. I think you should start considering other options. As for the rice business..." Shen Shuming didn’t finish his sentence, just shook his head.

Xu Fei understood what he meant.

Zhang Lichun’s background ran deep, and his own influence seemed hardly enough to compete.

"What if I turn to my third brother?"

"Him?" Shen Shuming shook his head.

"Xu Fei, have you heard this saying? It’s better to deal with the current governor than to rely on the county magistrate." Xu Fei nodded.

Old Zhang, though he had vast connections in Donghai’s supply and sales system, was now retired, while Zhang Lichun’s relatives were all in power.

"Forget it. My focus isn’t here anymore, anyway. The rice business doesn’t make much, and since they want it so badly, let them have it." Xu Fei stood up. "But the ones who stole my rice—I’m sure they’re involved."

Shen Shuming nodded as well. He got up, thought for a moment, and said, "Xu Fei, I looked into it for you. The rice they delivered this time is very similar to yours."

The result was no surprise to Xu Fei.

"I figured as much."

"So, what do you plan to do...?"

A cold smile flickered at Xu Fei’s lips.

"We’ll let the little cabbages show themselves one by one."

He nodded to Shen Shuming. "Director Shen, how about coming to my place tonight? Let’s have a drink together, just us."

"Forget it," Shen Shuming waved his hand. Though he was interested, Xu Fei’s recent trouble made him wary.

"I’m heading home. My daughter is bringing her boyfriend to visit me today."

"Oh, is that so? The new son-in-law is coming, so you, as the father-in-law, should keep a close eye on him!"

Shen Shuming’s daughter had just graduated from university, and it seemed she’d be assigned to Donghai.

"Ah, my daughter insists on bringing home a son-in-law. Hahaha, that girl..." Though he shook his head as he spoke, the joy on his face was impossible to hide.

Xu Fei congratulated him with a smile, then said his farewells.

Once he stepped out of the grocery store, Xu Fei’s expression gradually darkened.

A true man always avenges a wrong.

The feud between Zhang Lichun and Zhang Lei, father and son, and himself was deepening.

Xu Fei had hoped to live quietly.

But fate would not let him rest.

As he walked home, Chen Da’s jeep pulled up behind him.

"Fei, what are you thinking about?"

"Big brother? Where are you off to?"

"I’m looking for you." Chen Da waved his hand.

"Get in and we’ll talk."

Xu Fei opened the door and got in.

"I heard you’ve taken unpaid leave?"

"Your news travels fast!"

"I just happened to run into Old Liu, he told me. What’s going on?"

Xu Fei shared his thoughts.

"Alright. I thought maybe you’d been wronged at the factory, but if this is the reason, I support you."

Chen Da glanced at the pig’s trotter Xu Fei had placed on the dashboard.

"Looks like you’ve got quite a meal at home tonight?"

"Oh, my little sister is about to take the college entrance exam. By the way, big brother, why not come to my place and have a drink with me?"

Chen Da considered it. "Alright."

He turned the car around.

"What’s up?"

Chen Da laughed, "Don’t worry about it."

Soon, the jeep stopped at the market.

"Give me half a pound of pig head meat," Chen Da called out to the vendor at the cooked food stall without getting out.

"Alright."

A tall young woman with two braids came out from behind the stall.

She was pretty.

Especially her large, expressive eyes.

She glanced at Xu Fei in the car, then smiled.

"Miss, I remember the usual vendor is an older gentleman," Chen Da said.

"Oh, that’s my father. He’s not feeling well these days, so I’m helping out temporarily."

She skillfully sliced the meat, wrapped it in oil paper, and handed it to Chen Da.

"What’s your name?"

"Me?"

The young woman looked at Chen Da, a bit embarrassed.

"Big brother, why do you ask?"

Chen Da laughed, "Just curious."

"My name is Du Ying."

"Du Ying, that’s a nice name. I’ll come visit you sometime."

Chen Da floored the gas pedal.

The jeep roared away from the stall.

Xu Fei glanced in the rearview mirror and saw Du Ying still standing there, lost in thought.

"Big brother, you’ve taken a liking to her, haven’t you?"

"Haha..."

"Aren’t you afraid your wife will find out?"

"Her? If neither you nor I say anything, how would she ever know?"

Xu Fei shook his head.

His big brother had no other vice, just this one.

Though Xu Fei didn’t approve, nobody’s perfect.

Xu Fei, as a brother, couldn’t say too much. His earlier words were already a hint.

But since Chen Da didn’t care about his wife’s feelings, Xu Fei had no say.

Chen Da soon parked in front of Xu Fei’s house.

The two entered the courtyard.

"Du Man, bring out the bottle of wine I bought before," Xu Fei said as he walked inside.

By then,

Xu Qing and Xu Yun were already sitting at the table.

"Come here, Xu Qing, Xu Yun, greet your brother Chen."

Xu Qing stood up and called him brother Chen.

"Good, good, little sister, you’re truly beautiful, very nice," Chen Da remarked.

Xu Fei glanced askance at him, seeing his big brother’s eyes still lingering on Xu Qing’s face.

He quickly pulled Chen Da into the inner room.

"Your sister is quite pretty," Chen Da said.

Xu Fei gave a bitter smile and shook his head, "Big brother, you..."

Chen Da seemed to catch Xu Fei’s meaning.

"Fei, what are you thinking? I may like pretty girls, but Xu Qing is family. What do you take me for?"

Xu Fei laughed, "I didn’t say anything, big brother, look at you..."

"Enough, do you take me for a fool?"

Du Man entered.

"Du Man, this is my big brother."

"Big brother."

"Sister-in-law, first time meeting you, I didn’t bring anything."

"No need, big brother," Xu Fei said, pulling Chen Da’s hand from his pocket. "We’re brothers, no need for such formality."

"Alright, sister-in-law, next time, I’ll be sure to bring you something."

Du Man smiled and waved her hand.

"Xu Fei, I’ve prepared all the dishes, and the wine is warming up. You two brothers, why don’t you...?"

"Yes, yes, let’s go, big brother."

Xu Fei led Chen Da out.

They sat down.

"This braised pork—?" Xu Fei looked at the dish with curiosity.

"Oh, Xu Yun had his final exams today, came in second for the whole year group, so I let him choose the dish."

"Really?!"

Xu Fei slapped Xu Yun’s shoulder hard.

"Well done, third child, keep it up, make the Xu family proud—get into Tsinghua or Peking University!"

"Hmph!" Xu Qing snorted coldly nearby.