Chapter Eighty-Eight: You Eat First

“Sure,” Du Man said with a smile as she rose from the bed and reached for her clothes. Xu Fei looked at the jade-white curve of her back and her slender figure, half-hidden, half-revealed in the glow of the cigarette between his fingers. It was a truly lovely sight.

“I’ll make you some pancakes. Get a little more rest.”

With that, Du Man went out.

After finishing the cigarette, Xu Fei dressed himself. Though he could not go to Chen Da and settle matters directly, he certainly did not want today’s business to ever happen again.

He told Du Man a word and left the house.

First he went to find Zhang Mingyang and handed him the train ticket.

Zhang Mingyang gathered a few changes of clothes and stuffed them into a backpack.

“Let’s go.”

He dragged Xu Fei out the door.

“Where are you off to, boy?” Old Master Zhang happened to be coming in from outside.

“Old Master, I’m going away for a few days. Take good care of yourself.”

“Fine, go on then.”

Seeing that it was Xu Fei with him, Old Master Zhang said nothing more.

When they were out of the alley, Zhang Mingyang glanced at Xu Fei.

“You know, if this were anyone else, my old man would never agree, not in a million years.”

“Really?”

“Would I lie to you? I don’t know what nerve of yours struck him, but the old man thinks highly of you.”

Xu Fei smiled and shook his head.

“I think the old man is actually pretty easy to get along with.”

“A stubborn old mule.”

Zhang Mingyang shook his head.

“Hey, where are we going?”

He realized the road Xu Fei was leading him down was not the one to his own house.

“To see Big Brother.”

“To see him?”

Xu Fei told him about how Guo Suhua had come to cause trouble at his home.

“Damn it, I knew it. Has Guo Jianguo gotten cocky enough now to lay hands on you?”

As he spoke, Zhang Mingyang rolled up his sleeves.

“Fourth, come on. Let’s go find Guo Jianguo. I’ll give him a lesson right in front of you and let him know our brothers are not people he can lay a hand on whenever he pleases.”

Xu Fei waved a hand.

“Forget it. If we do that, Big Brother won’t feel any better.”

“Him?”

Zhang Mingyang gave a cold snort.

“He’s having the time of his life. When he was cozying up to that little tart, did he ever think of you?”

Xu Fei shook his head.

“He told me he wants to cut ties with her.”

“Cut ties? Him? If it were anything else, maybe I’d believe it. But if you want that Chen Da to cut this off, it’d probably be harder than making him stop eating.”

Xu Fei smiled.

“It’s not that serious.”

“You don’t believe me. I’ve known him for years. Who knows him better than I do?”

As the two talked, they somehow arrived at the Bureau of Industry and Commerce.

And what a coincidence it was.

Chen Da was just walking out from inside.

“What brings you here?”

Zhang Mingyang walked up to Chen Da with a dark face.

“Where are you going?”

Chen Da smiled.

“Oh, I’m just going out for a bit.”

“Let me guess—you’re going to see that little tart.”

“Watch your mouth, Third. Call her Second Sister-in-law.”

“Get lost.”

Zhang Mingyang was so irritated he waved a hand.

He pointed at Xu Fei.

“Big Brother, you’re our big brother. Can you at least act like one? Do you know that Fourth almost got stabbed by that bastard Guo Jianguo just now for your sake?”

Chen Da was taken aback.

“What? He—he came looking for you?”

Xu Fei nodded.

“He didn’t do anything to you, did he?”

Chen Da asked anxiously.

“And now you’re scared? Did you know that your wife brought two people to Fourth’s house and trapped his wife inside, hurling insults at her?”

“They did what?”

Chen Da’s face instantly darkened.

“That’s too much. That woman, she—”

“Still calling her Second Sister-in-law? Big Brother, can you deal with our so-called elder sister-in-law first?”

Chen Da thought for a moment.

“All right, I’ll go find them right now.”

But Xu Fei grabbed him.

“Big Brother, don’t go.”

“Hm?”

This time not only Chen Da, but Zhang Mingyang as well, stared at Xu Fei in confusion.

“What is it?”

“Big Brother, let it go. You should go back and help me persuade Sister-in-law. Just tell her not to come to my place and make a scene while I’m away for these next few days.”

“I say, Fourth, you—”

Xu Fei smiled and looked at Zhang Mingyang.

“Third Brother, I know you mean well for me, but what about Big Brother?”

Zhang Mingyang glanced at Chen Da.

That poor soul had lowered his head by now, looking utterly troubled.

“Big Brother, you... fine. Fourth is only doing this for you. I’m telling you, go back and have a proper talk with our sister-in-law.”

Chen Da gave an awkward smile.

“You know how it is, I...”

Zhang Mingyang sneered coldly.

“Big Brother, you’re saying you can’t even handle the affairs of your own woman?”

Chen Da could only shake his head with a bitter smile.

“All right, Big Brother, Third Brother, let’s do it this way. As long as Big Brother keeps Sister-in-law in line, we’ll let this matter pass.”

Chen Da nodded.

Zhang Mingyang shot him a glare.

“Then, then I’ll head back first. Right, you two are going to Nanjing today, so I won’t see you off. When you come back, I’ll host a welcome dinner for you.”

After speaking, Chen Da waved at them and left.

Watching Chen Da retreat into the distance, Zhang Mingyang shook his head.

“Fourth, I’ll bet you anything our Big Brother is definitely over at that little tart’s place.”

Xu Fei glanced at him.

“Third Brother, enough of that. Actually, there’s something I haven’t told you.”

“Hm?”

Zhang Mingyang looked at him.

“What is it?”

“Our sister-in-law brought someone named Deng Yu today. I get the feeling he’s not just some ordinary acquaintance of hers.”

“Deng Yu?”

Zhang Mingyang frowned.

“I know that kid. He’s from the class above mine. He and Guo Suhua used to be in the same class, the two of them...”

Xu Fei nodded.

“It’s just a feeling.”

“Hmph.”

Zhang Mingyang gave a cold snort.

“What a pair of husband and wife.”

Then he looked at Xu Fei.

“Hey, Fourth, what exactly is marriage for anyway?”

Xu Fei smiled.

“What’s wrong, Third Brother? Why are you getting sentimental all of a sudden?”

Zhang Mingyang laughed too.

“Anyway, I’ve finally figured it out. As for women, if I want to have some fun and spend some money, or keep a good buddy around, that’s all fine. But marriage? Forget it. Being on my own is pretty good.”

Hearing this, Xu Fei stepped forward and rested a hand on his shoulder.

“My Third Brother, your old man must be worried sick.”

“Him? If he’s in such a hurry, let him find someone himself. I don’t mind if he finds me a stepmother.”

“Hahaha...”

Xu Fei was amused by his words.

Zhang Mingyang also found himself laughing at how ridiculous he sounded.

The two of them chatted and laughed all the way back to Xu Fei’s house.

When they entered, Zhang Mingyang caught the fragrance of pancakes.

“So fragrant!”

He exclaimed and pushed open the door into the room.

There was Du Man, just coming out of the kitchen with a plate full of pancakes.

“You’re here, Third Brother.”

“Mm, mm, sister-in-law, these pancakes of yours are really something!”

Xu Fei pulled Zhang Mingyang to the table and sat him down.

“Come on, Third Brother, have some first...”