Zhao Qiang said, "Mom, I'm very lucky. I've mastered some skills that others don't understand, so I've been able to make money."
Zhao Weiguo exclaimed excitedly, "Studying is still the best! Studying leads to a bright future! Good, good..."
Grandpa Zhao Tiancheng lay on the bed and grumbled, "I told you my grandson was a good catch! Our Zhao family will rise to prominence one day. Humph, those who didn't take our Zhao family seriously should be convinced this time."
Zhao Weiguo suddenly waved his hand and said, "Dad, this matter cannot be publicized!"
Liu Huilan chimed in, "Yes, didn't a robbery happen in the neighboring village a few days ago? I heard they even killed a family of three. Society is too chaotic. People will be envious if they hear you suddenly have money."
Zhao Qiang was also somewhat worried. This kind of thing is more likely to happen in the more remote rural areas. Shantou Village is close to the town government and is relatively safer, but he did not deny that people from other villages would come and cause trouble if they heard the news. At the very least, people who wanted to borrow money would wear down his doorstep!
Zhao Qiang thought for a moment and said, "Dad, Mom, is it okay to just renovate the house?"
Zhao Weiguo said, "No, there's no need to demolish the house since we're living in it perfectly well. Even if we do rebuild, we'll wait until you officially graduate next year. That way, we'll have a good excuse. You can take this money back and invest it in the company. The family isn't short of money for now."
Zhao Qiang took out money: "My grandfather needs money for treatment, right? I think we should send him to the district hospital, the environment there is better."
Liu Huilan said, "No need. I was initially treated at the district hospital, where they put a cast on my leg and told me to just rest at home. Later, I got some more medicine from a private clinic in town, and I'll be able to get out of bed after about a hundred days of rest."
Zhao Tiancheng, however, acted like a child: "I'm not going anywhere. This home is where I belong!"
Zhao Qiang was amused by his grandfather. The older people get, the simpler and more stubborn their thoughts become. Since the district hospital said it was nothing serious and his grandfather's complexion didn't seem to be too ill, Zhao Qiang didn't try to persuade him anymore, but he still took out 100,000 yuan.
"Dad, keep this money. You and Grandpa need to take care of your health. As long as you are healthy, I can do business in Donghai with peace of mind."
Liu Huilan said to Zhao Weiguo, "Keep it. Your son is showing you filial piety. Xiaoqiang won't feel at ease if you don't accept it."
Zhao Weiguo said to Liu Huilan, "Then you should quickly find a place to hide. Don't show off like this; it's not good if someone sees you."
Zhao Tiancheng said to his son, "Tomorrow morning, go to your grandfather's grave, burn some paper money, and tell him that your son has made something of himself!"
Zhao Weiguo nodded in agreement: "Okay, and I also want my grandfather to assure you that you'll recover soon."
Liu Huilan said, "I'll go home and cook, then bring it over to eat."
Zhao Qiang said, "Mom, I ran into an old classmate on my way back today. I probably won't be having dinner at home tonight."
Liu Huilan tentatively asked, "A woman?"
Zhao Qiang nodded, and Liu Huilan asked again, "What about the two female classmates who came last time?"
Zhao Qiang said, "They help me manage the company and don't have time to come see you." In fact, Zhao Qiang didn't want them to come at all, so as not to cause any more misunderstandings for the villagers.
Zhao Weiguo and Zhao Tiancheng looked on with admiration. The Zhao family had produced a capable person; it was as if their ancestors had blessed them by finding two beautiful girls to manage the company. If their grandson wasn't so capable, how could he have managed to subdue such beautiful city girls?
Zhao Qiang's phone rang. He figured it was time to go out for lunch, and sure enough, it was Su Su's number, which he had just saved.
Su Su said on the phone, "Zhao Qiang, come over. It's just a few steps from town. You can walk here by yourself, right? We'll be waiting for you in the Rose Hall on the third floor."
Zhao Qiang said, "Okay, I'll be there in a bit."
Our son has grown up and started his own company from scratch. As parents, we can't very well stop him from attending banquets. Once a man has a career, how can he not have social obligations?
When Zhao Qiang arrived at the Little Swan Restaurant, he met Sun Gang and Zhao Hai downstairs. The two of them braved the cold wind to greet Zhao Qiang. Although the three of them had not seen each other for almost four years, Zhao Qiang recognized them immediately when he saw them, unlike Su Su who gave him the feeling of a complete makeover.
The three of them hugged each other first. Although they had never been this close in school, it was perfectly reasonable for old classmates who hadn't seen each other for more than three years to hug each other to express their feelings.
Sun Gang punched Zhao Qiang in the chest, "You little rascal, still the same as before."
Zhao Qiang said, "You're still studying, so the nature of your studies hasn't changed. On the contrary, you two have matured a lot."
Zhao Hai said, "How's it going in Donghai? You're from a big city now, so you'll have to look after us."
Zhao Qiang laughed and said, "I won't graduate until next year, so I'll take it slow. You two are making your fortune somewhere, so you'll have to look out for me."
Zhao Hai eagerly introduced Sun Gang: "He's a famous seafood vendor in our town. He sends several truckloads of seafood to the city to sell every day, earning five or six thousand a month."
Zhao Qiang said, "That's great! We should share some seafood with our old classmates during the New Year."
Sun Gang readily agreed, "No problem."
Zhao Hai then introduced himself: "I'm in a terrible situation. I work at a packaging factory in our town and only earn a little over a thousand yuan a month. I don't even have a girlfriend yet."
Sun Gang said, "Let's go upstairs. If it weren't for you here, Zhao Hai and I wouldn't have wanted to see that stinky old woman today."
"Stinky woman?" Zhao Qiang asked, puzzled.
Zhao Hai explained, "It's that girl classmate you used to like, Su Su! You know, how much magic does the world need to turn a quiet girl into that gossipy woman who's afraid others won't know how rich she is, always showing off. Damn, as far as I know, she bought her Hyundai Elantra on loan. And her boyfriend, who works at the district finance bureau, is a notorious debt king. To pay off his debts, he must have been taking a huge cut from his subordinates every month. How come no one has exposed him?"
Sun Gang slapped Zhao Hai on the back: "Keep your voice down. You're obligated to help others, so you should be grateful."
In the Rose Hall, Su Su took off her bulky coat, revealing a figure several times better than in high school! Her breasts were full, her waist slender, her buttocks pert, and she exuded a strong fragrance. A quick glance revealed glimpses of the tender flesh on her breasts. Sitting next to Liu Wei, holding hands and exchanging flirtatious glances, she nearly poisoned Zhao Qiang. Zhao Hai was right; what kind of power had transformed her like this! Zhao Qiang wanted to turn and leave immediately. He simply couldn't accept the Su Su of the past; even a single look would shatter her former place in his heart!
(Thanks to Lonely Wolf, Xiaolou12345, Night Drift, and Blade Warrior 88 for their donations!)
Volume 2 [134] The Inside Story of the Broken Leg
Liu Wei raised his wrist, revealing an Armani watch. "We're a bit late, waiter. You can serve the food now. Open a bottle of red wine and bring a case of beer for the men."
Su Su casually raised her wrist, revealing an Armani watch that perfectly matched Liu Wei's, making them a couple's watch. Zhao Hai nudged Zhao Qiang under the table, signaling him to be wary of the showy couple. In fact, Zhao Qiang had already witnessed this in the car.
Su Su said to Zhao Qiang, "Time flies. I was so ignorant back in high school. Life is so much better now. Zhao Qiang, what are your plans after graduation? Go back to Hedian?" Su Su was wondering if she was referring to Zhao Qiang's ignorance about having a crush on her in high school.
Zhao Qiang shook his head: "I've been doing some small business in Donghai recently, and I might stay there to continue running it after graduation."
Su Su was intrigued: "Oh, what kind of business?"
Zhao Qiang said, "For now, our repair business only covers computers, but we will expand to various home appliances in the future."
Liu Wei interjected, "That's great! My 60-inch Sharp LCD TV has been acting up lately. Could you take a look at it for me sometime?"
Zhao Qiang felt embarrassed to refuse and said, "No problem."
Su Su asked, "How is your grandfather? Liu Wei and I bought a case of milk; please take it with you when you leave."
Sure enough, there was a box of Yili pure milk in the corner. Zhao Qiang was a little touched. No matter what kind of woman Su Su had become, she still cared about her family, even though there was an element of showing off in that care.
Zhao Qiang replied, "My grandfather broke his leg, but it has been set and he can rest at home."
Su Su said, "What happened? Is the road slippery because of the snow? You'll have to be more careful in the future."
Zhao Qiang said, "Maybe so, but my grandfather has always walked very nimbly, this might be an accident."
Zhao Hai looked puzzled and asked, "Zhao Qiang, you don't know about your grandfather?"
Zhao Qiang was taken aback: "I don't know. I went home and stayed for a short while before coming out again. But I noticed that my grandfather also had injuries on his face. When I asked my parents, they just said he fell. Is there some story behind this?"
Zhao Hai said, "Someone set up a chemical plant in Zaolin Town. When they were building a road, they wanted to take up a piece of your grandfather's land. Your grandfather refused, and a dispute broke out. Later, those people broke your grandfather's leg."
"What!" Zhao Qiang was struck dumb. His parents hadn't told him about this, probably because they were afraid he would do something foolish in a moment of impulsiveness. He had just broken Qian Gang's legs, and now it was happening to his grandfather. Although there was no necessary connection between the two, Zhao Qiang was still angry and regretful!
Sun Gang nodded: "It's true. A piece of land in our village was also taken over, and they only gave us 100 yuan per mu in compensation. Damn, that's not even enough to buy wheat seeds and fertilizer. It's said that the chemical plant is owned by the district party secretary's nephew, and the town is giving it strong support. The villagers' petitions were all turned away. It's really outrageous!"
Liu Wei coughed and said, "I know a bit about the Zaolin Chemical Plant. It is indeed owned by Zhang Guidong, the nephew of Zhang Zhiqiao, the secretary of the district committee. Because it is a heavily polluting enterprise, the factory site must be located in a township. It is said that Secretary Zhang also has shares in it. Hehe, you should know that chemical raw materials, especially heavily polluting chemical raw materials, have always been a major export item for us to the United States. Americans do not want to pollute their own country, so they import large quantities from developing countries. So this business is a sure thing. With Secretary Zhang's tacit approval behind the scenes, you can't make any trouble. If it weren't for the fact that you are Su Su's classmates, I would not have told you this."
Seeing that Zhao Qiang's expression was off, Su Su raised her voice and called out twice, "Zhao Qiang, Zhao Qiang!"
Zhao Qiang suddenly came to his senses. He had to avenge his grandfather, but not now. He needed to figure out the situation first. He had no connections or influence in Hedian, and there was a possibility that the Qian Gang incident would happen again. Zhao Qiang didn't want to make the same mistake again. At the very least, he needed to find out who had done it to his grandfather. He couldn't do it openly, but with his current skills, he could take revenge in secret as well.
Zhao Qiang sat down again, calmed himself down, and asked Zhao Hai, "Who laid a hand on my grandfather?"
Zhao Hai said, "It is said that it was Song Shiguo, the big boss of Hedian. Even if he did not do it himself, he gave the order, because his construction team was in charge of the road construction. Your grandfather blocked the road with a machete, and the construction team could not carry out the work, so they resorted to violence."
Everyone in Hedian knows Song Shiguo; he's the undisputed tyrant of the district, with hundreds of henchmen serving him. In recent years, with the government cracking down on crime, he's started doing legitimate business. Of course, legitimate business also has its shady practices. Through various means, Song Shiguo is now a well-known wealthy man in Hedian, capable of doing any kind of business.
Zhao Qiang took out a cigarette, lit it, and nodded: "I understand, let's talk about this later."
Just then, the dishes were served, and Liu Wei got a bottle of beer for himself. As he poured himself a drink, he said, "As far as I know, there are still a few rows of houses in Shantou Village that will be requisitioned. The chemical plant is planning to build a guesthouse at the entrance of the village."
Zhao Hai said, "Yes, the rumors say that the town has already held a meeting to discuss it and has approved the application. It's just waiting to be announced to the village committee. Some people say the subsidy for each room is two thousand yuan, while others say it's five thousand yuan."
Liu Wei said, "The claim of 5,000 yuan is absolutely false; 2,000 yuan is more in line with Zhang Guidong's style of doing things."
Zhao Hai said to Zhao Qiang, "Zhao Qiang, it seems your grandfather's house is among them."
Zhao Qiang took another drag of his cigarette and said, "The official documents haven't come down yet, so anything is possible. Let's have a drink."
After a few beers, everyone started chatting. Su Su and Liu Wei had shown off enough and didn't have anything else to brag about, so they started to really talk about their high school days.
Zhao Hai was the most tipsy. He said to Su Su, "Su Su, you have no idea how infatuated Zhao Qiang was with you back then."
Su Su glanced at Liu Wei and explained, "Zhao Qiang and I are completely different types of people, there's no possibility between us, so I ignored him back then. Zhao Qiang, don't be angry, okay? If you want to pursue me, you should at least have some assets." After saying that, Su Su leaned against Liu Wei like a little bird, and Liu Wei was very proud. These two were a perfect match.
Zhao Qiang wasn't drunk, but his face was as red as a monkey's bottom. He couldn't stand Su Su's blatant sarcasm and really wanted to smash the five bundles of RMB he always carried in his laptop bag over her head! Su Su wasn't the same Su Su anymore. Perhaps the original Su Su was a repressed flirt who only showed her true colors after entering society. Zhao Qiang finally understood why Sun Gang and Zhao Hai called Su Su a sassy old woman; she really was sassy.
Sun Gang, who had a better alcohol tolerance, stepped on Zhao Hai's foot under the table and said to Su Su, "Don't listen to Zhao Hai's nonsense. It's all from when he was young. You can't take his kid's stuff seriously. Brother Wei, does your company need seafood? I also have dried goods, dried shrimp, scallops, sea cucumbers, and dried fish. If you need any for employee benefits, just let me know. I'll definitely give you a generous kickback."
Liu Wei nodded: "Leave me your phone number. We'll contact you again if we really need it. These things will be selling very well with the New Year approaching."
Sun Gang handed his business card to Liu Wei: "Brother Wei will definitely reward you handsomely after this is done."
Liu Wei waved his hand: "We'll talk about it after it's done. Don't be so formal about money."
Taking advantage of Sun Gang's topic, Zhao Qiang broke the awkward silence by asking Sun Gang for his business card, "Do you also deliver to Donghai City?"
Sun Gang said, "As long as it's enough for travel expenses, I'll send you all the way to Beijing. What kind of relationship do we have? I'd go to great lengths for a friend."
Zhao Qiang said, "Okay, I'll contact you if I find someone suitable."
Zhao Hai, oblivious to the awkwardness, insisted on continuing the topic that Sun Gang had just changed the subject, "Zhao Qiang, do you have a girlfriend now?"
Zhao Qiang shook his head. He really didn't. He had previously felt a little close to Xu Xiaoya and Luo Xiaowei, but when Zhang Lingfeng told him that the three girls were into lesbian relationships, although he found it exciting at the time, he gave up the idea of pursuing beautiful women. They might not like men, so why should he join in?
Zhao Hai swayed as he drank another glass: "What's wrong? Can't you let go of Su Su?"
Su Su blushed and tried her best to explain, "Zhao Qiang, don't take it so seriously. There are plenty of beautiful women in the world, why do you only love me? You know, Liu Wei and I are inseparable for life, and we plan to get married next year."
Zhao Qiang nearly fainted. He hadn't thought about her since getting into university. How could Su Su be so narcissistic? He couldn't eat anymore, or he'd look like a tiger trying to steal a woman. This Zhao Hai was far too enthusiastic; it was a waste not to play matchmaker for him. He might even be the one who spread the news that Zhao Qiang had a crush on Su Su back in high school.
Zhao Qiang put down his wine glass and said, "I've had quite a bit to drink tonight. I want to go home and be with my grandfather. Let's have dinner."
Sun Gang noticed that Liu Wei was unhappy, so he stomped on Zhao Hai's foot and said, "Eat, eat."
After the meal, everyone said goodbye in front of the restaurant. Sun Gang wanted to do more business and increase sales at the end of the year, so he suggested, "Not many classmates came today, how about we have a proper get-together on New Year's Day?"
Su Su, a woman who likes to show off in front of others, was the first to agree: "Okay, you take charge of organizing, and I'll take charge of choosing the place. Everyone should bring their boyfriends or girlfriends. This is the first formal gathering since graduating from high school."
Sun Gang said, "Okay, I can probably contact about seventeen or eighteen classmates."
Su Su said, "I can contact a dozen or so people. If more than twenty of them come, it will be considered a success."
Sun Gang said, "It's a deal. The time will be New Year's Day evening. The specific location will be notified later."