Chapter Eighty-Nine: Imported Equipment

“How’s it going over there in Workshop One? Settling in all right?”

“Pretty good. I follow Master Qin around every day, so I’m learning a bit of the trade.”

“You’re a good kid. You don’t mind hard work. I was drinking with Old Qin the other day, and he even praised you. That damn Feng Tao hasn’t been giving you trouble, has he?”

“No. Don’t worry, Uncle Zhang. I’m not scared of him. That brat only leans on his father’s power and acts all high and mighty all day long.”

Zhang Hu suddenly fell silent, glanced out the window, and lowered his voice.

“Even so, you all need to be more careful with your words from now on. Watch your tongues. A few days ago I heard the county organization department had already spoken with Manager Feng. Once the old factory director retires in the next little while, that top job will be his for sure.”

“What? Feng Tao’s old man is going to be the big boss?”

Zhang Hao gasped and nearly sprang out of the cane chair.

Zhang Hu hurriedly kicked the door shut and flicked Zhang Hao hard on the forehead.

“My little ancestor, can you keep it down? I heard this from a friend at the county government. You boys keep your mouths shut and don’t go running around spreading it.”

Zhang Hao clutched his head, looking pained, and grumbled unhappily.

“If Manager Feng really gets promoted, we’re finished. Won’t Feng Tao be shitting and pissing on our heads from then on? Wouldn’t this whole factory be ruled by the Feng family?”

“Uncle Zhang, even you’re afraid of that old bastard?”

Cui Yue fixed his gaze on Zhang Hu and spoke each word clearly.

“What? Me afraid of him? Pah!”

Zhang Hu glared and spat hard on the ground.

“Back when I was carrying a rifle into battle, he was probably still off playing somewhere. Even if he becomes the top boss, I’m still the head of security. I won’t give him the time of day.”

That said, Zhang Hu still warned them carefully.

“You boys, especially Cui Yue, had better not keep going head-to-head with that bastard Feng Tao. If you can’t beat him, avoid him. You’re all still too young; be careful he doesn’t set you up.”

Though Cui Yue nodded on the surface, in his heart he did not take it seriously at all. If anyone expected him to bow and scrape to Feng Tao, they could wait until next life.

A man could lose money, even lose his life, but he could not live without dignity. As the saying went, a person lived on a single breath. Better to depart in style than to endure a lifetime of humiliation.

The Little South Gate Sichuan Restaurant bustled with people coming and going.

“Hey, cheapskate, it’s just one meal. Do you really need to keep looking so miserable?”

“Ha! That’s rich. You’re looking down on me through a crack in the door. Do you really think Cui Yue is that petty?”

Cui Yue’s face flushed red. This girl was getting more infuriating by the day.

“Fine! So you are a man, after all!”

“That’s right. No—wait. I was already a man. You’re the woman!”

“Nonsense. I was already a woman!”

For a moment Cui Yue was so exasperated he nearly burst. Why did he always have to come out on the losing end whenever he saw this girl? He never got the better of her in their arguments. She was practically his doom.

Yang Liu covered her mouth and giggled softly. Her sweet dimples left Cui Yue entirely dazed.

Well. When this girl wasn’t talking, she really was rather beautiful.

“Auntie, give us one country-style stir-fried pork, one boiled sliced pork in chili sauce, one mapo tofu, and ...”

“Coming right up. Girl, can two people really finish all that?”

The restaurant auntie scribbled quickly in her notebook and asked out of concern.

Yang Liu pointed at Cui Yue beside her and smiled lightly.

“Auntie, don’t worry. This guy’s stomach is made of a vat. He can fit however much you give him.”

“Hehe, this young man looks skinny and weak, but he sure can eat.”

The restaurant auntie laughed and went to the kitchen to call for help.

Cui Yue was practically ready to breathe fire. This girl really was better off keeping her mouth shut. Not only was her temper awful, she ate like a pig. Whoever married her in the future would be cursed with eight generations of bad luck.

Just thinking about it made a sweat break out on his forehead.

“Can you even finish all that yourself?”

Yang Liu curled her lips in disdain.

“None of your business. What, are you feeling sorry for me now? Besides, if we can’t finish it, you can help me. I never forced you. You volunteered to treat me.”

Cui Yue looked utterly stunned. Volunteered? I was threatened and lured here by you the moment I got off work, half kidnapped all the way to the restaurant. If I hadn’t kindly saved you, that blood corpse would already have twisted your head off. Hindsight was useless.

“Yes, yes, absolutely. I volunteered from the bottom of my heart. It’s just the two of us—can we order a little less?”

Cui Yue wore a miserable expression. Thinking of his wallet made his heart ache all over again. Women really were tigers ... no, not just tigers.

“Hey, why are you such a nagging man? If I hadn’t spoken up for you that night, would you have gotten out of the police station? Or should I go find that old grandpa again and have a little chat at the station?”

“All right! My dear auntie! My own dear auntie! Please, stop! See if there’s anything missing and add a few more.”

Cui Yue hurriedly stood and cupped his hands in a bow. He was truly afraid of her now. How could there be someone so ungrateful!

Yang Liu waved a small hand, deliberately putting on a generous air.

“Let’s leave it at that for today. Cherishing food is one of the enduring virtues of our people. We can talk about it next time.”

“Next time? There’s a next time?”

At that, Cui Yue nearly fainted again.

As the two were talking, they heard a commotion outside.

Then Feng Tao led a pack of lackeys in as well. The moment he entered and saw Cui Yue and the girl, jealousy flared in him at once, and he shot them both a vicious glare.

When the restaurant auntie parted the curtain and saw Feng Tao and his gang of thugs, she also frowned deeply and cursed inwardly. These troublemaking little brats were here again!

Though she thought that in her heart, she still greeted them warmly and arranged the rabble at a table in the inner room across from theirs.

Feng Tao gave a cold snort and glared viciously at Cui Yue, his face dark with anger.

Beside him, his underling Liu Cheng hurriedly pulled out a cigarette, lit it for Feng Tao, and said with a fawning smile, “Brother Feng, whatever’s bothering you, let us brothers handle it for you.”

Feng Tao waved him off impatiently.

“You know nothing.”

Liu Cheng followed Feng Tao around all day long; how could he not know what was on Feng Tao’s mind? That girl Yang Liu was a thorn in Feng Tao’s heart, the root of his longing.

To show loyalty before Feng Tao, he grabbed a beer bottle from the table and pointed it straight at Cui Yue in the main hall.

“Brother Feng, isn’t it just this punk? Last time we didn’t deal with him properly. This time I’ll make him kneel and beg forgiveness.”

Seeing Liu Cheng step forward on his own, the other lackeys were naturally unwilling to fall behind. They all stood up, waiting only for one word from Feng Tao before rushing in to beat Cui Yue senseless.

Feng Tao’s eyes were gloomy as he stared at Cui Yue’s back, and he let out a cold laugh.

“Hmph. Cui Yue, your time to cry will come. When that happens, don’t say I didn’t give you a chance.”

He then turned and waved everyone back to their seats, sneering, “Don’t move against him for now. My old man warned me not to make trouble lately. Once this spell passes, that punk will have a fine time of it.”