After leaving his uncle’s house, Lu Changfu and Chen Lili slowly walked back along the village road. The winter sunlight bathed the concrete road, warming their backs.
In the fields on both sides, the young shoots of winter wheat had already emerged, their tender green leaves standing out against the earth. In the distance, wisps of smoke rose from the chimneys of several houses. The entire village was immersed in the leisurely atmosphere of the days leading up to the Chinese New Year.
As soon as they reached the entrance to the house, they heard laughter and lively conversation coming from the courtyard.
When they pushed open the gate, they saw Peng Jiali sitting around a small square table with several neighborhood aunties, playing cards. Sunflower seeds and tea were scattered on the table beside them.
The winter sun was shining warmly into this corner of the yard. The middle-aged women chatted happily while playing cards, creating a lively atmosphere.
“Changfu’s back!” Peng Jiali’s face immediately lit up when she saw her son. “Come over and say hello to your aunties!”
Lu Changfu walked over and politely nodded.
“Hello, Auntie Wang. Hello, Auntie Li. Hello, Auntie Zhang.”
“Oh my, Changfu has really made something of himself!” Auntie Wang looked him up and down. “Your mom said you’re making big money in Guangzhou?”
“Not really. I just write some things and make enough to get by,” Lu Changfu replied modestly.
“This child has been smart since he was little!” Auntie Li slapped her thigh. “And now he’s even brought back such a beautiful girlfriend. Your mom must be over the moon!”
The women continued chatting, and before long, the topic shifted from Lu Changfu to the latest news about everyone’s children—whose son had passed the civil service exam, whose daughter had married well, whose elderly parent had fallen ill…
That was how village gossip always worked. It seemed like casual conversation, but it actually contained a tremendous amount of information.
Lu Changfu exchanged a few polite words with them, then used an excuse to leave and went inside.
Song Liyuan was watching TV in the living room. As soon as she saw him, she immediately came over.
“Brother Lu, you’re back!”
“Yeah.”
Lu Changfu nodded.
“I’m going to the convenience store. Come with me and familiarize yourself with the area while we’re at it.”
Song Liyuan’s eyes lit up.
“Okay, okay!”
She quickly changed her shoes and checked her hair in the mirror.
Two minutes later, the two of them left and headed toward the center of the village.
Along the way, Lu Changfu briefly introduced the layout of the village and pointed out some of the more prominent families. Song Liyuan held onto his arm and listened attentively, occasionally asking a few questions. She behaved like an especially sweet and well-mannered girlfriend.
“That shop up ahead is the convenience store.”
Lu Changfu pointed toward a two-story building in the distance.
“The owner’s surname is Zhou. Our families are somewhat related, so just call him Uncle Zhou.”
Several motorcycles and bicycles were parked outside the convenience store, making it look like business was pretty good.
Just as Lu Changfu was about to push the door open, he suddenly heard a commotion nearby.
He turned his head and saw several tables set up in the courtyard of the neighboring house. More than a dozen people were sitting around them, playing cards and chatting. The place was extremely lively.
“Is that… a banquet?” Song Liyuan asked curiously.
Lu Changfu narrowed his eyes and took a closer look. He recognized several familiar faces.
“Oh, that’s Teacher Li’s house. Today is his fiftieth birthday.”
He paused, a playful smile appearing on his lips.
“What a coincidence. Yang Lifeng is there too.”
Sure enough.
Yang Lifeng was wearing an eye-catching red down jacket and was standing in the middle of the courtyard talking to someone. Beside him stood a young woman with a tall, slender figure, dressed in a fashionable white coat.
It was his wife, Li Ting—the only daughter of Teacher Li.
“Should we go over and say hello?” Song Liyuan asked, a strange glint flashing in her eyes.
“No rush. Let’s take care of our business first.”
Lu Changfu pulled her into the convenience store.
Inside, Uncle Zhou was arranging merchandise behind the counter.
When he heard someone enter, he looked up and immediately smiled.
“Oh, Changfu! When did you get back?”
“I just got back yesterday.”
Lu Changfu smiled as he walked over.
“Uncle Zhou, business seems pretty good.”
“Not bad, not bad. It’s almost New Year, after all.”
Uncle Zhou glanced at Song Liyuan.
“And this is…?”
“My girlfriend, Song Liyuan.”
Lu Changfu introduced her.
“Liyuan, this is Uncle Zhou.”
“Hello, Uncle Zhou!”
Song Liyuan greeted him sweetly.
After a few pleasantries, Lu Changfu got straight to the point.
“Uncle Zhou, I have twenty cartons of Soft China cigarettes. Are you interested in buying them?”
Uncle Zhou froze.
“That many? Where did you get them?”
“A friend gave them to me. I can’t finish them.”
Lu Changfu spoke casually.
“They’re definitely authentic. You can check them yourself.”
Uncle Zhou hesitated.
“Well… things are being checked pretty strictly these days. If they’re genuine, I can buy them, but as for the price…”
“Name your price.”
“The market price is 650 yuan a carton, and the usual buyback price is around 550. But you’ve got so many…”
Uncle Zhou rubbed his hands.
“How about 510 yuan each?”
Lu Changfu quickly calculated the numbers in his head.
At 510 yuan each, twenty cartons would come to 10,200 yuan.
Although that was considerably lower than the market price, it was still better than leaving them piled up in his system storage. Besides, these cigarettes were just a portion of what he had received as cashback, so their actual cost to him was practically zero.
“Deal. I’ll take that price.”
He agreed readily.
“But I need to go home and get the cigarettes first. Please wait a moment.”
“No rush, no rush.”
Uncle Zhou smiled broadly.
After leaving the convenience store, Lu Changfu didn’t head straight home. Instead, he led Song Liyuan toward Teacher Li’s house.
“Aren’t we supposed to get the cigarettes first?” Song Liyuan asked curiously.
“Let’s go see an old classmate first.”
Lu Changfu spoke meaningfully.
“He was so ‘generous’ yesterday. Wouldn’t it be rude not to thank him in person today?”
Song Liyuan immediately understood. A sly smile appeared on her lips.
“Brother Lu, you’re so bad~”
As soon as they reached the entrance to the courtyard, sharp-eyed Yang Lifeng spotted them.
The smile on his face froze for a moment before he enthusiastically came over.
“Changfu! What a coincidence! Come, come, come in and sit!”
“Lifeng, congratulations!”
Lu Changfu pretended as if he had only just found out.
“Today is Teacher Li’s fiftieth birthday? I didn’t even prepare a gift…”
“Hey, we’re practically family. No need to be so polite!”
Yang Lifeng waved his hand generously, though his eyes couldn’t help drifting toward Song Liyuan. Pretending not to recognize her, he asked,
“And who is this…?”
“My girlfriend, Song Liyuan.”
Lu Changfu knew Yang Lifeng was putting on an act in front of his wife. He then looked toward Li Ting, who was walking over.
“Li Ting, long time no see.”
Li Ting was two years younger than them. She had been a beauty since childhood, and she had grown even more beautiful over the years.
She politely nodded at Lu Changfu before curiously sizing up Song Liyuan.
“Hello. Welcome.”
Song Liyuan immediately got into character and affectionately took Li Ting’s hand.
“You’re so beautiful, Sister! Brother Yang is really lucky to have you!”
Li Ting became a little embarrassed by the compliment and was about to respond when Yang Lifeng suddenly interrupted.
“Changfu, about yesterday… Miss Chen didn’t come with you?”