Chapter 101: Am I Really This Happy?

“I’ll go help,” Niu Lianfang said promptly, sensing the situation and quickly following behind. For her, since she had no authority to detain Zhao Liang, it was only wise to leave at once.

Of course, she secretly hoped for such an outcome. It would be the greatest joke if Xiao Yang continued to bully them, leading them by the nose.

Ding Lan, understanding the mood well, followed closely behind with a smile, munching on sunflower seeds. The other officers and employees from the Industrial and Commercial Bureau dispersed to wander about. After all, the saying goes, “a wise man adapts to circumstances.” If they couldn’t see reason at such a moment, they didn’t deserve their government posts.

Xiao Yang was extremely embarrassed. He had wanted to lash out but upon remembering his uncle, Xiao Daode, was still under investigation at the Donghe Police Station, he could only sulk and retreat with his tail between his legs. Lingering any longer would only invite the wrathful glares of the villagers from Laowu, who might tear him apart.

Liu Xing paid no mind to Xiao Yang. The real matter at hand was dealing with the fat pig. If they delayed until nightfall, trouble would surely follow.

Seeing Zhao Liang still swaying beneath the pomelo tree, Liu Xing shook his head. “Don’t be afraid. Xiao Yang has left, and even if he hadn’t, there’s no reason for him to arrest you.”

Such a trivial matter to be so frightened over!

“I know, I know,” Zhao Liang chuckled awkwardly and hurried forward to help the butcher begin processing the fat pig. Yet his hands trembled uncontrollably, his heart pounding wildly.

Liu Xing turned his attention to Tian Jun. “Why don’t you come inside for a bit? We can have some tea and chat.”

“No need to trouble yourself,” Tian Jun glanced at his watch. Seeing that Xiao Yang had left, he said, “I must go. I need to report the earlier incident to Director Wu.”

“What’s the rush? Didn’t we agree to eat before leaving?” Liu Xing understood Tian Jun was worried Xiao Jun might preemptively complain. Lowering his voice, he said, “Don’t worry. Since Director Ding dared to detain Xiao Daode, he wouldn’t fear the supply and marketing cooperative behind him. If you go back to report now, you’ll only be making things worse.”

“Well...” Tian Jun hesitated.

“Stay for the meal! If you’re worried about gossip, you can help out,” Liu Xing said, rolling up his sleeves and grabbing a basin to collect pig liver.

Tian Jun smiled and followed suit.

The villagers of Laowu, seeing the close rapport between Liu Xing and Director Tian, relaxed. Soon, they resumed their quiet conversations.

Village Chief Zhao, Zhao Hu, Zhao Biao, Zhao Jianzhong, Zhao Dongkui, and others busied themselves gathering materials for construction while daylight remained.

Meanwhile, the butcher swiftly dismembered the entire fat pig. “Liu Xing! Want me to turn the pig intestines inside out for you?”

“Sure! Let my sister use them to make ‘pigs slaughtered dish.’ With so many people eating, we need something good,” Liu Xing replied with a smile, holding a basin of ribs.

“Heh... alright!” The butcher laughed along with him.

At that moment, Widow Wang approached. “Zhang Jinde, could you give me two jins of pork belly? I want to take it home to nourish my son.”

Zhang Jinde, the butcher, frowned. “This pork isn’t mine. Why ask me? You should ask Liu Xing; he’s the real owner.”

“True,” Widow Wang turned to Liu Xing, a strange pang in her heart. She had fed the fat pig for over a year and now, even eating pork brought criticism. What kind of world was this?

“Old Zhang, cut her two jins of pork belly and give her the pig’s head to take home. No charge,” Liu Xing said after a sigh, sensing her feelings.

“Really?” Zhang Jinde hardly believed it. A pig’s head alone could fetch at least five yuan!

“Really,” Liu Xing said, carrying the basin of ribs into the kitchen.

Zhang Jinde had no choice but to comply.

Widow Wang watched and suddenly burst into tears.

“Don’t cry. The pig was sold to Liu Xing at fifty cents per jin. Isn’t that enough?” Zhao Liang, nearby, comforted her. “And you’re getting a free pig’s head and two jins of belly meat. If it were anyone else, forget it.”

“I’m not crying, I’m happy,” Widow Wang said quickly, wiping tears when she noticed little Zhao Jing looking at her with tilted head while playing.

“Yeah, you should be happy. You got a great deal today,” Zhao Liang joked self-deprecatingly.

Indeed, not only had Widow Wang benefited from Liu Xing, but he himself had too. If not for Liu Xing stepping in, he might have ended up in jail.

Though he hadn’t managed to buy the fat pig in the end, he knew that without Liu Xing’s righteous intervention, he wouldn’t be standing here talking.

“My goodness! My big brother is really slaughtering a pig!” On the street, Zhao Wuliang’s lazy figure appeared. Seeing the two large slabs of pork on the bench, he yelled excitedly.

In no time, he ran up to Zhang Jinde. “Hey? Where are the ribs? The pig’s feet? Why didn’t my big brother save me some?”

“What are you thinking? That pig belongs to Liu Xing, not your brother,” Zhao Liang snapped.

“Ah?” Zhao Wuliang shrank back and quickly distanced himself from the pork.

He knew Liu Xing’s skills and connections well. At this moment, he dared not speak recklessly but rather basked in Liu Xing’s favor. Otherwise, with a word, Liu Xing could have him thrown in jail.

This wasn’t a joke. Previously, due to the draft ox case, he had been implicated. If not for Liu Dongju pleading with Liu Xing, he wouldn’t be standing here today.

“Coward!” Zhang Jinde couldn’t help but mock Zhao Wuliang, who usually acted like a loafer but now feared Liu Xing.

Zhao Wuliang didn’t retort. In front of Liu Xing, he was indeed a coward.

Just as he was about to cozy up to Zhao Dongkui to beg for a pound or two of meat to add some flavor to his meal, Liu Xing emerged from the kitchen, followed by Ding Lan and Niu Lianfang.

“Old Zhang! Cut two portions of two jins each of pork belly for these two ladies to take home,” Liu Xing instructed.

“Oh, and make sure Director Tian gets two jins too,” he added.

“That wouldn’t be proper,” Tian Jun, bending over washing his shoes, stood up.

Seeing Tian Jun, Zhao Wuliang fled as if he’d seen a ghost.

Niu Lianfang, recognizing Zhao Wuliang, chuckled but didn’t intervene. Instead, she said to Tian Jun, “Don’t overthink it. The pork belly is sold to you at one yuan per jin, no meat coupons required.”

After all, with so many people present, directly taking Liu Xing’s pork would have drawn the bosses’ ire.

Tian Jun smacked his forehead. “I always think of the most impractical things. But two jins of such cheap pork belly is too little—I’ll buy five.”

“No,” Liu Xing replied firmly. “Others need some too! You can’t eat it all yourself.”

“All right, all right!” Tian Jun accepted Liu Xing’s refusal without complaint.

Many villagers were eyeing the meat greedily. If he bought it all, what would they think?

Zhang Jinde, hearing the agreement, quickly sliced five jins of pork belly, carefully weighing each portion to be precise.

Tian Jun watched in quiet amazement.

At first, he thought it was luck.

Only after the next two cuts for Ding Lan and Niu Lianfang were also exact two-jin portions did he realize Zhang Jinde’s skill was exceptional.

Liu Xing noticed too but said nothing. Seeing little Zhao Jing craning her neck to look, he instructed Zhang Jinde, “Cut two jins for Village Chief Zhao as well. If not enough, give two jins of pork loin instead.”

“All right!” Zhang Jinde complied.

After Tian Jun packed the pork belly tied with straw, he handed Liu Xing two yuan. “Keep the money. Next time you sell pork, give me a heads-up or I’ll have to come looking for trouble.”

“Haha… okay!” Liu Xing accepted the money without hesitation.

Ding Lan and Niu Lianfang also handed their money to Liu Xing.

“Brother,” Zhao Jing bit her lip and looked at Liu Xing. “My family can’t afford pork. You don’t have to cut any for us.”

Her grandfather was ill and needed medicine year-round. Sometimes, to care for him, they even skipped breakfast. To avoid embarrassing her grandfather over two yuan, she had to refuse Liu Xing’s kindness.

Her words stunned Liu Xing. Even Tian Jun, Ding Lan, and Niu Lianfang felt a strange pang.

They all knew how hard life was for villagers in the countryside.

“Silly girl, didn’t you say you want to be my wife?” Liu Xing smiled and picked up Zhao Jing. “Then you can eat my meat for free. Just take it home.”

He joked, but Zhao Jing took him seriously. “Okay! But you have to wait until I grow up. Grandpa says I’m too young to marry you now.”

“Hahaha...” The villagers nearby burst into laughter upon hearing this.

Embarrassed, Zhao Jing buried her head in Liu Xing’s arms.

Zhang Jinde couldn’t help but laugh too as he handed Zhao Jing the pork loin tied with straw.

“Thank you, uncle!” Zhao Jing happily accepted it.

Liu Xing set her down.

Just as he prepared to have Zhang Jinde cut the remaining pork, Village Chief Zhao and Zhao Hu approached.

“Xing boy, I didn’t bring money today. I’ll pay you for the meat another day.”

“Village Chief, you say that like I’m a stranger,” Liu Xing said. “If that’s the case, next time I come to Laowu Village, I won’t ask you for any favors.”

“Come on, this is Liu Xing’s good will. You should accept it,” Zhao Dongkui, who had just arrived, chimed in.

Others nearby agreed. After all, Village Chief Zhao was highly respected in Laowu Village. Accepting one or two jins of pork was nothing.

“All right then,” Village Chief Zhao nodded warmly.

He reached out to hug Zhao Jing, but she, clutching the pork loin, darted away on her short legs.

“Silly girl, where are you running?” Village Chief Zhao called after her.

Looking back, Zhao Jing said, “Grandpa, I know you want to take the pork back to Liu Xing, but this meat was given to me by Liu Xing. I can’t give it to you.”

“Don’t tell me you really want to marry Liu Xing when you grow up?” Village Chief Zhao covered his head, amused and helpless.

“Isn’t that allowed?” Zhao Jing asked innocently as she ran.

“He was joking!” Village Chief Zhao tried to explain.

Zhao Jing stopped, bewildered, looking at Liu Xing. “Brother... you... you really were joking, right?”

Feeling wronged, she pouted.

“No, I wasn’t!” Liu Xing comforted her. “But you have to wait until you’re grown to talk about marrying me. When that time comes, if you’re unmarried and I’m single, then it’s fine.”

“But...” He paused deliberately.

“But what?” Zhao Jing asked anxiously.

“But I’m more than ten years older than you. By the time you grow up, I’ll be old, like your grandpa. Would you still want to marry me then?” Liu Xing teased.

“I... I don’t know,” Zhao Jing was puzzled.

Her grandpa was very old. She didn’t want to marry an old man someday. Only a young man like Liu Xing who gave her meat was someone she wanted to marry.

“So!” Liu Xing finally brought the conversation back on track. “Keep eating the pork I give you, but talking about marrying me is too early. When you grow up, we’ll see. If I’m married or you have someone you like, then don’t bring it up again.”