Chapter 43: Boasting Is Not a Crime

“So, what’s the matter? Cat got your tongue?” Liu Xing asked with a chuckle.

“Who says I have nothing to say?” Liu Wanqiu forced down her urge to lose her temper. “The reason I came to Saltpeter Village to find you this time was actually to let go of all those unpleasant things from the past. Otherwise, do you really think I’d recommend such a great opportunity—working at the Hengshui Distillery—to you? Or to the other young men in Saltpeter Village?”

“That’s right. No matter what you say, your aunt grew up in Saltpeter Village. She values old ties, you see?” Liu Changsheng added.

“Heh… It’d be better if she didn’t value those old ties. Besides, if I wanted to work at the Hengshui Distillery, I wouldn’t need your recommendation,” Liu Xing replied, his tone light and indifferent.

“Pfft, who do you think you are? Do you know how strict the recruitment at Hengshui Distillery is? You have to be a high school graduate and have an urban household registration. Do you have either?” Liu Wanqiu seemed to have found the perfect way to put Liu Xing down, and she spoke with undisguised arrogance.

Hearing this, Ma Lei felt goosebumps all over. To be honest, if he’d had such an aunt, he’d have wanted to give her a good whack. But that was just a thought—he wouldn’t dare act on it. Clearly, the situation wasn’t in Liu Xing’s favor, and since Director Li hadn’t arrived yet to pick him up, the wise thing was to stay out of it. Not that he had the capability to intervene anyway; all he could do was watch from the sidelines.

“Don’t you dare bully people like that!”

“Even if my brother doesn’t have an urban registration or a high school diploma, the director of Hengshui Distillery is a family friend. I even call him uncle. If my brother wants a job there, it’s just a matter of saying the word!”

With her cheeks puffed in anger, Guazi ran out from the gate, pointing a small finger at Liu Wanqiu. “Let me tell you, yesterday Director Li even invited my brother to work at the distillery, but my brother wasn’t interested. He turned him down flat!”

After saying this, Guazi planted her hands on her hips, huffed coldly, and assumed a posture of righteous indignation, just like a little adult. The young men from the same village, including Ma Lei, couldn’t help but stifle their laughter, and some even let it slip out.

Zhou Qiuxiang, who had chased after her, originally intended to cover Guazi’s mouth, but in the end, she didn’t. She found Guazi’s words a relief; at least she herself wouldn’t dare say such bold, defiant things.

Liu Wanqiu was momentarily stunned, but then couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh. “You little brat, you haven’t learned anything good, but you pick up all the bad habits. If Director Li is your uncle, then I must be his grandmother.”

“How shameless. There isn’t a decent one among your whole family.” Knowing there was no point in staying any longer, Liu Wanqiu spat out a curse and turned to leave with Liu Changsheng and the others toward the village road.

But they had barely walked a dozen meters before they were forced to stop.

The reason: a black sedan was making its way slowly along the bumpy, narrow country road, blocking their path.

With no choice, the group stepped onto the grass at the roadside, curiosity piqued as the black car passed by and stopped a dozen meters away, just to the right of Liu Xing’s house.

This country road would be a muddy quagmire in the rain—impossible for any car to traverse. But today was different: the sky was cloudless and the sun blazed down, baking the mud into a hard, dry road. Apart from the dust, there was nothing uncomfortable about it.

Liu Changsheng, sharp-eyed, immediately recognized the black sedan as Director Li’s official car and was so frightened he started trembling, rooted to the spot, speechless.

Liu Wanqiu wasn’t an employee of the Hengshui Distillery and didn’t recognize the car, nor did she notice her husband’s reaction. Driven by curiosity, she bent down for a look inside the car. When she saw Director Li and his daughter Li Weiwei sitting inside, she gasped and covered her mouth in shock.

Director Li had noticed Liu Changsheng at first glance, but didn’t greet him; to him, Liu Changsheng was just a lowly team leader at the distillery, not worth his respect. As for Liu Wanqiu, her face was vaguely familiar, but he couldn’t place her.

Once they reached Liu Xing’s house, Director Li hurriedly got out of the car. “Goodness, Xiao Liu, your house was hard to find!”

“Good morning, Brother Liu Xing!” Li Weiwei rolled down the window and waved at Liu Xing in greeting.

The warmth of their exchange left Liu Changsheng and Liu Wanqiu utterly dumbfounded, their jaws agape in disbelief.

This Liu Xing… he really did know Director Li!

And judging by the intimacy between Director Li, Li Weiwei, and Liu Xing, there must be some actual family connection.

“But… but why didn’t I know any of this?” Liu Wanqiu panicked, wanting to go forward and cozy up, but her feet wouldn’t move. She remembered her earlier bravado—claiming if Director Li was Liu Xing’s uncle, then she was his grandmother. It had been a joke, not meant seriously.

But now—

Illness enters by the mouth; disaster comes from careless words.

Liu Wanqiu knew she was finished, and so was her husband. Their prospects at Hengshui Distillery would be ruined by that one remark.

Liu Changsheng also realized the gravity of the situation, but to salvage his future, he nervously forced himself over to Li Dawei’s side. “Good morning, Director Li.”

“What are you doing here?” Li Dawei frowned.

“I… I…” Liu Changsheng stammered, unable to get the words out.

Liu Xing looked on and smiled. “Director Li, there’s no need to ask what you already know. As your subordinate, he’s here in Saltpeter Village to recruit temporary workers, isn’t he?”

“Didn’t you know he was acting on your orders, deliberately coming to my house to make things difficult for me?” As Liu Xing said this, his smile faded, replaced by a look of anger.

He glared at Li Dawei, nearly losing his temper on the spot. Then, recalling his own age, he forced the anger down.

He was angry because, subconsciously, he was sure Liu Changsheng and Liu Wanqiu’s trip to recruit temps was at Li Dawei’s behest. Anyone could see that Li Dawei was trying to use Liu Wanqiu’s family connection to pressure him into working at the distillery, since he’d already refused a previous offer.

Otherwise, what were the odds that the moment Liu Wanqiu failed to persuade him, Li Dawei would arrive at his house in person?

His questioning brought a sudden, tense silence over the scene—a strange, oppressive atmosphere. Even Guazi, who had been whispering with Li Weiwei, felt a chill.

But Li Dawei was a seasoned businessman; faced with Liu Xing’s accusation, he didn’t lose his composure. Instead, he frowned and asked Liu Changsheng, “My visit to Saltpeter Village to see Xiao Liu was confidential. How did you know about it?”

“I… I didn’t know! If I had, I’d never have dared trouble my nephew!” Liu Changsheng replied, face drawn with misery.

He was telling the truth; even an idiot wouldn’t be so reckless. But accumulated resentment and suspicion are not dispelled with mere words. The more he explained, the more it sounded like an excuse. In the end, no one would believe him.

Sure enough—

“Do you think I’d believe that? Would Liu Xing?” Li Dawei flicked his sleeve coldly. “Get lost! Go back to the factory and reflect on yourself. I don’t think you should be a team leader anymore—you’re not fit for it.”

To dare spoil his business—unforgivable.

“No, please, Director!”

Liu Changsheng, face contorted in misery, grabbed Li Dawei’s arm, wanting to play the pity card. But Li Dawei was determined. He shook him off: “Make a scene, and I’ll fire you on the spot when I get back!”

The words struck Liu Changsheng like a heavy blow, freezing him where he stood.

Even Liu Wanqiu was frightened into silence. “Please don’t threaten my husband, Director. Even if he hasn’t made great contributions to the distillery, he’s worked hard! You can’t fire him.”

She had strutted around in front of Liu Xing’s family, and now she was getting a taste of being put in her place. It was humiliating, especially with the crowd watching. If there were a hole in the ground, she’d have crawled in.

“Is it your place to speak? Get out! Leave! If you keep making noise, Liu Changsheng won’t have a job at Hengshui Distillery tomorrow!” Li Dawei roared at Liu Wanqiu, his authority as director fully unleashed.

She shrank back, quickly shutting her mouth. Liu Changsheng, too, was ready to leave, but hesitated, unwilling to leave Liu Xing behind.

Li Dawei ignored the couple and turned to Liu Xing, his tone much gentler. “Xiao Liu, it seems there’s some misunderstanding between us. Why don’t we find a quiet place to talk? If I really sent your uncle to make things difficult for you, I wouldn’t have brought Weiwei here today.”

He was sincere. After all, Li Weiwei was his daughter—he would never have brought her to Saltpeter Village if he intended to strong-arm Liu Xing, nor would he have conspired with Liu Changsheng and Liu Wanqiu in some remote mountain village.

Liu Xing saw the truth of it and, after a moment’s pause, offered a half-embarrassed invitation. “Let’s talk in the main hall.”

“Liu Xing, I want to see your black calf. Where is it?” Li Weiwei called from inside the car.

“I’ll take you!” Guazi answered with a grin.

“Yes, my sister knows where,” Liu Xing agreed.

The driver promptly opened the car door, set up the wheelchair, and helped Li Weiwei out.

“Let’s go. I bet the black calf is sleeping,” Guazi said, pushing the wheelchair toward the cowshed.

Seeing her struggle, the driver hurried after them to help.

Li Dawei watched them go and commented, “Xiao Liu, how old is your sister? She’s so clever and lively; you must make sure she goes to school!”

“She’s five. She’ll start school next year,” Liu Xing replied.

In the countryside of the eighties, there were no kindergartens, not even preschool classes—children went straight to the first grade. That’s why Liu Xing said Guazi would start school next year.

Li Dawei nodded, hands clasped behind his back, and walked with Liu Xing into the earthen-brick house across the way.

Inside, Liu Dazhao, seeing this display, hurriedly had Zhou Qiuxiang bring out some twisted fritters and White Rabbit candies to entertain Li Dawei. He wanted to sit in and find out what was going on, but didn’t dare; in the end, he and Zhou Qiuxiang stepped outside to wait at the door.