Chapter 64: Uncle Wo Has Arrived

At lunchtime, Liu Dazhao dragged his weary legs back home. Zhou Qiuxiang, seeing his exhausted appearance, couldn't help but ask, "What did your third and fifth brothers say?"

"They both said they're not getting involved, and even if they wanted to, there's nothing they could do," Liu Dazhao replied with a bitter smile.

This was indeed the truth. The brothers, all living in the countryside, simply didn't have the money to pay for Liu Changsheng's treatment after such a serious injury.

Besides, Liu Changsheng and Liu Wanqiu didn't have a great relationship with them anyway. Even if money were needed, it was unlikely anyone would offer, so everything was left to fate.

"What about you? What's your plan?" Zhou Qiuxiang looked at Liu Dazhao.

"We'll see when the time comes. If we can help, we will," Liu Dazhao answered, then went to the table for lunch.

This time, Zhou Qiuxiang didn't get angry. Even though Liu Wanqiu and Liu Changsheng had treated her family poorly before, she didn't say any more. She knew that if Liu Changsheng couldn't get through this ordeal, her husband’s sister’s family would be finished.

But what surprised the couple was that three days slipped by in a flash.

Throughout those three days, Liu Wanqiu never sent word about Liu Changsheng’s accident or his injuries. She told neither them nor any of the other siblings, as if nothing had happened at all.

This left Liu Dazhao restless, and even Liu Xing, who spent his days at home making shoes, felt something was amiss.

Still, he didn’t meddle. In his view, no news meant Liu Changsheng must be out of danger.

As for how Hengshui Distillery planned to discipline Liu Changsheng, that was none of their business. There was nothing they could do about it.

So things would unfold as they may; it wasn’t for their family to worry about. For now, Liu Xing’s focus was on making as many shoes as possible, storing them up until the shoe shop at the market opened.

Speaking of the shop opening, Liu Xing was starting to feel anxious. It had already been three or four days, so why hadn’t Director Wu secured the business license for the shop yet?

"Could it be that Director Wu only agreed to appease me at the time?" Liu Xing shook his head at the thought, quickly dismissing it.

In his memories from his previous life, Director Wu was a warm-hearted man, a man of his word who never broke a promise.

Just as he was thinking of heading into town to ask around and see what was happening, the childish voice of Little Dot came from the country road outside, "Grandma, I’m here again! I’m here for your braised pork!"

Liu Xing smiled at the words, put down his tools, and went outside.

On the sun-drenched threshing ground at the door, his eldest sister Liu Dongju was walking up, holding Little Dot by the hand and carrying an old hen.

"Girl, you didn’t have to bring anything! If your mother-in-law sees you bringing an old hen, she’ll scold you to death," Zhou Qiuxiang called out as she came from the kitchen, unable to help herself when she saw Liu Dongju’s load.

Liu Xing was surprised as well, but said nothing, just smiling.

"Mom, my mother-in-law sent me to give Liu Xing the hen to help him build up his health. It wasn’t my idea to bring it to my mother’s house," Liu Dongju explained with a faint smile.

"Really?" Zhou Qiuxiang thought she must have misheard.

Liu Xing was also a little startled. "Sister, your mother-in-law being so generous out of nowhere is suspicious. That hen—I can’t accept it. If I eat it, I’ll definitely be roped into helping with something."

"How did you guess so accurately?" Liu Dongju let go of Little Dot, and seeing that she was playing with Guazi, continued, "Your brother-in-law’s younger brother, Zhao Wuliang, has been arrested. My mother-in-law wants to see if you can pull some strings and put in a good word for him."

"But let me be clear! I’m just passing on the message. Whether you help or not, I won’t pressure you either way." She added after a pause.

"Why was Zhao Wuliang arrested?" Liu Xing couldn’t figure it out.

Zhou Qiuxiang was equally puzzled. Although Zhao Wuliang was known to be lazy and gluttonous, he’d never done anything truly wicked.

Liu Dongju sighed. "It’s embarrassing to say. Remember how more than a dozen head of cattle vanished from Old House Village? Well, after the police interrogated Zhu Dachang, they learned there was an insider in the village—and Zhao Wuliang was one of them."

"No way!" Zhou Qiuxiang was shocked by this revelation.

Liu Xing was also surprised. "Sister, I really can’t help with this one. Do you know how serious cattle theft is? That’s a capital crime—they shoot people for that. If I tried to pull strings, I might get myself implicated."

"Exactly! Take that old hen back—don’t bring trouble to my son," Zhou Qiuxiang chimed in.

A hen in exchange for Zhao Wuliang’s life—what a calculating move from her in-laws.

"Mom, my mother-in-law knows how complicated this is. She’s not asking Liu Xing to get him off, but if there’s any hope at all, she hopes Liu Xing can at least save Zhao Wuliang’s life. That’s all Dongkui wants too," Liu Dongju replied with a strained expression.

"Well..." Zhou Qiuxiang hesitated, not daring to say more for fear of seeming heartless.

Liu Xing’s face grew serious as well. "Sister, since your mother-in-law put it that way, if I get a chance, I’ll ask Director Wu and see what Zhao Wuliang’s situation really is."

"But let me be clear, I can’t promise anything," he added after a pause.

"I understand," Liu Dongju replied, then, seeing her mother and Liu Xing both wearing shoes made from old tires, and noting how stylish they looked, quickly changed the subject. "Brother, what about my sandals?"

"And mine!" piped up Little Dot, pointing at her bare feet.

"I knew you two were up to something. Your shoes are ready and waiting in the main room," Liu Xing said with a smile, shaking his head as he led Liu Dongju inside.

"My goodness, how many pairs have you made these past few days?" Liu Dongju stared wide-eyed at the array of new shoes in all shapes and sizes on the floor.

Little Dot, who had run in after, was also stunned, covering her mouth in amazement.

"Not that many—just over sixty pairs," Liu Xing said, picking up a pair of stylish sandals and handing them to Liu Dongju. "These are custom-made for you, Sister. Try them on and see if they fit."

"As for Little Dot’s, I didn’t put much thought into them—just made two pairs of slippers," Liu Xing said, handing the child two tiny pairs and helping her put on a pair at once.

Seeing they fit perfectly, he smiled with satisfaction.

Liu Dongju tried on her sandals and walked around a bit, delighted. "Brother, I won’t stand on ceremony—don’t expect any payment from me!"

"You’re getting stingier by the day, Sister!" Liu Xing joked, knowing she was only teasing. "By the way, aside from Zhao Wuliang’s business, is there anything else you’re here for?"

"Yes! I want to learn how to make shoes," Liu Dongju replied at once.

"Isn’t there work at home?" Liu Xing asked.

"Your brother-in-law is taking care of things, and now even my father-in-law helps out sometimes," Liu Dongju said, taking off the sandals and putting on her cloth shoes. "So, will you teach me?"

"Of course, but you’ll have to be ready to work hard," Liu Xing teased.

He wasn’t joking—shoemaking was skilled work, and it took stamina to master.

"You’re underestimating your sister," Liu Dongju said, noting it was still early for lunch. She picked up the scissors. "Come on, I’ll start by learning to cut soles."

"Alright!" Liu Xing stepped forward to teach her.

A moment later, just as he was about to demonstrate the proper way to cut, Guazi came running in. "Brother, someone’s looking for you outside!"

"Who is it?" Liu Xing asked.

"It’s me," said Director Wu, appearing at the door with a tall woman in a bureau uniform.

The tall woman was strikingly pretty, about thirty years old, holding Director Wu’s arm. Judging by their closeness, she must be his wife.

Liu Xing was taken aback, then quickly greeted them. "Oh! Uncle Wu, you shouldn’t have—bringing such a beautiful auntie here makes my humble brick house shine!"

"How did you know she’s your aunt?" Director Wu asked, surprised.

He had never introduced her to Liu Xing—this boy was sharp indeed.

"You two are so close—if she isn’t my aunt, is she your lover?" Liu Xing joked.

"Hahaha, well said!" Director Wu laughed heartily.

The tall woman laughed too, flashing a set of white, even teeth. "Who would have thought you’d be so perceptive at your age? According to family ties, I am indeed your aunt. My surname is Zhang—Zhang Xiangjun."

"Hello, Aunt Zhang," Liu Xing greeted her quickly.

Liu Dongju smiled and hurried off to the kitchen.

After all, Director Wu coming in person must mean good news about the matter he discussed with Liu Xing earlier. She was eager to offer them a warm welcome.

"Aunt Zhang, please sit," Guazi said, quickly moving a stool over.

"Thank you. Oh my, what a pretty girl!" Zhang Xiangjun picked up Guazi. "You must be Liu Xing’s little sister?"

"That’s right!" Guazi nodded vigorously.

"I told you you’d like her, didn’t I? See, I was right," Director Wu said with a chuckle. "By the way, Liu Xing, your aunt is here today to assess your qualifications for a business license, so you’d better answer carefully. If you don’t pass, don’t blame me for not warning you."

Normally, applicants had to go to the bureau in person, but since he’d brought his wife, they were handling it together. Otherwise, navigating the bureaucracy at the bureau could drive anyone crazy.

That was also why he brought his wife—to make things easier for both Liu Xing and himself.

"Understood, understood," Liu Xing nodded.

So that’s why Director Wu showed up today with his wife in bureau uniform—it all made sense now.

He was surprised, though, that even a small business needed an assessment.

Still, with Director Wu on his side, Liu Xing didn’t expect any trouble.

With that in mind, he composed himself. "Aunt Zhang, if you have any questions, please ask."