Chapter Sixty-Five: Silly Pillar Is Getting Married

I must admit, the folks in the Northeast move with remarkable speed—they worked through the night to load up the trucks and ship the goods over. By the afternoon, Zhang Cheng came running to ask the factory to send vehicles for the timber. Seeing the mighty convoy, each truck carrying logs so thick that even an adult couldn’t wrap their arms around them, the workers’ faces shone with delight.

The factory had issued a notice: this month’s outstanding employee would be allotted a cubic meter of timber. Don’t underestimate that amount—even a skilled carpenter could easily craft a bed and wardrobe from it, and it was a free benefit. Everyone wanted a share.

Now that the raw wood from the Northeast had arrived, the remaining work was just loading and unloading. Chen Liang couldn’t lend a hand with this, and since the Forestry Bureau in Harbin saw such a pile of supplies, they specially arranged for a whole company of militia from the forest station to maintain order.

A company, they said—but it was nearly two hundred militia, filling the air with that overwhelming sense of safety.

Bored, Chen Liang split the mountain goods Zhang Yi had sent that morning in two, then headed to the West Single Street Administrative Office to deliver some to Li Yuanchao.

He had managed to exchange for so many supplies, three-quarters of which were due to Li’s efforts. Chen Liang had no reason, nor the inclination, to hog all the mountain goods himself.

Carrying his parcel, he entered the office and immediately spotted the listless “Little Mengchang of the Capital.”

“Hey, kid!” he exclaimed, slapping Li Yuanchao’s shoulder, skipping all formalities and launching straight into mockery.

Li Yuanchao, who had been resting his head on the desk, lifted his gaze, saw it was Chen Liang, and couldn’t even be bothered to reply, lowering his head again.

Seeing no response, Chen Liang lost interest, set down the parcel for him, and said, “This is mountain produce Brother Cheng gave me. Let’s split it—take some home for your family to try.”

At the mention of that, Li Yuanchao perked up. “Chen Liang, was what you said last night about medicinal liquor true?”

“Oh, not bad! You weren’t blackout drunk—you still remember the conversation?” Chen Liang eyed him with amusement.

“Of course it’s true. But it’ll take some time—the herbs haven’t fully steeped yet.”

Li Yuanchao’s eyes lit up. “Chen Liang, when that liquor is ready, could you spare me a little?”

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“Hey, you don’t even have a wife—what would you use it for? Don’t tell me you’re fooling around out there?”

“Nonsense! I’m giving it as a gift, can’t I?”

“Alright, alright. When it’s ready, I’ll bring you some. By the way, are we heading to Lao Mo’s tonight?” Chen Liang remembered he’d promised Li Yuanchao a meal there.

“Give me a break, let me recover for a few days, will you? Not everyone’s a bottomless barrel like you.”

After a bit more banter, Chen Liang left. Near the end of the workday, he hurried to pick up Xiaoyu, and once home, he proudly produced the tiger skin, prompting a round of amazed exclamations from the family.

Chen’s mother stepped forward to touch the skin. “Goodness, is this really a tiger? It’s so much bigger than the one at the zoo!”

The tiger Zhang Cheng had hunted was preserved exceptionally well—aside from a few bullet holes, the skin was sleek and glossy, stunningly beautiful.

“Mom, if you like it, I’ll give it to you. Put it on your bed tonight—it’ll be warm!” Chen Liang, ever the dutiful son, seeing his mother’s fondness, immediately offered it to her.

“I wouldn’t dare sleep on it, you keep it for yourself!” Reluctantly, she tore her gaze away; as a housewife, she truly didn’t dare sleep on tiger skin.

Seeing her mother refuse, Chen Rong jumped in. “Second brother, if mom won’t, I will! Give it to me—” She didn’t even finish her plea before Chen’s mother flicked her on the head. “Silly girl, always wanting everything, without considering whether you can handle the tiger’s spirit. If you don’t want an early death, get out!”

In the eyes of the older generation, tigers were born with a fierce aura that ordinary women couldn’t suppress—a superstitious belief, really.

Defeated, Chen Rong dared not argue with her mother but persisted with Chen Liang. “Second brother!” She leapt onto his back.

“Forget it! I’m old enough to know better than to get beaten alongside you by mom.” Chen Liang’s words were resolute.

“No, I want it, second brother!” Chen Rong pleaded, trying to act cute.

“I’ll bring you a wild boar skin next time I’m in the Northeast. Now get down—you’re a grown woman, still behaving like a toddler!”

As the family joked and fussed, Shazhu walked in carrying several packages. “Everybody’s here!”

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Chen Liang finally managed to get Chen Rong off his back. “Shazhu, what brings you here? Not out cooking tonight?”

Shazhu grinned triumphantly. “Heh! I finally managed to win over Liu Siyuan these past two days!”

“Well done! Shazhu, you quietly pulled off a great thing!” Chen Liang was genuinely happy for him; he’d managed to change Shazhu’s fate and felt it was a blessing.

“Brother He!” Chen Rong could joke around with her second brother at home, but in front of outsiders she was demure, gently greeting Shazhu before running off.

“Chen Liang, you and your sister are really close!” Shazhu remarked with a hint of envy.

“Alright, you brought all these gifts—what’s the occasion?”

He took the packages from Shazhu. “These are worth quite a bit, you stingy rooster! You only show up when there’s something going on.”

“Hey! Liang, that’s not fair—I’m right here, you know!” Shazhu wasn’t offended; actually, Chen Liang’s teasing made him feel closer.

“Well, since there are no elders at my place, I wanted to ask if your parents could stand in for me tomorrow—go with me to meet Liu Siyuan’s family.”

“Wait a second—Dad! Mom! Come here!” Chen Liang yelled for his parents, explained Shazhu’s request, and his mother agreed right away.

To be honest, Shazhu, who grew up alone raising his sister and caring for the deaf old lady, was genuinely kind-hearted.

His only flaw stemmed from years of subtle indoctrination by Yi Zhonghai as a child, making him a bit stubborn and unreasonable.

But after breaking free from the gentle trap woven by Yi Zhonghai and Widow Qin, and being guided by the old deaf lady, Shazhu had truly turned a corner.

Respectful of elders, protective of children, warm and generous—his virtues didn’t go unnoticed by Chen’s parents.