Chapter 59: I Mix in Nanguan, Speak Up If There’s Trouble!

“Okay, okay.”

Chen Xiulan and Su Cheng quickly replied with joyful and kind expressions, while sizing up this pretty young girl.

Before Su Chunfeng could even take the admission notice in hand, another pretty girl wearing a white short-sleeved T-shirt and a pale blue long skirt walked in through the courtyard gate. She seemed a bit shy to enter, her face showing embarrassment, and she timidly walked over, calling out softly, “Hello, uncle and auntie.”

“Ah, hello, hello… please, sit down, have a seat.” Chen Xiulan and Su Cheng greeted with smiles. After inviting the two girls to sit, Chen Xiulan chatted casually with them for a bit, then went back inside with her husband.

The admission notices were received by the Dongwangzhuang Township Middle School’s teaching office, then distributed to each class’s homeroom teacher for delivery.

This time, a total of nine students from Class 14 were admitted to County No.1 High School, and fourteen were admitted to County No.2 High School. Also, among this year’s graduating class of Dongwangzhuang Township Middle School, seven students passed the technical secondary school entrance exams, including two publicly-funded students. Li Jiankun from Class 14 secured one of the valuable spots with his outstanding grades. However, if Su Chunfeng had applied for technical secondary school when filling out his preferences, Class 14 would have had two publicly-funded students because Su Chunfeng’s scores were number one in the whole grade!

Although Wang Haifei didn’t manage to get into technical secondary school as she had hoped, she and Zhang Lifei both got into County No.1 High School.

So when Li Jichun was delivering Wang Haifei’s admission notice, knowing she was very close with her two deskmates, he simply gave Zhang Lifei’s and Su Chunfeng’s notices to her too, asking her to help deliver them.

Wang Haifei happily agreed. She hadn’t seen Su Chunfeng for a while and missed him a bit. With such a suitable reason and opportunity, she certainly wouldn’t refuse. But when she went to deliver Zhang Lifei’s notice first, upon hearing that Su Chunfeng’s notice was also in Wang Haifei’s hands, Zhang Lifei immediately got excited and wanted to go deliver it together with Wang Haifei. Wang Haifei couldn’t refuse this either; thinking it would be nice to have company and less awkward and embarrassing.

“Let’s go, shall we go out and play for a bit?” Zhang Lifei suggested with a grin, taking a camera out of her small bag. “I brought my camera.”

“Where to?” Su Chunfeng asked, surprised.

Zhang Lifei was already standing up. “Just take a walk around outside your village. On the way here, I saw the corn seedlings in your village’s fields had just sprouted, all green and pretty. And there are so many big, leafy trees along the road, lush water plants by the little canal, and the water flowing gently. Besides, it just rained, so it’s not hot. Come on, let’s go…”

“The fields and canal banks are too muddy,” Su Chunfeng said with a bitter smile, looking at Wang Haifei.

Wang Haifei smiled, pressing her lips together. “I’d like to walk outside too. It’s nice. Anyway, we’re all wearing sandals; if they get dirty, we can just wash our feet in the canal.”

Actually, both girls felt a bit awkward being inside Su Chunfeng’s house, especially with his parents present. But if they left right away, they’d feel reluctant—they hadn’t seen Su Chunfeng for over half a month, and now they finally had this chance; shouldn’t they spend some time playing together properly?

“Alright then,” Su Chunfeng had to agree. He stood up and called toward the house, “Dad, Mom, we’re going out for a walk.”

“Go ahead, go ahead. Have the two classmates stay for lunch at noon.”

“Okay.”

Su Chunfeng responded and walked out with Zhang Lifei and Wang Haifei.

Inside the house.

Su Cheng smoked a cigarette, delightedly looking at the admission notice with only a few dozen words and its bright red seal. He smiled and said, “Mother, were these the two girls who came to our house last summer?”

“Mhm,” Chen Xiulan smiled. “Quite pretty, right?”

“Listen, don’t say anything about marriage or dating in front of the kids,” Su Cheng said, smiling but in a serious tone. “Didn’t you hear what they said earlier? All three got into County No.1 High School—that means they’re all good students! Students should focus on studying. If you start talking nonsense and distract them from their studies, you’ll have no one to blame but yourself when you regret it later.”

“I know,” Chen Xiulan said, pressing her lips together and shooting her husband a glare, chiding with a smile. “You, always lecturing others. Wasn’t this kind of thinking your idea first anyway?”

“How could that be?” Su Cheng laughed heartily, waving his hand in denial.

“Look how happy you are… Hurry up and take a nap. I’ll wake you for lunch at noon. You just got back and must be tired.”

“Not necessary. I’m going out to visit a neighbor,” Su Cheng stood up, cigarette in his mouth, humming a little tune as he walked out—as the saying goes, good news brings energy. No matter how tired Su Cheng was at this moment, how could he possibly sleep?

…

Because it had rained in the morning, the blue sky looked freshly washed, and the gentle breeze carried a cool dampness.

The small road outside the village had been paved with black cinder in the spring through collected funds, so after the rain, it wasn’t too muddy, just damp and gleaming.

Tall, towering poplar trees lined both sides of the road, casting dense green shade.

The endless fields were divided into neat plots by straight ridges. The originally yellow soil had turned darker due to the moisture. Freshly sprouted green corn seedlings, not yet half a foot tall, stretched their tender stems and leaves, happily arranged in straight rows, basking in the sunshine, rain, and breeze.

Along the small canal between the wheat fields, water plants grew thick and lush, crowding the already narrow water surface until only about two feet remained visible. Yet, the water still flowed gently, clear enough to see the bottom. Occasionally, small schools of fish could be seen swimming freely just below the surface, and the croaking of frogs came from within the water plants.

You had to admit, the scenery was quite nice.

Su Chunfeng, Zhang Lifei, Wang Haifei, and Li Zhichao—whom Su Chunfeng had called out—the four young people, barefoot, played happily on the damp fields and canal banks. They picked wildflowers, pulled willow branches, jumped into the canal ditch splashing water, posed for photos helping each other out, or took group pictures together, having a great time.

Of course, most photos were taken of Zhang Lifei, Wang Haifei, and Su Chunfeng.

Solo shots, group photos, pairs, trios…

Li Zhichao, who seemed to have been pulled out specifically to take photos, wasn’t discouraged at all and enjoyed himself. After all, he also got chances to take photos with Zhang Lifei and Wang Haifei, even if… it was only three or four shots.

While they were having fun, the roaring sound of a powerful motorcycle engine came from the road not far away.

It was the kind of sound from what, in those days, was particularly attractive to young people—so-called “sports bikes.”

Of course, Su Chunfeng didn’t pay much attention to this, but Zhang Lifei, Wang Haifei, and Li Zhichao couldn’t help but look toward the sound. On the black-cinder road less than a hundred meters south of them, a young man with long hair, wearing a tight black tank top, black trousers, and black leather shoes, was speeding westward on a black-and-red Yamaha 400.

The powerful engine roar echoed across the fields—Vroom…

Li Zhichao immediately shouted excitedly, “Hey, Chunfeng, look! Isn’t that Zhao Shangang?”

Su Chunfeng turned to look and couldn’t help but frown slightly in confusion. He knew that if Zhao Shangang came to Hetang Village, nine times out of ten, he was looking for him.

By then, Li Zhichao had already scurried onto the narrow, low canal bank, standing on tiptoe and waving his arm, yelling loudly, “Brother Shangang! Brother Shangang! Over here! We’re over here!”

Screech!

The motorcycle stopped steadily on the road. After a few revs, the engine died.

Zhao Shangang kicked down the stand, then swung his leg off the bike. His well-proportioned, sturdy body moved nimbly, his jet-black long hair flowing. Handsome, imposing, tough—paired with that domineering Yamaha 400 motorcycle, Zhao Shangang was practically the image of a classic cool, macho guy. He smiled, raised an arm to wave, then walked around the motorcycle, about to come over along the canal bank.

By then, Su Chunfeng had also walked onto the canal bank. He raised his hand toward Zhao Shangang, palm facing forward.

Zhao Shangang paused in surprise and stopped, standing by the roadside.

“You guys keep playing. I’ll go over and talk to him for a bit,” Su Chunfeng said with a smile to the other three. Then he walked alone along the canal bank toward the road.

He didn’t want other friends present when talking with Zhao Shangang.

Because they might discuss things others shouldn’t hear.

Li Zhichao secretly wished he could go with Su Chunfeng to get closer to a tough guy like Zhao Shangang and leave some impression. But hearing Su Chunfeng’s words, he stopped with a hint of disappointment on his face, though he wasn’t really angry. He rather smugly vaguely understood Su Chunfeng’s meaning—when awesome guys talk about awesome stuff, of course women shouldn’t be nearby. And the two pretty girls, Zhang Lifei and Wang Haifei, who came from far away to visit and play, naturally still needed someone to keep them company, right?

“He’s so handsome!” Zhang Lifei said excitedly, looking at Zhao Shangang standing in the distance.

Wang Haifei pressed her lips together, quietly giggling.

Neither of them had any desire to get close to that Zhao Shangang, who was reportedly fierce and scary. Just thinking about his stories was frightening enough.

Walking to the roadside, Su Chunfeng asked with a smile, “Shangang, what’s up?”

“Had some rare free time to come back and see you,” Zhao Shangang took out a Hongtashan cigarette, offered one to Su Chunfeng, and after being politely declined, lit one for himself. He took a puff, exhaling smoke, and asked cordially, “Just got back from the county town today. Happened to run into a teacher from the township middle school delivering notices. I asked around and heard you got into County No.1 High School. Is that right?”

“Mhm,” Su Chunfeng nodded.

Zhao Shangang happily said, “Perfect. I mix around the Nanguan Agricultural Market area. If you ever have any trouble when you’re studying in the county town later, just come find me… Oh, here’s my phone and pager number.” As he spoke, Zhao Shangang pulled a black leather wallet from his back pocket and took out a business card.

The card read: “Shangang Agricultural Byproduct Wholesale & Retail Department.” Manager: Zhao Shangang. Below were the phone number and pager number.

Su Chunfeng nodded with some admiration—this guy had even given himself a manager title now. Looking at Zhao Shangang’s current getup—gold chain around his neck, riding a Yamaha 400 motorcycle that was extremely rare even in the county town, and having a phone installed…

Clearly, in less than a year, Zhao Shangang had truly made a fortune.

However, Su Chunfeng knew that someone like Zhao Shangang, who could rapidly build up substantial wealth from nothing in such a short time, definitely didn’t earn it by wholesaling and retailing agricultural byproducts—just look at the several fairly fresh-looking knife scars on his arms and shoulders to imagine what he’d been up to!

Of course, Su Chunfeng wouldn’t get involved in such matters. He smiled and nodded, saying, “Alright. If there’s trouble, I’ll definitely ask for your help!”

“Then it’s a deal! I won’t keep you from playing,” Zhao Shangang said, turning around to swing onto his motorcycle. He kick-started it, revved the throttle a couple of times producing a strong rumble, made a sharp turn right there, then raised his right hand and gave Su Chunfeng a cool American-style military salute, saying earnestly, “I, Zhao Shangang, still say the same thing: through water and fire, I’ll work like an ox or horse for you… Later!”

“Later,” Su Chunfeng smiled and nodded.

Vroom… Vroom… Vroom…

The Yamaha 400 motorcycle roared as it sped straight into the distance.