Chapter Seventy-One: Going to the Countryside

Gui A County. Early morning.

With a clatter, Lu Kun rolled up the shutter door and found Liu Shixun standing dazedly at the doorstep, a parcel in his left hand and breakfast in his right.

"Morning, Brother Kun! I got you breakfast," Liu Shixun greeted him with a beaming smile.

"Hey, hey, hey—what are you doing?" Lu Kun grabbed Liu Shixun, who was already trying to drag his luggage inside.

"But Brother Kun, didn’t we agree last night that I’d go to Shenzhen with you?" Liu Shixun said, pushing past as if to go in.

"What are you talking about? Didn’t I tell you the train leaves tomorrow evening? You can still make it if you show up tomorrow afternoon," Lu Kun said, shoving him back outside.

If it weren’t for the sake of Liu Shixun’s father, Lu Kun would never have agreed to take this deadweight along to Shenzhen.

"Here, Brother Kun!" Without warning, Liu Shixun dug two cartons of cigarettes from his bundle and tossed them at Lu Kun.

China brand cigarettes!

Lu Kun’s eye twitched violently.

This Liu the Penny-Pincher is ruthless.

He just casually gives away two cartons.

He must be living better than I am, and I’m worth several million.

I only smoke the cheap two-and-a-half yuan packs!

"Hey, did your dad ask you to give me these?" Lu Kun grabbed Liu Shixun’s arm.

"Yeah, people gave them to my dad. He can’t finish them, so he told me to bring you these. If you like them, I’ll bring more next time," Liu Shixun replied, scratching his head, his white teeth flashing in the sunlight.

"No, this is too much. Take them back—I can’t accept them," Lu Kun refused outright.

"What do you mean, too much? We’ve got loads of this stuff at home. Plenty of good liquor too. My dad asked me to bring you a case, but I refused—it’s way too heavy… My dad said if you don’t like it, just sell them all. They're not worth much anyway…" Liu Shixun grumbled impatiently.

Lu Kun fell silent.

Not worth much?

Since when was Liu the Penny-Pincher so generous?

How much has he lined his own pockets with?

"I’ll never understand grown-ups. The smell of smoke is disgusting, yet you all keep puffing away. And liquor—I’d rather have soda," Liu Shixun muttered, dragging his luggage upstairs.

Lu Kun was dumbfounded.

...

Lu Kun didn’t bother with Liu Shixun anymore, letting him haul his own things into the study.

"Are you planning to stay here?" Lu Kun asked, a little annoyed, despite having just received such a lavish gift from his father.

"Of course. We’re leaving together tomorrow," Liu Shixun replied, settling himself on the bed with a grin.

"Wouldn’t it be easier to come tomorrow? This is such a hassle," Lu Kun muttered.

"Brother Kun, do you think I’m stupid? What if you leave tonight and ditch me?" Liu Shixun said, looking smug.

Lu Kun was speechless.

Dramatic, aren’t you? Always acting out some inner play.

...

After breakfast, Lu Kun wheeled his motorcycle out from the backyard, preparing to head to the countryside to check up on Li Qingquan.

"Wait for me, Brother Kun! I’m coming!" Liu Shixun ran out after him.

"I’m going to the village—why are you grabbing my shirt?" Lu Kun had nearly started the motorcycle when Liu Shixun clung to him, then swung his long legs over the pillion seat.

"All right, let’s go," Liu Shixun said cheerfully.

Lu Kun felt the urge to drag him off and give him a good beating.

Vroom!

The motorcycle shot off like a rocket.

"Slow down, slow down! I get carsick!" Liu Shixun groaned from the back, struggling to keep up with Lu Kun’s wild driving.

Lu Kun ignored him—last time he rode, there was no sign of carsickness.

Besides, in two lifetimes, Lu Kun had never heard of anyone getting carsick on a motorcycle.

Entering Xiàhé Village, Lu Kun eased off the throttle.

This was the first time the villagers had seen a motorcycle roaring into their midst, and curiosity was thick in the air.

The previous time he brought Li Qingquan and her daughter home, it had been too late in the evening for anyone to notice.

Finding Li Qingquan’s house, Lu Kun knocked on the door while Liu Shixun stepped aside to retch.

The door creaked open only after a long wait.

It was Li Qingquan’s wife who answered, inching over from the main room with the help of a stool, clearly struggling.

"Sister-in-law, do you remember me? I was here last time," Lu Kun said, smiling.

"Of course, of course! You’re the one who helped our family. You’re our benefactor—thank you, thank you!" The woman was clearly moved, swaying a little before steadying herself. "Come in, come in, have some water. You’ve come from far away."

"Thank you, but there’s no need for such formality. My friend and I mainly wanted to check on your third daughter," Lu Kun said, moving to the small bamboo cot and lowering his voice as he looked at the peacefully sleeping child.

The child looked healthy and rosy; it was clear that Li Qingquan and his wife had been caring for both children with great devotion.

"By the way, Sister-in-law, where’s Brother Li? I haven’t seen him," Lu Kun asked after waiting in the yard for a while with no sign of Li Qingquan.

"He went out at four or five this morning to irrigate the fields. He should be back soon," she replied, scooping a small bowl of peanuts from a winnowing basket and offering them to Lu Kun and Liu Shixun.

Lu Kun recognized these peanuts at once.

They were the leftovers after saving seed—mostly small, shriveled, or worm-eaten. Not much to look at, but in rural households, nothing goes to waste; these make for everyday snacks.

Lu Kun didn’t stand on ceremony, picking up a few and finding them quite tasty.

Liu Shixun, too, set aside his usual airs and grabbed a handful, acting perfectly at ease.

Seeing that neither of them minded, the woman’s heart lightened.

She had wanted to boil some water for them, but Lu Kun declined—not because he wasn’t thirsty, but because watching her struggle about was a little distressing.

...

Lu Kun had brought a gift for the little girl: a delicate longevity locket.

It wasn’t expensive, but it was a token of goodwill.

Liu Shixun hadn’t brought anything, but quietly slipped a red envelope into the child’s hand as a belated full-month gift.

Since Lu Kun had started the “Worker-Peasant United Cooperative,” the Li family’s finances had improved considerably.

Lu Kun had heard from his men that Li Qingquan had managed to get a good amount of chive seedlings from someone, and now had a small, steady daily income—just a few pennies, but it added up over time.

Li Qingquan didn’t return until nearly noon.

After chatting for a while, Lu Kun took his leave.

The sun was blazing overhead; any longer and he would have been scorched raw.