Chapter 37 Emphasizes Strategy

Wu Peng slept soundly until dawn, clutching the gold.

The next day, finally setting aside the precious gold, they took out the treasures from under the bed and counted them carefully: two paintings, a jade hairpin, a jade bracelet, a jewel-encrusted dagger, and a palm-sized celadon porcelain vase. Then there were five sketches: one of a bridge with mountains and water in the background; one of an old house—the Wu family's ancestral home, long since occupied by villagers; and three more drawings of houses, though they didn't know which houses they were.

Wu Peng carefully collected them all, put them in a small camphor wood box, and locked it.

Then I went to the supply and marketing cooperative and bought a portable thermos, a lunchbox, a fruit knife, a sturdy travel bag, canned food, biscuits, meat and eggs, as well as two packs of pastries and two cans of malted milk powder.

Passing by the front street, I made a special detour to the fried dough stall to cheer up Li Chunying and have a meal there.

Li Chunying kept a cold face and didn't give Wu Peng a friendly look. She even threw the meat patties into the pot with more force.

"Auntie, your pancakes are really delicious. It's such a waste of your time working here. Why don't you set up your own stall? You'd make a fortune."

Li Chunying glanced at Sister Zhang. "You brat, speaking such blunt truths in front of her!"

But those words really struck a chord with her.

Wu Peng: "Everyone around here knows that Aunt Zhang is the kindest person, she won't hold this against us."

Aunt Zhang smiled and chimed in, "Pengpeng is right. Yingzi has been wronged by me. If Yingzi ever opens her own shop, I'll be happy for her. If I can't continue working here, I'll go work for Yingzi. Yingzi, please don't look down on me."

"Sister Zhang, look at what you're saying. Even if I were to set up a stall, I'd make sure it's far away from here. I can't possibly compete with you in this area." During the time Li Chunying had worked there, Sister Zhang had been incredibly kind to her, always so friendly and never saying a harsh word, always smiling. Most importantly, she was never late with her wages and even let her eat for free. She was truly a kind and good-hearted person. Sister Zhang's husband had died early, and now she relied entirely on this stall to make a living; Li Chunying definitely couldn't take away Sister Zhang's business. Li Chunying was the type to yield to kindness, and with such a genuinely kind person as Sister Zhang, she couldn't bring herself to say a harsh word, and even felt a little guilty about wanting to start her own business. But now that things were out in the open, Li Chunying breathed a sigh of relief. Anyway, everyone was working so hard; who wouldn't want to earn more money?

Sister Zhang wasn't one to say sentimental things, she just said, "Yingzi, once you're ready to set up your stall, if you have any questions, just come to me."

Li Chunying readily agreed. Setting up a stall seemed to require some kind of license, so she'd have to consult Sister Zhang about it. She'd definitely have to trouble Sister Zhang, and with Sister Zhang's words, she wouldn't stand on ceremony. Li Chunying was in a great mood and worked even harder, even finding Wu Peng more agreeable.

Wu Peng: "I really love my aunt's cooking. It's just so delicious, no exaggeration."

Hmm, Aunt Zhang's cooking is delicious too.

"You two are guaranteed to make a fortune in the future."

Sister Zhang's eyes crinkled with laughter, and Li Chunying couldn't stop smiling either, "You're such a sweet talker."

Wu Peng: "I'll come to your house tonight, Auntie. Could you help me make a dozen or so big steamed buns with cabbage and pork, and boil a pot of eggs? I'll bring the meat and eggs over in a bit. You can leave work early tonight. I'll pay for it, I'll take care of your cooking." Wu Peng patted the snack box and two cans of malted milk powder next to him. "I also brought you and Grandpa some snacks and malted milk powder."

Li Chunying said reservedly, "Why buy these things? It's not a holiday, we're just neighbors, why should we accept your gifts?"

Wu Peng pretended not to hear the second half of his sentence, "These are just things I usually give you as a token of my respect. Can we only give you this for holidays? This year, Hua Hua and I will give you a gold ring." A gold bracelet is too expensive, but a gold ring is acceptable. He's very good at making the elderly happy. He just feels he's not good enough for Hua Hua, and coincidentally, he feels the same way. But he's shameless and quick to act. He wants to secure his place in everyone's eyes first. Isn't this what outsiders call "status"?

If anyone tries to curry favor with him again, he'll beat them up and still be in the right.

When it comes to pursuing a partner, especially a difficult but desirable one, it's like waging war; you have to be strategic. Wu Peng thought the strategy of "encircling the city from the countryside" was excellent, and Yao Fanghua was his "city center."

Wu Peng happily chewed on the meat pie. Li Chunying was notoriously biased, and he was helping Hua Hua in this way. They first established the image of wealthy and filial children, so even if Li Chunying wanted to take a different side, the people around them would have to speak up for Hua Hua on her behalf.

Li Chunying smiled. Regardless of whether it was true or not, Wu Peng had really made her look good and gave her face. The humiliation she suffered at Bai Hui's place yesterday vanished completely. This was what it meant to be eager to please. Even though her husband, Yao Weimin, was always chasing after Yu Qingqing, he had never bought her anything expensive. Of course, that could be attributed to Yao Weimin's lack of money. But, in any case, being willing to spend money, and even spending a lot of money, was what truly meant to be eager to please. She heard that Yu Qingqing's boyfriend had officially come to her door yesterday, and he had only brought two bags of pastries and two bottles of wine. Those two bottles of wine weren't even that good; they were practically inferior to a can of malted milk powder. Besides, there was also a gold ring. It has to be said, Li Chunying was moved by the gold.

After eating, Wu Peng went home to put his things away, and then went to find Yang Liu.

When Yang Liu learned that Wu Peng was leaving the next day, he couldn't help but wail. He still hadn't borrowed any money! His relatives all thought he was unreliable and just a scoundrel, and none of them were willing to lend him any money.

"Brother Peng, could you lend me some?"

Wu Peng glanced at him sideways.

Yang Liu counted on his fingers, "Two thousand, or one thousand will do."

"Dream on! I'd lend you money so you could steal my business?"

Are you going or not? If you're not going, I'm leaving by myself.

"Go away!" He has eight hundred in his hand now. Eight hundred it is eight hundred, tripled it is more than two thousand. When he makes a lot of money, he will come back and slap his older brother in the face. If he doesn't lend money, he doesn't lend money. He even kicked him and told him to get lost. He also interfered with their parents' refusal to lend him money. He will be furious.

"For the sake of our friendship, I'll give you a maximum of five hundred." That's all he can offer; he's already included all his money in his investments, so he really doesn't have any more. Wu Peng crossed his arms and looked up at the sky, trying to appear as a sophisticated tycoon even if he didn't have any money.

"Brother, you're like my own brother, even closer than a blood brother." This isn't just five hundred; it's a thousand and five hundred in affection!

Wu Peng shoved Yang Liu away with a look of disgust. "Hurry up and pack your luggage, and buy some food and drinks." Don't keep mooching off him on the way.

Wu Peng went home and did the washing and cleaning.

I figured it was almost time to get off work and the courtyard would be bustling with activity, so I carried my things to Yao's house.

I greeted Uncle Zhong, Mr. and Mrs. Zhong, Uncle Yu, Uncle Yao, and the children who were running and playing in the yard, whom I happened to meet at the gate on the road.

In an instant, everyone in the courtyard knew that Wu Peng had arrived with a bunch of things. Not only did they know, they even peeked out and saw him.

Wu Peng went to see Grandpa Yao first, put down the snacks and malted milk powder, and chatted with Grandpa Yao. When he heard Li Chunying returning to the tenement, he got up, picked up another portion of snacks and malted milk powder, as well as meat and eggs, and went to greet Li Chunying.

As Li Chunying entered, Wu Peng greeted her carrying some things, and she found him even more pleasing to the eye. He was more pleasing than her own son, especially compared to Yao Weiguo, who was a thorn in her side. Looking at the stares directed at her from the entire courtyard, Li Chunying felt as sweet as if she had drunk honey, and a smile unconsciously spread across her face.

Although she didn't say anything warm to Wu Peng, she didn't chase him away either. She deftly kneaded the dough and washed and chopped the meat.

Zhang Xiuxiu forced her way over, remaining calm despite receiving one eye-roll after another from Li Chunying. She smiled at Wu Peng and even started peeling a scallion. What was an eye-roll? What was an eye-roll from a mother-in-law? Even if she was being verbally abused, she could just wipe her face and continue peeling scallions. Those eye-rolls had absolutely no effect. As long as she didn't ask her for retirement money, she was considered a good mother-in-law.

"Brother, collecting scrap must be quite lucrative, right?" She didn't look down on scrap collectors at all; in the city, collecting scrap was definitely a profitable business.

"Not bad, just making a meager living." Wu Peng raised his hand and brushed the cuffs of his newly bought suit.

If Yao Fanghua were here, she would definitely say, "What a slovenly appearance! Last winter, he was wearing a tattered cotton-padded coat and looked disheveled, like he hadn't washed his face for days."

Zhang Xiuxiu: "I heard you went to the South? Made a lot of money?"

"Hard-earned money, just a small job. It's better than collecting scrap."

Business is always a game of chance, with profits and losses, and high risks. It's much more stable to have a regular job.

Zhang Xiuxiu laughed upon hearing this, becoming even more enthusiastic. "Brother, have some water. You and my Hua Hua are a perfect match. If you ask me, you have good taste. You have to marry a strong, assertive woman; that's how you have a happy life." To be attracted to Yao Fanghua, who dared to wield a stick, required guts. To protect his woman when she was fighting—that was a real man. And she was also capable of making money. She liked scholarly types, but she also admired men like this, capable of venturing out into the world. Alas, she was already married. If she were still a young woman, wouldn't she have fought over her?

After the meal, Wu Peng carried a bag of steamed buns and a bag of boiled eggs, and Yao Weimin escorted him to the front door.

Yao Weimin looked at his brother Peng, feeling conflicted. He wanted to go to Shenzhen with him, but he lacked the courage.

"Hey kid, remember to drop by my place after work if you're free. Even though there's nothing valuable, I'm worried about thieves. Don't worry about the third one, I'll take him directly to your sister." With that, Wu Peng left, not giving Yao Weimin a chance to stammer. Did he think he was some young lady, with no time for stammering? He was in a hurry to find Yao Fanghua. He needed to take the dog and the camphor wood chest to her for safekeeping. He remembered Yao Fanghua saying her mother's steamed buns were delicious, so he'd deliver them while they were still hot.

Li Chunying was pleased with herself today. She beamed as she inspected the pastries, malted milk powder, and the remaining meat and eggs that Wu Peng had brought, her vanity partially satisfied. This son-in-law wasn't bad, was he? Not much worse than that section chief from the Yu family. In any case, she still felt a sense of disappointment.

Yao Deyi looked unhappy, inwardly grumbling that Wu Peng hadn't brought him a bottle of wine. However, no one paid any attention to his complaint. If Li Chunying knew, she might be even more pleased with Wu Peng.