Chapter 115 (Updated 1152)

Zhou Weifang, still on the train, had no idea that his childhood friend was thinking so far ahead for him. To be precise, his childhood friend wasn't even on his mind right now; lying in bed, half-asleep, all he could think about was Luo Yan.

He was on night watch yesterday, and everyone knew he must have been exhausted, so the three of them kept their voices down when they played cards.

But in such a bustling place as a train, it's impossible for just the three of them to keep quiet.

Therefore, Zhou Weifang didn't sleep very well, so he simply sat up.

But he forgot he was on the upper bunk, and his head hit the ceiling of the carriage, causing him to cry out twice while clutching his forehead.

With such a commotion, who wouldn't hear it?

Zhu Guoping looked up at him and said, "I told you to sleep on the bottom, but you wouldn't do it."

During the day, it's definitely more comfortable to sit on the lower bunk. Zhou Weifang thought it would be more suitable for him to sleep on the upper bunk. He rubbed his head and said, "It's okay, I'll remember next time after bumping into it once."

Quite optimistic, Zhu Guoping said: "Come on, you're tall, no matter how careful you are, you're more likely to bump into things than others. You'll still be sleeping in the lower bunk tonight."

Zhou Weifang: "It'll be more convenient for you to take the night watch on the lower bunk."

Being stuck here with your eyes open is no different from being nailed into a coffin.

The two had met before, but they weren't particularly close, so they naturally exchanged a few polite words.

Zhu Tianhong, however, was impatient with their sarcastic remarks and made the final statement: "If a thief really comes, Guoping, can you climb down from above and catch him?"

Zhu Guoping naturally followed his cousin's arrangements, but he still quietly protested, "My skills are no problem."

Zhu Tianhong did indeed value his skills.

He doesn't usually like to bring relatives into business, but this cousin is an exception. After all, these days, safety is the most important thing when you're out and about, and many unlucky people don't make it back safely.

But perhaps because he was too skilled in martial arts, his mind was a bit slow. Therefore, Zhu Tianhong needed to bring along Li Xiang, who was shrewd but taciturn, in order to get things done.

He just wanted to expand the business, so he needed more people. He thought highly of Zhou Weifang, which is why he specifically brought him along this time.

Thinking of this, he took the initiative to talk about the situation in Fujian: "There is a clothing wholesale market in Shishi, which was set up by the locals themselves. Now, in terms of scale, it ranks among the top three in the country."

It's only been a short time since the reform and opening up began. Even Beijing hasn't established a proper market yet, while the south is already developing rapidly.

Even Zhou Weifang couldn't help but sigh: "How many self-employed individuals must have built this up with the help of the masses?"

Zhu Tianhong used four words: "They're as numerous as hairs on a cow. There are small workshops everywhere there; three or five sewing machines make a factory. There are also many overseas Chinese, and foreign capital is gradually getting involved."

In previous years, people would be very secretive about having overseas connections, but now it seems like a great thing. Zhou Weifang said, "We will also build a special economic zone this year, and there will definitely be more foreign investment in the future."

This matter was mentioned in the newspapers in May, but it wasn't an official policy. Besides, such national policies are too far removed from ordinary people like them; it was just something people talked about casually.

Zhu Tianhong had never considered making money from this. He said, "Doing business with foreigners? I have trouble even talking to Chinese people with their gibberish. When you get to Fujian, you'll hear me, oh my god, I'll wish I could use sign language."

Despite years of national efforts to promote Mandarin, the results are still not significant. Not to mention a province, even different villages have different accents and intonations.

Zhou Weifang recalled that when he first arrived in Xinjiang and talked to the herdsmen, it was like talking to a brick wall. He said, "It's okay, as long as everyone recognizes money, everything is negotiable."

If Zhu Tianhong were willing to talk to him, he would clap his hands and say, "That's right, nobody would turn down money."

He started talking and even shared some business tips.

Zhou Weifang listened attentively and mentally noted down all the important points.

The two chatted casually for a while, and arrived in Yingtan late at night.

There is one round-trip train between Yingtan and Xiamen every morning and evening. If they arrive at this time, they can only stay overnight at the guesthouse near the train station.

The accommodation was basic; four people had to sleep in a large shared dormitory, but thankfully there was hot water for showering.

Zhou Weifang is actually quite clean, but he has to restrain himself on the train.

He rubbed himself until his skin was red, lay down on the strange-smelling bed, and fell asleep almost as soon as his head hit the pillow.

In a daze, he felt someone pinching him. He suddenly opened his eyes and, by the sliver of moonlight filtering through the curtains, saw that it was Zhu Guoping. He immediately realized that something was wrong and reached under his pillow.

Zhu Guoping knew he could fight too, so he woke him up first before calling the other two. The four of them kept a watchful eye on the door and windows, ready to strike first.

After a long silence, Zhu Guoping said, "Let's go."

Zhu Tianhong trusted his cousin, so he lay back and said, "Then go to sleep."

As expected of someone who has traveled all over the country, he immediately started snoring again.

Zhou Weifang, however, touched his arm and said, "Guoping, can you be a little gentler next time?"

He pinched it so hard it almost turned blue.

Zhu Guoping wanted to say something more: "I thought if you let out a howl, even demons and monsters wouldn't dare to come in, but I didn't expect you to be so resilient."

If Brother Hong hadn't said beforehand that his cousin was straightforward and had no bad intentions, Zhou Weifang would have cursed him out.

He gritted his teeth: "Can't you howl too?"

Zhu Guoping: "Well, let me tell you, I've never yelled in my entire life."

Zhou Weifang thought to himself that it was a good thing he didn't have a brick on hand, otherwise he would have hit him and seen if he would have made a sound. He said irritably, "Fine, you keep guarding, I'm going to sleep."

After this incident, he slept even more restlessly than he had on the train, and was still groggy when he woke up the next day.

Zhu Guoping, who hadn't slept all night, was full of energy. After getting in the car, he said enthusiastically, "Let's play cards!"

This is the only thing that can kill time on a train, but it gets boring after a while. Fortunately, the train will reach its destination the next day.

Before even getting off the bus, Zhou Weifang saw the sea and smelled the seafood carried on the wind, while organizing his luggage.

Zhu Tianhong had come several times and had given instructions beforehand: "There are many people exiting the station. If you get separated, wait downstairs at the clock tower."

The clock tower he mentioned was very conspicuous; anyone could see it just by looking up. Although Zhou Weifang hadn't gotten lost, he still made a point of glancing at it a couple of times as he walked out.

It was his first time in the South, and he was very interested in everything around him, but he stayed close by for the time being and only started to look around after he got on the bus.

Li Xiang sat next to him and, unusually, said, "Is it very different from home?"

He was very quiet the whole way, and it was said that his special skill was being able to use an abacus exceptionally fast. Although Zhou Weifang hadn't seen it before, he felt that Brother Hong wouldn't fool him, and thought that he could ask him for advice when he had the chance in the future. He spoke to him very politely: "It looks completely different at first glance."

Locals prefer to use red bricks, unlike the houses in the alleys which are all gray-tiled, and there are also some tall, unidentified trees planted along the roadside.

There seemed to be fruit growing on top, but Zhou Weifang squinted and couldn't see clearly. He pointed and asked, "Brother Li, can we eat that stuff?"

Li Xiang thought he was so hungry he would eat anything, and said, "Just bear with it a little longer, you'll definitely be able to eat before midnight."

Zhou Weifang wasn't hungry; he was looking for something to bring back for Luo Yan. He persisted, saying, "I'm just curious."

Li Xiang: "I don't know either. Why don't you ask the ticket seller?"

He was an introverted person and rarely spoke to anyone, so he assumed that everyone was like that. Unexpectedly, Zhou Weifang took advantage of the fact that the car couldn't start because not everyone was there and actually went over to talk to the ticket seller.

For bus drivers who work year-round, the ticket seller's Mandarin is passable, but when she speaks quickly, it's hard to understand what she's saying.

Zhou Weifang, through a combination of guesswork and deduction, gathered a lot of information he wanted and sat back down, making a mental note of two fruits—mango and longan.

Seeing his thoughtful expression, Li Xiang asked curiously, "What were you talking about?"

There's nothing wrong with saying this, Zhou Weifang said: "I asked her what local specialties were good to take home."

It's very hot, and most things won't keep well. Li Xiang gave him a suggestion: "Buy some seaweed and kelp when you bring them home. Your wife says they're better than what you can buy in Beijing."

This is not bad either; the amount of dried goods is relatively light.

Zhou Weifang thanked him, but once the car started moving, he couldn't think about anything else because Li Xiang was carsick and had vomited until his face turned pale.

He carried it all the way, and after getting off the bus, he was almost lost in all directions.

Li Xiang, feeling a little embarrassed after recovering, said, "I don't usually get carsick."

Nobody wants this to happen, and Zhou Weifang knew he couldn't blame anyone, so he waved his hand and said, "It's okay, brother."

Li Xiang wasn't very good at talking either, and gave an awkward smile.

Zhu Tianhong stepped in to smooth things over: "Let's go, let's go to the guesthouse and rest for a while."

He waved over two pedicabs that carried passengers and negotiated the price in broken dialect.

Although Zhou Weifang couldn't understand, he gestured with his fingers to support him.

Seeing how clever he was, Zhu Tianhong was pleased. After agreeing on the price, he said, "Let's go, I'll take you out for a good meal right away."

The seafood lunch was indeed plentiful, but Zhou Weifang's only concern was: "Guoping is alone in the room, should I go back and relieve him?"

Zhu Tianhong poured him a drink: "No need, watching the luggage is his job."

He carried so much money with him that he dared not keep it on his person, and it wasn't safe to leave it in the guesthouse either, so he always needed someone to watch over it whenever he went out. To be blunt, he only dared to entrust this task to his cousin.

Zhou Weifang understood the reasoning, but he still had to say a few polite words. After that, he sat down to eat with a clear conscience.

Zhu Tianhong raised his glass: "Everyone, take a good rest today. Tomorrow, we'll get busy."

He runs a clothing wholesale business in Beijing, and his goods are mostly sourced from Shishi, Guangzhou. This trip is to pick through each stall one by one.

Zhou Weifang was quite looking forward to getting busy, but he didn't expect there to be so many people doing clothing wholesale in the area.

He was almost constantly on the go for a week, and the insoles of his shoes were almost worn thin. Every day when he returned to the guesthouse, all he wanted to do was take a shower and lie down to sleep.

But Zhu Guoping spends his days looking after money, and he stays in his room almost all day long, so he has plenty of energy to burn.

He didn't dare to talk to his cousin, and he couldn't get along with Li Xiang, so that night he insisted on dragging Zhou Weifang out for a walk.

Zhou Weifang reluctantly put on his shoes: "Let's make it clear first, you have to treat me to a late-night snack."

Zhu Guoping: "Phoenix marrow and dragon liver are both fine."

Zhou Weifang joked with him as they walked out, and the two of them strolled aimlessly along the main street.

The weather in the south is hot, and the crowds only become huge at night, with vendors shouting their wares everywhere.

Zhou Weifang felt that he saw more street vendors than he had in Beijing, and the things they sold were also very different. His initial reluctance vanished, after all, he was there to look for business opportunities.

Zhu Guoping noticed that he was walking slower and slower but didn't urge him on. After all, his purpose was just to go out for some fresh air. But when he saw that he had bought a seashell bracelet, he immediately asked, "This looks like it's for a girl."

Zhou Weifang admitted, "Yes."

Don't just say "uh-huh," Zhu Guoping said, "Who is it? Do I know them? How long have you been dating?"

Zhou Weifang only answered the last question: "Not yet."

Whether they can actually get along is another matter.

Zhu Guoping got even more excited: "What kind? Where is it not working? I'll give you some ideas."

What's he so excited about? Zhou Weifang: "You don't seem like you've ever been in a relationship."

Zhu Guoping boasted, "That's because you're blind. I've talked to people before..."

Based on this sentence alone, Zhou Weifang basically concluded: "It seems there isn't a single one."

Zhu Guoping still insisted that he had dated many women, but as he spoke, he revealed the truth: "If I had your face, dating several women wouldn't be a problem."

Zhou Weifang: "I'm tall, but I still haven't found anyone. There are many reasons, and it's definitely not just about looks. Otherwise, there would be bachelors all over the streets."

What does he mean? Zhu Guoping: "Are you saying the streets are full of ugly people?"

Zhou Weifang: "I didn't use that word; you added it yourself."

She then locked his shoulders: "Keep your voice down, can't you see people are staring at you?"

Zhu Guoping was still shouting, "Who, who is it?"

No wonder he's good at looking at things. Zhou Weifang finds it hard to talk to him. He pinched the bridge of his nose and changed the subject: "Is that where he sells lamb skewers? Come on, let's go get some."

Zhu Guoping can only think about one thing at a time; once he starts eating, he forgets about what he was just asking about.

Zhou Weifang breathed a sigh of relief, reached into his pocket and touched the seashell bracelet he had just bought, wondering: Will Luo Yan like it?

--

At this time, Luo Yan was also having a late-night snack at home.

She officially started her summer vacation yesterday, and she hasn't moved an inch in front of the TV all day today. She wouldn't have even moved her butt if her brother hadn't come home.

To be precise, it was her brother bringing back the braised pork that drew her away from the sofa, but her gaze didn't really move.

Seeing that her gaze was still on the TV, Luo Hong said, "No, why are you acting like your mother now?"

The parents were still awake, and upon hearing this, they both turned around.

Liu Yinfeng said, "You brat, are you looking for a beating?"

Luo Hong quickly said he wouldn't dare, waving his hand in front of his sister: "Where's your manners?"

Yes, yes, you have to be careful who you talk to.

Luo Yan stared intently at her brother: "Why don't you say something?"

His big eyes were practically popping out. Luo Hong said, "I originally had some good news, but I can tell you don't really want to hear it, so never mind."

Well, it's alright, he can't hold it in for long anyway.

Luo Yan didn't care and continued eating.

Luo Hong reached out and tapped his sister on the forehead: "I think you're asking for a beating."

Luo Yan glared at him angrily, then turned to complain and whine, "Mom, my brother hit me again."

Liu Yinfeng scolded her son a couple of times, but then asked curiously, "What good news?"

Luo Hong didn't keep anyone in suspense, holding up five fingers: "I sold this many cars today."

"Impressive, impressive," Liu Yinfeng praised him, but still had to remind him at the end, "Don't squander the money you earn."

Luo Hong also complained: "How could I have had the chance to squander the money? It was all spent by Luo Yan."

Luo Yan's voice was even louder than his: "I didn't squander the money!"

According to Liu Yinfeng, neither of her two children is easy to manage when it comes to spending money.

If she really got involved, she would be caught in the middle and wouldn't stand a chance. So she said, "You guys argue it yourselves, I'm going to sleep."

The parents went into the room one after the other, leaving only the brother and sister in the living room.

Luo Yan stepped on her brother's foot without hesitation and held out her hand: "Everyone gets a share."

Luo Hong: "Not only will I not give it to you today, you'll also have to pay me some."

Luo Yan actually took out her pocket and put 50 cents on the table: "That's all."

Luo Hong was in a hurry to go and watch the shop for his childhood friend, so he said directly, "I need to buy a refrigerator, but I'm still short a hundred."

Refrigerator? Luo Yan subconsciously looked up: "Mom said our electrical circuits can't handle it."

Luo Hong had certainly considered it, saying, "We'll have to change it sooner or later. Let's buy a washing machine too."

Where would he get so much money? Even if the shop is doing well, it's only been open for a short time.

Luo Yanduo was good at math and immediately realized: "That's not right. Even if I pay a hundred, you'll still end up with a shortfall when buying the refrigerator."

Luo Hong explained: "It's secondhand. Although it's been used for seven or eight years, it's still a good product. Most importantly, it's much cheaper than buying a new one."

Luo Yan found it strange: "Why would someone sell something so good?"

Luo Hong: "It's a job transfer. The person who came to sell bicycles today just happened to mention that he's a teacher at your school."

Upon hearing that she was a teacher, Luo Yan felt certain she wouldn't be fooled and happily exclaimed, "We're going to have a refrigerator at home!"

Don't just be happy, Luo Hong: "You have to talk to Mom about this."

Then she scolded him for wasting money.

Luo Yan patted her chest and assured him, then urged him, "Shouldn't you be leaving now?"

Luo Hong glanced at his watch and said deliberately, "It's someone else's shop, and I can see you're quite attentive to it."

Luo Yan said matter-of-factly, "You promised them, so you have to do it."

He found something to throw at him again, and when his brother dodged, he remembered how his brother had been caught by Zhou Weifang and had been beaten by him. He said, "You just wait."

Luo Hong didn't take his sister's threats seriously, even though she said them eight hundred times a day.

He was ambushed as soon as he came out of the bathroom, clutching his shoulder and saying, "No, people say that a gentleman takes revenge even after three years, but you've only been gone for less than three minutes."

Luo Yan smiled and said, "Because I suddenly realized that people have to rely on themselves."

Is it wrong for her to hit her brother?

Luo Hong wasn't a mind reader, so he had no idea how she came to the conclusion that "one must rely on oneself." Although he felt it was somewhat nonsensical, he didn't investigate further and went to his night shift with his still-damp hair in hand.

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Author's note: I'm rushing to finish this! Good evening!