Great Power Reclamation

Spring has finally arrived in Junken City.

The snow had mostly melted, revealing damp, green soil on the ground.

In Yang Geyong's horse farm, the foal named "Iron Head" is already running wildly on the pasture, its four legs kicking fast like a small cannonball.

Yang Geyong stood at the edge of the horse farm, watching Tie Tou run, his mouth stretched to his ears in a wide grin.

"Old Ye, look at this little rascal, how fast he runs!"

Ye Yuze stood to the side and nodded: "It is fast. It's just a bit silly, it keeps running into the fence."

Yang Geyong glared at him: "What do you know? That's for building courage!"

Ye Yuze smiled but didn't say anything.

As the two were watching, a beat-up pickup truck drove up from a distance, kicking up a cloud of dust. The truck stopped in front of them, and Wei Yuxiang jumped out of the driver's seat.

"Hey, Old Yang, taking care of horses?"

Yang Geyong's smile immediately faded. He and Wei Yuxiang had been at odds since childhood, arguing a lot when they started their business together, and even now that they were old, they still bickered whenever they met.

What are you doing here?

Wei Yuxiang chuckled: "Let's come see your horse. I heard you got a new foal? Let me see it."

Yang Geyong snorted, but still pointed at Tie Tou.

Wei Yuxiang watched for a while and nodded: "Not bad. Better than you, old man."

Yang Geyong's face darkened: "Wei Yuxiang, are you here to cause trouble today?"

Wei Yuxiang spread his hands innocently: "I was praising your horse, how is that picking a fight?"

Ye Yuze watched from the side and couldn't help but laugh. These two, they've been bickering every time they meet, but they're always the first to rush to help each other when one of them is in trouble.

"Alright, alright," Ye Yuze smoothed things over, "Old Wei, you came all this way just to see horses?"

Wei Yuxiang then remembered the important matter: "Oh right, Little Guai sent me. Something happened at his beverage factory."

Yang Geyong was taken aback: "Little Traitor? What could possibly happen to him?"

Wei Yuxiang sighed: "It's still about that mother and daughter."

Little Cripple's real name is Liu Xinghua. Because he had polio, he walked with a limp, so everyone called him Little Cripple.

He, Yang Geyong, Ye Yuze, and Wei Yuxiang were childhood friends, growing up together. Later, when Ye Yuze and Yang Geyong went into business, he followed along and accumulated a considerable fortune.

But for Xiao Guaizi, the most important thing in his life wasn't business, it was women.

A few years ago, he divorced his Russian wife, Niva. He met Niva when he was young, working in a construction company. She was blonde and blue-eyed, not particularly beautiful, but she bore him a son, Liu Junken. Now she is Ayijiang's right-hand woman.

Niva was among the first Soviet experts recruited by Yang Geyong. She helped Meihua establish the military reclamation clothing factory, and the group of old friends still enjoy dividends today.

They lived together for decades, but eventually couldn't make it work. Niva thought he was useless, and he thought Niva was too domineering. They argued every day, and eventually they divorced.

After his divorce, Xiao Guaizi was depressed for a while. Then he met Ayiguli.

Aygul is a Uyghur woman in her thirties. Her husband passed away years ago, and she raises her daughter alone by running a fruit juice stall.

The little cripple went shopping and they got to know each other after a few visits.

Aygul makes a homemade beverage with local fruits and honey, and it tastes exceptionally good. Little Guaizi drank it for a while and gradually developed a fondness for it.

Later, the quack paid for Ayiguli to open a beverage factory.

It was called a factory, but it was really just a small workshop, yet business was quite good. Ayiguli, with her daughter and her son running errands, lived a lively life.

But Niva refused.

"Is Niva causing trouble again?" Yang Geyong asked.

Wei Yuxiang nodded: "She went to the factory and made a scene, saying that Ayiguli stole her husband."

Aygul's daughter is all grown up now, a girl of seventeen or eighteen. She got into a fight with Niva and almost came to blows. The thug is frantic and wants us to go check on her.

Yang Geyong and Ye Yuze exchanged a glance.

"Let's go," Yang Geyong said.

The three of them got into Wei Yuxiang's beat-up pickup truck and drove all the way to Xiaoguaizi's beverage factory.

Xiao Guaizi's beverage factory is located in the west of the city, in a small courtyard. There are several piles of fruit, a few large vats, and an old bottling machine in the courtyard.

Aygul was sitting at the doorway, lost in thought, while a young girl with a headscarf and red eyes stood beside her.

When the little cripple saw them coming, he quickly went to greet them.

"Old Yang, Old Ye, Old Wei, you've finally arrived!"

Yang Geyong looked around: "Where's Niwa?"

The kidnapper sighed, "She's gone. She caused a scene all morning and just left. But she said she'll come back."

Ye Yuze asked, "What does she want?"

The boy scratched his head: "She told me to go back. She said she wouldn't make a fuss if I went back."

Yang Geyong glared at him: "Are you going back?"

The young convict shook his head: "No. I've finally had a few years of peace and quiet, why would I go back?"

Wei Yuxiang, standing nearby, asked, "So what do you plan to do?"

The little cripple looked at Ayiguli, then at the girl, and lowered his head.

"I do not know either."

The girl suddenly stood up, looked at the group of old men, and spoke in a low but clear voice.

"Uncles and elders, please don't blame Uncle Li. It was me who argued with that foreign woman. She was cursing my mother, and I couldn't stand it."

Ye Yuze looked at her and asked, "What's your name?"

“Gulina,” the girl said, “my mom said that Uncle Li helped us open this factory, and we can’t make things difficult for him. If it really comes down to it, we’ll close the factory and go back to our hometown.”

Aygul stood up, took her daughter's hand, and her eyes reddened.

"Gulina, stop talking..."

Yang Geyong looked at the mother and daughter, and then at the pathetic look on the little cripple's face, and felt a surge of annoyance.

"You little bastard, are you even a man?"

The little cripple looked up at him.

Yang Geyong pointed at Ayiguli: "That mother and daughter followed you without any status or recognition, opened a factory for you, and worked for you. Now they're being bullied, and you're just standing here and watching?"

The cripple opened his mouth, but didn't say anything.

Wei Yuxiang said from the side, "Old Yang, say less."

Yang Geyong glared at him: "Did I say something wrong?"

Ye Yuze waved his hand and walked up to the little cripple.

"Little cripple, I have a question for you."

The little cripple looked at him.

Do you like her?

The young man paused for a moment, then nodded.

"And what about her?" Ye Yuze asked, pointing at Ayiguli.

The little cripple said, "She...she likes me too."

Ye Yuze nodded: "That's fine then. Your business has nothing to do with Niwa. She's your ex-wife, you're divorced, that's it, she has no right to interfere."

The kidnapper smiled bitterly: "But she comes to cause trouble every day..."

“If she makes a scene, call the police,” Ye Yuze said. “I know people at the police station in Junken City. If she comes again, call me and I’ll have someone come and handle it.”

The kidnapper was stunned.

Wei Yuxiang said from the side, "Old Ye is right. What are you afraid of? Niwa isn't a tiger."

Yang Geyong also said, "Exactly. Back when you were doing business with those Russians, weren't you pretty daring? How come you're such a coward now?"

The boy's face flushed red and then turned pale as they talked to him.

Aygul walked over, looked at Ye Yuze, and said:
“Brother Ye, it’s not that we’re afraid of her. We’re afraid of causing trouble for that little kidnapper. Given his son’s current status, if he finds out about this…”

Ye Yuze shook his head: "No matter what his son's status is, it's none of his business. He's so old, he can decide what kind of life he wants to live."

Aygul lowered her head and remained silent.

Gulina suddenly said, "Mom, Uncle Ye is right. You and Uncle Liu can decide your own affairs. If that foreign woman comes again, I'll yell at her!"

The old men all laughed.

The little cripple smiled, though his eyes were a little red.

"Old Ye, Old Yang, Old Wei, thank you."

Yang Geyong waved his hand: "No need to thank me. Just treat me to drinks tonight."

The young cripple nodded quickly: "Drink! I'll definitely drink!"

After leaving the beverage factory, the three of them got into Wei Yuxiang's beat-up pickup truck.

"Where to now?" Wei Yuxiang asked.

Yang Geyong looked at the sky: "It's still early, come sit at my place."

Wei Yuxiang glanced at him sideways: "What's so great about sitting at your horse farm?"

Yang Geyong glared at him: "Fine, don't go if you don't want to."

Wei Yuxiang chuckled and started the car.

When they arrived at the horse farm, Tie Tou ran over again, circling around the group. Wei Yuxiang's eyes lit up as he looked at the pony.

"Old Yang, this horse is really nice. Want to sell?" Yang Geyong immediately stood in front of Tie Tou like a protective father: "No way! No matter how much money you offer, I won't sell!"

Wei Yuxiang curled his lip: "Stingy."

The two are at odds again.

Ye Yuze ignored them, found a stool and sat down, looking at the Tianshan Mountains in the distance.

The snow hadn't completely melted yet, and the mountaintop was covered in white snow, which looked beautiful against the blue sky.

After arguing with Yang Geyong for a while, Wei Yuxiang also sat down.

"Old Ye, do you think this whole 'little kidnapper' thing will ever end?"

Ye Yuze thought for a moment: "I know Niva. She just can't swallow this anger, she doesn't really want to take the little kidnapper back. After she makes a scene for a while, once no one pays attention to her, she'll naturally calm down."

Wei Yuxiang nodded.

Yang Geyong also sat down and handed Ye Yuze a cup of tea.

"Old Ye, how's business at your clinic lately?"

Ye Yuze took the tea: "It's alright. We have a few patients every day."

Wei Yuxiang asked curiously, "Are you really good at treating illnesses?"

Ye Yuze glanced at him: "Why don't you give it a try?"

Wei Yuxiang quickly waved his hand: "No, no, no, I'm perfectly healthy."

Yang Geyong chuckled beside him: "You're in good health? Last time you drank too much and threw up like that, who cleaned you up?"

Wei Yuxiang blushed: "That time was an accident!"

The two started arguing again.

Ye Yuze sipped his tea, looked at them, and found it amusing.

These guys have been at odds their whole lives, but they're always the first to rush to each other's aid when one of them is in trouble. When Little Guaizi got into trouble, all three of them went without a word. Wei Yuxiang is sharp-tongued, but he's faster than anyone else at running.

As they were talking, another car drove up in the distance.

This time it was a minivan. After it came to a stop, Xiao Guaizi jumped out of the driver's seat, followed by Ayiguli and Gulina.

"Old Yang!" Little Traitor shouted, "I brought the wine!"

Yang Geyong stood up and watched them come over carrying large and small bags.

What are you doing?

The little cripple chuckled, "Didn't we say we'd be drinking tonight? I might as well have brought some food. Ayiguli will cook, and we'll drink to our hearts' content!"

Gulina was also carrying things, her eyes shining.

Ye Yuze smiled and stood up to greet them.

"Come on, come on, sit down."

As the sun slowly began to set in the west, the horse farm came alive with activity.

Aygul worked quickly and soon laid out a table full of dishes: hand-pulled mutton, braised chicken, cold noodles, and her homemade drinks, which were sweet and sour and delicious.

Several old men sat together and began to drink.

The young man raised his glass first: "Old Yang, Old Ye, Old Wei, thank you all today. I really don't know what I would have done without you."

Yang Geyong waved his hand: "Alright, stop getting sentimental. Let's drink."

The group clinked glasses and drank it all in one gulp.

After finishing his drink, Wei Yuxiang smacked his lips and said, "Old Yang, this wine is pretty good. Where did you buy it?"

Yang Geyong said proudly, "I brewed it myself. Have you ever had mare's milk wine?"

Wei Yuxiang was taken aback: "You can brew wine with mare's milk?"

Yang Geyong glanced at him sideways: "What do you know? This is an old recipe from the grasslands."

Wei Yuxiang scoffed, "Fine, you're something else."

The two started arguing again.

Gulina watched from the side and couldn't help but laugh. She leaned close to Aygul's ear and whispered, "Mom, these grandpas are really funny."

Aygul smiled too.

Ye Yuze looked at them and suddenly asked, "Gulina, do you go to school?"

Gulina nodded: "In the second year of high school at Junkencheng Middle School."

Ye Yuze thought for a moment: "Yang Jun is there too. Do you know him?"

Gulina paused for a moment: "Yang Jun? Is that the new guy with the curly hair?"

Ye Yuze smiled: "Yes, it's him."

Gulina said, "I know him. He's pretty good. He's only been here a short time, but he's already become famous for fighting."

Hearing this from the side, Yang Geyong put down his wine glass and asked, "A fight? Fight with whom?"

Gulina stuck out her tongue, realizing she had let something slip.

Ye Yuze waved his hand: "It's okay, it's normal for boys to fight. Old Yang, you fought even more fiercely back then."

Yang Geyong snorted, but there was a smile in his eyes.

After several rounds of drinks, it got dark.

The young man had drunk a bit too much. He grabbed Wei Yuxiang's hand and started rambling on about what happened back then.

They talked about how they started their business together, how they went to Russia, and how they ran their business in the freezing cold.

Wei Yuxiang was also drunk, and he joined in the reminiscing.

Yang Geyong listened from the side, occasionally interjecting a few words.

Ye Yuze leaned back in his chair, looking at the stars in the sky.

The night in Junken City is filled with countless stars, so many that they look like a handful of scattered silver.

He suddenly remembered many years ago, when he and a few others sat together drinking and gazing at the stars. Back then, they were young, had nothing, but had plenty of energy.

Now that I'm old, I have everything, but some people are no longer here.

He sighed.

Hearing this, Yang Geyong turned to look at him: "What's wrong?"

Ye Yuze shook his head: "It's nothing. I just suddenly thought that this life has been worthwhile."

Yang Geyong paused for a moment, then smiled.

"It was worth it."

Suddenly, the thug stood up, raised his wine glass, and shouted at Aygul, "Guli, come here!"

Aygul walked over.

With a flushed face, the little cripple said in front of everyone, "Guli, I, Li Jianguo, have never said anything nice in my life. But today I want to say that I am happy to be with you."

Aygul was stunned, then her eyes reddened.

Gulina clapped her hands from the side: "Hello, Uncle Liu!"

Several old men joined in the commotion.

Yang Geyong shouted, "Give me a kiss!"

Wei Yuxiang also shouted, "Give me a kiss!"

The little boy's face turned as red as a monkey's bottom, but he still mustered up his courage and kissed Ayiguli on the cheek.

Everyone laughed.

Aygul covered her face, both embarrassed and amused.

They drank until very late that night.

The moon rose, shining brightly on the horse ranch. Tie Tou wandered around, watching the group of people with curiosity.

Ye Yuze stood up and walked to the side.

He gazed towards the distant Tianshan Mountains, his mind filled with many thoughts.

Yang Geyong walked over and stood next to him.

What are you thinking about?

Ye Yuze said, "I was thinking about my younger days."

Yang Geyong nodded.

The two remained silent for a while.

"Old Ye," Yang Geyong suddenly said, "how many more years do you think we have left to live?"

Ye Yuze thought for a moment and said, "I don't know. But no matter how many years, it'll be enough."

Yang Geyong smiled.

"Yes, that's enough."

In the distance, Xiao Guaizi and Wei Yuxiang were still joking around when Gulina's laughter drifted over, clear and crisp like a bell.

Ye Yuze turned around and looked at the group of people.

A warm feeling welled up inside me.

Having such a group of old friends in this lifetime makes it all worthwhile. (End of Chapter)