Spring Breeze Twenty Years

Chapter 494 Fatty

Xiao Wei said, "Remember this: I can help you with anything, and I can lend you money. I hope you're all doing well. But remember, no one can gamble, understand? If anyone does gamble, don't say I'll turn on you. Stay far away from me and never let me see you again. I mean what I say."

"I can't keep an eye on you guys every day. Xinghai, Changyuan, you two take the lead. You two manage the money. If anyone gambles here, tell me immediately, and they'll be kicked out. Don't ever come to me again. Even if someone kills me, I won't lift a finger. Liuliu will manage the accounts."

The group of friends all nodded in agreement.

Liu Liu was a boy who was even thinner and smaller than Xiao Wei. He didn't smoke and didn't talk much. He didn't continue his education after finishing junior high school because his family was poor.

He's actually the only boy in his family, with two older sisters. The reason he's called Liu Liu is because his father wanted him to have a smooth life when he grew up, so he chose the name Liu Liu, which means "everything goes smoothly".

Actually, Liu Liu was the best student among this group of boys, but unfortunately his family was poor. When Xiao Wei asked him to manage the accounts, he looked up and gave Xiao Wei a bright smile, and didn't refuse.

Xiao Wei said, "Xinghai and Changyuan will each manage one end of the cash. You two will collect all the money and then hand it over to Liu Liu for accounting and storage. Each of you will receive 200 yuan a month for food, smoking, and transportation. When it's time to load goods, Xinghai and Changyuan, one of you must go to manage the money. Siwei and Laizi, I will arrange for you two to learn to drive later, and then we'll buy a small truck like the one we just saw to haul goods."

Gazi looked around and asked, "What am I supposed to do? Am I all alone with nothing to do?" Everyone laughed again. Xiaowei said, "You just guard the stall, that's all. If anyone causes trouble or bullies us at the stall, you beat them up. We won't bully others, and we won't let others bully us either."

Among these people, Ga Zi was the tallest and strongest, about the same height as Xia Maosheng, but with his big arms, legs, and fists, he was as strong as two Xia Maoshengs.

Back when the group of buddies went to school together, Ga Zi was always the main fighter in their fights. They went to junior high in town, and it was inevitable that they would have some friction with the boys from other villages and the town, but Xiao Wei and his friends never suffered a loss.

Gazi was big and had a big appetite, so the food he brought was never enough. His friends would save the food from their own mouths to feed him. Kids these days will never understand that kind of friendship.

Xia Maosheng pinched Ga Zi's biceps and laughed, "Tell me how this guy grew up. His physique is intimidating. Why can't I grow to be this strong?"

Xiao Wei said, "If you carry water, chop wood, plant crops, harvest crops, carry things, and chop firewood all day long, you'll probably grow up to be like this in a few years." Gazi is a filial son. Since he grew up, he has basically never asked his parents to do any heavy work. He carried everything by himself and was recognized by the village as a good young man in the 1980s. He just eats too much, otherwise a matchmaker would have come to his door long ago.

Xiao Hong washed her face and came out of the house. Chen Hui stood up and offered her the horse's seat. Xiao Hong didn't stand on ceremony and sat down, asking, "What were you talking about?"

Xiao Wei said, "I was planning to have them rent counters in the city to sell clothes and shoes. We were just talking about it when I said I'd let Liu Liu manage the accounts and Xing Hai and Chang Yuan manage the cash."

Liu Liu said, "They even said that Ga Zi should just beat people up."

Xiao Hong said, "If you need to beat someone up, then beat them up. We can't let them bully us. If we can't beat them up, then run away quickly. Remember, don't be stubborn. Don't be afraid of the police station or anything. Just call Xiao Wei. We don't need to be afraid of anyone." She pointed at Chen Hui and said, "Look at this fat guy. His dad's a big shot. As long as we're in the right, we won't suffer any losses."

Chen Hui snapped, "You're the fatso! Who are you talking about?"

Chen Xiao and Xiu'er came out of the house. Chen Xiao stretched and rubbed her belly, saying, "I slept so well, but the bed was a bit hard. Fatty, move aside." She nudged Chen Hui, who stood up and helped Chen Xiao sit down, saying, "Wife, you can't say that about me like that with others. We're on the same side. Besides, am I fat? Am I fat? Xiu'er, am I fat?"

Xiuer covered her mouth and laughed, but blushed when Chen Hui asked her, and stammered, "Yes, a little bit."

Zhang Wang's wife brought out a few stools for Xiao Hong and Xiu'er to sit on, saying, "Would you like some water? I'll boil some for you."

Everyone laughed and shook their heads, saying they wouldn't drink. Back then, rural people generally didn't drink much water except at home; boiling it was too much trouble. When thirsty, they would just lie down by the ditch and gulp it down. Pure mountain spring water, unpolluted.

Chen Hui rubbed his stomach and said to Xiao Wei, "How about we go to your city and take a look at that underground shopping mall? According to Xinghai and the others, it's not easy to rent a stall there. We'll have to find someone to help us."

Xiao Wei said, "Okay, it won't delay our return trip; it's just a short detour. I'll also take a look around the city."

Chen Hui was taken aback: "What are you looking at?"

Xiao Hong started laughing and said, "Xiao Wei has never been to the city before, even though he's all grown up."

Chen Hui asked Xiao Wei, "You've really never been to your city?"

Xiao Wei nodded and said, "I've never been. I stayed in the county for more than two years before moving to Fengtian, and then to Longcheng. I never had the chance to go to the city. But wait, I have been. Last time I came back from Andong to pick up Sister-in-law Long, I drove from the city and even stopped for a meal."

Chen Hui said, "That doesn't count. So what if we haven't been there? There aren't many places we haven't been to. We can explore them slowly in the future."

Xiao Wei said, "Then why doesn't it count?"

Xia Maosheng said, "If that's what you mean, then if I take the train from south to north a few times, does that mean I've been to the whole country? That doesn't count; it just means you've passed through."

Xiao Wei fell silent. As soon as the gate to the yard opened, the goose started honking, and Uncle and Aunt Si walked in.

Everyone stood up and called out to each other; people in rural areas take this very seriously and are very polite.

Now everyone got up and left the yard. The women all got up and went inside. They asked Uncle and Aunt to sit down, and Xiao Wei asked, "Auntie, you're still not angry?"

Auntie Si was a little embarrassed, waved her hand and said, "Never mind, it's all in the past, let's not talk about it anymore."

Uncle Si asked, "Your group is all here again, it's a pity there are no potatoes for you to dig this month."

The group of boys laughed, reminiscing about their glorious past when they went up the mountain and down the river to dig up other people's potatoes.

Xiao Wei said, "Fourth Uncle, Fourth Aunt, it's like this. I'm planning to collect mountain produce in the village. I'll buy anything that's ripe and fully grown on the mountain, and I'll pay the same price as here. Could you help me collect it? We can build a storage room in your yard, and once we've collected enough, I'll bring a truck back to haul it all away, okay?"

Aunt Si said, "Why harvest that? Can we eat it all? Besides, if the whole village harvests it, we can't skimp on the harvest this autumn; it'll bring in a lot of money."

(End of this chapter)