Reborn at 80: From Village Scoundrel to Billionaire

Watching Liu Bei's figure disappear outside the courtyard gate.

Lin Wanqiu walked over.

She turned to look at Zhao Chunyan.

"Chunyan, why didn't you stop him?"

Zhao Chunyan didn't even raise her head.

"Me, stop him? Who do you think you are? If he wants to court death, let him."

"But going up the mountain late at night, in complete darkness—"

"Go ahead and stop him," Zhao Chunyan interrupted directly. "What's the use of telling me? If you really want to stop him, go find your mother. He listens to his mother."

Lin Wanqiu clenched her sleeves, turned around, and went into the main room.

Zhao Da'e was sitting on a bench in the main room sewing cuffs; the three children were already asleep.

"daughter."

"Um."

"Liu Bei... he went up the mountain late at night, why didn't you stop him?"

"He told me. His family is poor, and the house is too dilapidated. Look at that crack in the west wall; when the north wind blows in during winter, it's like a knife cutting through it. He's afraid Bao'er's body won't be able to withstand another winter of freezing."

"Did he say that?"

Zhao Da'e glanced at her and continued, "Yes. He also said he wanted to earn more money before winter. Not just to fill our stomachs, but also to build a new house."

"Building...a new house?"

Lin Wanqiu was stunned.

Zhao Da'e nodded. "That's what he told me."

Lin Wanqiu opened her mouth, but couldn't find the right words for a long time.

Zhao Chunyan's voice suddenly came, not loud, but clearly audible.

"Building a new house? Him?"

Lin Wanqiu turned her head and saw that Zhao Chunyan was already standing at the door of the main room, clutching a half-patched jacket in her hand.

"He hunts to earn a little money to improve his meals. Judging from his performance these past two days, it's been passable. I believe he can manage it, albeit somewhat. But he says he wants to build a new house? Hah, building a brick house costs at least a thousand yuan. How can he earn that much money by hunting? I don't believe he can do it!"

Zhao Da'e shrugged.

"I don't believe everything he says. But you saw it today. He not only paid off Wang Mazi's debts, but also chased away Er Gouzi, quit gambling, and even took Bao'er to see a doctor behind his back. Would you have believed he could do these things three days ago?"

"this……"

Zhao Chunyan fell silent.

Lin Wanqiu lowered her head, seemingly lost in thought.

Zhao Da'e walked to the door and glanced at the dark sky outside the courtyard gate.

"Whether he can do it or not, we'll see when he comes back. It's getting dark, and he'll be gone soon; it'll be too late for you to stop him."

Suddenly, a soft cough came from the side room.

The three of them looked over at the same time and saw Liu Bao coughing.

Zhao Chunyan quickly ran over.

Liu Bao turned over and fell into a deep sleep again.

Zhao Chunyan squatted by the bed and pulled the blanket up for her son, discovering that Liu Bei had bought a bottle of Sichuan fritillary loquat syrup hidden inside.

Suddenly,

She recalled Liu Bei's anxious expression as he rushed out of the hospital with his son Bao'er in his arms to find the village doctor.

He was completely different from before.

Has he really changed?

Impossible! Absolutely impossible!

I don't believe he's really reformed!

It's definitely an act! It's just a trick!

……

At the entrance of the village, under an old locust tree.

Fan Shuanzhu, carrying an old-fashioned hunting rifle on his back, squatted against a tree trunk, a pipe of tobacco dangling from his mouth as he slowly smoked.

Fan Ha'er sat on a rock, teasing ants on the ground with a twig.

Suddenly, he heard footsteps, looked up, and saw Liu Bei.

"Brother Bei! Over here!"

Upon hearing this, Fan Shuanzhu tapped his cigarette ash, slowly stood up, and looked Liu Bei up and down.

"Liu Bei is here."

"Uncle Shuanzhu, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."

Fan Shuanzhu tapped his pipe and lowered his voice: "I have something to tell you. There are more people from Fan Xibei's side than during the day. I got a few words out of them this evening, and there are seventeen able-bodied men alone, not counting Old Tan's son, Tan Si. Zhao Liuzhi is also there. It's quite a group."

Liu Bei narrowed his eyes.

"Seventeen people went into the mountains to hunt, but it wasn't hunting; it was going to a market."

Fan Shuanzhu laughed, "That's why I didn't join them." He looked at Liu Bei, his expression becoming more serious, "Ha'er came back during the day and told me about you catching eels and snakes. Twenty-three yuan. He couldn't earn that much even after three months of working with me at the fishpond."

"Uncle Shuanzhu, this is nothing."

"I know." Fan Shuanzhu exhaled a puff of smoke. "So tonight I won't get involved with those guys, I'll go with you. Just don't let me down."

Liu Bei patted his chest: "Uncle, follow me, and I guarantee you and Ha'er will make money. Things will only get better from now on."

Fan Shuanzhu looked at him for a few seconds, nodded, and said nothing more.

The three of them walked along the ridge towards Da Liu Mountain.

The moon hung in the sky, about seven or eight parts round, and its light cast a white line along the edge of the field.

The croaking of frogs continued, and in the distance, night birds darted across the treetops.

Fan Ha'er walked in the middle, his mouth never stopping.

"Brother Bei, what do you think we can catch tonight? Wild boar? Roe deer?"

"It depends on luck."

"If we catch a wild boar, can I have one of its trotters? My mom loves gnawing on pig's trotters."

"OK."

"What about pig's tail? My dad says it's good for your back. Oh, and pig's penis too, I heard eating it gives you a lot of strength..."

Fan Shuanzhu: "..."

His silly son was at it again! He hit his son on the back of the head with his pipe.

"Shut up and walk."

At the foot of Da Liu Mountain, at the entrance to the mountain road, the firelight flickered.

A dozen or so people, some squatting, some standing, were crammed together at the entrance to the mountain path. Cigarette butts glowed, and their voices hummed.

As Liu Bei and his two companions approached, some people in the crowd turned around and looked at them.

The firelight illuminated a narrow, long face.

It is Fan Xibei.

He was twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, with thick, bushy eyebrows. He carried a gleaming hunting rifle on his shoulder and a wood-chopping knife at his waist.

Behind him stood Zhao Liuzhi and seven or eight strong men, and further back, Old Tan and his son leaned against a pine tree, silent.

Li Dazhuang was squatting on the far side sharpening his knife when he looked up and glanced at the scene.

When Fan Xibei saw Liu Bei, his eyes widened in surprise, and then a smirk appeared on his face.

"Yo."

He took the gun off his shoulder, slammed the butt of the gun on the ground, and spoke in a sarcastic tone.

"What a rare guest! Brother Liu Bei, did you come here specifically to take advantage of my presence today? Or are you hoping to pick up some leftovers to appease your three wives?"

"Ha ha……"

Several strong men behind him laughed.

Zhao Liuzhi chimed in the fastest: "Haha! Brother Bei really knows how to manage a household! He doesn't do any work himself, just sits in the back and picks up scraps, and he still manages to keep three wives wrapped around his little finger. We laborers, on the other hand, can't even get one married. This world is truly unjust!"

"Haha~"

The laughter of the surrounding strong men grew even louder.

A dozen pairs of eyes were fixed on Liu Bei, most of them carrying an indescribable feeling.

It wasn't just simple hostility; it was jealousy.

Although Fan Xibei was a womanizer, his marksmanship was recognized as the best in the surrounding villages, yet he only married a plain-looking woman.

What about Liu Bei? He's a gambling addict, a good-for-nothing, beats his wife and scolds his children. All three of his wives divorced him, but they still live under the same roof and refuse to leave.

On what grounds?

This thorn has been stuck in Fan Xibei's heart for more than just a day or two.

Liu Bei glanced at Fan Xibei, then swept his gaze over the group of people who had joined in the commotion.

He smiled.

"Fan Xibei, are you saying I'm benefiting from your success?"

"You dare to challenge me?"

Fan Xibei's expression changed.

Liu Bei took a step forward, his voice not loud, but everyone present could hear him clearly.

"How many years have you been hunting? Your team goes into the mountains like it's a military drill, making more noise than banging gongs. No matter how accurate your marksmanship is, if you scare all the prey into their dens, what's the point of you hunting?"

"you--"

"Benefiting from your influence? If I, Liu Bei, wanted to go hunting, would I need a dozen men to bolster my courage?"

Fan Xibei's face darkened.

Zhao Liuzhi jumped out and pointed at Liu Bei, "Watch your mouth! Who in the entire Fanjiacun village doesn't admire Brother Northwest's marksmanship? What right do you, a gambling addict, have—"

"Who gave you the right to interrupt me?" Liu Bei didn't even glance at Zhao Liuzhi, his gaze fixed on Fan Xibei's face. "Fan Xibei, you just don't like me, don't you? To put it bluntly, you're just jealous that I married three beautiful wives? You don't have that kind of ability yourself, so whose fault is it?"

"What the hell did you say?!"

Fan Xibei completely lost it. He took a sudden step forward, one hand already reaching for his gun—

"Liu Bei! Say that again!"

"I'm telling you, you're incompetent," Liu Bei said, emphasizing each word. "Not only are you incompetent at hunting, but you're also incompetent at finding a wife. Go back and ask your wife if she's done in three minutes tonight? No, three seconds—"

"Fuck you! I'll kill you!"

Fan Xibei's eyes turned red with anger, and he raised his gun, ready to charge forward.

Old Tan grew anxious behind them and winked at his son, Tan Si. At the same time, Fan Shuanzhu grabbed Liu Bei's arm, "Liu Bei! Stop—"

But it was all too late.

Before Fan Xibei could even get close, a black gun barrel was already pressed against his face.

The muzzle of the gun was less than a foot from his forehead.

Everyone froze in their tracks.

A mountain breeze suddenly rushed in, causing the torch to flicker for a moment.

Liu Bei held his hunting rifle, his right hand on the trigger, his gaze calm and undisturbed.

"Fan Xibei, you try and lay a hand on me."

"Let's see if you're faster, or my bullet is faster!"

"..."

The seventeen people fell silent for a moment.