Reborn at 80: From Village Scoundrel to Billionaire

"Squeak!"

Fan Ha'er opened the door.

They discovered that Old Tan and his son were standing at the door.

Old Tan had a big smile on his face.

"Sister-in-law, Brother Shuanzhu, are you busy?"

Fan Shuanzhu snapped out of his daze. "Old Tan? What brings you here?"

"I've come to discuss something with you."

"What is it?"

"It's about Liu Bei."

Old Tan kept his voice low, but glanced at Fan Ha'er with his eyes.

Fan Shuanzhu tapped his cigarette ash. "What about Liu Bei?"

Old Tan chuckled twice, rubbed his hands together, and said, "Brother Shuanzhu, do you know when Xiao Bei will come up Da Liu Mountain again?"

The words had barely left his mouth when Fan Ha'er rushed over, pulled his father's arm two steps to the side, then turned and grinned at Old Tan.

"Uncle Tan, you wouldn't be thinking of teaming up with Brother Bei, but you're too ashamed to ask him directly, so you came all the way to my house to ask my dad to speak on your behalf, would you?"

"Well?"

Old Tan's smile froze on his face.

Old Tan never expected that such a fool would actually see through his thoughts.

Tonight's a bit eerie!

However, being a seasoned veteran who had spent decades in the village, he quickly recovered after a couple of seconds of stunned silence, slapped his thigh, and gave Fan Ha'er a thumbs-up.

"Ha, I'm impressed! Young man, you're quick-witted and insightful! No wonder Liu Bei always likes to take you along when he's on business!"

"Uncle won't lie to you. That's why I came here to ask about this. Last night on the mountain, I saw Xiao Bei shoot three times in a row. I've never seen such marksmanship in my fifty-plus years of life. Working with him is a promising career."

Fan Shuanzhu was suddenly pulled aside by his son. He was seething with anger and had nowhere to vent it, but after hearing Lao Tan's words, he swallowed his anger.

He pushed Fan Ha'er aside, walked back to Old Tan, and, with his pipe in his mouth, pondered.

"Old Tan, you already left Fan Xibei's team in front of everyone on the mountain last time. Now you're openly going with Liu Bei. Aren't you afraid Fan Xibei will cause trouble for you if he finds out?"

"Scared?" Old Tan curled his lip. "I'm not scared of him at all."

"Shuanzhu, let me tell you. The reason my father and I followed Fan Xibei last time was firstly because his uncle was the village party secretary, and secondly because he was indeed a skilled marksman. I took Tan Si with me on several trips, all for one purpose: to get a share of the spoils."

"And the result?"

"If we didn't catch any prey, so be it. Hunting depends on the weather; no one can guarantee a good harvest every time. If we didn't catch anything this time, we can try again next time. It's not a big deal. I'm not the kind of person who holds grudges."

"But that little bastard! I kindly went over to help him break up the fight, and he poked me in the chest with his finger and yelled at me for meddling! I'm a whole generation older than him! He's his uncle by seniority! He didn't give me any face at all!"

"Am I pathetic? I get insulted by him and then have to run over and fawn over him? I, Old Tan, have lived half my life and never suffered such humiliation!"

"On the contrary, look at Xiao Bei. He helped carry the game and delivered three catties of meat. He helped him sell the meat in town and even paid him. He kept his word and never shortchanged anyone. Compared to Xiao Bei, that bastard Fan Xibei is the worst of the worst. There's no comparison at all."

Fan Shuanzhu tapped the cigarette ash on the sole of his shoe, nodded, and said, "You're right."

Old Tan sighed again, "Back when Liu Bei was a gambling addict, he was always idle and nobody cared. Everyone shook their heads when they mentioned him. I never expected him to change so much so suddenly... It's really unbelievable."

"Indeed." Fan Shuanzhu exhaled a puff of smoke. "I didn't expect this change in him. But it's good that he's changed for the better. Otherwise, how would he manage with three ex-wives, three kids, and an elderly mother?"

"That makes sense." Old Tan rubbed his hands together, finally getting the conversation back to the point, "Brother Shuanzhu, do you even know when Xiao Bei will go hunting again?"

Fan Shuanzhu shook his head. "He didn't mention it. But since you've made up your mind, next time he comes up the mountain, I'll tell him to bring you and your son along."

Old Tan slapped his thigh and stood up, his face full of wrinkles as he grinned.

"Alright! Thanks in advance! Brother Shuanzhu, I'll treat you to drinks another day!"

"Hehe, no problem, no problem."

Old Tan left satisfied.

But no sooner had he left than three more figures appeared at the gate of the courtyard.

Li Dazhuang walked in front, followed by the two strong men who had helped carry the game earlier.

"You guys aren't here to ask Xiao Bei when he's going hunting in the mountains, and you want to go with him, are you?" Fan Shuanzhu asked as he saw the three of them appear.

"Hehe... nothing can be hidden from you, Uncle Shuanzhu!" Li Dazhuang and the other two said with smiles.

"I understand why you've come. Don't worry, I'll tell Xiao Bei next time he comes up the mountain."

"Thank you, Uncle Shuanzhu. We'll head back now; please get some rest!"

Li Dazhuang and his two companions left satisfied.

"Bang!"

Fan Shuanzhu closed the courtyard gate, and Chen Qiaolan came over.

She clutched the six yuan in her hand, turning it over and over in her hand for a long time.

"Honey, they've all gone with Liu Bei. With so many people, the competition will be fierce. Will our share be... less?"

Fan Shuanzhu glanced at her.

"You're overthinking it. Liu Bei's brain works ten times faster than yours. He knows exactly how to divide the spoils when there are so many people. Besides—" He pointed his pipe toward Fan Ha'er, "Ha'er and he are very close. No matter how the spoils are divided, our family won't get a smaller share."

"That's true!"

Chen Qiaolan looked at her son, Fan Ha'er, and a rare, loving motherly smile appeared on her face.

"Son, spend more time with your brother Bei in the future, and get along better. Okay?"

Fan Ha'er stood up and patted his chest until it was deformed.

"Mom, you can rest assured about my brother Bei. There won't be any problems at all."

"On the contrary, you have a much bigger problem."

Chen Qiaolan was taken aback. "Me? What's wrong with me?"

Fan Ha'er looked at his mother with a sincere expression.

"Every time my dad fights with you, you beat him in less than three minutes. He has no stamina at all; he's too weak. You need to buy him some supplements to help him get better, otherwise, if the villagers find out he keeps losing to you, how will he save face?"

"..."

The room fell silent.

Fan Shuanzhu's pipe hung in mid-air, and his lips twitched violently a few times.

He raised his pipe as if to smash it down, but lowered it again halfway through his hand.

What if I accidentally damage my son's brain?

They weren't very bright to begin with, and if they get hit again, they're completely beyond saving.

Oh! Garlic bird! Garlic bird!

My own child. My own child. No matter how infuriating it is, I have to put up with it.

"Snapped!"

But Chen Qiaolan couldn't hold back and slapped Fan Ha'er on the forehead.

"What nonsense are you spouting, you brat!"

"When has your dad ever had any stamina? From the time he got married until now, he's never lasted long enough. Buying supplements to improve it? What a load of rubbish! It's a waste of money! With that spare money, he should save it to get you a wife so your old mother can hold her grandson sooner! Let your grandson get fat and healthy, he'll definitely last longer than your dad!"

"..."

Fan Shuanzhu's entire face was twitching.

Black lines appeared all over his forehead.

He looked at his wife, then at his son.

One person criticized him for not lasting long enough, while another said he had poor stamina.

It's true what they say, a mother and child are connected at heart!

Garlic bird! Garlic bird!

You have to be patient with the wife you married and the son you gave birth to; just bear with it and it will pass.

Just then, Fan Ha'er opened the door and ran out.

"Where are you going so late at night?" Chen Qiaolan shouted.

"Mom, didn't you want to have a grandson soon? I'm going to ask Brother Bei for advice! He's probably busy with his wife right now! I'll go and learn from him!"

"..."

Chen Qiaolan froze.

"You idiot, get back here! Don't be silly, it's late at night—"

But Fan Ha'er had already disappeared without a trace.

Chen Qiaolan stomped her foot in anger and glared at Fan Shuanzhu.

"You have no patience, you've really raised a fine son!"

Fan Shuanzhu: "..."

Why am I being dragged into this again?

Ha'er is my child, that's true, but didn't he also come from your belly?

……

The Liu family.

The moon rose directly above the courtyard.

The house was quiet; the three children were already asleep.

Zhao Da'e also took a break.

Lin Wanqiu's oil lamp went out.

There was also no further movement from Su Yuehe's side.

In the side room, Liu Bei turned over.

He came back in the afternoon and fell asleep immediately, sleeping from dusk until now.

"hiss--"

Suddenly, he was awakened by the urge to urinate. After opening his eyes, he got up and, in the dark, put on his cloth shoes and went to the outhouse.

I had just stepped out the door and was about to turn towards the outhouse when...

Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of Zhao Chunyan's room.

The door wasn't closed?

There's still a crack left?

Zhao Chunyan always locks the door tightly when she comes to sleep, doesn't she?

Why wasn't it turned off tonight?

Could it be—