Reborn at 80: From Village Scoundrel to Billionaire

"money?"

Liu Bei's mind went blank for a moment, then he realized what was happening.

He was up all night last night, and the money from selling wolf meat is still in his pocket, on the bedside table.

"Mom, don't worry, the money is inside. I was just dozing off and forgot to take it out. I'll go get it right away."

Liu Bei quickly turned around, went back into the house, pulled out the crumpled stack of bills, and ran back to the kitchen to hand them to Zhao Da'e.

Zhao Da'e counted the money twice, one bill at a time, totaling 95 yuan. Her eyes lit up immediately, and she stuffed the money into the inside pocket of her cotton-padded coat.

"Okay, I'll take the money."

Liu Bei was stunned. "You took them all? Mother, what are you doing—"

"What? You have a problem with that?" Zhao Da'e glanced at him sideways. "Don't I know you? The money in your hands, today it's in your pocket, tomorrow it's on the gambling table, and the day after tomorrow it might end up in some widow's pocket."

"I'm not gambling anymore, I really won't gamble anymore."

"You think you can just say you won't gamble? You said the same thing last time. And the time before that too." Zhao Da'e counted on her fingers. "Do you think your old lady has a bad memory?"

Lin Wanqiu stirred the pot by the stove without even looking up, but her movements were noticeably slower.

Liu Bei wanted to cry but had no tears.

He understood his mother's thoughts.

In my past life, if I had more than five dollars, I would spend it all within three days.

He gambled, drank, went out to restaurants with a bunch of hooligans, and lost every last penny.

It's only natural that his mother doesn't believe him.

But he really needs money.

"Mom, keep thirty yuan for me, and give me the rest."

"No," Zhao Da'e replied decisively.

"There are too many things missing at home, you have to leave me some to buy!" Liu Bei explained.

Zhao Da'e stared at him for a full five seconds. "You're not kidding me, are you?"

"If I spend the money elsewhere, you can beat me to death with a broom."

Zhao Da'e was silent for a while, then counted the bills one by one, stopping at thirty, and placed the remaining sixty-five bills on the stove.

"Take it. Tell me everything you spent and what you bought when you get back. If you're even a penny short, I'll break your legs."

Liu Bei picked up the money and was about to put it in his pocket when Zhao Da'e seemed to remember something and spoke up again, "Wait."

"What's wrong?" Liu Bei asked.

Zhao Da'e gestured towards the courtyard with her lip: "There are other people at home. Do you think you're the only one who's hungry?"

Liu Bei then realized what was happening.

Three ex-wives, three children. Which one doesn't require expenses?

He silently calculated in his mind, then took out a few more bills from the stack of money, walked to the stove, and handed them to Lin Wanqiu.

"Late Autumn, here are twelve pieces of paper. Take them to buy you and Panpan some clothes. Children grow up quickly; they can't keep wearing patched clothes."

Lin Wanqiu stopped shoveling.

She glanced at the crumpled banknotes, but didn't reach for them.

"No need, my children and I have clothes to wear."

"Take it, it's yours," Zhao Da'e said from behind. "It's not for you, it's for the child. Panpan asked about those shoes the day before yesterday, do you think I didn't see them?"

Lin Wanqiu opened her mouth, reached out and took the money, stuffing it into her coat pocket.

Liu Bei took out another twelve yuan and glanced in the direction of the side room.

Su Yuehe was still lying inside, running a fever.

Zhao Da'e snatched it away: "I'll keep Yuehe's share for her, and give it to her when she's better."

Finally, Liu Bei turned and walked towards the courtyard gate.

Zhao Chunyan was leaning against the door frame, arms crossed, watching the commotion.

Liu Bei handed her twelve yuan.

Zhao Chunyan reached out and took it without hesitation.

"Fine, at least you know to give me some." Zhao Chunyan stuffed the money into her pocket, then continued talking, "But don't think you've turned your life around with this little bit of money. Two wolves for a hundred yuan sounds like a lot, but how many days will that be enough to feed an eight-person family?"

Liu Bei remained silent.

He looked at the money he had left in his hand; there were only twenty-nine yuan left.

Buying things for the house, getting medicine for Su Yuehe, buying shoes for the children... it's far from enough.

He stood in the middle of the courtyard, looking at the dilapidated mud-brick house, the drafty paper windows, the three children huddled in the corner, afraid to look at him, and the pot of thin cornmeal porridge on the stove.

"Don't take any more jobs from the fireworks factory."

The courtyard fell silent immediately after these words were spoken.

Zhao Da'e raised her head.

Lin Wanqiu paused again with the shovel in her hand.

Zhao Chunyan raised an eyebrow.

"They use paper tubes and fuses; those things explode if they get a spark," Liu Bei explained. "Yuehe had an accident in town yesterday; what if she gets home next time?"

"From now on, I will support the family. You don't need to do those jobs anymore."

The courtyard was quiet for about three seconds.

"puff--"

Zhao Chunyan was the first to laugh out loud.

"Liu Bei, are you trying to be a comedian? To support your family? If you can support a family, pigs can fly."

Liu Bei didn't respond.

Seeing that he remained silent, Zhao Chunyan's anger flared even more, and she raised her voice several decibels.

"If you say you can support a family, then let me ask you this: Why did Lin Wanqiu marry you back then? Wasn't it because you patted your chest and promised her you'd give her a good life? And what happened? After Panpan was born, you complained she was a burden, throwing dishes and breaking bowls every day. She trusted your character, trusted your promises, and what did she get in return? Divorce!"

"Later, Yuehe believed your lies and married you. And how did you treat her? Even after giving birth to Niannian, you still complained! She served you food and clothing, and you didn't even give her a second glance. And what was the result? Another divorce!"

"Now it's my turn." Zhao Chunyan pointed to her own nose, "I thought you wouldn't go through with a third divorce since your first two were divorced, right? And what happened? I gave you a son, and you're still not satisfied! You complain that Bao'er is weak and doesn't look like your Liu Bei's child. How can you even say that!"

"All three women are divorced. Who in the village doesn't talk behind our backs? To my face they call me Sister-in-law Zhao, but what do they call us behind our backs? Liu Bei's three secondhand goods! You think I don't know?"

Zhao Chunyan's chest heaved violently, and her eyes reddened, but not a single tear fell.

"So you're saying you want to support your family today? Do you even deserve it?"

"boom!"

The last three words struck Liu Bei like a thunderbolt, causing his body to tremble violently.

He looked at Lin Wanqiu.

Lin Wanqiu stood at the kitchen door, head down, without saying a word.

Zhao Da'e sat in front of the stove, not speaking up for her son.

The three children huddled against the wall. The little girl, Liu Nian, buried her face in her older sister's arms. The son, Liu Bao, shrank to the side, coughed twice, glanced at him timidly, and then quickly looked away.

The eldest daughter, Liu Panpan, stared at him from beginning to end, her eyes filled with a coldness that belied her age.

The eight-year-old girl didn't say anything, but her eyes were more piercing than any of Zhao Chunyan's words.

Liu Bei stood in the middle of the courtyard, unable to utter a single word.

It's not that he doesn't want to defend himself, it's that he has no right to defend himself at all.

The mess from the past life cannot be cleaned up by two wolves and a pangolin.

"They really don't deserve it!"

Suddenly, Zhao Da'e, the mother, spoke up, "What are you all standing there for? The pangolin hasn't been dealt with yet! Hurry up and go!"

"Um."

Liu Bei picked up the pangolin and carried it to a corner of the yard. He squatted down, found his hunting knife, and began to peel off the scales one by one.

Zhao Chunyan snorted and turned to go back into the house.

Lin Wanqiu hesitated for a moment, then went back to the kitchen to continue her work.

Zhao Da'e glanced at her son's retreating figure, sighed, picked up the pig feed bucket, and went to the backyard.

Liu Bei knew his mother was trying to help him out of a difficult situation.

If it weren't for her mother, Zhao Chunyan could have continued to berate her for another half an hour.

He bent down and focused on processing the pangolin, removing the scales one by one and putting them into a broken bowl.

This is a good medicinal herb; if you dry it and take it to a pharmacy, you can sell it for a good price.

The meat was separated and stewed for Yuehe tonight to nourish her body.

Just as I was busy, a figure approached.

It is Lin Wanqiu.

She placed a bowl of warm water beside her, squatted down, and lowered her voice.

"Liu Bei, I have something to ask you."

"Go ahead and ask."

"Did you sneak into Chunyan's house again before dawn today?"

Liu Bei paused for a moment, his knife still in his hand.

"I went into the wrong door. I was so sleepy, I could barely keep my eyes open, so I just pushed open the wrong door and went in."

Lin Wanqiu reminded her, "You and she have already gone through the divorce proceedings."

"Sneaking into someone's house in the middle of the night is indecent. If someone reports you to the police, you'll be going to jail."

"If you go in, what will happen to Mother? What will happen to the children?"

Liu Bei raised his head and looked at Lin Wanqiu, who was squatting opposite him.

Lin Wanqiu felt a little uneasy under his gaze and shrank back.

Why are you looking at me like that? Am I wrong?

Liu Bei originally wanted to say thank you, but for some reason, he inexplicably blurted out,

"Late Autumn, are you jealous?"

"???"

Lin Wanqiu was stunned.

"How about I sleep in your room tonight?"

"Click~"

As soon as she finished speaking, Lin Wanqiu pinched Liu Bei's inner thigh hard.

"I'm trying to give you some advice, but you're so irresponsible. I can't be bothered with you anymore."

Liu Bei was stunned.

"Why pinch the groin of all places? Is your wife really jealous?"