Reborn at 80: From Village Scoundrel to Billionaire

The moment these words were spoken, the entire courtyard fell silent.

Just as Liu Bei was about to speak, footsteps suddenly came from the courtyard gate.

"Dad! We're back!"

Panpan ran in front, followed by Zhao Chunyan pushing her bicycle. Xiaobao sat on the back seat holding the bicycle frame, and Liu Nian followed at the very back.

Panpan had just stepped into the main room when she overheard Lin Beiping's last few words. She was immediately displeased and felt indignant on behalf of her father:

"Grandpa, you've misunderstood my dad! He's a great hero who stood up for what was right! He didn't do anything crooked!"

"Well?"

Lin Beiping never expected that his granddaughter would be so protective of Liu Bei.

He immediately looked down at his granddaughter, then glanced at Zhao Chunyan, Liu Nian, and Xiao Bao who walked in one after another.

He sighed, "Panpan, you've learned to lie at such a young age. That's not a good habit! Remember, you must be honest. You need to change this bad habit and never lie again."

Panpan got anxious.

"Grandpa, I'm not lying! Everything I said is true! If you don't believe me, just look at what's in the main room!!!"

"The main room? What's in it?"

Lin Beiping was stunned for a moment, then turned his head to look in the direction Panpan was pointing.

Then he froze.

On the main wall of the main room hung a bright red brocade banner.

The words "Heroic Acts" are clearly embroidered on it in gold!

The signature at the bottom reads "Da Liu Town Public Security Police Station".

Furthermore, four characters were written in the very center of the banner: "Comrade Liu Bei".

"You must be seeing things."

Lin Beiping was somewhat skeptical, thinking that he was just getting old and his eyes were playing tricks on him. He rubbed his eyes hard and looked again.

But it still looks exactly the same, not a single word has been changed.

"This..." Lin Beiping's mouth formed an "O" shape in surprise, his face full of disbelief.

Panpan stood with her hands on her hips, head held high, her face beaming with pride: "Grandpa, did you see that? My dad really didn't do anything wrong. He walked the right path. That banner was presented to us personally by the police officers. They said my dad is a great hero!"

"..."

Lin Beiping was stunned for a while before slowly turning his head to look at Lin Wanqiu:

"Late Autumn... what's the story behind this banner?"

Lin Wanqiu pursed her lips and began to briefly recount how Liu Bei assisted the police in arresting wanted criminals across the province and how he dismantled Wang Mazi's gambling den.

With each sentence he spoke, Lin Beiping's eyes widened a little more.

After Lin Wanqiu finished speaking, Lin Beiping suddenly turned his head and looked at Liu Bei, re-examining his nephew-in-law.

Assisting police officers in apprehending wanted criminals across the province?

They even shut down a casino?

They received a banner from the local police station.

Lin Beiping had lived most of his life and had never heard of any young man in the village who could do such a thing.

But Liu Bei did it!

But Liu Bei was clearly a gambler and alcoholic before.

How could that be?

Suddenly, he remembered what Lin Wanqiu had said earlier.

"He's changed."

"He has a certain energy about him, completely different from before."

"That kind of charm, I can't quite put my finger on it..."

Suddenly, Liu Beiping understood. So this was the charm that Wanqiu was talking about.

Heroes who act bravely and righteously are truly charismatic!

Lin Beiping's face flushed instantly.

He was just righteously lecturing them, saying they were taking crooked paths. He even threatened to carry Wanqiu back to Linjia Village.

Instead of resorting to crooked means, he became a hero who assisted the police in handling the case.

What he just said was a complete slap in the face to himself in public, utterly embarrassing.

"Uncle."

Just as Liu Beiping was pondering, Liu Bei spoke up.

"These are all things of the past, not worth mentioning."

"However, what you just said is very true. There are eight people in my family to feed, so the pressure is immense. I can't just be satisfied with buying you a bicycle and a pack of Hongtashan cigarettes. I need to work even harder, work harder to earn more money."

After a pause, Liu Bei's gaze swept over the dilapidated main room.

"Of course, I also want to try to build the new house as soon as possible."

"Let my mother, Wanqiu, and my three children all live in good houses. They won't have to suffer from the cold in winter anymore!"

"You're building a new house? How do you plan to build it? Will it be made of adobe or brick? How many rooms will you build?" Lin Beiping asked curiously.

"I plan to build a brick house. It will have at least four main rooms, and of course, a large yard."

"You've got some serious ideas, kid! Should we use blue or red bricks for the wall? How deep should the foundation be? Have you even calculated how much it will cost?"

"I've calculated it. Blue bricks are too expensive, so I'll use red bricks. I've already found a way to get the timber; I have a friend over at the forest farm. As for the foundation, the terrain here is high; three feet deep will be enough..."

The two men became increasingly engrossed in their conversation.

They talked about everything from materials to construction period, and then from construction period to labor costs. They even discussed how high the courtyard wall should be and what direction the stove should face.

When the conversation got really lively, Lin Beiping even slapped his thigh...

Seeing this, Lin Wanqiu finally felt relieved after a whole morning of worry.

At that moment, she breathed a long sigh of relief.

Liu Bei finally gained his uncle's approval.

Great! ! !

Meanwhile, in the kitchen,

While chopping vegetables, Zhao Da'e kept glancing up at the yard.

When she heard her son and in-laws laughing in the courtyard, she suddenly stopped wielding the knife.

In recent years, his son Liu Bei has been gambling, drinking, and beating people, ruining the family's fortunes.

All three of his wives divorced him, making his in-laws unwilling to visit him anymore.

But today, not only did my in-laws come, they also invited me to stay for dinner.

They are still chatting and laughing with their son about building a new house.

This clearly shows that she has accepted her son.

For a moment, Zhao Da'e sniffed, and her eyes suddenly felt a little sore.

Old man, did you see that?

Your son... has finally gained the approval of his in-laws.

He has really changed.

Our Liu family line has a successor...

"Mother?" Su Yuehe put down the fire tongs and came over. "What's wrong? Why are there tears in your eyes?"

"It's nothing." Zhao Da'e turned her head away, quickly wiped her eyes with her sleeve, and grinned. "I'm just happy. Alright, stop dawdling and hurry up and bring the fish up. Don't keep our in-laws waiting."

Su Yuehe nodded gently, picked up the plate, and went out.

Half an hour later, dishes were placed on the table one after another.

Braised wild boar, steamed fish, a few seasonal greens, a dish of pickled radishes, and a pot of grain liquor.

Lin Beiping's eyes lit up as he looked at the table full of dishes.

He knew very well what Liu Bei's family had been like before.

Today, we casually serve him this kind of meal.

This clearly shows that Liu Bei has truly changed.

"Xiao Bei! Come on, let's have a drink!" Lin Beiping took the initiative to pick up the wine bowl.

Liu Bei smiled and touched him, saying, "Uncle, I'd like to offer you a toast."

"Dry!"

"Dry!"

After Lin Beiping had finally eaten and drunk his fill, the sun was about to set.

He stood up and took one last look at the courtyard.

The window paper was still torn, the roof tiles were still missing, and the whole place exuded an air of poverty.

The leftover food on the table was still steaming. The three children in the main room were eating with their mouths full of oil. Zhao Da'e was wiping Xiao Bao's mouth with a smile. Su Yuehe was clearing away the dishes. Zhao Chunyan was leaning against the door frame eating melon seeds.

This house is a bit dilapidated.

But there is already a chance of survival.

In time, everything will be alright.

This is a sign of prosperity!

The only downside is that Liu Bei is a bit of a womanizer.

He actually married three wives, and all of them divorced him, yet somehow they all still lived under the same roof.

I wonder what skills Liu Bei has that make three women so obedient?

It seems this kid has a real knack for managing the house; he has some real secrets.

However... whether he has a special move or not is no longer relevant to him.

He's too old; even if he learns the moves, he won't be able to use them.

Thinking of this, Lin Beiping clinked glasses with Liu Bei one last time, then picked up the Hongtashan cigarette and got up to say goodbye.

Liu Bei and Lin Wanqiu escorted them all the way to the village entrance.

As Lin Beiping's figure gradually disappeared at the end of the mountain road, Lin Wanqiu's tense body suddenly went limp.

She lowered her head, her eyelashes trembled, and two tears fell onto her feet.

Why are you crying?

"I'm happy." Lin Wanqiu sniffed. "Your uncle has finally accepted you. I'm happy for you."

"Silly woman!"

Liu Bei reached out and wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, then took her hand and walked back.

Just then, Fan Ha'er came running over, breathless:

"Brother Bei! Brother Bei!!!"

"Something's happened at the lake...something's happened at the lake!"

"A child has been kidnapped by a water ghost!!!"