Volume One, Chapter 14: Xu Tao's Thoughts

Sun Yaqin’s eyes glinted coldly as she stared at Yang Guizhi. “You really know how to twist the truth. Yang Zhigang risked harming my second sister just to avoid paying protection money to Xiang Jinlong. Now that her daughter has been defiled, it’s her family’s own fault. If I hear you slandering my second sister again, I’ll strike you every time.”

Yang Guizhi looked at the young girl before her in disbelief, suddenly noticing a ruthless gleam in her eyes. But she quickly composed herself, clutching her reddened cheek from the slap. “Look at this! You all saw it! This wretched girl dares to lay a hand on her own aunt! You’re shameless and uneducated. Today, I’ll teach you a lesson for my eldest sister.”

“Smack!” Sun Yaqin delivered another sharp slap.

“Try saying one more word and see what happens!”

Yang Guizhi, unaccustomed to such indignities, shot a venomous glare at Sun Liancheng. “Liancheng, I’m coming to your house to demand an explanation. This is how your parents raised Sun Yaqin, a disgrace!”

Hearing her sister maligned like this, Sun Liancheng was naturally displeased. “I respect you as my elder and call you Third Aunt, but if you continue to slander my sister, our family won’t hesitate to sever this relationship.”

Yang Guizhi was infuriated, her eyes blazing with fury. “Fine! Fine! Fine! You think you’re above everything. Just wait and see how I tear you apart, you little wretch!”

She lunged toward Sun Yaqin, but Yang Liancheng and Xu Tao immediately stepped forward to block her. Sun Liancheng held her firmly, preventing any advance.

“Yang Liancheng! I am your real aunt!”

“No one dares bully my sister! If you make a move again, I’ll report you to the police!”

Panting heavily, her anger obvious, Yang Guizhi finally pushed through the crowd and slunk away with her bulky frame.

The sun was setting, and the market was thinning out. “Yaqin, sister, let’s pack up early today.”

The wild game Sun Yaqin brought had already been weighed: 150 jin of wild boar meat sold at the cheapest two yuan per jin, totaling 334 yuan; the roe deer and wild chicken sold for 68 yuan combined.

Sun Yaqin took out 201 yuan and handed it to Xu Tao. “Big Brother Xu, this is for you.”

Xu Tao was astonished. Having sold wild game for so long, he had never seen so much money at once.

“Yaqin, this is too much... I didn’t do much today; you were the one hustling. Plus, you sold for more than our usual price. I can’t take this much.”

He only accepted half. “I’ll take a hundred, and even then, I feel a bit guilty.”

Sun Yaqin could tell Xu Tao was kind-hearted, though his appearance was a bit stern.

“Big Brother Xu, I won’t be polite. I want you to keep the money. I’ll take half and give it back to the villagers. These goods came from them; I can’t let them work for nothing.”

“Alright, alright, as you wish!”

Xu Tao’s brows furrowed, as if wanting to say something but hesitating.

“Big Brother Xu, do you have something on your mind? Do you think I gave you too little?”

“No! No! Yaqin, will you come again tomorrow?”

Sun Yaqin smiled. “Of course. There’s still a lot left to sell.”

“How about this: you’re good at selling. Tomorrow, I’ll go back to the mountains to get more goods, and you watch the stall. From now on, after covering costs, we split the profits fifty-fifty. What do you think?”

Sun Yaqin hesitated. “Big Brother Xu, to be honest, I only plan to do business before the New Year. These wild game goods come from the mountains, and with the country’s laws tightening, selling these isn’t sustainable. After spring, I’ll switch to something else.”

Xu Tao looked disappointed. “That’s fine. Selling only before the New Year works. I’ll get the goods tomorrow. You watch the stall, so I can relax.”

“Okay! Big Brother Xu, I’ll be here early tomorrow.”

“Good!”

After packing up with her eldest brother and Xu Tao, Sun Yaqin headed home.

“Big Brother, hurry up and light the fire. I’m freezing.”

“You weren’t cold when you were outside collecting money,” Sun Liancheng teased.

“Is that the same thing?”

Sun Yaqin pulled out fifty yuan and handed it to Sun Liancheng.

“For you.”

Sun Liancheng looked surprised. “Oh? This is the first time I’ve seen you giving money back.”

Sun Yaqin was a little proud. “I told you I’d fill your money box.”

“Then I won’t be polite! I’ll save it to buy things for your sister-in-law.”

Sun Yaqin’s expression turned cold as she snatched the money back and eyed him inquisitively.

“Sister-in-law? Speak honestly! Are you...?”

Sun Liancheng grinned confidently. “Don’t worry. Even if I get married, I’ll still care for you, little sister.”

“Tell me, whose girl is she? What’s her name?”

“You little brat, interrogating me like a suspect. Her name’s Ding Xiaomei; we were high school classmates.”

Sun Yaqin sighed silently. Although her rebirth had changed many things, her family’s original fate still seemed unaltered.

In the previous life, her eldest brother and Ding Xiaomei would discuss marriage by the end of next year. At this point, their feelings were likely not deep; even if it ended, it wouldn’t affect him much — she still had time.

“Hey, Sun Yaqin, did you hit your head recently? You’ve been so distracted lately.”

“Light the fire quickly. It’s almost five o’clock. We leave at five-thirty. Let’s not keep people waiting.”

Sun Yaqin and her eldest brother arrived at the Welcome Inn only minutes before Qin Xiangdong.

The three of them went into a small private room. They came early, so the place was not crowded.

Sun Yaqin pushed the menu toward Qin Xiangdong. “Brother Qin... please order whatever you like.”

“The guest decides. You two choose.”

Sun Liancheng couldn’t stand their mutual politeness. “The waiter’s waiting. Stop being so modest.”

He grabbed the menu without hesitation, ordered several dishes and a bottle of Erguotou.

Qin Xiangdong, used to being flattered by others, appreciated Sun Liancheng’s straightforwardness.

“Brother Qin, I toast you. Thank you for saving me and my brother that day, and for today’s help... If not for you, those who did wrong might have gone unpunished.”

Before Sun Yaqin finished speaking, the door to the private room was kicked open, and several young men stormed in.

“Sun Yaqin, I’m going to kill you!”