Volume One, Chapter 12: Ways to Make Money

Liu Ting walked over with a smile, looking at Su Wan’s shy expression before playfully teasing her. I sat in my chair, watching the two of them joking around, somewhat dumbfounded. I couldn’t help but envy the men of ancient times who could have multiple wives and concubines. I thought to myself, how wonderful it would be if I could hold these two enchanting women in my arms.

At dusk, after dinner, I went to the first office group. When Hu Yong saw me, he immediately approached and quietly asked, “Yanfeng! I heard that last night on your way back, Li Da and his men intercepted you. Are you alright?”

“Brother Hu! I’m fine.”

It was obvious Hu Yong must have heard about it from Liu Ting, which was why he knew.

“That’s good to hear!”

Just as I expected, Liu Ting had come to see Hu Yong at noon, and that was when he learned what happened the night before. Hearing that I was unharmed, he visibly relaxed. It was clear his concern for me was sincere.

“Hmph! That bastard Li Da won’t end well one day,” Hu Yong muttered angrily, thinking of Li Da’s misdeeds.

“Brother Hu! Are we on the early shift or late shift tonight?”

I changed the subject and quietly asked Hu Yong. The night shift had six people, split like the day shift: one group worked the first half of the night, the other the latter half.

Hu Yong tossed me a cigarette, lit one for himself, took a few puffs, and said, “We’re on the latter half tonight. You can find somewhere to rest. I’ll wake you when it’s time.”

“Brother Hu! You should rest first. I can take the watch.”

I knew Hu Yong liked to drink and had probably had some tonight, so I insisted he get some rest.

“Alright! I’ll lie down for a bit. Call me if anything comes up.”

Hu Yong didn’t refuse my kindness, stubbed out his cigarette, and went into the office’s rest room.

“Yanfeng!”

Wang Feng, who had been silent until then, leaned in beside me, glanced around cautiously, and whispered, “I heard from the team leader that you were intercepted by Li Da last night?”

I glanced sideways at Wang Feng with a hint of disdain. He gave off the vibe of a sycophant, always eager to flatter.

“Wang Feng! Why so many questions?”

“Yanfeng! I mean no harm. I just overheard the team leader and wanted to check.”

Hearing my retort, Wang Feng smiled obsequiously and explained again.

I ignored him, crossing my legs and lost in thought.

Wang Feng, as if oblivious to my reaction, leaned closer and whispered, “Yanfeng! I know your cousin Zhao Fei left behind a lot of gambling debts before he passed, and now your cousin-in-law is stuck with them. I have a way to make money. Interested?”

His words stirred something in me. For days, I had been racking my brain on how to help my cousin-in-law clear those debts.

But I was penniless and helpless.

Now, Wang Feng’s offer was like a lifeline, instantly tempting me. If I could make money to help repay those debts, no one would dare trouble us again.

Still, despite the allure, I didn’t lose my senses or let greed cloud my judgment.

I stared at Wang Feng for a long moment before asking, “What kind of money-making scheme?”

Seeing my interest, a gleam flashed in Wang Feng’s eyes. He glanced toward the rest room, then at the open door, before leaning close to whisper, “Yanfeng! If you agree, just follow my lead tonight. You’ll have cash in hand by tomorrow.”

“Why won’t you just say what it is? How can I agree if you don’t tell me? What if you’re asking me to kill someone?”

My brow furrowed. Though I was desperate to earn money, I wasn’t willing to cross certain lines.

If it involved illegal or immoral acts, I wouldn’t participate.

“Yanfeng! I can only tell you that a lot of people are involved in this, even most of our forest rangers. If you want in, just follow my instructions tonight and don’t ask questions. If not, pretend I never said anything.”

Wang Feng seemed unwilling to reveal more, perhaps still unsure of me.

I frowned deeply but thought that since many rangers were involved, it might not be too bad. So, I didn’t press further.

Looking at Wang Feng, I hesitated, then said in a low voice, “Alright, I agree. But if I find out it’s something immoral, I won’t do it.”

“Don’t worry! It’s nothing immoral. Just follow my lead tonight.”

Wang Feng smiled faintly and patted my shoulder.

He then stood and said he was going out to relieve himself before leaving the office.

Outside, darkness blanketed everything. Wang Feng stepped out of the first compound, glanced left and right, and upon seeing a figure not far off, walked towards it.

“Brother Li! Yanfeng has agreed. Tonight, we move.”

Near the figure, Wang Feng whispered.

The figure was none other than Li Da. He sneered, “Good work, Wang Feng! Once we pin the stolen rubber on that little bastard Yanfeng tonight, I’ll recommend you to join the Little Tiger gang. You’ll be living large after that.”

“Thank you, Brother Li!”

Wang Feng’s face lit up with delight, nodding repeatedly like a toad fawning over a dog.

“Go! Tonight I’ll be waiting for your good news.”

Li Da sent Wang Feng off, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes before a cold smile curved his lips.

“You little bastard! Once you’re expelled, you’ll just be a country bumpkin. Then we’ll see how I deal with you.”

Everything Wang Feng had told me about making money was a trap, deliberately arranged to implicate me in stealing rubber. Then they would catch me, get me expelled, and I would no longer be a farm employee—vulnerable and without protection.

I was unaware of this conspiracy at the time, still wondering about the money-making scheme Wang Feng had mentioned.

“Yanfeng! I’ll nap for a bit. Wake me when it’s time.”

Wang Feng returned, now a different person—arrogant and looking down on me as he whispered.

I said nothing, nodded, and feeling bored, picked up a novel titled The Enduring Bonds of the Jianghu from the desk to read.

Time flew by, and before long it was midnight. I set the book down, woke Wang Feng first, then went to the rest room to rouse Hu Yong.

“Brother Hu! It’s midnight.”

“Uh!”

Hu Yong groggily got up and said, “Let’s go! Time for patrol.”

Watching Hu Yong, I considered telling him about Wang Feng’s money-making scheme to see if he knew anything.

But after thinking it over, I decided to wait and see.

If it turned out to be illegal or immoral, I could simply refuse. Wang Feng couldn’t force me to do anything against my conscience.