Chapter 581: Provocation

Children are always so carefree. After dinner, while the sky is still bright, children from four to eight years old, wearing vests and shorts, stepping on slippers and sandals, reveal their dark little feet. It's not that they don't wash their feet, but they can't keep them clean. The road outside this alley is still a dirt road, and the dust raised while running, mixed with the sweat produced, makes the feet dirty.

Some children face the wall, hands crossed and supported on the wall, head pressed against their arms, eyes open looking at the ground under their feet, occasionally pretending to be uncomfortable and moving their bodies, stealing glances at the situation on both sides. They also loudly count from one to one hundred.

As for the other little brats, they run far away, hiding everywhere in this not-very-long alley, and some even climb onto the roof, making a mess. They also warn the kid counting not to look around, otherwise, they will do the same to him next time.

Seeing this situation, it is clear that they are playing the ancient game passed down for thousands of years: hide-and-seek.

As the kid counting counts with difficulty to one hundred and runs away, after a while, a burst of laughter comes. There are also children who are caught, pouting and winking at the places where others are hiding, hoping that with this help, they won't be the first to be caught next time. When they were very young, they already understood how to break the rules...

Children have children's games, and adults have adults' pleasures. On such a midsummer night, most people don't stay at home, and most stay outside.

Under the utility pole with a street lamp not far from Old Guan's door, Old Guan, Old Man Guo, and others are still playing a game that is hard to distinguish. Some women hold small children, holding fans and fanning mosquitoes and flies one by one, chatting with others. Talking about how life is, talking about their own men, talking about mothers-in-law and fathers-in-law, talking about how all the uncles, aunts, and sisters in the family are doing.

Su Meng stares dangerously at the furry child running on the roof, chatting with Cai Xiaoli. The unlucky child counting is Han Chunming's son, Han Yi, and the one hiding on the roof is Wang Yan's son, Wang Bin.

And not far away, Wang Yan sits on a folding stool prepared by the wall, head leaning against the wall, smiling and looking up at his own son running happily on the roof without feeling any danger. Running on someone else's roof is not only annoying but also dangerous. Such a small child, if he falls well, it's a bone fracture; if he doesn't fall well, it's a broken neck, and he's gone. So no matter what, this beating is unavoidable.

Wang Yan is very happy to cultivate the child's spirit of adventure and courage, but he must let the child know what danger is. Now he hasn't made a sound because the child has already gone up, and he can't scare the child at this time. Obviously, Su Meng thinks the same. But if he really has bad luck and falls, there's nothing he can do. If he dies, bury him; if he's injured, treat him; if he's paralyzed, raise him. Although this belongs to premature death, becoming his first child who didn't grow up, it doesn't matter. He would definitely feel a bit uncomfortable, but absolutely wouldn't be dying to live. After all, he doesn't know how many grandchildren he has sent off, let alone sons...

He shakes his head and turns to look at Han Chunming who has just squatted down beside him: "I went to Tea Fragrance to pack food at noon today and happened to run into Ma Du. That kid is getting married next month, and the banquet is at your Tea Fragrance. Keep the time, don't be unable to find anyone when the time comes. When we got married, Ma Du didn't do less work."

"Don't worry, how could I be so unreliable?"

The two talk aimlessly, either about antiques or business.

It is because the trajectory has changed that Han Chunming no longer collects junk, nor does he use the convenience of his work with Cai Xiaoli and Taozi to contact customers and earn the price difference. Now he does big business, running around everywhere, naturally earning more money and collecting more things.

The child is also older, so he doesn't need to worry too much. Therefore, Cai Xiaoli resigned long ago, and what she does every day is manage things in Beijing, guarding the home for Han Chunming.

This time, Han Chunming's wealth will not be exposed so easily. Truly speaking, he is even richer now than he will be two years later, in 1985, when he flips cars. Even now, his family doesn't know Han Chunming has made a fortune, and they don't even understand his recent situation very well. They have always thought Cai Xiaoli works in a trading company and Han Chunming works in a hardware company, and their daily routines haven't changed much. Cai Xiaoli goes to work normally, leaving in the morning and returning in the evening. Han Chunming originally had to go on business trips from time to time when he worked in the hardware company.

If it weren't for their family's relatively high standard of living, it would basically be impossible to see how rich they are. And even if the standard of living is relatively high, it's just that others eat meat every three to five days, while they eat meat at every meal. This naturally has problems, but at most, it's just saying Han Chunming and Cai Xiaoli don't live properly. After all, the child is growing, the old lady wants to enjoy life, so people just talk. As for Han Chunming's two older brothers, the old lady wouldn't have it as good as now if she lived with them.

Of course, it's not that Han Chunming's two older brothers are unfilial; they give Han Mu some money every month to let their own mother eat and drink. This is also as it should be. Whether they can live well or not is one thing, but the attitude is definitely there. Besides, it's Han Mu who doesn't want to live with them. Han Chunming, a player who has had no good reputation since he was a child but is filial, is naturally even more unwilling to let his own mother go to his two older brothers and suffer.

Not being easily exposed does not mean one will not be exposed. Humans are social animals; no matter how mature or calculating one is, it is always hard to avoid the desire to show off, to want one's achievements to be seen, to want to be recognized, and to want to be praised by others—this is a spiritual need that requires satisfaction.

Success gives people confidence and makes people float. It's hard to guarantee when Han Chunming will go crazy and want to show off, or be carried away by success and speak without thinking, which someone hears or sees, and then it spreads to the Old Han family. Not to mention there is a big-mouthed Meng Xiaoxing, who knows when she will hear some news and go back to the Old Han family to hold a big meeting.

In fact, Han Chunming is also in a difficult position. At first, he didn't expect to earn so much money, so he didn't say anything. Later, when he earned more, it was hard to speak up. At this time, his older brothers and sisters haven't taken his restaurant and divided his money yet. In fact, he is still okay to his older brothers and sisters, not intentionally hiding it. In the original drama, in the nineties, that was truly intentional hiding. It's normal; after what happened before, no one would talk about it...

Just when the two were chatting, Cheng Jianguo appeared at the corner on a bicycle. Looking at the neighbors who were all outside, as well as Han Chunming's mother and wife, his eyes turned, and this plan came to his heart.

He deliberately pedaled a few times and braked in front of Wang Yan and Han Chunming, saying loudly: "Chunming, I've already told our captain about the batch of goods you had detained. Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on it for you, and I'll have news for you in these two days."

Wang Yan smiled. He was just thinking that Han Chunming wouldn't be exposed so easily, and was thinking that even if he were exposed, it would have to be Meng Xiaoxing's big mouth. He really didn't expect that Cheng Jianguo, who had been quiet for these years, would make a move.

Cheng Jianguo's change is naturally very big. He didn't end up with Cai Xiaoli but got married and had children long ago. But as for the rest, the changes are relatively limited. He still went to Normal University, studied political education, and Cheng Father begged for help to get him into the Inspection Section of the Industry and Commerce Bureau, where he has been working for a year now.

As the saying goes, nothing in the world is difficult for those who set their minds to it. Cheng Jianguo couldn't move Wang Yan and had nowhere to start, so he naturally turned to Han Chunming, whom he knew well. He knew deeply that with Han Chunming's work in the hardware company, he absolutely couldn't afford a motorcycle or afford to eat meat at home every day, so there must be another way of making a living. And now it hasn't been relaxed to that point yet; all ways of making a living are gray. They don't catch you if they don't want to, but if they catch you, they catch you for sure.

And as the saying goes, catch a thief and catch the stolen goods. Cheng Jianguo has the heart and specifically watches Han Chunming. Under tracking and surveillance, although he can't figure out Han Chunming's background, knowing a general trend is not a big problem. It is also because there are too many people doing this work now, and these people all have some energy, plus they have indeed activated the market, so the government basically turns a blind eye, observing the situation and summarizing experience. So after Han Chunming grew bigger, although he was still cautious, he was not as good as before.

In such a situation, Cheng Jianguo's deliberate targeting and having a batch of goods detained is not surprising. Both having merit and being able to hold Han Chunming, it's a good thing...

Suddenly hearing Cheng Jianguo's words, Han Chunming was about to cry. He hurriedly turned his head to look at Cai Xiaoli. The couple looked at each other and then looked at Han Mu, who was already stunned not far away. After such a circle, his gaze fell on Cheng Jianguo, who looked concerned and righteous. He could only smile awkwardly: "Thanks for your trouble, Jianguo."

"Hi, it's nothing. You say we live in the same courtyard and grew up together. Now that you're in trouble and I happen to work in the Inspection Section, how could I just watch and not care? Don't worry, leave this matter to me." Cheng Jianguo said very brightly, patting his chest, and then turned to greet Wang Yan beside him: "Prince, you two stay cool, I'm going back first. I've been busy with Chunming's matter until now and haven't even eaten a bite."

Naturally, he didn't get a response, and he didn't have any reaction, pushing his bike back to the courtyard.

Immediately after, Han Mu walked over from not far away with a stiff old face: "Call your older brother, older sister, second brother, and second sister, and tell them all to come back."

After saying that, she turned and entered the courtyard. Cai Xiaoli shrugged at Su Meng helplessly and hurriedly followed her mother-in-law.

She didn't have any other intentions; she was just panicked hearing that her youngest son was in trouble and involved with the Inspection Section and had his goods detained. She couldn't make up her mind, so she brought the whole family back.

However, she wasn't too worried, after all, Wang Yan was sitting beside Han Chunming, so he could definitely help...

"What's the situation?" Watching Cai Xiaoli and Han Chunming leave, Su Meng ran over to explore the truth.

"What else could it be? You knew before that Han Chunming was doing business outside. Although it's much looser now, there is no clear policy. Making money on the edge should have risks. It's just a batch of goods detained, which is very normal."

"Then I heard Cheng Jianguo speak, it seems like it's quite difficult? Han Chunming and Cai Xiaoli, the couple, won't be arrested, will they?"

Wang Yan smiled and shook his head: "How could it be that serious? Chunming just said Yang Huajian is finding a way. Even if there is no way, even if I don't help, the worst is that the goods are gone, or another fine is paid. The problem isn't big."

"Then Xiaoli is in trouble. You say that for so many years, the couple made such a big fortune silently without saying a word to the family. Then Han Chunming's older brothers and sisters must blame Xiaoli, the daughter-in-law with a different surname. It's all Xiaoli hiding it, not letting Han Chunming tell the family, alienating their brotherhood and sisterhood, and destroying the internal stability and unity of the Old Han family. Xiaoli is also not a good person. I guess, wait a while and there will be excitement to watch."

Su Meng shook her head, feeling sympathy for the things Cai Xiaoli was about to face, but also feeling lucky that she had no parents-in-law, let alone older brothers, younger brothers, older sisters, or younger sisters, and didn't have to face these messy things.

She tutted: "You say this Cheng Jianguo is also, the same age as you and Han Chunming, already thirty-one, yet he can still do such unreliable things? How can he shout like that in public? Now it's good. With this shout of his, you say what Han Chunming and Cai Xiaoli will become in the mouths of the neighbors in the future? I think, he is doing it on purpose."

"Do you still need to see it? Who speaks properly while shouting with their neck stretched, just afraid that irrelevant people won't hear?"

If Han Chunming goes to Cheng Jianguo to ask for an explanation later, Wang Yan can know with his toes that Cheng Jianguo must have a face of 'I am doing it for your own good', 'I am worried for you', and he must say 'you won't blame me'. With Han Chunming's character, even if he knows Cheng Jianguo is pretending, he can't say anything.

Walking in the world is like this: don't want face, accustomed to being high-sounding, always using the guise of being good for others to do things that harm others and benefit oneself, and always being able to take advantage. This life is lived with that mouth.

There are many such people...

No one spoke anymore, and the mosquitoes increased. Su Meng went back to the backyard to look after her father, while Wang Yan went to the chess stall and squatted beside Old Guan to watch chess.

"Commander, Ma Du is getting married next month, and the banquet is at Tea Fragrance. Are you going?"

Old Guan glanced at Wang Yan: "Then this kid is also not proper. Such a big thing, he didn't come to tell the grandfather of the Nine Gates Commander personally, and still had to have you kid tell me?"

"He only decided on the marriage yesterday. Originally he wanted to come tonight, but I happened to run into him at Tea Fragrance at noon, so I didn't let him run another trip. P，or Old Hou doesn't know yet either. I told Taozi to tell P，or Old Hou when he goes to eat for free."

"Fine, you tell him to get a big-butt jeep to pick me up. I won't take your three-wheeled kick-start. Don't let me die on the way before I drink the wine."

Wang Yan nodded with a chuckle and agreed. The old kid cherishes his life quite a bit. In fact, according to the original drama, if it weren't for the fact that Han Chunming's older brothers and sisters opened a restaurant and Guan Guan Xiao Guan played a ruthless hand, causing this old kid to get angry and have a cerebral thrombosis, it wouldn't be impossible for him to live a few more years and strive to reach 2008...

After a while, when the sky turned dark, the children and daughters-in-law of the Old Han family arrived one after another, which was also a big family. It was also at this time that the crazy playing children were also called back home.

Without playmates, Wang Bin and Han Yi ran back unfulfilled. Wang Yan smiled and beckoned to them: "Han Yi, you come over and watch chess with Grandpa."

"Grandson, come over, Grandpa will teach you how to play chess." Old Guan obviously also heard what Cheng Jianguo said before, and saw the big family that came back, naturally understanding what kind of situation his beloved apprentice was in. It's better for children not to join in that excitement.

Rubbing Han Yi's little head, Wang Yan walked to his own son with a smile, directly grabbed the back of his neck, lifted the struggling little brat in front of him, and the father and son looked at each other. The kind and friendly father asked kindly: "Son, have I ever told you not to do dangerous things and to prioritize your own safety? Have I ever told you to try not to hinder others?"

Wang Bin gave up struggling, looked at his father pitifully, and smiled awkwardly: "Dad, I know I was wrong. Next time I won't run on other people's roofs."

"Let's go, let's go to the stadium to practice."

Ignoring the little brat who looked like he was going to die, Wang Yan put him on the ground, gave him a kick on the butt, making him stagger: "A man must admit his mistakes, don't be wishy-washy, hurry up and run."

Wang Bin sighed helplessly, resigned to his fate, and ran away, heading straight for the stadium, while Wang Yan, the father, followed behind at a light run.

Arriving at the stadium, finding a place with light, Wang Yan began to fight with his son. The little brat gritted his teeth, launched charges again and again, attacked desperately without a brain, and was ruthlessly thrown to the ground by his father again and again.

Wang Yan has a sense of proportion. What hits the body is just painful, but not too painful. Falling to the ground, the child's skin is tender, so it's inevitable to scrape it a few times and break a bit of skin, but it won't leave a scar, so it's not a big problem.

Now he has started to teach his son to stand on a stake and practice martial arts. Of course, it is still mainly for health and fitness, but the health and fitness at this time already has lethality. The little brat is still very capable of fighting among his peers, having already achieved the achievement of kicking the preschool class in Dongcheng, and the next step will be to unlock the task of kicking the Dongcheng Primary School...

Children, they are not as precious as they were later, so how could there be no naughty and fighting? Especially since it hasn't been long since the implementation of family planning. Previously, it was only encouraged to have one, but it didn't say only one could be born. So few people listened to the encouragement. Children the same age as Wang Bin mostly have several older brothers, older sisters, younger brothers, and younger sisters. If they don't fight or grab at home, they will suffer. The children who cry have milk to eat, and none of them are good people.

Finally, the little brat who had endured a beating and was exhausted and sore became honest, wilted, baring his teeth, and dejected, walking on the spacious road where there were fewer and fewer people. Wang Yan was smoking comfortably behind, swaying.

The street lamp emitted a dim yellow light, pulling the shadows of the father and son long and short, constantly changing...

Returning home, Su Meng complained about Wang Yan's cruelty, used warm water to wash the sweat off her son, and nagged the sleepy little brat with big principles.

Su Meng is always like this. If she lets her hit, she can't do it. If Wang Yan hits, she feels distressed and unhappy, so she is always contradictory.

Just like this, Su Meng washed her son in the room, while Wang Yan washed her son's clothes outside, listening to the noise in the Old Han family to relieve boredom.

No surprise, at first everyone questioned Han Chunming about what goods were detained, where the money for the goods came from, who he worked with, when he started doing it, whether he made money or lost money, why he didn't tell them before, etc.

Han Chunming is filial to his mother and respects these older brothers and sisters, so he basically didn't hide too much, just didn't say exactly how much he earned, fearing it would scare them.

But Cai Xiaoli was annoyed by Han Chunming's submissive attitude. A group of old traditions and old ideas were using their experience to teach Han Chunming what to do and what not to do. She didn't think there was a problem with these people caring about Han Chunming; she just felt that these people were managing too broadly. Han Chunming is at least thirty years old, and his son is also seven years old. Did they need this group of people to train them like grandsons?

And this is not once or twice; it has been like this since she married Han Chunming until now. Whenever there is something big or small, they swarm over, pointing fingers here and there.

In her eyes, Han Chunming is very powerful, and these people are not qualified to teach him. So Cai Xiaoli, who had been holding back for so many years, turned her face for the first time.

Of course, she didn't make a big fuss; after all, she is not that kind of person. She just said hard words softly, expressing her dissatisfaction in her words.

Now that Wang Yan is back, he just caught up with Cai Xiaoli reasoning with these people. She is a daughter-in-law with a different surname, and after so many years of harmony, now she is stabbing with a soft knife, and these people really can't say anything. Just like Han Chunming couldn't say anything to his eldest sister-in-law, others couldn't say anything to Cai Xiaoli. So what is happening in the room now is Cai Xiaoli protecting her husband, and Han Chunming's status in the family is rising. However, after that, there will be no less messy things, and it will be a real mess for a while...

Just at this time, Cheng Jianguo turned out from the moon gate in the backyard and greeted Wang Yan with a chuckle: "Prince, washing clothes."

Wang Yan nodded with a chuckle and ignored him.

It's like this every time. Cheng Jianguo is used to it, but this time he didn't leave, but carefully leaned over: "Prince, there is something I've been thinking about, and I feel I should tell you."

Seeing Wang Yan looking at him, Cheng Jianguo carefully looked at Han Chunming's house, then turned to look at Su Meng who was washing her son in the outer room, leaned closer to Wang Yan, and whispered: "Prince, let me tell you, before you and Su Meng were together, the relationship between Han Chunming and Su Meng was not ordinary..."

It's always like this; Cheng Jianguo is used to it. But this time he didn't leave, instead carefully leaning in: "Master Wang, there's a matter I've been thinking about, and I feel I should tell you."

Seeing Wang Yan looking at him, Cheng Jianguo carefully glanced at Han Chunming's house, then looked back at Su Meng, who was bathing their son in the outer room, moved closer to Wang Yan, and whispered: "Master Wang, let me tell you, before you and Su Meng started dating, the relationship between Han Chunming and Su Meng was quite unusual..."