Chapter 3: Returning to school

As the saying goes, those who live on the mountain live off the mountain, and those who live by the water live off the water. Ningyang has oil, and many farmers rely on stealing oil to make a living.

The villagers' targets are scattered wells, usually organized in groups of four or five, going together with snake-skin bags to "carry oil."

The reason it is called "carrying oil" is because there is a reason for it. Those who "watch the wells" are also a link in the chain of interests. Most of them are temporary workers, local farmers.

Because there is a certain margin of error in the daily production of oil wells, "temporary workers" will release oil from storage tanks to villagers. The commission for a bag of oil is 10 yuan, far higher than the monthly salary of 600 yuan.

Lu Fan and Su Xiaoyi inquired clearly that selling to oil dealers is generally 1 yuan/kg.

The profit is very considerable, and some people even use "two-egg carts" to pull oil directly.

From the second day of the Lunar New Year, Lu Fan followed Su Xiaoyi to make money, and Du Wenlong naturally wouldn't be left behind. Yang Minghao, Ceng Ming, Liu Jin Zhu, and Su Xiaoyi also joined the "oil stealing" army with great interest. The first lunar month is safer than usual, and "oil rats" can be seen everywhere on the road. If they meet people from the same village, they will inform each other.

In the dark and windy night, several people came to an oil well on the hillside outside the village. It was inevitable that everyone would be nervous the first time they stole oil.

Su Xiaoyi knocked on the door of the "well-watcher's" room with ease, handed over a pack of cigarettes enthusiastically, and said, "Old bachelor, there are 7 of us, we'll make three trips tonight."

"Old rules, 210 yuan."

"Alright, I'll send you two bottles of wine later to relieve your boredom during the New Year."

"Xiaoyi, the wind direction is not right recently. Stop after the first lunar month. Doing this is not a long-term solution. You are not even twenty years old, go learn a trade!"

"Uncle, I'll listen to you!"

Then, with the help of the old bachelor, seven strong young men carried snake-skin bags weighing dozens of jin and disappeared into the night. Several oil tankers waiting to collect oil were waiting on the side of the national highway for these oil rats to "deliver to the door."

Working until three in the morning, the seven brothers returned to Lu Fan's old house, sweating profusely, and collapsed on the earthen bed.

After resting for a while, everyone started counting the banknotes excitedly, with each person getting 200 yuan.

Lu Fan was stunned. You know, "public people" in Ningyang make less than 1,000 yuan a month. If it goes on like this, they will make 6,000 yuan a month. With this trade, what else do they need?

At this time, Lu Fan was full of hope for the future.

Until the 15th day of the first lunar month, the seven brothers lived by day and traveled by night, embarking on the "golden avenue" to get rich. Lu Fan had a huge sum of 3,000 yuan in his hand!

Du Wenlong touched the "huge sum" in his pocket, feeling more satisfied than ever before in his life. He suddenly became interested and shouted, "Brother Fan, let's become sworn brothers!"

"Okay, sworn brothers!" Su Xiaoyi.

"Peach Garden Oath, living and dying together!" Yang Minghao.

"Count me in, Old Zeng!" Ceng Ming.

Lu Fan liked this group of brothers very much and said immediately, "Okay, brothers, get ready, let's become sworn brothers!"

Everyone became interested immediately and started getting busy. Ceng Ming even ran home and stole a chicken.

On the 15th day of the first lunar month in 2007, in Langcha Village, Lu Fan and his six brothers beheaded the chicken, burned yellow paper, and made a common oath: Today we brothers are sworn, sharing blessings and hardships, with the mountains and rivers as our alliance, we will never violate it!

When it came to ranking, Du Wenlong insisted that Lu Fan be the eldest, saying that he had called him Brother Fan for ten years and couldn't change it at all, which was unanimously approved by everyone.

Thus, Lu Fan, who was originally the "second," was forced to become the "eldest," and Du Wenlong became the second.

When the feelings were deep, Du Wenlong hugged Lu Fan and wailed loudly. The brothers understood very well that the second brother was a bitter person!

Lu Fan patted his brother on the shoulder and said, "Chouchou, we must work hard and strive to live like human beings!"

Nine years ago, Du Wenlong's father had a fight with someone over the compensation for drilling land, damaged the oil pumping equipment, and was later tied to the township government for investigation. Since then, no one has discovered his father's whereabouts.

On the 16th day of the first lunar month, after breakfast, Lu Fan solemnly handed 1,200 yuan to his second uncle and said, "Second Uncle, I've earned some money these days. You take it, thank you and Second Aunt for taking care of me and my sister."

"Xiao Fan, did you go to steal oil? I warn you, that's not a proper business. Something will happen sooner or later. If you dare to go again, watch out, I'll deal with you!"

"Uncle, I know it's against the law, I'll listen to you."

"Hmm, Uncle won't talk about you anymore. You're not small anymore, you should know what you should do and what you shouldn't do."

Lu Fan and Du Wenlong first had to send their younger siblings to town to register, and then planned to return to the county high school to drop out.

At the entrance of the village, they saw Zhou Tianhui and her brother Zhou Jian.

Zhou Jian was as enthusiastic as ever, ran over and said, "My dad won't let me call you brother-in-law, I can only call you Brother Fan from now on."

"Whatever you call me is the same, you will always be my brother."

Lu Fan liked this follower who had been with him since childhood very much.

But facing Zhou Tianhui, Lu Fan couldn't open his mouth no matter what.

Looking at the departing figure, Zhou Tianhui felt very aggrieved and wanted to chase after him to tell Lu Fan that she hadn't changed her heart, but after all, girls are thin-skinned. She only had one thought: time will prove everything.

After registering for his sister, Lu Fan insisted on buying her two sets of clothes and two pairs of shoes, stuffed 500 yuan into her hand without question, and repeatedly urged his sister not to be frugal, to eat her fill, and then went to the county high school with reluctance.

Just as he entered the school gate, Lu Fan ran into the physical education teacher Le Xuezhi, only to see him staring at Lu Fan with a ferocious grin, as if he saw a lamb waiting to be slaughtered, and even said to Lu Fan, "Little bastard, watch yourself!" His attitude was extremely arrogant.

The brothers were particularly indignant but helpless. This Le Xuezhi was not just a physical education teacher. Having graduated from a sports school, he had a great reputation in the underworld of Yingjiang and Ningyang, known for being able to fight and being ruthless.

"Brother Fan, can such a person be a teacher? The school is really blind. Sooner or later, I'll deal with him!"

"Chouchou, when we don't have the strength, we don't talk nonsense. Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river, we must first live like human beings!"

"Brother Fan, you have ideas, I'll listen to you!"

When they reached the classroom on the second floor, his deskmate Chen Liqiong waved at Lu Fan and said enthusiastically, "Lu Fan, you're here!"

Lu Fan returned to his seat and just responded in a low voice, his mood appearing very low.

"Deskmate, did something happen at home? Why didn't you tell me?" It was like an inquiry, like concern, like a greeting.

"Hmm!"

"Please accept my condolences!" It was full of gentleness and loveliness.

This scene, this scene made Wang Haibin next to them overturn the vinegar jar, and he said sourly, "Cursing your father and mother, Liqiong, I advise you to stay away from him, watch out for bad luck!"

Chen Liqiong was furious and scolded sharply, "Wang Haibin, shut your stinking mouth! If you can't speak, no one will treat you as a mute!"

Lu Fan stood up slowly, glaring with rage, but before he could make a move, a chair fell from the sky. Du Wenlong had already made a move, roaring, "You son of a bitch Wang Haibin, I'll kill you today!"

Lu Fan's usual friends immediately ran over to break up the fight, holding Wang Haibin tightly, letting Du Wenlong's fists rain down like raindrops, and the pig-like screams echoed in the classroom!

The classroom was in a mess. Before long, the head teacher Zhao Peiwai ran in hurriedly and shouted to stop.

Seeing Wang Haibin lying on the ground wailing, with nosebleeds all over the floor, he didn't have time to reprimand them and immediately took him to the infirmary.

After the teacher left, several friends surrounded Du Wenlong to discuss, all worrying for him. After all, fighting on the first day of school, the school would definitely not be lenient.

Unexpectedly, Du Wenlong said nonchalantly, "I've long been disgusted with that grandson's bird-like appearance. At worst, I'll be expelled. Brother Fan and I didn't plan to study anyway."

"Ah?" Exclamations erupted in the classroom. There had not yet been any phenomenon of dropping out in the class.

Chen Liqiong said anxiously, "Lu Fan, you were the first in the class in the first year of high school. Why are you not studying?" She didn't know why her heart ached, and there was an inexplicable reluctance.

Lu Fan stood up and said, "Classmates, due to personal reasons, Wenlong and I cannot go with everyone anymore. We have a long way to go, see you later!"

The classmates who got along well on weekdays were very reluctant, especially his roommates Zhu Jianglin and others.

Suddenly, a classmate ran in and said, "Du Wenlong, Lu Fan, the old class wants you to go to his office. I saw Wang Haibin's parents come, they look like cadres, the situation is not good!"

Du Wenlong said carelessly, "Can they kill me? At worst, I'll be expelled!" ===== CHAPTER 4 =====