Chapter 82: The Path of Rebirth: No Longer Lost

"Qing Shan, this money of yours…"

Li Jimmin wanted to speak but stopped, thinking of asking Lu Qingshan where all this money came from, yet felt it was improper.

"Secretary Li, don't worry about the money; I earned it from hunting."

Lu Qingshan said calmly, "Compared to the money, I'm more worried that Lin Yueqiang will cause trouble in the future."

Li Jimmin nodded, and in his heart he gained a completely new understanding of the former "Lu Laizi".

After signing the reconciliation agreement, Li Jimmin pulled Lin Yueqiang before Lu Qingshan: "Yueqiang, if you hadn't had your brother-in-law today, the consequences would be unimaginable. Now you must assure your sister and brother-in-law that you will never again binge drink, fight, or brawl!"

Lin Yueqiang, as if waking from a dream, looked at his sister's reddened eyes and his brother-in-law's calm face, and suddenly felt a surge of shame: "Sister, brother-in-law, thank you both today. I... I promise I won't cause trouble again."

Lu Qingshan looked at the brother-in-law who had once looked down on him, feeling not the slightest superiority, only a hint of pity.

If it weren't for reincarnation, he might have been even more unfit than Lin Yueqiang.

"Let's go, I'll see you home," Lu Qingshan said simply.

"Brother-in-law, I…" Lin Yueqiang began to speak but stopped, his face unable to hide, "about those three hundred plus yuan, I…"

"Don't bring up the money," Lu Qingshan cut him off, "just remember today's lesson."

Lin Yueqiang lowered his head, daring not to look at Lu Qingshan's eyes again.

When escorting Lu Qingshan's family out of the police station, Chen Zhiguo stopped him: "Qing Shan, the case of Ma Liu's group has been sentenced. Ma Liu, for multiple thefts, attempted home robbery, and armed assault, was convicted on several counts and sentenced to three years in prison; Zhao Lao San and Zhao Lao Wu each received six months for theft and robbery."

Lu Qingshan nodded: "Thank you, Captain Chen, this matter is finally settled."

Chen Zhiguo patted his shoulder, a rare smile appearing on his face: "By the way, the hunting license and gun permit you applied for, I've already submitted them. The paperwork is thorough, and just as several county leaders were having a dinner, Director Zhang of the state-run hotel mentioned you; they all have a good impression, so the issue should be minor. Just wait calmly for news."

"Really?" Lu Qingshan's eyes lit up; this was the good news he had long been hoping for.

With a legal hunting license and gun permit, he could go into the mountains to hunt without fearing being caught red-handed by the forest patrol police.

"Thank you so much, Brother Chen! This is... wonderful!"

Beside him, Lin Yueqiang's eyes widened to circles upon hearing the words "gun permit," his jaw nearly dropping to the ground.

That was something even the town militia company commander couldn't obtain! He stared in shock at his once-inept brother-in-law, a storm of turmoil raging in his heart.

"Can carry a gun? What kind of connection is that?"

Lin Yueqiang muttered softly, then glanced again at Chen Zhiguo's attitude toward Lu Qingshan, and couldn't help to shrink his neck.

"Don't overthink it," Lu Qingshan shot him a glance, "it's just by the rules, not any special connection."

Chen Zhiguo nodded: "The county is reforming hunting management; for a professional hunter like your brother-in-law, hunting with a permit actually makes regulation easier."

"Your brother-in-law's case, I handled it as a favor," Chen Zhiguo lowered his voice, "but it won't set a precedent."

"Understood. I'll look after him from now on."

Chen Zhiguo patted his shoulder, his gaze filled with approval.

On the way home, Lu Qingshan placed Lin Yueqiang's bicycle onto the mule cart, hurrying the cart to pull the family toward Qianyingcun.

Lin Yueqiang sat on the mule cart, no longer babbling as usual, but silent and terse, his gaze complex as he watched Lu Qingshan driving the cart.

Three hundred plus yuan—he couldn't earn that much in a whole year at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative, yet his brother-in-law produced it as easily as tossing a scrap of paper.

The wheels rolled over the dirt road, emitting a dull sound.

Xiao Xue had already fallen asleep leaning in her mother's arms, her little face flushed, breathing evenly.

Lin Yueqiang watched the scene and suddenly felt his nose tingle with sourness.

"Um, brother-in-law," he cleared his throat, "you and Captain Chen get along really well."

Lu Qingshan said lightly, "He's a good person."

"He's even better than my second uncle," Lin Yueqiang sighed softly, "if you hadn't been here today, I think I'd have been locked up."

"So now you finally learn?" Lu Qingshan looked back at him, "Read more, drink less, do the right things well. You're doing fine at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative; work hard, and you'll have prospects in the future."

"Qing Shan..." Lin Yue'e called softly, her voice filled with gratitude and gentleness, "If it hadn't been you today, I truly wouldn't know what to do."

Lu Qingshan didn't turn his head, simply saying, "When family is in trouble, that's what one should do."

A simple, brief sentence, yet it made Lin Yue'e's eyes well up again.

Arriving at Qianyingcun, Lin Yueqiang got off the cart, unloaded his bicycle and New Year goods, stood at his home doorway, and for the first time bowed his head to Lu Qingshan.

"Brother-in-law, sister, today... thank you both. I... I won't dare to do it again."

Lu Qingshan gave him a look, his gaze calm yet stern: "Remember what you said. If you want a good life, you must walk the right path, rely on your own abilities. To change yourself, start with the work at hand."

Lin Yueqiang nodded, his eyes filled with unprecedented reverence: "Brother-in-law, in a few days I'll treat you to a drink."

"No need," Lu Qingshan shook his head, "alcohol is best avoided as much as possible."

Lin Yueqiang was startled, then let out a few mocking laughs, scratched his head: "Indeed, indeed."

The mule cart moved forward again, Xiao Xue murmuring something in her sleep, drool hanging at the corner of her mouth.

"Daddy... hunt the tiger..." she mumbled in her dream.

Lin Yue'e held her daughter tighter, laughing: "This child still dreams of tigers."

Night deepened, and the distant forest resembled a sleeping giant beast.

"Tomorrow is the fifteenth," Lu Qingshan looked up at the stars, "this year's New Year is different from the usual."

Lin Yue'e moved closer, whispering, "Yes, it's different," her hand quietly brushed Lu Qingshan's arm and slipped onto it.

She gazed at her husband's profile, appearing especially resolute under the starlight.

She suddenly realized that the young man who once stirred her heart had returned.

Not the ragged kid of those days, but a more mature, more responsible man.

The mule cart slowly entered the village road, its wheels crunching the soft snow, producing a "creak-creak" sound, like the gentlest lullaby of a winter night.

On the old pagoda tree at the village entrance, a night owl suddenly took flight, flapping its wings and vanishing into the darkness.

Jin Hu's ears seemed to hear his owner's footsteps, and from afar he began barking loudly.

"This dog is overly alert," Lin Yue'e whispered, "from far away, and hasn't even entered the courtyard yet."

"Indeed," Lu Qingshan looked toward the distance, "it is guarding its home, waiting for us to return."

People in the world always have a wayward path.

But as long as one can find the road home, no matter how rugged, it is worth it.

Lu Qingshan stared at the road ahead, the corner of his mouth slightly lifted.

This time, he will not go astray again.