Chapter 13: Settling Accounts

Whoosh, Wu An darted into the alley entrance.

The next moment.

The big iron gate opened; a burly black-faced man stood at the gate entrance, holding a black bream, shouting at the top of his lungs, "Who is it?"

Come out quickly!

You dare throw a fish at someone, but you don't have the guts to show yourself, right?

Wu An panted heavily; just from the sound he knew it wasn't anyone else throwing the fish—it was his Father, Wu Yingwei.

How coincidental is that?

He didn't dare show his face anymore.

He meant well but ended up causing trouble; if his Father found out, he'd surely think he was doing it on purpose for revenge, and then his image of a prodigal son returning would be reduced to just the first two characters.

I've installed surveillance at my gate.

Don't wait for me to check the surveillance.

Come out now, and I'll let bygones be bygones.

Wu Yingwei shouted at the top of his lungs.

As the Village Captain and Village Committee Chair, someone actually dared to throw something at his house.

This is nothing short of an old longevity star eating arsenic—living is unbearable!

Next-door neighbor Lao Meng heard the shouting, came out to see what was happening, saw Wu Yingwei holding a fish and cursing in the street, and asked, "Old Wu, what's going on?"

Wu Yingwei, fuming, explained how someone had thrown a fish at him, and Wu Ping also came out, advising, "Dad, this might be a misunderstanding."

Wu Yingwei snapped: "Misunderstanding my ass!"

Look at the bump on my head.

This was aimed at killing me!

Lao Meng laughed loudly: "Hey, why not throw it at me instead?"

A black bream like this would cost at least over a hundred bucks.

Oh, and it's still alive.

If we stew it tonight, it's not exactly a hearty dish.

Old Wu, how about we have a drink tonight, eat this fish, and count it as getting revenge for you?

Wu Yingwei said: "Two bottles!"

Lao Meng laughed and scolded: "Fine, fine, fine."

Don't stand at the gate yelling.

When you're ready, give me a shout and I'll bring the wine.

Only then did Wu Yingwei return to the courtyard.

The sister-in-law followed him out, saw Wu Ping unmoving, staring blankly at the road, her eyes flickered, and she said, "Do you think the black bream was thrown by the second son?"

Wu Ping nodded, lowered his voice, and said, "Keep it down."

But don't let Dad hear.

I just think an ordinary person couldn't do this.

If it really was the second son, Dad would surely think he did it on purpose for revenge.

The sister-in-law smiled: "I think you're overthinking it."

Even if the second son got a fish, would he think of us?

Wu Ping sighed: "Yeah."

In the alley's crevice, Wu An listened silently, motionless.

After a while, Wu Yingwei's cursing voice rang out; the old man hadn't returned to the courtyard just now, but instead made a feint and hid at the gate to peek.

The result? He waited for nothing.

Wu An chuckled smugly; good thing he knew his Father's routine—if he'd rushed out just then, he'd surely have been caught red-handed.

After waiting a bit more, he emerged from the alley's crack like a thief, took a deep look at the smoking chimney of his home, his mouth curling up involuntarily, and he strode off.

Although only a Stone Nine Public remained, he felt immensely satisfied inside.

No matter what, he avoided becoming a laughingstock in his past life, and besides delivering a fish to his home, he embarked on the prosperous road of a prodigal son's return, priceless.

I'm leaving.

I walk with big steps.

Walking with head held high and chest out.

Late at night.

Stepping on moonlight.

Accompanied by the rising and falling tides, facing the sea breeze, he strides forward resolutely.

Passing Lin Hu's house.

Knocking on the door.

Lin Hu opened the door holding a bowl, greeted him, and instinctively asked, "Have you eaten?"

That's just polite talk.

But Lin Hu regretted saying it as soon as he did—Wu An is who? This guy's best at taking advantage of the situation.

Wu An said: "I haven't eaten yet."

Lin Hu grew nervous.

Wu An smiled and said, "I won't eat the meal; I'll return the fishing box."

Having said that, he waved his hand and left.

Lin Hu was stunned for a moment, then hurriedly shouted: "Wait."

"Will you go fishing again tomorrow?"

"How about... together?"

Today Wu An's luck was too good, and he even gave A Qing pointers so she also caught a fish; he also wanted to mooch off that luck.

Wu An shook his head: "No."

Lin Hu, taken aback, kept saying a few things—what an excellent fishing spot, a secret protected fishing point—anyway, he just wanted to pull him along to go fishing.

As the saying goes, "Eat someone's food and your mouth is short; take someone's hand and your hand is short."

The place was where he brought him; he had Wu An point out how to catch fish—how could Wu An feel embarrassed not to point it out?

Wu An laughed and refused: "Lin Hu, with you saying that, I can't go with you even more."

"I don't want to take advantage of you."

"I want to be self-reliant and make money through my own abilities."

Having said that, he turned to leave.

Lin Hu's face darkened: "Wu An, you're really not giving me face."

"I called you because I think highly of you."

"You don't even look around this village—besides that idiot A Qing, who else would hang out with you?"

Wu An waved his hand without looking back.

Some people don't need much contact; some relationships are simply unnecessary.

In his previous life, he cared too much about others' opinions and looks; sometimes, letting go a little and forgiving himself brings greater rewards.

Wu An thought this was fine; he and A Qing would quietly make a fortune.

Lin Hu muttered angrily: "What's with the arrogance."

"I don't believe you can keep being lucky forever."

"Wait till tomorrow I catch a box of fish, I'll make you die of envy, you bastard."

"Damn..."

Wu An didn't know what Lin Hu was cursing behind his back, but he didn't care either; he went to the little shop, only to find it closed.

The village's little shop is just unreliable—opening and closing depending on mood, with no professionalism at all.

Unable to buy food or drink, he could only return to the old house, go into the kitchen, and gulp down a scoop of water in one go.

Fishing is tiring; his stomach had already been growling from hunger.

Seeing the cold pot and stove, he still had to cook something fresh.

Wu An sighed; he really didn't want to move, but he forced himself to get ready to work. Just as he was about to tidy up Stone Nine Public, he directly tossed Stone Nine Public into the basin: "Make a pair!"

"First go settle accounts with A Qing."

"Then go to the little shop to buy some instant noodles or whatever to make do."

"Not only is his body tired, but his mind is tired as well."

"Having been reborn, this half day also counts as having done quite a bit; he needs to take it easy."

He washed his face, counted his money, tucked it into his pocket, and went out.

He arrived at A Qing's house.

He knocked on the door.

A Qing came to open the door; seeing it was him, he happily shouted: "Brother, why did you come?"

"Come in quickly."

"I just happened to be cutting watermelon."

Having said that, he pulled Wu An and walked into the house.

Passing the kitchen, Wu An's steps paused; he first went in and greeted Li Juan.

Li Juan was cooking; seeing him come to say hello, she was slightly startled—previous Wu An often came too, but each time he would avoid her if he could.

"Coming over to greet her proactively was still the first time."

She smiled and nodded, saying: "The kitchen is hot; quickly go to the hall to eat watermelon."

"The hall has no air conditioning."

"The electric fan on the ceiling blows whoosh-whoosh, the wind is strong, very cool."

Looking at the already-cut large watermelon giving off a fresh sweet aroma, he couldn't help but swallow his saliva, planning to eat the watermelon first before getting down to business.