Chapter 264: Boys Shouldn't Just Be Raised in Poverty

ErGou's full name is Chen Donggou; he lived on Dingzi Street in the northern part of town, and his ancestors were paper-hangers from Qingshui County, making them local residents of the small county.

Dingzi Street had long been one of Qingshui County's poorest districts, with low, dilapidated houses and limited employment opportunities, leading to the whispered saying: "Good girls don't marry into Dingzi Street."

So whenever a man from Dingzi Street got married, everyone on the street came out to celebrate, as if it were the New Year.

When a Crown sedan rolled onto the cross street, the entire area erupted in excitement.

"Good heavens, it's prettier than the county boss's own car—what smoke rose from Old Chen's ancestral graves that he suddenly struck it rich?"

"What are you talking about? Old Chen said this car is borrowed from ErGou's workplace—don't confuse the two."

"Pfft, don't confuse them? Show me one you can borrow. If you had the ability to borrow a sedan, could your three sons still not find a single bride?"

"Are you mocking me? I don't even have a workplace—where would I borrow one from?"

"Listen, old brother—tomorrow at the banquet, seal the deal between your little Ling and DaGou. This needs to be settled fast."

"Don't say that anymore—I brought it up with Old Chen a few days ago, but he didn't reply. Don't chase after things like that—it's not how business works."

"Fine, the deal's off. You turned your nose up at Old Chen's poverty—now that village's gone, that shop's closed!"

When ErGou saw Li Ye and Jin Peng arrive in the Crown sedan, he was overjoyed.

Although Hao Jian had already promised him he'd bring a car for his wedding, the distance of over two thousand kilometers meant even rail shipment arrived days late.

ErGou had already bragged to relatives and friends, but the car never showed up—and tomorrow morning was the wedding procession. If the car didn't arrive, he'd be humiliated.

So now that the Crown had finally arrived, his boasts finally had substance.

"Jin Peng's here! Quick, quick, come inside!"

ErGou's parents rushed out, smiling warmly, ushering Jin Peng into the house. After all, ErGou had gone out with Jin Peng—saying the whole family owed him a great debt wasn't an exaggeration.

But Jin Peng smiled and said, "So many friends came to help—Uncle, Auntie, don't just fuss over me. We're so familiar, no need for formalities."

ErGou's parents didn't react, but ErGou, under the red glow of the lantern at the door, spotted Li Ye and Hao Jian behind him.

He rushed out immediately, pulling Li Ye inside, and barely acknowledged his own boss, Hao Jian.

Old Chen and his wife were puzzled.

After all, in recent days, ErGou had been charming and smooth talking with various "important people" in town—so why was he so nervous over this young kid?

They didn't know that while ErGou had indeed gone out with Jin Peng and answered to Hao Jian as his direct superior, his real boss was this young, ruthless man.

Li Ye entered ErGou's home and saw the main room and side rooms were all newly rebuilt tiled houses, fully furnished with the air of a wealthy household.

Seeing ErGou tense, Li Ye smiled: "Don't worry about me—aren't you supposed to be busy borrowing stools and bowls right now? Tomorrow should be a lot of banquets, right?"

In 1983, weddings didn't happen at restaurants—everything was cooked and served outside the home, with tables, chairs, pots, bowls, and chopsticks borrowed from neighbors.

ErGou hurried to say: "No need, no need—Mom just complained about borrowing pots and bowls! It's such a hassle—different sizes, chipped edges—I bought everything new."

Li Ye shook his head: "That's wrong. Your mom understands better."

"The old saying is right: distant relatives aren't as helpful as close neighbors. This kinship is built through you borrowing from me and me borrowing from you."

"."

Seeing not just ErGou but also Jin Peng looked confused, Li Ye explained: "In times of economic hardship, everyone was poor."

Neighbors had to help each other to handle major events—like fighting fires, arranging weddings or funerals, or raising roof beams."

"So don't think it's a nuisance when you borrow a scallion from me or a clove of garlic from you—it's not about the scallion or garlic, it's about borrowing goodwill. Neighborly bonds form through these small, daily acts."

"Now you're stopping your mom from borrowing bowls and chopsticks—she'll feel uneasy, because if you don't borrow from others, they won't feel comfortable borrowing from you later."

"When the economy improves and everyone's better off, no one needs anyone else anymore—then this neighborly bond will slowly fade, and the elders will feel lost."

"."

After speaking, Li Ye realized many people around him had been listening intently.

Hao Jian couldn't help saying: "I get this, but I can't explain it like you can. You, the top scholar, really have the knowledge."

Jin Peng smiled and said to ErGou: "Hear that? That's economics. You need to study more."

"Yeah, yeah, I'll study more—I heard Ma Qianshan says he studies economics every day."

Hearing Jin Peng's show-off, ErGou nodded vigorously, vowing to become a good student.

Hao Jian, standing nearby, wondered if he should hire a private economics tutor—he couldn't let Jin Peng and Ma Qianshan outpace him.

After walking through ErGou's house, Li Ye stepped outside, preparing to leave.

ErGou walked him out, and Li Ye lowered his voice: "Has anyone from SanShui's family come looking for you lately?"

ErGou whispered back: "A few days ago, his younger brother, SiShui, came to my parents and said some awful things—but these past two days, they've been too busy—SanShui's injuries are severe."

Li Ye nodded silently: "Tomorrow, my uncle-in-law will come for the banquet—arrange for him."

ErGou froze, then beamed: "That's wonderful! Thank you so much! Tomorrow, I hope you—"

"No 'you'—just call me Li Ye."

"Ah? Haha," ErGou laughed, "Tomorrow, I hope you'll come have a drink."

"I'll definitely be there."

Li Ye got into the car, and Jin Peng drove him home.

After the Crown sedan disappeared, ErGou's parents came over and asked: "Is that Li Ye—the one blessed by Old Huai? He really does seem refined now—used to be such a roughneck."

"Dad, stop talking nonsense! Don't ever say that again."

ErGou quickly silenced his father.

SanShui's still lying in the hospital, barely alive—where did you get the idea he's refined? That roughneck used to just kick stray dogs—but now? Don't speak carelessly.

………

Jin Peng dropped Li Ye off at home and saw electric lights strung across the gate, the Volga gleaming clean.

Through the window, he saw his two younger sisters, Li Juan and Li Ying, sitting inside the car, eyes darting left and right like neck-stretched sentries.

"Juan, Ying, what are you doing in the car?"

"Brother, Dad said we're on guard duty tonight—keep watch for saboteurs."

Li Ye laughed: "No need to be so careful—sleeping in the car's tiring. Go inside and sleep."

Li Juan and Li Ying shook their heads in unison: "Not tiring at all—these seats are so soft."

"."

"Fine—just come inside if you get tired."

Li Ye knew sending the girls back inside would take away their joy.

After Li Ye left, Li Juan and Li Ying both lunged for the driver's seat.

"I'm sitting here—Dad said if a bad guy comes, you press the horn. You don't even know how."

"How do I not? Just press hard on that circle."

"You don't get it—you can't even do basic math—how can you understand something this advanced?"

"I—I do understand!"

Li Ye entered the courtyard and heard his grandmother Wu Juying's voice coming from his sister Li Yue's room.

"I didn't scold you because you wore too many clothes—I said it on purpose for Jin Peng and Hao Jian to hear."

"You see them riding in cars, holding factory manager positions—it looks glamorous, but they built it from nothing, took huge risks, endured endless hardship."

"If you go with Xiao Ye now, they'll think you're just tagging along to pick up easy rewards."

"When your grandfather joined the guerrillas, locals shunned him—but he had talent, brought four guns with him, and eventually crushed all those local relatives who tried to form factions. If you're blind, they'll crush you too."

Li Yue protested Weiqu ly: "Grandma, I know all this—I'm doing it on my own merit—"

Wu Juying raised her voice: "I know how much merit you have—I'm not done yet! Don't interrupt. When you get to Beijing, speak less, watch more, boast less, work more."

Li Ye's admiration for her flowed like the waters of Qingshui River—unending.

His grandmother Wu Juying was no housewife confined to the stove. Since the war years, she had walked through storms and trials alongside Li Zhong, not necessarily wise in worldly matters, but certainly wise in life.

………

The next morning, Li Ye sent Li Juan and Li Ying, who had guarded the car all night, back to bed, then drove the Volga to help ErGou fetch his bride.

But before that, he picked up Li Dayong and Wang Jianqiang.

They were part of the same team—this couldn't be left out.

Li Dayong, sitting on the soft seat, excitedly said: "Brother, this car's yours now, right? I heard from Peng Ge yesterday—Hao Jian got him a Crown."

Li Ye replied: "It's not mine—it's for everyone's use. Whoever needs it can drive it. If the Seventh Factory needs it, they can use it too."

Wang Jianqiang, who hadn't gotten the front passenger seat, said: "Brother, that's not right—you should have a Crown. I heard people say: no hierarchy, no authority."

"What hierarchy can you see in a car?"

Li Ye smiled: "When you get to Hong Kong, you'll understand—the Crown isn't even a good car. It's all meaningless."

Hearing this, Li Dayong and Wang Jianqiang immediately perked up.

"Brother, when do we leave? I haven't slept well for days—look at my bloodshot eyes!"

"Me too! I've been waiting! In Beijing, Peng Ge kept showing off—talking about skyscrapers in Central, rich men's horses—I asked him what kind of horses, and he wouldn't tell me."

"."

"When we get there, you'll see for yourselves."

Li Ye smiled slightly.

This time, he decided to take Li Dayong and Wang Jianqiang to Hong Kong to broaden their horizons.

They were all five major shareholders—Jin Peng and Hao Jian went; he couldn't favor one over the other.

Though Jin Peng and Hao Jian were the core, an organization without backup talent was unhealthy.

Also, seeing the world would boost their confidence.

Especially Li Dayong.

After splitting with Lin Qiuyan, Li Dayong seemed to recover quickly—but Li Ye saw him lose over ten catties—he knew exactly what Li Dayong needed.

Boys are raised in hardship to make them experience difficulty and forge an indomitable will.

But if conditions allow, one should also let him see the vast sky, so he won't be bewitched by a single rotten apricot and fail to notice the baskets of immortal peaches ahead, selling for just eight yuan a jin.

In his past life, Li Ye knew one thing: sixty-three socialites in Shanghai pooled money to buy a single 1, 00-yuan Balenciaga bag, causing more than half of them to develop athlete's foot.

Though this analogy isn't quite fitting for 1983, if one were truly blind and married such a rotten apricot, there would be plenty of stench to endure for a lifetime.

(End of Chapter)