Chapter 66: Reeled In with a Split Lip

At this time, the atmosphere at the Post and Telecommunications School was still quite strict, attracting a swarm of gossiping gazes, mostly from female students. They watched with relish as a fourth-year senior seemed to be simultaneously acting coquettish and throwing a tantrum. Yet the rustic young man, with thick brows and bright eyes, only whispered softly, and soon his face broke into a wide smile as he eagerly hefted two bags into the dormitory manager’s room. Then, impatiently, he linked arms with her and skipped away.

Even on university campuses, couples had to sneak around, fearing accusations of improper conduct or the impression among faculty that they were neglecting their studies—anything that might alter the trajectory of their lives. In top-tier secondary colleges filled with eighteen- or nineteen-year-olds, the separation between boys and girls was even more pronounced.

The girls clustered closer, like visitors crowding around a panda at a zoo, craning their necks and tuning their ears to catch any snippet of conversation between the two. It was simply a sign of the times: everyone was generally poor, the gap between rich and poor not so vast, and the rare class differences didn’t allow for the emergence of arrogant heirs parading through the campus.

But still, someone went and dutifully reported the scene to a teacher. As Dong Xueqing was gesticulating animatedly, introducing the campus, a disciplinary teacher suddenly appeared ahead, wringing his hands in anguish: “Did you come to the Post and Telecommunications School just to waste time in romance? How can you live up to your parents’ expectations, to the school’s and the nation’s cultivation of you?”

Wei Dong, basking in the emotional value and full of amusement, thought to himself, “Goodness, your script sounds just like a revolutionary opera.” He’d never experienced something like this before.

Dong Xueqing, completely unfazed, responded with pride and fervor, “This is my brother-in-law! He was featured in the Sunshine Daily as an exemplary young man of the reform era. He’s here in the provincial capital for a conference and came to see me!”

Of course, an exemplary youth would not refute his brother-in-law at this moment; instead, he squared his shoulders and matched her energy. Dong Xueqing even added, “It was the Sunshine Daily on January seventeenth—they covered news from our Shangzhou!”

The disciplinary teacher’s aggressive demeanor instantly diminished. “Then… may I see this comrade’s work permit?”

It was a last, futile attempt to expose the young man’s humble origins. But to their surprise, Wei Dong calmly produced three work permits and a stack of letters of introduction, inviting the teacher to choose any.

West Mountain Factory, Red Light Factory, and the least conspicuous, Jiangsu-Zhejiang Nonferrous Metals Factory. Thankfully, there was no overt fake certificate business in those days, so no one suspected him of working in an obscure trade.

Ever since his hospital diagnosis, Wei Dong had developed a habit of collecting such documents, always keeping them after use. Among them was indeed a letter from the Sunshine Daily headquarters, introducing him for a business meeting in Pingjing—the only time he went alone.

Without ID cards or mobile phone verification, this was how the world worked: letters of introduction and work permits, roaming wherever needed, just as the old guerrilla teams carried passes.

Students craned their necks for a better view, but before they could utter a word, Dong Xueqing let out a cry of amazement! Shaking her head, she brandished the letter, pointing at the national seal, showing it off to all nearby: “See how amazing my brother-in-law is! And this one’s from the Film Factory, and this one’s from the Optical Instrument Factory, and this one’s from the Nonferrous Metals Factory—he’s very capable, selling to many factories!”

Her childish urge to show off only made Wei Dong helplessly soften his care: “I used to be busy with work and never had a chance to visit. Thank you to the school for nurturing her so well. I’ll take her to visit a nearby university—there’s no problem, right?”

The age difference was negligible; everyone thought they were a couple. Now, with his mature, composed demeanor, there was nothing to criticize, and so the crowd watched them leave in unison.

Returning students from outside the school were even more intrigued: “Guess who I saw! Always cold and never leaving campus, suddenly being intimate with a boyfriend!” Those in the know responded eagerly: “It’s her brother-in-law! He’s here with his sister-in-law, holding hands again!” “So sweet, they got on a truck together…” “A truck! I wish I had a brother-in-law…”

The excitement rivaled the spectacle of luxury sports cars whisking girls away in later generations.

In reality, the straight-talking Wei Dong was focused on business: “Looking at the map, the Post and Telecommunications School sits between the Provincial University, Normal University, and the Music Academy. We can probably set up a camera stall here too. Keep an eye on the business this semester in Rongdu… the profits will be your allowance.”

Dong Xueqing cared little about business, passionately dragging him to buy this flatbread, that pig’s ear, and even urging him to see a movie: “I’ve never dared to spend, except last year when my sister and Old You got a few months’ wages—all of it went to my living expenses. I could never spend freely, but they said this tastes good!”

Buy, buy, buy—Wei Dong felt like an indulgent father, purchasing snacks from every shop along the way. Eight-cent baked cakes, twenty-cent marinated dishes, five-cent sticky rice balls and leaf-wrapped buns, ten cents for eight marinated quail eggs. By the time they boarded, their arms were overflowing.

Fengchu was so delighted she whimpered with joy; she wasn’t a foodie like Secretary Zhang, but simply reveling in the freedom of consumption. She placed snacks on the windshield, feeding Wei Dong bit by bit: “Isn’t it delicious? So many people come from the city just to eat here… it’s a rare treat!”

Wei Dong took a bite, and she ate the rest without the slightest hesitation.

The driver, eyes fixed ahead, didn’t notice the details but was infected by their cheerfulness: “In the next few days, come eat at the office, get on good terms with Secretary Zhang. Only then can I leave her here as a liaison. But don’t let her know any business details; just keep her company for good food, drink, and fun.”

Fengchu was most satisfied with this division: “You said you need to keep an eye on this female agent—mission guaranteed! Hehe, I’ve never been so happy. If only my sister were here too.”

Wei Dong had already turned the truck into the campus: “You can call your sister when you have time. I’ve contacted her a few times; she’s doing well. You’ve never visited the Provincial University?”

“Right! I should call my sister more… and you too.” Her enthusiastic praise came with modest requests: “Hehe, even once is fine, calls are so expensive, and there’s never time to come here. My roommates are always wasting time being curious and playful. Oh, it looks so much bigger than our school.”

Wei Dong’s habit of using a big truck as a private car was certainly ahead of its time.

Seeing the campus bustling even as night fell, he parked and unpacked a box of cameras from the cab, handing a few over: “Come, let me teach you how to sell. Soon you’ll be the little rich girl of the Post and Telecommunications School.”

The young girl giggled while protesting: “No way, come April and June, I’ll be assigned to a workplace. I’ve already applied to the Jiangzhou Post Bureau!”

Wei Dong was pleased: “Yes, Old You should be out by then too—your sister will be working in Jiangzhou, and you’ll be reunited… Classmate, would you like to know about a 29-yuan camera? Here are some sample photos we took…”

But as soon as he started, Wei Dong realized he’d forgotten to bring extra film. The cheap white-label film had all gone to West Mountain Factory and Reporter Yu. A camera without film was useless.

The response only made him wince: “Are you kidding me? You take me for a fool? A camera for twenty or thirty yuan, it’s obviously a toy. Only an idiot would fall for your trick!”

It must have been the poor lighting at night!

Wei Dong moved under a streetlamp for another attempt, but still: “Such a flimsy plastic camera, definitely a toy. Are you trying to fool us?”

He tried the teaching buildings and self-study rooms, but everywhere he went, he met with mockery and skepticism!

The city of Rongdu was laid-back and sly, and even students from other provinces adapted to the local dialect, suspicious of a camera priced so cheaply.

At first, Dong Xueqing quietly followed as his assistant, but seeing her brother-in-law repeatedly rejected, she clenched her tiny fists, ready to rush in and scold them.

Wei Dong quickly held her back: “How can you get angry with customers in business? Harmony brings wealth—that’s our principle!”

She forced a smile and continued to help with the sales pitch.

Still, they failed again and again—not a single camera sold! Worse than Jiangzhou.

Fengchu began to reflect on local attitudes: “Clearly everyone here is foolish; they can’t see how good your stuff is!” She added indignantly, “Yes! Rongdu is full of crafty tricksters; no wonder people are so guarded. This place is just no good!”

Wei Dong didn’t indulge her childish outbursts: “Why did we sell so well at Pingjing University? Because I organized a forum—they trusted I wasn’t a scammer. Then Old Han and others, being students themselves, sold the cameras and established trust. This needs to be handled by local students.”

He stowed the cameras and wandered the campus in search of someone.

He certainly wasn’t interested in approaching girls; instead, he sought out the basketball courts around seven or eight o’clock. Under the dim lights, the place was teeming with energetic young men.

He promptly stripped off his jacket and shirt and joined in.

Dong Xueqing, eyes sparkling, hugged his clothes and crouched at the sidelines; even basketball, which she’d never cared for, suddenly seemed fascinating.

It was miraculous.

Wei Dong had never attended university, but everywhere in the world, playing basketball was a universal social trick. Even though his moves weren’t standard or graceful, his superb stamina and youthful agility, combined with his honest play—no tricks, just solid effort, running, assisting, and passing—made him stand out. Not to mention, he was… wealthy.

The campus courts hosted casual half-court games. Teams formed on the spot, losers rotated out. Midway, Wei Dong sent Fengchu to the nearby snack shop for sodas: “There’s money in my coat pocket—have them bring over a whole crate.”

Dong Xueqing, learning to be enthusiastic, handed out drinks: “Big brother, have a soda!” “Here, you have one too!”

The shy university boys were a bit embarrassed, but they all accepted.

Wei Dong adeptly made conversation: “Where do people take the most pictures here at Provincial University?”

The answers came in a chorus: “Next door at Jinjiang Park! Nothing much to photograph on campus—everyone goes to Jinjiang Tower.” “You’re not from Provincial University, are you? Let me tell you—climb over the embankment fence to the park, no need to buy a ticket.”

Wei Dong played along with Fengchu: “Alright, tomorrow you go to Jinjiang Park to sell cameras, I’ll keep playing basketball here.”

Dong Xueqing improvised: “You just want to play—I want to play too! I’ll take your picture!”

The university students were immediately curious: “Selling cameras? What kind of cameras?”

The fish had bitten.

University students were much more sincere.