Chapter 88: Make Way, Make Way, Ding Ding Ding

Dong Xueying exuded a mature allure, a womanly charm those young ladies simply couldn't replicate. It was an intangible magnetism for someone like Wei Dong, a young man untouched by romance, a confirmed bachelor. Even if Wei Dong himself wasn't aware of it, he was instinctively drawn to her.

At this moment, she absentmindedly tucked her hair behind her ear, fully aware that Wei Dong was sneaking glances at her, and quickly composed herself. “They’re just dragging things out. I heard the city organized a task force with police, judicial, commerce, and tax departments—several bureau- and section-level officials, a permanent team of fifteen or sixteen. In half a year, they’ve already spent over ten thousand, traveled to more than a hundred units in eighteen provinces and cities for investigation, but still haven’t reached a conclusion.”

Wei Dong, who had himself traversed over a dozen provinces and cities, scoffed, “Sounds like a sightseeing trip. If they put this much effort into real work, the Four Modernizations would already be accomplished. Are they really determined to put Old You away for ten years or more?”

Dong Xueying sighed, troubled. “I used to think, just as you said, what’s the point for Old You? If he’d kept quiet and acted as if nothing had happened, the station would have released him after a while. We could all go to Jiangzhou or somewhere else and start fresh. But instead, he’s writing petitions, organizing study sessions, learning all sorts of theoretical works and reform policies, citing authorities and debating endlessly. Now everyone knows he’s going against the grain, and no one dares to let him go.”

A few months ago, Wei Dong might have found Old You’s actions utterly baffling, stubborn to the point of idiocy. But after his experiences with Jin Zhuoqun, Yu Songhai, and even the subjects Sister Shen carried on her back, he began to see a pattern. “He’s trying to make a name for himself, isn’t he? You said before he loves writing letters to the Central Committee. I get it now—he’s tasted the benefits, and now there’s a bit of… self-promotion in it.”

He never would have associated such behavior with the idea of publicity stunts as in later times, but now he vaguely understood.

Since reform and opening up was an irreversible, righteous movement, those who dared to fight at this moment could win vast fame.

Dong Xueying sighed again. “I don’t really get what he’s promoting. Why don’t you go talk to him?”

Wei Dong still wanted to avoid it. “Why can’t people just quietly make a fortune? The situation is bound to change—reform and opening up, revitalizing the economy—otherwise, the state-owned factories and planned economy sales channels will collapse. No need for anyone to cry out and shed blood; the momentum is unstoppable. Those who jump out now may end up torn to pieces in a drawn-out struggle.”

But clearly, over the past decade, so many so-called “blank-paper heroes” had seized their moment and become leading examples. Nobodies ascending in one leap to the peak.

Countless clever people became obsessed with this path, willing to risk everything for a shot at glory.

In these days, many believed that fortune favored the bold; without such risk, they wouldn’t even bother.

Only decades later, with the spread of information, would people slowly understand what it all meant.

The two of them strolled out into the night, wandering aimlessly down the old street. When they neared the small house at the entrance to the tax bureau compound where Wei Dong had once rented, they turned back in unspoken agreement.

Dong Xueying didn’t want to bring up Old You anymore. “I’ve run into Teacher Shi a few times. Every time, she asks about you, and I just say I don’t know.”

Wei Dong, holding the child, raised both thumbs. “She’s not worth the time.”

The young woman visibly relaxed, her tone turning playful. “I’ve been leading them in sand and gravel transport and selling farm produce. The tax office checks up on us every few days, so she probably knows I’m still working for you. Erfeng can’t keep a secret at all—she’s insisted several times on going to Jiangzhou to bring gifts to your parents, and I’ve had to talk her out of it with great effort.”

Wei Dong was deeply grateful. “Just for that, I should buy something nice for Xiaodie.”

Dong Xueying circled back to her main point. “Just think of yourself as Xiaodie’s godfather. I won’t say thank you. How’s Xiaoqing? She called me the other day—for the first time since she left for school nearly four years ago—and she mentioned you many times.”

Wei Dong spoke of her like a child. “She’s thrifty and hardworking, doing well in her studies, but when it comes to having fun, she’s a bit wild—probably because she was too repressed before. Make sure you guide her properly. How’s her job placement coming along?”

As an older sister, Dong Xueying was quick to catch his tone. “She called to share good news—she’ll be interning at the Jiangzhou Post and Telecommunications Bureau in early June. I heard it’s a new department. Didn’t she tell you?”

Wei Dong knew well what a new division at the post office meant in the 1980s. “I’ve been busy downtown these days. No matter the department, if money or connections are needed, we’ll do our best. She should learn as much as possible and make progress; even if she doesn’t stay in telecom, she’ll gain valuable skills and contacts. Remind her not to neglect her Russian—I’ve told her before, but she never seems to take it seriously.”

With the wisdom of experience, Dong Xueying saw the truth. “She only has eyes for you!”

Wei Dong laughed. “Nonsense—it’s probably that ‘father complex’ thing. She never really felt a father’s care, and she’s always asking about my brother-in-law, too.”

The young woman was resolute. “Wei Dong, ever since I met you—especially after you saved me—my life has changed completely. Xiaodie is perhaps the happiest child in Shangzhou. Just for that, I’d work myself to the bone for you. But you’re young and have a bright future; don’t let your reputation be tied to a divorced woman with a child, even if I don’t care.”

Wei Dong missed the hint entirely, glancing at her. “So what if you’re divorced with a child? In big cities, it’s becoming common. Working together, living together—why make it complicated? What I’m annoyed about is Old You—when will he get out? I don’t want to waste time in Shangzhou any longer. There are business opportunities in Jiangzhou, the provincial capital, Zhejiang, Shanghai, even Beijing. Here, all that’s left is a steady stream of people I can use. Even you staying here is a waste.”

The young woman shot him a helpless look—if not for her younger sister, she’d have already taken him in hand. “Let’s wait for June. If Xiaoqing is posted to Jiangzhou and there are no developments here, we’ll just move. By the way, why do you suddenly need more people?”

Wei Dong then brought up the spicy hotpot restaurant. “It’s the third time I’ve run into her—she’s tough. To prove her point, she stabbed her own hand. So I’m watching to see what she does on Gourmet Street. I’ve seen her scam people before; she admits she’s part of a con gang and even uses her looks. But she’s really not all that.”

Dong Xueying immediately sounded the alarm. “That girl must have some background. Are those two with her brothers?”

Wei Dong explained what happened today. “One’s a pickpocket, the other seems to be a lookout or muscle. They’ve all been streetwise since childhood. Now that times have changed, if I can bring them back to the right path, I will. But if they keep breaking the law, I’ll hand them over to the police.”

But what the woman really cared about was something else. “Xiaoqing said the camera factory in the provincial capital assigned you a female secretary. Are you really that much in demand now?”

Wei Dong laughed. “I can make money. Why wouldn’t I be in demand? If I got caught selling bacon and went to jail, do you think Erfeng would wait for me? So don’t talk nonsense—it’s just about making a living.”

Dong Xueying probed further. “Isn’t everyone together just to build a better life? Maybe only Teacher Shi is genuinely sincere about you. She probably doesn’t even know you can make money.”

Wei Dong was even more dismissive. “Back when I caught that butcher, if his knife had cut off my hand, do you think she’d give a cripple another look? Her family thought I saved her and graciously gave my father a job. So where’s the love? There’s no such thing—only making money is real.”

At twenty, most young people still believe in love. But Wei Dong had skipped that phase. The years that should have been filled with romance were twisted by hardship and bitterness. After forty years of repression, how could an old bachelor believe in such things?

A bit extreme, perhaps, but mostly because he’d never truly experienced it.

His “elder sister” sensed she needed a new strategy. “You saved me, too. Let’s talk again after we move to Jiangzhou. How do you plan to arrange things… for me?”

Wei Dong adjusted his plans as well. “I’ve set up a restaurant on Gourmet Street and an office for a shell company at the guesthouse on that street. If Old You doesn’t get out, you can manage these businesses for me while I travel. Right now, factories can’t sell their goods, and people can’t buy what they need. If we break through that bottleneck, there’s plenty of money to be made.”

Dong Xueying was thorough. “And if Old You gets out?”

Wei Dong smiled. “Then we’ll focus on the docks. That area is a natural center for goods and information—it’s perfect for him to make waves. Renting a floor there would be more impressive and convenient than any trading company here. He’s capable of running big business, and we can follow along, doing whatever odd jobs he doesn’t care for. Mainly, we’ll witness the grand scene with him but also do some solid small deals ourselves—a practical two-pronged approach.”

Dong Xueying nodded slowly. “Good, then let’s try to live together with Xiaoqing when the time comes. She’s worked hard at school all these years and deserves to experience the warmth of family life.”

Wei Dong agreed, not realizing what kind of “family life” this arrangement implied, but he truly yearned for such warmth.

Now, strolling down the old street in early summer, holding a child and chatting idly, he felt a comfort and leisure he’d never known in the big city. It was only the many neighbors poking their heads out to greet them that disrupted the peace.

After all, in those days, a rare divorce was the talk of the town.

So, under the gaze of many, the young woman calmly parted ways with Wei Dong at their respective homes. “You’ve been driving all day—get some rest. Tomorrow I’ll show you the business accounts. Xiaodie, say goodbye to Uncle Dong.”

Unexpectedly, the very next day, the special investigation team came looking for Wei Dong.

His double-cab pickup parked so conspicuously at the dock entrance was bound to draw attention, or perhaps Wei Dong himself—stirring up a storm at the dock—had returned, and the ever-watchful task force was promptly informed.