Rebirth: Seven Years in a Great Dream

Chapter 30: There’s Still a Plan B

Three days later, Tan Jiaming deep-plowed all the leased land and then carefully harrowed it twice with a disc harrow. Mu Dong told his third uncle that he could notify the farmers who had leased the land that the work was complete and they could resume using it as they pleased. The farmers praised Mu Dong, saying he was a truly decent young man—loyal and considerate. He’d leased the land for half a year at a high price, yet had only used it for a little over two months, and had left it so well-tilled. They began to wonder what they could still plant in the fields now. But then they realized it was already the 21st day of the 12th lunar month, so they decided against it—the Lunar New Year was just around the corner. You’d think a young man this great would be looking for a wife by now, wouldn’t you? The “good young man” the villagers were talking about was currently being pressured by his mom to go shopping. Xiao Xiao’s winter break is coming up soon, and since the two of them just got engaged this year, they need to prepare New Year’s gifts. Looking at the gift list his mom had given him, Mu Dong felt rather helpless. Why were these items on it again? Pork hind leg, large carp, glass noodles, cigarettes, and liquor… In half a day, Mu Dong ran all over town to gather everything on the list, and by the afternoon, he was zooming off in his car. Where did he go? Back to Quancheng—to pick up his fiancée. Since he had his own car, Mu Dong didn’t want Xiao Xiao to have to squeeze in with the Spring Festival travel crowds, so he decided to make the trip himself. Before leaving, Mu Dong instructed Mu Daguo to go to Uncle Mu San’s supermarket and buy some locally produced baijiu. Starting tomorrow, he’d give a case to each truck delivering sand—it’s almost the New Year, so it’s just a small token of appreciation. Mu Daguo had long since become immune to Mu Dong’s out-of-the-box ideas these days. He couldn’t make sense of them, but he’d carry them out perfectly. A little over three hours later, Mu Dong arrived at the school gate. It was a school holiday today, so the entrance was bustling with children and parents. Some kids, clutching their certificates, were excitedly chattering away. Watching them, Mu Dong was reminded of what he was like in elementary school and couldn’t help but smile. Only after all the children had left did the teachers begin to head home. Xiao Xiao didn’t come out until much later, carrying some items—the Spring Festival gifts distributed by the school. They put the items in the trunk, got in the car, and drove off. A few teachers were whispering among themselves: “We heard before that Teacher Li’s boyfriend was just a regular worker—he’s really made it now! He’s driving an Audi, and we heard he’s even bought a house.” “How did Ms. Li get so lucky?” The two headed home first. They hadn’t been together in so long that the moment they saw each other, sparks flew, and passion was about to erupt. It wasn’t even completely dark yet, but the moment they walked in the door, they began kissing passionately. The heat was on full blast, and the room was warm; they’d already stripped off all their clothes in the living room, tossing them everywhere… Their whole bodies felt like they were on fire, brimming with passion, and they instantly found an outlet for it. It had grown completely dark, and the two of them stood there quietly embracing, neither wanting to move. It wasn’t until their stomachs began to growl that they finally got up one after the other to prepare dinner. There were still a few things left in the fridge, so they made do with what they had, cooked a simple meal, and sat down to eat. After dinner, they began tidying up the house. Since both of them would be spending the Lunar New Year back home, the place would be empty for nearly a month, so it needed a good cleaning. Once everything was done, a warm, tender feeling slowly crept in—time to get back to it. First, they had a second round. Finally, they completed the “Three Variations on the Plum Blossom.” Early the next morning, the two of them drove back to southern Shandong together. This was the first time Xiao Xiao didn’t have to cram onto a train during the Spring Festival. Thinking back to how miserable she’d been during previous Spring Festival travel rushes, and looking at Mu Dong beside her, who was concentrating on driving, Xiao Xiao thought to herself, “He’s still just as handsome as he was in high school…” Three hours later, Mu Dong dropped Xiao Xiao off right at the Li family’s house, then left immediately without even stopping for a meal. With an empty stomach, Mu Dong felt a bit down. That was what his mom had instructed. Knowing that Mu Dong was going to Quancheng to pick up Xiao Xiao and drop her off directly at her home, his mom had told him to drop her off and leave right away. As a new son-in-law, how could he possibly eat if he showed up empty-handed? Mu Dong suggested bringing some gifts himself. “That won’t do!” she protested. “As a new son-in-law, this is your first time bringing gifts—the elders must accompany you. You can’t just sneak off on your own.” All right, that’s the custom—he had to respect it. Mu Dong rushed back to his own home, wolfed down two bowls of noodles, and finally quenched the hunger gnawing at his stomach. He spent the entire afternoon at the yard. With the holiday fast approaching, the number of trucks picking up cargo at the yard had actually increased. With the Spring Festival approaching, it was becoming increasingly difficult to find other cargo to load. If he didn’t want to return with an empty truck, sand was a good option. As it happened, sand prices had skyrocketed everywhere, so hauling it back meant money in the bank. To his surprise, the yard even gave him a case of liquor. It didn’t look expensive—probably just a hundred or so yuan—but he’d never encountered anything like this before. Hmm, this yard’s pretty good. He’d definitely come back here whenever he had an empty truck. On January 17 alone, 2,200 cubic meters of sand were sold, generating 110,000 yuan in revenue. Mr. Mu was delighted; the next day, when he went to Xiao Xiao’s house to deliver a New Year’s gift, he was still humming a tune. This time, the Mu family sent Uncle Mu Er and Uncle Mu San to accompany Mu Dong on his visit. Seeing how happy Mu Dong was, Uncle Mu San teased him: “Xiao Dong, come on—is it really that big of a deal? You’re so happy just to see your wife. Didn’t I hear you two just met yesterday?” Mu Dong laughed and replied, “Third Uncle, I’m happy about the stockpile. Second Uncle and Third Uncle, you’d better get ready to count the money.” With that, he went back to humming an unknown tune to himself. Uncle Mu No. 2 and Uncle Mu No. 3 exchanged glances, and their hearts filled with joy as well. They were well aware of the situation at the storage yard; a quick calculation told them it was indeed time to count the money. The Xiao family had also arranged for elders of equal standing to come out and welcome the Mu family delegation. When the glossy black Audi pulled up in front of the Xiao residence, feelings of envy and jealousy began to stir in the hearts of the neighbors. “At the engagement, they were still driving a Santana—now they’ve gone straight to a four-ring car?” That was the comment from those in the know. “Huh? What’s that about? But this car sure looks a lot newer than the one last time.” That was from the onlookers. Mu Dong, dressed in a new suit, stepped out of the driver’s seat, and the topic of conversation instantly shifted. “I heard Xiao Qi found this guy on her own—without even a matchmaker?” “He’s so handsome—why would he need a matchmaker? Could a matchmaker even find him a guy driving a small car?” As they carried in the gifts—big boxes and small—another round of chatter broke out. In addition to the gifts his mother had specified, Mu Dong had naturally bought some modern ones as well—after all, one has to keep up with the times. As soon as they walked through the door, a crowd of children of all ages swarmed around Mu Dong, calling him “Uncle” and “Auntie’s Husband.” Mu Dong pulled out the red envelopes he’d prepared and handed one to each child. Once they’d received their red envelopes, the children scattered in a flash. Xiao Xiao’s older sisters were all married and most of them had children. The eldest sister hadn’t married out of the family but had taken a son-in-law into the household. So, the children in her family called Mu Dong “Uncle-in-law,” while the others called him “Auntie’s Husband.” The reception at Xiao Xiao’s family home was quite formal; they had specially ordered dishes from a restaurant. Once everyone was seated, the meal began shortly thereafter. During the meal, Uncle Mu San, on behalf of the Mu family, formally invited Xiao Xiao to spend the Spring Festival at the Mu family home. Inviting a soon-to-be daughter-in-law to celebrate the holiday with the family is also a tradition. Li’s father said, “Brother, this is the kids’ business; let them discuss it themselves. I’m all for it. Come on, let’s have a drink.” The banquet ended at 2:00 p. m. Xiao Xiao discussed it with Mu Dong, saying she wanted to spend this Spring Festival with her parents, as she suspected this might be the last time she’d be able to celebrate with them. However, she promised Mu Dong she’d spend a few days at the Mu family’s home before the Spring Festival. Mu Dong understood Xiao Xiao’s feelings and agreed. After a hearty meal and drinks, the Mu family set off for home, taking the Li family’s return gifts with them. After returning, Mu Dong went straight to the loading yard. There were even more out-of-town trucks coming to load cargo today, and the baijiu they’d originally set aside had run out, so Mu Daguo went to Uncle Mu San’s supermarket to fetch several dozen more cases. The drivers ate hot meals while watching the workers load the trucks, and before leaving, each took a case of baijiu—it was truly a pleasant experience. Those who recognized Mu Dong greeted him loudly and expressed their gratitude. Mu Dong quickly handed out cigarettes, lit them for them, and chatted and joked around with them, creating a harmonious atmosphere. A phone call shattered the harmonious atmosphere—it was an out-of-town truck driver calling Mu Daguo. It turned out that a sand truck, after loading its cargo and leaving, had veered into a shallow ditch by the roadside in a town not far from the storage yard to avoid an electric scooter—and had become stuck, unable to move. Fortunately, neither the vehicle nor its occupants were harmed. Realizing the yard had heavy equipment, the driver tentatively called to ask if they could help with the rescue, offering to pay for the service. Mu Daguo came over to ask Mu Dong for instructions. But how could Boss Mu turn down such an opportunity to make a profit? With a sweeping gesture of his hand, he dismissed the idea of payment: “No charge—we’ll rescue them for free. Let’s head out right away.” He then rounded up a few workers, loaded up the No. 50 loader, and personally got behind the wheel of his Audi, speeding off. The drivers present instantly felt that Mr. Mu’s stature had grown considerably. The truck wasn’t stuck very deep, so it was an easy fix. The loader first unloaded some sand to lighten the vehicle’s weight, then hooked up a steel cable to pull the truck out of the pit. Next, they reloaded the sand onto the truck, and a few workers helped secure the tarp. The whole thing took about half an hour. The truck driver thanked him profusely and insisted on paying, but could he possibly accept that money? Boss Mu firmly declined, spoke kindly to him, and saw them off. Being kind to others has been Mu Dong’s greatest realization since he arrived in this world. Heaven had granted him a precious period of time, and he must cherish it, be grateful for it, and pass on this sense of gratitude to others. That evening, the figures came in: sales for the day totaled 2,600 cubic meters, with revenue of 130,000 yuan. Mu Daguo grumbled under his breath, “We gave away nearly 90 cases of liquor—that’s close to 10,000 yuan.” Mu Dong sighed inwardly: “Why can’t you understand that this is an investment?” January 19—the 24th day of the 12th lunar month. The number of out-of-town delivery trucks peaked that day at 110, loading 3,100 cubic meters and generating 155,000 yuan in sales. On January 20, the numbers dropped sharply to just 47 vehicles, 1,300 cubic meters, and 65,000 yuan in sales. On the twenty-sixth day of the twelfth lunar month, Mu Dong drove out to pick up Xiao Xiao. Xiao Xiao had been waiting at the yard for quite a while. The last time she visited for New Year’s Day, the weather hadn’t been this cold. Now, even in her thick down jacket, Xiao Xiao still felt a bit chilly in the biting wind blowing along the riverbank. Watching Mu Dong bustling back and forth in the biting wind, Xiao Xiao’s eyes welled up with tears. This man—working hard in such a bitterly cold environment—had given her a cozy, spacious home and a life filled with thoughtful care. Mu Dong walked over a moment later. Noticing something was off with Xiao Xiao, he asked in surprise, “What’s wrong, honey?” Xiao Xiao didn’t say a word; ignoring the stares of the workers around them, she gently wrapped her arms around Mu Dong. Mu Dong patted her on the back and said, “It’s okay, honey. It’s okay. Come on, let’s do something fun—I’ll teach you how to drive.” When Mu Dong mentioned doing something fun, Xiao Xiao’s heart gave a sudden jolt. But when she heard it was about learning to drive, she immediately relaxed. Yet, why did she still feel a faint sense of regret? Xiao Xiao asked, “Me? Can I really drive?” Mu Dong replied, “Why not? At our age, we have to know how to drive. Come on, come on. Once you learn, you’ll be my driver.” With that, he pulled Xiao Xiao toward the car. The recent sales of sand had cleared several mu of open space. Plus, with fewer trucks being loaded these past couple of days, the yard wasn’t very busy. So Mu Dong decided to teach Xiao Xiao how to drive right there in the yard. The ground was wide and level—a truly rare practice area. As a result, the employees at the Mu family’s yard witnessed a rare sight. Mr. Mu’s Audi would lurch forward one moment, then suddenly stall the next. Through the car window, the boss’s wife looked flushed and flustered. Xiao Xiao was on the verge of giving up several times—this massive metal beast was just too hard to control. Fortunately, Mu Dong kept encouraging and reassuring her. Xiao Xiao thought to herself that if she could drive, she might be able to help Mu Dong with some of his workload, so she gritted her teeth and persevered. Finally, the Audi began to settle down, picked up a bit of speed, and the steering became more responsive. To her surprise, Xiao Xiao discovered she really could do it. The feeling of having everything under control instantly refreshed her, and she grew to love that sense of control. Mu Dong also breathed a sigh of relief; although her speed was still too slow, with diligent practice, she’d gradually improve. That evening, the statistics showed that they had loaded only 19 trucks—560 cubic meters—earning 28,000 yuan. Boss Mu decided to hand out bonuses and grant a day off. Every employee received a case of liquor and a 10-jin bag of rice. As for when work would resume after the Spring Festival, Boss Mu announced that operations would restart on the sixth day of the first lunar month. Mu Daguo, Zhong Guodong, and Mu Dong were left behind to man the yard. That way, even if the occasional truck came by to load up later, they could handle it with the help of Mu’s father and his second uncle. Over the next two days, eight to ten trucks arrived daily at the yard to load sand. The few people at the yard handled it with ease. Mu Dong spent most of his time helping Xiao Xiao practice driving. By the second day of practice, Xiao Xiao was already able to shift into fourth gear and maneuver the vehicle freely around the open yard. On the third day, when Mu Dong drove Xiao Xiao home, he simply let her take the wheel the whole way, driving slowly. With the Lunar New Year approaching, the roads were crowded with traffic, and Xiao Xiao drove with great caution. Driving on the road was completely different from practicing at the yard; watching the cars constantly pass her by, Xiao Xiao grew so nervous that her palms began to sweat. Mu Dong knew that every new driver has to go through this, so he kept encouraging Xiao Xiao. Fortunately, they made it home safely without any mishaps. When she opened the door and stepped out of the driver’s seat, feeling her family’s surprised and delighted gazes, Xiao Xiao felt an overwhelming sense of pride. Mu Dong stayed for a short while, had a cup of tea, and then hurriedly left. Mu Dong went straight to the county seat, where he had prepared a New Year’s gift for his eldest aunt and delivered it in person. Mu Hong and Wang Shaoqiang were delighted. Although Mu Dong had been working for over two years, this was the first time he had formally visited them to deliver a gift. “Xiao Dong has really grown up and become so thoughtful,” Mu Hong thought to herself. It wasn’t so much the gifts themselves, but the thoughtfulness behind Mu Dong’s gesture that made Mu Hong feel her love for this nephew had not been in vain. With the Lunar New Year approaching, there were many wedding banquets, and the restaurant was quite busy. Mu Dong noticed that his eldest aunt’s two younger daughters were also helping out at the restaurant. The older sister was named Wang Yan; she was a junior at a university in Daocheng. The younger sister was named Wang Wen; she was a freshman in high school in the county seat. When Mu Hong first got married, her business was just getting off the ground, and she was so busy she had no time to raise her children. As a result, both children had spent several years living with their maternal grandparents before leaving to start school. Mu Dong was four years older than Wang Yan and nine years older than Wang Wen. Before they turned five, both younger sisters had been Mu Dong’s little sidekicks, so they were very close. As Wang Yan grew older, she became a bit more reserved. Wang Wen, on the other hand, immediately ran up, wrapped her arms around Mu Dong’s arm, and wiggled back and forth, asking for a gift. Mu Dong hadn’t prepared gifts for his two younger sisters in advance, so he felt a bit awkward. It was too late to go buy them now, so after thinking for a moment, he gave each of them a red envelope containing 500 yuan. Mu Hong remarked that Mu Dong was spoiling his two younger sisters, but she was actually quite happy about it. They had lunch at their family-owned restaurant. Mu Hong had the kitchen prepare a few of Mu Dong’s favorite dishes, and the whole family enjoyed a cheerful meal together in the dining hall. That afternoon, Mu Dong went on to visit his younger sister-in-law’s home, as well as the homes of his second and third uncles, delivering gifts to each. The gifts weren’t lavish—just two boxes of hairtail and two boxes of wine for each household—but the thought behind them was sincere. The next day was the 29th day of the 12th lunar month. Mu Dong drove his mother to visit several of his uncles’ homes to deliver gifts. Mu Dong’s maternal grandparents had passed away many years ago, but his three uncles and one aunt were still alive. The two of them spent the entire day visiting these four households to present their New Year’s gifts. Mu’s mother was overjoyed; this was the first time Mu Dong had driven her back to her parents’ home in his car. Returning to her parents’ home this way was such a source of pride. The relatives were also delighted; seeing that their nephew’s family had become well-off made them feel proud as well. The day passed in a flurry of busy yet joyful activity. Next came New Year’s Eve. Mrs. Mu got up early to grind soybeans and make tofu. Back when times were tough, she had gone door-to-door selling tofu for several years—a task she could handle all by herself. Mu Dong heard the noise, got up to help, and Mrs. Mu had him tend the fire in the large stove. Back then, making tofu was a means of survival; now, it was for the New Year, so their mood was naturally quite different. Mother and son chatted warmly as they worked. Mu Dad had gone to the yard early in the morning; there was a lot of equipment there, and he didn’t want to leave it unattended. At noon, the tofu was ready, and the family ate the tofu pudding that had been set aside, along with the big steamed buns Mu’s mom had made yesterday. In the afternoon, Mu’s mom was even busier: frying fish, meatballs, peanuts, and lotus root rolls, as well as mincing meat and vegetable fillings… Mu Dad was kept at home by Mu Mom to help with the chores, while Mu Dong went to the yard. At the yard, Mu Daguo and Zhong Guodong were both there; the three of them sat in the office chatting. Mu Dong said, “Brother-in-law, Daguo, this yard won’t be around much longer. What are your plans for the future?” Zhong Guodong took a drag on his cigarette and said, “What plans? As long as I can find work to make life a little better for your sister and her two kids, that’s all that matters. As long as I don’t slack off, life’s still pretty good right now.” Mu Dong nodded and turned to ask, “Daguo, what about you?” Mu Daguo scratched his head and said, “I still want to go out and find a job. It’s too quiet around here. I like big cities—they’re lively.” Mu Dong thought to himself: Big cities are certainly lively, but you can’t make a decent living just by working as a laborer. Mu Dong said, “Brother-in-law, Daguo, after we finish up at the yard, I’ve got other business to take care of. Could you guys help me out for a little while longer? Once that’s wrapped up, we’ll sit down and figure out what to do next.” The two nodded, thinking to themselves, “Looks like Little Dong (Big Brother) has something up his sleeve.”