Rebirth: Seven Years in a Great Dream

Chapter 48: Declining the Interview

That afternoon, a business owner came by and bought up all of Mu Dong’s remaining willow branches. The price was the same as what Jia Fugui had offered. This business owner had been referred by Jia Fugui. Since Jia Fugui didn’t have the money to buy the remaining willow branches himself, he wanted to owe Mu Dong a favor in front of his peers. These days, helping someone secure a large batch of willow branches was considered a significant favor. That evening, Mu Dong tallied up all his accounts and bank balances, arriving at a total of 19,705,600 yuan. This was the total funds from Mu Dong’s willow project upon its completion. Adding in the proceeds from the liquidation of his sand business and some miscellaneous funds, the cash on hand firmly exceeded 20 million. Phew Mu Dong let out a long sigh and stretched. With these 20 million, he could now plan for many things he’d never dared to imagine before. Many things he’d never dared to do could now be put into action. However, before tackling anything major, there were two minor matters that needed to be taken care of first. First, the elementary school staff’s salaries needed to be paid. Second, there were three outstanding debts that needed to be repaid. The next day, June 19, Mu Dong told his sister first thing in the morning to tally attendance records and calculate salaries. Then he went to Mu Jinqian’s house. Mu Dong went to repay the 500,000 yuan loan he owed Mu Jinqian. The two had spoken on the phone beforehand, so Mu Jinqian was waiting at home. Upon seeing Mu Dong, Mu Jinqian quickly stood up and called out loudly, “Xiao Dong’s here! Come on in!” In Mu Jinqian’s eyes, Mu Dong was no longer just a younger villager—he was nothing short of a money-bringing god! Following Mu Dong’s advice, Mu Jinqian had stockpiled 200,000 jin of willow branches. Of these, 120,000 jin were raw willow branches and 80,000 jin were steamed willow branches. He didn’t start stockpiling until mid-March, so the prices were slightly higher—an average of 1. 8 yuan per jin for raw willow branches and 3 yuan per jin for steamed willow branches. In total, he spent 600,000 yuan. In May, willow prices dipped briefly, causing Mu Jinqian some concern. Later, an outbreak of willow blight caused prices to skyrocket. Now that all the willow branches have been sold out, Mu Jinqian’s sales revenue reached 1. 52 million yuan, with a gross profit of 920,000 yuan! After deducting various expenses, his net profit was at least 800,000 yuan. And all of this was thanks to just one phone call from Mu Dong. So when he heard Mu Dong was coming, Mu Jinqian waited at home well in advance. He knew Mu Dong was coming to repay the loan, so he dug out all the paperwork from when the loan was originally taken out. Mu Dong briefly explained the purpose of his visit, then pulled out a bank card and slid it toward Mu Jinqian, saying, “Young master, there’s 535,000 in here. According to our original agreement, this is the amount due. You can just take the card—the PIN is the last six digits of your cell phone number—or we can go to the bank together to transfer the funds.” Mu Jinqian took it and said, “I’ll transfer the money out in a few days and return the card to you.” With that, he handed Mu Dong the loan documents from back then, which Mu Dong casually tucked away. Mu Jinqian also pulled out a card, slid it toward Mu Dong, and said, “Xiao Dong, this is my payment for your information. There’s 100,000 in there—don’t think it’s too little.” Mu Dong was a bit baffled. He scratched his head and said in confusion, “Young Master, what are you doing? I really can’t accept this. Between the two of us, we don’t need to go this far, do we?” Mu Jinqian replied, “Xiao Dong, let’s keep things separate. The loan I gave you—I’ll collect it and calculate the interest according to the rules. This ‘information fee’ I’m giving you is also by the book. Just take it; it’s not a lot of money. If anything good comes up in the future, think of this old man, and I’ll pay you another ‘information fee.’ How about that?” Mu Dong sighed inwardly. This wasn’t an “information fee” at all—it was a stepping stone for their next collaboration. But then he thought better of it—having a local power player as a partner could solve a lot of problems. The incident with Mu Huayu last time was a perfect example. So Mu picked up the bank card with a grin and said, “Since you put it that way, I’ll take it. Thanks, young master. I’ll treat you to lunch today.” Mu Jinqian snapped, “Don’t even think about it. We’re at my place—it’s my turn to treat you. My grandma went to buy groceries; she’ll be back soon. Come on, let’s take advantage of this free time to go to the bank, transfer the money, and give this card back to you. It’ll be a good chance to ride in your Audi.” The two went into town, made the transfer, and had lunch at Mu Jinqian’s house. After lunch, Mu Dong went to the Agricultural Bank and the Credit Union in town to pay off his loans. Although they weren’t due for another three months, he decided to pay them off early. Now that he had cash on hand, there was no need to waste money on interest. Mu Dong then returned to the school, looked at the payroll Mu Xiaoxia had prepared, shook his head with a wry smile, and said, “The standard’s too low.” The payroll Mu Xiaoxia had prepared paid the workers 2,000 per month—which was fine. The problem was that she’d applied the same standard to the family members as well. Mu Xiaoxia said, “Xiao Dong, it’s not low. We were learning to drive for a while and didn’t do much real work. After that, we had even less to do—we were just sitting around every day. It’s only recently that we’ve been busy selling willow branches for a few days. 2,000 is plenty.” Mu Dong replied, “Sis, that’s not quite right. I’ve worked the night shift here, so I know how hard it is at night. To put it simply, the fact that there haven’t been any problems with all this willow in the yard is a major achievement in itself. Let’s do this: everyone in the family will be paid 3,000 a month.” Mu Xiaoxia was about to say something, but Mu Dong waved his hand to stop her. “Sis, that’s final. I can’t let everyone else suffer just because I’ve struck it rich. This is small change—nothing to speak of. We’ll make big money together in the future.” Mu Xiaoxia said nothing more and took the payroll to make the corrections. A short while later, Mu Xiaoxia returned with the revised payroll. The Mu family members’ wages were all calculated starting from March 15th, at 9,300 yuan per person. Mu Dong frowned as he looked at the figures and immediately changed them to 10,000 yuan. The workers were hired in two batches. The first batch received 4,800 yuan each, while the second batch, who worked for a very short time, received 1,270 yuan each. Mu Dong changed these amounts to 5,000 yuan and 1,500 yuan, respectively. Once the payroll was finalized, they began distributing the wages. After the workers received their pay, Mu Dong said goodbye to everyone. With the willow branches sold out, there wasn’t much work for the time being. He thanked everyone for their support and said he would ask for their help again in the future if needed. The workers were well prepared; once they received their pay, they all left happily—the amount was a bit more than they had expected. Paying the Mu family was straightforward—one bundle per person. This time, Mu Dad didn’t refuse; he was the first to collect his money. Uncle Mu Er received 30,000 yuan for his family of three, and his heart kept racing. These past few months had felt like a dream—he’d already encountered several instances of receiving large sums of money. Mu Dong then announced that the second and third floors of the elementary school still needed to be painted. This time, there was no need to hire workers—Mu Dad would lead his family in doing the work themselves. He also arranged for two people to be on duty that night; there was no need for night patrols—they could just sleep in the dormitory. With everything settled, at 3:30 p. m. , Mu Dong drove to Quancheng. She’d been away for over a week and wanted to go back to spend time with her mom and Xiao Xiao. Hmm, her mom also earned a salary of several thousand—she’d hand it over to her when she got back so she could save up some pocket money, hehe. By the time Mu Dong arrived at the Telecom Housing Complex, it was already past 7:00 p. m. His mom and Xiao Xiao were both waiting for him to have dinner. Xiao Xiao seemed to have gained a little weight again, though her belly wasn’t very noticeable—just slightly rounded. Mu Dong had called on the way to tell them to start eating, but the two were still waiting for him. Feeling a bit helpless, Mu Dong said nothing and simply urged them to dig in. Mu’s mom understood her son’s feelings and said, “When Xiao Xiao got home from work, I had her take a bite first. Don’t worry, your wife wasn’t left hungry.” Mu Dong quickly replied, “We can’t let Mom go hungry either. Now that our family has money, no one should go hungry.” Mu’s mom was very pleased—he hadn’t forgotten his mother even after marrying. The family of three began their meal. During dinner, Mu Dong proudly announced that he was now a millionaire worth 20 million. Mu’s mom tapped him on the head with her chopsticks: “You’ve gone crazy thinking about money!” Mu Dong sighed inwardly—he was telling the truth, after all. The weekend arrived, and Mu Dong took his mom and Xiao Xiao to the southern mountains. They booked two rooms at Waterfall Villa and settled in. In June, the sun blazed down on Quancheng, with the highest temperature in the city reaching 31 degrees. In the densely forested southern mountains, however, the temperature remained around 27 degrees, making it very comfortable. It was already the rainy season, and the waterfalls at the resort were at their fullest. Broad, powerful streams rushed down from the high cliffs, creating huge splashes in the pools below. The mountains were completely enveloped by trees and grass, a sea of emerald green as far as the eye could see. Wearing a large sun hat and a pair of flat cloth shoes, Xiao Xiao excitedly wandered among the waterfalls, occasionally breaking into a light jog. This had Mu’s mom scrambling to keep up, calling out anxiously, “Slow down, Xiao Xiao, slow down…” Mu Dong held a newly purchased camcorder, filming his mom and Xiao Xiao. Watching them walk farther away, he shook his head in exasperation and hurried after them. If Xiao Xiao was happy, then let her be happy. That night, amid the soft chirping of summer insects, Xiao Xiao—exhausted from a long day—drifted happily off to sleep. She clung tightly to Mu Dong’s arm, taking in his scent and warmth, her heart filled with boundless sweetness. Mu Dong gently stroked Xiao Xiao’s hair, feeling deeply content. “In this timeline, I’m so happy to be able to create a warm home for you.” It wasn’t until Sunday afternoon, as the sun was setting low in the sky, that the three of them finally made their way home, lingering as long as they pleased. On Monday morning, Mu Dong took his lawyer to the real estate agency. After repaying the principal and interest totaling 637,500 yuan, Mu Dong and the real estate agent went to the mortgage department to cancel the mortgage. Now, with no lingering concerns about the apartment in the Telecom Residential Complex, it was entirely his own. At the same time, Mu Dong asked Xiao Wang, the real estate agent, to keep an eye out for homes for sale in the Telecom Residential Complex or neighboring complexes. He specified that they should be three-bedroom, one-living-room units of around 100 square meters; he intended to purchase two or three of them, paying in full. Wang was a bit taken aback. Although he dealt with many clients, those who bought two or three homes outright were few and far between. After all, the average price of real estate in the city center had already reached over 7,000 yuan per square meter. Properties in the Telecom Residential Complex generally cost well over 8,000 yuan per square meter. Of course, there are plenty of super-wealthy individuals buying large villas, but who would come to a small real estate agency like this to buy a villa? Mu Dong couldn’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction. Now, the pace at which he was earning money had finally caught up with the rise in housing prices; buying a home was no longer a source of heartache, but rather a pleasant consumer experience. That afternoon, Mu Dong was in Han Yong’s office, and the two were deep in conversation when they received a call from someone claiming to be a reporter from the Shuhe County Newspaper who wanted to interview him. Without a second thought, Mu Dong declined, saying he was on a business trip out of town and didn’t know when he’d be back. Deep down, Mu Dong was actually reluctant to give interviews. He just wanted to make money quietly, amass a small fortune, and—ideally—avoid drawing anyone’s attention, content to be a little rich man counting his money in secret. Being exposed to the public was not what Mu Dong wanted. No sooner had he hung up than the phone rang again. This time it was the county television station, also seeking to cover Mu Dong’s charitable deeds. Mu Dong had no choice but to repeat the same excuse he’d used earlier: he was on a business trip, and his return date was uncertain. Han Yong looked at Mu Dong, feeling puzzled, and asked, “Dongzi, it seems like you’re on your way to becoming famous—they’re lining up to interview you, and you’re not even willing?” Mu Dong sighed helplessly and briefly explained how he’d been providing financial support to some landless farmers and elderly artists. After listening, Han Yong pondered for a moment and said, “Dongzi, I don’t think you can avoid this. You’ll have to give the interview eventually. This kind of story is full of positive energy, and the government really needs to highlight your deeds. Besides, even if you refuse the interview, they can still interview the other party involved and put together a report just as quickly. In the end, they’ll just add a line saying you’re a man of high moral character who graciously declined the interview.” Upon hearing this, Mu Dong let out a long sigh and slumped back in his chair. What kind of situation is this? Are they trying to drive me to my grave?! Mu Dong was frustrated, and Liu Jingyun was frustrated too. When news of Mu Dong’s polite refusal of the interview reached her, she felt helpless. That Mu Dong—how could he be so out of touch? Is it really that hard to cooperate with the government’s publicity efforts? When Liu Jingyun returned that day, after careful consideration, she reported on Mu Dong’s situation at the County Party Committee Standing Committee meeting on Monday. The Standing Committee members had all heard rumors about this; now that they heard County Magistrate Liu say she had met Mu Dong in person and visited the farmers’ homes, they realized the rumors were true. This was excellent news. The government and grassroots forces joining hands to combat a natural disaster of a magnitude not seen in decades and helping farmers recover their losses—no matter how you looked at it, it radiated positive energy and served as a model for a harmonious society. The Standing Committee members unanimously decided to publicize Mu Dong’s heroic deeds. Not only would they publicize them, but they would also report them to the municipal and provincial authorities, portraying Mu Dong as a model citizen who, inspired by the government’s subsidy program, had voluntarily contributed funds to help others. Since County Magistrate Liu was the one who discovered this exemplary figure, he would take charge, working with the publicity department to handle the interviews, reporting, and publicity efforts. Consequently, representatives from various organizations reached out to Mu Dong, only to be politely but firmly turned down. “Just on a business trip, with no set return date”—wasn’t that just a way of saying he didn’t want to be interviewed? The reporters were somewhat flustered—they’d never encountered a situation like this before! When covering pollution or exposing some scandal, it’s understandable for the subject to be evasive. But why be evasive about something this positive? The situation was eventually reported to Liu Jingyun. Han Yong had really hit the nail on the head. After a moment’s thought, Liu Jingyun waved her hand decisively: first, interview the farmers and the veteran artisans to gather and organize firsthand material. As for Mu Dong, Liu Jingyun intended to handle him personally. With that in mind, Liu Jingyun took out her cell phone and dialed Mu Dong’s number. Mu Dong was still slumped in the chair across from Han Yong. When he heard another call coming in and saw the number—which he didn’t recognize at all—he assumed it was another reporter, so he hung up immediately and then turned off his phone. “This is getting really annoying,” Mu Dong thought to himself. Turns out this guy hadn’t even saved Liu Jingyun’s number in his phone. That business card had long since been tucked away and forgotten. Liu Jingyun had been building up her emotions, planning to have a heart-to-heart with Mu Dong in a lighthearted and cheerful tone, but Mu Dong hung up on her! He hung up! Liu Jingyun was stunned! She dialed again—the phone was turned off! Liu Jingyun was so furious she nearly spat out a mouthful of blood. That guy hung up on me and turned off his phone! He clearly doesn’t take me seriously at all—I might as well have never given him that business card! Fuming, Liu Jingyun paced back and forth in her room, unable to find an outlet for her frustration. Just as she was fuming, the phone rang. Liu Jingyun thought it was Mu Dong calling back, so she hurriedly picked it up—only to find it was her niece. Liu Jingyu took a few deep breaths to calm herself down, then answered the phone in a gentle voice: “Sweetie, what made you think of calling me?” “Auntie, don’t be like that. Can’t I call you just because I feel like it? I’m heading to Quancheng on a business trip first thing tomorrow morning, and I was hoping to squeeze in some time to visit you.” “Visit me? I’m a long way from Quancheng. Don’t go to all that trouble—I’ll come back to Beijing to see you when I have time.” A playful, slightly petulant voice came through the receiver: “Auntie, I’ve missed you so much. I’m driving there this time, and as soon as I’m done with work, I’ll head down to southern Shandong to see you.” Liu Jingyun was startled and said urgently, “Don’t be silly! It’s so far—you can’t possibly drive there. You’re not allowed to drive to Quancheng either; take the train.” The voice on the other end replied cheerfully, “Auntie, then why don’t you come to Quancheng so we can see each other?” Liu Jingyun replied irritably, “I don’t have time to go to Quancheng…” As soon as she said that, Liu Jingyun froze. That’s right—go to Quancheng to settle the score with Mu Dong! Aren’t you on a business trip? I’ll go straight to your place and confront you. With that thought, Liu Jingyun quickly said, “Sweetie, I’ve got something to take care of. I’ll call you back when I’m done. You’re not allowed to drive to Quancheng—you’d better listen to me.” Then she hung up. Liu Jingyun began pacing back and forth in the room again—this time out of excitement. She made a few calls and quickly uncovered Mu Dong’s family situation: he was newly married, and his wife, Li Xiaoxiao, taught at a school in Quancheng. Knowing her name made things easier. Liu Jingyun contacted a friend in Quancheng and quickly tracked down Xiao Xiao’s workplace: Quancheng Fifth Elementary School. “Hmph. Once I find your wife, I’ll find you. Let’s see where you can hide. I’ll go raid your old nest.” Liu Jingyun felt a bit smug. Huh, that’s right—his lair! Mu Dong had made a name for himself by now; surely he owned property in Quancheng? She continued reaching out to friends to check property registration records. Ha ha, she found it—he had one property registered under his name: Room 301, Unit 2, Building 10, Telecom Residential Complex. Liu Jingyun was in high spirits—she almost burst out laughing. Overjoyed, she called her niece’s cell phone: “Sweetie, see you in Quancheng tomorrow!” After hanging up, Liu Jingyun thought to herself, “You little rascal—just wait till I find you. You’ll see what I’ll do to you.” Mu Dong, who was still making small talk with Han Yong, felt a sudden chill run through his body and let out a loud sneeze. He glanced awkwardly at Han Yong, whose face and hair were now covered in snot, and quickly said, “Brother Yong, I couldn’t hold it in. I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry. Let me wipe it off for you…” Han Yong waved him off irritably and snapped, “Get lost. You’re making me sick. No offense, kid, but I think someone’s got their sights set on you. Watch your back!”