Rebirth: Seven Years in a Great Dream

Chapter 49: Running Into Liu Wei Again

The next day, Mu Dong drove Xiao Xiao to work. Xiao Xiao was now nearly three months pregnant, so Mu Dong had resumed driving her to and from work. Although Xiao Xiao was reluctant—she still wanted to drive herself—Mu Dong was adamant, so she reluctantly accepted it. After dropping Xiao Xiao off and returning home, Mu Dong was watching TV and chatting with his mom in the living room when he heard the doorbell beep. “Who is it?” Mu Dong walked over and asked through the door. “It’s the delivery person!” came a clear, young female voice from outside the door. A female delivery person? She has quite a sweet voice, Mu Dong thought to himself as he opened the door. When he looked up, he froze in shock! Liu Jingyun stood at the doorway with her arms crossed, her tall figure framed by a frosty expression! “County… County Magistrate Liu? What brings you here?” Mu Dong felt his mind go blank. What was going on? Could it be that County Magistrate Liu was upset because he’d refused the interview? “Mr. Mu, aren’t you happy to see me?” Liu Jingyun’s tone was unfriendly. “Of course you’re welcome! Please come in, County Magistrate Liu,” Mu Dong said, scratching his head and speaking quickly. Then he turned and called out, “Mom, we have a guest.” Liu Jingyun gave a soft snort and walked inside. Mu Dong quickly introduced her to his mother as she approached: “Mom, this is County Magistrate Liu from the county.” Although Tan Zhuang Town had already been incorporated into the Development Zone, the townspeople still habitually referred to Shuhe County as “the county.” Mu’s mother was taken aback. A county magistrate—and a female one at that. How had such a high-ranking official found her way to their home in Quancheng? Had Xiao Dong gotten himself into some kind of trouble? Mrs. Mu hurriedly welcomed her: “County Magistrate, please have a seat. I’ll make you some tea.” Liu Jingyun immediately put on a smile and said to Mrs. Mu, “Auntie, don’t go to all that trouble. I just want to have a quick word with Mu Dong. I’ll be leaving in a moment. Sorry to bother you.” Mu Dong watched Liu Jingyun’s seamless change of demeanor with deep admiration. Look at her skill—she could execute a series of complex maneuvers in an instant. Whether it was her expression, tone, or movements, the transitions were natural and never hesitant. Liu Jingyun gave Mu Dong a subtle nod; he caught the hint and led her to the study. Mu’s mother quickly brewed some tea and brought it in, then stepped out. Liu Jingyun had no time for small talk either; she cut straight to the point: “Mr. Mu, you’re putting on quite the act, aren’t you? Why won’t you grant an interview?” Mu Dong kept scratching his head and said helplessly, “County Magistrate Liu, I don’t think it’s a big deal. Besides, I really don’t have time—my wife is pregnant, and I need to be here to take care of her. I can’t leave.” Sly fox! How come you’re never too busy when you’re doing business? Liu Jingyun thought to herself. She took a sip of tea, leaned back in her chair to get comfortable, and continued, “Why didn’t you answer my call yesterday? And why did you turn your phone off?” Mu Dong froze. In a flash, it dawned on him: Oh no—that call yesterday afternoon was actually from her! He was instantly filled with regret, but quickly said, “My phone ran out of battery, County Magistrate Liu. I’m so sorry! I was planning to call you back this morning, but I didn’t expect you to come here in person.” Liu Jingyun was at a loss for words. She was tempted to call him out right then and there, but realizing she still needed his cooperation on many matters, she ultimately held back and let out a soft snort. Mu Dong quickly offered a forced smile: “County Magistrate Liu, please have some tea. Please, have some tea.” You don’t hit a smiling face—Liu Jingyun felt a little better inside. She took a sip of tea, composed herself, and said, “Mu Dong, the County Party Standing Committee has already decided to highlight your achievements in our publicity efforts. If it’s convenient for you, could you please cooperate as much as possible? If you have any concerns, just speak up—I’ll help you resolve them.” Mu Dong’s concern was that he didn’t want to draw attention to himself, but he couldn’t say that outright—people would think he was being pretentious. In reality, Mu Dong simply wanted to remain a low-key, wealthy man. Mu Dong thought for a moment, then said earnestly, “County Magistrate Liu, I do have some reservations. After all, I did benefit from the willow branch business. I’m worried there might be some gossip suggesting I’m seeking fame and glory.” Liu Jingyun had already vaguely guessed this was the reason, so she replied, “Mu Dong, we haven’t known each other long and don’t know each other very well yet, but you can trust me. I promise you that any publicity about you will be entirely positive—there won’t be any negative spin.” Mu Dong fell silent. In his mind, a promise from a member of the County Party Committee Standing Committee carried significant weight. If he accepted this assurance, everyone would be happy; if he didn’t, things might get interesting. If he really proved ungrateful, it could easily lead to trouble. To put it mildly, if someone were to nitpick his sand and willow-twig businesses, a charge of tax evasion would be virtually inevitable. Mu Dong sighed deeply to himself. It was all his own fault—why had he gone and stirred up this sponsorship project for no reason? Now he’d exposed himself. It really was better to mind your own business! Neither of them spoke; the study was deathly quiet, and the sound of cicadas from the park in the distance drifted in, faintly grating on the ears. After a long while, Mu Dong sighed and said, “County Magistrate Liu, I accept your arrangement. But please let’s keep a low profile as much as possible. I earnestly ask for your understanding.” Liu Jingyun finally felt at ease—it was all settled. She stood up, extended her hand, and gave Mu Dong a light handshake. “Then please find time to make a trip back to Southern Shandong. If that really doesn’t work out, I can have a reporter come to Quancheng instead.” Mu Dong quickly waved his hand and said, “I’ll be heading back in a couple of days. As soon as I get there, I’ll call you to update you on my itinerary.” Liu Jingyun nodded slightly, said goodbye specifically to Mu’s mother, and turned to leave. Mu Dong hurried to accompany her, seeing her off downstairs. Seeing the county magistrate walk away with such a relaxed expression, Mu’s mother felt that everything must be fine, and her own mind settled as well. Beside the building entrance downstairs, a white Audi A4 sat quietly parked. A beautiful young woman in a short skirt leaned idly against the car, glancing up at the stairwell from time to time. Auntie said she was going to meet a boss—who is this guy, anyway? Why would he make Auntie come all this way? It’s been over half an hour already, and she still hasn’t come down. We were supposed to go shopping together. The sound of leather shoes tapping on the floor echoed, and my aunt emerged. Great, we can finally go! Wait—there’s someone following her. Why does this guy look so familiar? Mu Dong?! That guy who swindled General Manager Wu out of two bottles of Moutai! So that’s who my aunt came to see! Hmph, you’re so full of yourself—and so bold—to try pulling a fast one on my aunt! What kind of boss are you? You’re just a hick! Mu Dong was walking with his head down, talking to Liu Jingyun, when, caught off guard, he felt a figure charge toward him and shout right into his ear, “Mu Dong, you con artist! Have you been pulling the wool over my aunt’s eyes again?” Mu Dong was startled. He looked up—she seemed familiar. Then, glancing at the white Audi A4 with a Beijing license plate parked nearby, it clicked: Liu Wei, Wu Gang’s secretary—the beautiful woman who’d once shown him around the Summer Palace. What? Liu Jingyun is her aunt? Mu Dong’s mouth dropped open, his face a mix of embarrassment and helplessness. Liu Jingyun was startled. Did these two know each other? Her niece looked so furious—she couldn’t let her just-settled matter get messed up again. With that in mind, she quickly stepped in front of Liu Wei and asked, “Sweetie, what’s going on? Do you two know each other?” Mu Dong gave a wry smile and said, “County Magistrate Liu, I used to work at Northern Company. I just quit last year, and I met Secretary Liu once in Beijing.” Liu Wei snorted and asked, “Big Boss Mu, how does the Maotai taste? Did you manage to get anything good out of my aunt this time?” Mu Dong was at a loss for words. He thought to himself, What did I ever do to you? Do you really have to be so mean? Liu Jingyun quickly stepped in to smooth things over, saying, “We’re all acquaintances here. Mu Dong, look—our relationship has grown even closer.” Then she turned to Liu Wei and said, “Let’s go, kid. Hurry up and let’s go shopping.” With that, she dragged Liu Wei into the car and urged the driver to pull away. Mu Dong shook his head in resignation and went upstairs as well. He figured he’d have to explain things to his mom again. Sigh! Liu Wei drove along, seething with indignation. Her initial reservations about Mu Dong had already eased; the company’s virtual operations initiative was progressing smoothly, proving that Mu Dong’s approach was sound. Her trip to Ludong was specifically to assess the progress of the pilot program there. But she never expected that her aunt—the one who doted on her the most—would actually lower herself to meet Mu Dong. After all, her aunt had set out very early this morning. Combined with her already poor first impression of Mu Dong, she finally couldn’t hold back and blew up. As she listened to Liu Wei ramble on about how Mu Dong had been all talk and how he’d swindled two bottles of aged Moutai from General Manager Wu, Liu Jingyun sensed something different. Liu Jingyun knew exactly what kind of person Wu Gang was—a highly capable and responsible leader. Back when Liu Wei applied for a position at Northern Electronics, it was Liu Jingyun who had laid the groundwork by reaching out to Wu Gang beforehand. To be recognized by such an outstanding leader as Wu Gang, it seemed that this Mu Dong was not only kind-hearted but also possessed commendable abilities. While Liu Wei was still fuming about those two bottles of Moutai, Liu Jingyun asked in confusion, “Which two bottles of Moutai?” “The two bottles that General Manager Wu has always kept on his bookshelf,” Liu Wei said bitterly. Liu Jingyun’s heart skipped a beat. She thought to herself, If the girl found out that I was the one who sent those two bottles of Moutai, she’d probably go crazy… Mu Dong, you’d better hope for the best! I’m not going to say anything—if the girl finds out from Mr. Wu, don’t blame me. Liu Jingyun clearly remembered taking two bottles of aged Moutai from her father when she went to see Wu Gang. Wu Gang hesitated at first but eventually accepted them, casually placing them in the bookshelf behind him. Mother and daughter strolled around town for a while, then had lunch together. During the meal, Liu Jingyun gave Liu Wei a detailed account of Mu Dong’s charitable efforts to support farmers, as well as the purpose of her visit. “Indirectly helping farmers with 1. 5 million?” Liu Wei exclaimed in surprise, causing other diners in the restaurant to turn and stare. Even as the daughter of a high-ranking official, 1. 5 million was no small sum to Liu Wei. She still clearly remembered how Mu Dong had looked like a wide-eyed country bumpkin when he first saw her Audi. And now this “country bumpkin” had actually voluntarily given up 1. 5 million—what kind of scheme was this? “Refusing the interview?” Liu Wei exclaimed again. Some diners began glancing her way more frequently. This beauty looked quite pretty, but she seemed a bit off—what’s wrong with her? Oh, what a shame, someone shook their head in disapproval. Liu Wei fell silent. That guy—doesn’t he love to brag? He must love being in the spotlight. How could he refuse a media interview? Could this be a ploy to keep me guessing? Seeing her niece remain silent, Liu Jingyun said softly, “Sweetheart, this young man, Mu Dong, must be truly exceptional. Who is Wu Gang? And who am I? A young man whom both of us approve of—how could he be anything but outstanding? Even if you can’t be friends with someone like that, don’t let him become your rival.” Deep down, however, she couldn’t help but sigh. Her niece was just too proud and arrogant—she couldn’t stand seeing her peers excel. It was really a bit of an obsession. Liu Wei grew even more silent. The reporters quickly received new instructions from Liu Jingyun and contacted Mr. Mu again; the two sides agreed on an interview date over the phone. Two days later, Mu left Quancheng and drove back to southern Shandong. Before leaving, Mu Dong planned to hire a taxi to pick up and drop off Xiao Xiao for work every day. Xiao Xiao flatly refused. As if! Now that she could finally drive herself to and from work, she wasn’t about to pass up the chance to enjoy it to the fullest. Xiao Xiao’s addiction to driving had taken full hold by the time she bought her car. Mu Dong couldn’t persuade Xiao Xiao otherwise, so he had no choice but to agree. Mu Dong arrived at the elementary school at noon. He first called County Magistrate Liu to say he had returned to Dadong Company and would be available for the interview that afternoon. Then Mu Dong looked around the courtyard. Mu’s father, along with several family members, was busily painting the rooms. The rooms on the second floor had already been completely painted, and the work on the third floor was nearing completion. At 2:00 p. m. , Mu Dong gave an interview to the county newspaper in the elementary school’s office. He explained his motivation for supporting farmers, saying that he had developed good relationships—even friendships—with some farmers who had once sold him willow branches. When he later saw that they had been affected by a disaster, he offered them assistance, and gradually began helping others as well. The reporter was a bit taken aback—this explanation just didn’t fit. It didn’t align with lofty concepts like “social responsibility” or “support among friends”! The reporter kept trying to steer Mu Dong toward a higher-level perspective, but “Boss Mu” wasn’t having any of it and stuck to his story. Feeling helpless, the reporter snapped a few photos of Mu Dong and left in frustration. When he returned and reported to the editor-in-chief, the editor said, “What’s so hard about this? Just write it like this…” The next day, an article titled “Wealthy Yet Unforgetting Fellow Villagers: Great Love Shines Through After a Major Disaster” appeared on the front page of the county newspaper. The article detailed the glorious deeds of Mu Dong, owner of Daxiang Crafts Company, who began by helping a few friends affected by the disaster and was later inspired by the county government’s subsidy policies to provide financial assistance to even more farmers, with the total amount of subsidies reaching 1. 6 million yuan. The article concluded with heartfelt words: “A businessman who has only recently come into wealth—whose own parents still live in a house built twenty years ago—has set aside such a substantial portion of his profits to ensure that numerous farmers and artisans have the basic necessities for production and daily life. What kind of sentiment is this? It is a profound love for one’s hometown. It is a tremendous spiritual achievement in the construction of the New Socialist Countryside…” The county newspaper sent Mu Dong a special copy of the issue. After reading it, his heart tugged with emotion. Still, when it came to the house back home, he thought he could start making preparations—it was indeed time for a renovation. That way, when his child was born and they returned to their hometown, they would have a more comfortable place to stay. That same afternoon, Mu Dong was interviewed on camera by the county television station. He had his makeup done, changed into a different outfit, and had his hair styled. The questions and answers had all been scripted in advance, leaving Mu Dong absolutely no room for improvisation. He could only respond according to the script, portraying himself as an entrepreneur with a deep attachment to his hometown and a strong sense of social responsibility. It took the entire afternoon, with some parts requiring multiple takes. Mu Dong’s face was practically stiff from smiling so much. Finally, the recording was finished, and the TV crew packed up their equipment and left. Mu Dong rubbed his face, thinking to himself, “So this is how everything on TV gets recorded?” At dinner that evening, Mu Dong discussed renovating their family home with his dad. To his surprise, his dad was already thinking along the same lines, and the two hit it off immediately, excitedly planning the project together. Seeing how animated the two of them were, his second uncle’s family and his older sister and brother-in-law joined the discussion as well. Mu Dong’s current home consisted of four tiled-roof rooms and a large courtyard. The entire lot measured 16 meters north to south and 14 meters east to west. Mu Dong planned to build a two-and-a-half-story house, with the third floor serving as an attic. Once completed, the building would still be 14 meters wide from east to west but 12 meters long from north to south, leaving a courtyard 4 meters deep. Mu Dong also planned to install underfloor heating, renovate the septic tank, install solar panels, and add insulation to the exterior walls—in short, to build everything according to a villa design. As for the blueprints, he intended to purchase them from a professional design firm. Mu Dong’s vision left everyone speechless. Building a two- or three-story house in the countryside isn’t a big deal—the village bricklayers can handle it themselves, and no blueprints are needed. But with Mu Dong’s plan, there were many things the villagers simply couldn’t do. Take the underfloor heating, for example—they had no idea how to install it. And what about solar power generation and insulation? They didn’t understand any of that at all. Mu’s father had originally planned to build it himself—he’d hire a few bricklayers and oversee the work personally. He didn’t want Mu Dong to contribute any money; Mu’s father had over 100,000 yuan on hand, plus the wedding gifts Mu Dong had received—which he’d insisted his father keep—amounting to another 150,000 yuan. Together, that came to nearly 300,000 yuan, which should have been more than enough. But now, after hearing his son’s proposal, it seemed like that wouldn’t be nearly enough. He decided to act right away. That same evening, Mu Dong searched online for several architectural design firms in Southern Shandong, and by the next morning, he’d already called to inquire. Sure enough, there was a small firm that offered this service: just 3,000 yuan for the blueprints alone, or an additional 20,000 yuan if on-site construction guidance was needed. The price was perfectly reasonable, so Mu Dong immediately asked them to come inspect the site and sign a contract. At 10:00 a. m. , two people from the design firm arrived—a husband-and-wife team who specialized in blueprints and construction guidance for small houses like this. Mu Dong showed them the site, then signed the contract and paid for the blueprints and half of the on-site guidance fee. That same afternoon, the Mu family began packing up, preparing to move and tear down their old house. Fortunately, there was plenty of space at the school to store their belongings, and since Mu’s father and Mu Dong were living there anyway, it wasn’t an inconvenience. News that the Mu family was going to build a house spread quickly throughout the village. Building a house required workers, and many laborers familiar with Mu’s father came to ask when construction would begin and if they could help. Of course they did! So everyone rolled up their sleeves, and the scene was one of bustling activity. Mu Dong suddenly thought of a rather ridiculous problem: he would have to spend money to buy sand for the construction. Oh well, he’d been so blinded by greed back then—how could he have sold it all off so cleanly? He called Mu Tongqing and learned that he still had some sand left, so he asked him to send some over—the price was negotiable. Mu Tongqing burst out laughing and said, “Uncle, you’re really funny!” Who could argue with that? He used to be the owner of the largest sand yard in the area, sitting atop a massive pile of sand, and now he had to pay top dollar to buy sand to build a house. That evening, the TV station called to say the program had been edited and would air at 8:00 p. m. The Mu family had gotten everything ready early and were crammed in front of the TV in their school dorm, waiting to see Mu Dong—"the first member of the Mu family to appear on TV"—make his debut. Watching Mu Dong speak eloquently on the screen, the family was thrilled, and the atmosphere in the small dorm room was electric. Mu Dong, however, was a bit unhappy. He had too much powder on his face, and there was a bit too much gel in his hair—it was shiny and looked uncomfortable. Was this what they meant by “greasy hair and heavy makeup”? Mu Dong secretly despised himself.