Chapter 25: Planning the Future

Liu Xiufen stood in the doorway, looking aggressive, and nearly smashed the lunchbox onto Liu Weidong’s head.

"Auntie, which eye did you see me bullying Director Li with? I’m just a commoner; I don't have enough time to butter up the leadership, let alone bully them. Director Li asked me to help him develop some photos, and I just brought them over as soon as they were done."

Liu Weidong’s words startled Li Baotian, who sat up abruptly and snatched the photos, hiding them beneath his backside.

"Director Li, please take care of your health; don't tear your stitches." Liu Weidong quickly reached out to help him, taking the opportunity to knead his arms and legs. Li Baotian grimaced in pain but dared not make a sound.

"What photos? Baotian, when did you take pictures? Let me see!" In these times, rural folks rarely took photos in their entire lives; if there was a photo in the house, it was framed and hung on the wall. Liu Xiufen was immediately intrigued.

Li Baotian didn't dare let her see the photos. He kept them pinned under his body and kept winking at Liu Weidong.

"Director Li, if you're not feeling well, don't move. I developed a few extra copies; I have more in my bag." As Liu Weidong spoke, he pulled out a photo and handed it to Liu Xiufen. Li Baotian’s face turned ashen.

"You scoundrel, Li Baotian... you shameless, thousand-knife-deserving..." Liu Xiufen took one look, tossed the photo aside, and climbed onto Li Baotian, hitting and pinching him. Poor Li Baotian suffered new injuries on top of the old ones.

If the nurse hadn't heard his screams and rushed in to pull Liu Xiufen away, it could have turned fatal. Seeing someone enter, Liu Xiufen realized she had lost her composure. She quickly forced a smile, ushered the nurse out, and shut the door.

Liu Weidong asked with a grin, "Are the photos nice, Auntie? That woman is younger and prettier than you. Look at that figure and that face—no wonder my uncle ended up in her bed..."

"Liu Weidong, what exactly are you trying to do? Didn't we have an agreement?" Li Baotian’s teeth itched with hatred, but with his wife present in the hospital, he had to swallow his pride.

Liu Weidong snorted, his expression changing instantly.

"Playing dumb with me, are you? Are you really so injured you can't move? I’ll say it one more time in front of your wife: if you don’t handle what you promised within three days, I’ll take these photos and the materials to the County Committee. Then you can just wait to rot in a jail cell."

With that, Liu Weidong got up and left, ignoring Li Baotian’s attempts at explanation. As he left the clinic, he clutched his stomach and burst into laughter. He hadn't expected Liu Xiufen to be there, but now that the secret was out, even if Li Baotian wanted to play tricks, Liu Xiufen wouldn't have the audacity to let him. If Li Baotian ended up in trouble for misconduct, Liu Xiufen and their children would never be able to hold their heads up in the Second Brigade again.

Liu Weidong didn't want to involve Director Ma; there was a reason Li Baotian dared to ignore him, and he didn't want to get tangled in that mess.

Walking toward the bus station, he heard someone calling him. He turned to see Li Hong.

"Brother Liu, what a coincidence! I’ve been wanting to thank you, but I was too shy to go to the Second Brigade. Let me treat you to a meal; it’s just about lunchtime."

Unlike a few days ago, she had tied up her wavy hair, and her red dress had been replaced by brown trousers. Though still stylish, she looked quite different.

"No need, Teacher Li. If you don't hate me, that’s enough. After I left, did Li Baotian bother you again?"

Li Hong gave a bitter smile. "No. I heard he was hospitalized the next day. I’ve come to terms with it; it doesn’t matter if I don’t get my tenure. I’ll just find a job after I return to the city. I do feel bad about ruining Lou Yanru’s chance at tenure, though."

She pushed her bicycle, staying very close to Liu Weidong, which made him keep edging away.

"Teacher Li, if there’s nothing else, I should go. I need to get back to the city." He quickened his pace, refusing to look back even as she called after him.

Once he boarded the bus, his restless heart finally calmed down. Li Hong was a natural seductress; even half a meter away, the scent of her cold cream was overwhelming. A woman like her wouldn't have trouble finding work upon returning to the city—after all, which office didn't have a few lecherous leaders?

Back in the city, Liu Weidong first went to the bank to wire the money to the Seed Station, then walked down Chongqing Street toward the Department Store. Seeing the sprawling rows of single-story houses, his desire to make money surged. He still had over 7,000 yuan; at current prices, that was enough to buy four or five houses. But he couldn't put all his money into property—he had too many other projects that needed startup capital.

"You want to buy property in the East Market area? Are you moving to the city?" Manager Wang was astonished to hear this. He knew Liu Weidong had made a lot of money from his patent, but a rural man living in the city without land?

In those days, everything was rationed by coupon. Without a grain ration book, you couldn't buy food, nor autumn vegetables, nor tofu—everything was strictly allocated by household registration.

"I’m not moving to the city for now, but my wife is taking the college entrance exam this year. Once she enters university, her registration will transfer to the city. If I marry her and then register under her family, as a husband, wouldn't I lose face?"

"Hahaha... the confidence of a 'ten-thousand-yuan household' is something else! If you really have this in mind, I’ll put in a word with the neighborhood office and the police station. What kind of houses are you looking for?"

Liu Weidong took a piece of paper and sketched a map of the East Market, marking several locations.

"Did you consult someone? The houses in East Market are much more expensive than in the East Gate; it’s hundreds of yuan more just one street over. Why pick this area?"

Liu Weidong smiled. "Personal preference. My wife wants to study at the Teachers' College or the Medical School. You can take the tram from East Market to the south side of the river, and the Medical School is right by the Third Store. It’s for her convenience."

"But you don’t need to buy so many, do you? Is there something you're not telling me?"

Liu Weidong looked at Manager Wang and said solemnly, "Believe me, Brother Wang, within five years, the East Market will be the hottest commercial district in Binjiang. If you can secure a few properties now, you won't have to worry about food or drink for the rest of your life."

Manager Wang stared at him in shock, eventually nodding.

Liu Weidong didn't mind if Manager Wang wanted a piece of the pie. After the East Market was redeveloped, many people would become rich overnight, and he couldn't eat such a big cake by himself.

There was another reason he wanted a good relationship with Manager Wang. After the reform and opening-up, Binjiang would start allowing individual businesses around 1982, mostly snack bars or clothing shops. But for factories and companies, there was no such thing as "individual" status yet. Before that happened, whatever he did, he would have to be affiliated with a state-owned or large collective unit. Schools and commercial departments were the best choices for such affiliations.