Chapter 24: A Man’s Ambition Lies in Distant Lands

Chai Jin understood the obsession that comes with being a technical person. Often, once you get your hands on something valuable, your whole mind becomes absorbed in studying it. Since Zhang Aiming said as much, Chai Jin felt at ease.

He spoke up, “Then I’ll go to the county these days and get this matter settled. I’ll figure out the money myself.”

“And Uncle Zhang, you know my family’s situation in the village. I’ll have my dad and them move into the factory. If there ever comes a day when I’m not around, I hope you can look after my father for me.”

“You know what my dad’s like—he tends to get stuck on things.”

At these words, Zhang Aiming suddenly sighed. “Your family… sigh, the people of Daohua Village really do push too far sometimes.”

“Don’t worry, I understand.” Then, as if recalling something, his expression turned serious. “Xiao Jin, what did you mean just now? ‘If there ever comes a day when you’re not around?’ Are you planning to leave the distillery?”

Chai Jin handed him a cigarette, lighting one for himself as well. Gazing out the window toward the south, he said, “Yes, after the Spring Festival, I’ll be leaving Yuanli County.”

“This…” Zhang Aiming suddenly felt a pang of sadness.

Chai Jin wasn’t old, but he had saved the factory and ensured that the family’s wine recipes could thrive. The market had just opened up and prospects were bright. He truly couldn’t understand why Chai Jin would want to leave.

He said, “Isn’t it good to stay at the distillery? I have the technical skills, you have the market know-how. Together, you and I could take Xiao Li’s liquor to the national market.”

“Why would you want to leave it all behind?”

Chai Jin turned back and looked at Zhang Aiming calmly.

“Uncle Zhang, next spring, thunder will roll across Huaxia.”

“Young people—who doesn’t want to see the world?”

“Don’t worry. Before I go, I’ll find someone skilled in marketing to take over my work.”

“Even if I leave, I wouldn’t let the distillery go neglected. I won’t give up the dream of bringing Xiao Li’s liquor to the whole country.”

Hearing this, Zhang Aiming felt even more disappointed. Yet, as he watched Chai Jin’s back, he suddenly recalled the drive he once had when he was young and eager to make something of himself.

Thinking it over, he realized that someone as talented as Chai Jin shouldn’t be buried in Yuanli County.

He forced a wry smile and shook his head. “Fine, no one can hold back young people like you.”

“You’re not leaving tonight, are you? If you’re staying, I’ll ask the canteen to cook a few extra dishes, and the two of us can have a good round.”

“Oh, and don’t call Liu Qingwen. I don’t like drinking with that kid.”

“When he’s drunk, all he talks about is the girls at the salons, nothing on his mind but women. He has no appreciation for the drink.”

A rare smile appeared on Chai Jin’s face. “Alright.”

He said not to invite Liu Qingwen, but liquor has a way of drawing people in—there was no way to guard against Liu Qingwen showing up on his own.

So, at dinner, when Liu Qingwen saw Chai Jin and Zhang Aiming drinking, he shamelessly wormed his way over.

Liu Qingwen couldn’t hold his drink. After a few glasses, he was tipsy, and as expected, began talking about the girls at the salons in Yuanli County.

A half-drunk Zhang Aiming blew out his moustache and glared at him, and the whole scene was rather comical.

As Liu Qingwen got more carried away, he flung an arm around Zhang Aiming’s shoulders, drunkenly slurring, “Uncle Zhang, really, I think your life’s been pretty dull.”

“Our aunt’s been gone for so many years—haven’t you ever thought about women? Always so stern—man, you gotta loosen up sometimes.”

He thumped his chest, and ‘Uncle Zhang’ became ‘Brother Zhang,’ “Brother Zhang! Next time we’re in the county, I’ll take you for a salon massage, help you relax!”

That was it for Zhang Aiming—he slammed the table, “You little rascal, by village seniority, even your father has to call me uncle.”

“It’s bad enough you call me Uncle Zhang, and now you’re calling me brother? What did Liu Jianguo teach you!”

Liu Qingwen, oblivious to the seriousness, kept going, “Come on, Brother Zhang, I’m calling you brother because you haven’t lost your edge.”

“Heh, but a sword left sheathed too long gets rusty. You gotta sharpen it now and then.”

“One day, I’ll take you to the county, let those girls see what you can do.”

“You—! You’ll be the death of me!” Zhang Aiming, his face red from drink, sprang up. “Xiao Jin, what did I tell you? This rascal has no manners, gets drunk and spouts nonsense—this is it, I’m done drinking!”

With that, he stormed out of the factory canteen.

Chai Jin didn’t try to stop him. For the first time since his rebirth, he felt completely at ease, a smile spreading across his face.

On the way home, supporting Liu Qingwen, whose stomach was burning from the drink and who spent quite a while vomiting by the roadside, Chai Jin waited till he was done, clearer-headed now.

Suddenly, Liu Qingwen remembered something. “Jin, did I say something stupid when I was drunk?”

“I seem to remember Zhang Aiming storming off.”

Chai Jin gave him a kick, “Hurry up and get home to bed, I’m tired.”

“But, Jin, at least tell me—what did I say?”

“You didn’t say anything. Uncle Zhang just had something come up and left.”

Under the starry sky, Chai Jin walked slowly ahead, savoring the sweetness of the fields in this era.

“Oh, that’s good,” Liu Qingwen said, relieved, following behind.

However, that night, a piercing shriek suddenly shattered the peace of Daohua Village.

“You little rascal! You’ve been going to salons? You’re only eighteen! And you call your Grandpa Zhang ‘Brother Zhang!’”

“And you want to take your Grandpa Zhang to a salon! I’ll skin you alive, you brat!”

…

The next day, Liu Qingwen didn’t show up for work.

After asking around among the villagers working at the distillery, Chai Jin learned what happened.

Last night, Liu Qingwen’s mother had chased him around the village all night with a kitchen knife. He ended up falling into a ditch, caught a cold, and had to go to the clinic at the edge of the village for an IV.

Chai Jin went to the village clinic to see Liu Qingwen.

He looked even worse than Chai Jin had imagined.

Chai Jin pinched his chin, turning his face left and right. “How could your mother bear to beat you like this, monkey? Are you really her own son?”

Liu Qingwen’s face was bruised in all colors, his eyes teary. “Jin, why didn’t you stop me from babbling nonsense when I was drinking?”

Chai Jin replied, “Who could stop y