Chapter 53: Liu Qingwen Erupts

"Alright."
"Then Chai Jin, I’m going to bed now."
"Mm, go ahead."
Countless early joys are nestled within the silent affection where words are left unspoken. Even a simple goodnight can earn someone a sweet dream.

…

The next morning, Chai Jin went alone to the breakfast shop downstairs. The scent of breakfast in the alley was the most authentic—sitting quietly with a plate of pan-fried buns and a cup of soy milk, he soaked in the atmosphere of the alley shrouded in spring’s gentle warmth, the soft local dialect ebbing and flowing around him. His mood could not have been better, except for the fact that the large old mobile phone next to him drew unwanted attention.

Chai Jin was never one to show off, but with this brick-sized thing, he really had nowhere to hide it.

As he ate, Xiong Dan and Liu Qingwen walked over. The two exchanged glances, both visibly awkward; after all, they hadn’t spoken in days. Liu Qingwen silently pulled Xiong Dan to the side. Xiong Dan’s eyes, however, were fixed on the massive mobile phone in front of Chai Jin.

After a long pause, Xiong Dan nudged Liu Qingwen. "Monkey, you can’t just never talk to your brother again, can you?"

"Forget it. I’m not bothered anymore. Don’t let me come between you two," she said.

Liu Qingwen replied angrily, "Sorry, but I’m not that forgiving. You want to sleep with your brother’s woman—what kind of person does that make you?"

Xiong Dan was momentarily lost for words.

Just then, some local aunties nearby began chatting about subscription certificates, each of them beating their chests and slapping their thighs in regret.

"They were only thirty yuan each at first—no one wanted them!"
"And now? They’ve been speculated up to over two thousand!"
"A single subscription certificate can earn an average person a year’s salary in just a few days. Who wouldn’t be feverish about it?"

But the chance only comes once—miss it, and it’s gone.

A cunning glint flashed in Xiong Dan’s eyes. She nudged Liu Qingwen. "Why don’t you sell your subscription certificates? They’re going for over two thousand now—we could make a fortune!"

Liu Qingwen had spent two thousand yuan to buy more than sixty certificates. So if he sold them all now, he’d pocket at least a hundred thousand. In 1992, for an ordinary person, that was an astronomical sum.

That was why Xiong Dan, seeing that she couldn’t manipulate Chai Jin, kept stoking discord between the two men. If the brothers reconciled and started talking, it would come out that she had seduced his brother, and would Liu Qingwen tolerate her then? Wouldn’t that mean she’d given herself away for nothing?

She had brought up this matter many times over the past few days—she just wanted to scam some money and disappear.

But Liu Qingwen’s answer was always the same: "I’m not selling. I’ll wait. I think the price will go even higher."

"Higher? Are you insane? You think those things are gold? If you don’t sell while it’s hot and the price crashes, what then?" Xiong Dan retorted sharply.

Liu Qingwen forced a smile. "What’s the rush? I just want to make a bit more money."

"The more we earn, the better life will be for us. Don’t be mad, alright?" His hands grew restless, wrapping around Xiong Dan’s slender waist and sliding down to her hips.

But Xiong Dan slapped his hand away. "What’s wrong with you? Keep your hands to yourself." She stood up, fuming, and stormed off toward the guesthouse.

Strangely, Liu Qingwen didn’t follow. Instead, he stared after Xiong Dan, a wave of sadness and frustration washing over him.

He shouted, "Boss! Got any booze? Bring me some!"

The owner called back, "What kind do you want?"

"Anything. I just want a drink, nothing else."

"Alright, I’ve got Red Star Erguotou."

…

As for Chai Jin, he cast a calm glance at Liu Qingwen without making any move. Just now, while Xiong Dan and Liu Qingwen quarreled, he had been watching a man nearby—the same man who had dined with Xiong Dan yesterday and was apparently her boyfriend.

Not long after Xiong Dan entered the guesthouse, Chai Jin saw that same man follow her inside.

After a moment’s thought, he got up and walked over to Liu Qingwen. "Still drinking? At this rate, even your underwear will get swiped."

"Mind your own business. If I drink myself to death, it’s none of your concern."

"Fine, I won’t interfere. Suit yourself." Chai Jin’s own temper flared a bit. He thought, I brought you here to make money, not to chase women. How long has it been, and you’re already lost to a woman's bed? How could he not be annoyed?

Grabbing the "brick" phone, he hailed a cab in the middle of the road and left.

Liu Qingwen drained his glass in one gulp and then, in a fit of pique, smashed it to the ground. The cup shattered loudly, startling the elderly patrons nearby into silence.

Under their baffled gazes, Liu Qingwen stood up, took out a ten-yuan bill, and placed it on the table. "The cup slipped and broke. Here’s compensation."

The owner forced a smile. "No… it’s fine, just be careful next time. Broken glass brings safety, as they say."

"Thank you." Liu Qingwen’s gaze fell on a wooden broom leaning nearby. "Could I have that broom? I need to sweep up some trash back at the place."

"Ah… oh, sure. No broom at home? Take it, it’s fine."

"Thank you."

Liu Qingwen stood the broom upright, stomped on the head to break it off, then carried the remaining stick back to the guesthouse.

A few minutes later, he reached his room door. Just as he was about to enter, he suddenly heard a woman’s cries from a nearby room. He pressed his ear to the door—it was Xiong Dan’s voice.

Rage at being betrayed blazed through him, but he held it in.

He entered his own room and instinctively checked his travel bag. As expected, all sixty-plus subscription certificates were gone—not a single one left. He was nearly driven mad. He rushed to Chai Jin’s room, only to find that the iron box had been pried open and was just as empty.

Now completely unhinged, Liu Qingwen charged at the room from which Xiong Dan’s cries were coming. With a loud crash, he kicked the door open. The sight inside made his head spin.

Xiong Dan’s underwear lay scattered on the floor; she sat naked astride a man, hair loose, utterly absorbed. Seeing Liu Qingwen burst in, she shrank to the side in a panic.

The man she was with exploded in anger. "What the hell do you think you’re doing? Who let you in?"

"Who let me in? If you’re screwing my woman, you should know what I’ll do!"

He swung the wooden stick at the man with all his might—it snapped with a crack. Then he leapt onto the bed, grabbing the man’s hair and raining blows upon him.

Xiong Dan was stunned. Instinctively, she got up and tried to pull Liu Qingwen away. "Stop it!"

Seeing her defend her lover, Liu Qingwen was so furious he was nearly smoking from the ears. He slapped her hard across the face. "You bitch! Have I ever wronged you?"

"And yet you cheat on me!"

Xiong Dan was no pushover. Even naked, she fought Liu Qingwen tooth and nail.

The noise soon drew a crowd to the door. When they saw what was happening, they gaped.

"Damn, a naked brawl!"

Every eye was glued to the scene.