After hanging up the phone, Cheng Lang placed the receiver back on the landline cradle. The gate guard grandpa eyed Master Cheng curiously, clearly surprised by that last sentence he had said.
The mine district was clearly doing very well as a pillar industry of the province, so why had Master Cheng said on the phone that the mine district’s performance was poor and told someone to go work somewhere else? That place was several hundred kilometers away.
However, Cheng Lang’s expression was displeased. When he raised his eyes, there was actually a shocking darkness in them.
The gate guard grandpa was startled for a moment, but then he saw Master Cheng’s face return to normal as he handed over a cigarette, very tactfully.
Leaving the gate guard room, Cheng Lang strode briskly back to the mine. It was just around noon, and the canteen was gradually getting lively, so he changed direction and headed elsewhere.
The Mine District Canteen had been contracted out by the leaders to their relatives. At first, it was still passable, but as time went on, the food got worse and the portions smaller. Miners did heavy physical labor, so they naturally had big appetites. The year before last, everyone had finally had enough and gathered to protest, which made the canteen manager rein it in a bit.
But after a while, old habits resurfaced. Cheng Lang ate his meal heartily while listening to the complaints from the workers around him, not paying it much mind.
Until near the end of lunch, when Sun Weiguo, the captain of the team responsible for this round of new mine surveying, came looking for him. He got straight to the point and asked Cheng Lang for help. “Alang, you have to come take a look this time. We’ve run into a tricky one, and with your master away, we’re counting on your eagle eyes.”
This new mine survey had been organized twice, but the underground ore content assessments came out differently each time. Some veins were deeply hidden and could easily mislead miners into wrong judgments.
Teams often helped each other out, so Cheng Lang didn’t refuse. After all, it involved investment and safety. The two immediately settled on meeting at the mine at one o’clock the next day.
In the afternoon shift, Cheng Lang only handled some simple tasks. After busying around for a bit, he took off his safety helmet and tossed it aside. As he bent down to the faucet to splash water on his face to freshen up, he was called by Deputy Mine Chief You Changgui. A Chinese-brand cigarette was offered. Water dripped over his firm face, brushed away by Cheng Lang’s hand, which then took the cigarette between his damp fingers, wetting it slightly.
“Deputy Mine Chief You.”
You Changgui looked at the young man before him. He was tough and skilled. Not long ago, he had asked his team leader about resigning but was persuaded against it. Who would have thought this guy was dead set on it and went to the office to submit his resignation report.
“Cheng Lang, think it over again.” You Changgui didn’t want to lose good talent. “Resigning isn’t a small matter, especially since you’re doing so well. I’ve saved a spot for you in the year-end advanced workers list.”
Cheng Lang twirled the cigarette between his fingers, his thin lips curving slightly as he looked at the usually kind-looking Deputy Mine Chief You. “Deputy Mine Chief You, I’ve thought it through. Once the mine district arranges for someone to take over, I’ll leave.”
“You Jianyuan is a bit petty, but he’s not a bad person. I’ve already talked to him about that incident. You don’t need to resign over something so minor.”
The advanced spot didn’t sway Cheng Lang, so You Changgui had no choice but to mildly criticize his own nephew.
The smile at Cheng Lang’s lips widened, as if he didn’t care at all. “It has nothing to do with him. I’m leaving on my own.”
No one could compete with an uncle-nephew relationship in terms of connections. Cheng Lang never wasted effort on futile things. You Jianyuan had usurped the major credit from his team’s mining achievement, even getting it in the papers and receiving commendations from the city and province. The factory intended to cover for him, so talking more was pointless.
You Changgui watched Cheng Lang’s departing back, his eyes turning fierce as his thin lips cursed harshly. “What an ungrateful fool.”
……
After parting from Deputy Mine Chief You, Cheng Lang went out of the mine district to Ink River City train station to pick someone up. A long whistle sounded as the Green Train pulled in slowly. A young, lean guy got off one of the cars.
“Brother Lang!” Song Guodong had ended the blind date arranged by his family and rushed over, ready to make it big with Cheng Lang.
Cheng Lang nodded, showing no particular emotion. “The path you chose—bear the hardships.”
Song Guodong was excited. “Of course!”
Bringing him back to the mine district, Cheng Lang specially called over his apprentice He Chunsheng and introduced them. “This is Song Guodong, down from the north to work. I’ll show him the ropes, and you take care of him usually too.”
“This is He Chunsheng, whom I trained. Ask him if you don’t understand something.”
The two young men, close in age, eyed each other. Song Guodong smiled honestly and greeted warmly. “Brother Chunsheng, please take care of me from now on.”
He Chunsheng’s face flushed red then pale. Master had taken on another apprentice—he wasn’t the last disciple anymore!
Master went out once and came back with someone—what a guy!
Suppressing the frustration in his heart, He Chunsheng forced a welcoming smile for Song Guodong, then turned to Cheng Lang. “Master, let me treat you to noodles—as a welcome back.”
“What welcome? You’ve been back for days.” Cheng Lang wasn’t interested in such things. “But you—what were you just thinking about? Zoning out alone.”
He Chunsheng was lively by nature, a real chatterbox who couldn’t sit still. It was rare to see him spacing out like that.
Cheng Lang worried that the mine district’s minor leaders had it out for him and might target He Chunsheng instead.
Who knew, He Chunsheng’s face reddened, and for once he showed a shy, boyish embarrassment. “Nothing, Master. I was just thinking about a girl… heh heh.”
Cheng Lang: “…”
Ignoring the smitten lad, Cheng Lang frowned and walked off. “Promising!”
After sending off his unpromising apprentice, Cheng Lang settled Song Guodong in.
Song Guodong had followed his father on business trips south a few times early on to source goods, but in recent years, the roads had grown chaotic with road bandits popping up out of nowhere. Losing money and goods was the best case; otherwise, you could lose your life.
The family decided to scale back and stick to local business, which his parents could handle. Song Guodong, however, was set on heading south to make it with Cheng Lang.
Trailing behind Cheng Lang, Song Guodong toured the vast mine district, his eyes widening more and more. “They say the Ink River Mine District is something else—it’s even grander than on TV.”
“There’s plenty of opportunity here if you learn well.” Cheng Lang gave a few bland instructions.
Song Guodong had set off by train from home just days after his blind date fell through. Unsuccessful there, he was determined to hustle and make money.
“Brother Lang, you just got back to Ink River and you’re busy again—must be tough.” Song Guodong had just arrived but was full of excitement, brimming with youthful drive to hustle and earn.
Cheng Lang only said flatly, “Gotta get things done quick.”
Countless eyes were watching, especially with saboteurs in the mix—he couldn’t afford delays.
As they walked and talked, Cheng Lang took Song Guodong to the mine office to register.
Once out of the office, Song Guodong asked curiously, “Brother Lang, why hasn’t Comrade Feng Man left? I spotted her from afar at the mine entrance just now. Didn’t you say she was a scammer?”
After all, Cheng Lang had been dead certain Feng Man had ulterior motives, scrutinizing her completely. Song Guodong figured that once they landed in Ink River, Brother Lang would send her packing.
Cheng Lang glanced at the clear-eyed, gossipy Song Guodong. “You sure talk a lot.”
Song Guodong’s gossip spark ignited. “Brother Lang, did you fall for her?”
“What nonsense!” Cheng Lang frowned in displeasure, neck stiffening as he said gravely, “How could I have any ideas about her? I just drove her around for a week for nothing—gotta get that car fare back.”
Song Guodong was shocked. Brother Lang was always generous—now he was being petty with a woman!
The young guy persisted. “Once you get the car fare, you’ll kick her out?”
Cheng Lang was stumped for a moment, his throat itching, hands itching too. His gaze toward Song Guodong sharpened unconsciously. “Naturally.”
With that, he turned and strode off briskly.
Song Guodong hurried to catch up, looking at Cheng Lang’s cold, heartless back and tsking in admiration. Impressive—even such a pretty girl caught no eye. Was Brother Lang a man or Tang Monk?
Feng Man, who was helping Dong Xiaojuan at her stall outside the mine district, sneezed and rubbed her perky nose tip. She muttered, “Wonder if someone’s talking about me.”
Unaware that someone really had just been, Feng Man put it out of mind and discussed subletting the stall with Dong Xiaojuan.
“I usually sell snacks and sodas—whatever sells, I stock more. Business hasn’t been great lately; just waiting for summer.”
Dong Xiaojuan, who had come from the countryside, had injured her fingers doing farm work when young and couldn’t do heavy labor, so she couldn’t get factory work. She simply set up a stall selling sodas and snacks to supplement the family income. When it got hot, she’d get popsicles from the Ink River Food Factory to sell—summer business was decent.
The sodas and snacks mainly went to miners and kids.
Feng Man nodded and helped Dong Xiaojuan clear half the stall for her own goods. “Sister Xiaojuan, we’ll split the rent half-and-half. When I sell food, maybe folks will grab some soda too.”
Dong Xiaojuan loved hearing that—whether it happened or not, it sounded good. “Perfect! I’m counting on you selling lots of sesame flatbread.”
Stalls around were in high demand. Feng Man looked out, unsure when her dream of opening a small diner would come true, but step by step, she’d save up eventually.
Stall owners selling clothes and socks, pots and pans, herbal meds and dried veggies heard Dong Xiaojuan was splitting her stall with a relative to sell homemade food. That pretty relative drew curious stares.
Rumors spread like wildfire, one to ten, ten to a hundred. Soon, stalls buzzed, especially in the hot food area where owners muttered.
“Who knows what Dong Xiaojuan is thinking, giving half her stall to a relative for food.”
“Her relative looks delicate-skinned—not like she can cook.” Sister Liu, selling noodles, scoffed.
“Whatever, just don’t crowd our area.” Brother Wang, selling rice noodles, chimed in.
The other owners stayed quiet, but suspicion lingered in their eyes.
Feng Man focused on her own business, ignoring the gossip. Dong Xiaojuan fretted instead. “Too bad you’re with me—bad location.”
Feng Man gave her a reassuring smile. “Sister Xiaojuan, not necessarily. Maybe we can draw customers over.”
Dong Xiaojuan thought the girl was nuts—everyone knew miners flocked to the hot food zone with its five noodle stalls, rice noodles, cold dishes, braised meats… Even she went there when too busy to cook.
But no bashing your own, so Dong Xiaojuan encouraged her. “That’s the spirit!”
Chatting and laughing, they spent the morning clearing the stall. Feng Man went to the market for ingredients to stock up before opening: several pounds of pork belly, flour, various seasonings for the secret recipe, fresh green onions…
Hauling dozens of pounds back to the Tube Buildings, Feng Man planned to prep the special sauce ahead, mince the pork belly, knead and proof the dough…
She’d helped her grandma plenty growing up, so her arms were strong. She reached the second floor easily, but froze at the open door to Sister Xiaojuan’s place.
Sister Xiaojuan was minding the stall, Brother Hua at the mine, Xiaoshan at school—why was the door open? Thief?
Feng Man set her stuff down and peeked in, spotting an old lady with graying temples on the living room sofa.
The TV droned on. The old lady stared fixedly at the screen until she noticed the young woman at the door, then turned to look.
That turn confirmed it for Feng Man. Fan Zhenghua took after his mother five parts—similar brows and eyes, tough demeanor. Even Cheng Lang resembled this aunt a bit.
“You’re Feng Man?”
“Yes, Aunt Cheng. I’m Feng Man from Nine Mountains Village. Sister Xiaojuan and Brother Hua are busy—should I call them back?” Facing an elder, Feng Man greeted politely, then put all the ingredients in the kitchen before going to notify Dong Xiaojuan.
“Wait.” The old lady, who had shown up out of nowhere, eyed the pretty young girl sharply up and down and said gravely, “You’re that female scammer?”
Feng Man: “…?”
Stunned, Feng Man widened her almond eyes in shock but said nothing.
What was this? How had she become a female scammer, accused by an elder she’d just met?
Cheng Yulan rose slowly. Short but sturdy, back ramrod straight, she stated firmly, “My nephew Alang never had any baby betrothal. Using that excuse to get close to him—what else could you be but a scammer?”
Feng Man parted her lips as if hearing a joke, but words failed her.
This… how was that possible?
How could Cheng Lang possibly not have had a baby betrothal? He was clearly her own baby betrothal partner.