“Liberation Mine District is about to host this year’s biggest event.” Feng Man smiled faintly, recalling the intel Cheng Lang brought back earlier: You Jianyuan had gone to great lengths inviting several district big leaders to inspect and guide work at the mine.
The bigger the setup, the easier to pave the way for others. Feng Man anticipated that day more than You Jianyuan.
Yuan Qiumei went home half expectant, half anxious. At dinner, Zhou Yuejin thought of recent Feng’s rumors—especially hearing business stolen and Feng Man absent a week—and immediately advised: “Perfect chance. You quit too, come back…”
“How can that be!” Yuan Qiumei flushed with anger, her usually calm face burning. “They’re bullying us too much. We have to take them down!”
Zhou Yuejin: “…”
“Right, tomorrow for lunch, dinner, and after, bring some workmates to buy our food, okay? Boost the momentum, show others we don’t lack business.”
Zhou Yuejin nearly laughed in exasperation: “That’d be using our own money to prop up your business?”
Especially his pocket money?!
Yuan Qiumei glared at her husband: “You don’t know how much they bully me, copying everything. I wanna curse standing there!”
Zhou Yuejin’s mind waged war: one side wanted to persuade his wife home, quit; the other felt her bullying was outrageous.
In the end, he just reached out to his wife for money: “Then the cash for propping your business can’t come from my smokes. Give me some.”
He handed most of his monthly wage to his wife; what remained was for smokes and booze.
Yuan Qiumei: QAQ Fine, take it!
A week later, Feng Man returned to the stall, acting flustered and helpless: messing up food orders, giving wrong change. Occasionally hearing cold mockery from the next stall, she stayed silent. Such swallowing of insults left onlookers stunned, more convinced Feng’s was doomed.
You Jianyuan had glimpsed from afar at the mine entrance: Liu Lei’s stall bustling like a marketplace, truly outdrawing Feng’s next door. He smirked wickedly, as if seeing Feng’s scurrying away soon.
He privately instructed Liu Lei: “Don’t think they’re calm. They’re panicking inside. Remember to press the advantage. While they have no counter, make the name bigger. Tomorrow district leaders come inspect the mine—perfect to take them there for a bite. One, let leaders endorse us personally; locals see leaders eating it, they’ll flock. Two, satisfies leaders’ wish to mingle with masses.”
Liu Lei’s eyes lit up: “Director You, you’re brilliant, too brilliant!”
News of Liberation Mine District inviting district big leaders tomorrow had long reached Cheng Lang’s ears.
You Jianyuan was adept at leveraging his robust backing and connections, making everything a piece of cake.
In terms of mine district operations, Cheng Lang held the disadvantage, but for Feng Man’s business, there might be a turning point.
As dinnertime approached, workers who had just changed shifts headed to the cafeteria in twos and threes. Cheng Lang glanced around casually and saw Zhou Yuejin calling several work buddies to go out for food. On the other side, He Chunsheng and Song Guodong were not idle either; they too rallied their friends and prepared to head out.
“Bullying my master’s wife is the same as bullying the master!” He Chunsheng had heard about You Jianyuan’s cousin pulling this stunt and found it utterly contemptible.
Song Guodong also had a good relationship with Feng Man, so he naturally drew a firm line and refused to buy from the fake and shoddy Ma Ji: “Let’s go to Feng’s.”
Zhou Yuejin, armed with special funds approved by his wife for lunch and dinner, called over a few familiar work buddies to join, and the group set off in a boisterous throng.
Liu Lei went to the Ma Ji stall to inform You Jianyong about tomorrow’s big event. He saw the group from Red Star Mine District heading to Feng’s in grand style to buy food—especially with Zhou Yuejin among them—and felt even more satisfied.
It was good that Zhou Yuejin was putting on a show for now; they must not expose him, as he might prove useful later.
That week, quite a few people switched to Ma Ji’s fold. The food looked similar to Feng’s at first glance, but upon closer tasting, it seemed to lack something indefinable.
It was roughly alike, yet missing that crucial bit of flavor.
Especially the fish soup, the hottest seller in early winter. No matter what, Ma Ji’s could not match Feng’s milky white. Feng’s fish soup was white as snow, even surpassing milk in creaminess. Ma Ji’s looked white enough, but side by side, it was instantly outshone.
Ma Ji’s fish soup also fell short in freshness. It was passable alone, but anyone who had tasted Feng’s noticed the gap immediately.
After Ma Ji burst onto the scene for a week, some people could not resist their cravings and returned to Feng’s embrace. Others stuck with Ma Ji for its lower prices, figuring it was edible enough. Such cheap food—only a fool would not buy it.
Liu Lei had raised objections to You Jianyong, who could only beat around the bush. Though he had the chef follow the “secret recipe,” he cut costs on ingredients and slipped Liu Lei a pack of smokes, claiming the chef had made some improvements. No big issue; the similarity was close enough.
Having already taken benefits from You Jianyong, Liu Lei naturally did not press further.
You Jianyong fooled Liu Lei, who in turn could only fool You Jianyuan. You Jianyuan had never eaten at Feng’s, let alone Ma Ji’s; such street stall fare was beneath his notice. As he left the mine district after work that evening, he saw the crowd at Ma Ji’s stall and felt satisfied.
He was certain Feng’s could not hold out much longer and would soon be crushed and forced to scram completely!
Thinking of getting revenge at last, You Jianyuan’s eyes gleamed with smugness. His steps toward home halted, and he turned with Liu Lei toward the alley on Peace Street.
Beating a drowning dog was, of course, a must.
For the past few days, Feng Man had returned to her stall and put on a daily show. At the stall, she always feigned panic over the stolen secret recipe, beside herself with worry. Only at home could she drop the act.
“Acting is something else—two completely different faces in public and private.” Feng Man washed her hands clean in the courtyard as she prepared dinner.
Dong Xiaojuan laughed at her cousin’s wife: “You put on a good act, but I’m genuinely worried.”
“Cousin-in-law, rest easy. The bigger the fuss they make, the better for us. The real thing is real; fakes can’t replace it.” Feng Man brimmed with confidence. After all, the “secret recipe” she had given was carefully altered in key data points. With You Jianyuan slashing prices like a madman, he would be the first to buckle.
The two chatted in the courtyard, utterly unaware of the unwelcome guests at the door.
You Jianyuan was about to push the door open with Liu Lei to mock them when a tall man returning from work called out to him just as he stepped forward.
“You Jianyuan.” Cheng Lang had just run into Xiaoshan walking the dog at the alley entrance. Xiaoshan handed the leash to his uncle and ran off to play marbles.
Cheng Lang led the dog homeward on the leash but spotted two eyesores ahead. “What are you doing here?”
“Cheng Lang!” You Jianyuan glanced at him contemptuously. “I’m here to watch the show, of course. Your wife’s stall is done for—aren’t you going to comfort her?”
Liu Lei chimed in: “Soon the mine district will have no Feng’s, only Ma Ji. We owe thanks to your wife for helping us build our name.”
Instead of the expected outburst of rage or embarrassed fury, they saw Cheng Lang’s lips curl in a cold smirk, utterly unperturbed. “Is that so? If you have time for this, you should worry about yourselves first.”
You Jianyuan narrowed his peach blossom eyes, sensing a hidden barb in Cheng Lang’s words. He snarled angrily, “What do you mean by that?”
“Once you mine out a ‘dead mountain,’ You Jianyuan, will you still be laughing like this?” Cheng Lang’s faint smile on his thin lips did not reach his eyes, making his gaze even colder.
“Me mining a ‘dead mountain’? Hah, ridiculous!” You Jianyuan knew Cheng Lang had skills, but his own mine had been surveyed with equipment—how could it be a dead mountain? He glowered darkly at Cheng Lang and spat through gritted teeth, “Just you wait! When I excavate massive ore deposits and get commended by the city and province, you’ll be the one crying over your ‘dead mountain’! Liu Lei, let’s go!”
You Jianyuan knew full well what kind of place Cheng Lang was mining on Laifeng Mountain—a “dead mountain” with extremely low coal content, as confirmed by several surveying experts. Only Cheng Lang treated it like treasure! He was certain he would see Feng’s booted out and Cheng Lang’s mine district bankrupt!
The furious You Jianyuan and Liu Lei stormed off, their backs radiating arrogance. Cheng Lang watched them coldly. In broad daylight, it was inconvenient to settle things outright—unless…
He crouched and patted Little Yellow beside him, then pointed at the retreating figures ahead. The dog, which had been docile next to Cheng Lang moments ago, bared its fangs in an instant and charged after the two men, barking ferociously.
That day, in the alley on Peace Street, many people saw the suited-up, respectable director You from Liberation Mine District and his secretary chased by a big yellow dog. They scrambled away in terror, tumbling on the ground several times, covered in dirt. Their expensive suits were torn with holes, and they barely escaped…
Feng Man heard about it after dinner. You Jianyuan and Liu Lei chased by a dog until they pissed themselves in panic? They said the dog was vicious beyond measure; even two grown men stood no chance.
What a hilarious scene that must have been.
What dog bit so well—practically acting on behalf of heaven!
Could it be…
Feng Man eyed Little Yellow, who was gnawing on a bone, with suspicion. She looked up at Cheng Lang. “It wasn’t Little Yellow who bit them, was it?”
Cheng Lang exchanged a glance with the dog, then both looked away. He said flatly, “Impossible. Little Yellow isn’t that fierce.”
Little Yellow finished the bone, tongue lolling as it panted heavily. Its doggy eyes shone clear and bright, tail wagging innocently. It let out a couple of milky woofs, as if in agreement.
Feng Man nodded. She must have overthought it. Little Yellow looked fierce and was quite large, but its temperament was exceedingly gentle. It had a spotless reputation in the alley as the most obedient dog—how could it have gone after You Jianyuan and Liu Lei?