Cheng Lang got home around eight at night but was surprised to hear a thief had entered the yard. After confirming Feng Man was safe, he questioned Zhou Yuejin in detail, especially confirming the thief’s appearance. Cheng Lang thanked the couple, closed the gate, and stared at the pried lock with deep eyes.
“I heard the noise from inside the house and guessed it was a thief. I bolted the door in the living room and hid, thinking I’d wait for you to come back and tell you then. I didn’t expect Sister Qiumei and Brother Zhou to come help.” Feng Man remained fairly calm.
“New equipment arrived at the mine district today, so I was delayed a bit.” Cheng Lang’s face was stern as he looked her up and down once more. “You really didn’t run into the thief? You’re not hurt anywhere?”
“Of course not! I’m not stupid. Losing some stuff is no big deal; I wouldn’t try to confront him head-on.” Feng Man recalled the thief’s general appearance. “He said he was starving and came to steal food. I was in the house listening the whole time, and he really was rummaging around in the yard and kitchen, so it was probably true.”
“Hm. You don’t need to worry about this. Cousin and the others happened to leave today, and I wasn’t home… from now on…” Cheng Lang furrowed his sword-like brows slightly. “This kind of thing won’t happen again.”
He had traveled far and wide and encountered all sorts of dangers, none of which really rattled Cheng Lang’s nerves. He was used to it and didn’t fear injury or bloodshed; he always stayed calm in the face of change. But tonight, coming home to hear that a thief had broken in—and thinking of Feng Man alone at home—made his temples throb faintly, and a restless agitation surged within him.
……
The next day, Dong Xiaojuan and her family of three, who had returned from Cheng Yulan’s place, heard about the break-in the night before and were immediately startled.
Clutching her chest, Dong Xiaojuan cursed angrily, “If he falls into this old lady’s hands, I’ll make him pay! Stealing from anyone else is one thing, but daring to steal here! Next time, Manman should come stay with us. Don’t stay home alone late at night.”
Fan Zhenghua was helping his cousin replace the locks, fitting a brand-new, sturdy fine steel lock onto the front gate. Hearing this, he said, “We do need to be more careful. There hasn’t been any petty thefts like stealing chickens or dogs around here for years. Didn’t expect someone with the guts to try it.”
In the blink of an eye, he saw his cousin pull out the sparse, old glass shards that had been stuck along the three high walls surrounding the yard and replace them with densely packed triangular fragments, gleaming coldly and quite intimidating—basically cutting off any chance of climbing over.
Feng Man smiled, not wanting everyone to worry. “It’s fine. See, everything’s okay. Last night was just bad luck.”
Fan You Shan waved his little fists furiously. “That jerk! If there’s a thief, and he runs into me, then I…”
Feng Man laughed at Xiaoshan’s tough talk from this boy just over six years old. “And then what would you do?”
Thinking that saying he’d beat him to death lacked credibility, Fan You Shan changed his tune. “I’d bite him to death!”
Feng Man: QAQ
Cheng Lang replaced the locks from the front gate to each room and reset the densely packed glass shards to prevent anyone from climbing over. Feng Man watched the man work so meticulously and reliably, feeling a warmth in her heart. But she didn’t know he had more measures up his sleeve.
A day later, Cheng Lang came back leading a Big Yellow Dog. It was quite large and walked with considerable swagger.
Feng Man couldn’t help but be surprised. “This… for guarding the house?”
“Mm.” Cheng Lang led the dog by its leash and brought it in front of Feng Man. “Three guard dogs at the mine district—I brought one back. Having it at home puts my mind at ease. This dog is smart and sensitive to strangers; it protects its owners.”
As he spoke, Cheng Lang squatted down and patted the dog’s head with his large hand. “Meet your owner.”
The Big Yellow Dog, panting with its tongue out and looking rather dopey, met the female owner under the male owner’s introduction. It let Feng Man pet its head and wagged its tail.
“This dog is so gentle. What’s its name?” Feng Man quite liked dogs, but back when she worked like an ox or horse, she had no time and had to give up the idea of raising one. Now, with money, time, and a spacious yard, keeping a dog came naturally.
Cheng Lang saw that the Big Yellow Dog knew which way the wind was blowing—it was already rubbing its head against Feng Man’s palm. He smiled. “Just call it Big Yellow Dog. The other two at the mine district are Big Black Dog and Big Gray Dog. Don’t let its gentleness fool you; when trouble comes, it’s fierce.”
“Wow, so impressive!” On the first day, Feng Man gave the Big Yellow Dog a meaty bone.
After spending two days fortifying the house inside and out, Cheng Lang took advantage of Feng Man’s enthusiasm. While she played fetch with the Big Yellow Dog in the yard, he slipped out.
He went deep into the alley, turned at a fork, and headed toward the Three Rivers River, Ink River City’s mother river.
The mine district area was downstream, where the river flowed gently, surrounded by half-person-tall reeds swaying in the wind. A tall, shadowy figure was vaguely visible.
Cheng Lang looked down from above at the skinny man whose hands and feet were bound. His tone was icy. “What were you doing at Peace Street No. 6 the night before last? I’ll give you one chance—only the truth.”
Slim Monkey lay on the ground with his hands bound behind his back. He couldn’t even see what the man stepping on his back looked like, but he felt the force of that foot and heard the voice like a ghost’s. He instantly knew he’d run into a tough customer.
“B-Big Brother, I just went to steal some food. You wouldn’t chase me down for that, right? I really didn’t do anything bad… Ah—”
Slim Monkey knew he couldn’t tell the truth—saying it would only make things worse. He stuck to his story from that night. But before he could finish begging, someone grabbed him and threw him stumbling toward the riverbank.
The man behind him said nothing, just pressed his head straight into the river. The suffocating sensation hit instantly.
Slim Monkey struggled desperately. Water seemed to flood his nose, ears, and mouth; breathing was impossible. He was nearly drowning…
At the moment he was on the verge of drowning, Slim Monkey was finally hauled out of the water. He gasped for air frantically, trying to suck in more oxygen.
A terrifying voice like the King of Hell’s rang in his ear. “One more chance. What were you really there for?”
The suffocation from the drowning hadn’t faded. Before Slim Monkey could think, his lips twitched—and he was pressed back under.
Suffocation, choking, powerless struggling—the panic and terror surged like the tide. Slim Monkey tried to shout in the water, “I’ll talk, I’ll talk…”
But more river water poured in, and his voice couldn’t escape.
Moments later, just as Slim Monkey thought he was really going to die, he was yanked out again, lying on the riverbank like a dead dog, gasping for breath.
Even so, he didn’t dare waste another second. Enduring the pain all over his body and the rawness in his throat, he spoke. “Big Brother, I’ll talk. I’ll tell you everything!”
Cheng Lang’s face was stern. He said flatly, “Talk.”
“Someone paid me to go steal from the owner of Feng’s.” Slim Monkey’s voice was hoarse; even exhaling hurt.
“Steal what?” Cheng Lang’s gaze grew colder.
“The secret recipe. He said Feng’s food was so good, there must be a secret recipe.”
Cheng Lang eyed the man’s expression on the ground and asked with lowered brows, “Who sent you.”
Slim Monkey had taken money for the job and shouldn’t rat out his employer. But after brushing the gates of hell, he didn’t dare lie again. Shivering and chilled to the bone, he spat out a name. “You Jianyuan, the manager at the Liberation Mine District.”
Seeing no reaction from the big brother in front of him, Slim Monkey’s heart sank. He hadn’t lied—had he upset him anyway? Head bowed in terror, he racked his brain for anything he’d missed and spilled the whole story without holding back. “He probably didn’t want anyone at the mine district to know, so he paid me. I’ve been drifting around all over… stealing’s my specialty. But he didn’t know I watch TV. A while back, he was on TV getting some provincial award—I recognized him from the news. That day, I thought the house was empty. Didn’t expect to get caught.”
The river wind made him shiver. Half his body soaked, Slim Monkey waited silently for judgment, his heart pounding. This big brother was way scarier than You Jianyuan.
“How much did he pay you?” Cheng Lang asked after a moment of silence.
“Twenty bucks. He, he said another twenty once I got the recipe.” The huge reward had tempted Slim Monkey into agreeing. “Big Brother, I was wrong. I know now I messed with the wrong person. Don’t worry, I won’t work for You Jianyuan anymore! Spare me, I’ll kowtow to you.”
Bang bang bang—the solid sounds of his head hitting the ground showed his sincerity.
Cheng Lang sneered and slowly bent down, a hint of a smile on his face. “Good. He paid you to do his bidding, but I just saved your life. How will you repay me?”
“Huh?” Slim Monkey slowly raised his head, staring incredulously at the towering man. The heavy pressure of his presence made it hard to breathe. “S-Saved my life?”
“You nearly drowned just now. If I hadn’t pulled you out, you’d be seeing the King of Hell by now.” Cheng Lang rarely spoke so mildly. “Doesn’t that count as saving your life?”
Slim Monkey cursed inwardly. What kind of lifesaving was this? Too terrifying—this guy was too terrifying!
But he didn’t dare argue and tremblingly agreed. “Y-Yes, it does. Big Brother, you saved my life.”
“Since I saved your life, you owe me.” Cheng Lang straightened up, his features hard and cold. “Go back and don’t breathe a word of today to You Jianyuan. In a bit, I’ll give you a recipe. Whatever I tell you to say later, you say.”
Damn!
Slim Monkey knew he was screwed. He’d just clawed his way back from death, and now he had to go undercover!
One side was the rich and powerful You Jianyuan; the other, this ruthless man.
No choice!
You Jianyuan offered money; this man demanded his life!
“Big Brother, I’ll listen to you. Whatever you say! Don’t worry, whatever You Jianyuan tells me, I’ll report back to you.”
Cheng Lang saw he was somewhat sharp. He nudged Slim Monkey’s calf with his toe. “Get up. Later, in front of my wife, watch your mouth.”
“Yes!” Still shaken, Slim Monkey followed Cheng Lang away, unable to tell if the sweat on his back was from the water or fear.
……
Cheng Lang went out and came back with a drenched, dispirited young man.
The Big Yellow Dog, who had been happily playing fetch—throw and retrieve—with Feng Man, saw the stranger and instantly turned fierce from its obedient face. It barked furiously, “Woof woof woof,” on full alert.
Slim Monkey, already scared half to death, nearly pissed himself at the big dog. He stumbled back two steps.
Cheng Lang gave the Big Yellow Dog a look, and it instantly dropped its aggressive stance toward the outsider, wagging its tail as it went back to the female owner.
Feng Man patted the Big Yellow Dog’s head. Seeing how Cheng Lang had it so obedient, she was impressed—what a smart dog. Then she looked at the young man he’d brought back; he seemed familiar. “This is…? You!”
Wasn’t this the thief from the night before!
Feng Man recognized the skinny, short man at a glance and turned to Cheng Lang. “What… what’s going on here?”
Cheng Lang didn’t speak, just shot Slim Monkey a glance.
Slim Monkey immediately straightened up and said politely, “Sister-in-law, I fell in the river walking. Big Brother saved me. The night before last, I was a real piece of shit—I shouldn’t have come to steal your secret recipe.”
Saved him? Steal the secret recipe?
The information was heavy. Feng Man eyed the two suspiciously, taking a moment to process it.
When she heard next that this thief had been hired by You Jianyuan specifically to steal the secret recipe, she wasn’t surprised at all.
That You Jianyuan was despicable.
But when Slim Monkey swore repeatedly to be a double agent, working for Big Brother and Sister-in-law, Feng Man was even more shocked.
“You’re turning over a new leaf?” Feng Man found it hard to believe.
“Yes!” Slim Monkey nodded vigorously. “Big Brother saved my life and… and talked sense into me, told me to reform. I regret it so much.”
Feng Man looked at her man, her eyes shining. Cheng Lang kept shattering her perceptions, one after another.
Even toward a thief who had broken into their home, Cheng Lang didn’t hold a grudge and saved him anyway. He was so kind-hearted!
The book’s descriptions of his upright and kind nature seemed too understated. Those four words didn’t do justice to the brilliance of his character.