All sorts of thoughts raced through his mind, but Slim Monkey answered honestly, “Brother Lang, I specially went a few times during busy afternoons to report to You Jianyuan. I found out that You Jianyuan seems to have something shady going on with the head accountant at Liberation Mine District. The two of them often shut the door for secret talks, all sneaky, but I don’t know exactly what they said.”
Slim Monkey didn’t have that kind of ability. He had only gained a foothold with You Jianyuan by actually stealing the secret recipe. Now he occasionally ran minor errands for him—nothing major, but not useless either.
“Mm.” Cheng Lang knew Slim Monkey’s current position made it hard to access You Jianyuan’s core secrets. He needed to give him a push. “I’ll have the workers at Liberation Mine District help you out, get you a job in the mine district. You’re originally You Jianyuan’s man—he’ll promote you himself.”
What? While stealing, he had stolen himself a state-owned factory position?
Oh man! Was there such a good deal? From ragtag to regular army! Slim Monkey instantly got excited.
He hadn’t expected that even from another mine district, Cheng Lang had such pull. He had truly backed the right person!
But the next second, Cheng Lang continued, leaving Slim Monkey’s jaw dropping in shock.
Cheng Lang faced the vast Three Rivers River, its waters flowing slowly—who could say if dark currents surged beneath? “Once you’re by his side, the first thing you do is replace his secretary Liu Lei. Make him trust you.”
“Huh? Me?” Slim Monkey, orphaned young and wandering the streets stealing chickens and dogs since childhood, was stunned. Him, taking out You Jianyuan’s secretary and replacing him?
Was he thinking too highly of him?
“Yes, you.” Cheng Lang knew You Jianyuan was cautious; forcing someone close could backfire. But Slim Monkey was his own pick—higher chance of success.
Even after secretly gathering and planning for over half a year, with some evidence in hand of You Jianyuan colluding with the finance director to embezzle Liberation Mine District’s state assets from the inside, it wasn’t enough for a fatal blow. He couldn’t play those cards yet, or it would just alert the enemy and yield no gain.
Against such an opponent, gathering evidence and lying in wait was the best approach.
Slim Monkey’s mind buzzed. He didn’t dare imagine being a secretary. He just thought Cheng Lang was crazy. But the man’s aura was too overwhelming; he didn’t dare refute. Worst case, he had misjudged— he’d just follow orders.
With the matter settled, Slim Monkey turned to leave, but Cheng Lang called him back.
“Last time at the celebration banquet, I couldn’t invite you properly. My wife said you’re a contributor too, but given our current opposing statuses, we couldn’t have you over for a meal. We prepared some food as a commendation instead.”
As he spoke, Slim Monkey saw Cheng Lang pull out an oil paper bag. Inside were two sesame flatbreads packed tightly together, still steaming with heat and carrying a fragrant aroma right up to his face.
After handing over the sesame flatbreads, Cheng Lang left straight away. Slim Monkey held the hot sesame flatbreads in his hands and took a big bite. The crispy crust wrapped around richly aromatic fresh meat, making his lips and tongue tighten with each chew.
Cheng Lang went out for a bit, and Feng Man did not think much of it. She only pondered that the man had gone to the mine district to work again.
But Master Chen’s idea that day had been too wildly imaginative. Even lying in bed at night, Feng Man was still curious. “Did you act too exaggeratedly before, so much so that your master questioned your marriage three times today?”
Cheng Lang tried to recall the past but could not remember those old events. Perhaps someone had really approached to chat, but he had always responded with a cold face and rebuffed them. Over time, he had fended off quite a few troubles.
“Master is just like that. The old folks in the mine district who grew up with Master said that when Master was young, he was very…” He wanted to use a still-respectful word to describe Chen Xingyao’s personality in his youth, but after racking his brains, he could not find one. In the end, he simply used his nephew as a comparison. “Similar to Xiaoshan’s personality.”
Feng Man: “…”
Just imagine it—Xiaoshan was Cheng Lang’s master. That was pretty scary!
“But I can tell your master has a pretty…” Feng Man lowered her voice, as if she were really gossiping behind someone’s back. “Frivolous personality, just like Old Mischief in The Legend of the Condor Heroes.”
Cheng Lang turned his head to look at his wife, who seemed a bit guilty and was muttering softly as if talking bad about someone. His gaze fell on her bright, sparkling eyes.
Feng Man poked the man’s rock-hard arm. “Doesn’t he seem similar?”
The same not-so-young age, the same wildly imaginative nature, no sense of distance like an elder at all—instead, somewhat amusing.
Cheng Lang gave a light “Mm.”
The next day, after arriving at the mine district, Cheng Lang found He Chunsheng to ask, “Who is Old Mischief?”
He Chunsheng stepped back in surprise. “Brother Lang, you don’t know Old Mischief? The Legend of the Condor Heroes from Port City two years before last was so popular—everyone was watching it on TV!”
Port City’s 1983 TV series The Legend of the Condor Heroes had been introduced to the mainland two years before last, drawing crowds that emptied the streets. Many people carried stools to neighbors’ houses with TVs, and the scene had been incredibly lively.
Cheng Lang stared wordlessly at his subordinate until He Chunsheng slowly shut his mouth and stood properly. Only then did he speak. “There’s nothing wrong with not knowing that.”
Not just three years ago—even in the previous twenty-five years, he had not paid attention to any TV dramas.
In his youth, he had only thought about how to fill his stomach. After all, no one at home took care of him. Especially after his birth mother ran away, his birth father cared even less. Cheng Lang had once been so hungry his chest stuck to his back. He had nearly been persuaded by street thieves to join them and steal something to eat. But thinking of his father at home, who loved to pilfer chickens and dogs, Cheng Lang gritted his teeth and endured the hunger without agreeing. He did not want to follow in his father’s footsteps. Later, after enlisting in the army, getting injured, and being discharged, then heading south to make money, watching TV had never been part of Cheng Lang’s life.
After He Chunsheng left, Cheng Lang sat stunned at his desk until the office landline rang, interrupting his thoughts.
The ringing bell sounded repeatedly. Cheng Lang picked up the phone. The voice on the other end came from hundreds of kilometers away in Changping City—it was Jiang Ping, with whom he occasionally exchanged letters.
Jiang Ping had received the letter and wedding candies Cheng Lang sent. Surprised that Brother Lang had already gotten married, he splurged on a phone call to congratulate him.
“Brother Lang, congrats on the marriage. Wishing you and sister-in-law a hundred years of harmony.”
This was the most heartwarming blessing Cheng Lang had ever heard. Even through the receiver, his response carried a hint of a smile. “Thanks.”
Jiang Ping had spent a fortune on this call—first to congratulate Cheng Lang, and second to ask if Cheng Lang planned to return home for the New Year. If so, fellow villagers could travel back together. Having company for the several days on the road would naturally be good.
“If we’re going together, I can meet sister-in-law too—I haven’t seen her yet!” Jiang Ping chuckled naively. “I’m making one hundred fifty or sixty a month at the electronics factory now. The family is thrilled and says they want to treat you two to a meal.”
Cheng Lang politely declined. “We’re staying here for the New Year—we probably won’t go back. As for the rest, no need. I’ll introduce you to a job—no need to thank me too much.”
“How can that be! Brother Lang, you’ve been so good to me—I’ll remember it forever.” Jiang Ping knew phone fees were expensive. After about three minutes, it was time to hang up. But in the final moment, he heard Cheng Lang ask a baffling question.
Cheng Lang spoke gravely. “Do you know Old Mischief?”
Jiang Ping chuckled lightly, as if hitting right in his area of expertise. “Of course! Everyone’s seen the TV series The Legend of the Condor Heroes—not just the show, I’ve even finished the novel. Brother Lang, you interested? I brought the novel here—want me to mail it to you?”
“No need!” Cheng Lang withdrew the faint smile from his lips and turned serious. “I don’t like reading those.”
That afternoon, Cheng Lang went to his usual old book stall and bought a copy of the novel The Legend of the Condor Heroes. He added it to his stack of economics books and the little sketchbook among them, updating his reading list.
……
At first, Feng Man did not notice that Cheng Lang was reading the novel The Legend of the Condor Heroes.
Over these two days, she had been preparing to strike first ahead of You Jianyuan, not wanting to play defense. She kept going to the stall to wait for an opportunity and finally caught Secretary Wang from Deputy District Chief Li returning the thermos bucket that afternoon.
The thermos bucket she had lent to Deputy District Chief Li that day for the milky white fish soup to give to his old mother was like a kite string. Now, she had finally reeled it back in.
Secretary Wang, who handled Deputy District Chief Li’s work and daily life—including his old mother’s health—was fully aware of these matters.
“Comrade Feng, thanks for the thermos bucket. I’ve been too busy with work these past few days and couldn’t bring it back to you sooner.”
Feng Man did not care about that. While taking the thermos bucket, she only asked with concern, “A thermos bucket is nothing. By the way, Secretary Wang, did the old lady take to the milky white fish soup?”
At the mention, Secretary Wang’s face lit up with joy, and his gaze toward Feng Man grew much friendlier. “The old lady loved it. She kept praising how she’d never had such fresh fish soup. She ate nearly half a bucket in one go—over two bowls’ worth—and quite a bit of the side dishes too.”
Feng Man nodded. “That’s great then. In that case, let me pack another bucket of milky white fish soup for the old lady. The weather’s cold these days—drinking something warming will make her feel comfortable.”
Secretary Wang hesitated for a moment. The stall was some distance from the District Committee. Deputy District Chief Li had originally intended for him to find a live-in nanny to make the fish soup these days, but after trying, it was not as fresh as Feng’s.
Looking at the snow-white milky white fish soup in the thermos bucket, Secretary Wang no longer refused. He would deliver it to the old lady to drink first and immediately paid one yuan and fifty cents for three bowls’ worth. “Then I’ll bring the thermos bucket back to you next time.”
“Alright.” Feng Man naturally agreed—after all, she still needed that thermos bucket to keep the line taut.
Since You Jianyuan was rich and powerful, she needed to find someone even more powerful as an ally.
By striking at what You Jianyuan cared about most and was proudest of—surpassing him there—this man would lose his intimidating backing. He always tripped up her family, and Feng Man held a grudge. She always wanted to get revenge.
Now that the kite string had soared high again, Feng Man figured it was almost time to reel it in. She was in a great mood.
That night, as she prepared to mention this to Cheng Lang, she saw the man holding a yellow-covered book and reading.
The book was crudely printed, with The Legend of the Condor Heroes written on the cover. The pages were densely packed with tiny text, yet Cheng Lang read it intently.
Feng Man stared at him for a bit. His seriousness rivaled that day with the economics books. This man was becoming more and more impressive to her—such wide interests.
Economics books one day, wuxia novels the next. It seemed Comrade Cheng Lang really loved reading and learning.
Cheng Lang flipped through several pages, closed the book, and said flatly, “Master really is quite like this Old Mischief.”