A Capable Person

Li Ye and Jin Peng returned to Qingshui County town well past ten o'clock at night.

He pondered for a moment and decided not to go back to school today, but to head home instead.

For people in the 1980s, nights were dull and cold. Even in the county town, there weren't many bright lights. Everyone went to bed early to warm up, and they would never turn on a light for anything they could do in the dark.

To save electricity.

When Li Ye arrived home, his family had already gone to bed. After knocking for a long time, his father came out wearing a padded jacket to open the door for him, a look of extreme displeasure on his face.

"Why are you back at this hour today? Disturbing the neighbors?"

I...

Li Ye was speechless for a moment, but upon seeing Li Kaijian's attire, he immediately understood.

Li Kaijian had been single for over a decade and only married Han Chunmei last year. They were nearly ten years apart in age, and Li Kaijian doted on his young wife.

Now that Li Ye had interrupted Li Kaijian's good time, men understood. If they weren't father and son, they would have become enemies.

Li Ye lowered his head, putting on a posture of admitting fault, and pushed his bicycle into the house. Then he saw that the light in his grandfather's room was also on.

"You two, come in."

The old man called Li Ye and Li Kaijian into the main room, sternly gesturing for them to sit. Then he suddenly fixed his gaze on Li Ye, his sharp eyes revealing a formidable edge like a gleaming bayonet.

...

The dignified transmigator, Child of Destiny, and possessor of the protagonist's halo... Lord Li Ye actually felt a sense of tension under the sharp gaze of an old man.

Hiss...

So he's the one who could take down three Japanese soldiers. Even at his age, his eyes are still so intimidating.

Li Ye took a deep breath, gaining a deeper understanding of his cheap grandfather who had crawled out of a pile of dead bodies.

However, Li Ye didn't know that Li Zhongfa was also very surprised by Li Ye's reaction.

My precious grandson has become much bolder! He used to be terrified even when his father glared at him, but now he dares to meet my gaze.

Good, he takes after me!

Li Zhongfa's gaze instantly softened, and he asked Li Ye with a smile, "I heard you partnered with someone to start a malt candy business?"

"Malt candy business? What malt candy business?"

Li Ye's father, Li Kaijian, looked at Li Ye, then at his own father, with a puzzled expression. After a long while, he finally understood something.

You two, grandfather and grandson, are keeping me in the dark, aren't you? You're hiding things from me?

Tch, I can't beat the old man, but I can't beat the kid? You just wait, you little thief.

Thus, Li Kaijian's gaze towards Li Ye became completely unfriendly due to the double buff.

"Grandpa is asking you a question! Hurry up and confess honestly, then come back to the room with me to sleep."

Are you sure you'll let me sleep after taking me back to the room?

Hearing Li Kaijian's tone, Li Ye knew what he was planning.

But since he had decided to come home today, he was naturally prepared.

Li Ye looked at the smiling Li Zhongfa and said with a smile, "Grandpa, if anyone else asked me about something like this, I would definitely deny it. I'm just a student, what kind of business would I be involved in?"

...

Li Ye's answer surprised both Li Zhongfa and Li Kaijian, causing a moment of silence.

Then, Li Kaijian's large palm swung towards Li Ye, fast and urgent, truly showcasing the skills of a retired soldier.

"I'll teach you to be glib!"

The moment Li Ye sensed Li Kaijian making a move, his body reacted instinctively. He twisted his waist, sidestepped, and nimbly dodged Li Kaijian's slap.

"You dare to dodge?"

Li Kaijian was truly enraged. This was a sign of losing his family authority!

His eldest daughter was already disobedient and talked back to him every day. Han Chunmei was too precious to him to scold. Now, the only one left who was "easy to discipline" was also rebelling?

He had to suppress it, severely suppress it.

Bang!

Li Zhongfa slammed his palm on the table. The flailing Li Kaijian instantly deflated like a pricked balloon and sat down obediently.

Fine! You have a backer, kid. I can't hit you, but your living expenses for this month are gone. Don't come begging me, humph humph humph.

Li Kaijian provided the bulk of Li Ye's living expenses, so he felt that no matter how much Li Ye struggled, he couldn't escape his control.

Li Zhongfa looked at Li Ye and said with a smile, "Good, very smart. It seems you already thought about who would take the blame before you started this business, didn't you?"

Li Ye shook his head. "Grandpa, I don't think of it as taking the blame. I provided the capital and the money-making ideas. They bore the risks. This is a fair distribution of responsibility; neither owes the other."

"You actually did it..."

Li Kaijian was about to get angry again but was forced back by Li Zhongfa's sharp gaze.

Li Zhongfa said to Li Ye, "Small-scale operations are definitely fine, but I heard from Jin Peng that your business is quite significant. Wealth attracts attention. Have you considered the consequences?"

Li Ye blinked and said, "A business that only makes a few thousand yuan a month, you don't consider that big? If there's really any danger, Grandpa, can you get me a spot in the food processing cooperative household!"

Li Zhongfa glanced at Li Ye, "Regarding the food processing cooperative household, just have that Hao Jian go ask your eldest sister tomorrow.

Also, your ambitions are getting a bit too big. You need to be more practical in the future. A business making a few thousand yuan isn't small?"

Li Kaijian chimed in, scolding Li Ye, "Do you even know how much a street factory produces in a month? And you say 'only a few thousand yuan.' You've been reading books for nothing."

Li Ye didn't know how much those small street factories that assembled matchboxes could make in a month.

But judging by their business attitude of "waiting for buyers to come and get exploited," he figured they wouldn't have much business.

As for the current Li Ye, he could become a Ten Thousand Yuan Household in just a few months, and it was quite possible that would attract the envy of some people.

He didn't know about other cooperative households, but now that he did, he knew he'd have to rely on his influential grandfather.

So, under Li Kaijian's disdainful gaze, Li Ye placed his shoulder bag on the table and took out money handful by handful.

After placing all the money on the table, Li Ye said, "This is this month's profit. I didn't steal, I didn't rob, I didn't cheat. It's all the hard work and sweat of the laboring people."

Silence fell. The area around Li Ye became completely quiet. After a long while, he heard Li Kaijian swallow.

"This is... your profit for one month?"

"No, it's my profit for one month. Everyone else has already taken their share. Wang Jianqiang's portion isn't large, so I'm keeping it for him for now."

Li Kaijian stopped talking and looked at his father.

Li Zhongfa, who had weathered many storms, also didn't expect his grandson's casual business venture to make so much money.

He only had to look at the denominations of the bills on the table to know these were the dealings of small vendors. A piece of sugar candy for a small bill, and they could really connect it to "the laboring people."

But to talk about "hard work and sweat"?

Couldn't they speak more formally?

Had he not shed blood for the country? Or was his work not diligent enough? Why was there such a big difference?

The old man thought for a moment and asked Li Ye, "What do you plan to do with so much money?"

Li Ye replied, "Let's keep it at home for now! But don't worry, I heard that the south has allowed individual businesses for a long time, and Ten Thousand Yuan Households might not be uncommon in a while."

Li Zhongfa nodded, "Alright, we'll keep it at home for now. Let your dad deposit it for you. Don't worry, not a single cent will be missing."

Li Ye shook his head, "I don't need that much money. You guys buy whatever the family needs! But I'll probably need to take a large portion with me when I go to university next year."

Li Zhongfa, "Of course. A poor home and a rich road. Our child must not be wronged when it comes to money when going out."

Li Kaijian really couldn't stand the way the father and son were chatting. Angrily, he blurted out, "Damn it, if you can really get into university, I'll double your allowance."

Li Ye silently turned to look at Li Kaijian and said clearly, "This thousand-plus yuan is actually half a month's profit. If next month goes smoothly, it should reach three thousand, and the month after that..."

Li Kaijian's expression became extremely interesting.

Damn it, your father, a workshop director, only makes sixty or seventy yuan a month, and you're talking about thousands here?

Li Zhongfa looked at Li Ye, liking him more and more. Then he looked at his own son and felt a wave of annoyance.

"Alright, Li Ye, go to bed. You have to get up early for school tomorrow."

"Oh, okay. I'll go to bed then, Grandpa."

Li Ye got up to leave, but just as he was about to exit, Li Kaijian suddenly said, as if looking at a thief, "Did you hide any money yourself?"

Li Ye was taken aback, then turned back. He reached out, took a stack of money from the table, and brazenly stuffed it into his schoolbag. It looked like at least one or two hundred yuan.

"I'm hiding it now."

After Li Ye quickly left the room, Li Kaijian finally reacted, looking like he was about to fly into a rage.

"That's enough," Li Zhongfa said. "Don't treat Xiao Ye like a child anymore. Look at your own shortcomings."

"It's not that," Li Kaijian argued. "Look how dangerous the things Xiao Ye is doing are!"

"Whether it's dangerous or not depends on the timing," Li Zhongfa said. "A few days ago, when the county held a meeting, they discussed the matter of individual businesses. The south had individual businesses two years ago and even issued business licenses. It's probably going to happen here soon too."

Li Kaijian was stunned for a moment and said, "Then why did they still process the cooperative household application for that Hao Jian? If they're going to give him an individual business license later, wouldn't that save us from getting involved?"

Li Zhongfa looked at Li Kaijian with disdain and said, "If there was a capable person in your workshop, would you be willing to send him to another workshop?"

Li Kaijian understood. So his father wanted to keep Hao Jian around.

He said with some dissatisfaction, "What capable person is he? Just an educated youth who settled down."

Li Zhongfa snorted and pointed at the pile of bills on the table, "Then you run to the provincial capital tomorrow and see if you can bring back this much money."

"In the future, you need to study more. Otherwise, you won't even be as good as Xiao Ye."