Chapter 22: Let's See How Long You Can Remain Arrogant

Page 1/3
In the room, Uncle Li was snoring softly.
Li Xiangyang tossed and turned but found it difficult to fall asleep; the incident with Su Yan and Wang Ming earlier that day pricked at his heart like a thorn.
He knew Wang Ming all too well—he was a venomous snake.
Thinking about his hunting rifle only made him more uneasy.
Having lived this life again, he was well aware of how sensitive firearms were in this era.
“Still awake?” Uncle Li’s voice suddenly sounded in the darkness.
Li Xiangyang was startled. “Uncle, did I wake you?”
“No,” Uncle Li whispered, “I couldn’t sleep either. I kept feeling like you had something on your mind.”
Li Xiangyang was silent for a moment, then said quietly, “Uncle, I want to go home and check on something.”
“Hm,” Uncle Li sat up, “I’ll go with you.”
“This… you don’t have to trouble yourself.”
“You kid,” Uncle Li said as he dressed in the dark, “what nonsense is that? Your mother and sister are at my place. If I let you go out alone in the middle of the night, what would people say?”
A warmth spread through Li Xiangyang’s heart.
He knew Uncle Li worried about leaving any loose ends, afraid of gossip.
In these times, reputation was more important than anything else.
The two of them put on their cotton-padded jackets and quietly slipped out the door.
Under the moonlight, the snow glowed with a pale blue-white sheen.
The cold wind howled, occasionally driving snowflakes to sting their faces.
“Xiangyang,” Uncle Li suddenly spoke as they walked through the snow, “are you afraid that the female educated youth and her boyfriend will cause you trouble?”
Li Xiangyang was taken aback. “Uncle, you know about this?”
“Ha,” Uncle Li waved his hand, “At my age, what can’t I see? The way that girl looks at you, and the way her boyfriend acts—there’s no good intention there.”
Li Xiangyang smiled bitterly. “Uncle, there’s nothing you don’t see through.”
“I’ve lived a long life; I’ve seen it all,” Uncle Li sighed. “You never know what’s in someone’s heart. Always be on guard.”
At the doorstep, Li Xiangyang carefully checked the locks, confirming no one had tampered with them before finally exhaling in relief.
“Go check on your precious thing,” Uncle Li said, standing in the yard, “I’ll keep watch here.”
Li Xiangyang nodded and hurried inside.
By the moonlight, he found the place where the gun was hidden and examined it cautiously.
The gun was still there, everything as usual.
“How is it?” Uncle Li asked quietly when Li Xiangyang came back out.
“All good,” Li Xiangyang breathed easier, “I guess I was just being paranoid.”
“That’s not paranoia,” Uncle Li patted his shoulder, “that’s caution. Alright, let’s head back; there’s work to do tomorrow.”
On the way back, the wind grew stronger.
Uncle Li pulled his collar up. “In this damned weather, only you crazy kid would go hunting in the mountains.”
Li Xiangyang smiled. “What choice do I have? Someone has to make sure the family lives well.”

Page 2/3
“Hm,” Uncle Li nodded, “Your heart’s in the right place. But remember this: not everything you see is real, and not everything you don’t see is false.”
Li Xiangyang nodded thoughtfully.
He understood Uncle Li was telling him that some dangers were invisible but must always be guarded against.
Back inside, Uncle Li lay down again. “Sleep now, we’ll talk if there’s anything tomorrow.”
Li Xiangyang lay on the kang bed, listening to the howling wind outside, feeling much more at ease.
This lifetime, with so many people caring for him and guiding him, he was determined to live well.
As for those who wished him harm, let them rot away in the darkness.
...
Down the mountain, at the temporary educated youth settlement, Wang Ming tossed and turned on his kang bed.
The cold wind blew through cracks in the window, making him shiver uncontrollably.
This place could not compare to a farmer’s house; even a well-heated kang could not keep out the bone-chilling cold.
He had originally planned to sneak into Li Xiangyang’s house tonight to steal the gun.
But this miserable weather alone had made him give up the idea.
Wang Ming knew that if he did not go tonight, he would never get another chance.
Thinking of this, he pulled a piece of paper from under his pillow.
By the faint moonlight, he carefully examined the writing on it once more:
“Report Letter: This is to report that Comrade Li Xiangyang, a villager from Xiaoliang Village, has privately purchased a hunting rifle without any legal procedures, posing a potential danger to others...”
He had written this letter that afternoon.
Since then, he had hesitated about whether to send it.
After all, in this era, informing on others was definitely a last resort.
If discovered, it would be like getting a dagger in the back.
But thinking of Li Xiangyang’s current good standing, his own situation, and the failure to steal the rifle...
A last resort it is!
Let you act all high and mighty!
I want to see, once you’re locked up and your gun is confiscated, how proud you still are!
At that thought, the unease in Wang Ming’s heart was completely replaced by the thrill of revenge.
He tucked the letter back under his pillow.
Early tomorrow, he would go to the post office and send it.
As for the consequences...
He smiled coldly.
He was no longer afraid of anything.
At worst, like his father, in these times, who could really do anything to him?
Outside, the wind and snow intensified.
The settlement’s house creaked in the wind.
Wang Ming wrapped himself tightly in his quilt and slowly closed his eyes.

Page 3/3
At dawn, Uncle Li got up early and brought Li Xiangyang some roasted sweet potatoes.
“Hurry and eat. After that, we’ll get to work. Today we lay the tiles, tomorrow thatch goes on, then the house will be livable.”
As he spoke, Uncle Li poured him a cup of hot water.
After eating the sweet potatoes, Li Xiangyang followed Uncle Li back home.
Gradually, the yard grew lively.
A few young men helping out arrived and began moving timber; the sounds of hammering and sawing echoed continuously.
His mother and sister had also returned from Uncle Li’s place, helping by boiling water nearby.
Watching the bustling scene, warmth filled Li Xiangyang’s heart.
In this life, with so many helping him, he must live well no matter what.
“What are you standing there for? Come help!” Uncle Li’s voice broke through his thoughts.
Li Xiangyang was about to respond and go help when a voice called from outside the yard:
“Li Xiangyang, are you home?”
He turned to see Sun Yongliang and Li Wenbin standing at the gate.
Both looked weathered, clearly having come early in the morning.
“Brother Sun, Brother Li, come in and have some hot water,” Li Xiangyang greeted them.
“No, no,” Sun Yongliang waved them off, pulling a brown paper envelope from his pocket, “Captain Zhou asked us to deliver this to you.”
The sounds of work in the yard had stopped without anyone realizing, and all eyes turned toward them.
Li Xiangyang took the envelope and opened it. Inside was a hunter’s permit, clearly printed with his name and ID number, stamped with the forest farm’s official seal.
“Captain Zhou said this permit wasn’t easy to come by. You have to take good care of it,” Li Wenbin lowered his voice, “If you lose it, it won’t be so easy to replace.”
“Please thank Captain Zhou for me,” Li Xiangyang said solemnly, nodding.
“Are you guys building a house?” Sun Yongliang looked around the yard.
“Yes, we have to. It’s urgent.”
“Normally, we’d be brothers and lend a hand, but my brother and I have to go to the county to get New Year’s supplies. Well, no need to see us off, you guys keep busy.”
After apologizing to Li Xiangyang, Sun Yongliang and Li Wenbin left.