Chapter 80: Unintentional Willow (Part 1)

After leaving Zeng Xianggang’s house, Hou Weidong followed the narrow path toward Shangqinglin Town. Zeng Xianggang’s suggestion had left him in a state of deep internal conflict. He had come to Shangqinglin to build a career, not to abandon his urban life and become a private business owner in a remote township.

Yet, life often reveals its ruthless side while simultaneously playing jokes on those who toil. Without such irony, existence would be unbearable. Hou Weidong was merely tasting the joke life had served him.

As a graduate of the Political Science and Law Department, Hou Weidong instinctively considered policy and legal implications. The central government had consistently emphasized that cadres were forbidden from engaging in business. Although he had been effectively exiled to Shangqinglin, he remained an administrative cadre within the official establishment. Operating this stone quarry would constitute a disciplinary violation. After much deliberation, Hou Weidong drafted a partnership agreement based on the terms he had discussed with Zeng Xianggang.

On Saturday afternoon, Hou Weidong informed Township Head Gao of his departure and left the mountain early at 1:00 PM. The journey to Yiyang County took three hours, and another three hours were required to reach Wu Hai County. By the time Hou Weidong arrived home, it was already 8:00 PM.

Liu Guangfen was sitting alone in the living room watching television. Several actors were shouting dramatically on the screen. Seeing Hou Weidong return, she called out joyfully, "San'er, why are you so late? Have you eaten?" As she spoke, she handed him a pair of slippers.

Hou Weidong walked into the living room. At home, he felt completely relaxed, especially in front of Liu Guangfen; he was still a child who had never quite grown up. He casually snatched the remote control, switched the channel, and said, "Mom, your taste is too low. Watching another Qiong Yao drama? Where is Dad?"

For the past two days, Liu Guangfen and Hou Yonggui had been battling for control of the living room’s color TV. Liu Guangfen wanted to watch Taiwanese serials, while Hou Yonggui preferred Animal World. Naturally, Liu Guangfen always won, forcing Hou Yonggui to retreat to the inner room to watch the small television there. Hearing his son’s voice, Hou Yonggui emerged from the back room. He was wearing a cotton-padded jacket issued by the military years ago. It had seen many winters and looked somewhat bloated, stripping away the crisp, decisive aura he usually projected in his police uniform.

"It’s too cold in the house," Hou Weidong said. "We should just buy an air conditioner with both heating and cooling functions."

Liu Guangfen poked her head out from the kitchen. "We can buy an air conditioner, but each of you three siblings must contribute two thousand yuan."

The kitchen wafted with an irresistible aroma—braised pork, Hou Weidong’s favorite dish. Liu Guangfen efficiently brought the dishes to the table. "You didn’t even call to say you were coming back. Otherwise, I would have prepared something special. Your sister came back for lunch today, and I made this pork for her."

She sat opposite Hou Weidong, watching him eat almost voraciously. She was delighted by his appetite but complained, "You’ve received your salary, yet you haven’t bought your father or me a single yuan’s worth of gifts. What’s the use of raising a son? When your sister got her first month’s salary, she bought gifts for everyone in the family."

Mentioning his second sister, Hou Weidong asked, "I heard that the silk factory in Yiyang County is doing poorly and has already closed two workshops. How is the situation at your sister’s factory?"

Liu Guangfen sighed. "I was just planning to tell you. Your second sister has officially been laid off. Fortunately, your brother-in-law has a high income, or it would have been disastrous. It seems that working in a government agency is the safest bet."

Hou Weidong remarked, "The factory was still prosperous in the first half of the year. How did it collapse so suddenly?"

Liu Guangfen said resentfully, "International silk prices dropped in the second half of the year, causing all the factory’s problems to erupt at once. It collapsed overnight. Those officials only knew how to eat and drink. Now that the factory is gone, let’s see what they eat."

Taking advantage of the lively conversation between mother and son, Hou Yonggui switched the TV to Animal World and sat to the side, watching with great interest. Liu Guangfen’s attention was entirely on her son, so she ignored him.

"How is the road construction going? How did you resolve the cost for the blueprints?"

Upon hearing that Hou Weidong had taken out a loan in his personal name, Hou Yonggui began to lecture. "There are two meanings to 'keeping public and private matters separate.' You cannot take public funds or property, and you should not easily subsidize public matters with your limited private funds. This is a matter of principle, unless the unit provides you with a written receipt."

Hou Weidong, having studied law, was well aware of the risks involved. After finishing one bowl of rice, Liu Guangfen served him another. Hou Weidong poured the braised pork sauce into his bowl. This method of eating captured the essence of the dish and was Hou Weidong’s favorite.

Liu Guangfen couldn’t help but pinch Hou Weidong’s cheek. "Look at you, your cheeks are puffing out. Are you eating at the village cadres’ houses every day?"

Hou Yonggui added from the side, "Village cadres drink heavily. Drink less when you go to the villages. If you can feign drunkenness or make excuses, do so."

After the meal, when Liu Guangfen and Hou Yonggui had finished their casual chat, Hou Weidong revealed his plan to open the stone quarry.

Hou Yonggui frowned tightly. "You have just started working. You should focus on doing your job seriously in the township. These side businesses are irregular paths. It is best not to engage in them, to avoid damaging your reputation at the unit later."

"The new leader of Shazhou has called for a city-wide push to develop transportation. The Yiyang County Party Committee and Government have designated 1994 as the Year of Transportation Construction. I analyze that 1994 will see a surge in transportation projects in Shazhou. Crushed stone and riprap are essential materials for road building, and the stone from the mountains in Shangqinglin is the best in Yiyang County. Therefore, opening a stone quarry is certainly viable."

Hou Yonggui had spent nearly forty years in the military and the Public Security Bureau, his entire life within the organizational system. Although Hou Weidong’s argument was logical, he still felt something was amiss. "Don’t think about these flashy schemes. Do your work well. That is the correct path."

Hou Weidong felt a surge of bitterness but could not explain it clearly to his father. He said, "Dad, do you have any friends in key departments in Yiyang? Could you introduce me to them?"

Hou Yonggui crossed his arms over his chest and thought for a moment before saying, "My friends are mostly frontline police officers in the Public Security Bureau. The highest rank is Deputy Director of the Public Security Bureau. They probably won’t be of much help to you. San'er, you must understand a principle: birds of a feather flock together. Your friends will generally reflect who you are. This is a theory tested by time. You must rely on yourself."

Liu Guangfen interrupted the old man. "Old man, you have been orthodox your whole life. Now that our daughter is laid off, you have no good solutions. I think San'er’s suggestion is not bad. As long as sales are good, opening a stone quarry is a sure profit. We can try it."

Hou Yonggui remained noncommittal. Hou Weidong explained, "I will not be the face of the quarry. We will use my second sister’s name and ID card. This way, I can operate it legitimately."

With Liu Guangfen’s support and persuasion, Hou Yonggui finally agreed to Hou Weidong’s plan. The couple pooled their resources and gave Hou Weidong 10,000 yuan in cash as startup capital for the quarry.

After discussing serious matters, Liu Guangfen smiled and asked, "San, is Xiaojia’s family still opposing your relationship?"

"Xiaojia has been seconded to the Construction Commission Office. She is now a favorite there."

Liu Guangfen said meaningfully, "I think your relationship is uncertain. Xiaojia is in the Shazhou Construction Commission Office, interacting with different people and things. Her horizons have naturally expanded. If you do not transfer back to the county soon, it will not work out."

Hou Weidong dreaded this topic. He and Xiaojia’s mother, Chen Qingrong, had agreed on a three-year period. Half a year had passed, yet the goal of transferring back to Shazhou remained so distant. He told his mother, Liu Guangfen, "The sky rains, and mothers marry. Who can control such things? As long as I can look myself in the mirror with a clear conscience, that is enough."

Originally, these words were spoken with heroic fervor. However, recalling how he had followed Qin Feiyue to Chengshan Manor and had intimate contact with the young women there, he felt a smudge of black on his conscience. His speech lost its righteous confidence.

At bedtime, Liu Guangfen personally changed Hou Weidong’s bedsheets. She was happy to see her third son and sat by the bed, chatting aimlessly with him.

"Your second sister has no interest in the stone quarry. She and your brother-in-law want to start a small silk factory. They have worked in the silk industry for many years and have many business connections. Finding some labor costs should not be a problem."

Hou Weidong said, "The silk factories in Yiyang are probably not doing well either. They have already closed two workshops."

Liu Guangfen sat by the bed, watching Hou Weidong slip into the clean, warm quilt. Habitually, she tucked the corners of the quilt around him and instructed, "Your second sister wants to open a company and lacks money. I did not lend to them. Starting a company involves risk, and I must be cautious. Do not tell your second sister about the money I gave you today, lest she be unhappy."

The next day, Hou Xiaoying returned home. She was determined to open a silk factory and had no interest in the stone quarry, but she signed the agreement readily and handed a copy of her ID card to Hou Weidong.

"San'er, I heard that the foundation’s procedures are lax and loans are easy to get. Can you get a loan of fifty thousand for your sister? I am opening my company now and lack funds."

Hou Weidong smiled. "Loans require collateral. I already borrowed ten thousand from the foundation to pay for the blueprints."

Hou Xiaoying peeled a mandarin orange. "I have never seen someone like you, taking out a personal loan to handle public affairs. Really, find a way to get a loan for your sister. It’s killing me with worry. I have a house that can serve as collateral."

"The foundation only lends to locals. They won’t process loans for outsiders."

Hou Xiaoying said disdainfully, "It is the era of operations. As long as you understand the rules, nothing cannot be done. Introduce me to the people at the foundation, and my brother-in-law will handle the rest."

Hou Weidong nodded. "Alright, I will try. However, I have no position or power in the township. The people at the foundation may not give me face."

"How will you know if you don’t try? He Yong recently learned a saying and recites it to me every day: 'The bold ride dragons and tigers; the timid ride brooding hens.' Dad is just too timid."

Hou Weidong, having spent days running around the village, had learned many local dialects. Hearing his sister’s words, he said, "Sister, you got it wrong. It is: 'The bold fuck dragons and tigers; the timid fuck brooding hens.'"

Every time he returned home, Hou Weidong felt an immense sense of relief. The next day, after lunch, carrying a profound warmth, he boarded the bus back to Yiyang.

Liu Guangfen stood outside the bus, watching her third son disappear into the distance before returning home.

Back in Shangqinglin, Hou Weidong returned to his fixed routine. Both he and Zeng Xianggang were impatient. On Monday morning, the two went to the forest farm to survey the terrain.

Zeng Xianggang’s sister and brother-in-law were honest, simple farmers who always regarded Zeng Xianggang as their backbone. They led Hou Weidong and Zeng Xianggang to the back mountain. A few strikes with the hoe revealed hard stone.

Zeng Xianggang tapped the stone with his hoe. "The stone layer is very thick, at least ten meters. It is also close to the road at the foot of the mountain."