Chapter 37: The Stall Secured

He spoke in disbelief.

"Young man from the Li family, don't be foolish. Do you have any idea what this arrangement means? In a dozen years or so, once you come out of the military, even our Niuxin Town might not be big enough to hold you..."

Li Qi shook his head. "There is a saying: 'When virtue does not match one's position, disaster follows.' I know exactly what kind of person I am; the disciplined ranks of the military are not for me. Brother Guodong, if you truly want to thank me, there is actually something I would like to trouble you with."

Li Qi’s words stirred an inexplicable feeling in Zhou Guodong’s heart. He had not expected a refusal, as this path was one he and his mother had carefully devised after long discussions, tailored specifically to Li Qi’s circumstances. In this career path, the Zhou family’s background would have been the greatest asset.

The Zhou family believed in repaying even the smallest kindness with a gushing spring of gratitude. Qiu Shuyun, in particular, had been helped countless times by the ordinary people of these white mountains and black waters during the war years, so her affection for Li Qi was special. Yet, Li Qi had brushed aside such a massive temptation with a light remark about being unworthy of the position. This only caused his stature to grow in Zhou Guodong's eyes.

Sensing the gravity of the request, Zhou Guodong instinctively straightened his posture, showing his full attention. "Tell me."

"I want to learn the 'Eighteen Hands of the Black Dragon'."

As soon as Li Qi finished, Xu Tiesheng was left utterly confused, but Zhou Guodong was struck with shock. "How do you know about the Eighteen Hands of the Black Dragon?"

It was no wonder Zhou Guodong was startled. This combat system, known as the Eighteen Hands of the Black Dragon, was originally created by a few veterans with ancient training backgrounds in Heilongjiang Province, who combined their knowledge with modern combat techniques. However, the moves were so vicious that they could easily cause severe, permanent injury. During the initial promotion of the training, it resulted in many serious injuries and even deaths, leading to its swift prohibition. The matter was known only within a very small circle in the military; how could Li Qi possibly know of it?

Li Qi, of course, could not say he had heard it from a military brat he met at a dinner party in his previous life. He steeled himself and replied, "I heard it from a friend from Heilongjiang who hunts in the mountains. He sold a few goods here and then left. I’ve practiced Tongbei Fist and Tai Chi since I was a child, and I’ve become quite interested in this style of combat. If you can find someone to teach me, I would have no other requests."

Zhou Guodong fell into a long silence. Li Qi knew this was his only chance.

***

Back then, the military brat had spoken of the Black Dragon combat system with the utmost reverence, calling it the most potent fighting method for targeting the human body's weaknesses. The so-called "ban" only applied to the regular military; in certain special units, the Black Dragon system was a mandatory subject.

He had to master this combat style because he intended to infiltrate the Four Dragons' illegal coal mine, rescue the two reporters from the provincial capital, and use their influence to ensure the exploited miners were liberated early. Knowing that such atrocities were happening in the mountains not far from where he stood, Li Qi could not find peace of mind. He had considered telling Zhou Guodong directly, but if reporting to the police were effective, would the Four Dragons’ mine have stood for so many years? One must always be guarded.

Finally, Qiu Shuyun spoke. "Guodong, have Xiao Liuzi transferred out and let him train the boy for three days."

Zhou Guodong paused. "Mother, that is against the rules."

"Tell Xiao Liuzi it was my instruction. Tell him to teach everything he knows, and consider it a personal favor owed to this old woman."

Hearing his mother speak this way, Zhou Guodong stopped arguing. He rose with Xu Tiesheng, excused himself, and headed to the police station to make a phone call. In those days, there were no mobile phones, and public booths did not exist; telephones were only found in government offices, hospitals, or schools. Ordinary people had to go to the post office to use the few available lines, and the fees were exorbitant.

Qiu Shuyun took Li Qi’s hand again. "Virtue not matching one's position... child, you said that very well. It was this old woman who failed to think it through. Yanmei is truly blessed to have a son like you. Since you don't want to join the military, then don't. You are young, and your future is long. Whenever you decide what you want to do, come find me. Your Auntie here still has some influence."

Li Qi nodded quickly. He could not accept the path Auntie Qiu had laid out; he could not bring himself to treat a favor as a transaction. He would feel ashamed. If he had followed her arrangements into the military, he would have felt his life path was illegitimate. Having been granted a second life, he wanted to live it in his own way. However, at certain critical junctures, he did not mind utilizing her influence—like now.

"Auntie, there is actually one thing I would like to ask your help with. The Taihe Market is finished now, isn't it? I heard the stalls will be sold next month. I’ve inquired, and they say it’s five thousand yuan per stall. I have enough money to buy four. Could you help me ask how I might get involved in this?"

Qiu Shuyun looked at him deeply. This boy had already surprised her by knowing about the Black Dragon Eighteen Hands; now, he even knew the Taihe Market stalls were worth buying? The investigation Zhou Guodong had conducted seemed like waste paper. In the information gathered, Li Qi was a social drifter who didn't do well in school; there was no way he should have known this.

The long-term planning for the area around Taihe Market was part of a package deal tied to the province's next five-year plan, and those with access to this information were few and far between. The five hundred stalls in the core area were allegedly for sale, but in reality, they had already been divvied up by those in the know. The rumors of a five-thousand-yuan price tag were true, but it was impossible for an ordinary citizen to actually purchase one. The Market Management Bureau had opened a registration process, promising a lottery system, but those in power knew there would be no lottery. Ordinary citizens who registered would simply receive a notice saying the stalls were sold out.

But now, since Li Qi had brought it up, she would certainly get him the stalls he wanted. She smiled. "Xiao Qi, if you trust me, give the money to me. I will record your information, and once the stalls are purchased, I will have the paperwork delivered to you."

Li Qi immediately placed the envelope he had just received from the mine into Qiu Shuyun’s hands. "You make it sound so distant—if I can't trust you, who can I trust? This is ten thousand; the other ten thousand is at the savings bank, and I’ll go get it right now."

Qiu Shuyun nodded. "Go ahead. I will chat with your father and sister for a while and have them tell me about your mother back in the day."

Li Qi pedaled his bicycle toward the bank, a heavy stone finally lifted from his heart. In his previous life, he knew the Taihe stalls were hard to buy because local businessmen had seen the potential and were all eager to move. Even his second brother, Li Hai, had supposedly saved up some and borrowed more from his in-laws to scrape together five thousand yuan, only for the matter to fizzle out. Now, with Qiu Shuyun involved, it was a sure thing.

Half an hour later, when he returned, Zhou Guodong had also come back. His eldest sister, Li Li, was buried in Qiu Shuyun’s arms, her eyes red from crying.

A possibility crossed Li Qi’s mind, and he asked in astonishment, "Big Sister, you wouldn't happen to be Auntie Qiu’s biological daughter, would you?"