Before arriving at Luo Village, Ji Siying had studied Xiao Luo’s data profile thoroughly. She was well aware of everything Xiao Luo had done at Jiangcheng, especially the massacre at Long Sankui’s mansion on that fateful, stormy night. The report sent a chill down her spine and made her believe that he was a demon in human guise. She had wondered why and even asked her superior about the reason that NSA was recruiting such a person, but she received nothing more than the word ‘secret’ in response.

Although Xiao Luo appeared like an ordinary person, Ji Siying knew that everything she saw was nothing but a facade. The real Xiao Luo had both of his hands drenched in blood.

“Mr. Xiao Luo, may I ask you a question?”

Xiao Luo was reading the current affairs and news on his phone while sipping on the tea. Smiling, he lifted his head and said, “Sure.”

“Why did you want to destroy Dragon Gang?”

She was a curious person by nature and the kind of girl who would relentlessly seek answers, and if she could not find the answer, it would always remain on her mind.

“That’s because the people that ought to have carried out their duties didn’t. When I happened to appear then, I stepped up and dealt with the matter,” Xiao Luo said, smiling smugly.

“Oh.”

Ji Siying nodded as if she understood.

“Xiao Luo, it’s dinner time!”

Xiao Luo’s granny called for them from the first floor.

Xiao Luo put down his phone and teacup, got up, and turned toward the door. “Let’s go down for dinner.”

“Roger.”

Ji Siying immediately got up as she answered.

Xiao Luo was already half-way down the stairs, and before she left the room, Ji Siying took out a notebook and jotted down swiftly: Mr. Xiao Luo regularly drinks Tieguanyin tea and reads about current affairs and news.

******

******

Both of his grandparents were fond of Ji Siying. Since her arrival, they have been smiling non-stop, and his grandmother was especially enthusiastic whenever she was around. She always showed great concern for Ji Siying, and they spoke a lot. She had already asked about her family and how many siblings she had.

Ji Siying was well-prepared for such questions, so she answered them happily.

Aunt Taoxiu from next door came to visit with a large plate of fried purple sweet potato. This was an opportunity for her to take a closer look at Xiao Luo’s girlfriend.

“Hello, aunt!” Ji Siying greeted her politely.

“Good, good, Siying’s very polite, and she’s so beautiful. Hah, Xiao Luo, you’re so fortunate.” Aunt Taoxiu felt genuinely happy for Xiao Luo.

How was Xiao Luo to reply? Ji Siying was nothing more than a fake girlfriend.

******

******

It was near the end of the year, and traditionally it was time for farm-reared pigs, fishes, and ducks to be sold. Pigs and fishes were collected by the buyers themselves, so it didn’t demand much effort from the farmers. But the ducks were a different proposition altogether, and they needed to be transported to the town market to be sold.

The south of Luo Village was known to have higher rainfall during the winter season.

It was the market day, and Xiao Luo chose not idle at home like a loafer, but instead, he went to the market to help his parents out. Pilferage was inevitable during busy times when the business was brisk, and it would definitely help to have an extra pair of eyes and hands to ease the burden.

The skies were overcast, and it was drizzling, but the market was still bustling with a myriad of people. Not even the cold and rain could not snuff out the enthusiasm of the village folk looking for good deals.

“Son, I’ve heard that you’re dating a wealthy girlfriend, and she has even come to our house?” Hua Heying asked.

Xiao Luo explained, “Mom, she’s not my girlfriend, she’s just a friend.”

“Don’t you play the fool here, she’s taken the initiative to come to our house, you better be responsible towards her.” Xiao Zhiyuan, stern as always, cut in out of the blue.

“Dad, it’s not what you’re thinking, I’m not going to marry her, surely.”

“What are you talking about, you’re not planning to be another ‘Chen Shimei,’ 1 are you?”

Xiao Zhiyuan was provoked, and he stared at Xiao Luo with wide eyes as a warning to him. “Boy, if you dare to cheat on her with another woman, I will not go easy on you!”

Xiao Luo felt a little troubled, but he didn’t know how he could explain the situation without breaking her cover.

“Boss, how much does this duck cost?” A customer asked.

“Sixteen bucks per catty.”

Xiao Zhiyuan grabbed a duck from the wire cage with a smile, and enthusiastically showed it to the customer. He said, “Take a look, it’s gorgeous, nice and plump. And I guarantee that it has molted fully, so the feather plucking process will be straightforward and simple. Get yourself one.”

“No, no, it’s too expensive.” The customer frowned upon hearing the price and shook his head repeatedly.

“What have you been feeding this duck with, paddy or provender? Another customer approached.

“Uncle, if anyone ever tells you that his duck has never been fed with provender, he must be lying. The amount of paddy required for a duck to reach maturity actually costs twice that of the duck’s cost. And duck dealers have to earn a living, if we aren’t making any money, then we’re working for nothing literally.” Xiao Zhiyuan was an honest and straightforward man, and he would never lie to customers.

That customer shook his head and said, “I want to buy a duck that’s been fed with paddy only, I don’t want any that’s been fed with provender.”

“Boss, why is the feather on the head of this duck white, I’m buying one to offer as sacrifice during the new year for a fortuitous year ahead. But it’s a bad omen to sacrifice a white-headed duck.”

“Your ducks are all too fat, I don’t want such a huge one.”

“They’re all male ducks, I wanted to buy a female duck.”

******

Many customers were picky, and some even complained, but Xiao Zhiyuan and Hua Heying continued to respond to them with enthusiastic smiles.

Xiao Luo was observing from the side. This man and woman were the two people that had raised him. They were not educated but had borne the burden of raising the family through sheer hard work. Their clothes were drenched in the rain, but they were still standing there without even being conscious of it.

It would be an understatement to say that he didn’t feel sorry for them. Xiao Luo could immediately provide for them and offer them a better life now, but his father rejected the idea outright. Everyone had their dream, and his father, Xiao Zhiyuan, was no different, and he wanted to realize his dream through his own effort.

“Dad, let me handle the farm after the new year,” Xiao Luo said.

When he heard that, Xiao Zhiyuan turned and stared at him with a bewildered look. He said, “Husbandry and crop planting aren’t your forte, don’t take on more than you can handle.”

“I’m serious, I do not wish that you and mom are living such a tough life. You know it, I can afford a better life for you both, and you won’t have to worry about anything else,” Xiao Luo said.

Xiao Zhiyuan was a proud man, and his dignity would not allow him to accept such an offer. “You have your own business, and so does your father, don’t mix them up,” he said.

“The son will ultimately inherit his father’s business sooner or later, and it’s the same in my case. Isn’t it better to leave it to me early?”

He had a point, and Xiao Zhiyuan was quite convinced. But as he thought about it, selling ducks was such a demanding job, and the owner needed to be prepared to continue selling through any condition, even on such a rainy day for the sake of the business. He decided that he did not want Xiao Luo to get into such a challenging trade, and he said, “You continue to be a boss and stay away from this, you have soft and fair skin, you can’t possibly last long in this business.”

“Dad, you’ve only sold four ducks since we’ve arrived at the market. Leave this to me, and I promise you that I can sell all fifty ducks in half an hour,” Xiao Luo said.

Xiao Zhiyuan was slightly offended, as it was quite a feat to be able to sell four ducks in an hour, and he felt quite proud of it. However, Xiao Luo had actually said that he could sell fifty in half an hour, which sounded like a silly dare to him.

Even though those words came from his son, Xiao Zhiyuan still felt that his pride was being challenged. “Are you sure you can?”

“Why don’t we try, and if I can achieve it, then we’ll run the farm using my operating model. Of course, you’re still the owner,” Xiao Luo said.

Xiao Zhiyuan was annoyed and didn’t take kindly to what he considered an affront. He bellowed, “Do you mean that my operating model is wrong?”

“Not necessarily wrong, but there’re some problems,” Xiao Luo replied.

The farm had been running for seven years but still remained at the primary phase of business, yet both of his parents were always constantly busy since the farm began. It indicated to Xiao Luo that the operating model of the farm definitely had a problem. He wanted to help his father, but his father absolutely refused any financial help. Therefore, the most effective way to do it was not to give him money but to change the farm’s operating model.

Footnote:1 Chen Shimei is a Chinese opera character and a byword in China for a heartless and unfaithful man.