Chapter 38: Do You Know That My Heart Has Already Crossed Thousands of Mountains and Rivers

Having the saleswoman tag along proved to be a blessing. Carrying his daughter as he wandered about, she mingled with the young mothers from the countryside, letting their children play and interact. Whenever Wei Dong thought of coming over to take the child, she deftly avoided him, keeping her distance. Only when they boarded the car for the return journey did she remind him, “You said it would look bad if people saw us together… Remember to pay the taxes later.”

The veteran security guard from the tax office naturally understood the intricacies involved. “These transactions are untraceable… No, the Ten Thousand Merchants Trade Company is always under scrutiny, isn’t it?”

Dong Xueying nodded repeatedly, “You’re right, they’re definitely being watched. Now, the top three charges against Old You and his people are obtaining fraudulent bank loans, misappropriating corporate funds, and evading taxes. They’ll definitely make a fuss over this. You’re too smart to let them catch you over something as trivial as this.”

Wei Dong instinctively avoided the Shi family, knowing that the taxation system was typically separate from other government departments, and tax officials seldom held positions in the government. Old Shi’s later leap to the city was a rare achievement. If not for the Shi family—especially Old Lady Shi—he wouldn’t bother paying taxes nor attract attention. But with them around, the moment he paid taxes, it would be loudly trumpeted as being connected to the Ten Thousand Merchants Trade Company.

He had no desire to play host while You Qili was still in prison, so ultimately, it was Shi Linyan’s foolishness that stirred up trouble.

The gently jolting cabin on the return journey gave Wei Dong time to silently ponder. Dong Xueying lowered the music, softly patting her daughter, absorbed in the warmth and calm.

When they arrived at the canning factory, Wei Dong had an idea. “After lunch, we’ll go to the local tax office and pay the taxes in your name—not the Trade Company, and not mine.”

He had previously dared to sell titanium ingots without paying taxes because there was no network connection. Military factories had substantial tax incentives and theoretically didn’t pay local taxes, so he couldn’t be traced. As for those private non-ferrous metal factories, their accounts were far more chaotic, dodging taxes left and right, which was none of his concern.

But Dong Xueying’s reminder made him realize the current danger. Taxation was a matter of indifference until an investigation began—then it became a burden. Moreover, Ten Thousand Merchants Trade Company was now a thorn in the side of the local authorities and best avoided.

Dong Xueying seemed accustomed to taking the blame and agreed quietly.

The process went smoothly—the township tax office rarely saw such commercial tax sources and was delighted. The tax amount was actually quite low, so Wei Dong, hiding in the driver’s cabin with the child, instructed Dong Xueying to handle yesterday’s taxes as well. If not for fear of revealing himself as a sixty-thousand-yuan household, he would have gladly paid all back taxes.

He restrained himself.

After settling the taxes and hurrying to the next village, Dong Xueying couldn’t resist singing softly and admitted, “You’re more efficient than Old You and his people. They always need loans, rely on payment periods to juggle funds, which creates a lot of extra expenses… Like kickbacks for lenders and handlers, which aren’t insignificant.”

Wei Dong instantly understood—no wonder Old You’s business always stumbled. His method of leveraging others with no capital required smoothing connections, with high hidden costs! Always trying never to spend a cent, letting others bear all the risks, inevitably saw profits siphoned off by these needless intermediaries.

For instance, even this simple citrus deal with the canning factory incurred extra costs. Dong Xueying, who managed basic finances, explained, “Old You never pocketed anything, but he didn’t manage the accounts closely and was a bit spendthrift, so others started exploiting loopholes for their gain…”

At long last, much was revealed.

Wei Dong now clearly saw the strengths and weaknesses of You Qili’s business tactics.

That evening, after settling accounts with the driver and porters, the two who’d kept their distance outside happened to pass last night’s restaurant and spoke at the same time:

“I haven’t cooked today…”

“I’m hungry—shall we eat here?”

They exchanged a glance, and Wei Dong broke into a broad smile. He couldn’t even explain his delight as he reached out, “Let me hold the child.”

The young woman handed the child over, but as she closed the door and walked down, she bit her lip hard and shook her head at herself.

Seated in the cozy restaurant, she first poured hot water for Wei Dong, set his bowl and chopsticks, then reached for the child.

Wei Dong refused, “I’ll take care of her. You’ve been carrying her all day—you must be tired.”

Dong Xueying, standing behind him, gently rocked herself and sat at the side table with her head bowed. “Today was wonderful. Since I joined Old You’s trade company at the end of last year, I’ve seen so many things I’d never imagined, but today was the happiest and most relaxed. The trade company is too dangerous; it feels like walking on a cliff’s edge every day.”

Wei Dong didn’t grasp the weight of her words. “I told you long ago, Old You’s approach is one man’s glory built on countless bones. It’s fine for gaining experience and seeing the world, but never become cannon fodder. He’s always tossing dynamite—who can handle that?”

He hadn’t noticed his tone was much softer than when he’d seen the child freezing at the rental door two nights before.

The young woman sensed it, keeping her head down. “Teacher Shi is young and beautiful, her family background is good. If you marry her, you’ll be happy.”

Wei Dong burst out laughing, “Her? She’s sharp-tongued, cold, and annoying—anyone who marries her is cursed for eight generations!”

Dong Xueying couldn’t help but look up, “No, I’ve spoken with Teacher Shi twice. She’s gentle, patient, and cultured.”

Wei Dong was referring to Old Lady Shi, “Just look at her mother—like mother, like daughter. I told you, they look down on country folk. How lowly would I have to be to willingly endure their contempt?”

Forty years weren’t enough—should he endure more?

Dong Xueying, perhaps influenced by Old You and his crowd, had lost the ordinary charm of a rural woman. She quickly debated, “You mean Xiao Die will end up like me? Marry a useless man, then divorce and be pointed at?”

Wei Dong was silenced, “No… not necessarily. We’re working hard so our child won’t repeat our mistakes. I believe I’m no longer a mud-legged peasant; I’ll help take care of this child.”

It slipped out naturally. He glanced down to confirm, “Yes, rest assured. As long as I have food, this child won’t suffer.”

He’d never had the confidence to say such words in his previous life.

Dong Xueying’s eyes reddened suddenly, and she bowed her head, “Thank you, Wei Dong. I’m a few years older, divorced, so I see you as a younger brother. Actually, Teacher Shi is truly nice. Her family doesn’t realize your potential yet. Old You says you’ll be extraordinary, Reporter Yu says you have a chivalrous spirit, steady and pragmatic—gold will always shine.”

Wei Dong was puzzled, “Why must I marry into the Shi family? You just said I’m so outstanding; shouldn’t I choose whom I like?”

The young woman pondered quietly, “That’s true. Then let me help find someone for you.”

Wei Dong had never been in love, never experienced women, even though his internal engine was firing, he remained thoroughly insulated.

He couldn’t interpret the subtext of their tug-of-war. “Fine! But I truly don’t want anyone I dislike. Preferably not someone from Shangzhou, since we’ll definitely leave this place someday.”

Dong Xueying looked up in surprise, “We won’t stay here?”

Her eyes sparkled brilliantly.

Wei Dong answered as if it were obvious, “I’ve explained to Reporter Yu clearly—this government environment isn’t good, so we’ll leave, at least to Jiangzhou. Cities with special plans are much more open, maybe even Beijing or Shanghai. Why stay here? As long as we have money, giving Xiao Die the best education won’t be a problem.”

He wasn’t making empty promises to the young woman.

They’d need to switch planes—their future battlefield wouldn’t be this small city by the river.

But the impact of those words was akin to saying “I’ll take care of you” or “I’ll show you the world.”

Dong Xueying’s chest heaved dramatically, and she bowed her head to hide the tears that welled up, replying with a nasal “mm” after a long moment.

Perhaps it was like finally seeing a clear spring after months in the desert, or a strong hand reaching out to pull her up.

She alone understood the world-shaking feeling.

Wei Dong felt proud inside. His parents knew his background but not what he was up to; Er Feng could barely keep pace but insisted on being a wife; Dog Egg’s words were never as satisfying as pig’s head meat and two shots of white liquor.

So he kept his head down, watching the child with contentment. “When Old You is released, we’ll move to Jiangzhou to start over…”

Dong Xueying looked up sharply, “Ah? Still following Old You?”

Wei Dong was equally surprised, “You… why do you look like you’re about to cry again?”

Dong Xueying quickly wiped her eyes with her sleeve, “No, no, it’s just that Old You may have a hard time leaving here.”

Wei Dong immediately asked why.

The saleswoman and accountant felt she understood him better now. “His mother, wife, and children are my neighbors. On one hand, he’s deeply attached to Shangzhou; on the other, he won’t admit defeat. He must clear his name here, otherwise he can’t prove that the direction he pointed out after his last imprisonment was right.”

Wei Dong was dumbfounded. Other than changing planes and a bit of gossip, he knew nothing.

Was You Qili really so stubborn? “Why does he have to prove these things? That’s for the big shots up top to worry about—why must pawns get involved?”

Dong Xueying explained, “During the Movement period, he was arrested for organizing a Marxist-Leninist study group—almost sentenced to death. He kept fighting, wrote to ZY, and in 1980, ZY’s office team met them and said ZY’s leaders cared about these young theorists, encouraged them to keep going. It was a heavy responsibility to reform and revitalize their hometown. It was even in the papers!”

Wei Dong burst out laughing. “No wonder! He’s addicted to that feeling of his voice reaching the highest levels—always wanting to go to Beijing, petition, because the root is here. He tasted the sweet fruit and now he’s hooked. Isn’t that reckless?”

Dong Xueying, who had just resolved to change direction, still spoke with pride, genuinely puzzled, “Reckless?”

They were greeted, cared for—how could it be reckless?