Chapter 4: Target Secured

Having rushed nonstop to Changyang County, Su Pingnan decided to first go check on Su Anxi, who was a second-year student at Changyang No.1 High School.

Su Anxi was now eighteen, tall and willowy. Even her baggy, unattractive school uniform couldn’t hide it. Her delicate features, high nose bridge and fair skin made her the dream girl of all the naive boys at the school.

The little ruffians of this era had a feral streak later generations would envy. And because Su Pingnan’s exploits in Changyang County were so fearsome, Su Anxi was able to be a studious top student in peace, without being bothered.

Su Pingnan leaned against the streetlight by the Changyang No.1 High School gate and smoked. He’d switched to Hongtashan cigarettes — after being reborn he really couldn’t stand the unfiltered low-quality Ziguangge ones.

As Changyang No.1 High School dismissed their students for the day, some students from the remedial class and a few third-year ruffians recognized him. The bold ones put on obsequious smiles and greeted him. Once they walked away they would excitedly brag to classmates who didn’t know him about their connection to the Little Red Robe.

“Brother, what are you doing here?”

The graceful Su Anxi stood prettily in front of Su Pingnan and looped her arm through his.

Su Anxi and Su Dingbei were very close to Su Pingnan. He had always been lavish with money, and of course he’d never be stingy with his two younger sisters, so the girls had clung to him since childhood.

Su Pingnan put away his thoughts and grinned as he appraised his sister who had become young again. This sister’s temperament was exactly like their mother’s: exceptionally gentle.

In his previous life, she had no choice but to start working at a young age to earn more money for the family, so the bright girl gave up university to enroll in a shabby vocational college. She went to a farm machinery factory, was later laid off, and married a petty man. Her marriage was unhappy and life was hard. Still, even after Su Pingnan became a wandering, homeless man, Su Anxi always managed to locate him during the holiday season and secretly slip some money into his pocket because she feared he would refuse if she asked whether he needed money.

Putting away the spreading thoughts in his mind, Su Pingnan affectionately patted Su Anxi’s ponytail.

“I’m here to give you some money. Also to see if any worthless fools try to bully you.”

Su Pingnan stuffed 100 yuan into Su Anxi’s bag and spoke with a grin.

“Brother, that’s too much.” It’s true that children from poor families mature early. Su Anxi felt a little flustered when she saw the blue hundred-yuan note.

“It’s alright, your brother’s got money.”

Su Anxi admired her second brother inwardly. Although their eldest brother and parents didn’t approve of his lifestyle, she thought a man should be like him. Hearing that, she didn’t refuse but hesitantly nodded.

She was indeed frugal in daily life, but there were still study materials she needed to buy.

After chatting a bit more, Su Pingnan reiterated as he left, “You must get into university — I’ll cover the tuition. University can give you the life you want, understand?”

Fearing Su Anxi wouldn’t take it seriously, Su Pingnan narrowed his eyes and said fiercely, “If you dare listen to Su Zhendong’s short-sighted nonsense, I’ll go back and break Su Zhendong’s legs.”

The Su brothers had completely opposite personalities. Although Su Zhendong’s name sounded imposing, his temperament was that of a typical old farmer: timid, honest, conflict-averse and fond of small bargains. Because of his nature, even though he was nearly three years older than Su Pingnan, he had been beaten by Su Pingnan many times.

Seeing Su Pingnan’s expression, Su Anxi knew he was serious. She’d experienced her brother’s ferocity since childhood. If she didn’t agree, he might actually go home and break their eldest brother’s legs.

Su Anxi nodded vigorously and also felt relieved. She longed for university but worried about burdening the family financially. Since her second brother had said it was fine, then it must be fine. In her current view, as long as Su Pingnan said so, there was nothing he couldn’t accomplish.

After bidding farewell to Su Anxi, Su Pingnan began to calculate whether his plan could be flawless. He had learned that the incident had happened three days ago, and in his memory, the money had been burned on the fifth day, meaning he had just over a day to act.

Having been reborn, he had to be extremely cautious. While he did have a hand of trump cards, if he couldn’t guarantee absolute safety, he’d rather give up than take risks.

Li Jie’s home was in the ICBC staff compound; the bank’s welfare was indeed good. Each house was brick-built, separated by earthen walls, with private yards that felt very quiet and secluded.

Su Pingnan wore an old-fashioned peaked cap and turned up his coat collar to hide his most obvious shaved-head feature.

He also carried a boxed set of canned goods as a gift, costing nearly ten yuan — a rather valuable present for people in Changyang County.

As evening fell, Su Pingnan saw Li Jie calmly ride out on his bicycle and felt a certain admiration for the man’s composure.

After doing something so big, and still going out to gamble without a change of expression — that was something.

Su Pingnan straightened his collar, lifted the boxes, and swaggered right in.

Sure enough, he aroused no suspicion along the way. In front of Li Jie’s courtyard, Su Pingnan bent as if to tie his shoe, glanced around with his peripheral vision, and when he confirmed no one was nearby, he made a springing step and slipped inside with the agility of a leopard.

Looking at the old padlock on the door, Su Pingnan gave a wry smile — he had learned these tricks out of boredom in a prison in his previous life.

The room was dark. After a few seconds’ fumbling, he pulled six bundled stacks of bills from the stove. After thinking, he took four bundles, then tied up paper cut to roughly the same size as the bills and bundled it with the remaining twenty thousand before placing it back.

Then he carefully took out a small plastic packet, about the size of an instant noodle seasoning sachet, containing kerosene, and placed it underneath.

He was indeed cautious: forty thousand yuan was enough for him to start with. He put the kerosene to ensure a thorough burn when Li Jie’s mother cooked, and left twenty thousand as a fallback in case they later tested the ashes. Although the technology of the time wasn’t very advanced, Su Pingnan thought being careful couldn’t hurt.

After finishing, Su Pingnan didn’t immediately leave Changyang County. He staked out near Li Jie’s house for another day.

He waited until he saw a plainly dressed old woman enter Li Jie’s house and, after a little while, smoke began to curl up from the kitchen — only then did he smile and leave.

No one would have imagined that a business giant in the years to come would begin its voyage from today.