The wholesale market for smallmodities opened at seven o''clock, just like the morning market, and small merchants and peddlers came to buy goods in bulk.


    This smallmodities wholesale market was privately owned, belonging to the family of thergestndlord in Xiping City before the liberation. For a long time after liberation, it was upied by the supply and marketing cooperative, but after rehabilitation, it was returned to thendlord''s family.


    Coincidentally, the descendant of thatndlord was also surnamed Yan, a distant rtive of Yan Xishan, named Yan Dongping. Their ancestors had been majorndlords, so after rehabilitation, the governmentpensated them generously, allowing them to live more luxuriously than Yan Xishan.


    Just as Chen Men entered the wholesale market, she heard someone say, "Have you heard? Yan Dongping says he wants to sell this building."


    "He''s gotten hooked on opium, of course he''s selling the building," another person replied.


    "Such arge building, who could afford it? It must cost several hundred thousand, right?"


    Chen Men paused in her steps. Although the words "People''s Commune Supply and Marketing Cooperative" were still on the roof and hadn''t been removed, and the exterior walls were dpidated, this area was destined to be the city center in the future. Moreover, it upied a vast area, and thend alone would be worth a fortune in the future.


    Yan Dongping had nearly been beaten to death during the revolutionary years, and he had only been wealthy for a few years. How could he be selling the building because of opium addiction?


    Such a building could generate rental ie effortlessly now, and would be subject to demolition and relocation in the future. Anyone with foresight and money to buy it would secure the future for three generations. Unfortunately, buying a building was never easy in any era.


    Even if Zhou Xueqin had been reborn and was bustling about making money, she still couldn''t afford to buy a building.


    Someone whispered, "I heard that Yan Dongping has been contacting that big shot from their vige in the capital recently. Isn''t his second daughter-inw doing business in the capital? They should be able toe up with several hundred thousand at once, but it depends on whether they want to buy it or not."


    There was a person from Yanguan Vige who went to the capital to do business and was beaten to death. That was the case Yan Peiheng had taken care of, and Yan Dongping was that person''s nephew.


    Chen Men had a thought: Yan Wei''s wife, Mi Lan, was doing business, reportedly very sessfully. Could it be that Yan Dongping was urgently in need of money and was contacting Mi Lan, wanting to sell the building?


    Even though they were from the same vige, Yan Xishan couldn''t afford this building.


    Had Yan Wei and his wife really be so wealthy that they dared to ask about the price of an entire building?


    Recently, the stock market had been performing poorly, and Chen Men had wanted to remind Yan Peiheng to investigate whether Yan Wei and his wife were specting in stocks. It seemed her concerns were unnecessary. Even if Mi Lan had lost money in the stock market, she should still be able toe up with three hundred thousand.


    ...


    The mother and two children continued walking inside, passing stall after stall filled with a dazzling array of wholesale goods.


    "There are popsicles here, let''s buy them here," Little Lang said, refusing to move on when he saw a stall selling ice cream wholesale.


    His goal was to eat, not to buy.


    "You don''t understand. If we keep walking, there''s a famous female hooligan from our district who sells ice cream two cents cheaper than others," Yan Xiaowang said excitedly.


    He was a typical miser, a real Grandet.


    To save two cents, he was willing to wear out the soles of the sandals Chen Men had just bought him.


    However, after walking a few more steps, Xiaowang suddenly darted back: "Mom, it''s not good. There are thugs at the female hooligan''s ce. Let''s go thereter."


    This little rascal roamed around all day, and it was clearly not his first time at the wholesale market. He not only knew which stalls had lower prices but even recognized the thugs.


    When Chen Men heard the words "female hooligan," she felt it might be someone she knew.


    Standing on tiptoes to look, she saw a woman in her early thirties at a distant stall, wearing a white terylene shirt, her hair greasy and stered to her scalp. She was surrounded by several young thugs and was taking money out of her pockets.


    "Qi Songlu?" Chen Men called out.


    The woman was indeed Chen Men''s friend, Qi Songlu. She had heard that Qi Songlu had gone south a few years ago, and they hadn''t seen each other for five or six years. She didn''t expect to find her doing wholesale business here.


    "Come backter if you want to buy wholesale. Qi Songlu is busy," one of the thugs turned around and said to Qi Songlu, "You female hooligan, hurry up with the protection money."


    "Sir, we''re all acquaintances here. I''m a rtive of Yan Dongping''s family. Could you do us a favor and not bully my sister?" Chen Men stepped forward and said.


    Nowadays, thugs and hooligans liked to be addressed as "sir," finding it particrly ttering. Chen Men was also using Yan Dongping''s name, so they should have given her face.


    However, this time Chen Men''s gamble didn''t pay off. The thugsughed when they heard this and said, "That bastard Yan Dongping owes us a lot of money for drugs. What, are you here to pay his debt?"


    How could Yan Dongping, andlord living off rent, owe money to small-time thugs for drugs?


    This stumped Chen Men. She hadn''t expected Yan Dongping to have fallen so low.


    She was about to send Xiaowang out to page Yan Zhao if these thugs kept bothering her.


    But just then, a tall man wearing a motorcycle helmet strode over and shouted in a Shaanxi dialect, "You sons of bitches, get lost right now!"


    The thugs were clearly afraid of this helmeted man. Hearing his booming voice, they fled without a word.


    "From now on, no more collecting protection money in this market. Get lost, and stay far away," the man said in his thick Shaanxi ent. As he passed by Chen Men, he turned and looked her up and down, surprisingly calling out her full name: "Chen Men?"


    "Yes, that''s me," Chen Men replied.


    "Impressive girl, let me hear you call me ''sir,''" the man said with a thick Shaanxi ent, giving her a thumbs up.


    Chen Men frowned, thinking this must be another thug, probably the boss of the thugs. But was he mentally ill, asking her to call him "sir"? She really couldn''t bring herself to say "sir" in the Shaanxi dialect.


    However, the man seemed to be joking intentionally,ughing as if he had a subwoofer in his mouth, and walked away chuckling.


    Chen Men then turned back and walked to Qi Songlu''s stall.


    "Mom, this is that famous female..." Yan Xiaowang tugged at Chen Men''s arm, pointing at Qi Songlu. Just as he was about to say "hooligan," Chen Men gently shushed him: "Xiaowang, you must never call this auntie a female hooligan again."


    "Why not?" Xiaowang asked in a whisper.


    Chen Men sighed, "Because if I hadn''t missed something back then, I would have beenbeled a female hooligan by the police just like her."


    Xiaowang''s mouth fell open, and it took him a while to let out an "Oh."


    Children don''t understand much. Looking at the woman in her thirties from afar, with her greasy hair hanging over her face and wrinkles etched like knife cuts, he couldn''tprehend why this seemingly miserable woman would be called a female hooligan.


    Moreover, his mother had almost beenbeled a female hooligan by the police?


    Why was that?


    However, when Chen Men had decided to apany Xiaowang on his money-making adventure that morning, she never expected that Xiaowang would lead her to Qi Songlu.


    This little guy was truly her lucky star.


    A few days ago, she had been thinking that Yan Xishan was about to sell coal on arge scale, which would bring in substantial funds. She could tolerate his fondness for prostitutes, drinking, and fancy clothes.


    But she feared he might have evil intentions, turning the Xishan Company into a shellpany, using Yuan Yuan''s money to establish a newpany to expand his own interests, and then kicking her and Yuan Yuan out. Therefore, she needed an ountant to keep an eye on Yan Xishan for her.


    But finding an ountant in Xiping City who wouldn''t be corrupted or tempted by Yan Xishan was no easy task.


    Qi Songlu happened to be just such a person.


    She had graduated with a degree in finance and could do ounting. She had once been an ountant for the supply and marketing cooperative.


    She also hated Yan Xishan with a passion and would never change her stance.


    Speaking of this, we should mention Qi Songlu''s unique title as Xiping City''s first female hooligan.


    Qi Songlu''s ex-husband was named Wang Ding''an, a demobilized soldier who currently worked as a police officer in Jinxi District, holding the same position of investigation team leader as Yan Zhao.


    Qi Songlu, on the other hand, was the former head ountant of the supply and marketing cooperative.


    When Wang Ding''an had just been demobilized from the army and hadn''t been assigned a job yet, he had hung around with Yan Xishan for a while. That was in 1983, during the first nationwide crackdown on crime. Dance halls had sprung up like mushrooms after rain in the city. Yan Xishan loved dancing and had invited Wang Ding''an to go dancing with him at a dance hall.


    When Qi Songlu heard about this, she called Chen Men, wanting to go to the dance hall together to catch their men.


    At that time, Yuan Yuan was still an infant, and Chen Men particrly disliked going to dance halls, so she didn''t go.


    So Qi Songlu went alone to the dance hall to look for her husband.


    As it happened, that day the police were conducting a strict crackdown, and everyone in the dance hall was arrested and taken to the police station.


    Qi Songlu was an innocent victim, having gone in to find her husband, but Wang Ding''an and Yan Xishan had slipped away like butter, avoiding arrest, while she was caught red-handed.


    Those arrested in the dance hall would be charged with hooliganism if rtives didn''t im them and pay a fine.


    Wang Ding''an had no money, so he asked Yan Xishan to find money to bail her out. Yan Xishan also had no money at the time and was frantically jumping up and down, unable to borrow money from anywhere. In the end, he borrowed money from Hu Xiaomei to bail out Qi Songlu.


    But only rtives could bail out those charged with hooliganism. Wang Ding''an was inexplicably bedridden at the time, and Yan Xishan wasn''t a rtive, so even with money, he couldn''t get her out. Qi Songlu was thus sentenced andbeled a female hooligan.


    The 1983 sentencing involved public shaming parades and mass trials, which she participated in, touring the entire city for dozens of sessions.


    After all, she had been an ountant at the supply and marketing cooperative. Though Qi Songlu was beautiful, she rarely smiled and was considered an ice beauty. At the time, rumors gradually spread, with many people saying she was an ountant by day and a prostitute by night. Some even imed with certainty that they had slept with her, saying that despite her usual haughty demeanor, she actually had an insatiable sexual appetite and would willingly sleep with men without payment, running out to the streets at night to solicit men.


    For a while, men would even joke, "Be careful, Qi Songlu might kidnap and rape you tonight."


    The early 1980s, right after the Cultural Revolution ended, saw decades of sexual repression unleashed like a fierce tiger set free from its cage. When it could finally be discussed openly, people''s ignorance about and exploration of sexuality, as well as their pent-up desires, were all projected onto the city''s only female "hooligan." Everyone in Xiping City knew about Qi Songlu.


    She lost her job, her marriage, and was disowned by her parents and siblings.


    Her reputation was ruined, and she was abandoned by all.


    However, after many years without seeing each other, Qi Songlu showed no goodwill towards Chen Men, ring at her and asking, "Isn''t this the boss''s wife of Xishan Company? What are you doing here?"


    Speaking of Xishan Company, that was the ce Xiaowang hated most.


    "This is my mother, she has nothing to do with Xishan Company," Xiaowang said loudly.


    Qi Songlu was taken aback, but then spoke more kindly: "Is this your child? He''s grown so big?"


    "Me too," Little Lang stepped forward, raising his head, a chubby little cherub with rosy lips and white teeth.


    Chen Men, who had be a mother without pain, though she truly didn''t want to love these two children, couldn''t help but feel proud whenever they stood before her. Both little ones were very cute and generally well-behaved, mainly because they were so easy to raise.


    "You and Yan Xishan..."


    "My dad is called Yan Zhao, Yan Zhao from Team One in Yanguan Vige," Yan Xiaowang quickly said.


    Qi Songlu wasn''t very clear about the situation in Yanguan Vige, but any observant person could see that Chen Men must have divorced and remarried.


    "How''s this job going for you?" Chen Men lifted the quilt covering Qi Songlu''srge freezer, seeing it packed full of popsicles. She first took one for Little Lang, then one for Xiaowang, and finally one for herself, then handed Qi Songlu one yuan.


    Qi Songlu dug into her pants pocket, fumbling for a while before pulling out a handkerchief, from which she counted out forty cents in warm coins and handed them to Men.


    This was just a small wholesale stand. Chen Men stood on tiptoe to look inside and saw a bed, but wasn''t surprised: "You live here, don''t you?"


    "People have to live somewhere, why can''t I live here?" Qi Songlu retorted.


    Not only was there a bed, but also a toothbrush, toothbrush holder, and the edge of a worn underwear peeking out from under the pillow. Clearly, this small wholesale stand was Qi Songlu''s home. She probably hadn''t bathed in a long time, as the whole stand was permeated with the smell of sweat and urine.


    Chen Men''s resolve to hire Qi Songlu as her ountant grew even stronger.


    Qi Songlu hated Yan Xishan.


    She even wished Yan Xishan would drop dead on the spot.


    So Chen Men was very confident, after all, Qi Songlu was now down on her luck, barely making ends meet by wholesaling popsicles at just two cents profit each. She figured Qi Songlu would be desperate for a steady ounting job.


    But when Chen Men made the offer, Qi Songlu was stunned for a moment, and surprisingly said, "I''d be willing to work as an ountant, who wouldn''t want a steady job with a sry? But I''m afraid if you hire me, you''ll be inviting big trouble."


    "Why?" Chen Men asked.


    Qi Songlu sighed and said, "A few years ago, I saved some money in Guangzhou and came back to set up this small stand. But there''s a gang of thugs who bully me wherever I go. If you hire me, I''m afraid they''lle after you too."


    Thugs?


    She could ask Yan Zhao about that.


    Chen Men''s construction site had also been troubled by thugs recently, but after she mentioned it to Yan Zhao, the thugs had disappeared without a trace.


    "I''ll take care of the thugs for you, you can work for me from now on!" Chen Men said decisively.


    ...


    Chen Men had never run a small business and was inexperienced and timid. Dongfang School had strict rules. When entering the school gates, Xiaowang wanted Chen Men to tell a lie and bring the popsicles in, but when the security guard pointed at the foam box and asked what was inside, Chen Men got nervous and blurted out, "Popsicles."


    The security guard had never encountered this situation before - arge foam box full of popsicles?


    "I eat them," Little Lang said, patting his little belly.


    The boy''s little belly did indeed look like it could consume a whole box of popsicles.


    The guard hesitated, then surprisingly let them pass.


    Once inside the school, Xiaowang immediately disyed his impressivework of connections. Every teacher who passed by greeted him, and he knew all the students. Many who were much taller than him passed by calling him "Little King Yan."


    "You''re quite popr at school, aren''t you?" Chen Men marveled.


    He even had a nickname, Little King Yan - did their family wholesale kings?


    Xiaowang took seven or eight popsicles from the foam box and ran off, saying, "Mom, take care of Little Lang."


    It was just after 10 AM on June 1st, and the weather was extremely hot. Parents were entering the venue, and the performance was about to begin.


    Sitting next to Men was the mother of Yuanyuan''s ssmate, Zheng Beibei. She was holding a small program and said, "My Beibei is the second performer, reciting poetry. What about your Zhaodi?"


    Before Chen Men could speak, she heard someone behind her say with a grin, "How did the principal arrange the program? Why did they put my Zhaodi second tost?"


    It was Yan Xishan, wearing sunsses and a white shirt, who squeezed through the crowd and sat down next to Chen Men: "Second tost, that''s underestimating my daughter''s talent."


    Chen Men couldn''t be bothered to talk to Yan Xishan, but Zheng Beibei''s mother wanted to tter this nouveau riche: "Second tost is the grand finale. Your Zhaodi is the closing act."


    "Oh, so my daughter is the grand finale," Yan Xishan said even louder, attracting nces from many people.


    Zheng Beibei''s mother leaned in close to Yan Xishan and whispered something, making him chuckle. He leaned towards Men and said, "Guess what that woman just told me?"


    "I don''t want to hear it. Go away."


    "She wanted to set me up with someone, said it''s a female ountant from a state-ownedpany, both parents are working professionals, she''s 24 this year, and as beautiful as a flower." Yan Xishan deliberately showed off the gold rings on his hand, dazzling everyone''s eyes.


    Suppressing her anger, Chen Men asked, "Where did you buy those gold rings?"


    "Gold is cheaptely. Want me to buy you one too?" Yan Xishan said enthusiastically.


    Chen Men rolled her eyes: "What about the watch?"


    Yan Xishan seemed to pretend he didn''t understand: "It''s a Citizen, the same kind Ken Takakura wore in ''Manhunt.'' If you want one, I can buy you a women''s model."


    Chen Men pointed at his brand new ck alligator skin bag and said, "This whole set must have cost nearly three thousand yuan. It looks good, makes you look very handsome."


    Yan Xishan had never been called handsome by Chen Men before, and suddenly felt his blood pressure rising. He held up five fingers: "This whole outfit cost five thousand yuan."


    "You''ve been secretly selling quite a bit of coal, haven''t you?" When Chen Men said this, Yan Xishan''s face finally lost its pleasant expression: "Men, how am I supposed to go out and socialize without proper clothes? Yes, the shares are in Zhaodi''s hands now, but I''m the one doing the work, I''m the one selling the coal. I deposit all the big sums into Zhaodi''s ount. What''s wrong with me spending a little of the money I earn? I''m going to get married again in the future, I''m going to have a son. You can''t really take away all my assets."


    This was typical Yan Xishan, getting so excited just because Yuanyuan was going to perform the finale.


    But his desire to have a son wasn''t dead. He would remarry sooner orter, and his potential matches were mostly female ountants, female finance workers, and other simr professionals. Those women understood ounts and finances, and could make fake books look wless.


    Chen Men had invested nearly 300,000 yuan to build sevenrge mine shafts that resembled fortresses. Once Yan Xishan remarried, the cash flow would be in the hands of a female ountant who belonged only to Yan Xishan.


    Chen Men''s palms hurt from clenching them. She remembered how in her previous life, in order to take care of her children''s education, she had handed over the finances and let Lu Jingyu hire an ountant to do the books. As a result, Lu Jingyu had quietly turned the originalpany into an empty shell, using their eldest son''s identity as the major shareholder to establish a newpany.


    Chen Men had suffered bitterly at home.


    While Lu Jingyu was quietly transferring all the assets to his son''s name, he was sighing about how difficult business was and how he was losing money every day.


    Men were worse than dogs. At least dogs were loyal to their masters, while men were only ever loyal to their sons and young, fresh women.


    In her previous life, Chen Men had seen a news story about a man who killed his second wife just to leave her house to the son from his first marriage, even though he had a lovely little daughter with his second wife whom he loved very much.


    Men might love their daughters to the core, but their wealth was always reserved for their sons.


    That''s why Chen Men absolutely needed Qi Songlu, the ountant.


    Only Qi Songlu could help Yuanyuan protect the cash flow from her mines from being given away by Yan Xishan to other women.


    Little Wang''s ice cream sold out in no time.


    It was hot, there were lots of people, and as soon as one child ate one, another immediately wanted one too. Little Wang scurried around like a ground squirrel, and before Yuanyuan''s performance had even started, he had almost sold out of ice cream.


    But at this point, a teacher noticed him.


    This wasn''t a good thing. A student selling popsicles at school, disrupting order - he was likely to face criticism in front of the whole school.


    But there was no need to panic. Little Wang turned back and asked Yan Xishan, "Uncle, you big spender, how about treating us to some ice cream?"


    "There''s ice cream in here?" Yan Xishan was so busy showing off that he hadn''t even noticed what was in the foam box in front of Chen Men.


    "Two yuan each, and I haven''t even had one yet. Give me twenty yuan, and I''ll sell you all these ice creams," Little Wang said, pushing the foam box over.


    Of course, Yan Xishan wanted to y the big shot in front of Little Wang. He immediately pulled out two ten-yuan notes and pped them into Little Wang''s hand. "Here, go y. My Zhaodi is performing today, so I''m treating everyone to ice cream."


    Little Wang took the twenty yuan, distributed the ice cream to the people around, then stood up and waved at the teacher at the edge of the field, pointing at Yan Xishan, before sitting down obediently.


    Soon it was time for Yuanyuan to go on stage, but several security guards came over, insisting on escorting Yan Xishan out.


    "Teacher, I''m Yan Zhaodi''s father. I didn''t sell this ice cream... I''m here to watch my daughter y the piano."


    "Sir, please leave!" The teacher paid no attention to Yan Xishan''s exnation.


    Chen Men reached out and tugged Little Wang''s ear. This little guy might be small, but he was full of tricks, setting people up like a pro.


    Seeing her re at him, Little Wang grinned shamelessly and sat on herp since she wouldn''t eat the ice cream.


    Little Lang was like his father, warm at night and in winter, but cool in summer and during the day. He didn''t talk much, and sitting on herp was soft andfortable. Little Wang, on the other hand, was stinky, sweaty from running around, and sitting like a big heater.


    Just as Chen Men was about to push Little Wang away, she suddenly saw Zheng Beibei''s mother bend down and sneak away. Several other parents also moved their small stools, trying to edge away as much as possible.


    "Has Yuanyuan''s performance started?" It was Yan Zhao, his voice as cold as his demeanor, silently sitting down next to Chen Men. Because he was wearing a police uniform, many people spontaneously moved away, leaving arge space for Chen Men.


    Yan Zhao''s timing was impable. The little girl announcing the acts said in a voice that could raise goosebumps, "Next up, Yan Shengnan will perform ''Let''s Row the Double Oars'' for us."


    Yan Zhao saw Little Wang still counting money and snatched it away, giving him a stern look to watch the stage.


    Yuanyuan was wearing the little white dress that Yan Zhao had bought her this timest year. She scanned the audience, bowed, and began to y the piano. With her pink hair clipplementing her apple-like cheeks, white dress, and brown sandals, she was the most beautiful little girl in the world. As she sat at the piano and raised her hands, the music began, and strangely enough, the previously chattering yground fell silent instantly.


    It was only when Yuanyuan appeared that Chen Men understood the charm of a finale performance. Because of the hot weather, and because most people''s children had already performed, everyone was about to leave. But Yuanyuan''s singing and piano ying could keep people in their seats.


    It was hot, and the field was particrly sunny. It was now past eleven, with the sun directly overhead.


    Yan Zhao looked left and right, then took off his jacket and draped it over Chen Men''s head.


    He covered her and the two little onespletely under the coat.


    "Deputy Director Yan, this is a bit too showy. Take the coat down, it doesn''t look good if people see. With you covering us like this, it makes me look like a mountain bandit''s favorite concubine, deliberately showing off in the crowd. Your deputy director''s epaulettes are quite eye-catching, and we''re already attracting enough attention. If you put up this coat, how will people look at us?"


    "You''re not a favorite concubine. You''re themander, and it''s right to shade you from the sun." Yan Zhao said with a righteous face, without a hint of embarrassment.


    "If I''m themander, what are you?"


    "I''m your bodyguard." Yan Zhao said with a straight face, looking at Yuanyuan ying the piano on stage.


    Easy for him to say. If he was willing to apany her to social events, Chen Men would dly be his bodyguard, or even his lowly servant.


    "Comrade Yan Bodyguard, please take down the coat, it''s too eye-catching," Chen Men said.


    Yan Zhao looked straight ahead with a serious face: "Report, Commander, negative. Your skin is already red from the sun and is about to blister."


    Damn man, even when he''s saying something nice, why does it sound so annoying?


    "Can I ask you for a favor? A big favor," Chen Men asked.


    She wanted Yan Zhao to investigate who had been bullying Qi Songlu. But before she could speak, Yan Zhao coldly said, "For work matters, it depends on the situation. For personal matters, absolutely."


    Chen Men felt like hitting someone.


    Couldn''t he say nice things in a softer way?


    Wasn''t she themander?


    Could she hit this fierce and dark bodyguard?


    Of course, convincing Yan Zhao to help Qi Songlu wouldn''t be easy. After all, Yan Zhao despised evil and was particrly hateful towardswbreakers.


    And Qi Songlu was known throughout Xiping City as a prostitute, a whore, a streetwalker. In everyone''s eyes, it was perfectly normal for her to be bullied by thugs.