Deep winter had arrived, and a heavy snow was falling on Changyang County. Feathery snowflakes drifted down, blanketing the buildings of Changyang County in a layer of silver.
On this snowy day, most people in the county town preferred to stay indoors all day.
The wind howled fiercely, leaving the streets of the county town deserted. Occasionally, a few people would rush past, their steps hurried.
Su Jianguo from Sujia Village wore a worn-out cotton hat, his hands tucked inside his sleeves, constantly stamping his feet to ward off the cold.
In front of him lay a basket of potatoes and two old hens. He had come at an inopportune time, caught in the snowstorm, and hadn't sold much.
The Lunar New Year was approaching, and he needed to earn some money so his family could have a prosperous celebration.
Two black SUVs roared past, kicking up a flurry of snowflakes.
Su Jianguo spat, a touch of envy in his eyes as he looked at the vehicles he had never seen before.
The two cars suddenly stopped, then slowly backed up. Su Jianguo felt a pang of anxiety. Could these wealthy people be so petty, with such sharp eyes? Several young men in black windbreakers hopped out of the cars, their faces vaguely familiar.
“Uncle Jiu, doing business on a day like this? You'll freeze to death!”
Su Jianguo recognized the voice. He looked closer and exclaimed, “You're… Da Chong, the one from Old Man Su’s family?”
Su Pingnan had been a wild child, fearless except for his grandfather. His ferocious personality and sturdy physique earned him the nickname Da Chong, which quickly became the common name for Su Pingnan in Sujia Village.
Hearing the word “Da Chong,” a name he hadn't heard in decades, Su Pingnan burst into laughter.
“Selling? Forget it, we'll take it. Go home.” Su Pingnan told Su Wenwen and the others.
Su Wenwen wrapped his arms around Su Jianguo, preventing him from moving. He teased, “Taking it, taking it. Uncle Jiu is such a good person, he gave us two hens just for seeing us.” With a wink, he signaled for the others to quickly pack up Su Jianguo’s stall and toss it into the trunk of one of the cars.
Su Jianguo was a kindhearted man. He had always been warm towards these young men, and Su Wenwen occasionally showed his playful side.
Su Jianguo panicked. “You brats, those are things I need for the New Year. You can’t just ruin them.” He was an old man, frail and powerless against Su Wenwen’s tight embrace.
Su Pingnan, a rare smile playing on his lips, said, “Alright, Uncle Jiu, I’ll pay you double. I’ll take it. What’s the point of selling on a day like this? You’ll freeze to death.”
He pulled out a 100-yuan bill and stuffed it into Su Jianguo’s hands, who was still struggling.
Su Jianguo blinked, his struggle ceasing. He looked at the obviously expensive clothes worn by Su Pingnan and the others, and asked sheepishly, “Da Chong, you really made a fortune?”
Su Pingnan laughed heartily. “Made a little bit. Come on, Uncle Jiu, let’s go home.”
The car drove smoothly. Wang Chenguang and the others had become experienced drivers.
Su Jianguo ran his hand over the leather seat, gazing at the luxurious interior, his body fidgeting involuntarily.
Su Pingnan, suddenly in a jovial mood, turned up the car’s volume. The melody of "Wan Wan De Yue Liang" (A Crescent Moon) drifted through the streets of Changyang County.
Su Anxi was troubled lately. Her second brother had sent money home several times, but it was always too much, making her anxious. She was afraid she’d accidentally lose it, and the thought of that loss made her heart ache.
She had no idea what her second brother was doing, only that the person who delivered the money to her would always climb into a stylish car after leaving her school.
Su Anxi couldn’t tell the difference between a sedan and an SUV. She just thought they were big and grand. The clothes her brother sent were all beautiful and unique.
The first time Su Anxi wore a white down jacket with ruffled hems that her brother had sent, the boys at Changyang County First High School were speechless. Her brother sent more and more clothes, and Su Anxi asked people to tell him that she didn’t need so much. Every time, the messenger assured her he would, but the next time they came, the money and clothes her brother gave her only increased, never decreasing.
The fashion trends among the girls in Changyang County were basically dictated by whatever Su Anxi was wearing. Whenever Su Pingnan sent something, nearly every pretty girl from a wealthy family in the school would gather in her dorm, happily flipping through the items.
Unbeknownst to her, Su Anxi’s initially shy and introverted personality had become more confident and outgoing, making her a target of countless boys’ affections.
“Anxi, this is a collection of wrong problems I made.” A flushed boy set the papers on her desk, not daring to look up, and quickly left.
“Anxi, this is from a friend of mine.”
Her roommate said as she stuffed a colorful envelope into the bag already overflowing with countless colorful envelopes.
Su Anxi sighed in distress. It was all her second brother’s fault. Why did he have to become like this? But this wasn’t the most troubling thing.
What truly bothered her was that she was now the undisputed queen of Changyang County First High.
Whether it was the street toughs or the naive delinquents in the school, they all gave her extraordinary deference. Once, when a girl in her dorm was blocked by some street thugs at the school gate, Su Anxi couldn’t help but step in to help. Those ruffians were rude and disrespectful.
But the next day, a burly man covered in elaborate tattoos arrived with several bruised and swollen boys to apologize. The thugs, no longer as arrogant as before, kept slapping their own faces and begging for forgiveness.
The incident made Su Anxi realize how clever she was. She became worried about Su Pingnan. His level of influence was no good. He must have led a life full of danger and turmoil.
The little girl made a decision. She wouldn’t go home for the holiday. She’d go find her brother. She had to talk some sense into him.