Having arrived at Changyang County without stopping, Su Ping Nan decided to first visit Su An Xi, who was a sophomore at Changyang No. 1 High School.
Su An Xi was now eighteen years old and had grown into a tall and slender young woman. Her large, unattractive school uniform couldn't conceal her exquisite features, paired with a high, straight nose and fair skin, making her the dream girl of every naive boy in the school.
The young thugs of this era possessed a wildness that the boys of the future could only dream of. It was only because Su Ping Nan's record in Changyang County was so impressive that Su An Xi could peacefully pursue her studies as a top student, free from harassment.
Su Ping Nan leaned against a street lamp at the entrance of the high school, smoking a cigarette. He had switched to Hongta Mountain cigarettes. He couldn't stand the low-quality, unfiltered Ziguangge cigarettes after his rebirth.
It was time for school to let out, and some students from the cram schools and senior classes recognized him. The bolder ones would even smile and greet him. Once they were far away, they would excitedly brag to their classmates about their connection to the "Little Red Robe."
"Brother, why did you come?"
The graceful and slender Su An Xi stood in front of Su Ping Nan, looking lovely as she wrapped her arm around his.
Su An Xi and Su Ding Bei had an extremely close relationship with Su Ping Nan. He had always been generous with money, especially towards his two sisters. Therefore, both girls had been very close to him since childhood.
Su Ping Nan shook off his thoughts and looked his younger sister up and down, a smile spreading across his lips. His sister's personality was exactly like their mother's - gentle to the extreme.
In the future, she had chosen to attend a vocational college instead of university, due to the early work assignments and the financial support it provided to the family. She had given up a promising future as a top student and ended up working in a farm machinery factory, only to be laid off later. She had married a narrow-minded man, leading to an unhappy marriage and difficult life. In the future, Su Ping Nan would be a wanderer with no fixed abode. However, Su An Xi would always find him during holidays, quietly slipping some money into his pocket for fear of his refusal.
Dismissing the thoughts that flooded his mind, Su Ping Nan affectionately patted Su An Xi's ponytail.
"I brought you some money. See if anyone dares to bully you."
Su Ping Nan stuffed 100 yuan into Su An Xi's bag and said with a chuckle.
"Brother, that's too much." Children from poor families mature early, and Su An Xi's head began to spin at the sight of the blue 100 yuan bill.
"It's alright, your brother has money."
Su An Xi admired her second brother deeply. Although her older brother and parents didn't approve of his lifestyle, she felt that a man should be like her second brother. She hesitated for a moment before nodding.
Indeed, she had been frugal, but there were some learning materials she needed to buy.
Su Ping Nan and Su An Xi chatted for a while. As he was leaving, he emphasized again, "You must go to university. I'll pay for it. You understand? University is where you'll find the life you want."
Fearing that Su An Xi wouldn't take him seriously, Su Ping Nan narrowed his eyes and said in a harsh tone, "If you dare listen to Su Zhen Dong's shortsighted nonsense, I'll go back and break his legs."
The Su brothers' personalities were diametrically opposed. While Su Zhen Dong's name was powerful, his personality was that of a typical farmer. He was timid, honest, fearful, and loved to take small advantage of others. Due to his personality, even though he was almost three years older than Su Ping Nan, he was often beaten by him.
Seeing Su Ping Nan's expression, Su An Xi knew he was serious. She had experienced her second brother's fierceness firsthand since childhood. If she didn't promise to go to university, he might actually go back and break her older brother's legs.
Su An Xi nodded vigorously, a sigh of relief escaping her lips. She had always yearned for university life, but she had been worried about the heavy financial burden on her family. But since her second brother said it was fine, then it was fine. In Su An Xi's current understanding, there was nothing Su Ping Nan couldn't achieve if he set his mind to it.
After bidding farewell to Su An Xi, Su Ping Nan began to assess whether his plan was flawless. He had already found out that the crime had been committed three days ago. In his memory, the money was burned on the fifth day, which meant he had only a little over a day to act.
Reborn into this life, he had to be extremely cautious. He held a bunch of "royal flushes" in his hands. If he couldn't ensure absolute success, he would rather give up than take any risks.
Li Jie's home was in the residential compound of the Industrial and Commercial Bank. The bank's employees received excellent benefits. Every room was a brick house, and each household was separated by a mud wall, creating a peaceful environment with private courtyards.
Su Ping Nan wore an old-fashioned "Forward" cap, his coat collar turned up to conceal his most obvious feature - his bald head.
He was carrying a gift box of canned goods, worth nearly ten yuan. For people in Changyang County, it was a valuable gift.
As evening approached, Su Ping Nan saw Li Jie calmly riding his bicycle out, and he couldn't help but admire the man's composure.
After committing such a serious crime, he was still able to go out gambling without any change in his demeanor. He was quite a character.
Su Ping Nan adjusted his collar, picked up the canned goods, and walked in with a swagger.
He successfully avoided any suspicion along the way. In front of Li Jie's yard, Su Ping Nan pretended to tie his shoelaces, using his peripheral vision to check his surroundings. When he confirmed no one was around, he took a step and leaped into the courtyard like a nimble leopard.
Looking at the old-fashioned lock on the door, Su Ping Nan couldn't help but smile wryly. He had learned these skills during his idle time in prison in another lifetime.
The room was dark. Su Ping Nan fumbled around for a few seconds before pulling six bundles of tightly wrapped cash from the stove. After a moment of thought, he took four bundles and then tied the prepared, cut-to-size paper together with the remaining two bundles, wrapping them back in place.
Then, he carefully placed a small plastic bag containing kerosene, about the size of a noodle seasoning packet, underneath.
He was indeed cautious. Four thousand yuan was enough for him to start his life anew. He placed the kerosene to ensure it would burn thoroughly when Li Jie's mother cooked, leaving behind a clear trace. He left the remaining two bundles as a precaution, in case they were analyzed for residual ash. Although the technology of this era was not so advanced, Su Ping Nan believed that it was better to be safe than sorry.
After finishing his work, Su Ping Nan did not immediately leave Changyang County. He continued to keep watch near Li Jie's home for another day.
It wasn't until he saw a simply dressed old woman enter Li Jie's home, followed by a wisp of smoke rising from the chimney, that he smiled and left.
No one could have imagined that the future commercial giant of this world would begin its journey from this day forward.