Chapter 932: Mission Failed
Translator: Exodus Tales Editor: Exodus Tales
As they approached Chen Mengyan’s home, Yang Ming parked his car at the door of a cigarette and alcohol shop on the roadside. He was going to buy some gifts for Chen Fei. Although the current relationship was already quite close, a son-in-law must always bring a gift when visiting.
“Why are we stopping?” Chen Mengyan had closed her eyes and was resting. Suddenly, she felt the car stop. She asked in bafflement as she opened her eyes.
“I am going to buy some gifts for your dad.” Yang Ming pointed out the famous cigarette and alcohol shop on the roadside.
“We can skip the pleasantries.” Chen Mengyan rubbed her eyes and stretched out lazily. “The heat in the car is warm. I had fallen asleep.”
“Why don’t we need it? We at least need to have some regards.” Yang Ming smiled. “Let’s go out and take a look?”
“I won’t go. I don’t know anything about cigarettes and alcohol.” Chen Mengyan shook her head. “I’m a little drowsy, so I will lie down in the car for a while.”
“That’s alright.” Yang Ming nodded. “I won’t shut down the engine. I will come back in a while.”
After Yang Ming finished, he got off and walked to the cigarette and alcohol shop on the roadside. Generally, such cigarette and alcohol shops would open all night. Most of the people who came here to buy things would be giving gifts or visiting friends and family.
Yang Ming entered the cigarette and alcohol shop. There was a male and female shopping. The male’s back looked familiar, but when he opened his mouth, Yang Ming immediately recognized who he was.
“When I visit your home for the first time, should I buy slightly better alcohol?” asked the boy.
“You don’t need to buy something so expensive. My father isn’t really picky. Besides, he only said that he wants to see you. He doesn’t acknowledge our relationship yet.” The girl whispered, “Moreover, we don’t have much money. We are heading to the fun fair tomorrow as well… Don’t spend all of our Chinese New Year money [1]. How about you buy the alcohol with your Chinese New Year money? Don’t touch mine…”
“Yang Xiaobo!” Yang Ming shouted, but he did not expect to meet his cousin here. Moreover, listening to his conversation with his girlfriend named Shen Hua, the relationship between the two seemed to be great. Even their money was put together.
Yang Ming couldn’t help but shake his head. There is really a gap between the children right now and me. I only managed to pursue Chen Mengyan at Grade 12, but my cousin has a girlfriend in Grade 10… Yang Ming never thought at this moment that he had an ambiguous relationship with Su Ya in junior high school…
“Brother!” Yang Xiaobo looked back and suddenly saw Yang Ming. Remembering what Yang Ming said before, he blushed instantaneously, “Brother, how come you are here?”
“I’m like you. I’m about to visit my father-in-law and buy some cigarettes and alcohol.” Yang Ming wasn’t as embarrassed as Yang Xiaobo. After all, he was now a college student. He didn’t need to be sneaky like a high school student.
“Brother… I’m going to Shen Hua’s house to have a meal…” After Yang Ming said this to Yang Xiaobo, Yang Xiaobo explained somewhat shyly.
“It is fine. You don’t need to explain.” Yang Ming said with a smile. “Since we met each other, you don’t have to spend money anymore. Keep your money to spend it on your date in the fun fair!”
“Thank you, brother!” Yang Xiaobo was just blunt. His relationship with Yang Ming was the best since he was a child, so there was no need to be polite. Moreover, right now was a holiday. He and Shen Hua would go out for a date and need to spend money as well. Seeing the two people had spent most of their Chinese New Year money, if they were to buy two bottles of alcohol, they would have very little left basically.
“Shen Hua, is it?” Yang Ming smiled and nodded to the girl around Yang Xiaobo. “What alcohol does your father like to drink? Grape wine or white wine?”
“White wine…” Shen Hua thought about it and said. She usually didn’t pay much attention to this. Just from her memory, there were no red wines at home.
Yang Ming nodded. Generally, people who drank white wine like Shen Hua’s father, wouldn’t be used to red wine. The red wine became popular in China in recent years. It was the favorite among young people in the higher social class.
“Wuliangye Liquor [2]. What are the better ones?” Yang Ming turned around and asked the owner of the cigarette and alcohol shop.
“In this place, the best of Wuliangye is 1985, with 52 and 26 percent alcohol,” said the boss.
Yang Ming didn’t expect to buy Maotai or Wuliangye Liquor in the early days of the founding of the country, because it was basically impossible. This was just a small cigarette and alcohol shop on the roadside.
“Alright then, give me four bottles of the 52 percent alcohol.” Yang Ming said to the boss, “Pack two bags, each with two bottles together.”
“Okay.” The boss saw Yang Ming was so forthright, and he agreed, pleased. He quickly packed it and handed it to Yang Ming. “Mister, a total of twelve thousand yuan.”
“En, swipe my card,” said Yang Ming and threw a bank card. For this price, Yang Ming was quite satisfied. The boss still knew the way to do business. Although Yang Ming bought four bottles of alcohol in a forthright manner and didn’t even ask the price, the boss’ offer was fair. He didn’t have the suspicion of cheating the customer.
In fact, it wasn’t that the boss didn’t want to make more money. What he thought was that wealthy people like Yang Ming wanted the best alcohol when he approached. He must also buy alcohol regularly and know the price well. If the boss sold it at a price too high, he might scare Yang Ming away. So, the boss quoted a normal price directly.
Yang Xiaobo originally wanted to buy only a bottle of alcohol for a few hundred yuan, but he did not expect Yang Ming to buy him two bottles of alcohol that was more than three thousand yuan.
“Brother, isn’t this too expensive?” Yang Xiaobo glanced at Yang Ming and whispered.
“You kid, how can you be reluctant to spend money to pursue a girl?!” Yang Ming patted Yang Xiaobo’s head and smiled.
Yang Ming’s words made both Shen Hua and Yang Xiaobo lowered their heads shyly. Yang Ming bought two Lesser Panda [3] and two Chunghwa [4] for Chen Fei. Of course, he didn’t buy any for Yang Xiaobo. It was better for Yang Xiaobo to take these two bottles of wine. Yang Ming didn’t want to make it too conspicuous for Yang Xiaobo.
“How are you both going?” Yang Ming looked at the sky outside. It would be difficult to stop a taxi at this time.
“We walk to the front, and there will be a stop on the 87 route. We will get off at the end of the line.” Yang Xiaobo said, “Brother, you don’t need to care about us. You can go first if you have something.”
Take a public bus? Yang Ming smacked his forehead and remembered that when he was in high school, Didn’t I take the bus as well? At that time, Yang Ming didn’t take taxis. However, Yang Ming had not been on the bus for a long time, but Yang Ming used his own way of thinking to consider Yang Xiaobo’s situation.
“Then, let us go together. I will give you a ride. It’s cold outside.” said Yang Ming.
“That… is fine as well…” Yang Xiaobo hesitated a while then he nodded and agreed. It was really cold outside. The bus would be crowded with people at this time. Never mind getting a seat, there would be no place to stand.
Yang Xiaobo was alright with it, but every time he saw Shen Hua being squeezed, Yang Xiaobo felt a little distressed. He wasn’t as strong as Yang Ming to squeeze away others on the bus.
When Yang Ming and Chen Mengyan were on the bus, Yang Ming directly pushed others to the side and left a lot of space for Chen Mengyan.
The three people went out of the cigarette and alcohol shop, but Yang Ming was in shock! He saw a guy pulling the door of his BMW sneakily! After Yang Ming went out the store door, the guy had opened the door. He had slipped his hand inside…
Yang Ming didn’t expect a thief would be attracted after he left the car’s engine on for a while. Yang Ming simply didn’t say anything and ran straight to it. He grabbed the guy’s neck collar from behind and lifted him up.
He noticed the guy’s hand was holding a small bag, which was Chen Mengyan’s handbag.
“Are you stealing?” asked Yang Ming coldly.
“I…” The thief saw Yang Ming lifting him up with one hand. He knew Yang Ming was definitely a ruthless character he couldn’t afford to offend, so he quickly asked for mercy, “Brother, let me go. I have…”
“Forget it!” Yang Ming sneered after listening, “Do you want to say that you have an eighty-year-old mother, a four-year-old child, a wife who has an illness, and your father had passed away? You want me to pity you?”
“You… how do you know…?” The thief was a little embarrassed.
“Leave the things here and f*ck off!” Yang Ming took Chen Mengyan’s handbag and threw the thief aside. The thief fell heavily into the snowdrift on the roadside.
“Thank you for your mercy. Thank you, hero…” said the thief as he ran away clumsily.
At this time, the noise outside the car woke Chen Mengyan up. Chen Mengyan opened her eyes and saw Yang Ming standing outside the car. She asked curiously, “Yang Ming, what happened?”
“You fell asleep just now, and it attracted a thief. He almost stole your handbag.” Yang Ming handed the handbag to Chen Mengyan.
“Ah!” Chen Mengyan suddenly became embarrassed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t lock the door…”
“It is alright. Just be careful next time.” After Yang Ming finished his words, he pointed to Yang Xiaobo and Shen Hua behind him. “Mengyan, let me introduce two people to you. My little brother, [5] Yang Xiaobo, and his girlfriend, Shen Hua. I just met them in the cigarette and alcohol shop. Let’s send them off.”
“En, alright.” Chen Mengyan nodded, then waved her hand to Yang Xiaobo and Shen Hua, “Hi, nice to meet you two!”
“This is your sister-in-law.” Yang Ming introduced to Yang Xiaobo.
“Sister-in-law.” Yang Xiaobo addressed in a respectful manner quickly. Shen Hua’s voice was very soft. Most probably, she was still a little shy. When she addressed “sister-in-law,” it was equal to recognizing her as a part of the Yang Family.
Yang Xiaobo and Shen Hua opened the door to the back. After they went in the car, Yang Ming returned to the driver’s seat and started the car.
Not far away, in a dark corner, the thief took out his phone in fear and trepidation as he dialed a number. “Boss… my mission failed.”
“You piece of sh*t!” There was a hoarse male voice over the phone.
“That Yang Ming came out too fast. I didn’t have time to make a move…” explained the thief.
“Your movement is too slow! You have wasted my effort in teaching you for so long!” said the male voice on the phone. “You come back. I will have your senior disciple to do it!”