Chapter 15

A week passed. Yang Bufan’s barn finally started capping. According to the contract, time to pay the balance.
The manufacturer had been pushing for two days. But Yang Bufan still hadn’t received Cousin Uncle’s payment.
WeChat unanswered. Phone calls ignored.
Maybe used to deadbeats delaying payments, the manufacturer threatened to stop work if the balance wasn’t paid. Yang Bufan hurried to smooth things over.
After all, a typhoon was coming in a few days. If the barn wasn’t finished, where would the sheep hide from the rain?
Yang Bufan was anxious. Went to Cousin Uncle’s house twice during the day. Didn’t see him.
The third time, went at night. Finally cornered him.
Cousin Uncle had just gotten out of his shiny BMW. Said he’d opened a toy factory in Chenghai lately, so busy he couldn’t handle small things.
After small talk, Yang Bufan brought up the money. Cousin Uncle smoked, leaned forward, promised earnestly: “It’s late. Go home first. When the money comes, I’ll give it to you.”
Yang Bufan didn’t move. Cousin Uncle looked at her, expression calm and helpless. Like looking at a child who didn’t understand.
“Don’t trust your uncle?”
“I trust you. Cousin Uncle, really can’t delay this time. I really need the money now.”
“Say you trust, but don’t really. Top university student. Your vision’s not good.”
Cousin Uncle shook his head. Fat brain swayed in the wind. Said proudly: “My factory has dozens of people. Mainly exports to Europe. Would I be short 100,000?”
The fat on his face trembled with excitement at his loud tone. Like a middle‑aged man with prostate problems, urine dribbling, endless.
Yang Bufan said: “Then just give me the money directly. Save me coming every day, annoying you.”
“Didn’t I say wait? Why can’t you understand? Young girl, don’t always talk about money. So crude. Also, I’m your cousin uncle. Your mom and I are blood relatives. What are you worried about?”
“Wasn’t it you who kept delaying? I had no choice but to come ask.”
Yang Bufan didn’t get why creditors had to be grandsons, and the borrowing bastard acted high and mighty.
Cousin Uncle paced impatiently, crushed the cigarette. Previous good temper seemed exhausted. Said: “If you don’t have money, don’t do it. Don’t even have this much, what are you doing? I say, your family’s raised sheep for three generations. Made any money?”
“Chenghai lion‑head geese can make money. You insist on sheep. Prices are bad now. Give you the money, you’ll just lose it. Better keep it with me. At least there’s still 100,000.”
“Cousin Uncle advises you: you went to college. Go out and work early. Better than this.”
He sighed contemptuously. “Ah, young people. Still need to learn social experience.”
Yang Bufan saw a spray paint can leaning against the wall in the dim light. For a moment, she had an impulse: grab the paint, spray angry red words on his car: “Pay debts, kill and pay with life.”
But could only think about it. That was damaging others’ property. Legal liability.
In that daze, Cousin Uncle had already slipped inside nimbly. *Bang.* Shut the door.
Yang Bufan clenched her fist!
Furious, was about to argue. Heard fierce barks from the dark. Face went white. Hurried away on her bike.
After getting home, sure enough, found Cousin Uncle had blocked the whole family.
Dark night. Looking at the unfinished barn, the sheep lying on cement in the temporary pen, two unread payment reminders, Yang Bufan zoned out.
She transferred money redeemed from her fund account to the manufacturer. They received it, sent back several 60‑second voice messages.
After telling her parents everything, Yang Bufan stayed up, opened her computer, wrote a complaint. Used Mom’s phone, found the People’s Court mini‑program, uploaded IOU, transfer records, etc. Filed online.
This wasn’t over.
After paying the 80,000 for the barn, she had 30,000 left.
Monthly mortgage 6,192. Plus insurance and living expenses. 9,000 minimum per month.
Life was on a knife’s edge.
The money problem needed solving. Yang Bufan went to the village committee, told the village head she wanted to apply for a farming loan from the city’s rural commercial bank. Filled out a stack of forms. Got the guarantee document a day later.
Another day passed. She was spreading freshly shoveled sheep droppings evenly in the blazing sun, ready to dry and ferment into organic fertilizer, when a dark‑skinned man came to the door with a stack of documents.
This person was unfamiliar. Said he was a bank branch clerk. Bald. Wore obviously ill‑fitting leather shoes. Like sailing two broken yachts on land.
After showing Yang Bufan his ID, he said her farming scale didn’t meet standards. Approval probably wouldn’t pass.
Yang Bufan was a bit anxious. Asked how to pass. The person suddenly got evasive. Kept repeating where the documents were insufficient.
Yang Bufan asked him to speak directly. He put on airs: “There is a small way.”
Yang Bufan understood. Didn’t respond.
The person added: “Needs a small handling fee.”
Yang Bufan said: “When you leave, please close the door.”
Seeing Yang Bufan was kicking him out, the person “hey hey hey”‑ed, seemed to soften. Said: “We know each other. No handling fee is possible.”
Yang Bufan turned back, waited for him to continue. Saw him extend that grimy hand, subtly brushed the back of Yang Bufan’s hand.
That look couldn’t hide it. Full of evil desire.
“Your skin’s so smooth.”
He used a breathy voice. Like a dog whispering in Yang Bufan’s ear.
Seeing Yang Bufan look at him, he smiled at her. Opened his mouth. Teeth like tiles in a urinal, caked with years of urine scale. Stank.
That smile was indescribably lewd.
“How do you usually take care of it? Saw you at the meeting. Wanted to ask. No chance. Made me lose sleep for several nights.”
Seeing Yang Bufan didn’t react, he got bolder. Reached out, tried to grab her waist.
In that moment, Yang Bufan seemed possessed by Cui Tingxi. Plus she’d castrated many rams. Castration mode activated. Her brain hadn’t given the order, but her hand moved.
Expression calm, she spun the manure‑covered rake, rammed it into the person’s stomach. The scene like slow motion. The person, caught off guard, fell. Mouth wide. White shirt printed with five clear shit marks.
Yang Bufan thought: *If only I could curse like Xizi.* Waved the rake, skillfully loaded it with sheep droppings, evenly smeared him.
She was so excited her ears were red. If killing wasn’t illegal, one rake could make him bleed five steps.
The person crawled out of the sheep manure pile. Felt the shit evenly, warmly spread on him. Sniffed his shirt. Dry heaved. Rolled his eyes. Drove his two broken yachts and fled.
“You fucking wait.”
He said viciously.
After he ran out, Yang Bufan immediately locked the door. Hadn’t noticed before. Now her hand holding the rake was weak. Legs shaky.
Mom!
But after calming down, Yang Bufan only told the village head.
The village head was silent. Said: “That outsider said something different. Said you refused to cooperate, hit him with a rake, extorted him. Now he wants you to pay for his clothes, lost wages, and emotional damages. And apologize at his door within three days. Otherwise he’ll not only call the police, but wants our village committee to give him an answer.”
Yang Bufan didn’t expect him to turn it around. Almost vomited with anger. But had no surveillance evidence. Couldn’t do anything.
The village head was silent a while. Said: “That outsider has connections. Lots of pull. This getting big isn’t good. How about settling privately?”
Yang Bufan refused.
If because the other side had pull, you became a slug that couldn’t tell right from wrong, weren’t you helping the bad guy bully yourself?
The village head had his own position. She didn’t judge. But she’d never bow to this kind of scum.
Seeing her firm attitude, the village head added: “But I’ve put this on hold. Can’t let an outsider bully us.”
After the incident, Yang Bufan called the bank to complain.
They said the investigation needed time. Given the situation, probably wouldn’t find anything. But her loan progress was really delayed.
Now the barn was almost finished. After cleaning the site, the sheep could officially move in.
Sheep with a comfortable environment not only fattened fast, but could breed a lot. When the time came, take advantage of low prices, buy a batch of lambs, or buy another strong breeding ram. Didn’t dare imagine how much they could make if sheep prices recovered at Spring Festival.
Looking at the new, impressive barn, the whole family was excited, full of energy.
Yang Bufan went to the village committee twice to push the loan. The bank wouldn’t budge.
Financial village official Xiao Liu couldn’t take it. Said to try another bank. Xinyun could approve in half a day. Plus their internet platform simplified the process. Documents less complicated. Approval conditions relatively lenient.
Yang Bufan thought about it. She’d applied to the rural commercial bank specifically to avoid Xinyun. Didn’t expect their grassroots staff had such low quality.
But things had come to this. Being coy would show she couldn’t prioritize. She agreed immediately.
Didn’t expect it to go surprisingly smoothly. Finished all online processes in one afternoon. Just waiting for disbursement.
Back home, exhaustion from recent days hit. She lay on the sofa, didn’t even cover her belly, fell asleep.
Not long after, woke to noise. Saw Cui Tingxi standing in her living room, talking quietly with Wen Junjie. Expression dark.
Yang Bufan just sat up. Cui Tingxi and Wen Junjie came over.
“What’s that person’s ID number? Name? Which branch?” Cui Tingxi asked.
Wen Junjie said gravely: “We pooled 80,000 for you. If the loan doesn’t come through, fine. But we can’t take this. Have to go to his unit, get an answer.”
Yang Bufan rubbed her eyes. Her phone had indeed popped up transfer messages. She clicked return. Said: “Didn’t tell my parents, right?”
Both shook their heads.
“Let’s wait for the bank’s response first. You’re both busy. Don’t delay work for this. I don’t want your money. I switched to another loan. Government subsidy. Interest‑free. Said fastest approval tomorrow.”
Cui Tingxi was about to respond. Yang Bufan smiled dryly. Said: “Don’t worry! You didn’t see how awesome I was. Covered him in shit. Didn’t take any losses.”
While talking, Yang Siqiong came out with dishes. Asked: “Covered what in shit? It’s only Thursday. Xizi and Feizai not working?”
The three quickly changed the subject. Followed Mom, got rice, chopsticks, cleared the table.
Xu Jianguo didn’t know the two kids were coming. Tonight only made a pot of white porridge. Stir‑fried two plates of hemp leaves with Puning bean paste and pork cracklings. One big goose egg each.
The goose eggs had been pickled three months. Salty but balanced. Flowing butter. Perfect with porridge.
The three young people held bowls, ate with gusto. Bowl after bowl. The usually quiet Yang Siqiong asked Feizai about work. Feizai answered while eating.
“Nan’ao route’s doing okay now. Lots of out‑of‑town tourists. Pretty busy. Definitely not going to Guangzhou. My parents don’t want me to either. Want me to find someone at home.”
Wen Junjie’s last job in Guangzhou was as a power bank restocker. Pay was high. But immoral.
His main work: carry a bag full of power banks, visit various outlets in his area. See an empty slot, immediately fill it. Goal: make users unable to return.
After deducting the user’s 99‑yuan deposit, manufacturer and franchisee split 8:2. Then add new power banks. Split again…
Many people’s homes accumulating shared power banks—probably this reason.
This business made money fast. But immoral. Wen Junjie did it a month. Didn’t feel right. When he didn’t feel right, wanted to eat. He was already prone to weight gain. Opened up. Gained 32 jin in a month.
Later he went to throw divination blocks. Drew the worst sign. The Earth God said the work was bad. Immediately quit.
After three bowls, Wen Junjie stood again. Looked around. Saw no one wanted more. Scraped the pot clean first, then mixed the leftover hemp leaves and pork cracklings into his bowl. Ate it all.
“…”
Yang Bufan: “You’re on a diet.”
Cui Tingxi: “His stomach came to the table before he entered the room.”
“Let him eat. He’s not fat.” Xu Jianguo said. “Feizai, enough? Want me to make you noodles?”
Wen Junjie sucked in his stomach, smiled shyly. “Thanks, Uncle. Enough.”
“Fourth bowl.” Cui Tingxi said.
Wen Junjie couldn’t hold it, farted. Cui Tingxi said: “Why is it talking from both ends?”
The whole family laughed.
*Ding.* Yang Bufan got a bank transfer. 350,000. From Xinyun’s public account. Followed by a new message. Loan term one year. Effective immediately.
The fan whirred overhead. TV played some unknown variety show.
Dad and Mom ate, rested, ate, rested. Talked about the typhoon, when to make mutton stew… Noisy, but felt peaceful.
Cui Tingxi had always thought: this was a family that could make life go to market.
Her family was broken. Feizai’s was oppressive. They were people who sometimes wanted to escape, hide under this generous roof from the rain.
Since that was the case, always had to keep this roof safe and warm. Free from disturbance.
With a large sum in the account, Yang Bufan felt much calmer. After finishing work on weekdays, she called to push the bank’s investigation.
Just as she was thinking about calling the police, someone pushed the door open. After seeing who it was, she tensed up, opened her phone, ready to dial 110.
“Hey hey hey!”
The person quickly raised his hands. Bags in his hands rustled. Smiled ingratiatingly. “Jie, I came to apologize.”