Chapter Eighty-Eight: Friends and Family

Liu Jingye stared in shock as the three of them walked in through the door, unable to imagine for the life of him that these three would ever be together.

He hurriedly got to his feet, opened the door, and stood aside with utmost deference. “Dad, Mom, you’re back.”

His father gave a cold grunt and did not step inside at once. His mother, however, looked at her son with a faint smile and said, “Don’t just stand there. Take the things from Yuxin. This child has been carrying our luggage all the way and must be exhausted. Come in quickly…”

Liu Jingye looked at Chen Yuxin, utterly speechless. Her features were unchanged, but she seemed somewhat worn and dispirited, and in her hands she was still carrying his parents’ luggage.

He quickly stepped forward to take it from her, but before he could speak, his mother had already beaten him to it, pulling Chen Yuxin into the room. Her enthusiasm was such that she looked exactly like a future mother-in-law currying favor with her future daughter-in-law.

“Look at this place, what a mess. Why can’t you tidy up a little…” His mother began complaining as soon as she entered. “The floor isn’t swept, the bedding isn’t folded, and what’s that red stuff on the ground? Did you spill ketchup or something? With the way you live, how are you ever going to take care of a wife and a home?”

Liu Jingye immediately felt his head swell. Worse still was the red puddle on the floor: it was blood left behind by the ninja, and he had not yet had time to wipe it away.

He hurried to start cleaning the floor, but his mother went on, “What are you cleaning it for now? Go pour Yuxin a glass of water. She’s been traveling all this way, dusty and tired. Sit down and rest a while…”

Chen Yuxin also looked awkward, clearly unable to adjust to his mother’s fervor. His father was not idle either; as soon as he entered, he began looking around. This small inn was the fruit of more than a decade of his family’s labor.

“Yuxin, sit down and have some water first. I’ll go make something to eat. We haven’t really had a proper meal since last night,” his mother said, then went straight into the kitchen and started busying herself. This, too, was meant to create an opening for Liu Jingye.

But Liu Jingye was now completely baffled, even a little frightened. He lowered his voice and asked, “What on earth is going on? How did you end up mixed up with my parents? Don’t tell me you went to propose to them yourself?”

Chen Yuxin shot him a glare, exasperated. “As if. The story is long, and even I think it sounds ridiculous.”

“What happened?” Liu Jingye asked anxiously.

Chen Yuxin’s face fell. “Don’t even mention it. This trip was a string of bad luck from start to finish. I set out for the capital, and after only two stops, all my wallet and documents were stolen by a pickpocket. I was left with only my phone. I called to report the loss and arrange replacements, but the moment I got off the train, the police at the station spotted me. They checked my ticket, called over a few people, and shoved me straight into a van…”

“Who were those people? In broad daylight, under the Emperor’s own feet, did they really dare to seize a woman by force?” Liu Jingye said in astonishment.

“It wasn’t until I got in the van that I learned they were staff stationed in the capital by offices from various local governments,” Chen Yuxin said darkly.

“You mean those people who intercept petitioners?”

“Yes.” Chen Yuxin’s expression was bitter. “Because I had no identification, and my ticket showed I was from this city, they immediately notified the personnel from our province in the capital. They didn’t listen to my explanation at all. They took my phone, saw the number in it, and sent me straight to your parents.”

“Your experience is so melodramatic it’s almost absurd. It also proves our great state’s stability work is proceeding very smoothly,” Liu Jingye said with a wry smile. “But why did they send you to my parents? Even if they’re from this province, they’re not in this city.”

Chen Yuxin blushed and silently handed over the phone. Curious, Liu Jingye opened the call log and saw that the first contact was labeled Mother, and it was indeed his own mother’s number.

“This was something I saved casually back then for convenience. I never thought it would become the clue they used to identify me,” Chen Yuxin said, her face red. “Even more unexpected was that your mother was so unrestrained. She immediately decided I must be one of your family, and so they sent me to your sister’s place. Oh, and by the way, your sister’s little boy is so adorable—plump and fair, always smiling.”

What did those two things have to do with each other? Liu Jingye could only smile helplessly and tease, “What, do you want one of your own too?”

When women speak of children, maternal affection often flares up unbidden, and Chen Yuxin was no exception. But talking about it with Liu Jingye felt far too intimate. She shot him a glance, quickly looked away in embarrassment, and then turned to his mother, busy in the kitchen, and said, “M-Mom… Auntie, let me help you.”

“So now it’s Mom already? Just what have the two of you been up to these past few days?” Liu Jingye said with a bitter laugh.

Chen Yuxin hurriedly stood and shoved him aside before dashing into the kitchen.

At that moment, Liu Jingye’s father came downstairs with a dark expression. “Why is one of the windows upstairs broken?”

Liu Jingye froze. It had been caused last night when the ninja and the assassin fought and leaped out the window. Scratching his head, he improvised, “A pair of young guests got drunk and made a scene.”

“Didn’t I tell you we don’t take drunk guests?” His father flared up at once. Though the inn was small, its rules were many, all for the sake of peace and safety.

However, because Chen Yuxin was in the kitchen, he quickly suppressed his anger. The old man was not much educated, but he was straightforward, honest, and dutiful.

He crooked a finger, and Liu Jingye promptly handed him a cigarette. The old man took it and laughed, scolding, “You brat, smoking such good cigarettes. Just how much money do you make?”

Liu Jingye shrugged without answering. His father motioned for him to sit down. Father and son each lit a cigarette, and the old man said, “Jingye, you’ve been away from home for seven or eight years. As soon as you came back, we left again, and we never had time to sit down and talk properly. Today, let’s have a talk.”

“Sure. What instructions do you have for me?” Liu Jingye said with a smile.

“It’s about your future,” the old man said. “You’re already twenty-six or twenty-seven. Now that you even have a girlfriend, you can’t spend your whole life guarding this little inn, can you? She’s a star reporter from a television station, a news anchor. You’re stuck in a rural inn. The gap in status is too big. If this goes on too long, will she still look up to you?

“I know young people have their own ideas. If you want to go out and make a name for yourself, I won’t stop you. But the world is hard these days, and no line of work is easy to make a living in. I’ve always felt that as long as we can eat our fill and live steadily, that’s enough. Take your brother-in-law, for instance—he opened a little restaurant of his own. The whole family has food and clothing taken care of, and life is flourishing. Isn’t that good?”

The old man seemed to have much on his mind today. Liu Jingye understood that his elders had always wanted their children to stay close, to live as they did: plain, steady, and honest. But Chen Yuxin’s presence had forced the old man to adjust his thinking, so that he would not burden his son too much.

“Don’t worry, Dad. Yuxin isn’t that kind of person,” Liu Jingye said, bracing himself. “I’m planning to stay with this little inn for life. Of course, I won’t just cling to the old ways. Recently I met a few tour guides, and they can bring some tour groups here. If business picks up, I’m thinking of buying some local specialties and souvenirs, then turning the front courtyard into a farmhouse-style restaurant. If it runs well, the annual profit will be considerable.”

Hearing this, the old man was overjoyed. His son was willing to stay by his side and had even begun planning for the future. Nothing could have made an old parent happier.

“Good, good. Do as you say, then. Go ahead and give it a try,” the old man said quickly. “If the business really takes off, have your sister and brother-in-law come too and run a country inn. Let your brother-in-law handle the cooking, and you won’t even need to hire a chef.”

Liu Jingye nodded hurriedly with a smile. This was clearly moving toward a grand family reunion.

“Hey, you two stop chatting. Go out and buy some drinks and beverages, and pick up some ready-made dishes while you’re at it. We’ll eat in a bit,” his mother called from the kitchen.

Liu Jingye immediately stood up. His father was going upstairs to fix the window, and he was heading out to prepare the meal. Just as he was about to leave, his mother stopped him and chided, “You child, always so careless. Why didn’t you even ask Yuxin what she likes to eat?”

Chen Yuxin instantly blushed to the roots of her ears, embarrassed beyond words. Liu Jingye was no better. In order to make it seem as though the two of them were close and knew each other well, he said, “I know exactly what she likes. She’s easy to get along with and cares about her appearance, so she hardly ever eats meat. She often eats eggplant and cucumbers—good for the complexion and for losing weight too.”

Chen Yuxin shot him a fierce glare, but she understood his intention. She could only grit her teeth and force a smile. “Yes, Auntie, some vegetables are fine.”

“You’re already this thin and still trying to lose weight? No, you need meat. Your nutrition has to be balanced,” his mother said. “Go buy two chicken breasts and another piece of pork loin. I’ll make something delicious for Yuxin.”

“You’re clearly just treating one ailment with another!” Liu Jingye muttered. Chicken breast and pork loin alike. Chen Yuxin was so angry she wanted nothing more than to take the ladle in her hand and smash it over his head.

Liu Jingye walked out of the inn and lit a cigarette, his face full of helplessness. “I never expected Chen Yuxin to be mistaken for an illegal petitioner and sent back here, bringing my father and mother with her. But a ninja just died here, and this place has already become a target in the enemy’s eyes. I absolutely cannot let them disturb the old folks. Either I move out, or I wipe them out before that happens.”

Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will not lose a hundred battles.

Liu Jingye decided to take action. He pulled out his phone and called Yuan Xiaoying. “Hello, Officer Yuan. This good citizen has a matter and needs your help.”

Yuan Xiaoying said in an unprecedentedly calm tone, “First, please call me Director Yuan!”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ve been promoted!” she blurted out, instantly dropping her composure. With excited force, she shouted, “The appointment letter came down today. Starting tomorrow, I’m officially transferred to serve as director of the Peace Avenue Police Station in this city. Third-rank police superintendent—two ranks up in one leap. From now on, no troublemaking in my district. If anything comes up, you can come straight to me.”

Liu Jingye was equally surprised. He had not expected this girl to jump directly from a second-rank police inspector to a third-rank police superintendent and take charge of a district. That was far better than serving as some deputy squad leader at the municipal bureau, where every day meant answering to the bureau chief, political commissar, and division head, and nothing he said really counted. But a station director was different—the true top authority.

“Director Yuan, my apologies, my apologies,” Liu Jingye said at once, adopting a polite tone. “Since you’ve just been promoted, I happen to have a small favor to ask.”

“What is it? Go on,” Yuan Xiaoying said, power radiating from her voice.

“I want the file on Zhao Xue’an, the chief secretary of our bureau,” Liu Jingye said.

Yuan Xiaoying was even more direct. “You called the wrong number.”

With that, she hung up.