Substitute Driver's Notes

Chapter 9 Past events fade like smoke in the wind

Li Wei waited until after 10 o'clock before Lu Feng finally arrived.

Upon seeing Lu Feng, Li Wei slapped him on the back of the head: "You bastard! I didn't even have breakfast, and I didn't eat enough last night. Are you planning to starve me to death and leave your sister a widow?"

Lu Feng, dressed in a police uniform, couldn't easily take action outside, and he was so angry he jumped up and down: "How come I haven't been able to discipline you properly after all this time? Instead, you've become even more arrogant. I think you need to stay a few more days."

Li Wei curled his lip: "Reason? Who would dare touch me without a reason?"

"That was considered assaulting a police officer."

"I think you're asking for trouble. Your brother-in-law joking around with your brother-in-law counts as assaulting a police officer? Believe me or not, I'll sue you for abuse of power."

Lu Feng looked Li Wei up and down: "Not bad! These past few months haven't been wasted; you've even learned about the law."

Li Wei turned around, picked up his things, and put them in the car: "Stop talking nonsense, hurry home, I have a dinner party tonight!"

Lu Feng got into the car, fastened his seatbelt, and waited for Li Wei to close the door: "Drink less! I'm scared of you guys when you drink."

Li Wei blinked and retorted, "What? Did I ask you to pay?"

Lu Feng started the car, shifted gears, and started driving: "I'm afraid you'll drink yourself to death that day, and my sister will have to remarry with her child. Sigh! My sister is so beautiful, so she'll be fine and will definitely be loved by her new husband. It's just that I feel sorry for my naughty and stubborn little nephew, who might be abused by his stepfather."

Li Wei's face turned ashen with anger: "Is that how you speak? If you can't speak properly, then shut up. Don't you have any good wishes for me? If it weren't for the traffic and crowds on the road, I would have slapped you to death, you bastard."

"Okay, okay, I won't say anymore. Didn't you ask me why I was late? Tell me something cheerful."

"I can't be happy right now. Just say what's on your mind, and let it all out."

"Fine, I guess I was just being presumptuous." Seeing that Li Wei's eyes were practically bulging out, Lu Feng quickly surrendered.

"Alright, alright, just kidding. I ran into an old man on my way here, he was quite interesting, causing trouble at the civil affairs department."

Li Wei's curiosity was finally piqued: "Why?"

"The old man is a bit dim-witted. A long time ago, he was captured by the Japanese and forced to build bunkers and blockade General Xu. He worked for a long time without being paid. I don't know which bastard instigated him to go to the Civil Affairs Bureau to ask for money. When the Civil Affairs Bureau refused to pay, he made a scene. Why didn't he ask for money back when the great man was still alive? Now he's just causing trouble. It just so happens that the father of the high-ranking official in the Civil Affairs Bureau fought against the Japanese and still has shrapnel left by them in his body. He started cursing on the spot. I was passing by and hid in my car to watch the show for a while."

Li Wei was furious and, without thinking, swung his big hand and slapped her: "You have nothing better to do, huh? You just want to stir up trouble, don't you? Wearing this dog...clothes instead of doing your job, you're making me go hungry."

Lu Feng tilted his head to avoid it, the steering wheel jerked, and he almost veered off course: "Hey! Brother-in-law, don't mess around, it'll be troublesome if something happens. I was wrong, I was wrong."

Li Wei withdrew his hand, curled up, and was lost in thought.

Memories from long ago overwhelmed me instantly. I remember I was exactly ten years old that year, a stage that everyone hated.

Two low, mud-walled thatched huts, a fence gate, and a dilapidated courtyard with only a water vat. An old man sat in the doorway, basking in the sun and smoking a pipe.

"Old man, why do you live in such a dilapidated house?"

"Whose brat is this? So rude!"

"I am Li Wei, the young hero of Li Family Village. Li is the Li of Li Shimin, and Wei is the Wei of might. My father is Li Meng, the great hero who is invincible in the area, and my grandfather is Li Gang, the Iron Palm that shakes all directions. My father's name together means mighty and mighty. From now on, my son will be named Li Wu."

"So what if you're powerful? You think you're powerful just because you kicked down this old man's broken door? I'm your grandfather, so bow down and apologize to your grandfather, and get lost. Otherwise, I'll tell your father to pay you back first, and then I'll beat you to death."

"Hey, old man, you dare to lie to me? I just came out of my grandfather's house to roam the world. He's not like you at all. Watch me smash your water ladle with my Iron Palm."

"Damn it, stop filming! Young hero, have mercy! Spare my poor water ladle! I'm impressed, you're truly a mighty young hero."

The old man and the young man got along well and somehow became close friends despite their age difference. Maybe they were both a bit disrespectful to elders! In short, they just hit it off.

"Old man, why didn't you join the army and fight the Japanese when you were young? Otherwise, you wouldn't still be single. Who will mourn you when you die?"

"I went, but on the way I was conscripted by the Japanese and sent to build a bunker in another place for a few months. Later I managed to escape. How could I have the face to join the army again? It's all fate."

"You! You're such an unlucky old fool. Listen to me, when you can't work anymore, go to the government and have them help you get your wages from the Japanese. You won't starve. The government is really nice; they send money to my grandfather every month."

"Pah! Your grandpa is a cunning old fox. He only joined after the situation was settled, otherwise you little brats would have all benefited."

"My grandfather said that it's best to live a peaceful life. Children and grandchildren have their own blessings, and he wouldn't want to lose face or make others feel bad."

Unconsciously, the dreamlike memories were jolted back to reality by Lu Feng's mocking laughter: "That old man must be at least ninety years old. He's so ungrateful, asking the government for wages from the Japanese. If it weren't for his advanced age, I would have kicked him a few times."

Li Wei's face was still pale: "How imposing and menacing! What kind of skill is it to bully a lonely old man? Why don't you ask him why he doesn't receive welfare at his age?"

"Brother-in-law, are you crazy? Is that our business? Wait! How did you know he was a lonely old man?"

"If you know it's not your business, then drive properly and go back to doing your job. Your endless chatter is so annoying."

"You've got a screw loose, it's just a little bit late, okay, okay, don't glare at me, I won't say anything more."

Li Wei arrived at the new apartment building in silence, sighed, and followed Lu Feng upstairs carrying their belongings.

After chasing Lu Feng away and washing up, Li Wei hurriedly ate something and looked at the empty room in silence.

Lu Lili quietly came over and handed Li Wei a card: "Honey, you should return the money to Captain Chen first! So you won't have trouble sleeping tonight."

"Where did you get the money?"

"I got it from my parents' house. My dad said I can pay him back when I have the money."

"That old couple is amazing! Didn't we say we didn't have any dowry money when we got married?"

Lu Lili suddenly turned hostile, pinching Li Wei's waist hard: "I've never seen anyone as shameless as you. My best friends and colleagues all have betrothal gifts. Not only am I, such a beautiful woman, given to you for free, but you actually want a dowry from me? When I stupidly went home and told my mother, she looked at me like I was an idiot. I still remember it to this day."

Li Wei almost slapped himself. Why couldn't he have brought this up? This silly girl was out of her mind back then, believing whatever she said. She only realized her mistake after they got married and had a child.

Quickly hug her and say some things she likes to hear, and soon you'll cheer her up.

Despite it being broad daylight, the couple discussed the joys of life.

Li Wei checked the time and cautiously asked if she was going to the dinner party that evening.

Lu Lili sighed, "Honey, you'd better cancel this dinner party! You'll definitely be in a bad mood if you go."

Why?

"Your best friend Zhang Qian died, and I sent him a paper money in your name and gave him a hundred yuan."

"Huh? That's impossible..."