Back to the 1970s: Building My Fortune Through Time Trading

Chapter 226: There’s Something Wrong with Niu Er

Niu Er scratched his head, not quite clear about this himself.

Back then, he did bump into Director Zhao, and the next day, he heard about the missing steel.

It was around that time Director Zhao approached him, saying that if anyone found out he was also at the factory that night, he’d be implicated in the missing steel incident.

Terrified, Niu Er was easily bribed with five yuan to claim that the person stealing steel had colluded with Su Wenbing.

Normally, Niu Er didn’t get along with Su Wenbing, who was upright and honest, often reporting Niu Er’s laziness and trickery to the leadership, causing him to get scolded and have his wages docked.

Such a good chance for revenge couldn’t be missed, so he agreed immediately.

Not only could he drive Su Wenbing out of the factory, but he’d also get paid; only a fool wouldn’t do it!

As he spoke, he hurriedly took out a crumpled five yuan bill from his pocket and placed it on the desk: "Director, I haven’t spent a penny of this money. I’m just worried about being suspected. I swear I wasn’t involved in the missing steel. Please don’t fire me."

"I think maybe it was Director Zhao’s doing. Otherwise, why would he be at the factory in the middle of the night?"

Niu Er’s greatest trait was his ability to adapt; this was vividly displayed here.

Moments ago, he seemed loyal, but now he had openly betrayed his former patron, Director Zhao.

Su Xiaoxiao silently gave him a thumbs-up, thinking how unfortunate for Director Zhao to choose someone like Niu Er to keep secrets.

Niu Er laughed awkwardly and looked at Director Liu: "Director, I’ve confessed everything. Can I..."

He hadn’t even finished his word when Director Liu declared, "Don’t go yet. Wait here for the police to come back."

Niu Er wanted to say something, but facing Director Liu’s serious gaze, he couldn’t utter a word.

He could only blame himself for being greedy and accepting the five yuan, which now might cost him his job.

His head hung low, his face pale as if he hadn’t been buried for three days.

No one spoke, and the office plunged into silence.

In the quiet, Niu Er felt uneasy, and the feeling intensified upon meeting Director Liu’s cold gaze.

He reached into his pocket for a pack of cigarettes, pulled one out, hesitated, and nervously took out two more: "Director Liu, I have cigarettes here. Would you like one?"

Director Liu, already annoyed by the missing steel fiasco, grabbed a cigarette offhandedly: "There are women present; take it outside."

Niu Er nodded: "Yes, yes, we’ll smoke outside."

He glanced at Su Xiaoxiao, feeling guilty: "Comrade Su, I remember you don’t smoke. So, these cigarettes..."

Su Wenbing was about to decline when Su Xiaoxiao jumped in, "My brother doesn’t smoke, but my boyfriend does. Niu Brother, give me one to take to him."

Niu Er’s hand froze mid-air as he was about to retrieve the cigarette.

Seeing his reluctance, Su Xiaoxiao cheerfully teased, "Niu Brother, you’re not upset about losing this expensive cigarette, are you?"

"No, these are just the cheapest economy cigarettes, a few cents a pack."

After pausing, he added, "This one got bent; let me get you a fresh one."

As he spoke, Niu Er tried to fetch another cigarette, but Su Xiaoxiao swiftly took the one he held.

"It’s no big deal for us country folk, thanks, Niu Brother."

Su Xiaoxiao sweetly thanked Niu Er.

Her smile was beautiful, like the sunshine in March, bright and flamboyant.

Niu Er felt dazed for a moment, blushing, and quickly stepped outside to smoke.

Suddenly, the office was left with just Su Wenbing and his sister.

Su Wenbing frowned at her: "Little Three, when did you start dating? Why didn’t I know?"

He had mixed feelings now, akin to the saying that a big brother is like a father, feeling as though his precious cabbage was suddenly nibbled by a pig, a bittersweet nostalgia.

"I was teasing him; it’s just that it would be foolish not to score bargains when available," replied Su Xiaoxiao.

"It’s just a pack costing a few cents; if you want some, I can buy them for you. But what’s the point? No one in our family smokes."

The men of Su Family indeed didn’t smoke. While Father Su used to smoke, after he passed away, the family struggled to get by, barely having enough to eat, let alone spend money on cigarettes, which neither filled the stomach nor was economically sound.

For the Su Family’s elders, cigarettes were less practical than a big steamed bun.

"This cigarette costs more than a few cents, brother. Take a closer look."

Su Xiaoxiao handed the cigarette to Su Wenbing, who didn’t understand much about cigarettes, turning it over without noticing anything wrong.

"Little Sister, is there something wrong with this cigarette?"

Su Xiaoxiao pointed at the cigarette paper: "Brother, look closely at this paper."

With her prompt, Su Wenbing examined it carefully, though he didn’t smoke, plenty of smokers gathered during breaks to smoke.

Typically, folks smoked the cheapest economy cigarettes, with those better off occasionally indulging in costlier ones costing over a dime a pack, the difference usually apparent in the paper.

The more expensive the cigarette, the fewer impurities in the paper, appearing whiter and smoother.

Su Wenbing examined it again; the paper was fine and smooth, unlike the coarse, impurity-laden paper he knew of economy cigarettes.

These cigarettes seemingly cost at least several pennies a pack. Where did Niu Er get money for such expensive cigarettes?

"I noticed earlier; over half of his pack were these, and the rest were cheaper ones."

Su Xiaoxiao had observed attentively and even remembered how many cigarettes were in the pack.

Su Wenbing, puzzled: "Little Three, what does this indicate? Niu Er being a heavy smoker isn’t surprising for him to indulge."

"Brother, if I recall, Niu Er is married, right? He’s earning less than you, and even you have to wait till your shoes are worn out to buy new ones, yet he provides for his family with his wages and smokes these expensive cigarettes?

Su Wenbing: "..."

You analyze Niu Er, then analyze him. Why drag him into it?

He may be frugal, but it wasn’t as bad as Little Sister exaggerated, right?

Thinking of this, Su Wenbing glanced at his shoes laden with patches, oddly silent.