Chapter 4: Clearing Out the Family Leeches

Xu Zhiquan took a drag of his cigarette and fell silent.

He knew exactly what his son was getting at.

In Xu Chen’s previous life memories, after his father went bankrupt, some relatives truly reveled in his downfall.

Now that Xu Chen had been reborn, steering his father’s business into a new direction meant cutting off these “bloodsucking” kin.

Xu Zhiquan was the second son in the family—above him was the eldest uncle, below him the third, fourth, and fifth uncles, plus a paternal aunt.

When Xu Zhiquan first went into business, he’d worked side by side with the third and fourth uncles.

Once the factory took off, the third uncle split and set up his own small plant, becoming a competitor.

Today, Xu Zhiquan’s factory was still bigger; the eldest uncle, fourth uncle, and aunt all helped run it.

Meanwhile, the third uncle ran his factory with the fifth uncle.

In Xu Chen’s past memories, when his father’s factory went under and assets were sold to pay debts, the eldest uncle and aunt actually demanded family compensation—truly kicking him when he was down.

Only the fourth uncle stuck by Xu Zhiquan, even heading south to work alongside him.

Now that Xu Chen had returned, he was determined to help his father kick out the eldest uncle and aunt as soon as possible.

This was a ticking time bomb that needed immediate resolution.

Earlier, Xu Chen hesitated briefly, then decided to speak plainly.

He trusted his father’s judgment—he’d long ago spotted the relatives living off them, but familial bonds kept him from calling them out.

On the surface Xu Zhiquan was easygoing and generous, but he kept a careful ledger in his heart.

Xu Chen cleared his throat and said,

“Dad, you know what I mean.

You don’t have to be the ‘bad guy.’ Since we didn’t land the machinery contract this time, it’s the perfect moment to lay everything out and let those uncles and aunt choose.””

Xu Zhiquan nodded.

“Son, an outsider sees things clearly…who do you think is sucking us dry?”

Xu Chen didn’t shy away.

“You know exactly which ones show up every month to collect their cut without lifting a finger.

Besides Fourth Uncle, who’s really on our side?””

Xu Zhiquan frowned, stubbed out his cigarette, and replied,

“I’ve got to scout for new leads this week. Next weekend, when you’re home, we’ll hold a factory meeting.

We’ll invite your eldest uncle, Fourth Uncle, and Aunt. We’ll let them decide.””

Xu Chen fell silent but breathed a sigh of relief inside.

Dad’s willing to follow my plan!

Even if they’re siblings and kin.

Once they learn we lost the big machinery order—or even face shutting down the factory—the two families here for their payday will bolt at once.

If they refuse to leave, I’ve got other measures…

Xu Zhiquan smiled and looked at his son.

“Son, don’t stress too much over the college exam. If you ever don’t feel like studying, come work with your old man.

Everything I earn now will be yours someday.””

Xu Chen grinned. “I’ll stick with school for now. I’m lazy—just earn money for me to spend.””

Xu Zhiquan let out a hearty laugh and ruffled his son’s hair.

…

As dusk fell, father and son rose to part ways.

The father headed back to town; the son returned to campus.

Xu Chen was a boarding student; it was Sunday, so he finally had time to hit the net café and meet his dad.

Xu Zhiquan had driven Huang Furen’s Santana, but Huang was detained and now had to take the bus home.

Xu Chen saw his father onto the bus, then turned toward the school.

He glanced back as the bus pulled away, then abruptly changed course.

There was one more thing to take care of!

…

…

In a narrow alley sat a dingy arcade, noisy and thick with smoke.

The King of Fighters, Street Fighter, Metal Slug, Romance of the Three Kingdoms…classic 90s arcade hits filled the air with nostalgia.

Though it was already 2006, these late-last-century games still ruled the small county town.

Xu Chen pushed open the door and scanned the room, spotting a long-haired boy at a corner cabinet.

That was Xu Xiaoyang, third uncle’s son, in Grade Nine at nearby Middle School Six.

Xu Chen had no fond memories of the third uncle.

When they split, that uncle noisily took half of Xu Zhiquan’s factory assets.

They say ‘clear accounts among brothers,’ because ‘brothers make the sharpest cuts.’

When money’s on the line, family feuds get nastier than any stranger’s.

After going solo, third uncle fought tooth and nail with Xu Zhiquan’s factory, throwing obstacles at every turn.

Thankfully, Xu Zhiquan’s reputation stayed solid, so the damage was limited.

In Xu Chen’s past, after the bankruptcy, that uncle gloated and snapped up factory assets at rock-bottom prices.

Now that Xu Chen was back, he wouldn’t let third uncle get away easy.

No doubt he’d been eyeing the Bright Machinery Factory contract, scrambling for every angle.

With Dad ‘out of the game,’ third uncle would pounce to grab that order.

That’s a trap we must set!

Xu Chen bought two yuan worth of tokens, feigning ignorance as he sat down beside Xu Xiaoyang.

“Clink.” He dropped a token into the slot.

He gripped the joystick and began selecting a fighter.

“Xu Chen?” Xu Xiaoyang turned—he’d recognized his cousin instantly.

Despite the blood tie, he called him by name, arrogance plain to see.

Xu Chen feigned surprise.

“Xiaoyang? You’re here?””

Xu Xiaoyang sized him up.

“Never would’ve guessed—you’ve always been the model student, yet here you are in an arcade.””

Xu Chen shrugged. “I needed to blow off steam.””

Xu Xiaoyang chuckled.

“What’s there to blow off? Your dad’s factory is so big it’s been crushing our business.””

Xu Chen said, “Don’t mention it…my dad just lost a huge order.””

Xu Xiaoyang’s eyes flicked. “Which order?””

Xu Chen answered, “Not sure exactly. Something from Bright Machinery—Dad’s pretty steamed.””

Xu Xiaoyang froze, then couldn’t hide his excitement.

“Seriously?””

Xu Chen nodded. “Yeah—he took it out on me over dinner.””

Xu Xiaoyang fell silent and returned to Street Fighter.

But he was clearly distracted.

After less than a round, he packed up and smiled.

“You keep playing, Xu Chen. I’ve got to go.””

He turned to leave, then paused, tossing his remaining tokens onto Xu Chen’s machine.

“Here—these are yours. Have fun.””

With that, he stalked out.

Xu Chen shook his head. He thought,

“Better tell Dad to make his move quickly—time’s running out.””

If third uncle leapt into the machinery contract, he could bury us for good…

…

Stepping out of the arcade into the cool night breeze, Xu Chen felt satisfied.

He’d helped his father avoid a major pit, set the nursery business in motion, and was ready to clean house of the internal rot—third uncle was about to walk right into our trap…

Everything was in place.

Let the bullets fly first…

By the time he returned to Tiancheng No. 1 High School, it was half past nine.

It was Sunday, but lights blazed on the seventh floor—boarders in their final year grinding away.

Most boarders came from rural towns, many from impoverished families.

For them, education was the only path to a better life, so they studied even harder than city kids.

Among those boarders, Xu Chen was well off—after all, he was the ‘richest kid in the village,’ with the leisure and money to hit arcades on weekends.

He hurried toward his classroom.

With three months until the college entrance exam, the reborn Xu Chen wondered if he could master those test papers and questions again—he felt a twinge of unease.

If his father’s bankruptcy and early death was his greatest regret last life, then despite consistently decent grades, only landing at a second-tier college was his second-greatest regret.