Returning to the 1960s: Starting with Digging for Fo-ti

Thinking of this, he said coldly, “What are you doing here? Didn’t I tell Liu Chun’an that I wouldn’t be coming to the card game tonight?”

Hearing this, Li Ergou sneered, turned to look at Liu Xiuyun, and spoke in a light, teasing tone, “Sister-in-law, don’t just stand there. My brother Jianguo and I will eat a bit first. Since Brother Jianguo isn’t interested, why don’t you go find us some chopsticks?”

Liu Xiuyun’s face went pale with anger. She wanted to tell Li Ergou to get out, but she remembered the past. Du Jianguo treated Li Ergou like a master. If she dared to contradict Li Ergou even once, Du Jianguo would beat her.

She wasn’t afraid of being beaten, but she was afraid she wouldn’t live long enough to poison Du Jianguo. So, she gritted her teeth and turned to leave.

Seeing Liu Xiuyun leave, Li Ergou patted the chair beside him and said calmly, “Sit, Brother Jianguo. There’s something I need to talk to you about.”

Du Jianguo stared coldly at the man in front of him. “Speak if you have something to say.”

Li Ergou was momentarily stunned by his expression but didn’t take it to heart. He smiled and began, “Then I’ll speak. Brother Jianguo, haven’t I been good to you?”

“Years ago, when you married Sister-in-law, my help played a big part in that.”

“Tonight’s card game was organized by me. I can understand not giving Liu Chun’an face, but refusing to attend a gathering organized by a friend who helped you marry your wife, isn’t that a bit unreasonable?”

Du Jianguo replied with a cold face, “Last night you won more than ten yuan from me and took my family’s cloth coupons. Isn’t that enough? Do you really want to destroy my family before you’re satisfied? Leave. I will absolutely not go to tonight’s card game.”

This Li Ergou was determined to trap him. Although gambling usually leads to loss, being robbed daily like this was rare. In his previous life, Du Jianguo couldn’t figure it out, but now he finally understood.

He was likely setting a trap, working with others to deliberately swindle him!

Li Ergou narrowed his eyes, his tone carrying a threat, “Brother Jianguo, your loss last night was just bad luck. It’s temporary. If you try harder tonight, maybe you can win it back. But you can’t keep refusing my face like this!”

His tone was light, yet full of threat. “Years ago I could help you marry your wife, and now I can certainly make this woman leave you. You wouldn’t want Sister-in-law to know the truth about the past, would you? Tonight, give the money back…ouch!”

Before his threat was finished, a sudden sharp pain shot through his chest. Du Jianguo had somehow grabbed a broom in the room and smashed it hard against his chest. One blow was enough to make Li Ergou double over in pain.

“You’re crazy!” Li Ergou’s eyes widened as he glared at Du Jianguo through gritted teeth. “You dare hit me? Hit me again if you have the guts!”

As soon as the words left his mouth, Du Jianguo’s broom swung again.

In his previous life, he had Li Ergou riding on his neck, enjoying power and prestige, and blindly ruined his whole life.

Now that he had been reborn, how could he still be without backbone like back then?

Rather than groveling to keep Li Ergou’s secret, he might as well stand up for once and fight for a decent life for his wife and daughter.

“Damn it, Du Jianguo, your wings are really hard now! I’ll kill you!”

Li Ergou, having been a thug for years, truly had some ruthlessness. Seeing this, he pounced directly, wrestling with Du Jianguo.

But small-time thugs are disorganized fighters with no real martial arts skills.

After Liu Xiuyun died in his previous life, Du Jianguo, filled with regret, specifically found a master to learn martial arts. Although he was now in a new body, his understanding of martial arts remained, just a bit rusty. It was enough to deal with Li Ergou, though.

Every time Li Ergou threw a full-force punch, Du Jianguo could return ten palms.

In no time, Li Ergou lost all his courage. He was shocked and terrified.

What did this kid eat today? Why is he so fierce?

He hurriedly shouted, “I’m not fighting you anymore! Du Jianguo, just you wait. If I get a chance, you won’t live! I’ll remember this grudge!”

Li Ergou seized a gap to create distance, limping out of the courtyard.

Just then, Liu Xiuyun returned from the kitchen and saw the scene. She froze, instinctively asking, “What happened to you two?”

Du Jianguo wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and said firmly, “Wife, I’ve cut ties with Li Ergou. From today on, I’ll stay by your side and live a proper life.”

Liu Xiuyun let out a cold laugh and said, “Du Jianguo, stop acting the victim in front of me. I won’t fall for it this time. Don’t think you can trick me out of a single cent!”

She instinctively thought Du Jianguo and Li Ergou were putting on a show to see if she had finished selling her dowry.

After all, with Du Jianguo’s cowardly nature, how could he dare to turn against Li Ergou?

Du Jianguo sighed, “Wife, I know you don’t believe me now. But give me a few days to try. Just watch my performance and then decide.”

He walked to the table and placed a bowl of pork lard scraps with corn buns in front of Liu Xiuyun.

“Eat.”

Liu Xiuyun remained silent. Seeing this, Du Jianguo came up with an idea, “If you don’t eat now, I’ll take it to Li Ergou to apologize.”

Liu Xiuyun glared at Du Jianguo, her hand subconsciously reaching for the rat poison in her pocket. She gritted her teeth and said, “There’s a little badger fat left in the cabinet. Rub some on your wounds yourself.”

Saying this, Liu Xiuyun took the bowl and left. Du Jianguo watched her back and smiled.

Pork lard scraps are a great tonic, better than chicken or eggs. In these times, if a guest arrives, people are willing to serve chicken or eggs. But pork lard scraps are often something people are reluctant to use.

Because this stuff truly fills the stomach and helps put weight on.

As soon as Liu Xiuyun bit into a piece, a burst of oily fragrance exploded in her mouth.

She greedily swallowed the mouthful of scraps, then hurriedly picked out a few more to wrap in the corn bun, chewing wolfishly. She hadn’t touched any oil or fat in months.

These actions were all instinct. Her body was subconsciously urging her to replenish fat to survive the hard times.

After gnawing the corn bun completely clean, Liu Xiuyun felt half-full.

She quickly pushed the bowl of scraps away, not daring to look at it again, afraid she would reach for more.

Sitting by the bed, the scent of meat still lingering in her nose, Du Jianguo’s soft words from earlier popped back into her mind.

Did he really repent? Was he really willing to live a good life with her?

Most likely, it was just to trick her.

Liu Xiuyun sighed softly, not trusting Du Jianguo much.

This might be a trick Du Jianguo was using to get money from her, but this brief warmth was the only touch of comfort she had felt from him.

She took the bowl to the living room and placed the pork scraps and corn buns in front of Du Jianguo.

“Wife, why aren’t you eating?” Du Jianguo looked up and asked.

“I’m full. I saved a portion for the child. You eat the rest.”

Looking at the pork scraps, Du Jianguo didn’t feel much longing. This was a precious item in these times, but in the era he was familiar with, it was common trash.

In the future, pig farms were everywhere, and pork scraps became worthless junk. In his previous life, he had eaten countless amounts of it.

But in the 1960s, this was a good way to supplement oil and fat. It couldn’t be wasted.

Thinking of this, Du Jianguo finished the oil and fat in three swift movements, eating it with the corn bun.

After that, he picked up the bowl to wash it in the kitchen. But as soon as he pushed open the kitchen door, he froze in place, his eyes going straight.