Pretending To Be A Boss

Tang Xian believed that Yu Xiaozhe wouldn't ask such a stupid question and reckoned it was just a jibe at him, so he simply explained:

"She's not my daughter. Anyway, I'm counting on you for this favor. Seeing that you're in the mood for jokes, it seems you rarely come off worse in your battle of wits with the hunters chasing you. If you run into trouble in the future, you can come to me."

Yu Xiaozhe laughed. Tang Xian was still the same old Tang Xian.

"Come to you? What can you, a talentless cheater, do against those hunting me? Pick a place in three days, and I'll come to get you."

"The Forest Sea."

"That's a red zone, isn't it?"

"It's my turf, no need to be scared."

"Scared? What am I scared of? I'm just curious, how can a guy with zero talent like you survive in the Forest Sea?"

Yu Xiaozhe had been a bit worried about Tang Xian before; the red zone was a no-go area for humans.

"You know I wouldn't lie to you. Okay, help me out with this, and I'll return the favor. Crossing the fortress calls are expensive, two liang of hot pot oil per minute, so farewell."

Tang Xian decisively hung up the phone.

The busy tone left Yu Xiaozhe somewhat stunned.

"Damn, despite being so broke, why do you speak with more arrogance than Laozi?" Cursing with a laugh, Yu Xiaozhe turned off the TV; he had been watching a soccer match.

Many sports were declining, but basketball and soccer were still going strong, and there were plenty of spectators in the two-level sports stadium.

Yu Xiaozhe began searching for materials. As a master of forgery, he firmly believed that everything in this world could be replicated, even people.

If it was done well enough, it became real, and in this world, the fake could sometimes be more real than the genuine article.

For instance, in the soccer match, there were players whom he had replaced. He was set to make a fortune today.

But he had to deal with Tang Xian's request quickly.

It had always been this way. When he had asked Tang Xian for a favor in the past, Tang never dragged his feet. To reciprocate a friendly gesture, Yu Xiaozhe also didn't delay.

...

...

The fact that Tang Xian had returned to the mining area was first known by Li Xiaoyu, as always.

She knew where Tang Xian lived and the places he frequented daily.

She also knew that Tang Xian was aware that she knew.

This somewhat tongue-twisting relationship had been maintained between them for quite a while.

Li Xiaoyu believed Tang Xian liked being monitored by her. After all, it was too simple for him to shake off the surveillance, but he hadn't done so.

Tang Xian glanced at the gazes from people in the distance and nonchalantly shook his head.

He was just lazy.

After all, the most information was never leaking from him.

Early the next day, Dong Ran arrived.

When Tang Xian opened the door, he noticed that Dong Ran's clothes were significantly more conservative, covering both necessary and unnecessary places.

Such attire was in line with the core socialist values, and Tang was very satisfied.

"Come in," Tang's tone was still indifferent.

As soon as Dong Ran entered, she noticed a cute little girl sleeping soundly on the bed.

"This is…?"

"My sister."

"You have a sister?" Dong Ran was surprised.

"Seeing is believing, why the need for questions? How's the dance I had you practice coming along?" Tang was prepping for hot pot.

"It's very polished now!" Dong Ran replied confidently.

"That's good. After we eat, I'm going to see a friend to get some vegetable seeds, then we can head to the mining area."

Dong Ran was still obedient, although she would sometimes take her own initiative, but a little training would put her right. Tang was fairly pleased.

"What's the point of learning this dance, anyway?"

"For the sake of having top-quality beef tripe to eat."

The authentic hot pot was originally all about eating beef tripe and omasum. The taste of tripe made from synthetic minerals was somewhat replicable, but surely not as good as that of real beef.

"Huh?" Dong Ran didn't understand.

"Bulls have four stomachs, but the ones in the mining area have six. These bulls were originally called Long-handle Bulls, but after discovering they had perfect-grade combat skills, they got a more serious name, Yi Niu. Their meat is tougher than Cerberus, but their offal is about the same as regular bulls.

Although their frame isn't large, they're very long, and one bull is probably enough for us to have hot pot several times."

Tang slowly skimmed the Sichuan peppers and chili peppers that had been soaking overnight and continued:

"Yi Niu's charges are swift, and they're very powerful, but if you sidestep, it takes them quite a bit of effort to turn around. However, never think you can fight a bull with ease. Many hunters believe that once they dodge the first charge, they have ample time to avoid the second, but they overlook Yi Niu's tail flick and back kick."

"The dance steps I taught you are modified from the most legendary matador's steps at the Madrid bullring in Spain. As long as you judge the angle of Yi Niu's first charge correctly and respond properly, it won't be able to hit you afterward."

Dong Ran understood.

So the dance was actually for bullfighting, which led to eating beef tripe?

Dong Ran had heard about bullfighting, a dangerous sport, and she said, "Then do I need to prepare a red cloth? I heard that ancient matadors would use red cloth to attract bulls because bulls become excited when they see..."

"Bulls are color blind. You should read more when you have time."

Tang's remark stopped Dong Ran in her tracks.

"The red color was simply deemed provocative by the matadors; it isn't meant to excite the bulls but to excite the audience."

Dong Ran had grown accustomed to Tang's criticisms.

"Tang, have you been in the mining area... for seven days?"

"Did Li Xiaoyu ask you to inquire?"

"Hmm, the second lady asked me, but I wanted to know myself."