Hong Jiaxin managed to get through to Suyun's phone and found out Suyun was free that afternoon.
Then Luo Yang immediately arranged to meet Suyun at the school gate in the afternoon, where a car would come to pick her up.
Luo Yang wanted to go to the county town in the morning and return by noon to take Suyun and An Yuying to enroll in a driving school.
Ever since the dump truck incident the night before, Luo Yang had been somewhat nervous about leaving the village.
The Lin Family had orchestrated the first car accident which failed, they would surely plan a second time, a third time …
Usually, when going out, Luo Yang would bring Hong Jiaxin, fearing she might be implicated as well.
Yet without Hong Jiaxin by his side, Luo Yang felt unease.
Lately, it seemed like everything was over and calm, but Luo Yang had a nagging feeling their enemies were lurking in the shadows, ready to strike and abduct Hong Jiaxin the moment a good opportunity arose.
Thus, the more peaceful it appeared, the more Luo Yang dared not let his guard down.
He had never promised to protect someone before in his life.
Having assured Hong Jiaxin's parents he would protect her well, he couldn't let anything happen to her.
Walking around the Hongyun Brigade wasn't a problem.
Everyone there was familiar, and if a stranger entered, it was immediately noticeable.
Assassins wouldn't dare enter the village, for if they did, they would end up corpses on the ground.
At breakfast, his family sat together at home.
The fish pond was ready and could be stocked with young fish; Luo Zhihai asked Luo Yang where he was going to buy the fry.
There were a few fish in the water tank behind the house, but those were the fish Luo Yang had extracted from a landscape painting to test if they could survive.
The fact they had survived showed that those kinds of fish could be raised in the pond.
"I'll bring back the fry tonight," Luo Yang said.
Lately, his son had become a great power, and Luo Zhihai trusted his son's words very much.
In fact, he had prepared the fry in the "Shennong Scripture" landscape painting the night before, but he hadn't brought them out yet.
Being mysterious also had its advantages, such as not having to make unnecessary explanations.
The only issue with the pond was the water supply wasn't resolved yet.
In winter, the stream water would be insufficient, and the pond would run dry unless water was diverted from a nearby river.
However, with Xingang Brigade's land in between, if the people of Xingang Brigade disagreed, they couldn't build the canal, and the fish pond would naturally be abandoned.
Hong Jiaxin had also grown accustomed to life at the Luo Family's home and wasn't as tense as when she first arrived, calling Luo Yang's parents uncle and aunt and even helping with the dishes.
The Luo Family was quite friendly to Hong Jiaxin, never discussing depressing matters in her presence, only amusing stories.
While still eating breakfast, Luo Yang's cell phone suddenly rang.
He glanced at the caller ID and saw it was Xu Huimin calling, so he answered.
He heard Xu Huimin say, "Niu Zai, I'd like to interview you today, is that okay?"
An interview?
Heh, I've become a celebrity too.
Luo Yang curled his lips and said, "That's fine."
He then heard Xu Huimin ask, "Where would be a good place for the interview?"
Luo Yang thought about it. If he allowed Xu Huimin to come to the Hongyun Brigade for the interview, it would be awkward if she asked to see the place where beauty products were manufactured.
"Sister Xu, let's meet at Dongfeng Middle School. I'll wait for you there," Luo Yang said.
Then Xu Huimin asked for directions to Dongfeng Middle School before hanging up.
When the family learned that a county television station reporter wanted to interview Luo Yang, having a villager on the news was a big deal.
Lin Cuilian quickly found the best clothes for her son to wear, and even made sure his hair was well-combed and his attire neat, which took a good half an hour.
Luo Zhihai decided to ride his motorbike and personally take Luo Yang and Hong Jiaxin to Dongfeng Middle School, also to share in the glory.
"Dad, Jiaxin and I can go by ourselves," Luo Yang said.
"Now that you're famous, you think your dad is too shabby?" Luo Zhihai said discontentedly.
Actually, Luo Yang was being considerate.
Once outside of Hongyun Brigade, Luo Yang couldn't assure their safety.
If Luo Zhihai rode the motorbike to take them, and they happened to encounter someone hired by the Lin Family to cause a car accident, the consequences would be unimaginable.
"Dad, let me tell you something," Luo Yang said.
Subsequently, father and son stepped aside.
This kind of thing, if not clarified, can easily lead to misunderstandings.
Initially, Luo Yang did not want his family to know, as the matter was too frightening.
However, just because his family was uninformed did not mean they would be safer.
Knowing the dangers involved, they would be better prepared.
Standing by the corner of the house outside, Luo Yang took out a pack of Red Double Happiness cigarettes and offered one to his dad.
"Smoke less," Luo Zhihai advised.
"Dad, I rarely smoke, it's usually for others,"
said Luo Yang as he put one in his mouth and lit it.
"What's with all the secrecy?" Luo Zhihai asked.
Luo Yang then briefly explained the grudge with the Lin Family and last night's truck incident.
After hearing his son's words, Luo Zhihai was quite surprised.
"What should we do?" Luo Zhihai muttered, smoking and frowning.
"Dad, you should tell mom about this so everyone can be more cautious. I'll find a way to resolve the trouble with the Lin Family," Luo Yang said.
If it weren't for Luo Yang's extraordinary abilities demonstrated recently, Luo Zhihai would have been scared out of his wits upon hearing about the feud with the Lin Family.
The Lin Family was an existence that ordinary people in Hongyun Town could not contend with.
After finishing a cigarette, Luo Yang said he was going to find Tang Guihua and left the house with Hong Jiaxin.
On the village road, Hong Jiaxin asked, "What did you tell your dad?"
When Luo Zhihai turned the corner from the house, he looked very upset.
"I told him about what happened last night," Luo Yang said.
Normally, Luo Yang's face always wore a mischievous smirk, the kind that suggested he wasn't afraid of being scalded by boiling water.
Seeing Luo Yang's serious expression today, Hong Jiaxin knew he was also feeling heavy-hearted.
"Aren't you the one who fears nothing?" Hong Jiaxin comforted him in return.
Compared to what happened at Hong Jiaxin's house, what happened to Luo Yang was not simple either; it was about equal.
But Luo Yang was a boy.
Thinking that Hong Jiaxin might also be worried about her parents, Luo Yang felt bad about receiving her comfort.
"Of course. Your master here has always been fearless." Luo Yang said with a laugh.
"Conceited. Listen, if you don't teach me some kick-ass skills, I'll settle the score with you," Hong Jiaxin quipped, lifting her lips.
"Class leader, you're the apprentice; you can't be so savage, right?"
Luo Yang glanced at Hong Jiaxin's chest, and thought to himself, wow, the class leader's chest is quite firm, hehe.
"What are you looking at? Look again, and I'll poke your eyes out,"
she warned, recalling the embarrassing incident on the hill slope where Luo Yang touched her chest.
While talking, they had walked several dozen meters.
However, they still had not decided how to get to Dongfeng Middle School.
Walk? Ride?
Actually, walking there, if they walked quickly, would take just over twenty minutes, though they would need to take shortcuts.
Driving was an option too, not because there were no vehicles, but because of the worry that another truck might try to cause an accident.
While Luo Yang was somewhat concerned, he was not very afraid.
If he was alone, he would just ride a motorcycle there.
Having Hong Jiaxin with him, Luo Yang worried about involving her and could not make up his mind.
"Class leader, if we were to go by motorcycle, would you be afraid?" Luo Yang asked.
"What's there to be afraid of? I've seen it all," Hong Jiaxin scoffed.
She was naturally daring, and having faced terrifying events at home, her mental resilience had grown.
"Then let's take Sister Guihua's car. Let's go for something thrilling. You up for it?" Luo Yang laughed.
"Who's scared of you?" Hong Jiaxin declared stubbornly.
Both were a bit afraid, but neither wanted to admit defeat.
Hong Jiaxin had always been a competitive girl who never easily accepted second place.
So, the two headed to Tang Guihua's house.