George Webb said, “That’s right. Your car wouldn’t be much use to him anyway. Little Jason, why don’t you take my pickup for now? Use it as you like, and we can swap later.”

Jason Carter said, “Really, there’s no need.”

After a while, Henry Newton said, “If the roads in your village aren’t good, I can talk to your county officials and see how we can help get your village’s roads fixed. Bad roads are inconvenient, and once they’re improved, you can get a better vehicle.”

With Henry Newton’s words, everyone dropped the subject.

Robert Grant said, “The liquor has already been loaded onto the truck. You can ride back in the freight truck. But, let me say this, Little Jason, you really shouldn’t keep living in the countryside. I think it’s best if you move to the city—it’ll make things much easier for you.”

“Hmm, I’ll think about it.”

Jason Carter really hadn’t decided whether to live in the countryside or the city.

Henry Newton said, “Little Jason, let me be honest with you. The skills you have aren’t something ordinary people possess. In the countryside, you can’t make full use of your abilities. I think you should try to develop yourself in a big city. You’ll have more opportunities, and it’ll be good for your future.”

Knowing everyone was concerned about him, Jason Carter smiled and said, “Alright, I’ll seriously consider it when I get back.”

After finishing his business, Jason Carter went to the bank and withdrew a hundred thousand yuan, then got into the truck carrying the liquor back to the village.

This trip to the county town had been a complete success. Jason Carter touched the bag full of money and felt happy inside.

After the truck had been on the road for a while, Steven Cooper called. As soon as the call connected, he complained, “Little Jason, why did you leave so soon? Sigh, I must have been out of it today—I even forgot to thank you.”

“What’s there to thank? We’re brothers.”

“Yeah, we’re brothers!”

Steven Cooper said earnestly.

The two chatted for a while longer before hanging up.

By the time the truck entered the village, night had already fallen. The arrival of the truck caused a bit of a stir in the otherwise quiet mountain village, with the sounds of chickens and dogs rising and falling.

Listening to these familiar sounds, Jason Carter’s restless heart finally calmed down.

There’s nothing like your hometown!

Hearing the truck stop at their gate, Jason Carter’s parents came out of the house.

“Is that Little Jason?” Seeing Jason Carter get out of the truck, William Carter looked at the truck again and again.

“Dad, could you ask everyone to help move the liquor I brought back?” Jason Carter quickly told his father about moving the liquor.

“So much liquor!”

His little sister also came out, and was surprised to see all the jars of liquor in porcelain containers.

William Carter asked in confusion, “Little Jason, what’s all this?”

“Let’s talk later. Let’s move the liquor into the yard first—the driver still needs to hurry back to the city.”

“Alright, alright, I’ll go find some people.”

Actually, there was no need to look for anyone. The village was small, and the sound of the truck had already drawn quite a few onlookers.

Jason Carter simply said to his mother, “I bought some meat and vegetables this time. When everyone comes to help, let’s invite them to stay for a meal.”

When Jason Carter’s words got out, the villagers all laughed and said, “No need for a meal just for helping out. We’re free anyway, let’s help Little Jason’s family move the liquor.”

In no time, everyone rolled up their sleeves and got to work.

Jason Carter still said to his mother, “Mom, invite a few people to help cook a table or two.”

Although she didn’t know exactly what her son was up to, seeing that he’d bought so much meat and vegetables, Grace Bennett agreed and called a few women to help with the cooking.

Chapter 13: Decision

After seeing off the last villager, the courtyard of Jason Carter’s house suddenly became quiet. If there was any change, it was that the yard was now filled with many beautiful porcelain liquor jars. The blue-and-white porcelain jars lined up there made the family a bit uneasy.

“Little Jason, what’s really going on here?” William Carter couldn’t hold back any longer and asked directly.

“Yeah, why did you bring back so much liquor? Where did you get the money?” Grace Bennett couldn’t hold back either.

Seeing everyone’s worried faces, Jason Carter knew they were afraid he’d done something illegal again.

He pulled the three of them into the house and said, “I met a lot of people in prison, as you know. This time when I went to the county town, a few friends invited me to dinner—otherwise I would have come back yesterday.”

“Little Jason, even if they’re your friends from prison, now that we’re out, we should cut ties with the past!”

What William Carter worried about most was Jason Carter falling in with bad company and making mistakes again.

Jason Carter just smiled and said, “Dad, don’t think of them as bad people. One is the county chief’s son, and the others are all big bosses. They wouldn’t do anything bad.”

“Oh!”

William Carter felt a bit more at ease.

Grace Bennett pointed outside and said, “Where did you get the money to buy so much liquor?”