The Song Family Men's Widow Complex (continued)

Lou Fengyun was initially a little embarrassed, blushed slightly after hearing Song Tianyao's teasing, but she felt less awkward around Song Tianyao, especially since this young man, who had previously ignored her, had actually called her "Sister Yun."

"Secretary Song's wine..."

"You don't need to call me Secretary Song when you're visiting my home, just A-Yao." Song Tianyao reached into his pocket to take out a cigarette and light it, but Song Wenwen, separated by Lou Fengyun, reached out and grabbed the cigarette pack from him. "No smoking."

At this moment, Zhao Meizhen came over with two plates of mixed vegetables and placed them in front of Song Tianyao: "I've been waiting for you for a long time, so I specially saved these for you."

"Thank you, Mom." Song Tianyao picked up his chopsticks and, while picking up some food, secretly gave his Dad, who was sitting directly opposite him and watching him expectantly, a wink, indicating that he had already taken care of the task of delivering the secret stash of money to his grandfather, Song Chengqi.

When Zhao Meizhen turned back to her seat, she only saw her husband lower his head and sip the rice wine in his bowl.

After eating a few bites of food and drinking a cup of rice wine—considering it a proper housewarming meal— Song Tianyao finally took a look around the living room. Although this tenement building was an old pre-war Cantonese-style arcade building, the previous landlord had clearly kept it quite clean, and there was no damp or musty smell in the air. However, the furniture he had moved in with was rather shabby. On the other hand, a brand-new radio on the corner table was quite eye-catching. Without a doubt, it must have been brought by Lou Fengyun as a housewarming gift.

This new home is a world apart from the previous Squatter Area on Jialin Road. Not only are there electric lights in the tenement buildings, but there are also four gas streetlights at each end of Tai Wo Street for nighttime illumination. It is much better than the Kowloon area, where it was pitch black at night and people relied on candles and oil lamps for lighting, and where fires frequently broke out and burned down entire wooden shacks.

"A-Tai, I was originally planning to help you get a driver's license and then work as a driver in Likang, but unfortunately, my boss has arranged someone else. So you'll have to work a little harder for now. I'll have Fuyixing's people at the docks give you a job first, and then I'll arrange for you to go after that person stops being a driver," Song Tianyao said to Chen Tai, who was smiling sheepishly.

Chen Tai grinned, his expression becoming even more blank. "Brother Yiu says it's good, then I'll definitely do my best."

The Scribe Hui, had already placed a bottle of rice wine and a beer next to Song Tianyao: "Secretary Song, what would you like to drink?"

"Beer," Song Tianyao said.

When Zhao Meizhen saw her son return, her eyes kept darting between Lou Fengyun and the Scribe Hui. She naturally knew that the woman in front of her was Black-Hearted Wah's wife. Zhao Meizhen had already heard about Black-Hearted Wah's fate, and she had also witnessed the powerful Fuyixing Big Brother becoming sworn brothers with her son. Therefore, Zhao Meizhen was not afraid of the woman coming to cause trouble. She was convinced that Lou Fengyun, who was on crutches, had come to deliver a radio as a housewarming gift because she wanted her son, Song Tianyao, to plead with that Golden-Tooth Lei on her behalf.

But Song Tianyao had been seated for so long, and neither of them had said a word, showing no sign of asking for help. This made Zhao Meizhen wonder if she had guessed wrong, so she simply asked:

"Lou Fengyun, it's so late, and your leg is injured. Isn't it inconvenient for you to cross the harbor back to Kowloon?"

Lou Fengyun paused for a moment upon hearing this, then smiled and reached for her cane beside her, "If Auntie Zhen hadn't reminded me, I would have forgotten the time. I won't disturb you Auntie Zhen resting. Ah Hui, help me upstairs to go back and rest."

"I'll carry you upstairs, Scribe Hui. Help me take a few beers to the rooftop. I'm going to get some fresh air, drink some beer, and then come back to sleep." Song Tianyao got up from the table, put on his coat, and beckoned to his sister Song Wenwen to take back the cigarettes.

Zhao Meizhen hadn't reacted yet. "Upstairs?"

"Didn't Sister Yun tell you that she bought the whole building? She lives on the third floor upstairs?" Song Tianyao leaned down and hooked one arm around Lou Fengyun's waist from behind, while the other arm wrapped around her legs. He slowly lifted Lou Fengyun into his arms and walked towards the door. Only when they reached the door did he remember to explain to his mother.

Lou Fengyun never expected that Song Tianyao would actually pick her up and carry her around in his arms in public. She wanted to struggle, but firstly, she was afraid of angering Song Tianyao, and secondly, her legs were injured and she couldn't use her strength. In her shock and embarrassment, she didn't dare to look at the other people in the room. She could only turn her head slightly towards Song Tianyao's chest to hide her embarrassment and let him carry her out of the room.

When Lou Fengyun's trusted henchman Scribe Hui, saw Song Tianyao pick up Lou Fengyun, his face practically lit up. He carried three bottles of beer in his left hand, the pair of wooden clogs Lou Fengyun had left under the table in his right, and his boss's two canes tucked under his arm. He bowed slightly to the clearly stunned Zhao Meizhen, Song Chunliang, Song Wenwen, and the others in the room, apologized, and followed Song Tianyao upstairs like a loyal servant.

Only when the footsteps of the three could be heard upstairs did Zhao Meizhen remember and furrow her brows. "Damn it! When did A-Yao hook up with Black-Hearted Wah's lame widow? And what's more, the whole building belongs to her!?"

"No, Sister Yun has difficulty walking. A-Yao was just kindly taking her upstairs. A-Yao wouldn't be interested in this... widow..." Perhaps because of his son's errand for him that afternoon, Song Chunliang, who was usually submissive to his wife, actually raised his head and wanted to say a few words in defense of his son.

Before he could finish speaking, Zhao Meizhen glared at him. "Bullshit! Do you think I don't know what you Song Family men are thinking? You can't even stand up straight when you see a widow! Back in the Squatter Area, you drooled over that widow surnamed Zheng, repaired her shoe heels more than ten times for free, and even carried water for her family. When that widow called you 'Brother Leung,' your face practically lit up with pride! Your dead brother even married a widow who brought bad luck to her husband! With parents like you, do you expect me to believe that A-Yao was doing a good deed by carrying a widow upstairs? Look at this Sister Yun's eyes, they're exactly the same as those of that widow Zheng who seduced you back then!"

After being scolded by Zhao Meizhen, Song Chunliang immediately lowered his head and fell silent. It took a great deal of courage for him to speak up for his son in front of his wife, plus the courage he had just drunk from the rice wine. He considered it repayment for his son's help in secretly delivering his son's stash of money that afternoon. If his wife wanted to scold his son, let her scold him; there was no need for her to scold him as well. Besides, his son was now the secretary of a large trading company, and his wife probably wouldn't dare to scold him so fiercely in front of him.