"Is that Xiao Shi? It is Xiao Shi, isn't it?"
Before Huai Shi could react, he saw the thin woman standing behind him. Her complexion was somewhat sallow, and despite the summer heat, she wore a fuzzy hat. There was no trace of hair beneath it.
"...Sister-in-law?"
After not seeing her for some time, Huai Shi could barely recognize her. He wasn't sure this was Old Yang's wife—the last shred of conscience in that black-hearted broker's household.
Back when Huai Shi had seen her before, she had been a great beauty with waist-length black hair and a rosy complexion. Now, her long hair had all fallen out during chemotherapy, and her face was frail beyond belief.
Only her smile remained as warm and welcoming as ever.
"Hey, your Brother Yang said you'd been working here these past couple of days. I didn't believe him, but it turned out to be true..."
Without waiting for Huai Shi to speak, she came forward. Carrying groceries in one hand, she grabbed Huai Shi with the other. "You haven't eaten yet, have you? Come on, it's your Brother Yang's birthday today. Come eat at our place!"
Half an hour later, Huai Shi and Old Yang silently stared at each other across the boiling hot pot, wisps of steam rising between them.
After a long while, Old Yang glanced toward his wife busying herself in the kitchen, then turned back and spoke gloomily. "I asked you over, and you actually came..."
"Isn't that how it works?" Huai Shi slapped his knee. "Didn't you say you were treating me to a meal?"
"I was just being polite. Don't take it seriously..."
"Then what about stuffing me into that male escort den?"
"That was a misunderstanding."
Old Yang rolled his eyes so hard they nearly reached the ceiling. "Besides, weren't you having a great time? You even brought your coworker over. A fine horse is common, but a Bole is rare..."
"Enough already!"
The moment Huai Shi heard that, his anger flared. If this bastard hadn't sold out his conscience for a bit of brokerage commission, would Huai Shi be this unlucky now?
"Is it time to eat? I'm hungry."
Liu Dongli, in the corner of the living room, raised his head and asked. This guy was just as unreserved around strangers. When someone offered him a meal, he had shamelessly tagged along. Right now, he was squatting in front of the fish tank, sprinkling Old Yang's fish food around for fun.
Old Yang, the stingy bastard, was so furious his eyes nearly popped out.
"Ah, coming, coming! Sorry to keep everyone waiting. Come on, let's eat."
Sister-in-law emerged from the kitchen carrying sliced vegetables. She called Liu Dongli over to eat and had even mixed dipping sauces for them. Seeing Old Yang's unhappy expression, she shot him a glare. "Xiao Shi hardly ever comes over, and you're pulling that face? Who are you showing it to? Oh, this must be Xiao Shi's coworker. What a handsome young man... Come on, eat, eat."
After his wife glared at him, Old Yang didn't dare keep up his temper. Dejected, he tossed a slice of meat into the pot and muttered about Huai Shi not paying him a brokerage fee this time.
With Old Yang's sour face as a side dish, Huai Shi enjoyed the meal immensely. After dinner, Old Yang was sent to the kitchen to wash dishes, while Huai Shi sat in the living room chatting casually with Sister-in-law. Her complexion had improved considerably from before. It seemed Old Yang's conscience-stricken money-grabbing had been of some use after all.
"Every day I live is one less day. I'll take each day as it comes." Ignoring Huai Shi's attempts to stop her, Sister-in-law casually lit a cigarette. "If this illness only tortured me, that would be one thing. But it's dragged Old Yang through so much suffering too. I can't bear it."
"What are you saying?"
Old Yang had been eavesdropping in the kitchen. He poked his head out, instantly furious. "Li Xuemei, what are you doing? What did the doctor say? Put that cigarette out! Right now! Immediately!"
"What did you say?" Sister-in-law turned to look at him.
"..."
Old Yang's legs went weak, and his voice dropped. "Please put out the cigarette."
"That's more like it."
Sister-in-law gave Huai Shi a smug look, tossed the cigarette into the ashtray, and whispered to him, "See that? If he cheats you out of money again, tell me. I'll deal with him."
"...Sure, sure, sure."
Huai Shi's eyes lit up. All he could say was that where there was a venomous snake, there was an antidote nearby. Truly, everything in this world had its natural nemesis...
Once they had finished eating and the pot had been washed, Old Yang, still wearing his apron, finally got his wish and sent the two freeloaders out the door.
On the way out, he glared irritably at Liu Dongli, who had been showing off shamelessly in front of his wife. After needling him into going to hail a cab, he turned back toward Huai Shi.
His expression was strange.
"What?"
Huai Shi instinctively took a step back. His first thought was: This bastard is embarrassed and angry—he's going to hit someone.
Old Yang eyed him suspiciously for a long time, then pulled him closer and lowered his voice. "Kid, you haven't offended anyone, have you?"
"Hm?"
Huai Shi immediately became alert. Then Old Yang said, "Someone came to me last night asking about you. They paid a lot."
"You didn't tell them, did you?" Huai Shi tensed.
Old Yang rolled his eyes. "What nonsense? If I didn't tell them, would I still be human?"
"Then... wait!?" Huai Shi looked up. "What did you say?"
Old Yang, who had just sold him out completely, sighed and held up five fingers. "They gave me fifty thousand for information on you. Even if I hadn't told them, do you think they couldn't have asked around at your school? Think carefully, kid. What shady things have you done lately?"
"..."
Even though Huai Shi had long known what this guy was like, he still couldn't suppress the urge to hit him.
Then he saw Old Yang yank open his apron and shove two rolls of something into Huai Shi's pocket.
Huai Shi touched them and froze.
They were two thick rolls of cash.
There had to be at least twenty thousand in there.
"This time, your brother here wasn't loyal. I'm sorry... I really needed the money. If you're too angry, you can beat me up."
He lowered his head in apology. "Take the money and go somewhere else for a few days. Don't come back yet. I'll ask around some more. Once this blows over, I'll call you."
Huai Shi hadn't expected this bastard to suddenly find his conscience. For a moment, his emotions were a tangled mess, and he didn't know what to say. After being cheated so many times, he had finally gotten some money back. He was actually a little moved.
Though he really wanted to hit him, when he remembered Sister-in-law's pale face, he felt powerless again.
Forget it. They had been fellow sufferers for so many years. If Old Yang didn't cheat him, was he supposed to watch his wife die?
In the end, he asked one question.
"Who exactly was asking about me?"
"That bunch didn't say. All mysterious and secretive." Old Yang smoked with his head lowered and snorted. "Do they think I'm an idiot? Like I wouldn't even check their license plate? It seemed to be some kind of charity foundation. The name sounded pretty intimidating, something like..."
He scratched his head for ages, then slapped the back of it as he finally remembered.
"—Benevolent Charity!"
Two hours later, Huai Shi sat in an armored vehicle, staring blankly at the soldiers armed to the teeth around him.
What the hell was this?
What was going on?
What was he supposed to do?
The familiar three questions of life once again filled his mind.
The happy days had flown by, and his saved chapters were almost gone...
All he could say was that life was truly too bleak.
Panda crying.jpg