Finding a Place

Early Morning in Jamaica, New York

In March, the sun rises a bit earlier in New York than in winter, but at six o'clock, the streets were still shrouded in a gray haze.

The early morning in Jamaica has a distinct scent... the smell of diesel left behind by passing garbage trucks, the cloying sweetness of bakeries starting their morning bake, and the wind surging up from subway vents, carrying a mixture of rust and body odor.

Lin An stood on a street corner opposite a church, his hands tucked into his coat pockets, watching the scene before him.

St. Mark's Church in Jamaica was a red-brick building with a modest porch, yet a long line had already formed at its entrance.

There were about forty or fifty people in line, mostly Black, a few others, and a handful of Latinos. They wore all sorts of clothes, but they shared one common trait: they were all exceptionally thin from long-term malnutrition.

At the front of the line, a stout Black man wearing an orange reflective vest was handing out meal boxes.

His movements were practiced; with one hand he passed out a box, and with the other, he made the sign of the cross over his chest, muttering something under his breath. It looked like he was offering blessings, but his voice was too low to hear clearly.

"Darnell, who is that man?"

Darnell, standing beside Lin An, was munching on a donut, sugar powder dusting the corners of his mouth. His mouth was stuffed full, and he spoke indistinctly.

"Oh... that's... wait, let me swallow first... that's Deacon Williams."

He swallowed hard and patted his chest.

"He runs the kitchen for this church. He's been working here for... maybe ten years? Anyway, he was already here before I came to Jamaica."

"Is he a good man?"

"Should be."

Darnell licked the sugar off his fingers.

"As far as I know, he even helps people find work—cleaners, movers, construction laborers, the day-wage kind. The homeless around here all go to him when they need work. But, I don't like him."

"Oh, why?"

Lin An shifted his gaze away from Williams.

"Didn't you just say he was a good man?"

"Yeah, all the fat guys say he's a good man."

Darnell scratched his head.

"But, I just don't like him."

"I see. Then I'll have to change my plan."

Lin An said. He had originally intended to seek a partnership with this Williams, but after hearing Darnell's words, he changed his mind.

The ancestors had a saying: the face reflects the heart. When you meet someone and your first impression is one of dislike or an instinctive repulsion, you should trust your intuition, stay away from that person, or at the very least, remain vigilant and not be deceived by their subsequent words.

When you dislike someone at first sight, it is your human instinct telling you that this person is harmful to you—perhaps because your personalities clash, or perhaps because they are already plotting against you.

In short, trust your gut.

The body Lin An currently inhabited was only in its twenties, but his mental age was far beyond that, and he had suffered enough setbacks in the past to know better.

The reason he could get along with Darnell was that Lin An's first impression of the latter had been good, which was why he was able to become friends with him.

Since Darnell, this Ni Ge, didn't like that Williams, Lin An had no intention of dealing with the church deacon.

"Let's go, let's find a place to sit."

The two crossed the street and walked into a small diner diagonally across from the church. The diner was called Mary's Little Kitchen, and a breakfast special sign was taped to the glass door.

There were only two customers in the shop, both white-haired elderly men, each occupying a table and sipping their coffee slowly.

The waitress behind the counter was in her fifties, her hair dyed an unnatural shade of blonde, and she was wiping the counter with a rag.

"Two seats, please."

Darnell swaggered in as if he were entering his own home.

"Mary, how's the coffee today? Still tasting like dishwater?"

"Shut up and sit down."

The waitress didn't even look up.

Darnell turned to wink at Lin An.

"See that? I'm very close with her. Her name is Mary, same as the restaurant, but she's not my mom. My mom is also named Mary and works at a nursing home. Both Marys are not to be trifled with, you know what I mean?"

They sat down at a table by the window. Lin An ordered a black coffee and a piece of bread, while Darnell ordered another donut.

"Darnell."

Lin An placed his coffee cup on the table without drinking.

"I have something to tell you."

Darnell took a bite of his donut and said indistinctly.

"What is it? You go first, I'm listening. I'm the young man with the best business sense in Jamaica; there's no trouble I can't solve!"

"It's about making money, and it has to do with those homeless people."

"Huh?"

Darnell took the donut out of his mouth in surprise, placing it on the plate for the time being.

"You want to make money off those homeless people? Wait a second, bro, you aren't planning to..."

Darnell leaned forward, bringing his head close to Lin An to whisper, his tone carrying a hint of exaggerated nervousness.

"You aren't trying to be a flour dealer, selling goods to the homeless, are you? Bro, are you crazy? My mom said drugs are the devil's trap; anyone who touches them is going to hell! My stepfather said the same thing when he was alive—anyone who touches that stuff is a moron. He sounded more serious than a church pastor when he said it!"

"I get it, I don't touch that stuff."

Lin An sighed.

"I just want to hire those homeless people to do some work. Stop letting your imagination run wild. I might not be a saint, but I'm definitely not a dealer."

"Ah, what do you want those homeless people to do for you?"

"Anything. I don't have money to pay them right now, so I can only provide food and clothes."

Lin An said.

"Now, I have a problem that I need your help with."

"Spit it out, good bro. As long as I can help, I definitely will. Who do you think I am? I'm Darnell Washington, the most reliable man in the Jamaica Community, bar none!"

Darnell patted his chest to guarantee it, the thumping sound echoing, his cocky demeanor suggesting he could solve every problem in the next second.

"Find a safe place for the homeless to stay, somewhere they can get out of the wind."

Lin An said seriously.

"Preferably one that doesn't charge rent."

"Brother, are you serious? A place that doesn't charge rent?"

"Serious."

Lin An picked up his coffee, not drinking it, just using it to warm his hands.

"After the 2008 crisis, there should be plenty of empty houses around here—the kind the bank repossessed and no one cares about."

Darnell lowered his voice, his tone instantly becoming more restrained, though he still maintained his tough-guy act.

"You want to lead the homeless to squat in those houses? Bro, don't mess around! If the gangs get wind of that place, we're both finished. My mom is still waiting for me to support her in her old age!"

"Tell me what the situation is."

Darnell wiped his mouth and sat up straight, returning to his "I know everything" persona.

"There really is a large area over in South Jamaica, south of Brewer Avenue, near the Long Island Rail Road overpass. It's all those wooden houses. White people used to live there, but they moved out, and the banks boarded them up to keep people out."

"Boards can't stop people who need a place to stay."

Lin An replied.

"True, but that place is a bit dangerous."

Darnell hesitated for a moment, his tone carrying a rare hint of genuine concern, though he still acted tough.

"It's not the police that are the danger; it's... there are gang members hanging around there. They've occupied a few houses to use as shops."

Shops—what does that mean?

[Ni Ge is using slang; it means drug dens, sales points.]

That is indeed dangerous.

Lin An wasn't afraid of so-called gang members, but the homeless wouldn't be able to handle it; they would be scared to death.

"Then are there any houses not occupied by gang members, or perhaps abandoned warehouses where people can stay?"

"Bro, your demands are too harsh."

Darnell complained about Lin An's high expectations, hands on his hips, looking like someone saying, "You don't understand how the market works."

"Any place in the Jamaica Community where you can stay for free has long since been occupied by gang members. Only a smart guy like me can find a safe path to walk!"

"Then are there any vacant lots near a water source?"

Lin An continued to ask.

"Like that, huh."

Darnell rubbed his chin, falling into thought. His mature-looking face wrinkled up, actually looking a bit like a 38-year-old man.

"If that's the case, then there are a few more options, but there's a problem with that too..."

"What problem?"

"The police will come to chase people away. If it's just one or two homeless people, they might ignore it, but if there are a lot of them, once the neighbors complain, the police will definitely come to clear them out. Bro, if you want to hire homeless people to work, having them stay in these places isn't feasible.

When the police show up, I'm not covering for you. I'll run faster than a rabbit... of course, that's just so I can go call someone to help you. You get what I mean?"

[Damn, the living conditions for the homeless are just too harsh.]

[Ah, what a hassle. Being homeless in the United States is such a pain.]

[The good spots are taken by gangs, the slightly worse ones are taken by predecessors, and the ones that are neither good nor bad get cleared out by the police.]

Ah, this is truly troublesome; Lin An couldn't help but scratch his head.

He knew that everything is difficult at the start, but he hadn't expected it to be this difficult.

Perhaps he should just take a gun tonight, wipe out the local gang, and seize their stronghold? That way, he'd have housing for his employees, and the initial capital to start the project would be secured as well.

Lin An began to contemplate this plan, which sounded a bit crazy, and felt that its feasibility was actually quite high.

Darnell watched him in this state, scratched his own head, and took a bite of his remaining donut. Powdered sugar fell onto the tablecloth, and suddenly, his eyes lit up. He slapped his thigh, his voice rising an octave.

"Bro, if we can't think of a way, why don't we go ask those homeless guys! I'm a genius. Only I could come up with an idea like this; I really am the smartest person in Jamaica!"

"Hmm?"

Lin An looked up, his delicate brows arching slightly as he immediately realized what Darnell meant.

"You mean we should find the people waiting in the food line and ask them where one can live, right?"

"Yes, yes, exactly!"

Darnell nodded vigorously, still chewing his donut, his speech muffled yet still wildly arrogant.

"They hang around this area every day; they know better than us where it's safe, where no one cares, where to hide from the police, and where there are no gangs..."

"Didn't you say you were the best Ni Ge in the Jamaica Community?"

"I'm the best Ni Ge, not the best homeless person, bro! I have a mother and a home; I'm not like them, wandering the streets all day!"

Darnell looked quite helpless.

[The brother has a point.]

[Hahaha, as expected, the homeless know the homeless best. Host, hurry up and ask, don't dilly-dally.]

[Is it possible that the homeless know places even more remote and safer than what Darnell knows?]

[Host, charge! While you're at it, see if you can pick up a capable homeless person; it'll be convenient for work later.]

The comments in the livestream were scrolling by rapidly. Lin An glanced at them, the corners of his mouth curling up.

He finished his coffee and bread in a few quick bites, then tilted his chin toward Darnell.

"Let's go, let's go ask."

The two settled the bill. Mary didn't look up, but as they turned to leave, she muttered, "Don't cause trouble, especially by hanging around with those homeless people. If you get arrested by the police, don't come here to hide."

Darnell turned back and waved, shouting with a cheeky grin, his tone full of defiance.

"I know, Mary! Who am I? I'm Darnell Washington; how could I cause trouble? Even if I did, I could handle it, so don't you worry!"

Stepping out of the small diner, the gray haze of early morning had faded slightly. The line at the church entrance was still long, and Deacon Williams was still methodically handing out meal boxes, the cross on his chest glinting coldly in the dim light.

Lin An subconsciously frowned. Remembering that Darnell said he didn't like the man, he deliberately bypassed the front of the line and walked to the very end.

Standing at the end of the line was a thin, tall Black man wearing a faded jacket with frayed cuffs. His hair was messy, his face covered in dust, and he was looking down, scuffing his toes against the ground with a listless expression.

Darnell's eyes lit up. He pulled Lin An over, and the latter handed him a long baguette he'd received as a viewer donation.

Darnell walked over with the bread and patted the man on the shoulder—the force was not light, but it carried a sense of familiarity.

"Hey, Old Joe, remember me? Darnell Washington! The coolest man in Jamaica!"

Old Joe looked up. A glimmer of light flashed in his cloudy eyes. After recognizing Darnell, he tugged at the corners of his mouth, revealing a reluctant smile.

"Darnell? Oh, I remember. That kid who always steals Mary's donuts. Why are you here? Don't you have a mother? Why are you here to get food too?"

"No, no..."

Darnell waved his hand and handed over the bread in his arms, looking smug.

"Here, it's better than the church bread. My brother and I want to ask you for a favor. You're lucky—being asked for help by me, Darnell Washington, is your honor!"

Old Joe took the bread, his eyes instantly brightening. He couldn't wait to tear open the packaging, took a big bite, and said indistinctly, "Speak, speak! As long as it's something I can help with, no problem!"

Lin An stepped forward, a polite smile on his face, and spoke slowly in Chinese-accented English.

"Hello, my name is Lin An. I'm a friend of Darnell's. We are looking for a place that can house five or six people—somewhere that costs no money, where the police won't come to drive us away, and where there are no gang members. The more hidden, the better. Do you know of such a place?"

Old Joe paused in his chewing, looked around vigilantly, and then pulled Lin An and Darnell into a nearby corner. He lowered his voice, his tone cautious.

"You want to find a place like that? Is it for yourselves to live in, or..."

"It's for some homeless people to live in."

Lin An said frankly.

"I want to hire them to work, provide them with housing and food, and they won't touch drugs or cause trouble."

Old Joe was stunned for a moment. A flash of surprise crossed his cloudy eyes, but then he returned to his vigilant state.

"Hire homeless people? You aren't trying to trick us, are you? In this area, apart from that fat guy Williams, no one cares whether we live or die."

"I'm not tricking you."

As Lin An spoke, he raised his hand, took two packs of Chinese-made bread and a bottle of mineral water from the inside of his coat, and handed them to Old Joe.

"Look, I have food. As long as you can find a place, all of this is yours. I don't have much money, and since I'm just starting to hire homeless people for work, I can only provide clothes and clean food."

[Do Old Joe and Darnell know each other?]

[Be careful, streamer. Don't get scammed by the homeless. What if the place they point you to is controlled by a gang?]

Lin An glanced at the chat, not worried in the slightest. He just smiled, stayed silent, and continued watching Old Joe.

Old Joe held the bread, hesitating for a moment. He stepped out of the line, led the two men to a secluded spot, and answered in a low voice.

"Are you really looking for people to work?"

Darnell immediately stepped forward to vouch for him, thumping his chest loudly, his tone impossibly arrogant.

"Yeah, Old Joe, if you can't trust him, can't you trust me? I'm Darnell Washington, the most trustworthy man in Jamaica. My word is worth more than the Bible in church! I definitely wouldn't lie to you about this, or my mom would punish me by making me pray all night!"

Old Joe wasn't offended by Darnell's near-boastful talk; he even nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, kid, I know. I have just one request... you're looking for people to work, can you take me?"

As an old Black man, Old Joe had a better eye than Darnell; he knew at a glance who was actually in charge.

"Don't look at me like I'm old. The way I look now is just because I've been hungry for too long. Once I'm fed, I'm a hard worker. I do everything fast and well!"

Hearing this, the polite smile on Lin An's face didn't change.

"Old Joe, I have a question for you, and you need to answer honestly... Do you use powder? You know, that white stuff that gets people addicted."

As soon as these words were out, Old Joe's face flushed red. He hurriedly waved his withered hands, his tone urgent and tinged with a bit of grievance.

"No, I don't use it. Absolutely not. I'd rather starve to death than touch the stuff that turns people into demons!"

Seeing this, Darnell quickly patted Old Joe on the arm—with enough force to nearly make the old man stumble—and turned to explain to Lin An. His tone carried a familiar, protective pity, though he couldn't shake his usual swagger.

"Bro, don't worry, Old Joe never touches that stuff. He's not like those pieces of trash! Let me tell you, Old Joe used to be even more successful than me. He worked at the furniture factory over on Brewer Avenue. He was the best carpenter in the shop; his craftsmanship was so good he could turn a piece of scrap wood into a work of art. The boss treated him like a treasure and bought him a soda every single day!"

He leaned in closer to Lin An, lowering his voice, yet he couldn't help but raise it a notch, afraid others wouldn't hear his "insider knowledge."

"I'm telling you, Old Joe used to have a wife and a son. They lived in a small house with a yard, and they even grew roses in the garden. Their life was better than mine! My mom even wanted to order a wooden chair from him back then, but it was too expensive, so she couldn't bring herself to do it!"

Darnell spoke with spit flying and hands gesturing wildly, as if he had seen Old Joe's glory days with his own eyes. He added one last thing at the end.

"Only someone with my connections would know these things. There isn't a piece of gossip in Jamaica that can be hidden from me!"

Old Joe hung his head, his messy hair obscuring his eyes. His shoulders slumped slightly as he took a bite of the bread in his hand, his voice raspy and strained.

"That was all last year... The furniture factory went bankrupt, the boss committed suicide, and I owed the bank for the mortgage. The house was going to be repossessed, so I had no choice but to divorce my wife to save the last bit of money, letting her take our son and leave New York to rent a place and find work in another city."

"I've been looking for work for months, but nobody wants me. My old skills are worth nothing these days."

He looked up, his clouded eyes shimmering with moisture that didn't quite fall.

Darnell's tone softened significantly, and the force of his pats on Old Joe's shoulder lightened, though he remained stubborn, refusing to speak gently, only grumbling in a muffled voice.

"Hey, what's the big deal? So you went bankrupt? My stepfather went through that too, and didn't he pull through? Once you follow my bro, I guarantee you'll be well-fed, and you'll be able to do carpentry again. When that happens, I'll be the first to order a chair from you, and I'll order one for my sister too; she'll definitely love it!"

He paused, then immediately returned to his arrogant, hands-on-hips posture.

"Of course, you'll have to give me a discount when the time comes. After all, I'm the one who found you such a great boss. You know what I mean?"

Old Joe looked at Darnell, a flicker of warmth flashing through his clouded eyes. He nodded vigorously, choking out his words.

"Okay... okay... I'll definitely give you a discount. Thank you, Darnell."

"What are you thanking me for!"

Darnell waved his hand dismissively, but he quietly slipped the remaining half of a donut from his pocket to Old Joe.

"I'm Darnell Washington, the most loyal guy in Jamaica. This little thing is nothing!"

Lin An watched the two of them quietly, the smile at the corners of his mouth deepening.

[Hahaha, Darnell is such a softie. He clearly cares about Old Joe but insists on acting like he doesn't care.]

[Wait, did Darnell just agree on the streamer's behalf to take this old guy in? It's not great for a subordinate to make decisions for the boss, is it?]

[Old Joe is so miserable. I hope things get better for him following the protagonist. Darnell might talk tough, but he's not a bad guy.]

Lin An glanced at the chat and spoke slowly.

"Old Joe, once you've eaten your fill, take us to the place you mentioned. As long as the location is suitable, not only can you work for me, but I can also help you find some carpentry jobs so your skills don't go to waste."

Old Joe's eyes lit up instantly, and he nodded vigorously.

"Okay, okay! I'll take you there right now. The place I live is absolutely hidden. No police, no gangs. It can fit five or six people, and it keeps out the wind and rain!"

Seeing this, Darnell immediately leaned in and patted Lin An on the shoulder, looking smug: "See, bro! I told you Old Joe was reliable! It's my eye for talent that found such a suitable person. Without me, your plan wouldn't even be able to start. You know what I mean?"

Lin An didn't argue; he just smiled and nodded.

"Yes, you're impressive."

"That goes without saying!"

Darnell grew even more smug, walking at the front with his head held high.

"Let's go, I'll lead the way. Anyone who dares to stop us, I'll knock them down with one punch. I'm telling you, my fist is stronger than Tyson's. Last time a punk messed with me, I made him cry with one punch. You believe me?"

Old Joe followed in the middle, clutching the remaining bread and water tightly, his steps feeling much lighter.