Uncle Zhou looked at Wen Ning and began talking about the past.
"Boss Liu saw it, but he never said anything. Whenever I went to eat noodles, though, there would be an extra poached egg at the bottom of my bowl."
At that, a faint smile tugged at his lips.
"I knew he was doing it on purpose, because the egg was always hidden under the noodles. I had to eat half the bowl before I found it.
"He thought I didn't know, but I knew all along. I never said anything. Every time I finished eating, I wanted to pay him.
"But he'd just smile and say he'd put it on my tab."
Zhou Guangfu paused and brushed his hand over the pile of money.
"But there was never any tab. He never once asked me for money.
"I knew what he was doing for me, so I got up early every day to sweep the rubbish outside his shop and water the pots of flowers by the door. When he closed up at night, I'd help him move the tables and stools.
"He wouldn't let me do it, so I'd do it when he wasn't around."
At that point, Lu Ming turned away and pretended to look at the picture hanging on the wall.
Feng Dema, on the other hand, listened intently, leaning over the counter with his chin propped in both hands, his eyes never blinking.
"What happened next?"
Feng Dema asked.
Zhou Guangfu swallowed.
"Then one day, I went over to the market as usual and found the noodle shop closed, with the roller shutter pulled down.
"I thought he just hadn't opened that day, so I waited outside. After I'd waited for ages, the woman selling vegetables next door told me not to wait anymore.