[Earth Era, July 18, 2010] [Western Calendar, Sunday] [Xia Calendar, Gengyin Year, seventh day of the sixth month, auspicious for praying for blessings and relocating]
14121 Region.
Outside the Internet Cafe, a man looked at the locked front door and scratched his head in confusion. "I remember Wang Defa usually puts up a notice three days before closing for a break. Today's Sunday, his busiest day, and he's closed without any warning? Oh well, I'll come back tomorrow."
After muttering to himself, the man made sure no one nearby was watching him, then hurried away.
In the warehouse beside the Internet Cafe were Wang Defa's family and a big, burly man in a worn gray hoodie.
Thunk-thunk-
The burly man sitting across from Wang Defa kept his head lowered, one hand pressed against the leather case at his waist. With his other hand, he stabbed a knife into the table, pulled it out, then stabbed it down again, producing an uneven rhythm.
"Mommy, what's wrong with Uncle She today? I'm scared..."
Wang Defa's daughter murmured, her timid gaze resting on the burly man.
His son, still lying in his wife's arms, was wailing loudly.
Wang Defa's wife clutched both children tightly in her arms, staring at the burly man in terror.
Wang Defa stood protectively in front of his wife and children, his grief-stricken gaze fixed on the man before him.
Cold sweat trickled down Wang Defa's forehead, past the faint twitch of his lips, and disappeared into his thick, unkempt beard.
Wang Defa asked in a trembling voice, "Old Snake, is there really no room to negotiate?"
Thunk-thunk-
The tall, burly man continued his mechanical motions and silently shook his head.
Wang Defa's eyes were bloodshot. **"Old Snake! We've known each other for over ten years! You