Chapter 7: Zhu Ming

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The unmarked grocery store was inconspicuous, its storefront unremarkable. The air was filled with a mingling scent of old books, spices, and wood—a familiar aroma that brought a measure of comfort to Xu Mingsong. Faded wind chimes jingled softly as the door swung on its hinges. Inside, the cramped space was packed with an assortment of goods, ranging from antique ceramics to curious trinkets. Between the shelves, a few yellowed old books were carelessly stuffed in, reflecting the store owner’s generous disregard for trivial details.

Xu Mingsong took a seat at the counter, where a woman was quietly drinking. “Weasel… tongue?” he asked, voicing his unusual request. Zhu Ming frowned. “Why do you want a tongue? Planning to grant the weasel some sort of honor?” She scratched her head, wondering how to explain. Was she supposed to understand that he—her younger brother—was suddenly intent on concocting a poison, much like an ancient emperor who perished from heavy metal poisoning, in hopes of transcending mortality?

Clearing his throat, he said, “I know it sounds ridiculous. The truth is, I have a friend who collects these strange oddities. You know what they say about male friendship—solid as a rock. If a brother needs help, how can I refuse? So I came to look around here with you, Mingjie… By the way, do you have any bamboo pit viper venom glands? If so, could you send me some?”

Zhu Ming lifted her cup and drained it in one gulp. Xu Mingsong followed suit, tilting his head back. Big. Super big. That’s what he thought—referring to the tall woman before him. Her surname was Zhu, given name Ming. Usually called Mingjie, although calling her Zhujie was not unheard of—provided one was prepared to get punched into a rosy pig’s head.

With jet-black short hair, fair skin, and delicate features softened by a strong scent of alcohol and unrestrained boldness, she stood an imposing 1.87 meters tall. Such height would seem giant-like even for a man; for a woman, it was extraordinary. She was undeniably “large” in every way, almost the polar opposite of “petite and cute,” exuding a beastly strength and oppressive presence rather than slender grace.

Xu Mingsong himself was not short or frail, but facing such a formidable woman, he could only shrink back timidly like a quail; trying to put on a brave front was nearly impossible. Calling her “sister” was done with absolute conviction.

Zhu Ming continued drinking, the lingering aroma of alcohol keeping the air from growing stagnant. Xu Mingsong, feeling no need for formality, fetched a bottle of soy milk from the nearby fridge, popped in a straw, and drank alongside her.

“Burp~” He had drunk too quickly.

Xu Mingsong and Zhu Ming had known each other for years, their complicated history tracing back to childhood. Every child had their secret base—an undiscovered land. Between soaring buildings, tiny cracks in the walls revealed forgotten treasures. Young Xu Mingsong found such a crack, entering a narrow passage like a peach blossom spring, walking several steps before emerging to discover a broken clock, overgrown weeds, shattered bricks, gleaming shards of glass, and a half-dead, wilting flowerbed.

There, sitting on the steps, was a giant who smoked a cigarette while staring at the flowers. Her eyes were fierce but calm. He was shocked, brandished a stick like a sword, shouted, “What demon dares trespass? Your grandpa’s here—surrender now!” Then, the giant grabbed him by the collar and pummeled him until his head resembled a pig’s snout.

That was her backyard! He thought it unfair—how could he be an illegal intruder just for hopping through a crack in the wall? “Where else would a broken corner of white paint come from?”

“Those things are no joke.” Nearby, a white cat circled a bronze short sword on the shelf, sniffing carefully before showing surprise. “This sensation… which dynasty or tomb did this come from? A good find, a real treasure…”

“Tsk, you actually found such a powerful ally? You’re really hiding your strength,” Zhu Ming teased as the white cat dashed around the shelves, exploiting its invisibility from the unit.

Xu Mingsong nervously watched an antique bottle wobble as if blown by the wind. “Careful!” he warned. “I don’t know antiques, but this lady’s not short of money. Most of the things here are genuine; if it breaks, I’d be ruined!”

Hearing the youthful screams in his mind, the white cat lightly tapped a porcelain bowl and cheekily nudged it aside. Suddenly, Xu Mingsong felt human empathy returning. “Cat Love TV” really needed to happen.

Turning back to the bronze sword with a sly smile, Zhu Ming seemed to have an idea. Before Xu Mingsong could stop her, she set down her cup with a loud clatter. Instantly, he sat upright, hands on his knees—a model student posture even his homeroom teacher had never seen.

Zhu Ming asked, “Do I look like a black market to you?”

Isn’t that obvious?

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Xu Mingsong held back. Zhu Ming rubbed her temples, the faint scent of alcohol in her words: “I won’t ask why you’re here during school hours, but before you make requests, don’t you think you should use your brain? What kind of things do you want? Do you really think I’m some NPC in a game who sells all sorts of strange items at fixed spots?”

“Nothing like that?” He doubted himself.

“Yes, I do have some,” she replied calmly.

Relieved, Xu Mingsong’s thoughts cleared. Time to cozy up! Being respectful and endearing always softened this formidable woman’s heart. But Zhu Ming raised her hand, palm facing him, disdainfully asking, “How much budget do you have left?”

Xu Mingsong froze. Stammering, “100.”

She smiled and clapped her hands, “I know you, 200. No bargaining.”

NO!!

“Sister! I only have 200 left!”

The boy sprang up, trying to cling to the wealthy woman’s thigh with a desperate embrace, begging. Zhu Ming caught his head with one hand, casually took a phone call about some “assessment” with a neighboring company—probably a family business interview—and after hanging up, she kicked Xu Mingsong out to the backyard.

“Also, water those flowers for me. You’re responsible for them the next half month. If you kill them, you’ll regret it.”

She stood, stretched her waist, and staggered toward the shelves.

In the backyard, Xu Mingsong trudged toward the faucet, watering can in hand, dejected. The white cat followed lightly behind, marveling, “Wow, have you been the rich lady’s kept boy all along?”

“Kept boy? I’d starve here if that were true!” Xu Mingsong muttered bitterly, watering the flowerbed and even over the white cat’s head. The water passed through the cat, hitting the ground as if she were a phantom.

He grumbled, “You don’t know how ruthless she is. The first beating I ever took in my life was from her. Before that, my parents never laid a hand on me!”

“Then they did after?” The cat caught the key info.

“Just that once! I went home looking like a pig’s head. When my parents found out I was beaten for climbing someone’s wall, they teamed up and beat me again!”

“But your relationship seems good. She’s willing to help you.”

“I know.”

Besides watering, Xu Mingsong pulled weeds and, seeing the unruly flowers, sighed and trimmed them into shape with scissors. The cat, surprised at his familiarity, remarked, “You’ve done a lot of chores for her, huh.”

“You think our friendship just grew out of nowhere?”

The cat shook her head. “Tsk tsk, looks like you owe her big time and can only repay her by selling yourself.”

That shameless yellow cat! Sullying the pure revolutionary friendship between him and Mingjie!

Xu Mingsong scornfully glared at the sly cat. “You’re a dirty-minded cat—everything looks dirty to you!”

No sooner had he finished complaining than the shop owner appeared near the door, holding the payment he’d earned. Lighting a cigarette with a snap, she and the white cat supervised this hardworking beast of burden.

One working, two supervising. Could life get any harder?

Zhu Ming tossed over a small wooden box. Xu Mingsong eagerly caught it—the reward for selling his body and labor, heavy enough to bring tears to his eyes.

She blew smoke rings and asked, “Do they bully you this much here?”

“I’m moved,” he explained, tears welling up, then cheerfully said, “Sister, I won’t bother you anymore.”

“Finish that drink before you go.”

“Got it, sister!”

Zhu Ming yawned and bent over the flowerbed. Behind her came the sound of frantic gulping, then a sudden sputter. Xu Mingsong coughed and reassured, “Don’t worry, sister, I’ll clean it up!” Then the faucet turned on, and he began wringing a cloth, sweeping the house like a dedicated housekeeper.

The earlier fatigue vanished as she smiled, brushing away loose hair. Then, her smile faded.

The morning sun was gentle, illuminating the bright roses and hydrangeas in the flowerbed. Carefully arranged pebbles dotted the soil, forming a shape that said, “I love you.”

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She casually picked a rose, her fingers pressing against the short, thick thorns like a grip on the flower’s neck. With a gentle snap, she broke it off.

…

It began to rain again.

Leaving Zhu Ming’s shop, Xu Mingsong hurried to the supermarket. He borrowed five yuan from Lao Xu to transfer, bought a pack of Kangshifu braised beef noodles and a starch sausage, shared bites with a buddy, and politely asked the cashier to fill his thermos with hot water. Carrying his heavy bags, he thanked the cashier shyly, looking like a humble, introverted, cheap beast of burden, which made the young cashier feel a pang of sympathy.

“Brother, carrying all that isn’t easy… Wait, you look so young?”

“Ah? I’m just a student at the high school next door. Had to take a day off because something came up.”

“Oh… I see…”

During this, rain began to fall softly, then heavier. The dense downpour seemed intent on swallowing the world, darkness thickened, as if yesterday’s storm had never ended.

“The weather forecast was so wrong!”

The beautiful anchorwoman on the weather channel must have deceived countless old and young bachelors. Xu Mingsong had believed her, only to find himself stuck at the supermarket door, unable to move forward.

He tried to leave, but the damp air soaked him immediately. Hoping he had the foresight to carry an umbrella, he searched his bag.

Clearly, he did not.

“This is going to make things worse,” he sighed, looking up at the sky.

With no other choice, Xu Mingsong shamelessly reported his plight to Lao Xu, borrowed some money, bought an umbrella on the spot, and told him he’d be staying over at his good homie’s place tonight, sharing a bed, resting their feet together.

Lao Xu told him not to hang up.

“What for?”

“Just wait and see.”

On the phone, Lao Xu called Grandma Mei, verifying Xu Mingsong wasn’t sneaking off to a female classmate’s house. Once assured, he let him go, also warning Grandma Mei about the recent surge in bold thieves, reminding her to keep a close watch on the high schooler who should be focusing on studies.

Grandma Mei: “Of course, I’ll watch him well.”

What could Xu Mingsong say?

Just laugh along!

He sweet-talked the old lady, saying it had been a long time and he wanted to visit, making her so happy she could feel it through the phone.

After Lao Xu hung up, Xu Mingsong glared, “How many tricks do you have?”

Lao Xu calmly replied, “Better safe than sorry. Who knows if you’d cause trouble for that girl?”

“I like her? Ha, how cliché! How could I like that tomboy? You know exactly what your son likes…”

“Oh?”

Xu Mingsong grew flustered. “I’m pansexual; no real woman is as beautiful as my wife.”

“I didn’t say you’re looking for anyone,” Lao Xu said calmly. “Also, telling me is useless—go tell your mother.”

“As for what you’re doing tonight, I won’t ask. You’re old enough to have your own affairs. You’ve always been headstrong; I trust you can handle it. But if you run into problems, don’t be ashamed to ask elders for help. That’s all I have to say. I’m busy; gotta go.”

What am I listening to? Is my dad real? Or did my mom use AI to fool herself?

The cashier eyed Xu Mingsong suspiciously. He waved casually, opened his umbrella, and stepped into the storm.

He was prepared.

Rain or no rain, Xu Mingsong had no intention of going home. His parents were the only ones he had; if they got involved with Lao Xu or Ms. Yi, there’d be nowhere to cry.

He planned to slip away to a good ambush spot, eat instant noodles, and wait for the one, two, three, four, five crazed girls about to arrive—to perform a legendary battle of one man against many women.

“Where to?” asked Ming.

Xu Mingsong hesitated, twirling the umbrella handle. “Outer city.”