Volume One, Chapter 17: Don't Let Her Come Again!

Song Xiaotang stared at me intently. After about half a minute, she left with a curt, “Eat if you want,” and walked away. I thought to myself, what kind of lunatic is this? It was truly baffling.

But it was better that she left; I didn’t want to have much to do with her anyway. I lingered by the design department entrance for a while longer, then hurried to the factory gate once the shift ended.

Not long after, my cousin and his wife appeared in my line of sight. As soon as we met, my cousin’s wife asked how work at the factory was going. I gave her a brief rundown. Hearing that I’d gotten through the day easily, her expression visibly relaxed.

She then asked about lunch, so I mentioned how Song Xiaotang had taken me out to eat rice noodle rolls. My cousin sneered sarcastically, “Showing off, huh? You haven’t even earned a penny and you’re already dining out. Can’t you eat at the factory cafeteria?”

I told him Song Xiaotang had paid for the meal. Unexpectedly, he put on a lecturing tone, saying I knew nothing and was clueless about dealing with people. He scolded me for not appreciating Song Xiaotang’s gesture and said I should try to get along with her.

I thought, you’re honestly such a fool! We have our differences—I would never treat her to a meal. Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t; all the money I had was handed over to my cousin that morning, and I didn’t have a single cent left.

My cousin’s wife didn’t like seeing us argue, so she changed the subject, asking what I wanted for dinner. She said she’d buy groceries and cook for me. I remembered I was going to the billiard hall that evening and told her not to bother—I still had to work there.

Her face fell, and with a worried expression, she urged me to quit that job. But I had already promised Brother Sheng I would go, so I couldn’t back out.

Seeing my determination, she grew more concerned. As for my cousin, he showed no sympathy—mocking me again, saying I was biting off more than I could chew by working two jobs and warning that I might mess up and lose both.

I had long since stopped caring and ignored him. I just told my cousin’s wife one sentence and headed to the billiard hall to check in.

The billiard hall was just as before. My arm hadn’t healed yet, so I wasn’t required to work. I spent my time wandering around, chatting with people, and resting when tired.

Then, around seven o’clock, my cousin’s wife suddenly appeared, bringing me dinner. Honestly, when I saw her holding that lunchbox, I was so moved my eyes teared up. I had no money at all and hadn’t eaten dinner.

Originally, I planned to drink more water and endure the night, waiting until morning to eat at home. Unexpectedly, my cousin’s wife must have guessed I had no money and likely hadn’t eaten, so she brought me food.

She stayed at the billiard hall until I finished eating, then asked about my plans for work the next day. I told her I could sleep at the billiard hall and it wouldn’t affect work, which relieved her, and she left.

No sooner had she gone than Braid Sister Zhen came over, gossiping and asking who my cousin’s wife was—was she my girlfriend?

I neither confirmed nor denied, just laughed it off to dodge the question. But in Braid Sister Zhen and Tai Qianlian’s eyes, my cousin’s wife was clearly my girlfriend.

To be honest, that thought secretly pleased me.

...

For several days, life was uneventful.

During the day, I worked in the design department at the garment factory. Song Xiaotang didn’t bother me and even treated me to lunch outside every day. Sometimes it was rice noodle rolls, other times barbecued pork rice or soup noodles—all specialties of Gangcheng.

Though different from the eating habits back home in the Northeast, simply having a full stomach was the most important thing for me.

At night, I continued working at the billiard hall, and my cousin’s wife delivered dinner for me every evening around seven. Her visits were the highlight of my days—her meals always tasted especially good.

But the peaceful routine ended after a week.

One day, feeling my shoulder injury was almost healed, I went to the billiard hall and took the initiative to talk to Brother Sheng. I proposed working as a waiter during the first half of the night and resting during the second half.

Brother Sheng asked me to sit on the sofa and handed me a cigarette as usual. Smiling, he said, “Gangzai, since your arm’s better, why waste time on small tasks?”

“Big business, of course!” I replied.

Brother Sheng didn’t say it outright, but I understood he wanted me to get involved in running errands for the boss.

Honestly, I liked my quiet, simple life and didn’t want to break the peace. After hesitating, I asked Brother Sheng if I could have some more time to think.

He smiled and told me not to rush—that I could take my time.

This little incident didn’t affect Brother Sheng’s treatment of me; he still didn’t make me work as a waiter, asking only that I hang around the billiard hall.

However, the next day, something happened.

That evening, I arrived at the billiard hall as usual, and immediately saw Bench Kid, whom I hadn’t seen for a long time. When we met again, he glared coldly at me without saying a word.

I could tell he was displeased with me. To be honest, I felt the same toward him. He ignored me, and I ignored him.

I rested when I should and ate when my cousin’s wife came.

Shortly after I finished eating, Braid Sister Zhen approached me.

“Gangzai, don’t ever bring your girlfriend here again.”

I was puzzled and asked what she meant. She didn’t say outright but hinted that someone at the billiard hall had taken a fancy to my girlfriend and that if she came again, there might be trouble.

Hearing that, my expression darkened. What kind of joke was this? Who would dare set their sights on my cousin’s wife?

My anger flared, and I directly asked Braid Sister Zhen who it was. She didn’t answer, but her glance betrayed her—when mentioning my cousin’s wife, she sneakily looked toward Bench Kid.

Bench Kid didn’t notice me, but I was deeply unsettled.

I made up my mind: if Bench Kid dared to bully my cousin’s wife, he was as good as dead.

That night, I did nothing else but keep an eye on Bench Kid. He spent the whole evening chatting and playing billiards, making no special moves.

I stayed awake all night watching him.

At seven, when the shift ended, I hurried back to the place where I stayed. While my cousin was washing up, I told my cousin’s wife not to bring me dinner anymore.

She didn’t understand and asked why. I said the boss had given me money again, so I could buy my own food and she didn’t need to worry.

Before she could say more, my cousin came out of the bathroom, so she didn’t press the matter and instead called him to eat.

After dinner, we all went back to the garment factory together.

Just as we reached the factory gate, I saw Bench Kid standing with Song Xiaotang, talking.

Seeing them together, I quickened my pace to put some distance between myself and my cousin and his wife, and approached Song Xiaotang and Bench Kid.

Bench Kid noticed me, hopped on a motorcycle, and sped away without a word.

Song Xiaotang, upon seeing me, coldly asked, “Where’s your girlfriend? Why didn’t you bring her out for me to meet?”