Volume One, Chapter 18: Bench Boy, Do You Wish to Die?

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A girlfriend?
Since when did I have a girlfriend?
This is bad!
I paused for a moment, then immediately remembered something.
Lately, my cousin’s wife has been bringing me dinner every night at the billiard hall. Both Braid Sister Zhen and Pool Money Sister thought my cousin’s wife was my girlfriend. Braid Sister Zhen even warned me earlier that someone had taken a liking to my girlfriend!
I hurriedly asked Song Xiaotang, “What did Bench Boy say to you?”
Song Xiaotang glared at me angrily and asked, “If it weren’t for Bench Boy, I wouldn’t have even known you had a girlfriend!”
“Who’s your girlfriend? I want to see how pretty she is. Is she someone even Bench Boy fancies?”
Damn!
Bench Boy, you’re asking for death!
I didn’t care if Song Xiaotang went crazy, but her words confirmed that Bench Boy really had taken a liking to my cousin’s wife!
I lost all interest in work and directly asked Song Xiaotang, “Where did Bench Boy go?”
“None of your business where he went!”
Song Xiaotang stared at me angrily, clearly displeased, and demanded, “Tell me clearly, who is your girlfriend?”
If you don’t want to say, forget it!
I guessed Bench Boy had probably gone to the billiard hall.
I didn’t want to bother with Song Xiaotang, so I prepared to go to the billiard hall to find Bench Boy.
But as I was about to leave, Song Xiaotang grabbed me, refusing to let me go, repeatedly demanding I explain about this girlfriend.
Her persistent nagging drove me crazy, so I snapped at her, “Are you out of your mind?”
“I don’t have a girlfriend!”
“It’s my cousin’s wife who’s been bringing me dinner at the billiard hall these past few days!”
Song Xiaotang was momentarily stunned and asked, “Are you serious?”
I was irritated and snapped back, “My cousin’s wife is right there. If you don’t believe me, go ask her yourself!”
Just then, I noticed my cousin’s wife wasn’t at the factory gate, and my cousin was nowhere to be seen either.
That’s odd, where are they?
I quickly scanned around and finally saw my cousin and his wife walking through the factory gate with the crowd.
I guessed maybe my cousin saw Song Xiaotang and me arguing and, worried it would affect him, quickly slipped away.
Actually, that’s for the best.
Song Xiaotang had been pestering me about this girlfriend, and it wouldn’t have been appropriate for my cousin and his wife to hear.
“Alright, sorry, I misunderstood you!”
I turned around and saw Song Xiaotang, who had just been fierce, now smiling brightly at me.
Crazy!
I had no mood to deal with Song Xiaotang and directly asked about Bench Boy.
Song Xiaotang said Bench Boy was just inquiring about my girlfriend.
He didn’t know I had a girlfriend, nor did he know the person bringing me dinner was my cousin’s wife. He hadn’t told Bench Boy anything and was just mad at me.
This made me feel a little relieved.

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Song Xiaotang tugged on my arm and asked, “Hey, you’re not mad at me, right?”
I had no patience to argue, so I asked if I could take the morning off.
Song Xiaotang looked surprised and asked why I wanted to take leave.
I didn’t tell her and just said I had something to do.
She stared at me and suddenly asked, “You’re not going to cause trouble for Bench Boy, are you?”
“None of your business.”
“I have to care.”
Song Xiaotang grabbed my arm tightly, not letting me leave, and said, “Don’t worry, Bench Boy was just asking me. He doesn’t even know the woman is your cousin’s wife.”
“You just tell her not to go to the billiard hall looking for you anymore, right?”
Did she think I needed her to tell me that?
I had already told my cousin’s wife this morning.
But just telling her wasn’t enough.
She’s a woman, and my cousin’s a weakling. If Bench Boy ran into her, who knows what might happen!
Seeing me silent, Song Xiaotang continued to persuade me.
“You and Bench Boy both work for Fish Victory.”
“If you want to settle this, just talk to Fish Victory.”
“If he speaks up, Bench Boy won’t dare disrespect him.”
“If you’re too embarrassed, I can ask Pole to talk to Fish Victory.”
I thought it over. Song Xiaotang’s advice made sense. There was no need to make things so tense right away.
But there was no need to have Pole in the middle.
I decided to go find Brother Victory myself after work.
With this plan set, I went back to the design department with Song Xiaotang.
After a morning at work, Song Xiaotang wanted to take me out to eat, but I refused.
The Bench Boy issue wasn’t resolved, and I didn’t want to be far from my cousin’s wife.
That noon, I ate in the clothing factory cafeteria for the first time.
My cousin’s wife was surprised to see Song Xiaotang and me together in the cafeteria.
But she handled it normally and didn’t get awkward just because of Song Xiaotang’s presence.
Eat when it’s time to eat, chat when it’s time to chat.
My cousin’s behavior was a different story.
He looked miserable throughout the meal, picking up food in tiny bites, eating quietly without making a sound, and not even daring to lift his head.
After we finished eating and rested a bit chatting in the cafeteria, my cousin and his wife went back to work.
Song Xiaotang also asked me to return to the design department with her.

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Around three in the afternoon, Song Xiaotang suddenly told me to go out with her. She said she had already asked Pole to find Brother Victory.
Now Brother Victory, Pole, and Bench Boy were all at the billiard hall. Going there to clear things up would avoid trouble.
Hearing this, I didn’t bother arguing about Song Xiaotang acting on her own and immediately left the factory with her.
At the billiard hall, I confidently walked up to Brother Victory’s office door.
I could hear Bench Boy shouting from behind the door!
“Brother Victory, if I don’t give you face, that country bumpkin’s dead!”
“Now I’m sleeping with his girlfriend, and you still won’t allow it? Then what am I?”
Hearing this, my heart sank.
Just as I was about to push the door open, I heard Brother Victory’s voice.
“Hey, Bench Boy, don’t be so angry.”
“Just now Gang Kid hit you, but that’s because you started it first.”
“Let’s keep the peace and make money. What’s done is done, okay?”
Bench Boy kept shouting, “Brother Victory, are you kidding me?”
“If it weren’t for Pole asking me to help, would I have started trouble?”
“Pole, I’m helping you, but now you won’t let me hit him? What’s that about?”
Bench Boy had just finished yelling when Pole said, “You helped me, no doubt, but you’ve never actually fought Gang Kid. So why say that?”
“If you had knocked Gang Kid down then, you’d be the badass Bench Boy. I wouldn’t think Gang Kid was tough.”
Damn!
Bench Boy was so furious he shouted, “I’m laying it all out today!”
“No one can talk me down!”
“I’m definitely going to sleep with that country bumpkin’s girlfriend!”
“I’m even going to do it right in front of him!”
Damn it!
Hearing Bench Boy’s words, I could no longer hold back and pushed the door open.
I saw Bench Boy and immediately kicked him hard in the stomach!
Bench Boy was slammed against the wall by my kick!
“Stop, stop, stop!”
Just as I was about to charge at Bench Boy again, Pole reacted quickly and stood between us, blocking me.
Brother Victory also stopped me, telling me to calm down and not be so impulsive.
I said nothing, just stared at Bench Boy, ready to settle this once and for all!