Volume 1, Chapter 9: Enemies Often Cross Paths!

After finishing the meal, my cousin sat casually on the sofa, smoking a cigarette, while I helped my cousin-in-law tidy up. Once we cleared the table, the two of us set about cleaning the house.

Around one o’clock, my cousin told my cousin-in-law to go to the factory to register, and asked me to clean the house thoroughly in the afternoon. Since I still had to live here, I didn’t want to make a fuss and just agreed without protest.

My cousin-in-law was considerate and told me to rest if I got tired, promising to finish cleaning when she returned at night. I felt sorry for her, so after she and my cousin left, I began tidying up and cleaning.

Having worked on the farm in the village, cleaning was no big deal for me. Besides, the house was small. In just over an hour, I had cleaned every corner inside and out, even wiping the windows spotless.

The only thing left was to pack away my luggage. I was sleeping in the living room, which had no wardrobe, so I just shoved my bags against the wall — that was as good as done.

With nothing else to do, I rested on the sofa for a while. But after a short time, I grew bored and decided to visit the billiard hall to familiarize myself with the place.

By just before three in the afternoon, I arrived at the billiard hall. Like at noon, there were hardly any customers—just a few guys with dyed blond hair.

One of those blond guys, who had introduced me for the interview at noon, greeted me and asked what I was doing there. I told him I was just trying to get familiar with the environment. He seemed surprised at my enthusiasm.

Since there was nothing else to do, he showed me around the hall and chatted with me. His name was Deng Feng, nicknamed “Bench Kid,” and he ran with a guy named Sheng.

He didn’t explain what they were mixed up in, but after telling me their names, he explained how the billiard hall operated.

The place wasn’t small — it had twenty tables. During the day, there were usually few customers. But after seven in the evening, workers from nearby factories would come to play, filling up the hall. Later at midnight, those finishing night shifts would also come by. From seven at night until early morning, there were rarely any free tables.

Listening to Bench Kid’s introduction, I did some quick mental math.

Each game cost twenty cents. Most people could play a game in five minutes. That meant twelve games per hour. A full night shift lasted about twelve hours, so one table could bring in nearly thirty yuan a day.

With twenty tables, the billiard hall could earn over six hundred yuan just from table fees in one evening. And players wouldn’t just play — they would smoke, drink alcohol, and buy refreshments.

I figured that if things went well, the hall could make over a thousand yuan a night. Honestly, I was shocked by the numbers I came up with. One night’s earnings were almost equivalent to what I made waiting tables in three months. That was impressive!

“Well, that’s about it,” Bench Kid said as he wrapped up the tour and introduced me to a few other blond, delinquent-looking guys. They all ran with Sheng, and Bench Kid was their leader.

I greeted them all. Around four o’clock, Bench Kid told me to leave and come back at seven in the evening. I said goodbye and headed back.

Back at the house, I felt a bit sleepy and took a short nap on the sofa. I woke up near six and washed my face before heading outside.

I didn’t rush to the billiard hall but stood downstairs instead. After waiting a bit, the person I was waiting for arrived — my cousin-in-law, dressed in her work uniform from Zhenglong Garment Factory.

Though the uniform was plain and dated, it couldn’t hide her charm. No matter how I looked at her, she was beautiful.

Beside her, my cousin looked rather unimpressive despite his proud demeanor. I just couldn’t help but think he looked awkward next to her.

“Xiao Gang,” my cousin-in-law said as she approached quickly, asking if I was heading to work. I nodded. She then asked if I had eaten. I said no and planned to buy some steamed buns on the way.

She encouraged me to work hard and told me she had already asked some coworkers to help inquire about job openings at other factories. I thanked her earnestly.

My cousin, standing nearby, made a sarcastic remark telling me to keep my tail between my legs and not get fired again. I wanted to ignore him, but for my cousin-in-law’s sake, I replied politely.

After saying goodbye to her, I went to the billiard hall to register.

By six-thirty, I was back at the hall. A few tables were already in play. Of the blond guys from noon, only Bench Kid was there. Alongside him was a girl selling cigarettes, alcohol, and drinks, and another girl carrying a purse, responsible for collecting table fees.

“Gangzi, good to see you,” Bench Kid smiled and handed me a billiard hall apron to start working.

While the customers were few, I began sweeping cigarette butts off the floor. But just after I finished, someone flicked a cigarette butt right by my feet.

Was this provocation? I looked up and cursed under my breath.

It was none other than Song Xiaotang — the factory manager's daughter who had caused me to get fired before. Her smug expression made it clear she was deliberately trying to provoke me.

I wanted to pick up the cigarette butt and shove it into her mouth.

Song Xiaotang, wearing a domineering smirk, pointed at me and sneered, “What are you staring at? Sweep the floor!”

“Don’t you even know how to sweep?” she taunted.

“Fine, I’ll have Bench Kid fire you,” I wanted to snap back.

But I held back. I wanted to ask if she had lost her mind. The petty grudge from the factory gate wasn’t over, and she kept trying to make trouble.

Just as I was about to argue, I noticed the smug look in her eyes and realized she was deliberately baiting me, trying to get me fired again.

No way. I couldn’t fall for it. If I got fired again right after starting, my cousin-in-law would be disappointed.

Damn it. I swallowed my anger, stomped out the cigarette butt, and kept sweeping.

When I finished, I was about to leave when Song Xiaotang sneered, “Country bumpkin, set the table.”

Set it? So what? I was a waiter; setting tables was part of the job.

Her tone was nasty, but I ignored it as nonsense.

While I was arranging the table, I heard her sarcastically say, “Country bumpkin, why aren’t you glaring at me anymore? So obedient? Scared I’ll really have Bench Kid fire you?”

Damn it! Was she never going to stop?

Hearing that, I was on the verge of losing my temper. It was just too much.

But before I could snap, someone nearby interrupted, “Xiaotang, do you know this country bumpkin?”

I glanced over. It was a young guy who often played billiards with Song Xiaotang.

He was short and lean, looking like a skinny monkey.

Though “country bumpkin” stung, his interruption calmed me down a bit.

I ignored Song Xiaotang and continued setting the table.

She chatted beside me with the skinny guy, recounting how we first met at the garment factory.

After she finished, I finished setting the table and planned to move to another area.

But just as I was about to leave, the skinny guy suddenly said, “Loser, you think you’re something? You dare bully my sister?”