This straightforward answer left Chen Jian speechless for a moment; he simply stared at Shan Yu. Should he press on? “How were you deceived?” That would sound too much like gossip and be offensive. Comfort him? That would be too fake. Not knowing how he was deceived, there was no angle to offer comfort from… “Hup!” Shan Yu snapped his fingers in front of Chen Jian’s eyes.
Chen Jian sighed, twisted the throttle, and the sidecar surged forward. Forget it, I won’t argue with a boss who’s missing limbs. Going to the village, then, going to the village it is. There were many farmhouse restaurants in the village; perhaps looking around would give Shan Yu some business inspiration. The sidecar drove out of the guesthouse’s small path and turned onto the concrete road leading out of town.
“There’s a museum here?” Shan Yu asked after they’d driven a bit, pointing at a sign by the roadside.
“Yes, a… farm tool museum,” Chen Jian said. “The kind many places have, for tourists to see farmers’ tools, it’s free.”
“Does anyone go see it?” Shan Yu asked.
“No,” Chen Jian said. “Everyone in the village has those at home, and they’re even fun to play with.”
“This town doesn’t even have a clear identity,” Shan Yu sighed.
“Identity or not… there are still some tourists,” Chen Jian said. “When the forest turns red in autumn, there will be even more.”
“Hmm,” Shan Yu glanced at the distant mountains and forests. “It’s already starting to change color… I need to buy a car.”
“What?” Chen Jian asked.
“Do you know anyone who sells cars?” Shan Yu asked. “Can your brother Rui get a car?”
Chen Jian was silent for two seconds, slowing down the sidecar. “What kind of car do you want to buy?”
“A four-wheeler, one that those C-license security guards can drive,” Shan Yu said. “I can’t exactly buy a sidecar, can I?”
“Then you won’t find one through Tang Rui,” Chen Jian said. “At most, he can find a few scrapped cars…”
“Hey, that’s it!” Shan Yu said. “That’s the one.”
“Huh?” Chen Jian was stunned.
“It doesn’t have to be scrapped,” Shan Yu said. “A used old car will do, just refurbish it.”
“I… I thought you wanted to buy a new car,” Chen Jian said.
“Don’t have the budget for that,” Shan Yu said. “If Liu Wu’s car wasn’t borrowed from his classmate, I wouldn’t have let him drive it away… Does Chen Erhu have a car?”
“Boss Shan!” Chen Jian couldn’t help but raise his voice. “Where do security guards have to bring their own car to work? And a car! If you do this, all the pretense you put on in the office today will be for nothing!”
Shan Yu laughed. “You’re getting all worked up.”
“I’ve been holding back all this time soaking those tea leaves,” Chen Jian said.
“Hey,” Shan Yu sighed with a smile, “Ask Tang Rui, see if he can find a used one. One that doesn’t make too much noise when it runs will do.”
“…Alright,” Chen Jian nodded.
After the sidecar drove out of town, both sides of the road were completely rural scenery. The rain from the past two days had cleaned everything brightly, and the scenery seemed to have been refreshed.
“Old Village.” As the sidecar passed the village sign, Shan Yu read the village name. “This village is called Old Village?”
“Yes, because there’s also a New Village,” Chen Jian said. “It’s to the east.”
“Interesting,” Shan Yu said.
“I’ll stop the sidecar at the village entrance in a bit,” Chen Jian said. “People in the village love to watch the excitement. Everyone will be looking at us if we drive this in, and you’re a new face.”
“Aren’t there tourists here?” Shan Yu said.
“You’re not a tourist,” Chen Jian said. “You’re not spending money, so it’s not good to make people anticipate for nothing.”
Shan Yu couldn’t help but turn his head and stare at him for a while. “You’re quite…”
“This will do,” Chen Jian braked, stopping the sidecar by the roadside.
“Wait,” Shan Yu leaned on the sidecar. “Am I just going to walk like this?”
“You bounced into the elevator today,” Chen Jian said. “The village isn’t that big; a few steps will pretty much cover it.”
“You’re retaliating, aren’t you?” Shan Yu said.
“I’m not that petty,” Chen Jian said.
“I’ll spend money,” Shan Yu said.
“Hm?” Chen Jian was taken aback. “Spend what money?”
“I’m a tourist now. I’ll find a farmhouse restaurant in the village to eat later,” Shan Yu said.
Chen Jian didn’t say anything. The village really wasn’t that big; walking a circle around it was about the same as Shan Yu’s daily aimless strolls around the guesthouse.
“And buy some local produce,” Shan Yu added.
“…Sit tight,” Chen Jian had no choice but to restart the sidecar.
The Old Village was probably called “Old Village” because the village was rather… old. The buildings were old, and most of the residents were middle-aged and elderly; not a single young person was seen, though there were still two or three children.
“Where’s your house?” Shan Yu asked.
“We drove past it,” Chen Jian said. “I’ll take you there later when we leave.”
“Okay,” Shan Yu looked back.
The farmhouse restaurants in the village were relatively simple: self-renovated houses by the river with signs hung outside. At this moment, several cars could be seen parked by the river, and some people were taking pictures and playing in the water.
“On weekends and holidays, when there are more tourists,” Chen Jian introduced to him, “this river has rafting, and Old Village is the end point here.”
“Is it fun?” Shan Yu asked.
“Not fun. The water is too slow, pure drifting,” Chen Jian said. “Suitable for under ten years old.”
Shan Yu smiled and took a few photos of the river with his phone.
“I thought you only used your phone to make calls,” Chen Jian said.
“That’s not true,” Shan Yu said. “I just don’t use WeChat.”
“Are you hiding from enemies?” Chen Jian asked.
Shan Yu put away his phone and glanced at him. “Quite an imagination.”
“Mainly because your leg injury is quite imaginative,” Chen Jian said.
The Old Village wasn’t big. Most of the people who stayed here were villagers running farmhouse businesses. Along the road in the middle of the village leading to the end point of the rafting, there were many small stalls selling things: wholesale handicrafts, baskets of local produce, and also meat and vegetable stalls for the local villagers. Since it wasn’t the weekend or a holiday, there were few tourists, so it was mostly stall owners facing each other.
When Chen Jian drove his sidecar with Shan Yu at this end of the road, everyone looked over.
“Are we that noticeable?” Shan Yu asked.
“I told you to walk in,” Chen Jian said. “Just take a look, no need to browse, right?”
“Let’s browse,” Shan Yu said. “Buy some mushrooms. Are there mushrooms?”
“Really buying?” Chen Jian was a bit skeptical.
“I said I’d buy them, do you think I’m lying to you?” Shan Yu said.
Chen Jian didn’t say anything more, slowly driving forward, entering the gaze-sweeping zone of the bosses. However, perhaps because Chen Jian was there, everyone implicitly assumed this wasn’t a tourist, so their enthusiasm wasn’t high. They basically just looked, no one called out.
“What kind of meat is that?” Shan Yu asked, looking at a roasted and braised meat stall nearby.
“Braised donkey meat,” Chen Jian said.
“Buy some,” Shan Yu said. “We’ll have donkey meat sandwiches tonight.”
“…You’re quite good at ordering,” Chen Jian said. “Let’s see if Sister Zhao curses you behind your back.”
“I can’t hear her if she curses behind my back,” Shan Yu had already gestured with his hand to the owner, indicating “five jin of donkey meat.”
Whether she cursed or not, she would definitely make it, after all, the guesthouse was hiring, and Zhao Fangfang wanted to stay. Just didn’t know if Zhao Fangfang would know how to make donkey meat sandwiches. And hazelnut mushrooms, Matsutake mushrooms, and old ginseng. Shan Yu even bought some string beans and old cucumbers.
“That’s enough, isn’t it?” Chen Jian crammed a pile of things at Shan Yu’s feet, whispering, “You’ve bought enough for a scrapped car now. These things are much cheaper in the old town outside.”
“Let’s go,” Shan Yu nodded. “Find a farmhouse restaurant and eat a fish.”
Chen Jian got into the sidecar, struggling to maneuver it back and forth in the middle of the road to turn around, then took Shan Yu to find a place to eat fish. He hadn’t even driven out of the road when he saw Xiao Dou’er running out of a small alley ahead, shouting as she ran, followed by a little boy with a water gun also running out.
“Dou’er!” Chen Jian called out.
Xiao Dou’er stopped and turned around. The little boy was Big Snot from next door, an annoying brat, both stupid and stubborn, a reserve member of the “Pigsty Party.” Chen Jian got annoyed just seeing him.
“You’re bullying her again!” Chen Jian pointed at Big Snot. “Three seconds to get lost!”
“One, two, three.” Big Snot held his water gun. “Not leaving.”
“Damn it,” Chen Jian looked at him. It was work hours, and Shan Yu was sitting beside him. He really didn’t want to display his daily life in front of his boss. Normally, he would have given Big Snot a lump on the head with his knuckles, then argued with Big Snot’s grandma for three days.
Shan Yu, sitting next to him, suddenly moved and called out to Big Snot, “Hey!”
Big Snot looked at Shan Yu. Shan Yu lifted his left leg, propped it on the sidecar, and lightly pulled up his pant leg, revealing a section of metal brace. Big Snot’s eyes immediately widened, staring intently at Shan Yu’s leg.
“Mechanical leg,” Shan Yu said with a solemn face.
Big Snot didn’t know if he believed it, but the object, which only showed a small section and shimmered with a metallic glint, indeed brought a hint of curiosity and wariness to his eyes. Shan Yu picked up his folding cane, flicked it in Big Snot’s direction. While Big Snot was still stunned, he retracted it, and with a click, the cane returned to its folded state. He held it like a gun, propping it with his other hand, aiming at Big Snot.
Big Snot was clearly scared and began to back away. Shan Yu closed one eye, and the cane slowly followed Big Snot. Then he made a “pop” sound with his mouth. Big Snot’s body suddenly stiffened. He hugged his water gun, turned, and ran away, only letting out a cry after running several steps.
“I really don’t like children,” Shan Yu tutted, putting away his cane. “Especially such stupid ones.” When he tried to retract his leg, he found there wasn’t enough space, and his shoe got stuck on the edge of the sidecar. “Assistant Chen?”
“You…” Chen Jian quickly reached out to support him, lifting his pant leg to help him put his foot back into the sidecar, and readjusting the cushion.
“Brother Chen Jian,” Xiao Dou’er ran over, then looked at Shan Yu. “Thank you, Uncle.”
“What uncle…” Shan Yu sighed. “You’re welcome.”
“What’s on your leg?” Xiao Dou’er peered at him from the sidecar.
“A gun,” Shan Yu said.
“Liar,” Xiao Dou’er laughed.
“Let’s go,” Shan Yu glanced at Chen Jian.
“I’m still at work,” Chen Jian said to Xiao Dou’er. “Don’t go near Big Snot’s house later.”
“Okay,” Xiao Dou’er retreated to the roadside and waved at Shan Yu. “Goodbye, Uncle.”
“…Goodbye,” Shan Yu said. After the sidecar drove off, he looked back again. “Is she your family’s child?”
“No,” Chen Jian paused for a few seconds, then gritted his teeth. “I live at her grandparents’ house.”
Shan Yu was startled. “Isn’t your house here?”
“Yes, my house… I don’t live there anymore,” Chen Jian said.
“What do you mean?” Shan Yu didn’t understand. “Did the house collapse?”
“It was mortgaged to someone else,” Chen Jian stared at the road ahead. “To pay off debt.”
Shan Yu was silent for a while. “Did your father owe someone money?”
“Yes,” Chen Jian nodded.
“Do you need to help pay it back?” Shan Yu asked again.
“Yes,” Chen Jian replied.
“How… did the debt come about?” Shan Yu asked.
Chen Jian didn’t answer immediately. The sidecar drove a bit further, then slowed down, finally stopping by the roadside. He turned to look at Shan Yu. “My mom’s medical treatment cost a lot of money. My dad gathered some money and did some small projects with someone, hoping to earn enough to pay it back.”
Shan Yu didn’t speak.
“Halfway through, the big boss had an accident, the project fell through, and he didn’t earn any money, but owed even more,” Chen Jian’s voice was a bit low, but his tone was calm. “So I’m very short on money.”
“When did your mother pass away?” Shan Yu asked.
“When I was less than ten years old,” Chen Jian replied.
“Understood,” Shan Yu didn’t ask further.
Chen Jian told these things very simply, with only descriptions and no related elaborations, as if it were a plot summary. But with a little thought, one could feel the complex emotions of more than ten years, omitted from this concise summary.
“You can smoke if you want to,” Shan Yu reminded him.
“I don’t smoke,” Chen Jian said. “That cigarette yesterday was given by Chen Erhu, I couldn’t just throw it away on the spot.”
“Oh,” Shan Yu smiled.
“No need to go to my house, Boss Shan,” Chen Jian said. “Mainly because Xiao Dou’er’s grandparents are at home, they’ll just get busy again if we go.”
“We won’t go,” Shan Yu said. As Chen Jian drove forward, he added, “I didn’t mean to pry into your affairs, and I wasn’t targeting you.”
“Mhm,” Chen Jian nodded.
“People are complicated. To their faces, everyone looks like a good person,” Shan Yu said. “Behind their backs, they might be doing illegal things. It’s better to understand clearly to feel at ease.”
The owner of the farmhouse restaurant recognized Chen Jian and enthusiastically led them to a small private room built by the river.
“The fish is quite big; one is enough for the two of you, plus a few other dishes,” the owner said.
“Okay, you can decide what to make,” Chen Jian’s phone was ringing. He pulled it out and answered it as he spoke.
“Chen Jian! It’s me, Zhao Fangfang!” Zhao Fangfang’s hushed voice came from the other end, anxious yet excited. “What on earth is going on?!”
“What’s going on? What happened?” Chen Jian asked.
“Some guests came to the guesthouse wanting to stay!” Zhao Fangfang said.
“What?” Chen Jian was stunned, glancing at Shan Yu.
“Four young people, they drove themselves here, one man and three women,” Zhao Fangfang said. “What do we do?”
“Couldn’t you just say we’re not open yet?” Chen Jian said.
“First business! How can we turn people away! It’s bad luck!” Zhao Fangfang said. “Where’s Boss Shan! Isn’t he with you? Ask him what to do!”
“Guests?” Shan Yu asked from the side.
“She said four people came wanting to stay,” Chen Jian said.
Shan Yu extended his hand. “Give it to me.” Chen Jian handed him the phone.
“Sister Zhao, make them lunch, tell them this meal is complimentary,” Shan Yu said. “Arrange two of the clean rooms for them, don’t arrange the third floor, and confirm how long they want to stay…”
“Ah, ah, ah, okay,” Zhao Fangfang replied in quick succession.
“And tell them if they need dinner and tomorrow’s breakfast, they’ll need to make a reservation,” Shan Yu said.
“Okay, okay,” Zhao Fangfang continued to respond. “Are you coming back? Are you two coming back?”
“Yes, yes, yes, yes,” Shan Yu said.
“When?” Zhao Fangfang was, after all, just a cleaner. With the guesthouse having been closed for half a year and then suddenly having guests, she was quite flustered.
“We’ll be back soon,” Shan Yu said. “For now, quote them the previous room rates. Do you know the prices?”
“I know, I worked here for a long time before, I…”
“Then go do it. Everything else can wait until I get back.” Shan Yu said and then hung up the phone.
Chen Jian looked at him. “Just like that, you accepted them?”
“Otherwise?” Shan Yu looked back at him. “Haven’t we already accepted them?”
Chen Jian wanted to say something else, but it did seem to be the case. “But there are no service staff…” he frowned. “It’s just the four of them in the whole building. Won’t they find it strange?”
“It’s like this during the off-season,” Shan Yu said. “What does it matter to us if they find it strange?”
“An empty guesthouse, with just a cleaning lady, there’s no guesthouse like that,” Chen Jian was still a bit uneasy. “It sounds like a haunted house.”
“Call Boss Chen and tell him to arrange two people to go over immediately,” Shan Yu said. “We’ll also go back right away.”
Chen Jian looked at him.
“Then the guesthouse will have five people, one more than them,” Shan Yu said.
“What? My fish are already killed, and you’re not eating?” The farmhouse owner, holding a teapot, entered the private room and heard them say they were leaving, immediately getting a bit angry.
“We’ll eat,” Shan Yu took out his wallet. “But we’ll change it to evening. Keep the fish that’s already killed, and add two more. We might have six or seven people coming tonight. Reserve a bigger private room for us.”
“Ah, okay, okay, okay…” The owner was a bit slow to react.
Shan Yu took out a few banknotes from his wallet and placed them on the table. “Here’s the deposit for you. Please pick out good fish for me.”
“Alright, alright, no problem,” the owner nodded. “You don’t need to pay this now. Just pay after you eat. Chen Jian and I are familiar, we trust each other.”
“But you’re not familiar with me, are you?” Shan Yu said.
“No, no, no! We’re familiar now, everyone knows that a…” The owner paused.
Don’t say crippled, Chen Jian looked at the owner. The person walked in, they’re not crippled.
“A generous boss!” the owner said. “Truly generous.”
Chen Jian rushed them back. Chen Erhu, with San Bing, arrived at Yinxi before them. For their first job, and a rush one at that, Boss Chen decided to lead the team personally.
“Why are you only just arriving?” Chen Erhu expressed dissatisfaction with the client’s response speed. “San Bing has already helped people take their luggage upstairs.”
“You worked hard,” Chen Jian said.
“Where are the service staff?” Chen Erhu asked. “What if they need room service later?”
“You two just respond,” Shan Yu said.
“Us two?” Chen Erhu was startled.
“It’s nothing more than bringing water or towels,” Shan Yu said. “Take them up when you’re doing security patrols. During this special period, we’ll see if our cooperation is默契.”
“We definitely have tacit understanding,” Chen Erhu nodded steadily.
“Hey, they even have this car here!” A girl came out of the house. Seeing the sidecar parked in the yard, she excitedly turned back and waved to her companions inside. “Come out and take a picture of me.”
“Take the things down,” Shan Yu tilted his head towards Chen Erhu.
Chen Erhu was clearly stunned, probably still thinking of himself as “Boss Chen.”
“You’re an outsourced security guard now,” Chen Jian whispered as he took things out of the sidecar. “Otherwise, you can have Lao Si come over.”
“No need,” Chen Erhu waved his hand and started taking things out with him. “I’ll familiarize myself with their work as well.”
“Can I get on this car?” The girl walked over and patted the handlebars. “I want to sit on it and take a picture.”
“You can,” Shan Yu said. “You can even drive it if you want. This car is for rent.”
Chen Jian suddenly turned his head. What?!
“Oh, really?” Another girl who had come out immediately asked, “How much is it?”
Chen Jian looked at Shan Yu. How much, boss?
“There’s a discount in the off-season. Two hundred eighty for two hours,” Shan Yu said.
