Against the wind, his voice couldn’t reach Chen Erhu at all.
If it weren’t for the fear that Chen Erhu might get confused and cause more trouble, Chen Jian really didn’t want to chase him anymore. Just run, go straight back to the old town and find Chen Dahu.
Chen Jian adjusted his breathing, then suddenly accelerated. Run, who can outrun whom?
He quickly closed in on Chen Erhu, staying right behind him.
Chen Erhu didn’t need to look back to hear his footsteps consistently behind him. He ran with all his might.
They were almost at the river. Those people were unlikely to catch up here. Only then did Chen Jian casually throw the several packs of spicy strips Little Dou’er had given him from his pocket at Chen Erhu’s head.
“Boss Chen!”
This time, Chen Erhu finally reacted, slowed down, turned back, and cursed: “Damn! Chen Jian?”
“Yes,” Chen Jian slowly stopped and picked up the spicy strips.
“You run so fast?” Chen Erhu was shocked, panting heavily while leaning on his knees, his voice cracking. “I thought it was their people, and I wondered who was running so hard, was there a bounty or something?”
“Hide for a bit,” Chen Jian gestured and walked into a side alley.
Chen Erhu followed. They hid inside an old, open-doored house nearby. Chen Jian closed the door behind him, looked out, and confirmed no one had followed them.
“Damn, you run so fast?” Chen Erhu still couldn’t quite believe it.
“If I hadn’t had to pretend to chase you, I would have been ahead of you right after leaving the intersection,” Chen Jian said.
“Braggart,” Chen Erhu was a bit annoyed, adding, “Always getting chased by creditors, you must have trained for it.”
Chen Jian didn’t speak, just turned to look at him.
Chen Erhu stared at him for a while, then softened first, turning his head and waving his hand: “Forget it, we’re colleagues now, no more of this.”
“Not just simple colleagues,” Chen Jian didn’t intend to go along with him. “I’m the manager now.”
“Damn it, is being manager so great?” Chen Erhu immediately turned back and glared at him again.
Chen Erhu still had a large red-lipped sun protection mask on his head. Chen Jian almost bit his tongue to keep from laughing, constantly replaying the awkward scene where Shan Yu emphasized “overstepped” to him.
“As long as you still think it’s worthwhile to get paid at Da Yin,” Chen Jian said, “the manager is the biggest person at Da Yin besides Boss Shan.”
Chen Erhu stared at him, then finally pointed at him: “I’m doing this for my brothers.”
“I can tell,” Chen Jian nodded. “They didn’t follow the wrong person.”
“You bastard,” Chen Erhu’s taut nerves relaxed considerably. He ripped off the mask, lit a cigarette, and offered one to Chen Jian.
Chen Jian took the cigarette and held it.
“You don’t smoke, do you?” Chen Erhu asked.
“Mm,” Chen Jian nodded.
“Then give it back,” Chen Erhu handed over the cigarette pack.
Chen Jian put the cigarette back into the pack: “Did you splash everything?”
“Guanshan was half-splashed, Liang Ye and Sui Yun are done,” Chen Erhu leaned against the wall, a cigarette in his mouth, taking off his gloves and pulling out a wad of plastic bags from his pocket. “When I came out to splash Guanshan, Liang Ye’s people chased me. His grandma, I spilled the rest on the ground in front of their door.”
It seemed Boss Chen wasn’t completely stupid; he splashed from the inside out.
Chen Erhu wrapped all the plastic bags, masks, and gloves in his jacket and tucked them behind a pile of broken wooden boards in the corner of the house: “I’ll come back to get them when I have time tomorrow.”
“You go back and rest,” Chen Jian said. “Come back tomorrow morning. I’ll just say I couldn’t catch you.”
“Okay,” Chen Erhu, with the cigarette in his mouth, walked to the door and looked back at him. “You really run fast. Did you compete in city competitions when you were in school?”
Chen Jian smiled without speaking.
Besides Chen Jian, all the groups chasing the thief returned. The people from the three guesthouses inside were all waiting at Da Yin’s entrance.
“San Bing,” Shan Yu, in his wheelchair, called San Bing from the front hall doorway.
San Bing walked over: “Boss?”
“They haven’t discovered the splashing yet,” Shan Yu whispered. “Don’t let it slip.”
“Don’t worry, I reminded them,” San Bing said, then walked back to the courtyard gate.
“Call them?” one person said. “Your manager chased for so long? Where did he chase him to?”
“My phone’s here,” San Bing waved Chen Jian’s phone. “Who would grab a phone when they get up from bed in the middle of the night to chase someone?”
“It hasn’t been that long,” Hu Pan said. “You guys came back without even catching him at the intersection, of course you think he was gone a long time.”
“If we hadn’t been run into by you two idiots…” another person pointed at San Bing and Lao Qi, very annoyed.
“Who the hell are you calling an idiot!” Lao Qi immediately retorted.
“We helped catch a thief, and we got it wrong?!” San Bing’s face was almost touching the other person’s.
“Stop arguing,” Zhao Fangfang pulled them apart. “You’re waking the boss up.”
Chen Jian’s figure turned in from the intersection.
“The manager’s back!” Hu Pan shouted.
“How was it!” San Bing immediately shouted and ran over.
Chen Jian spread his hands.
“Damn, you chased him for so long and didn’t catch him?” Someone said.
“Don’t talk cheap,” San Bing pointed back, not really pointing at anyone in particular, just poking randomly. “If he couldn’t catch him, none of the people standing here could.”
“Where did you chase him to?” Someone asked.
“To the woods by the river,” Chen Jian said. “I didn’t dare chase any further, not sure if he had accomplices in the woods.”
“What’s there to be afraid of…” that person said.
“Then you go,” Chen Jian said grumpily. “Did he steal from our house? Am I just running around for fun late at night?”
“Thanks, brother,” a leader-like figure among them interrupted them. “Indeed, it would be too dangerous to chase further. Everyone, disperse, disperse. It doesn’t seem like anything was stolen either…”
“If I’d known nothing was missing, I wouldn’t have gone out at all,” Chen Jian said, then entered the courtyard.
San Bing and the others were also pulled back by Hu Pan and Zhao Fangfang.
As soon as they entered the courtyard, the group immediately rushed into the house.
“How was it, how was it!” San Bing whispered. “Chen Jian, did you catch him?”
Hu Pan closed the front hall door: “He probably caught him. I saw Boss Chen running quite slowly.”
“How slow…” San Bing turned to look at her. “He wasn’t that slow. It’s mainly Chen Jian; the manager runs really fast. He was in the city’s high school league…”
“We met at the old house. Guanshan was half-splashed, Liang Ye and Sui Yun were splashed,” Chen Jian took a slice of pizza from the table and ate it. “He’s gone back now, will come back tomorrow… have they not found out yet?”
“No,” San Bing nodded.
“You can rest now,” Shan Yu yawned. “You can all sleep in a bit tomorrow, get more sleep.”
San Bing and Lao Qi were supposed to be on patrol, but given how lively it had been tonight and that the thief probably wouldn’t return, Boss Shan told them to rest as well.
The few of them continued their excited discussion as they entered the elevator.
Once the elevator door closed, the first floor became quiet, and even the lights dimmed.
“Oh, four people talking can make this much noise,” Shan Yu pressed his temples.
“Head hurting again?” Chen Jian was very alert. Chen the masseur wasn’t open for business at this hour.
“No,” Shan Yu glanced at him. “You’re not sleeping?”
“After running around like that, how can I sleep?” Chen Jian sat down in a chair, twisted open a bottle of iced tea, and took two gulps. “They won’t be able to sleep upstairs either; they’ll definitely chat for a while.”
“Mm,” Shan Yu smiled, looking out the window.
“Did you have fun?” Chen Jian asked.
“Do you think I was having fun?” Shan Yu turned his head, smiling at him.
“At least half of it was for fun, right?” Chen Jian said. “With your personality, if you said it wasn’t fun at all, you wouldn’t be so active in this matter.”
“Mm,” Shan Yu stretched. “Thanks to Boss Chen. I hadn’t expected it to be this lively. With him getting chased out, we can consider tonight a team-building event.”
Chen Jian smiled without speaking.
“This kind of natural team-building, a gift from nature, is also necessary,” Shan Yu said. “After experiencing this once, the people in this shop will be united and friendly for a long time.”
Shan Yu’s words were true.
The next morning, even though the boss had said they had half a day off, most of the employees were already up. Zhao Fangfang made breakfast, and everyone ate and chatted on the first floor.
With Chen Erhu’s addition, the conversation took a new turn.
“I thought our courtyard wall was old, so it needed repairs,” Chen Erhu said. “Actually, those few houses inside aren’t good either. The reason I was discovered was that I touched Liang Ye’s wall, and a whole row of broken tiles fell down, making a huge clattering noise, damn…”
Everyone burst out laughing.
Shan Yu sighed as he came out of the elevator and sat at a nearby table: “Isn’t it half a day off?”
“Couldn’t sleep, got up to watch the show,” Hu Pan said.
Chen Jian placed the breakfast he had saved specifically for Shan Yu in front of him: “Sister Zhao made Donkey Meat Fire-Roasted Bread.”
“Good stuff,” Shan Yu rubbed his hands.
Chen Jian then placed a carton of milk beside his hand.
“Cola,” Shan Yu said.
“Early in the morning, breakfast, early meal, Donkey Meat Fire-Roasted Bread with cola?” Chen Jian asked.
“Is Fire-Roasted Bread with milk harmonious? It should be soy milk, right?” Shan Yu said.
“Just milk. I’d have to go to the bar to get you cola,” Chen Jian said. “I don’t want to walk.”
“The manager has a lot of airs,” Shan Yu picked up the Donkey Meat Fire-Roasted Bread and began to eat.
Chen Jian said nothing more, walking to sit opposite him, drinking the remaining half carton of milk in his hand.
Shan Yu had a good habit: when he couldn’t win an argument, offering him food would buy temporary victory.
Lao Wu finished breakfast and went out for a “patrol,” returning in a mad dash.
“They found out, hahahahahahaha… They found out, everyone’s at the wall, hahahahaha…”
“Give him a megaphone,” Shan Yu put down the half-eaten Donkey Meat Fire-Roasted Bread in his hand.
“Quiet!” Chen Erhu pointed at him. “Why are you shouting? Are you afraid they won’t hear you?!”
“I shouted after I got inside,” Lao Wu lowered his volume.
“Are we going?” San Bing looked at Shan Yu. He had been waiting for this moment since his argument with that person yesterday.
“Go,” Shan Yu waved his hand. “Be careful, don’t let anything slip.”
“Hey—!” San Bing walked towards the door, shouting even before he stepped out.
The entire security team, plus Hu Pan, followed him out, as if on an autumn outing.
“You follow them,” Shan Yu said.
“Mm,” Chen Jian glanced at him. “You’re not going, are you?”
Shan Yu swallowed the bite of bread he’d taken before shaking his head.
“You’re not going to suddenly show up at the argument to stir things up, are you?” Chen Jian asked again, looking back as he walked out.
Shan Yu clicked his tongue.
“Hey—!” San Bing and Lao Qi walked in front, shouting all the way inside.
The people from the several guesthouses inside were gathered in the pavilion at the crossroads, now turning to stare at them.
“Didn’t I say yesterday,” San Bing said, “if any other house gets hit, don’t blame us for coming to watch the show!”
“Whoever did it knows in their heart!” The bald man’s face was grim.
“If you know, call the police,” Chen Jian said.
The group fell silent.
Chen Jian looked at Chen Erhu’s work from last night. He had put in a lot of effort, splashing it in a way that looked very similar to the uncleaned sections of Da Yin’s wall, making it quite difficult—carrying a plastic bag of blood and splashing three houses.
And he had been chased two li by himself.
“You Zhen Xi people aren’t going to let this go, are you?” The owner of Liang Ye, a man who looked to be around thirty, stepped out from the crowd.
“We’re not called Zhen Xi anymore,” San Bing said.
Don’t say we sell tea!
“Who’s in charge here?” Liang Ye’s owner asked.
Everyone looked at Chen Jian.
“Hm?” Chen Jian turned and walked back.
“Boss?” Liang Ye’s owner asked.
“Manager,” Hu Pan said.
“How do you plan to resolve this matter?” Liang Ye’s owner looked at Chen Jian.
“Resolve what?” Chen Jian asked. “We were splashed, and we didn’t ask you to resolve anything, did we?”
“Everyone cleans their own walls,” Hu Pan quickly chimed in. “What else is there to resolve?”
“I can give you the number of our wall painter,” Chen Erhu said.
“Fine, you get one round, we get one round, so we’re even, right?” The bald man said.
“Hey?” Chen Jian immediately pointed at him. “What did you say?”
“Hey?” Hu Pan and San Bing immediately raised the same questioning sound.
“Is your boss here?” Liang Ye’s owner stopped the bald man. His expression was a little off, probably mentally slapping the bald man’s head.
“He’s sleeping,” Chen Jian said.
“Could we talk together?” Liang Ye’s owner asked.
No.
For your own good.
Afraid you’d be angered to death by him.
Chen Jian didn’t speak.
“This is my business card,” Liang Ye’s owner handed over a business card. “Do you have his business card? Let’s exchange contact information.”
No, he only uses Qian Yu’s business cards.
Chen Jian took the business card and glanced at the name on it.
He Liang.
“He can contact me when he’s free too,” He Liang said.
“Not very convenient,” Shan Yu said, sitting behind his desk, twirling He Liang’s business card with two fingers.
“He probably wants to make peace?” Chen Jian said. “Those three are a group, and Liang Ye is the largest.”
“After using all their dirty tricks, they suddenly want to be friendly?” Shan Yu placed the business card on the desk.
“Should we contact them?” Chen Jian asked.
“We still need to contact them,” Shan Yu said.
“Oh, then see when you can contact them,” Chen Jian turned to leave. “I’m going downstairs, in a bit…”
“Don’t go,” Shan Yu whistled briefly. “Let me use your phone. You listen here.”
“You…” Chen Jian helplessly took out his phone, unlocked it, and placed it on the desk.
Shan Yu dialed the number on the business card, then pressed speakerphone. When the dial tone sounded, he leaned back in his chair.
“Hello, who is this?” He Liang’s voice came through.
“I’m Shan Yu…” Shan Yu said.
“Boss Shan, hello. Sorry to bother you,” He Liang was very polite.
Shan Yu said nothing.
After two seconds of silence, He Liang spoke again: “Boss Shan, when would be convenient for us to meet? It would be good to get to know each other.”
“No need,” Shan Yu said. “We’re opening soon and very busy.”
“Oh, I see.” He Liang chuckled awkwardly on the other end. “Congratulations first.”
“Thank you,” Shan Yu said. “Boss He, anything else?”
Chen Jian glanced at Shan Yu. He was being too rude.
“It’s like this,” He Liang said. “Regarding the past two days’ events…”
“This isn’t a problem for me,” Shan Yu said. “It will be cleaned up in a bit. As for how you want to handle it, I won’t offer any opinions.”
He Liang let out a dry laugh.
“Everyone here is in business, we just want peace and quiet,” Shan Yu said. “We’re repairing the wall and repaving the road, not just for ourselves. Every house will use this road, and our sincerity is clear. After all, we’re at the crossroads; if we’re not doing well, none of the houses inside can expect to do well either.”
“Yes, yes, I can see that Boss Shan is a generous person,” He Liang said.
“Just so-so, not very generous. If trouble comes my way, I’ll definitely give it back,” Shan Yu said.
He Liang smiled.
“Da Yin will open next week. We look forward to your visit and guidance,” Shan Yu said.
“Okay, okay, we’ll definitely be there to support you,” He Liang said.
Shan Yu hung up the phone and looked at Chen Jian: “Was ‘莅临’ used correctly?”
“Wh-what…” Chen Jian was stunned. “I don’t know.”
“What are we going to do? This shop is full of illiterates, with the highest education being high school,” Shan Yu said.
Chen Jian took his phone and checked: “It should be correct. It means ‘welcome,’ and it’s a sign of respect from the host to the guest.”
Shan Yu laughed: “You actually checked?”
“You said you didn’t know!” Chen Jian said.
“I didn’t say that,” Shan Yu said.
“…Alright, I said it,” Chen Jian nodded, put his phone back in his pocket, and looked at Shan Yu. “Were you a bit… impolite when talking to Boss He? Is that how you normally communicate with other bosses?”
It felt like he was much more polite to Boss Chen?
“Is he a normal boss?” Shan Yu clicked his tongue. “He’s the head of the Anti-Da Yin Alliance. He instigated all this trouble.”
Chen Jian smiled.
“I was being polite,” Shan Yu said. “You can go busy yourself, Manager.”
Just as Chen Jian was about to turn, the phone in his hand rang.
He glanced at it and was stunned: “Liu Wu?”
“Why is he calling you?” Shan Yu frowned.
“I don’t know. I’ll answer it,” Chen Jian answered the call, hesitated, then also pressed speakerphone. “Hello?”
“Chen Jian! It’s Liu Wu!” Liu Wu’s cheerful voice came through.
“What made you think of calling me?” Chen Jian asked.
“Are you open for business yet?” Liu Wu asked.
Chen Jian glanced at Shan Yu.
Shan Yu raised his chin.
“We’re officially opening next week. We’re still renovating these past few days,” Chen Jian said.
“Are the rooms all ready? Does it affect accommodation?” Liu Wu asked.
“What do you mean?” Chen Jian asked.
“I’m bringing you a big, auspicious first business!” Liu Wu said. “A surprise for my brother!”
