The weather forecast predicted rain today, and it had been overcast since morning, but no rain had fallen.
It was completely dark when the wind finally picked up.
All the windows were open, and the cross-breeze was constant. Chen Jian stood behind the sink, unable to block the wind. He was already looking forward to Chen Erhu coming to throw stones, even thinking about calling Chen Erhu later.
“Go smash it again, the paralyzed boss will get scared and actively seek cooperation with you.”
“Boss Shan!” Zhao Fangfang, unaware of their plan, frowned unhappily as she came downstairs with a rag, shaking a curtain. “Why are all these windows open? The wind is so strong, dust is blowing in! I just finished cleaning the rooms! And from the outside, it looks like a haunted house!”
That was true. The overall design of Zhenxi was retro, and the windows were all fully-opening retro casement windows, plus the fluttering curtains…
“What if it’s too scary and people don’t dare to throw stones?” Chen Jian whispered.
“Are they that timid?” Shan Yu stood by a window near the door.
“Fear of ghosts is in our genes,” Chen Jian said.
“Not in yours, it seems?” Shan Yu looked back at him.
“It is,” Chen Jian said, “it’s just that many other things take precedence. I, on the other hand, feel like you don’t…”
“Close the windows!” Zhao Fangfang shouted.
“Close, close, close,” Shan Yu pointed at Chen Jian, “Go help Zhao-jie close the windows.”
“…Such a waste to open them.” Chen Jian walked towards the rooms.
Before he reached the hallway, a section of the gauze curtain in the left side of the front hall suddenly rose high, twisting into a bundle pointing directly at Chen Jian.
Amidst Zhao Fangfang’s terrified screams, a stone wrapped in the taut curtain grazed his face and landed at his feet.
This was clearly aimed at hitting someone.
And not randomly, it was specifically aimed at Chen Jian.
“Bastard.” Chen Jian only froze for half a second, then picked up the stone and rushed out the door.
“Hey!” Shan Yu called out, “Don’t go!”
But it was too late. Chen Jian’s speed was like his baseball bat, but he couldn’t turn back. Before the words “Don’t go” left his mouth, Chen Jian had already disappeared into the darkness.
“Damn it.” Shan Yu was a little helpless. Usually, he seemed like such a steady guy, but at a critical moment, he suddenly exploded.
Chen Jian’s decision to rush out was made in an instant. If Chen Erhu hadn’t aimed that stone at a person, he would have followed Shan Yu’s plan.
But if that stone hadn’t been wrapped in the curtain, it would have hit him directly on the head.
That’s a different story.
He would back down, often trying to avoid conflict and resolve disputes peacefully. He would maneuver, and he would yield. To some extent, he was even afraid of trouble, because his life couldn’t afford any unnecessary twists and turns beyond life itself.
But if yielding didn’t satisfy the other party, he would fight back hard.
He wanted Chen Erhu to know now that no matter what the ultimate purpose of throwing the stone was, aiming it at his head was unacceptable.
As soon as he rushed out the door, he could hear chaotic footsteps in the wind, just outside the front wall. If he went around the courtyard gate, he might not catch up.
Chen Jian didn’t stop and rushed directly towards the wall. The wall was less than two meters high; he could climb over it with a single push.
When he scaled the wall, he saw Chen Erhu running in the middle. He could have jumped down and hit Chen Erhu directly in the face.
But he paused slightly, choosing Sanbing, who was further back.
He couldn’t touch Chen Erhu; he still had to save face for him.
Chen Jian leaped down the wall, landing beside Sanbing. As he stood up, he followed with a punch that landed squarely on Sanbing’s chin as he turned to look.
Sanbing proudly threw his head back, flying backward and falling heavily into the ditch by the road.
Chen Erhu stopped when he heard the commotion. He was a loyal Erhu-ge, so he immediately turned around, eyes wide, and cursed in a low voice: “Who the f*ck dares!”
“Erhu.” Chen Jian turned to look into Chen Erhu’s eyes, tossing the stone he held at his feet.
Chen Erhu instinctively flinched when their eyes met. Chen Jian’s gaze was uncommon, but Chen Erhu had seen it before.
He was angry.
The last time Chen Jian had that look was the year before last, when he was ambushed by Dahou’s subordinates. Amidst the chaotic swinging of iron bars, he broke one person’s forearm with his fist and shattered another’s palm bone by smashing his elbow against a wall.
Dahou hadn’t troubled Chen Jian for two years.
“Looks like a stray dog, but when pushed, it bites the throat.”
Chen Erhu stopped a follower who was about to rush forward, looking at Chen Jian: “Why is it you?”
“It almost hit me,” Chen Jian said, his earlier expression gone, now looking like he was just normally resolving a misunderstanding.
“Hit what?” Chen Erhu would certainly not admit it.
“The second-floor window was you too, right?” Chen Jian said.
“What the hell are you talking about?” Chen Erhu stuck to his principle of not admitting anything.
“Come over sometime in the next two days,” Chen Jian said, “Shan Yu was just thinking of inviting you over.”
“What?” Chen Erhu was stunned.
“Didn’t they fight?” Zhao Fangfang stood by the door, poking out half her head to listen for sounds outside the wall.
“Can you hear anything?” Shan Yu asked.
“No,” Zhao Fangfang shook her head.
“If you can’t hear, why are you listening? Practicing martial arts?” Shan Yu said, “Go close the windows first.”
“Why on earth did you open a window?” Zhao Fangfang complained as she jogged into the room to close the windows, “If it rains later, the room will get wet…”
Shan Yu stood up, got into his wheelchair, picked up the baseball bat beside him, and maneuvered the wheelchair towards the door, the bat dragging a series of crisp metallic sounds on the floor tiles.
Chen Jian walked into the courtyard, holding an unlit cigarette.
He stopped when he saw Shan Yu sitting by the door.
Shan Yu was silhouetted against the light, only him and his baseball bat visible, his expression unclear.
Chen Jian couldn’t quite gauge his mood at the moment.
“Did they leave?” Shan Yu asked.
“Yeah.” Chen Jian flicked the cigarette in his hand into the nearby trash can.
Shan Yu didn’t speak, his fingers lightly twirling the top of the baseball bat’s grip. The bat rotated and leaned against the wall. “Tell me about your emotional journey this trip.”
“Chen Erhu will be here tomorrow,” Chen Jian said, stating the outcome of the trip first, as Shan Yu’s silhouette at the moment looked a little intimidating. “I don’t need to call him.”
“Mm.” Shan Yu’s wheelchair turned around and went back inside.
The windows on the first floor were closed. Seeing that he was fine, Zhao Fangfang ran back upstairs to tidy up.
Shan Yu opened the bar fridge and took out a can of cola. Chen Jian noticed that at some point, the empty fridge had been filled with drinks, probably all brought by Shan Yu from the storeroom.
“That stone was meant for me,” Chen Jian said.
“I saw that,” Shan Yu poured the cola into a glass. “It almost split your head open. Is there a hospital in town?”
“There’s a community clinic,” Chen Jian said.
“Far?” Shan Yu asked again.
“On First Street, not far,” Chen Jian pointed the direction.
“Take me to find the place tomorrow,” Shan Yu nodded.
“…No need.” Chen Jian sighed.
“Who threw it?” Shan Yu took a sip of cola.
“Probably Laosi,” Chen Jian said, “He’s strong and has good aim.”
“Did you hit him?” Shan Yu looked at him.
“I punched Sanbing, the one whose forehead you bumped,” Chen Jian said, suddenly feeling speechless for Sanbing.
Shan Yu couldn’t help but laugh.
“These people are like that, you need both soft and hard approaches,” Chen Jian said.
“Soft for Chen Erhu, hard for Sanbing to take,” Shan Yu said.
Chen Jian smiled.
“Have you thought about it, you’re my assistant,” Shan Yu looked at him, “I’m paralyzed, and you just rushed out like that.”
Chen Jian didn’t speak.
“What if they came in?” Shan Yu asked.
Chen Jian didn’t answer immediately. To be honest, he hadn’t thought about that.
That should be the bodyguard’s job, right?
He hadn’t really worried about Shan Yu. Although they hadn’t known each other long, he felt that as long as Shan Yu was willing, he could protect himself, either with his words or his hands.
If someone really rushed in…
“Don’t be too heavy-handed,” Chen Jian said.
“You’re bragging on my behalf,” Shan Yu leaned back in his chair.
“I’ll be careful in the future. The main thing is I’m afraid they’ll be endless,” Chen Jian said, “If we’re really keeping their people here, Chen Erhu and I can’t have this endless back and forth.”
“Mm,” Shan Yu responded, “I’m not blaming you, just asking.”
He had previously noticed that Chen Jian didn’t want to cause trouble, and could even skillfully avoid escalating conflicts. Now, listening to Chen Jian’s simple words, he suddenly became curious about Chen Jian’s upbringing.
“Your leg,” Chen Jian said, “do you disinfect it every day?”
“Are you eager to get off work?” Shan Yu asked.
“There’s nothing much to do now,” Chen Jian said, “You went to bed quite early yesterday.”
“I’ll call you in a bit.” Shan Yu controlled the wheelchair and headed towards the elevator.
Chen Jian followed him and walked into the elevator with him.
“What?” Shan Yu asked, “Sharing the risk?”
“Afraid you can’t reach the floor.” Chen Jian helped him press the button for the third floor.
“I’m asking you,” Shan Yu looked at the elevator’s floor display, “What if it had hit me just now…”
“Impossible.” Chen Jian’s answer was very decisive.
“If,” Shan Yu said.
“Okay,” Chen Jian said.
“Would you still rush out?” Shan Yu asked.
The elevator doors opened. Chen Jian stepped out of the elevator, watching Shan Yu’s wheelchair emerge, and didn’t speak.
“Would you?” Shan Yu asked.
“Boss Shan.” Chen Jian sighed.
“Be honest,” Shan Yu said.
“No,” Chen Jian said, “If it hit you, I’d immediately take you to the community clinic. If it didn’t hit, I’d call Chen Erhu and tell him to come tomorrow to discuss cooperation.”
Shan Yu clicked his tongue.
“I’m not a bodyguard, Boss Shan,” Chen Jian reminded him, “In your personal affairs, I’m more like a caregiver, right?”
Shan Yu laughed and didn’t speak again.
Compared to Qian Yu, Shan Yu was a very good boss. He paid promptly and didn’t deliberately find fault to deduct money. Even though he was responsible for his food, clothing, housing, and transportation, there wasn’t much else to do.
After disinfecting Shan Yu’s leg, Shan Yu stayed in his room and didn’t come out.
Chen Jian was tidying his things, about to knock on the door to ask if there was anything else, when Shan Yu’s voice came through the intercom in the hallway: “Chen Jian.”
“Here,” Chen Jian went over and replied.
“Off work,” Shan Yu said.
“Mm,” Chen Jian responded, picked up his bag, and walked out, looking at the memo on his phone.
He had a lot of things to do tomorrow. Although he used to work here, he didn’t manage so many things. Now, all the preparatory work for the guesthouse had to be coordinated by him, and the memo was packed…
If Shan Yu still planned to run the guesthouse after two months, he would really like to continue working there, as long as the salary was paid on time, even if it was only two thousand.
As long as Shan Yu wasn’t truly just trying to experience a stupid life, business would slowly improve after autumn, and there would be tourists until the snow melted.
The next morning, Chen Erhu called.
“That Shan Yu, what time does he usually wake up?”
Chen Jian resisted the urge to curse and rubbed his eyes, glancing at the time on his phone: 6:30 AM.
Chen Erhu had probably been playing cards all night and just came out.
At this hour, the only people awake in the entire town were probably the breakfast stall owners. Chen Jian held the phone away and yawned.
“At least after nine,” Chen Jian said, “It’s suitable for you to go around 10:30. Too early looks eager, too late shows no sincerity.”
“What sincerity do I need?” Chen Erhu said.
“You always have to show some on the surface,” Chen Jian said.
After being woken up by Chen Erhu, Chen Jian couldn’t sleep anymore. He got up and ran a few laps on the village’s concrete road, then went back to change and prepare for work.
Grandpa Xiaodou came back from his morning walk outside, saw him, and pulled a handful of dates from his pocket, putting them in Chen Jian’s hand: “These dates are especially sweet.”
“Are you going to watch card games today?” Chen Jian ate a date.
“Later, my back hurts from sitting yesterday,” Grandpa Xiaodou leaned on his back, “I’ll ask Chen Massage to do some cupping for me later.”
“I’ll do it for you, he charges money,” Chen Jian said.
“You’re back to working at the haunted house now, right?” Grandpa Xiaodou said, “Go do your work, we’ll talk later when you’re free.”
“Mm,” Chen Jian smiled.
“When you make money, don’t just buy us things,” Grandpa Xiaodou patted his shoulder, “Save some, and keep more for yourself that you don’t take out.”
“Mm,” Chen Jian nodded.
He was actually quite thrifty. Today, he specifically went to Zhenxi for breakfast instead of buying it outside.
Zhao Fangfang made him pork belly pancakes, which smelled delicious.
“Shan Yu has already eaten, these are all yours,” Zhao Fangfang said, “Eat them all if you like them.”
Chen Jian ate the remaining five pancakes.
As he stood behind the counter wiping his hands, Shan Yu came out of the elevator, leaning on his crutches. “Those pancakes just now…”
Then he saw the empty plate on the table and froze. “Gone?”
“I just finished them,” Chen Jian said.
“Five of them?” Shan Yu looked at him.
“Ah,” Chen Jian rubbed his stomach.
“…Go buy me two more outside. Shaobing, laobing, thousand-layer pancakes, sauce pancakes, anything is fine,” Shan Yu said.
Chen Jian was about to walk out when he suddenly heard the sound of a motorcycle. He checked the time; it wasn’t even ten yet. Chen Erhu was too impatient.
“The collaborator is here,” he said, looking at Shan Yu.
“Bring him to the office to see me,” Shan Yu turned and hopped into the elevator, tapping the button with the tip of his crutch.
“Office?” Chen Jian was stunned. The elevator door had already closed.
Qian Yu’s office was rarely entered by employees. He usually discussed matters in the restaurant. Shan Yu was meeting Chen Erhu in the office?
Did Chen Erhu deserve such formal treatment?
But he soon knew why Shan Yu had called Chen Erhu to the office.
When Chen Erhu heard the words “office,” his expression noticeably stiffened. Laosi and Sanbing beside him immediately became a bit uncoordinated. Sanbing even pulled on the doorknob when entering before adjusting himself to use his left hand and right foot.
For a few hoodlums who usually gathered in a dilapidated pigsty, a boss’s office held invisible pressure.
Not to mention Chen Erhu and his gang, even Chen Jian felt a sense of cautiousness when he pushed open the office door.
“Are they here?” Shan Yu stood by the window, drinking a cup of tea.
“They’re here,” Chen Jian looked at him, feeling a momentary sense of unfamiliarity. He turned back and introduced Chen Erhu, “This is Mr. Shan Yu, Boss Shan…”
Then he introduced Shan Yu: “This is Chen Erhu… Boss Chen…”
“Sit,” Shan Yu leaned on his crutches, slowly walked behind the desk, and sat down. “Would you like some tea?”
“…Okay.” Chen Erhu, suddenly transformed into Boss Chen, walked to the sofa, suddenly becoming somewhat dignified, pulling at his clothes before sitting down.
Laosi and Sanbing followed, sitting down on either side of him.
Shan Yu looked at Chen Jian: “Make tea.”
What kind of tea? Where did the tea come from? What should he use to make it?
Although Shan Yu didn’t say where he got his cup of tea, he didn’t give him any hints. He had to go to the shelf behind Shan Yu and search, finding a few tea canisters.
He twisted one open and saw that one was moldy, and another box wasn’t moldy but had no aroma.
Screw it, this one it is. Chen Erhu and his gang wouldn’t know good tea from bad, probably never drank anything but iced tea.
The water in the dispenser next to it was fresh. Chen Jian took two cups from the shelf, wiped them with his finger—no dust, good.
He pinched some tea leaves into the cups and brewed them.
When he turned back to bring the tea to Boss Chen, he glanced at Shan Yu’s cup.
He was immediately speechless.
He saw bubbles.
Shan Yu was drinking cola!
