Chapter 20

Han Shuo was eager to make money, so he spent the next two days focusing on researching ways to make money with Meng Yuxiu.

If you weren't a student, it would be easy; you could just go to a factory and work there honestly. But because you're a student, and you only have weekends off, you can only find odd jobs.

After much deliberation, Meng Yuxiu finally offered a solution.

Han Shuo was dumbfounded. "Picking up trash?"

Meng Yuxiu corrected: "It's collecting scrap."

"Isn't there any difference?"

"Can you think of anything else?" Meng Yuxiu asked. "At least you can go collect recyclables every weekend."

There really isn't a freer way to make money than this. It's not that Han Shuo dislikes collecting scraps; as long as he can make money, that's fine. It's just that he seriously doubts whether he can even collect scraps.

After all, this era can't compare to the 21st century. In the 21st century, cardboard boxes, plastic bottles, and aluminum cans were everywhere. What do we have in this era? Anyway, Han Shuo didn't see many plastic bottles here. Even if they were sold in stores, they were considered high-end items in this era. Few people were willing to throw away empty plastic bottles and cans. They were basically kept at home to store things.

He asked Meng Yuxiu what kind of scrap he could pick up. If Han Shuo, a college graduate who had never worked, was completely clueless about this era...

Meng Yuxiu was no better. He came from a wealthy family in the 21st century and was a high school student. Although he was smart and could help Han Shuo figure out this way to make money, he didn't know the specifics of how it worked.

So Han Shuo had no choice but to ask his classmates from that era.

Pidan and Doufu were from the countryside. They told Han Shuo that the people who collected recyclables in their village carried two baskets and shook a rattle drum. They could get a piece of candy by selling their old slippers.

Han Shuo doesn't have that ability; he has to boil sugar to collect scrap.

He then asked Pan Xiaodong, who was from Yunxi County. Upon learning that Han Shuo wanted to make money, Pan Xiaodong said, "Then take a snakeskin bag and wander around the streets and alleys. Fill it with whatever you see, such as wire, plastic, newspapers, and even chicken feathers, duck feathers, and goose feathers. Just fill it up first, and then sell it at the scrap yard later."

"Okay!" Han Shuo immediately decided to go out and pick it up as soon as school was over on Friday.

When school ended on Friday, Han Shuo went to find Meng Yuxiu first. Since his bicycle was gone, he kept worrying about how Meng Yuxiu would get home.

He ran to the classroom door, where Meng Yuzheng had just finished and was walking out with his schoolbag slung over his shoulder. When he saw Han Shuo, he asked, "Are you going to collect recyclables today?"

Han Shuo: "I'll be there in a bit. I need to go to Pan Xiaodong's house first so he can get me a snakeskin bag."

"How did you tell your brother you weren't coming home this week?"

"I have already asked someone from the same village to pass on the message to my brother."

Where are you staying for the next couple of days?

"I borrowed the key to the iron gate from the dormitory manager, and I'll still be staying in the dormitory for the next couple of days."

"The cafeteria is closed on weekends, are you eating there?" Meng Yuxiu asked again.

Han Shuo said that the gatekeeper was there and had a coal stove. He would bring rice and ask the gatekeeper to cook some for him while he was cooking.

After listening, Meng Yuxiu nodded and said he was going home first.

Han Shuo grabbed his arm and asked, "How are you going to get back?"

“Let’s go back,” Meng Yuxiu said.

"Walk back?!" Han Shuo's voice was a little loud because of his worry. "Are you a horse? Can you walk that far back?"

But he shut up after saying that, since he was the one who lost the bicycle. He stood there frowning for a while, then said to Meng Yuxiu, "Don't go, wait here for me, I'll be right back."

Where to?

Han Shuo didn't reply to Meng Yuxiu. He strode up the stairs and ran back to Class 7's classroom.

Ten minutes later, Meng Yuxiu saw him run downstairs and then put the things in his hands.

"Take it!"

Meng Yuxiu lowered his eyes. Han Shuo gave him two two-cent banknotes and two five-cent coins, which made up a total of fifty cents for the fare.

Where did it come from?

"I borrowed it from someone in the class." Seeing Meng Yuxiu hesitate, Han Shuo said urgently, "You should take it, otherwise I'll feel bad. I can't just lose your bicycle and make you walk back, can I?"

"Don't worry, I'll pay them back as soon as I make money, so you can keep it without worry."

Han Shuo only breathed a sigh of relief after Meng Yuxiu accepted. Pan Xiaodong was still waiting for him, and before leaving, he asked Meng Yuxiu, "How are you going to tell your parents about the bicycle when you get back?"

Meng Yuxiu: "Let's tell the truth."

Han Shuo asked nervously, "I heard you say before that your parents are quite strict. They won't break your legs, will they?"

Meng Yuxiu glanced at him and said coldly, "Not everyone is your brother."

"..." Han Shuo chuckled awkwardly twice, "That's good then."

After saying goodbye to Meng Yuxiu, Han Shuo went to Pan Xiaodong's house.

Pan Xiaodong's family is well-off; they own a two-story self-built house with mosaic tiles on the walls, which look colorful in the sunset.

When he arrived, they were cooking dinner, so Han Shuo shamelessly ate at their house.

This was Han Shuo's first time earning money, and he wasn't familiar with the county town. After dinner, Pan Xiaodong made an excuse to sneak out of the house, not forgetting to steal a snakeskin bag and some fire tongs and scissors from home. There were many people collecting recyclables in the county town, and he had seen many of them and roughly knew what tools to bring.

When they went out, it was still light out, but after walking a few streets, they looked up and realized it was already dark. Han Shuo and Pan Xiaodong wandered back and forth through the alleys with flashlights, stuffing whatever feathers they saw, regardless of quality, into their snakeskin bags. If they hadn't been chased and scolded, Han Shuo would have taken down the tortoise shell hanging by the door as well.

Although the environment and sanitation were not as good as in modern times, every household hid scrap metal like treasures. In the past, Han Shuo could see the old ladies in the neighborhood standing by the trash can and picking up a whole bagful. Now, after searching half of the county, he only had a shallow layer in his snakeskin bag.

Even though Pan Xiaodong was playful, it was time for him to go home. He asked Han Shuo when he would be returning to his school dormitory.

Han Shuo was still carefully searching with a flashlight in hand. Without looking up, he said, "It's still early. We'll go back later."

Pan Xiaodong: "Then you should be careful, and don't you dare sell my fire tongs and scissors for scrap."

Am I an idiot?

Pan Xiaodong chuckled and went home.

After Pan Xiaodong left, Han Shuo wandered around a few more streets. He didn't have a watch, so he could only observe the lights in the houses around him. When most of the lights were off, and the eerie, desolate atmosphere of the late night came over him, he estimated that it was quite late before he slung the snakeskin bag over his shoulder, grabbed the fire tongs, and headed towards the school.

As he walked along, he unexpectedly stumbled upon this windfall. No one knew which careless person had left a piece of wire mesh lying on the roadside.

Han Shuo excitedly ran over, untied the snakeskin bag and took out the scissors, otherwise he wouldn't have been able to put them directly into the snakeskin bag.

Fortunately, it was thin wire, which could be easily cut into small pieces with a little force. After packing it up, he stood up and weighed the snakeskin bag in his hand.

"It's like a windfall, I'm rich!" Han Shuo had been walking for hours, and his big toe was aching from the rubbing of his shoes. Now that he had such a great haul, he was pumped up and thought he might as well not go back to his dorm tonight. Maybe if he kept collecting things all night, the snakeskin bag would be full.

He was so pleased with himself that he didn't even hear the low growls coming from not far away. When he turned around to take a step, he was startled by the dark shadow in the corner of the wall, and his heart almost stopped.

He slowly moved the flashlight forward and shone it on a black dog that was baring its teeth and was almost as tall as his waist.

"Holy shit!" Han Shuo's scalp tingled immediately.

Let alone the fact that he's been afraid of dogs since he was a child, even people who own dogs at home would be scared when they see a dog like this.

However, if the dog really lunged at him and bit him, Han Shuo was willing to risk everything; he was ready to fight to the death. But he was worried that with the limited medical care available in this era, if the dog had rabies, he would be doomed.

He was a hundred meters away from the dog, and he didn't move, praying that the dog would realize he posed no threat and would be smart enough to leave.

But this dog was clearly lawless, its tail drooping, its sharp teeth bared, and it growled as it approached step by step.

Damn it! Han Shuo felt a chill run down his spine. If he didn't run, he would really be waiting for the dog to bite him.

He grabbed the snakeskin bag and ran. As soon as he ran, the dog stopped pretending and barked as it chased after him.

"Damn it!!!" Han Shuo ran wildly through the empty streets. As he ran, he still had time to think, "Damn it, this is the 1990s. I've been running for ages and I can't even see a single person."

He felt that his body had reached its limit, and his calf muscles were more developed than ever before. He could even imagine his own expression, just like that dog's, baring his teeth and his lips probably trembling.

However, two legs are no match for four. He quickly glanced back and was surprised to find that the distance was more than ten meters.

Han Shuo was originally being chased by a dog on the street, but he still had some self-respect and couldn't help but speak up. Now he couldn't hold back anymore, and the most crucial thing is that he actually ran onto a dirt road leading to the school.

He really wanted to slap himself. This dirt road was surrounded by farmland. He should have just walked a few more streets; maybe he could have run into someone who would have helped him.

He's screaming himself hoarse...

Huh? When Han Shuo saw the figure shining a flashlight ahead, his eyes lit up instantly. It's no exaggeration to say that at this moment, it was like meeting a savior at the end of the world. He almost knelt down and burst into tears.

"Aaaaaahhhhhh—" But he didn't have time to cry his heart out; he screamed and ran toward the man.

Hearing such a loud commotion and seeing Han Shuo's flashlight beam waving around, the figure on the other side paused.

When Han Shuo rushed up to the man, he almost knocked him into the field next to him, and the man quickly grabbed his arm.

"Holy crap! Bro!!!" Han Shuo gasped for breath, still unsteady on his feet.

Suddenly, I heard a familiar voice.

"Han Shuo?"

Han Shuo was stunned for half a second. How could it be Meng Yuxiu!

However, Han Shuo didn't have time to turn on his flashlight, or rather, Meng Yuxiu didn't have time to shine his flashlight on Han Shuo's face, before the two of them immediately went into a state of alert.

They both assumed running positions and kept a watchful eye on the dog.

Perhaps because there was another person present, the dog didn't dare to make any rash moves, only growling warily, but it clearly didn't give up.

"It chased me for blocks." With Meng Yuxiu by his side, Han Shuo became a little braver, but that was all. He took a breath and told Meng Yuxiu, "I'm afraid of dogs."

Meng Yuxiu calmly reassured him: "It's okay, dogs are all like that, they bully the weak and fear the strong. If you act stronger than it, it won't dare to mess with you."

"Oh, oh." Meng Yuxiu's words were like a tranquilizer, and Han Shuo's courage grew considerably.

"So what do we do now?"

Meng Yuxiu glanced at the fire tongs in Han Shuo's hand out of the corner of his eye, "Use the fire tongs to scare it, make it look fierce."

"..." Han Shuo looked at the fire tongs in his hand, then at the dog, and silently handed the fire tongs to Meng Yuxiu next to him. "You do it. I think your aura is stronger than mine for now."

"..." With the fire tongs already in hand, Meng Yuxiu could only take them and hold them tightly, while also grabbing Han Shuo, who was slowly shrinking back, and saying, "You have to come with me. The effect will be better if the two of you work together."

Han Shuo reluctantly agreed, handed the fire tongs to Meng Yuxiu, and then stretched out his arm, carrying the snakeskin bag.

Meng Yuxiu grabbed the fire tongs and pointed them at the dog.

Since he was going to display an aura even more formidable than a dog… Meng Yuxiu’s eyes suddenly sharpened, and his expression became solemn. The muscles in his forearms bulged inside his clothes, as if he were pouring all his strength into the tightly gripped fire tongs.

He approached the dog slowly, step by step, like an elegant fencer, and then slowly opened his lips.

"Qie! Qie! Qie!"

"!" Han Shuo was startled by his sudden voice. He really didn't expect that Meng Yuxiu, such a handsome and proud person, would make such a sound, similar to a farmer herding cattle.

But since his teammates were going all out, he couldn't afford to be outdone. So, grabbing the snakeskin bag, he followed suit, yelling, "Get out! Get out! Get out! Hatui!"

Meng Yuxiu was indeed clever and calm; this method was very effective. Although the dog was still baring its teeth, it was retreating.

This undoubtedly gave the two of them great confidence. Meng Yuxiu even clamped the two thin iron rods of the fire tongs so tightly that they resembled a duck's beak, making a clanging sound in the night.

"Damn it! Meng Yuxiu, squeeze it, squeeze it to death!" Han Shuo exclaimed, as if venting his anger. "Fuck! Serves you right for daring to chase me!"

Hearing Han Shuo's encouragement, Meng Yuxiu took bigger steps and clamped the fire tongs even faster, determined to snap the dog's mouth off.

In such an exhilarating moment, the two of them unknowingly drove the dog back into the street.

Just as Meng Yuxiu was about to use the fire tongs to deliver a final blow to the dog's rear end, which had already run away in fright, a commotion broke out all around. Before Han Shuo could react, he saw Meng Yuxiu whirl past like a gust of wind.

"Run!"

Han Shuo looked closely and saw five or six dogs barking and rushing out of the alley.

"Hold!!!"

The two boys ran back along the original path towards the school, followed by five or six dogs. Fortunately, the gatekeeper was still awake. Hearing the commotion and seeing the two male students being chased by the dogs in a terrible state, he quickly took a broom from the gatehouse.

The dog was chased away, and the two of them were exhausted. Han Shuo and Meng Yuxiu exchanged a glance, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

The gatekeeper reminded Han Shuo that he couldn't come back so late tomorrow.

Han Shuo repeatedly said he understood.

Just as he was about to go to the dormitory with Meng Yuxiu, the gatekeeper came out again and called out worriedly, "Hey, you two students."

Han Shuo and Meng Yuxiu turned around.

The security guard said, "You two don't go home to your dorms on weekends. You should stay in your own dorms and not mix up with each other."

"Got it." Han Shuo waved his hand and chatted with Meng Yuxiu as they went to the dormitory building. "That old man is really nosy, even nagging whether we should share a room or not."

The school was quieter on the weekend. Han Shuo opened the iron gate of the dormitory building, waited for Meng Yuxiu to come in, and then locked it again. He casually placed the snakeskin bag on the floor in the corridor and went into Meng Yuxiu's dormitory.

After catching his breath, Han Shuo remembered to ask Meng Yuxiu why he was there.

"Didn't I give you the fare? Why didn't you go back?"

Meng Yuxiu: "I went back, then came out again."

Han Shuo's heart sank, and he quickly asked, "Did your parents hit you because of the bicycle?"

"No."

"Then why did you come back?"

Seeing Meng Yuxiu awkwardly avoid his gaze, Han Shuo paused for a few seconds before suddenly realizing, "You're not worried about me, are you?"

Meng Yuxiu did not answer him, but turned his back to make the bed.

However, this was enough to move Han Shuo. He didn't blame him when his bicycle was stolen, and he helped him when he was chased by a dog. Where in the world can you find such a good brother?

"Meng Yuxiu." Han Shuo sat down on the bed next to him and said from the bottom of his heart, "I really don't know what to say. You are such a good person! You are indeed my fellow villager. Don't worry, if I make money selling scrap, I will definitely take you with me."

Han Shuo was so excited that he couldn't speak coherently, "No, just focus on your classes, I'll take care of you from now on."

Meng Yuxiu's narrow eyes swept over Han Shuo, then the corners of his lips curled up almost imperceptibly.

Han Shuo really wanted to express his gratitude immediately, but the circumstances were limited. After thinking it over, he remembered that there was still hot water in the thermos in his dormitory, so he said he would go and help Meng Yu fix the foot bath water.

"Need not."

"Shall I go and get you some water to wash your face?"

"Need not."

Han Shuo thought for a moment, "Then I'll go squeeze out the toothpaste for you."

"Need not."

The more Meng Yuxiu acted this way, the more Han Shuo wanted to do something for him. Otherwise, just because of Meng Yuxiu's affection, he couldn't sleep at night. He asked Meng Yuxiu again.

"Shall we do a mission tonight?"

“No…” Meng Yuxiu paused, stopping his work on the bed and turning to look at Han Shuo. “Didn’t you say we’d take it slow?”

Seeing that Meng Yuxiu seemed inclined to accept, Han Shuo's eyes lit up. He didn't even think carefully about the connection between doing the task and expressing his gratitude to Meng Yuxiu.

"I said take it slow, but I didn't say we wouldn't do it. It's hundreds of hours long, how can we finish it all at once?" Han Shuo asked him, "How about we sleep together tonight? That way I won't have to make the bed, what do you think?"

Meng Yuxiu glanced at the bed, and then, as if he had thought of something, his expression became somewhat unnatural again. However, he still nodded slightly.

"good."

Han Shuo immediately went to wash his face, brush his teeth, and wash his feet. While Meng Yuxiu was still dawdling in the bathroom, Han Shuo had already dried his feet and crawled into bed.

Based on Meng Yuxiu's behavior these past few days, he vowed to treat Meng Yuxiu a thousand times, ten thousand times better.

Thinking of this, he moved to the side so that he could lie in a warm bed when Meng Yuxiu came back.

After washing his face, Meng Yuxiu returned and closed the dormitory door. The twenty-odd beds were empty, except for his bed where Han Shuo was propped up on his arm, smiling at him.

Han Shuo patted the blanket. "I've already warmed the bed for you, hurry up."

Meng Yuxiu stood in front of the washbasin shelf for a while, lingering for a while, before finally climbing into bed.

As Han Shuo made room for him, he said, "You never slept properly with me at my house before, but today we can finally sleep peacefully together."

Whether it was the love letter or the influence of Han Shuo's usual efforts to coax him, he didn't feel anything when he went to Han Shuo's house to sleep together before.

But now, as he glanced at Han Shuo, who was wearing only a thin autumn coat, his whole body inexplicably stiffened.

As soon as he lay down in bed, the refreshing scent of Han Shuo's toothpaste wafted into his nostrils.

Meng Yuxiu slowly straightened his legs, but instead touched smooth, warm legs.

He stared at Han Shuo, startled. "You're not wearing long johns?"

"Ugh, it's so uncomfortable to sleep in that stuff. I'm wearing underwear."

"..."

Han Shuo got up, reached out and hooked the light bulb cord to turn off the light, then lay back down and wrapped his arms around Meng Yuxiu's body.

He turned Meng Yuxiu's face and kissed his lips.

Meng Yuxiu couldn't see his surroundings clearly, but he could hear the sounds of him and Han Shuo kissing. However, these sounds seemed especially ambiguous in the dead of night. He felt a surge of heat rise to his head and subconsciously clenched Han Shuo's autumn clothes.

Han Shuo paused, then opened his eyes wide in the darkness.

Meng Yuxiu stiffened instantly. To cover his embarrassment, he asked Han Shuo, "Didn't you say you could react even when kissed??"

Upon hearing this, Han Shuo immediately felt a jolt in his mind.

Holy crap! He almost forgot about it...

But to his utter surprise, Meng Yuxiu reacted in less than ten seconds...

He's not a teddy bear; you have to give him some time to react...

But Han Shuo didn't respond immediately. He was thinking... thinking about whether a straight man like himself could even react to a man.

However, after thinking it over, he felt that given how loyal and devoted Meng Yuxiu was to him, he absolutely could not let Meng Yuxiu lose face alone this time.

True brothers should spread their wings and soar together!

This time, he had to live up to his good brother's expectations! He had to stand by him and get through this together!

"Why aren't you saying anything?" Meng Yuxiu asked in a low voice.

"..." Han Shuo's mind was now filled with lewd thoughts. "Wait a minute, don't rush. I forgot to tell you, I... get up a little slower than normal..."

Meng Yuxiu: "But what you said last time was that you get up quickly... and you also go down quickly."

Wow, do you really need such a good memory?

Han Shuo gritted his teeth, "You misunderstood. I meant I get up quickly in a short time, but I'm slow at standing up..."

"It's not easy for him to stand up..."