04
"Do you know you're blocking the way? Get out of the way!" Li Muqing shouted from the back of Zhao Yezhi's motorcycle.
"Oh ho? So here comes a busybody? What's wrong? Want to come back with us too?" A foreman said with his head held high and a look of disdain.
"Which area are you from? Why are you talking to me like that? Don't you want to stay in this business?" Zhao Yezhi spoke up at this moment.
"What? You dare to act tough with me? What the hell are you doing?" The construction manager got angry, looking like he was about to hit him.
Zhao Yezhi slowly pulled out his latest Nokia phone, pressed a few keys, chuckled at the construction manager, and said into the phone, "Hey, Dad, who's in charge of this area around our school?... Oh, Uncle Li Dai? I'll just call him directly... It's nothing, I just ran into one of his men and wanted to say hello. That's all, you go ahead with your work... I know, I'll be home early today. Ah, that's all, bye." Just as Zhao Yezhi was about to call Li Dai, the construction manager, who had threatened to take him home, stopped him. The manager grinned foolishly and offered him a cigarette: "Young man, let's talk this out, shall we? You don't need to get so worked up over people like us blocking your way. I'll clear the way for you, calm down, and we'll treat your dad and Captain Li to dinner another day, okay?"
"Weren't they going to arrest us?" Li Muqing asked again.
"You two young masters treat me like I'm nothing, just let me go. Please, be magnanimous and don't stoop to my level..."
"Alright! Stop arguing with us. Go back to where you were. Besides, that guy isn't having an easy time making a living. Don't make a big deal out of nothing. Be forgiving, you know?" Li Muqing lectured again.
"Yes, yes, yes..." The project manager was already wiping his sweat.
Zhao Yezhi drove past Xiao Jian, who had put his mask back on, with Li Muqing in his car. Before leaving, Li Muqing said, "Brother, I won't hold it against you for what happened last time. I wish you good business! Bye~" and then drove off.
Seeing the two old men leave, the construction manager's expression immediately changed, and he roared at Xiao Jian, "Aren't you going to pack up your stall right now? Are you waiting to be arrested by me?"
Xiao Jian didn't say anything, quickly tidied up, and then pushed his cart away. Actually, Xiao Jian should thank Li Muqing and the man on the motorcycle, but he couldn't feel any gratitude. He couldn't stand people who bullied others by taking advantage of their power. Luckily, Li Muqing hadn't seen his face this time; otherwise, if she had recognized him, he would have been too ashamed to appear in front of her again. It seemed he'd have to find a different place to set up his pancake stall. Since the front gate wasn't an option, he'd try the back gate of the school. The environment wouldn't be great, but it was better than no business at all.
Having made up his mind, Xiao Jian moved his pancake cart to the back gate of the school the next day. Business was slightly worse than usual in the morning, but not by much, so Xiao Jian thought the back gate was a good option. After school, he pushed his pancake cart out again, intending to continue doing business to make up for the losses of the past few days.
Who would have thought that trying to earn just a little more would result in losing an even larger sum of money?
It's not about wealth, it's about dignity.
That's why they say Xiao Jian is unlucky. Just what he feared most came to pass.
The security around the back gate wasn't great, and on Xiao Jian's very first day doing business, he ran into troublemakers. Although Xiao Jian was an honest man, he wasn't weak or cowardly, so when he heard they wanted to force him to pay some unfounded fees, he immediately refused. Needless to say, a fierce fight was inevitable. Xiao Jian's advantage lay in his strength and physique; he wasn't at a disadvantage in a fight. Growing up in the countryside, he was no stranger to fighting. But the problem was, how could he possibly fight off four people at once? So his initial advantage gradually waned. His stall was smashed, his arms were slashed, his mask was torn off, and his white coat was in pieces. Just when he was about to be punched, a savior miraculously appeared.
Li Muqing. It's him again.
Yesterday, Xiao Jian was quite resistant to these rich kids, but today, he unexpectedly received a helping hand. Although he lost his stall and got a bruise on his face, Li Muqing had indeed come to his rescue. Compared to those four thugs, his situation was much better. In fact, the police arrived shortly after Li Muqing, and both of them were taken to the police station for questioning. Li Muqing brought up her father, and they were released in less than three minutes. The police didn't even mention Xiao Jian's unlicensed business.
After leaving the police station, it was already past 10 p.m. Xiao Jian didn't even dare to look at Li Muqing's face. He felt that the poor should never lose their dignity in front of others, especially the rich. But now, he had no dignity left for himself. He had lost all face.
"Where are you planning to go?" Li Muqing asked Xiao Jian, who was walking forward with his head down, without mentioning anything.
"Back...back to the dormitory," Xiao Jian answered honestly.
"You're covered in injuries, how are you going to go back? You'll scare those guys again. Come on, let's go to my place, I'll take care of your wounds."
Xiao Jian didn't want to face Li Muqing at all, but ever since Li Muqing helped him this time, he refused to make amends to her no matter what.
Li Muqing's apartment was as clean and tidy as ever, which made Xiao Jian feel a little better. He sat on the sofa somewhat awkwardly as Li Muqing applied medicine to his face.
"You're not bad-looking at all, so why do you always have such a dirty face? Are you trying to scare people?" Li Muqing asked casually while applying the medicine.
"Ouch... Ouch..." Xiao Jian cried out.
"Damn, I get it! You're just afraid your classmates will find out you sell pancakes, so you dirtied your face and wore a mask while selling pancakes, right? You're such a damn vain person, you're just suffering for the sake of saving face!" Li Muqing cursed.
Xiao Jian still couldn't answer anything, letting Li Muqing continue talking.
"Fine, I won't tell anyone since you're so concerned about saving face. I'm not the kind of person who gossips. Just be careful in the future, and don't sell pancakes at the back gate. The front gate is fine, isn't it? I've already calmed down from the time we picked a fight. You were the one who almost got taken away yesterday, weren't you? You're really unlucky! I'll call my dad tonight, and I promise there won't be any more of those bastards from the construction management department causing trouble at the front gate. You can just go back to selling pancakes at the front gate!"
Li Muqing's unintentional remark stirred a complex mix of emotions in Xiao Jian. He wanted to say thank you, but he realized he had unknowingly become the kind of person he used to despise—someone who relied on others for favors. So, for a long time after Li Muqing finished speaking, Xiao Jian remained silent.
"What's wrong? Are you mute?" Li Muqing said after applying the medicine.
"I... thank you, Li... Li Muqing. I will definitely repay you for helping me this time. I... I have to go back to the dormitory now, or I won't be able to get back later." Xiao Jian stood up awkwardly, picked up his things, and ran out of the building.
"This kid, how can he be so stupid? Damn, I've never seen such an idiot before, haha!" Li Muqing stood at the window, watching Xiao Jian pushing his tattered pancake cart, and thought to herself.
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