A quick-witted security guard immediately flattered, "Captain, you're brilliant! This way, that old bastard Zhang Zhihe will either obediently hand over his wife or have to go to that Xu guy for help! Then, that Xu guy won't be able to escape either! We've killed two birds with one stone!"
“That’s right!” another chimed in. “Whether Xu can come up with the money or not, we can label him an ‘accomplice’ and take him down with us! Captain, this move to cut off our supply lines is brilliant!”
Wang Chengxiang snorted smugly, enjoying the flattery from his subordinates. He then glanced at his silent but clearly satisfied father, Wang Ming, and felt even more pleased.
Wang Ming finally spoke calmly.
"Do as Chengxiang says, everyone be quick-witted!"
"Yes, Secretary!" everyone responded in unison and went off to do their respective tasks.
...
Yang Zijie was looking forward to visiting Xu Kuo the next day to learn about medicine.
After seeing Yang Zijie off, Zhang Zhihe mustered his spirits and, with a last glimmer of hope, walked heavily toward the town's literary society.
Standing at the entrance of the literary society, Zhang Zhihe hesitated for a long time, unsure of how to begin.
How do I start the conversation?
Should I ask the company president for an advance on my wages? Or should I just borrow them directly?
How can I save face...? But it's for my wife...
He took a deep breath, straightened his clothes, and pushed open the door to go inside.
The president was a middle-aged man in his fifties who looked somewhat cultured, and he was currently looking at the accounts with a troubled expression.
When he saw Zhang Zhihe come in, he was taken aback at first, and then a very complicated and troubled expression appeared on his face.
Zhang Zhihe's heart skipped a beat. The words he had prepared for so long stuck in his throat, and he called out with some difficulty, "President..."
Before Zhang Zhihe could explain his purpose, the president spoke first, his words filled with deep helplessness.
"Old Zhang...you're here just in time, I was just looking for you."
He paused, as if using all his strength to continue, "The company... the company has decided to terminate your employment relationship, effective today... You... you are dismissed."
"What?!" Zhang Zhihe was struck dumb, and he looked up in shock.
"Fire me? Why?! President! I...I'm the star performer of our club! In all around, I'm the only one who can do magic tricks! Have you forgotten how many people came to the New Year's Day performance specifically for my magic? How can you just fire me like that?!"
The president closed his eyes in pain and sighed heavily.
"Old Zhang, it's not me... it's not the company that wants to fire you... it's you... you've offended someone you shouldn't have!" His eyes flickered, and he didn't dare to look Zhang Zhihe in the eye.
"Someone from above...someone from above said you have to be fired, specifically by name...I...I had no choice!"
Zhang Zhihe understood instantly.
Wang Chengxiang! It's that beast Wang Chengxiang!
He actually did it! He's trying to drive me to my death!
A chilling despair instantly rose from the soles of my feet, quickly spreading throughout my body, chilling even my bones.
He opened his mouth, as if to say something, but couldn't utter a single word.
What else could he do? Argue with the president?
It's no use!
Trying to reason with Wang Chengxiang? That's suicide!
Looking at Zhang Zhihe's pale face, the president couldn't bear it, so he took out a few loose bills from the drawer and stuffed them into his hand.
"Old Zhang, this is your wages from last month, plus a few extra dollars that I personally gave you... Take it, consider it my... sigh..."
Zhang Zhihe numbly accepted the crumpled bills, unable to even say thank you, and walked out of the literary society in a daze.
Undeterred, he gritted his teeth and shamelessly approached several "friends" and "old buddies" with whom he had a fairly good relationship, hoping to borrow money.
However, without exception, those people either avoided meeting them, or stammered and avoided eye contact, and in the end, they all refused for various reasons.
Even someone who usually called him brother only secretly told him when pressed for answers.
“Old Zhang, it’s not that I don’t want to help you… it’s just that Captain Wang sent someone to spread the word that anyone who dares to lend you money is going against Wang Chengxiang… We… we all have families to support, we can’t afford to offend him…”
The last glimmer of hope was completely extinguished.
Zhang Zhihe dragged his heavy steps back home.
The sky had completely darkened, and inside the house, only a dim kerosene lamp was lit.
From the inner room came his wife's weak but concerned voice: "Husband, you're back? How... is it?"
Zhang Zhihe stood in the center of the main room, with his back to the inner room, and remained silent for a long time.
Finally, he slowly turned around, his face expressionless, only a deathly grayness.
He spoke in an extremely hoarse voice: "Don't ask anymore... Hurry up... Pack your valuables, take everything with you... We'll leave at daybreak tomorrow! We'll get out of here!"
Run! Running is the only option!
Staying here means certain death!
In the darkness, rustling sounds came almost simultaneously from two hidden corners outside the courtyard wall.
One of the dark figures, like a startled rabbit, darted out and ran wildly towards the village headquarters.
"Report! That old bastard Zhang Zhihe is running away! He told his wife to pack her things and said he's leaving first thing tomorrow morning!" The dark figure rushed up to Wang Chengxiang, panting heavily.
Wang Chengxiang was drinking with his father Wang Ming and several confidants when he heard this. He smiled knowingly, picked up his wine bowl, and slowly took a sip.
"Hmph, trying to run away? I knew it." He put down his wine bowl, a fierce glint in his eyes.
"Pass the word down: tomorrow morning, all personnel are to be in ambush at every exit! I'm going to trap them like turtles in a jar!"
The next day, as dawn broke, the pale golden sunlight had just climbed over the eastern hilltop.
On the hill behind the village to the east, the framework of the newly built greenhouse is already taking shape, supported by a few wooden beams and covered with a plastic film that barely lets in light—a rare sight in those days.
Xu Kuo stood with his hands on his hips, directing Tan Wang and several other temporary helpers to secure the last wooden beam of the roof.
"Tan Wang, tighten the rope over there a bit more! Yes! Right there!"
Tan Wang responded and was about to climb up when he saw a figure rushing towards him from the direction of the village entrance, shouting as he ran, "Brother Xu... Brother Xu! Someone's looking for you!"
"Hmm?" Xu Kuo frowned slightly, stopped what he was doing, and turned to look.
It's so early in the morning, in this remote and impoverished area, who would make a special trip to this back mountain to look for him?
Could it be that something strange has happened in the village again?
He dusted off his hands, told Tan Wang, "You guys keep going," and then walked towards the village entrance.
From afar, you can see a middle-aged man, around fifty years old, standing under the old locust tree at the village entrance. He is wearing a relatively neat cadre uniform and carrying an old leather suitcase. He is looking around somewhat awkwardly and curiously.
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