Chapter 28 The first snow of the year. ...
"Hey, Li Sheng, how about it? Come over and have some fun today." Li Sheng received Zhao Cheng's call in the kitchen. This was the second time since he had taken leave last time.
Zhao Cheng: "There's a job I need, why don't you come and take a look?"
The goal remained the same: to get him to come to the club. Li Sheng glanced at the time. Today was Saturday. Li Jiacong had said he had class in the morning and was a bit tired, so he would go home for lunch and wouldn't come to see him.
Li Sheng asked, "How much money?"
Zhao Cheng was delighted to hear this. There was a chance. After all, who would refuse money that was offered to them? He said, "It's a small job. Twenty yuan per person. You just need to stand in one place for a bit. Just to make up the numbers. It won't take long."
Li Sheng didn't quite understand what this was about, but after thinking about it, he had to agree.
The club was just across the street, operating many businesses: billiards, karaoke, and a bar. A huge sign was wrapped with small, colorful light bulbs, making it quite eye-catching at night. During the day, it seemed deserted. Li Sheng stood at the entrance and quickly saw Zhao Cheng come out: "Don't stand here, go over there."
He pointed in the direction of the parking lot: "Go to the meeting point."
Parking lot. Ten people were already standing next to a Santana, all boys around his age. The trunk was open, and several people were taking out several buckets of something that smelled pungent, like... paint.
Zhao Cheng pulled him to a man in his thirties. The man had a shaved head, and his exposed hands and neck showed blue tattoos. He had a face full of menacing features.
Zhao Cheng introduced him: "Brother Feng, this is my brother from my hometown, Li Sheng. The one I told you about before."
He raised an eyebrow, as if he had mentioned Li Sheng before. "Brother Feng" immediately smiled and said, "Ah! I know! That's the one, right? Good for you, Zhao Cheng, you really found him."
Li Sheng was stunned. Zhao Cheng nudged him with his elbow and said, "Call him Brother Feng."
Li Sheng: "Brother Feng."
Brother Feng sized him up: "Alright, you'll work for me from now on. I definitely won't treat you badly." With that, he stuffed fifty yuan into his hand as a generous tip.
Li Sheng frowned, but before he could speak, Zhao Cheng interrupted, taking a bucket out of the trunk and handing it to him: "Here, take this."
Li Sheng unscrewed the cap and glanced inside. Sure enough, it was paint, and red at that.
They were directed to get into a minivan, which was overloaded with people. They hadn't driven far before turning into a residential area; a rusty iron sign at the entrance read "South Mine Residential Area." Li Sheng kept glancing back at those words from inside the van.
The car pulled up in front of a residential building. Brother Feng, in the driver's seat, dialed a number. Li Sheng could only hear his reply.
"We're here. Which floor?"
"Okay, shall I open the door?"
"Heh, don't worry, I'll definitely get it done for you."
After hanging up the phone, Brother Feng turned around and waved to the people in the car: "Get out!"
A group of people followed Brother Feng into the building. They were too conspicuous. A group of people came down in a flash, and the elderly people passing by slowed down and looked at them, pointing and whispering about the building.
They went up to the third floor, where the narrow stairwell was packed with people. Zhao Cheng obsequiously lit a cigarette for Brother Feng and asked, "This is the place?"
Brother Feng declared, "Yes, let's go, let's do it!"
Someone took the red paint from Li Sheng's hand and started splashing it on the door. Li Sheng finally realized what they had come for: harassment and threats. They were thugs.
Li Sheng regretted it. He gritted his teeth, took out the fifty yuan, looked at it, and thought he would return the money to Brother Feng as soon as he left. Zhao Cheng asked excitedly, "Brother Feng, do you need me to write something? What's this guy's name, and how much does he owe?"
"This guy, he's got so many debts." Brother Feng pulled out a brush from somewhere, a cigarette dangling from his lips, squinted, and walked over. He dipped the brush in paint and personally wrote in the stairwell, the ink as red as blood, large, dripping, and glaring:
"Li Mingda, you owe me your hard-earned money... Die..."
Li Mingda... Li Sheng's head buzzed for a moment. He quickly walked to Zhao Cheng's side, and Zhao Cheng was obviously a little confused as well.
Brother Feng: "Hey? You know him, right? He's the deputy factory director. I heard that this big leader is also from Shiqiao. Quite a few people from your village have sought refuge with him."
Zhao Cheng glanced at Li Sheng, who hadn't expected to be there either, so his smile was strained: "I know him..."
"What's wrong?" Brother Feng saw it. "When you go back to the village, you should spread this around. You don't know how many people have been driven to starve by him, whether he's a role model for the village or not."
Everyone in Shiqiao knew Li Mingda's name. For every person who envied his family, there was just as much jealousy. Among this group were some from Shiqiao, who immediately perked up: "Damn! They act all high and mighty! Let's see if they're still so smug this time!"
Zhao Cheng looked at Li Sheng, hesitated for a moment, and gave him an awkward smile. He knew that Li Sheng and Li Jiacong had a good relationship, but he felt that it probably wasn't that good.
Brother Feng continued to direct: "There are still people at home, let's give them a surprise."
There was a knock on the door, and a voice came from inside. Several buckets of paint were already in place. The person inside was completely unprepared and, without even asking any questions, the door clicked open.
The instant the door opened, paint rippled out like waves—
However, a figure rushed in front of them, blocking the person inside the door. Paint was splashed on his back.
Everyone was stunned.
Zhao Cheng called out, "Li Sheng!"
Li Sheng stood there motionless, while in front of him, only one of Li Jiacong's arms was splattered with red paint.
Li Jiacong blinked slowly, completely unaware of what had happened. He slowly raised his hand, looking at the red paint on it, and then looked up to see Li Sheng's tense expression. Behind him stood a group of... very rustic-looking people, some of whom looked familiar, but seemed out of place here.
"Are you dreaming?" It wasn't until his gaze swept into the hallway and saw the crimson curses that he seemed to understand. He frowned, shoved Li Sheng aside, and yelled, "Damn it! Who the hell are you?!"
As he spoke, some people in the hallway began to run out, while others remained still. Someone whispered something in Brother Feng's ear. He looked at the two people, his gaze like a scimitar. Then he sneered, "Fine, I'll remember you, Li Sheng!"
He raised an eyebrow at Li Jiacong: "Kid, you're lucky. When you get back, let your old man take a good look at our paintings."
"Get the hell out of here!" Li Jiacong stepped out the door, but was immediately pushed back by Li Sheng. He closed the door, shutting everything out and leaving Li Jiacong to face him alone.
Red paint dripped continuously from their clothes onto the floor. He lowered his head and said, "Don't go."
Li Jiacong's home is spacious and bright, with three bedrooms, a living room, and a kitchen that connect directly to each other, and large windows on both sides. There are also heavy, luxurious curtains, unlike the simple floral fabrics found in rural areas.
Li Sheng took off his clothes and put them into the trash bag that Li Jiacong had found. Li Jiacong then threw his clothes in as well. He found Li Sheng a set of his own clothes, tossed them to him, and then called his father.
The reason that gang of thugs came from outside was because of the layoffs at the South Mine. Li Jiacong had been warned beforehand, but he really hadn't expected this method. His father didn't say anything after he found out, only telling him to close the door and hang up the phone. Li Jiacong glanced at Li Sheng and said, "Don't fucking hang out with Zhao Cheng, no, don't hang out with those stinking idiots from Shiqiao."
Li Sheng nodded.
Li Jiacong let out a breath, still looking very angry. He turned his head and saw that there was still red paint on Li Sheng's neck that hadn't been washed off: "Go take a shower."
Li Sheng: "It's okay, I'll go back and wash up."
Li Jiacong: "Stop fussing, this is convenient for me, go ahead, use my towel!"
Hearing his unpleasant tone, Li Sheng didn't refuse any longer and went into the bathroom to wash up. Hot water poured over him. Li Sheng's emotions were a jumbled mess. He shouldn't have come, shouldn't have gotten involved. He had a premonition that the money wouldn't be clean, but he never expected the retribution to come so quickly. Yet, he was also thankful he'd come, blocking the half-bucket of paint that would have been splashed on Li Jiazong. Paint is hard to wash off; it seeped into the skin's texture. The mark on his neck seemed impossible to remove, no matter how much he scrubbed.
Li Jiacong sat on the sofa, his rationality returning. Suddenly, there was another sound at the door—the sound of a key being inserted into the lock. Li Jiacong looked over and saw the door open; his mother had returned.
Chen Wen had obviously rushed back after hearing the news. Li Jiacong hadn't expected her to come back either, and glanced at the bathroom.
Chen Wen came over to check on him: "Are you alright?"
"It's fine, I actually hope something happens," Li Jiacong said expressionlessly, "so that no one can have a good time."
Chen Wen comforted her, "Don't bother with people like them. You have absolutely nothing to do with them, getting involved with them will only dirty your hands."
"Am I clean now?" He held up his hand to show his mother.
Chen Wen smiled and said, "Your dad will handle it. He owes you this time, so you can make demands of him in the future."
Hearing this, Li Jiacong felt much better. Chen Wen saw a figure flash past the bathroom and asked, puzzled, "Who came?"
Li Jiacong: "Li Sheng. He...he got splashed, more than me. He shielded me from it."
Chen Wen: "Oh dear! Is he alright? Are his ears and eyes okay? I'll take him to the hospital for a check-up."
Before Li Jiacong could speak, the bathroom door was slowly opened, and Li Sheng came out, wearing his clothes and with half-dry hair, saying, "Hello, Auntie. I'm fine."
Chen Wen seemed apologetic and pulled him over to sit down, but the question she asked surprised Li Sheng: "You two were together at noon?"
Li Jiacong's social circle is very small. Or rather, Chen Wen believes she knows Li Jiacong's daily life very well. She would ask about his friends at school, and she had also subtly inquired about his girlfriend, but Li Jiacong's evaluations were always lukewarm. Based on her understanding of her son, his residence was definitely his strictly private space. He had never brought any friends to his home as guests. Li Jiacong was not hospitable at all, so she was very surprised to see Li Sheng here.
Li Sheng didn't answer immediately, his expression even a little awkward. He immediately turned his gaze to Li Jiacong, who answered for him: "We had lunch together, and then he accompanied me back to get my wallet."
He was quick to lie, and Chen Wen turned to him apologetically and said, "Li Sheng, I'm so sorry. Your Uncle Li's factory had a little trouble that dragged you into it. I'll have your Uncle Li come back tonight and treat you to dinner to make it up to you."
Li Sheng: "No need, Auntie, I have work to do this afternoon."
As he was about to leave, Chen Wen said, "Then next time, tell Jia Cong when you have time."
Li Sheng nodded and walked towards the door. Li Jiacong sat on the sofa until the very last second, and said before closing the door, "I'll see you off."
Li Sheng heard this and stood still. Li Jiazong came out and saw the words all over the hallway. He was still furious: "Mom! Quickly get someone to remove all this stuff!"
Chen Wen replied, "I understand."
Downstairs, Li Jiacong remained silent. Li Sheng was a little worried. Walking on the uneven road in the neighborhood, suddenly, snow began to fall gently from the sky. Large, thin flakes of snow landed on his head and shoulders, and the first snow of the year fell just like that.
Li Jiacong looked up and suddenly stopped, as if he had something to say to him. Li Sheng turned his head and looked at Li Jiacong's profile, which was clearly defined.
Li Jiacong suddenly asked, "Is your birthday coming up soon?"
A note from the author:
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