As the title says — today's bonus chapter is naturally because it's little Cheng Shi's birthday!
July 13th is the day Old Jia appeared in this book, which counts as the day Cheng Shi was adopted — and also his birthday. So here's a bonus side chapter~
Happy birthday, Cheng Shi! Happy weekend, everyone~
...
Six in the evening. The sun was still scorching.
Cheng Jia was squatting in the shade at the mouth of the alley, picking at his toes, while idly listening to the fortune-telling master at the neighboring stall read characters for a custor.
The fortune teller was new. He'd never seen the man around at any of the nearby parks.
As for his skill... nothing special, really. The man survived purely on the gift of gab.
At the mont, his custor was a young couple — fresh-faced with clear eyes, obviously students from a nearby trade school.
Young people's money was always the easiest to earn.
The girl had spotted the fortune-telling stall right outside the supermarket and couldn't walk past it. She insisted on dragging her boyfriend over for a reading. The boy visibly rolled his eyes at the idea, but eventually gave in under her relentless pestering.
Without a word, the master handed them paper and a pen, asking them to write a single character.
The girl asked curiously: "Master, I haven't even told you what I want to know!"
The master chuckled and waved his hand: "If you're not here about romance, I'll pay you."
That one line made the girl's eyes light up. She tugged at her boyfriend's sleeve nonstop: "See? See? I told you he's good! He already knows I'm here about romance!"
The boy secretly rolled his eyes, patted his girlfriend on the head with a smile, and when she wasn't looking, silently mouthed to the master:
"Cheap rate or no deal."
The master curled his lip and held up five fingers while scratching his head — aning: half-price, fifty percent off.
The boy still wasn't satisfied, but he couldn't win against his girlfriend's enthusiasm and sighed as he paid up.
With the money collected, the girl nervously scribbled a character on the paper: "shi" — aning "truth" or "real."
The boy said helplessly: "Why are you writing my na?"
The girl grinned: "Hmph — I want to see if your heart is true to !"
Upon seeing that character, Cheng Jia lifted his head for the first ti to glance at the boy. Just a glance. His verdict: not as good-looking as Little Shi.
The master cheerfully picked up the character and studied it for a while, mumbling before giving his interpretation:
"'Shi' — in traditional form, it's written as '實.'
Take the top: '宀' — it represents a household, signifying establishing a ho and prosperity. Take the bottom: '貫' — it ans strings of coins, symbolizing rolling wealth.
The two of you have good fortunes. If you support each other with love, it will certainly be a fine match."
When the master finished, two of the three people present — Cheng Jia and the boyfriend — pursed their lips. Only the girl looked excited, shaking her boyfriend and repeating: "Did you hear that? Did you hear? We're a fine match!
But Master, I clearly wrote it in simplified characters. Why did you interpret the traditional form?"
The master said solemnly: "Establishing a ho and building wealth — when have those ever been easy?
Going from simple to complex indicates that your path of love will be rocky. You'll both need to stay true to yourselves."
The boyfriend was visibly displeased at this. He shot the master a glare — only to see the man cheerfully wiggling his ear, where a cigarette was tucked.
The boy blinked, caught between laughter and annoyance. He raised his fist as if to punch the master, then thought better of it and gave a reluctant nod.
Receiving the signal, the master imdiately switched to a beaming smile: "But I can tell you're both deeply devoted people. Good things take ti — you'll get your happily-ever-after.
And when you two do tie the knot, don't forget to leave a glass of celebratory wine facing my stall. Let
share in the festive joy, won't you?"
The girl walked away satisfied, but when the couple turned back while passing by, the boy — still rolling his eyes — tossed half a pack of cigarettes onto the stall.
The master picked up the cigarette box, peered inside — only half a pack, and the cheapest brand at that. He kept muttering "Lost out, lost out."
Cheng Jia watched and smiled, saying nothing.
Before long, Cheng Shi ca ho with his little backpack.
He hadn't walked ho today — a classmate's mother had driven him back. It was the classmate's birthday, and the parents had thrown a party for the kids.
Cheng Shi hadn't wanted to go, but when Cheng Jia heard he could skip cooking one al, he'd shooed the boy out the door.
Now the kid was back, so Cheng Jia quickly wiped his hands on the neighbor's stall canvas and went to greet him.
The master spat irritably, staring at the muddy foot prints on his canvas — neither able to clean them nor willing to leave them.
When Cheng Jia led Little Cheng Shi past the alley entrance again, the fortune teller — noticing the boy staring at him — teased:
"Hey brother, aren't you gonna let
read his fortune?"
Cheng Jia gave the master a sidelong look and scoffed: "How much will you pay?"
"?"
'Do you hear what you're saying?!'
'Who's paying whom here?'
The master's face fell: "You eat my food and take my stuff — aren't you afraid of being a bad influence? Your son's right here listening!"
Little Cheng Shi tilted his head and repeated Old Jia's words: "How much will you pay?"
"???"
'You two...'
'Fine. Fine fine fine.'
The master was so angry he laughed. He slapped the half-pack of cigarettes onto the stall and snapped: "Is this enough?"
Honestly, Old Jia was a little tempted. But Cheng Shi pursed his lips and pushed the cigarettes back.
"He doesn't smoke. Offer sothing else."
"?????"
'Excuse
— are you being picky now?'
'Am I begging you to let
read your fortune or what?!'
'Fine — yes, I'm begging you!'
'I absolutely MUST do this reading today.'
The master was livid. He snatched back the cigarettes, then slapped down 5 dollars. "Enough?"
Little Cheng Shi thought for a mont, then turned to Old Jia: "If he's actually offering money, he's definitely up to no good. Let's go ho."
"You mother—" The master was fuming.
Cheng Jia, however, didn't leave. He swiped the money off the ground with practiced ease and said cheerfully: "Spoiled brat — you think money's easy to co by? 5 dollars isn't money? Go on, let him read you. Write a character."
"You write it."
"If your old man could write, wouldn't I have just earned that money myself? Hurry up — write, then go ho and do your howork."
Little Cheng Shi had a feeling this master was up to sothing, but for the sake of earning 5 dollars to help with expenses, he put pen to paper and wrote a character.
Also "shi."
Cheng Shi's "shi."
When the master saw the character, his face went dark.
He suspected he'd been set up.
But soon his expression changed again, brow furrowing as he muttered to himself:
"Striving upward only to be pressed down by the heavens — and beyond the heavens, there's yet another dot holding it all in place. How does it feel like..."
The master's voice was too low. Little Cheng Shi strained his ears but couldn't make it out. Seeing the master seemingly in a trance, Cheng Shi pursed his lips: "Mumbling nonsense — forget it. Let's go. Ti for howork."
And he pulled Cheng Jia away.
Old Jia did glance back aningfully at the master before ambling off after Cheng Shi.
That night.
Cheng Shi was doing howork at Sun Yuying's house. Cheng Jia was squatting on his own doorstep, picking at his feet again. Sun Yuying couldn't take it anymore and kicked him.
"Can you at least wash them?"
"No water at ho."
Sun Yuying sputtered: "I have water!"
"That's your house."
"Fine... fine fine fine... the pair of you, I swear, you'll be the death of ."
Hearing this, Cheng Jia looked up cheerfully and asked: "What'd Little Shi do?"
Sun Yuying plopped into a chair, fanning herself furiously:
"Little Shi's had classmates with birthdays lately. I can tell — he wants a birthday too.
I said I'd take him out for a nice al tomorrow. He refused.
His eyes are practically swimming with envy, but he won't let
treat him. Says he doesn't want
spending money. As if I'd need him to pay!"
"..."
Cheng Shi not wanting a birthday celebration didn't surprise Cheng Jia. But he had no idea when the kid's birthday even was.
So he asked: "How do you know when Little Shi's birthday is? Did you check with the orphanage? Wait — the orphanage doesn't even have records."
"How the hell would I know!" Sun Yuying snapped. "All I know is that tomorrow's the first anniversary of you bringing Little Shi ho. A birthday's just a date — what difference does it make which day you pick?
I think tomorrow works perfectly fine. But the ungrateful brat won't have it. Whatever — eat or don't eat."
Cheng Jia froze. His hands and feet went still as he looked through the doorway at Cheng Shi, belatedly realizing they'd been relying on each other for a whole year now.
If Sun Yuying hadn't said it, he'd have forgotten the kid was adopted at all.
"Yeah, you're right — a birthday should be celebrated. If he won't eat, that's his call.
Uh... lend
so money."
Sun Yuying's fanning hand stopped. She frowned: "Buying cola again? I'm telling you — kids shouldn't drink so much cola."
"He loves it."
"..." Sun Yuying's retort died on her tongue. She rolled her eyes. "How much?"
"The price of a case minus 5 dollars.
One case is enough. Kids shouldn't drink too much cola."
"...???"
Sun Yuying was furious. She yanked a fistful of red bills from her pocket and smashed them into Old Jia's face. Standing with her hands on her hips, she roared:
"You want exact change?! I don't carry coins!
Take the money and get out of my sight!
I can't stand looking at either of you!
You — willing to spend money celebrating other people's birthdays, but you can't be bothered to give Little Shi a proper one?
What happened to all that energy when you used to buy coins for strangers and give away lottery tickets?
So the good stuff was all for outsiders, huh?!"
Sun Yuying's rant sounded like it was directed at him, but Cheng Jia didn't respond. He stood up, patted his backside, and headed out.
At the top of the steps, he paused for a beat, shook his head, and sighed:
"You said it yourself — that was before. What's past is past."
Sun Yuying watched Old Jia's departing figure, then glanced at Little Shi inside the house, and irritably kicked over the chair next to where Old Jia had been sitting.
But as she did, she noticed an ID card had fallen from it.
She frowned, picked it up, and took a look...
"Isn't this that hack fortune teller from the alley? Why did he bring the guy's ID card ho?
An Ning?
Big burly man — how'd he end up with such a delicate na?"
...
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