Chapter One Hundred and Thirty-Eight: Are You a Scoundrel?
The sumr nights in Jinling City were unbearably hot.
When Zhang Linsheng got ho, it was already around eight o'clock in the evening.
As soon as he entered, he saw his father sitting at the dining table in the living room, looking a bit restless.
"Where have you run off to again?"
"Day in and day out, you don't stay at ho, just going outside to ss around!"
"The college entrance exam is over, and you've gone wild."
"Have you had dinner yet?"
"So young, yet you love to roam about aimlessly. Can this ho not contain you anymore, or what?"
Zhang Linsheng didn't utter a word and went to the kitchen to pour himself so water.
He knew very well that his father, Zhang Tiejun, wasn't actually angry with him. His father was just that kind of person: rough in temperant and gruff in his words and actions toward his son. A very traditional, strict father. Lacking much education, Zhang Tiejun often didn't know how to interact or communicate with his son. Words ant to convey concern would turn into a scolding tone by the ti they left his lips. He was used to it.
Zhang Tiejun's face was a bit red. He seed to have had a little alcohol that evening, and Zhang Linsheng could sll a hint of it as he passed by his father.
Zhang Tiejun watched his son gulp down a large glass of cooled boiled water, then suddenly stood up, walked over to the refrigerator, pulled open the door, and took out half a waterlon.
The red flesh looked very tempting.
"Eat this. Your mom saved it especially for you."
"...Mm," Zhang Linsheng took the waterlon.
Zhang Tiejun then got a spoon, walked over, and forcefully stuck it into the lon's flesh.
"...I'll eat it later. It's too cold, just out of the fridge."
"...All right."
The father and son both sat at the dining table, but they fell silent for a mont.
Zhang Tiejun didn't know how to communicate with his son. He was always busy with work, busy with overti, busy trying to earn a little more money.
After silently smoking a cigarette, Zhang Tiejun finally spoke, "Today, I called Teacher Jiang. I asked about it; the cutoff score for the Electrical and chanical Engineering Institute this year..."
Zhang Linsheng's expression remained unchanged, as if he were listening intently, but in reality, his father's words went in one ear and out the other.
In the days after the college entrance exam, as the date to check the scores drew nearer, his father and mother were actually becoming more and more anxious and tense. Zhang Linsheng was very aware of it. But Zhang Linsheng himself wasn't tense at all. He knew very well that he didn't want to continue studying. And... during those days of the college entrance exam, he might have felt quite conflicted, not knowing how to tell his parents. If he told them, he guessed Zhang Tiejun would probably beat him severely. Actually, getting beaten didn't scare Zhang Linsheng. However, he was terrified of facing his parents' disappointed expressions. But after the exams were truly over, Zhang Linsheng had let go of the conflict in his heart because he knew he wasn't going to pass. He had done very poorly in mathematics. His Chinese essay seed to have gone off-topic as well. As for the other subjects, after finishing, Zhang Linsheng roughly checked his answers with others and knew what to expect. Even for a diocre school like the Electrical and chanical Engineering Institute, he most likely wouldn't get in. With this realization, Zhang Linsheng actually felt a bit relieved. I don't need to tell my father and mother that I don't want to study. It's just that I couldn't pass the exam. That seed to lessen his guilt. After all, I did try my best. But these past few days, after the exams, listening to his father and mother at ho, always droning on about what he should do once he got to university, warning him not to hang around the streets anymore... His heart still ached. My parents have already given their all for . To earn extra overti pay, Zhang Tiejun hadn't rested at ho or had dinner at ho for a very long ti, all to prepare for university tuition fees. The Zhang family wasn't rich and didn't have any savings.
Years ago, during the great wave of layoffs, Zhang Tiejun, an old-fashioned worker, had stubbornly held out at the factory until the very end. In doing so, he inadvertently missed the initial opportunities to find work after being laid off.
By the ti Zhang Tiejun was laid off, society was already flooded with laid-off workers, and competition had beco too intense.
Zhang Tiejun had so skills, but he was too rigid and straightforward in his ways.
He couldn't handle even a small business, with his fiery temper and inflexibility. He lacked the slickness of a businessman.
So, he could only take on odd jobs here and there.
Fortunately, he was skilled and managed to get by working in several privately-owned repair shops.
However, the owners of private repair shops were extrely exploitative and didn't pay much—there were simply too many laid-off workers.
Zhang Tiejun gritted his teeth and persevered. Eventually, thanks to his excellent skills, he slowly gained so bargaining power.
Last month, Zhang Tiejun found a job at a newly opened 4S shop on Daming Road, which finally stabilized the family's financial situation.
"Education is important. I, your old man, suffered from a lack of it," Zhang Tiejun said, stubbing out his cigarette. "Once you get in, study hard! Don't be like your old man, who has skills but finds it so hard to get a job."
"...Yeah." Zhang Linsheng was distracted. Suddenly, he couldn't hold back any longer and asked in a low voice, "Dad..."
"Hmm?"
"What if, um, what if I don't get in?"
"..." Zhang Tiejun looked at his son with a complex expression.
His child had really grown up a lot. Although his face still showed traces of youthfulness, his nearly nineteen-year-old son already had broad shoulders and so muscle. He had also been diligent, going out for morning exercises and learning boxing with a teacher. He looked like he had moved beyond his teenage years, a strapping young lad indeed. Moreover, he had grown taller; when he stood up, he was already as tall as his father.
After a mont of silence, to Zhang Linsheng's surprise, his father didn't explode in anger but instead sighed.
"If you really don't make it... it's fate."
"Yeah."
"Do you want to repeat the year? If you really don't make it," Zhang Tiejun asked.
Zhang Linsheng fell silent for a mont, then said with difficulty, "Dad, I'm not cut out for studying."
"..."
Actually, after saying this, Zhang Linsheng had braced himself for a scolding, or even a beating.
But after a long silence, Zhang Tiejun quietly lit another cigarette.
Puffing on it a few tis...
"If you don't want to repeat the year, then forget it..." Zhang Tiejun's face showed so disappointnt, but he still said softly, "I spoke to our company's team leader... The repair departnt will be hiring soon. I'll go beg him, ask if they can take you on as an intern for a trial period.
I've looked into it; business at the 4S shop is booming, and they say it will only get better.
I'll find a way to give the team leader a gift and get you into our workshop.
You'll follow , and I'll teach you earnestly, teach you car repair skills.
You've had an education, so you're better off than . I'll teach you diligently, and I'm sure you'll learn fast.
Once you master the skills, you'll have a stable livelihood in the future."
Zhang Linsheng didn't say anything.
Actually, he didn't want to beco a chanic, nor did he want to work at the 4S shop where his father worked. But… at least his father had compromised a bit. Not fussing over his failure to get into college and not forcing him to retake the entrance exam was progress. Everything else… could be discussed later. For now, just take it easy.
Zhang Linsheng remained silent.
"Eat the waterlon, go to bed early tonight, and don't go ssing around outside tomorrow! Those dodgy friends you've made, see less of them from now on! Be an upright and decent person; that's the least I expect from you," Zhang Tiejun said, shaking his head and sighing.
Zhang Linsheng looked up at his father, hesitated for a mont, then said, "Dad, I've stopped ssing around. I haven't been in touch with those people I knew from outside for a long ti."
"Hmm... good! That's good!" Zhang Tiejun seed a little happier. He hesitated for a mont, then said slowly, "From now on, you can smoke at ho. No need to hide it from . Your room is small, and the smoke won't dissipate easily. It's not good for your health if you're cooped up in it for too long.
If you must smoke, then go ahead. But don't smoke too much... This stuff isn't good for you, after all. You're young; smoke less."
"Okay, sure."
His father soon went back to his room to change. He still had to pick up his mother from work that evening.
Zhang Linsheng sat at the dining table, looking at the waterlon in front of him, but he had no appetite.
After so thought, he put the waterlon back in the refrigerator.
I'll save it for Mom to eat when she gets ho from work tonight.
Zhang Linsheng wasn't worried about work. Well, he still had 70,000 to 80,000 yuan in his account. Having money made one feel less anxious.
As for what to do in the future… Zhang Linsheng couldn't help but think of Chen Nuo, who was always joking and smiling. That guy had such great abilities... Zhang Linsheng also faintly felt that Chen Nuo had taken considerable effort to guide him, whether in martial arts or by introducing him to Li Qingshan. He always felt that Chen Nuo had so sort of plan for him. If things didn't work out… he might just follow him in the future. Thinking of Chen Nuo, Zhang Linsheng felt sowhat helpless. The guy had been gone for several days, reportedly on a business trip, and Zhang Linsheng was uncertain when he would return.
「While Zhang Linsheng was at ho, grappling with his thoughts…」
Chen Nuo was eating noodles.
Instant noodles.
Prepared by Xicheng Xun.
Little Blueberry's ability to live independently was absolutely unquestionable.
When she was younger, her father was still alive and ran a small company. Their life was quite affluent then.
Later, after her father passed away, the family's fortunes declined. Her mother, Rin Nishikawa, lost her mind and donated the family's wealth to that damned Truth Society, causing their finances to beco even tighter.
Xicheng Xun had actually endured hard tis over these years, with her mother constantly lost in her own world.
From a young age, she learned to take care of herself and the household.
For the past two years, she had also started working part-ti to earn so money to support the family.
Xicheng Xun made dinner: she cooked so instant noodles and prepared a few simple side dishes.
Chen Nuo, anwhile, lazed on the sofa like a lord, watching TV. When he got tired, he lay down and played on his phone.
The scheming girl kept a straight face, enduring it.
It wasn't until this evening, after she had finished her bowl of instant noodles, that she finally couldn't hold back any longer—no matter how scheming she was, she was still just a young girl, a minor.
"What on earth are you planning to do!"
"Hmm?" Chen Nuo put down his chopsticks and looked up.
"You!" Xicheng Xun's face was grim, as if her patience had run out. "Who on earth are you! Why are you ddling in my affairs! How do you know so much about ! And! Why are you squatting in my house?!"
Chen Nuo didn't speak, slowly lifting his bowl and taking a sip of soup.
"Want so ice cream?"
"...Huh?" The girl's eyes widened.
"I asked you, do you want so ice cream?"
"...Are you crazy? Why are you asking this all of a sudden? I'm asking you a question!" Xicheng Xun clenched her fists, yelling at Chen Nuo with all her might, "Answer my questions!"
"I feel like having so. I like vanilla-flavored ice cream. What about you? Chocolate flavor sounds good, doesn't it?"
Xicheng Xun was stunned.
Because Chen Nuo was right again.
When it ca to ice cream, Xicheng Xun's favorite was indeed chocolate.
Chen Nuo ignored the girl's complex expression, sat up from the sofa, walked to the door to change his shoes, went out into the small courtyard, opened the gate, and looked left and right down the street.
"You! You there!"
About ten ters away, a sedan was parked at the intersection. Chen Nuo called out directly to the driver, beckoning with his finger.
The driver was stunned and hesitated for a few seconds.
"I'm talking to you! Yes, you! Co here!" Chen Nuo said impatiently.
The driver hesitated for a mont, then jumped out of the car and hurried over.
Chen Nuo looked at the man. "You're one of Domoto Hideno's n, right?"
"...Uh..."
"Go, I have a task for you. Go buy so ice cream! Vanilla flavor and chocolate flavor."
"...Uh... Yes! Yes, yes, yes!" The driver nodded and bowed hurriedly.
"Hmm..." Chen Nuo thought for a mont. "Also get so chips and soda... so random snacks too. Get so fruit as well—I want lon and Lan i. Buy two boxes of Lan i."
"Yes, yes!!"
"Hurry up."
"Yes!"
The driver bowed deeply, turned, and scurried off. He then started the car and sped away.
Back inside the house, Chen Nuo sat down again in front of Xicheng Xun.
The girl stared at him with wide eyes, sowhat exasperated. "Are you... a scoundrel?"
Chen Nuo smiled, looked at the girl, and suddenly said, "I won't answer any of your questions now... not for three days. You only need to endure for three days. After three days, I will leave, and I won't bother you anymore."
"..."
"Alright." Seeing the girl puffing her cheeks in anger, Chen Nuo finally sighed and conceded a little. "I can tell you one thing right now, about your mother, Rin Nishikawa.
I... know where she is."
Xicheng Xun jumped to her feet. "Where is she?! Is she... is she still alive?!"
Chen Nuo nodded calmly. "Don't worry, she's alive, very safe, and unhard."
He paused, then sighed. "Actually... as long as you don't go looking for her, she'll be fine."
"Wh-what does that an?!"
Chen Nuo sighed. He stood up, placed his hands on the girl's shoulders, and gently pushed her back into her seat.
"Your mother ran away."
"Yes, she's on the run. The police are looking for her, and the Truth Society is also searching for her because she knows so things, and they're afraid if the police catch her, she'll spill their organization's secrets."
"So, your mother fled."
"Yes, if nothing unexpected happened, she shouldn't be in Tokyo now. She's... probably run off to Osaka."
"Hey! Don't panic! She's perfectly safe right now; nothing's wrong."
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