Tian Xin pulled Zhang Shuai downstairs and walked out of the winding alley. The two sat down at a clay pot restaurant at the entrance of the alley. Tian Xin ordered food for them, while Zhang Shuai hung his head, silent across from her.
"I'm just an idiot." He suddenly slapped himself across the face impulsively.
The diners nearby were startled and glanced over. Tian Xin quickly glared at him: "What's gotten into you? Sit and eat!" She handed a pair of chopsticks to Zhang Shuai, who took them and put them down again.
"Eat."
"I don't want to."
"Even if the sky falls, you still have to eat. This is no big deal, you're a grown man, you can't handle a few words? Let me tell you, this is nothing!"
Tian Xin let out a curse.
Zhang Shuai was feeling down, but when he heard that, his eyes suddenly lit up: "Boss, you can curse too!"
"Hurry up and eat, finish and leave."
Tian Xin ignored him, and Zhang Shuai stubbornly said, "I'm not leaving, I want to find Master Li and get things straight."
"What's there to ask? That person doesn't know gratitude. Forget it, I'll find someone else."
"You don't blame me, Boss?" Zhang Shuai looked at Tian Xin seriously, like a child who had done something wrong.
"..."
Tian Xin put down her chopsticks, leaned over to Zhang Shuai, stared at him for a long time, and finally said:
"Zhang Shuai, you really are a scoundrel."
"I knew it." Zhang Shuai sighed, lowering his head weakly.
"Standing up for someone isn't wrong, but you shouldn't have hit someone directly. Next time you encounter something like this, don't be so impulsive. Your life is a life too. What if the person opposite you doesn't care about their life?"
Is the boss... concerned about me?
Zhang Shuai quickly raised his head, his eyes brightening again: "Do you really think that way?"
"Oh, it's just a driver, there's no need to make such a fuss. If it doesn't work out, just find another one! There's still time," Tian Xin consoled.
"But I still want to clear things up," Zhang Shuai said. "You don't know him, Master Li may be tough, but he's actually a good person! I've grown up with no love from my parents, finally got to the factory, and he treated me the best, way better than my good-for-nothing dad. And now I've messed things up like this." Zhang Shuai let out a long sigh.
Tian Xin couldn't stand seeing him so dejected and gave him a smack: "Alright, stop being upset, it's embarrassing. Who asks for a dad like that? Hurry up and eat, we'll find someone after."
It was peak meal time, the village was bustling with people and vehicles, and goods lined the street sides for sale.
While they were eating, Tian Xin saw Master Li's elderly mother walking shakily out of the alley, seemingly heading somewhere.
"Isn't that the grandma from earlier?" Tian Xin pointed at the old lady and asked Zhang Shuai.
"Yeah! Maybe she's going out!" Zhang Shuai glanced and said.
They continued eating, but suddenly, Tian Xin dashed out, faster than a sprinter, nearly before Zhang Shuai realized it.
"Boss, where are you going, Boss..."
Tian Xin had already rushed out, and by the time Zhang Shuai came to his senses, she was standing with the grandma by the roadside.
He saw a car speed past the entrance.
"Boss!" Zhang Shuai ran over, "What happened just now?"
Tian Xin helped the old lady up the steps, muttering, "Didn't you see that car just now? It was like a madman!"
While eating, she had kept an eye on the grandma once she came out. She knew the area well! Just a little inattention could lead to accidents or fights.
The two carefully escorted the grandma back home.
When Master Li saw the two again, he was in a bad mood. After welcoming his mom inside, he wanted to shut the door.
"What are you doing, leave the door open, let the kids in!" The old lady hit her son and said, "These two kids brought me back. If it weren't for this girl, I would have been hit by a car just now."
When Master Li heard this, his emotions flared up: "I told you not to go out and you didn't listen. There are cars outside, and your legs aren't good."
"I'm cooped up in this house all day, I'm about to suffocate. Can't I go out for some air? You're always controlling me, get off my back!" the old lady retorted.
Tian Xin finally understood where Master Li's temperament came from; they're quite alike!
"You two come in," Master Li said as he opened the door, inviting them into the house.
Tian Xin thought about talking things over, hoping it might ease the situation. She quickly glanced at Zhang Shuai and said to Master Li, "Uncle Li, why are you so unwilling to work with Zhang Shuai?"
"You should know what kind of person he is better than I do. He used to be a troublemaker, but he's always respected you. Just because he stood up for you, you can't just reject him like this."
"..." Master Li said nothing.
The old lady glanced at her son, then at Tian Xin, and said to Master Li, "You should go with these kids. What's the point of staying here and suffering every day? These two are more reliable than what you have now. Listen to your mom."
Master Li looked at his mom, then turned to Tian Xin, sighed deeply, and hesitated for a while before finally speaking.
"At this point, I won't hide it from you anymore. It's not that I don't want to go with you, but I can't go." Master Li said helplessly.
Can't go?
"Why not?" They asked in unison.
Master Li lowered his voice and said, "I've returned to the original factory. Half a year ago, Liu Xin found me and asked me to come back, even promoted me to team leader."
He paused and then continued, "At the time, I couldn't find a suitable job, doing odd jobs outside, not earning enough money, couldn't even afford the rent for this shabby apartment."
Master Li glanced at his elderly mother and then inspected the house again, continued, "Liu Xin's offered salary was even higher than before, so I went back. After a few days, Liu Xin approached me and asked if I knew where Zhang Shuai was."
"Why is he looking for me?" Zhang Shuai was puzzled.
"I didn't know at the time either, so I truthfully said I hadn't seen you. He then told me if I got any news about you, to inform him immediately."
"I thought he was just saying it casually, but then he started asking once a week, later on, every few days. I got annoyed and just said I didn't know, hadn't seen you."
"I never expected him to threaten me, saying if he found out I deliberately didn't tell him, to be cautious about my family's safety."
"I was scared after hearing that, with my two young daughters and my elderly mother. Liu Xin is the kind who would do what he says."
"Remember a few years ago when we were working together, he never showed up at the factory? If I'd known it was him, I'd never have provoked him."
Master Li finished speaking in one breath, glanced at Zhang Shuai and quickly lowered his head.
"Alas... it's all my fault!" Zhang Shuai said self-reproachfully, "If I hadn't acted impulsively back then, none of this would be happening now..."
"You can't blame yourself, you only wanted to prevent me from being bullied." Master Li said, "The other day when you came looking for me, I was afraid he'd run into you, so I told you to leave quickly. He's definitely trying to get revenge for you smashing that bottle in his face."
"So when you saw us, you told us to leave, just to prevent Zhang Shuai from being seen by him." Tian Xin asked.
Master Li glanced at Zhang Shuai, then turned to her and said, "What I said today wasn't what I meant. I just wanted to get you away quickly, I must take care of my family first, don't blame me.
I know Zhang Shuai's true nature isn't bad. We worked together for three years, I know him, he was standing up for me."
"If he hadn't stepped up that day, who knows what would've happened to me. I also couldn't stand watching him bully the waitress like that, she was only a teen."
Master Li finished speaking in one breath, looked deeply at Zhang Shuai, who met his gaze, and his eyes reddened.
"So, you think that as long as Zhang Shuai doesn't appear and they don't cross paths, there won't be any issues?" Tian Xin asked, "You've been under his thumb all this time, have you never thought of leaving?"
"With a family to support, where can we go? The kid is still in school, it's not easy anywhere. At least here it's a bit stable. I'll take some hardship, that's the way earning money is!"
Indeed, earning money is never easy!
Having said this much, it's best to respect Master Li's wishes!
Tian Xin gave Zhang Shuai a look, signaling him to leave.
The two left Master Li's house and sat on a park bench to rest.
Before they left, Master Li repeatedly urged Zhang Shuai to leave quickly and not let Liu Xin find him.
Zhang Shuai had been looking troubled since they left. He didn't respond even when addressed.
"Hey, what's wrong with you?" Tian Xin pulled Zhang Shuai's ear and asked.
"Ouch ouch ouch ouch! Boss, when will you stop doing that, always pulling ears, alright?" Zhang Shuai rubbed his sore ear from Tian Xin's tugging.
"Tell me, what's up?" Tian Xin glared at him inquisitively.
Zhang Shuai hesitated, then asked back, "Boss, can we delay the departure for a couple of days?"
"Delay for a couple of days? Why?"
"I'm going to call my three brothers to leave together, they need time to pack. I also have to go back to pack up and give up my apartment lease." Zhang Shuai's eyes darted, it's clear he wasn't telling the truth.
"Really?" Tian Xin shot him a skeptical look.
"Really! How would I dare lie to you?" Zhang Shuai quickly covered his ears, fearing a surprise attack from Tian Xin.
"Fine! I'll find the other person myself, you don't have to worry about it. Take care of yourself. Don't cause trouble for me! Don't stir up anything, you got that?" Tian Xin repeatedly emphasized.
This person, only Tian Xin could manage!
"Don't worry, boss."