Chapter 14
Chapter 14
Ma Zi seemed aware that Wei Qian might be lurking at his doorstep, waiting for him, and thus decided not to return home at all.OZQymIxbWUFslOOTwXtsrFiaXAlWzu
He even stopped visiting the hospital, only sneaking in to make payments when his account was nearly empty. Ever since Wei Qian spotted him at a nightclub, he had been steadfast in avoiding him.rmqpkdAWOhcjYlhzGnKkGFhDWciIRN
ODRhbrmyhZiICaCOne evening, when Wei Qian was off duty, he and San Pang found themselves wandering near Ma Zi’s home for what felt like the umpteenth time. Snatching a cigarette from Wei Qian, San Pang squatted down, fixated on an anthill, and remarked, “The guy’s really good at hiding, huh? Hey Qian, do you think if he’d used his brain like this back when we were in school, he’d still be unable to count?”hKAFyDfhekdLNSmSFLoJXPmMIjSxTX
YIgiLgtLYcLLLxAWei Qian, annoyed by his chatter, snapped, “Shut up, will you? Why so much talk?”lAvlHyHVmfhKPranFrYCEXfJZxCRNi
VegtRmCrjpvMEjySan Pang clutched his chest, “You young bastards, think you’re all grown up and don’t need to listen anymore? When I was looking after you, it was all piss and shit…”FuEtWoXDCcMtaEUqXcFDRlTKaRsJzn
DPTKHqcsnLqytxOWei Qian gave him a chilly look.CAcYieSkFrPvPjHyeIDKOMEOWCnZTK
gREZJQVEocoUZoUSan Pang abruptly stopped, then after a moment, jokingly yet meaningfully said, “Have you noticed you’ve been more irritable lately? Been eating too much spicy beef?”obSeFJUimPcdGUHEmzfEtPXpgbfFQq
zhUCycaBWFtJGqkWei Qian ignored him. At that moment, Wei Zhiyuan appeared at a third-floor window, pointing in a specific direction and mouthing something to them.ebSIopfxNfhygZebAVqnMAkqUlAYfQ
ldHLgbEUYLHHbMkSan Pang commented, “What’s that monkey doing, clinging to the window like a gecko?”tfzEuShQxWhUvSkRlihTncpEClSJdp
zYwNggIktnFDRHMWei Qian grabbed San Pang and pulled him into a nearby alley, whispering, “I asked him to keep watch for me.”xamFXewqvgQnyQhoPKuZhnprgFHdoQ
QkxUmmpxVAQCFinSan Pang was astonished, “All this, and you even bought him a telescope?”jkwzHZlQYKPZWPDLappScKmMXdNjtg
gsWMxrsMWVdpAsMWei Qian replied, “No, he found some convex and concave plastic lenses somewhere and made one himself with cardboard.”SbUptMyXHikpIxtRBXOMNWBAGLORXX
XEpBoCHsEINczBlSan Pang, filled with admiration, exclaimed, “That’s brilliant, clever and skilled, a born scientist… Holy shit, what’s this?”wlgnZUypxoEnmgjlnWzOPYhjRUXGrW
GAvnsXTiMDNEvNNWei Qian picked up a sack and a roll of rope from the corner, handing the rope to San Pang, “Hiding from me? Let’s tie him up.”MZfnOhpzrtQzAprFCqRVVyOVncvbIs
GXCOzURtOknKqCHSan Pang, looking down at the rope in his hands, was filled with a profound sense of admiration, “Incredible, for murder and kidnapping, truly the making of a hero from the tales of Mount Liang!”ILYKMMsVFeEKDpuZGCIJFZyyDMRHhn
gQPQBFwZOeninqVWei Qian took a couple of steps before it dawned on him, “Are you calling me a bandit?”lKdIMwCQFttGBpPtuQYmNgESQpJyyJ
NsXCgDvNWuQtlVHSan Pang retorted, “Oh dear, you really know yourself well.”ahBfInpMNXdrdKMyIeCsyYpqKjwjqT
uZcPoCrPLQUkiBKWei Qian was silent.ewXMIKlXkfCTShdxshdKjiVSIwcnDm
YsUxOWxRvZEbKQcSan Pang didn’t like him, thus he would often find reasons to poke fun at him every now and then. Wei Qian was aware of this but didn’t mind.IfIMsFGbgKNUWSyiRGqlhRNLLCzllm
jnqoLKJseuvHeeVHe was on his own path, indifferent to life or death, without regret or resentment.kuCNPagHSHbPPQjYLYOycNKyEOQzdI
XhwndpmTTmGLkBxYet, like a solitary figure braving the rain, amidst the cold and the mud, if someone showed him a bit of warmth, he found it comforting rather than objectionable.LSrwJhjPHZLriXYwiHFJVGnSIKCwjK
FmbDzZxuTtPGQChMazi sneakily observed from a distance, making sure both the fatty and Wei Qian were away, before sneaking back home like a thief. Nervously trembling, he fumbled for his keys while looking around suspiciously. Finally, he inserted the key into the lock and sighed in relief.HsIaKgSCHQZsTKbRNVaiqjyRWHfQLc
IExAMHUYYLuDBSLBut his relief was short-lived. Suddenly, he was pushed against the wall, a knee against his body and hands gripping his arms like iron clamps. Soon, Mazi’s hands were tied.PeDBGvWYfXuBOObVpUEJnBXJXReqVR
vKyFWPCRLsgVnmZA sinking feeling overcame Mazi, accompanied by an uncontrollable urge to urinate, fearing he had been caught by the police, thinking, “I’m done for.”tXwGSxJdLbNFxIOImoVBScmAfgsEJn
NvdRlMPJbPPYcPUWei Qian and San Pang escorted Mazi to Wei Qian’s house.inYeXvRFmYyTElUdjiXYbEbrfVKWUN
HckqlMgtHRWVUWNSong Xiaobao curiously looked at the tightly bound Mazi and shouted, “Kidnapping! Surrender and you won’t be killed!”ldkOjlOGnyNOwLFpNOFEcAlEDGrQXN
qAMiFloVjwMSieoSan Pang bitterly smiled, “My dear sister, you really know how to stir up trouble.”zkwcLQxAZRYZnvcJOzBFxcoMsGJQoF
XRTLuLUbOqxRArQWei Zhiyuan quickly pulled her aside, pushing her into a room and imitating their brother, “Have you finished your math homework? I won’t let you copy.”frKsTHUSAyQrFparHmoxrpkKNULfec
oYaRHKfvHlpfPQvNot being able to copy homework was a major issue for Song Xiaobao, who pouted and lost interest in the kidnapping.ZobeSrBXhdyzXJdgDVjOdxRcldgIjC
pHhYuKQuNpGccjBWei Zhiyuan pushed her into the room, glancing outside through the crack of the door. San Pang, noticing this, quickly gave a thumbs-up as encouragement. Wei Zhiyuan smiled back amiably, still waiting for his brother’s reaction.fiZtfPrcXAmRBFZKmaEXJoMHJduDmM
KCkfShJpHKrjNMgWei Qian pulled out a box of the mint candies given for free at nightclubs and tossed it over, bringing a broad smile to Wei Zhiyuan’s face as he caught it eagerly, then contentedly closed the door and left.GfOGcFASaEmRGCDvDbNEOkvkmthUnT
abLAFFrKcsjPSOuThis scene seemed very familiar to San Pang, who later realized it resembled a standard dog training gesture—Wei Zhiyuan was just short of catching it with his mouth.GqXigLQOuIpTzLeJiyFZuusQgCyMdL
YGLDxaFIoMYWzGa“You,” San Pang said to Wei Qian, shaking his head, “are so immoral that even your ancestors are grilling kebabs on their graves.”kEYqzvpTbzdwcWHAmqSXoLmQGWpSVU
XCjcGrosXpEHZjtThen they both removed the sack from Mazi’s head.GvRctUrtaucmKYBseFhOPXWYzUitzu
eYKESpTqfCrkhDMNeither expected Mazi to be this frightened—his eyes were scattered, and it took him a while to recognize them. After a moment, his gaze finally focused, and he took a deep breath, legs giving way, and he collapsed onto the ground.dBnDOAkqmriUIxLAYzQSeOsTCUCXFK
NMuvdXgyAMgsPPY“My god,” San Pang squatted down, scrutinizing his pale face, “even your acne turned white with fear. How many bad deeds have you done, brother?”JJNUQJbHAiZqkqUzJqLIWLZDGxNhYZ
nQRYkFFBjLHFtrlWei Qian had no intention of mincing words. He tore open San Pang’s defenses: “Who was the person you met that day? What did he give you? Why did he give you money? And why did you run away upon seeing me?”AHhyHzYvNuueNKUikjOtxtrmnZAfCN
IBnhUUNyPUrSLfeSan Pang urged him to slow down, joking that they shouldn’t fry the guy’s brains.VwugYQXfmQjPgpplKdPiXdODxanDce
jmDMVgCyIkpBlwm“Burning them would be better!” Wei Qian retorted, grabbing Mazi’s collar. “Are you going to spill it yourself, or should I search you?”vmkRVjUNopOflEOfmFdAPMhTYPNMIR
eHiSFlGcRIaSMYoMazi, facing his brother up close, found his tongue tied, unable to utter a word. He could only gaze deeply at Wei Qian, his eyes reflecting a profound sadness that was nothing short of heart-stopping.jtvKFOXigrpSgVFjQJlKNgRAlkUNXU
kqYeRoWIdtGwhPzWei Qian, unmoved by Mazi’s distress, made good on his word and began to search him, swiftly finding several small packets in Mazi’s pockets.FzZBbhTFuHMWDtVXLkbawXSvRIyxop
SWejjsmVSGFbOhTWei Qian knew all too well what those were. He could never forget his mother’s dying moments, haunted by her gaunt face. Yet, for a moment, he found it hard to believe. After a brief pause, he slowly opened one of the packets. The fine white powder inside confirmed the grim reality he couldn’t escape.agJTvJNtofEyeLVoFJGjIXIfKqVGuo
SqFMlQBgTIASRpU“What is this?” Wei Qian demanded, his voice suddenly shifting, “What the hell is this?!”QoJDwIsSbVxPVjZqaLoaRWjhYPVkgG
tkInWQufGbATxkyA tear trickled down Mazi’s cheek, like a turtle gasping for breath on the parched bed of a dried river.SVEoHkoGgbJVUAVmmRkyYIKbqbmeTI
EDyLiNTmIMatDaUIn a burst of fury, Wei Qian leaped up to deliver a kick, but it was a miss. San Pang quickly dragged him back onto a sofa, struggling to hold him back as Wei Qian fought to break free, ranting about how it might be cleaner and more environmentally friendly to just kill Mazi.LWeZokqEDxbXKHLlVpJiHxnQkalspK
jJMFOkPdAKoVNvCAs a non-combatant, San Pang couldn’t hold him down for long, hurriedly reminding Wei Qian of the children still inside the house, pleading not to incite violence in their presence.lDlDgnXGSiszOTMaWWlmZZrnCIHcFd
VfxWOVKsdaLLHtYThis plea miraculously calmed Wei Qian down. He instinctively looked back at the small house, spotting the door cracked open with two pairs of little eyes sneakily peeping out. The kids, startled by Wei Qian’s gaze, slammed the door shut in a panic.ghTddAgeDlzuTgLFZyUcpSHRPGzfGu
EUDjnczESljQoByHalf of Wei Qian’s rage dissipated with a mix of frustration and relief.zRdjgDiDoubBtWfwgemCNFKDhIoUrb
uiLuUSkPWqITTyCMeanwhile, Mazi couldn’t hold back any longer. He seemed to carry the desolation of the entire world in his chest, lying down sideways, his hands still tied, curling up like a shrimp. He began to bang his head on the ground, sobbing uncontrollably, as if this was the only way to vent even a fraction of his inner turmoil.cMUPzOMONViINhEKdEXessWdHDyVja
HAYMPzPugOFiYWTSan Pang released Wei Qian and squatted down, his chubby fingers accidentally brushing the powder spilled on the floor.gRAUXkpTOufzodOfEkNgmqCiTGFzGF
wwuwyHMxYVIGlQKHe waited quietly for Mazi to cry it out until the sobs subsided. Then softly, he inquired, “This is heroin, isn’t it?”AbXwKejRBJRTgJDZnPVIhspcTflPMV
SbrlMkYkNtwgdbRMazi could only cry, unable to speak, as San Pang looked away, struggling to hold back his tears, his lips pressed tightly together.ftGkZXjjCsiprjGPZkbuAckpKkubPF
UkpbOEjKmCfVBWISan Pang’s voice was hoarse, revealing the burden of unspoken worries. He struggled to continue, taking deep breaths that made his broad back rise and fall like bellows, before finding the strength to voice his fears, “But this is a dead end, brother. I can’t watch you walk down a path to your doom. If our mother finds out, she would hang herself on the hospital’s heater tonight. How could you… How could you all be so thoughtless?”RmjKbCVXPmciAiVXpXFrYBzTKAOOyi
XywSXTJDEsGFWqmWei Qian remained silent, his face stoic, while Mazi’s tears seemed to have dried up, lying there listlessly without any response.JmlvFhYsUqzkwbAmihrJCEBOHSNaEQ
KcSQEMSUpoouRiRSan Pang discreetly wiped his eyes, hiding his tears from view.kOPqyVEPKjZHpcxLzdRgApuVsbLsJC
ARcikeAOVQmOSKeThe three sat in silence in the cramped living room until Wei Qian abruptly approached the bedside table, pulling open a drawer to reveal a small stack of RMB, his recent savings. He stuffed the money into Mazi’s pocket, where he usually kept his drugs, and declared with determination, “San Ge still has parents; he can’t make decisions for their family. In our house, I’m in charge. See this house? If we sell it, how much would it be worth? How long could it sustain our mother? When the money runs out, just tell me. If I have money, I’ll give it to you; if not, I’ll sell this place.”fqAPXeNBZDCEuOXlWCjyOpFXTaspPf
zcTSekYnksAdKxTMazi’s gaze slowly lifted to them, his eyes bloodshot.tJwGMCcrAQpFXlBMCeIallBTrmOgKE
FLpzCmABAmMuVzzWei Qian, growing impatient, rebuked, “What are you looking at? Crying over every little problem, what will become of you two? Is it just about the money? Is it?”CNOoBxcqdRodvgRbFKghhACHYoAAhf
aQlNLzuHlmuchnUHe couldn’t continue.tyQLbLrBQasBPfmmUPglWhcXHHmoVn
dvMjBAwjcEBoKgyIndeed, what’s so great about money? But the truth was, they were penniless.BaEfAnkRTREoWxGNAPnKuBKYHJbjFO
uFpUmqGUqATqSNwWei Qian sat down on the worn sofa, trying to calm his racing heart, hearing the sound of a trapped beast within his chest.HTUgJlxlQApeGnhfctKiddBixsWiEE
XUanQIOvaVZAbhYSan Pang sighed, untied Mazi, helped him up, and flushed several packages of “white powder” down the toilet.eceQiHBQfLhsEilDCJIFWmQyGmpvoY
kegNbAPewiGtUOhThat night, after accepting the money from Wei Qian and San Pang, Mazi left without a word.DBSIyFURJulKbKqhMjxgdjQdbtoLtu
LbESruwyLmcFCqDHe stopped in front of the building, at the spot where he and his mother used to fry dough sticks, then suddenly halted, looking up at the building and shouting, “Ah!”sdtWiHZLumvthQdumzdWyxDdCoEWZJ
vEIYVOyebvrSZSxWei Qian and San Pang rushed to the window to look down.tQeDZYlLgMLfEbJoSBQxtodaYKEpeb
KfJunsKqWvYzAZmMazi knelt down abruptly, curling into a ball, showing his deep gratitude and loyalty with a solemn bow to his brothers. Then, he stood up, wiping his forehead smeared with mud and grass, and walked away.BhkULrArfGpYUeOhQJkUNYKdgwInJn
IlWPGXSsoDsIkWnInarticulate when it mattered most, he had no other way to express himself.CrgeTjhfoojDAfturJccooxivGvdMf
gfPEYcPKOjZKjKMA new moon rose in the sky, nearing fullness, hinting at the approaching Mid-Autumn Festival.OnjiZgYTJZMmZwEClVmgFKdsHVhBCZ
yvpLWbkcrvuQJftThe freak who specialized in bullying kids was never found. Probably, even the freak hadn’t anticipated that among the soft and easily bullied kids, there would be a warrior like Wei Zhiyuan, ready to fight to the death. It’s likely that Wei Zhiyuan gave the freak a poke that left him impotent on the spot, and the freak never showed up again after that.WSaFTqGcvgKfzgCkYYDeUCMHJxjPGy
oqmELiwzRGzwKnCDuring the first week of the August Festival, Wei Qian experienced a significant setback, a reminder that life is fraught with challenges, especially when one is trying to make a name for oneself in the ruthless world. This was the first time Wei Qian had been cut with a knife. He was carried back, covered in blood from superficial wounds, which was enough to terrify anyone.ttezOpjkqFZWGVhmoJsBLmLkyKyhVd
dGryAckslAAlWUvDespite collapsing eventually, he had held his ground during the confrontation. Le Ge was profoundly grateful and recognized his potential, rewarding him generously with a holiday bonus. He advised Wei Qian to take a paid leave for a couple of months before returning.lTDQVrjYiMHVtwIqVfUuFXSYUCszAr
yByslZUroGybnDgWhile money could console Wei Qian, it couldn’t ease Xiao Bao’s heart. Having never seen so much blood, Xiao Bao was like a mouse startled by a bamboo explosion, crying thunderously, which annoyed Wei Qian immensely.xMOcHBeZtMKgXLIJHbaIyRKyLSWwbX
GmoRpelltnqTgXtSan Pang had become their full-time caretaker, comforting Xiao Bao and assuring her that her brother was tough and would be fine.enEWHHGaiWrXtnNqDZZAtThvonqKVm
ghwuUUJdPraVgFuXiao Bao, amidst her sobs, feared for her brother’s life, to which San Pang responded dismissively, urging her to be more optimistic. Her mention of Wei Qian rolling his eyes back was met with San Pang’s heavy sigh, explaining it was her hysteria causing it.xWBGnGvLSaunYxBQFlaiWldoyqevSJ
ukLGWoMLElISgrUIn contrast to her dramatic reaction, Xiao Yuan’s response was much more subdued. He remained silent, squatting beside Wei Qian’s bed like an unnoticed spirit, as Wei Qian, troubled by Xiao Bao’s cries but reluctant to scold her, tried to distract himself from the chaos.qrraQxmIGSLcVfphiNselPCrPtRAHe
wjlTLxFQmRcQTxiWei Qian extended his hand, wrapped in gauze, and roughly touched Wei Zhiyuan’s head, forcing his face up by grabbing the back of his head: “Hey, why are you looking down? Picking up money or what…”FUJqOhmtwSOvwTFLwdKjxmLpthNmxZ
nidvOQJljVFrncMWei Qian’s words suddenly stopped as he saw Wei Zhiyuan, who had been bowing his head, with red-rimmed eyes, silently shedding tears “pitter-patter,” tightly biting his teeth and clenching his small fists, looking both heartbroken and furious.slvQmPgLmlqmjcmdfyhWcFoFOlFsUA
VfFfmXCjVkWamciThat year, Wei Zhiyuan was not yet ten years old. He had grown taller but had not yet entered the rapid development phase of adolescence. The clear yet unbearable heartbreak and anger he felt was because he thought he was a burden to his older brother, making him work so hard for a little money.SgYkrSzdmWeDfNrKKpFpCQUpLfxFtO
WRelFXAlVGSALaDOnly children who grew up coddled in a honey pot don’t wish to grow up, and Wei Zhiyuan was not one of them. At that moment, he hysterically wanted to become strong, hysterically wanted to become a real man.ERnmvjUYsXubRzaEXqqgCIPzHzBMTM
IsCdyFwnhXiMXucSong Xiaobao’s loud crying only made Wei Qian feel helpless; however, Wei Zhiyuan moved him deeply. Wei Qian, rarely soft-hearted, moved aside to make a small space for Wei Zhiyuan and gestured with his hand: “Come here.”deebDRosTreAZTvJRguyqdXFkvPwIv
VnVJynBFXcfvgqiWei Zhiyuan obediently climbed onto the bed and carefully nestled into his arms.pXekHwNKRcIXtJXLSWQAqpvfsQpyez
ISJKtyCtmhRChdmSong Xiaobao looked at them eagerly: “Brother, I want to sleep with you too.”TNFlUGVlckjmNPVnGGdLaxQzhDkOXV
pxZvngcVAzkhFSuWei Qian had no way to resist her gaze and compromised: “Alright, come here too. But I warn you, Song Xiaobao, this is the last time. You’re a girl, it’s not proper to always sleep with boys. How old are you, don’t you understand anything?”lGzOCGdTLZQpwZEkKOikXdGbdaCcxX
KYPIEMGHjKkdZJVSan Pang clicked his tongue in amazement. The little wolf cub, Wei Zhiyuan, clung to Wei Qian’s clothes like a boneless cat, sticky to the point of annoyance, while on the other side, Song Xiaobao became a parrot, repeating the same phrase over and over: “Brother, let’s not do this anymore, we mustn’t do this anymore.”nCimyBhOjnTPlpZzHxoXRnvBeaFraJ
YMNGHlluiSzLGGsDespite Wei Qian’s notoriously low patience, he remarkably didn’t lose his temper with the two of them.hntdmMFOlACRduoXPxRHodiVYYSFuu
vkVMQeigTpCGRErAt first, every time Xiaobao said something, Wei Qian would respond. Later, when he realized her words were becoming repetitive, he couldn’t help but laugh in frustration: “Just go to sleep, no more talking!”yFHWsaOsTkPIWzOmYzKTxmBxOVtUXx
vLuPmMDgzIARfKFXiaobao: “Brother, you mustn’t do this anymore.”EoUHbfJXyvlCbTgBABJayQsCItPNux
JpIpsZSIBmMuKHrWei Qian: “…”KjYTQNZnPouvppBKFkqJCZhgkvrQNn
JdstrCKfBhNxttLHe sighed, reluctantly sat up, and began to pat Xiaobao, coaxing her to sleep: “Alright, I’ll listen to you, you’re the boss, okay?”uKwPpzJTQabPzpIZPowzBPATOuDoQw
cMMpDZMRvNofXbBSan Pang quietly locked the door behind them and left. He suddenly felt that things were not so severe. With the bonds of these two children, Wei Qian would unlikely reach a point where he’d become estranged from all kin.KVDDpzEIcveiSjZjTFRKpZZZCAVWfm
GBzDuJJOVRxTxpFEYRasRBnSLIakaDukqiCUjTwpDIvrQ