104 Bringing Calamity to This World

After finishing the call quickly, Long Xiaole told Zhang Pa, “For the clerk position, the probation salary is 2,800 yuan, which is pretty good.”

Zhang Pa thanked him.

Long Xiaole said, “That woman is quite decent too—she talks little and works hard, always voluntarily tidying up every day. Manager Li really likes her.”

“Likes her?” Zhang Pa asked.

“You’re such a fool. Manager Li is a woman in her forties,” Long Xiaole replied. “Once she’s officially hired, the salary will be 3,500 yuan with full social insurance.”

“Full social insurance sounds good,” Zhang Pa said.

“Sounds good?” Long Xiaole asked. “Do you know how many companies don’t provide any insurance at all? Especially in the service industry, employees don’t even care.”

Zhang Pa said, “You should aim to be like state-owned enterprises.”

“Dream on,” Long Xiaole scoffed. “Let me tell you something you won’t understand: If companies really paid all the required taxes and fees, even breaking even would be a miracle.” Before Zhang Pa could respond, he continued, “A leader from the Central Party School once said that if there were no tax evasion, ninety percent of small and medium enterprises would go bankrupt. Our family business is small and can’t afford such turmoil.”

Zhang Pa sighed, clearly displeased.

Long Xiaole said, “Why the face? I’m telling you the truth.”

Zhang Pa replied, “I don’t care if it’s true or not, but why do you assume I don’t understand?”

Was he upset because of that? Long Xiaole paused, then laughed heartily, clearly amused. Eventually, he crouched down, laughing until he was exhausted.

Zhang Pa said, “Your drinking isn’t good—either talking nonsense or going crazy. Remember, if you get a girlfriend, never drink; otherwise, it’s doomed.”

“Doomed, my foot,” Long Xiaole said, still chuckling. After finally standing, he pointed at Zhang Pa’s bicycle. “Forget it, forget it.”

“No worries. Actually, if I could catch up to that sports car, I’d just be afraid the driver would lose control and hit me,” Zhang Pa said, sounding sincere.

Long Xiaole smiled faintly, then grew serious. “That car belonged to an old friend of mine—the guy who sleeps with other men’s women.”

Zhang Pa said, “Are you still going after it?”

Long Xiaole shook his head. “Going home. Out of sight, out of mind. Goodbye.” He hailed a taxi. As he got in, Zhang Pa said, “Call me tomorrow.”

Watching the taxi pull away, Zhang Pa rode his bike home.

Inside, five guys, wild as monkeys, were still awake, gathered around a computer watching... Peking opera.

Zhang Pa came in and said, “Are you guys crazy?”

“It’s pretty good,” Yun Zheng said. “Went out to buy dinner, and there were two old men singing opera at the street corner. Man, it was amazing.”

Zhang Pa said, “Peking opera really is beautiful, but even if you appreciate it, what about those four?”

“They like it too. Isn’t that right, Laopi?” Yun Zheng asked.

Zhang Pa pushed a few of the guys aside, clicked the mouse randomly, and after checking, found that the five of them were indeed watching Peking opera. Now, how could he not admire them?

He thought for a moment, unable to find the right words, then shook his head and returned to his room.

Laopi came chasing after him, saying, “Brother, that landlord’s husband downstairs came back this evening, making a big fuss again.”

Zhang Pa asked, “Did you call the police?”

“Yes, they took him away,” Laopi replied.

Zhang Pa nodded. “Go to bed early.”

His room was packed—extremely packed—with a pile of women’s clothes. After pondering, he called Yun Zheng over. “These clothes belong to the two young ladies next door. They look pretty new—throwing them away would be wasteful. Ask your mom. If she doesn’t mind, maybe she can pick a few pieces to wear, okay?”

“No way,” Yun Zheng said. “I won’t let my mom wear clothes once worn by those ladies.”

Zhang Pa scratched his head. “There are also over ten pairs of shoes. Ask her about those too. If she doesn’t want them, you and Laopi can take them to the street corner tomorrow and sell them for ten or twenty yuan each—whatever you can get.”

“My mom definitely won’t want them,” Yun Zheng said.

“Alright then, forget it.” Zhang Pa smiled at Yun Zheng. “You know shame, and you know life isn’t easy for Sister Yun. As her only son, don’t you have a responsibility to make sure she lives well?”

Yun Zheng was silent for a moment before saying yes.

Zhang Pa said, “I’m asking you: Do you want to be filial? Do you want to take good care of her?”

Yun Zheng nodded again.

Zhang Pa pointed at the pile of things in the room. “Taking care of someone isn’t just words. To truly take care of your mother, you have to do what’s necessary. At this stage, Sister Yun is only in her thirties and doesn’t need you to support the family yet. So, as a student, what should you focus on most right now?”

“Studying,” Yun Zheng answered quietly.

Zhang Pa nodded. He sifted through the shoe boxes, found a pair of red high heels, held them up, and showed them to Yun Zheng. “I want to give these shoes to Sister Yun. Whether she wears them or not isn’t important. What matters is that you can always see them and be reminded—reminded to be a good kid, not one of those five little troublemakers at 119 Middle School.”

Yun Zheng said, “I don’t need your reminders. I know what to do.”

Zhang Pa put the shoes down. “Good. You said that yourself, and I never forced you, right?”

“Right,” Yun Zheng replied.

“Then, as a man, you have to fight like one. If you need money, talk to me. But remember, if you mess up, it’s Sister Yun’s feelings you hurt, not mine.” Zhang Pa said, “Tomorrow afternoon, move all this stuff to the street corner. Sell whatever you can and experience how hard making money is.”

“Got it.” Yun Zheng lingered for a moment, then suddenly turned and left.

Zhang Pa pursed his lips, thinking: I thought you’d at least bow and thank me.

He hadn’t intended to give these things to Yun Yun; he just wanted to push Yun Zheng to declare his intentions, to ignite his motivation to study, and to be a traditionally good child.

Lying on his bed, he zoned out for a bit before gradually falling asleep.

The next day, he got up, dressed sharply, and left. Before leaving, he gave Laopi fifty yuan. “For a day’s meals—spend it wisely.”

Laopi, of course, said it wasn’t enough. Zhang Pa pretended not to hear and went downstairs.

At the street corner, he bought a pancake, eating it while heading to the bus stop. By just after 7:30, he was downstairs at Liu Xiaomei’s apartment building.

Around eight, Liu Xiaomei called, asking where he was. Zhang Pa said he was downstairs. Liu Xiaomei hurriedly hung up and came downstairs. Upon seeing him, she immediately complained, “Why didn’t you come upstairs or call?”

Zhang Pa said, “It was a bit early. What if your family was still sleeping?”

“You’re such a good guy.” Liu Xiaomei hooked her arm around his. “If you treat me this well forever, I might consider being your girlfriend for now.”

Zhang Pa said, “Why consider? Just get the marriage certificate.”

Liu Xiaomei laughed. “If I dared, would you?”

Zhang Pa thought it over. “Maybe wait a few more days.”

Liu Xiaomei laughed again. “If we got married now, my mom could torture you to death.”

Zhang Pa said, “That’s exactly what worries me.”

Liu Xiaomei smiled happily. “It’s so nice, so nice to be this happy early on a Sunday.”

Zhang Pa asked, “If we lived together... what kind of gift would be good?”

The first half of his sentence was an unconscious attempt to take advantage of the situation. Halfway through, he suddenly remembered she had always wanted to live with him—it was he who dared not.

Liu Xiaomei caught the slip and laughed, “What did you say? Live with me?”

Zhang Pa decided to take the initiative and confuse things. “I meant sleep in the same bed.”

Liu Xiaomei burst out laughing. “No marriage certificate and you want to share a bed? I’ll report you to Mother!”

“Don’t, please don’t.” Zhang Pa hurried to stop her. “I’ve always tried to make a good impression on Mother. If you say that, it’s like falling into the eighteenth level of hell. Mother might never approve of us being together.”

Liu Xiaomei said, “It wasn’t me, it was you talking.”

Zhang Pa quickly changed the subject. “Where to buy?”

Liu Xiaomei asked, “Did you ride your bike?”

“No,” Zhang Pa replied.

“Take a taxi?” she asked.

“Definitely!” Zhang Pa said.

If it were just him, he’d probably take the bus. But with Liu Xiaomei, he’d rather spend more to spare her any trouble. If a lecherous man tried anything, he’d be furious.

“It’s too early,” Liu Xiaomei said. “Didn’t expect you this early... Have you eaten?”

“Yes,” Zhang Pa said.

Liu Xiaomei leaned in and sniffed. “Pancake scent.”

Zhang Pa asked, “You haven’t eaten?”

“No, just got up a little while ago,” she said.

“Then go home and eat, I’ll wait for you downstairs.”

“Why wait downstairs? Come up with me.”

Zhang Pa shook his head. “Honestly, I’m afraid of being inspected.”

Liu Xiaomei laughed again. “How are you so adorable? So adorable I could die. I love it.”

Zhang Pa said, “Stop laughing, I’m serious.”

“Alright, alright. I get it. You go wander outside; I’ll come down in a bit.” She gave him a hug and went upstairs.

Zhang Pa strolled to the community gate, where a few elders were doing morning exercises—some with swords, some practicing Tai Chi.

He stood and watched for a while. When the elders dispersed, exchanging a few words before heading home, Zhang Pa went off to find the next bit of excitement.

Around 8:40, Liu Xiaomei came downstairs, dressed casually with a small backpack, looking youthful and lively.

Zhang Pa squatted at the community entrance, playing with two little dogs. The dogs each had owners, sitting nearby chatting, eyes occasionally glancing at their pets.

Zhang Pa clapped his hands at the dogs; they circled him, sniffed his hands and legs, then even circled behind to sniff their own behinds.

Liu Xiaomei walked over and asked, “What are you doing?”

“I’m trying to make friends with your community’s residents, but they’re not very interested,” Zhang Pa stood and replied.

Liu Xiaomei said, “You’re speaking a foreign language—you have to use their language. Try it now.”

Zhang Pa shook his head. “I only know Chinese. I don’t know any other languages. Why don’t you teach me?”