66 More and More Thoughts Begin to Emerge

"Alright, there's no problem with that," Sun Yi said. "You've helped the two of us so much, renting a place is nothing. Move in. There are three rooms upstairs, they're all yours. Live however you like, we can't rent them out anyway."

"Thanks," Zhang Pa replied with a smile. "The keys?"

Wang Baihe smiled as well, reached into the drawer and took out two sets of keys: "All yours. Use anything inside as you wish."

"Thank you," Zhang Pa said. "So we're even now?"

"Yes, as long as the demolition is confirmed, you can stay until then. Live as you please," Sun Yi said.

Zhang Pa thanked them, took the keys, and left. As he stepped out, he happened to run into the five Monkeys returning with food. After heading upstairs together, Zhang Pa opened the doors to the other two rooms: "Lucky you, pick whichever you want."

"For us to live in?" Old Pi asked. "How much?"

"Money has nothing to do with you. Just move in," Zhang Pa said, walking into the largest room. On the floor were five mattresses, a few thin quilts and blankets, and scattered about were some handkerchiefs, underwear, socks, and such. Zhang Pa shook his head—just a few days here and already they had underwear to throw away. Some talent.

He went to the room the young couple had stayed in; there too were some discarded things, including socks and undergarments. Zhang Pa was resigned—was this some law of moving house?

They ate first, finding a spot amid the clutter to set out their lunchboxes; six people had a meal together. The Madman was delighted: "From now on, we eat like this every day. This finally feels like home."

Zhang Pa said dryly, "Are you footing the bill?"

The Madman chuckled, "Put it on my tab, we'll settle up together later."

Food tasted better in a crowd; before long, not a scrap was left. Zhang Pa headed to his room to work, while the five Monkeys cleaned up theirs.

That night, the five Monkeys were thoroughly enjoying themselves, gathering in the largest room to play cards, brag, and carry on until eleven without sleeping.

Zhang Pa finished his main work, then updated "One Hundred and Ninety Pounds," while the others kept up their rowdy antics.

He went over to chase Yun Zheng away, made the four Monkeys go to bed, and the day finally passed peacefully.

Lying in bed, he tried to imagine an ending for the current story, and drifted off to sleep.

Friday—the fourth day after the parent-teacher meeting—forty-three students were once again all present. Zhang Pa felt accomplished and even called the principal to boast: "I'm amazing, shouldn't you give me some activity funds?"

"You're crazy," the principal replied, hanging up.

While classes hadn't started yet, Zhang Pa called three students out to the corridor.

Originally, five students aspired to join the underworld, following various so-called bosses and causing trouble everywhere, until Zhang Pa led the whole class to beat them up. Later, at the parent-teacher meeting, these three students were brought to class by their parents. Though they still wanted to skip school, something happened, and after discussing among themselves, they decided to stay for now.

Their boss was called Black Pi.

With economic development came an odd phenomenon: every city had its so-called red-light district—streets full of karaoke bars, hair salons, saunas. In the provincial capital, there were many such places, like the famous County Front Street near Xingfuli, lined with karaoke bars, interspersed with foot massage parlors, massage shops, and sauna cities. It's the cheapest area in town.

Other places had upscale venues, where singing with girls cost five or six hundred, and a bath could run over a thousand. On County Front Street, a karaoke hostess cost only a hundred, bathing was about the same.

Black Pi worked as security at one of these karaoke bars.

To explain, being "security" doesn't mean fighting with other venues. If two shops are close, they compete for customers but never fight. Instead, if outsiders cause trouble, all the security on the street band together to beat them up. Most of the staff are young men, learning arrogance and bravado before anything else, more ferocious than gangsters when conflict arises, eager to prove their fighting prowess.

Strictly speaking, these security guys are far from true gangsters. When real thugs come to play, the bosses come out to toast them.

But these security guys are especially arrogant. Take Black Pi, for example.

Black Pi was an unemployed youth from the town, tagging along with a so-called boss to County Front Street.

His boss was a genuine gangster, recruited by the karaoke owners as a figurehead. To open a karaoke bar, you need someone behind you; otherwise, both the black and the white stir things up, and no matter how much money you have, it's not enough.

The boss was just for show, only stepping in when things couldn't be resolved. The real work was done by little guys like Black Pi.

County Front Street isn't very long, but after a few years, everyone knows each other, calling each other "Black Brother," and Black Pi got cocky.

But his income was fixed, at most scamming customers with the waiters for an extra few hundred. He couldn't scam the hostesses—they had their own pimps, like Third Wu.

Thinking himself a "brother," Black Pi started recruiting underlings, picking up these three unlucky students.

What did these ninth graders know? They hung out at the karaoke bar with Black Pi, could drink a little beer, but nothing more. If they wanted money, they'd have to rob at the school gate.

Last week, Zhang Pa became their teacher, flamboyantly calling every student to a fight. The three unlucky students brought Black Pi along, who tried to act tough by bringing five or six more. As a result, everyone got thoroughly beaten.

These scoundrels only care about money—nothing else matters. Because of the three, Black Pi's group got beaten and blamed them, demanding medical expenses, dinner, and finally, an appearance fee.

Medical expenses and dinner are for saving face; the appearance fee is the price for standing up for them. Out of respect, they didn't ask much—just ten thousand from all combined.

The three students had no money—not even for dinner, let alone ten thousand or medical bills—so they got beaten again. This beating was worse than Zhang Pa's, though none were seriously injured.

Afterwards, Black Pi still demanded the ten thousand.

Coincidentally, Zhang Pa held a parent-teacher meeting, and the parents dragged them to school. The three unlucky ones discussed it, deciding to hide in school for a while, going home after class, coming straight to school in the morning, avoiding everywhere else, hoping Black Pi's group would forget and let them off.

That was their fond hope, but surely impossible!

Leaving their wish aside, Zhang Pa called them to the corridor, asking where the other two truants were.

The three unlucky students knew a bit and quickly reported honestly.

Compared to them, those two were more closely tied to the underworld. One was Sheng Yang, whose brother was Sheng Zan. Sheng Zan had lived in Xingfuli, moved away four years ago, and now ran with a man called Brother De. Sheng Yang and his partner had pledged allegiance to Brother De.

Who was Brother De? He was the boss Zhang Pa's students fought in their second mass brawl.

The first time, Sheng Zan accompanied his brother to school to save face, only for Zhang Pa to lead the students in a mass beating. Sheng Zan couldn't swallow his pride and told Brother De.

In their world, anything else can be tolerated—but not a fight; anything else can be conceded—but not face. If a little brother gets beaten, Brother De must stand up, so he brought twenty men.

Tragedy struck again, with the worst being five arrested by the police.

Brother De was upset—he had to bail them out, or pay compensation if he couldn't. And he still needed to reclaim face at No. 119 Middle School.

That was his business. The three unlucky students hiding in school confessed Sheng Yang's connection with Brother De, and the places they often hung out.

Brother De also had venues to protect—his were nightclubs, with men dealing powder. He could skim some profits from drinks as well.

After hearing their confession, Zhang Pa laughed: "Aren't you all of a kind?"

One of the unlucky students said, "They look down on us."

Zhang Pa smiled, "At least you're honest," then sent them back.

The three exchanged glances, wanting to mention Black Pi's demand for money, but what could come of it? They returned to class.

Zhang Pa pondered a moment, called Sheng Yang, guessing he was still asleep. It took three tries before he answered. Sheng Yang was brash, cursing as soon as he picked up: "Who the hell is this? Who dares bug me so early?"

"I'm your teacher," Zhang Pa replied.

"Teacher? My teacher died long ago," Sheng Yang said, hanging up.

Zhang Pa nodded—this was a true rogue from No. 119 Middle School. He thought, if I don't subdue you, my role as homeroom teacher is wasted.

He then called another truant: "Luo Chengcai?" Saying the name, he sighed inwardly—such a fine name, his parents must have hoped something, just like Fang Zijiao, one of the five Monkeys.

Luo Chengcai answered quickly: "Who is this?"

"I'm your teacher."

Luo Chengcai thought a moment, then asked, "Are you the teacher with the cane who led the whole class in a brawl?"

Zhang Pa said yes.

Luo Chengcai asked, "What do you want?"

"I think you should come to school," Zhang Pa said.

Luo Chengcai laughed, "Have you gone stupid from teaching?"

One sentence, and Zhang Pa shook his head slightly—listen to that tone, hardly a ninth grader. He replied calmly, "Yes, I've gone stupid, that's why I'm calling."

Luo Chengcai sneered, "If you're stupid, go to the Third Hospital. Why are you calling me?" The Third Hospital was the mental asylum.

Zhang Pa said, "I have little patience, and don't want to go to Huihuang to find you." Huihuang was the nightclub under Brother De’s protection.

"If you've got the guts, come," Luo Chengcai replied.

Zhang Pa smiled, "You're impressive."

"Of course," Luo Chengcai said, hanging up.

These two were clearly tougher than the previous three. Zhang Pa sighed—another headache!

At that moment, the English teacher arrived for class. Zhang Pa greeted him and hurried into the classroom, listening as this ninth grade English teacher taught first-year material.

The students went about their business as usual, leaving Zhang Pa frustrated again. This group of misfits—how could they possibly learn? How could they ever begin to study?