Chapter 63 Left Hand One, Right Hand One

  At the intersection of Dong Market, Zhang Shidong stopped his car, opened the window and smoked a cigarette, staring at the text message on his phone with a thoughtful expression.

  Mǐ nuò nuò returned to the south, and the expected storm did not occur. The relationship between her and the Gōng family was resolved in an unimaginably calm and peaceful manner. In a text message, Mǐ nuò nuò's meaning was: "If I die, the Gōng family will be unlucky; if they anger me, the Gōng family will also be unlucky. Only when I am comfortable and happy will the Gōng family be comfortable. The opinions of Gōng jiān and Gōng shuǐ yuán are unimportant, as they do not have the right to speak."

  Has the problem really been solved?

  Zhang Shidong believed that Mǐnuònuò had this ability, a woman who could still control a large amount of resources in the dormant phase, and would not leave enough room for herself and capital. The war bear is the best example, able to arrange him before becoming husband and wife with Gōngshā, it can be seen that Mǐnuònuò's characteristics are not lacking in overall vision and foresight.

  "Hi!"

  There were still some makeup and casual clothes left on her face, and Yun appeared from the side of the car, greeted Zhang Shidong, then walked around the car and opened the passenger door to get in.

  Zhang Shidong glanced at her: "Your mood isn't bad?"

  Jingyun took a deep breath, puffed out his cheeks, and slowly exhaled: "Kong Xin was also caught, I reckon he's done for this lifetime. The Kong family is like a fallen tree with scattered monkeys - how can my mood be good?"

  Zhang Shidong started the car and raised an eyebrow: "Indeed, our inspirational girl doesn't have to worry about being coerced by a bad guy."

  Ling Yun slapped him: "I hate you."

  The car drove smoothly on the streets of Pingjiang, and Jingyun didn't ask about Zhang Shidong's everything, just like she could be slightly close to Zhang Shidong with her playful jokes, showing their classmate relationship. In her bones, she only positioned Zhang Shidong as a classmate. As a second-generation with power and influence, she had seen many people like him before, and what Zhang Shidong showed her now was nothing new. This also means that Zhang Shidong didn't have any attraction to her, at least not yet breaking through the old classmate and friend relationship. So, she wouldn't easily touch on things that should be private for him.

  "My mom works at Central Hospital, how's Auntie's illness? I can help contact them."

  Upon hearing Zhang Shidong's words, Jingyun let out a sigh: "My mother's illness is in her heart. The hospital examination only showed physical weakness and the Chinese medicine only treated the symptoms not the root cause... All these years, we've been to all the hospitals in the provincial city and even went to Beijing once..."

  Zhang Shidong didn't ask again, he knew a bit about the Lings' family affairs. The famous loving couple, one died early, and the other was sick with longing. In love, everyone had to admire Ling Xiyun's mother. As a mother, she was unqualified, not only unqualified, but many neighbors felt sorry for Ling Xiyun. For so many years, as a daughter, she did everything a daughter could do, but as a mother, Ling's mother remained immersed in the sorrow of her lover's passing, and didn't want to betray her lover's entrustment to take care of their daughter when they parted ways. She persisted, but ultimately, the former prevailed, and it had been this way for so many years. A heart disease requires a heart medicine to cure, no hospital, advanced equipment or medication could cure Ling's mother's illness.

  "Right there, that car wash." Jingyun pointed to a dilapidated car wash by the roadside, also indirectly breaking the awkwardness in the car. After a long time apart, when familiar or concerned topics have been discussed, an inexplicable silence will gradually appear, unless the two people have a new intersection in life, at least, they need to keep in touch, even if it's just as friends, otherwise, there will only be a leftover identity of old classmates and old friends, exchanging greetings during holidays, chatting about simple topics like "how are you" and "everyone is good".

  Speaking of old friends, Zhang Shidong's mood is slightly heavy. If Lingshun Yun was his youthful infatuation during school days, then Ah Guang is his true sworn brother with whom he can entrust his life.

  The car approached the car wash, a slightly stout middle-aged man wearing an oil-stained canvas work uniform, with high black rain boots, dragging his lame right leg, and holding a water pipe under his crippled right arm, held the nozzle in his left hand. Under the scolding of the old employee, he had a humble smile on his face, regardless of being splashed by the water spray, running at the fastest speed to the front of the old employee, handing over a new water pipe to the other's hand.

  "A Guang, hurry up next time, clumsy hands and feet." The old employee muttered, A Guang, who was wearing a canvas hat, nodded repeatedly, took out a box of Red Tower Mountain from his shirt pocket, pulled out a cigarette and handed it to the other person's mouth, then took out a lighter and lit it for him with a very dog-legged motion.

  "Hey!"

  A shout, and a pack of cigarettes was tossed over from mid-air.

  Ah Guang subconsciously used both hands to catch the soft box of Zhonghua, squinting his eyes to resist the dazzling sunlight, and saw the person standing not far away. His eyes flashed with excitement, but more was a dullness. He unconsciously adjusted his hat, and a seemingly enthusiastic yet distant smile appeared: "Dong Ge, you're back."

  "Ah Guang, what the hell are you doing? Come over quickly!" Inside the car wash, a loud shout came, Ah Guang nodded at Zhang Shidong, made a phone call gesture with his hand, and raised the cigarette in his hand to show gratitude. He dragged his lame leg and ran into the car wash.

  Inferiority will also pull each other apart.

  Ah Guang picked up his excited mood, limping and running into the car wash shop. The stingy old boss was playing games with the slightly charming boss's wife, and casually threw over a 100-yuan red ticket: "Go, buy your sister-in-law a pack of cigarettes."

  "Hey!" Ah Guang nodded, ignoring the boss's wife's condescending gaze, took the money and was about to leave when the boss spotted the pack of Zhonghua cigarettes in his hand: "Ah, Ah Guang, you're doing well, huh? You've upgraded to Zhonghua now."

  Ah Guang smiled and said: "I just met a friend, he casually gave it to me. If you don't mind, sister, go ahead and smoke." As he spoke, he put the cigarette and money on the table.

  Wearing a fiery outfit, the young boss struck a pose and let out a "wow": "You don't know, back then our Light Brother was really famous. Who on Station Front Street didn't recognize him? As soon as he debuted, he took over Red Dragonfly. Tsk tsk tsk, that year's Light Brother... past events are unbearable to recall."

  The boss seems to have heard enough of such words, he kept this half-crippled person here just to satisfy the superior psychology of the woman beside him. The one who was driven out of Red Dragonfly KTV by Ah Guang in front of her that year is now kept by her, just to satisfy her once-invincible inferiority complex from time to time.

  Ah Guang just smiled and didn't say a word. He was used to it for the sake of living. Being able to find a job with his so-called glorious name was good enough.

  "Ah Guang, oh no, Brother Guang, who's this big shot friend of yours coming to see you again? Didn't they say they'd take you out and make you a big brother again? Didn't they say they'd give you a chance to show off? It's all for the sake of business, but can't they even offer some compensation? From now on, it'll be hard to find someone to marry, just coming over here and getting handed a box of cigarettes?" The tone was completely satisfying to a sharp-tongued woman's psychology, speaking freely and feeling happy.

  The boss pulled out a Zhonghua cigarette, curled his lips and said: "Movies are really deceiving. Look at the Nine Dragons Ice Room's Dragon Brother, he's also finished. After coming out of prison, these younger brothers came running to ask him to wave flags and shout slogans. I'm telling you, in reality, there's no such thing as loyalty. When they need you, there's loyalty; when they don't need you, it's all nonsense."

  A Guang's left hand was clenched into a fist inside his sleeve, and he remained silent with his head hung low. After calming down, he slowly backed out of the small room that was only separated by glass and fine wooden boards.

  "A'guang, bring me that bucket."

  "A'guang, go wash the rag."

  "A'guang, hurry up and clean up a bit, or else when the guests come they'll think it's filthy in here!"

  "A Guang, go and grab a few bottles of beer."

  "A Guang, wash the dishes."

  A Guang was very calm, as usual, calmly doing things he would never have done before. Meanwhile, Zhang Shidong and Ling Jyun had been sitting at a cold drink stall not far from the car wash for an entire afternoon. During this time, A Guang took advantage of a lull in business to come out and chat with the two of them very enthusiastically, asking for their phone numbers and inviting them to dinner that night to get together.

  Everyone knows this is a polite remark, and everyone can see that Ah Guang is deliberately avoiding it.

  Zhang Shidong believed it, and not only did he believe it, but he also waited at the door until his eyes never left the small car wash for an entire afternoon, nor did they leave the figure that people called out to replace.

  Ling Yun never expressed any opinions, sitting with Zhang Shidong, eating ice cream and snow cones without restraint, like a perfect vase, for people to admire and for the person who owns her to feel proud.

  Until the sun sets, until the nearby snack stalls and barbecue sheds are bustling, Zhang Shidong is still waiting. Jingyun said at this time: "In the past, I didn't understand what you meant by 'knocking heads' brothers, now I understand, some young and arrogant people will really have a lifelong friendship."

  Zhang Shidong smiled: "Then let's eat this, today he'll treat us to barbecue."

  Jing Yun patted his belly: "I ate too much ice cream, it seems I won't be able to take him down today. In the future, let him treat me to seafood, I want big lobster, one in my left hand and one in my right hand."

  It's said that clever women aren't liked by men because they lack confidence.