130. I Am No Gentleman (Part I)

I placed the money on the table and said, "Landlady, thank you for cooking a bowl of beef noodles just for me today. You've gone to a lot of trouble, and I couldn't possibly eat for free."

The landlady smiled warmly and replied, "I won't stand on ceremony then, but this is too much. I'll get you some change."

"No need for the trouble, landlady," I said. "If there’s any extra, just keep it for the next time I come by."

As I turned to leave, she called out cheerfully, "Thank you! You're welcome back anytime."

Sister Yang walked over, eyeing me with surprise. "Ah Feng, what’s happened to you? Eating beef noodles today?" Clearly, she was curious as to why I looked so disheveled.

"I was just a bit hungry and had a sudden craving for beef noodles," I replied.

Sister Yang sounded a bit reproachful as she said, "If you were hungry, why didn't you call me? Are you afraid I might eat you?"

I felt awkward. "It’s the first month of the Lunar New Year; I didn't want to disturb you."

"Don't be so shy," she insisted. "You look exhausted, and there’s a wound on your forehead. Come stay at my place tonight and get some rest."

I felt embarrassed and tried to find an excuse to decline, but since she had already caught me eating alone, it was hard to refuse. Seeing my silence, she added, "Why are you being so formal with me? Come, come—have dinner at my place tonight. We have plenty of leftovers, and there’s no one else there."

As she reached out to pull me along, I realized that making a scene would only look more awkward, so I followed her to the back seat of her car.

Seeing the injury on my forehead, little Ya chirped incessantly, "Uncle Feng, are you Ultraman? Did you get hurt fighting monsters?" I coaxed her casually, "Yes, that monster was very powerful!"

To my surprise, little Ya said with dead seriousness, "Uncle Feng, you’re lying. Where would a monster come from?"

I was rendered speechless, feeling incredibly awkward. Children are not easily fooled. Sister Yang intervened, "Uncle Feng got hurt fighting bad guys." Little Ya reached out and pressed her small hand against my forehead. "Uncle Feng, does it hurt?"

"Not anymore," I replied.

"Uncle Feng, you're lying again!" she countered. "How could it not hurt?" It seemed this little girl was a sharp one.

Soon, we arrived at Sister Yang’s factory. It was already closed for the holidays, and even the elderly caretaker had been picked up by his family. She opened the main gate, and the place was deathly silent. She drove to the main building, locked the stainless steel gate behind us, and led me through the corridor to her villa.

It was getting late, so she asked me to play with little Ya while she prepared dinner. Since I had just eaten the noodles, I said, "Sister Yang, I’m actually full. You two go ahead and eat; don't worry about me."

She smiled brightly. "It’s still the New Year, and you’re an honored guest. Even if you don't eat, you have to keep me company for a drink."

Since it was just the three of us, she whipped up a few simple dishes and plugged in an electric hot pot. The beef, sesame oil duck, and sliced chicken were already prepared. As the sky grew dark, we began to eat. Little Ya finished first and went upstairs to play.

I sat drinking and chatting with Sister Yang. "Ah Feng, where have you been lately? I haven't seen you in such a long time."

I thought about my marriage to Sister Li and our subsequent divorce. It was a painful subject, so I decided not to bring it up. "I’ve been working out of town, Sister Yang."

"Was it for life or work?" she asked.

"Work, I suppose," I said vaguely.

Seeing my hesitation, she guessed things hadn't gone well. "Ah Feng, if you don't mind, why don't you come work at my factory when we reopen? By the way, I never paid you for the last time you worked here." She stood up, looking as if she were about to get the money.

I laughed. "Sister Yang, don't be so formal. I didn't do much work last time, so forget the pay."

"I can't say that," she insisted. "You did me a huge favor. If it weren't for your help, I wouldn't have been able to solve that problem."

"Let's not talk about the past," I said.

"Ah Feng," she pressed, "you don't need to hide anything from me. Are you doing well? If you are, I won't hold you back. But if things aren't going well, come to me. I won't treat you poorly."

I thought about the fact that it was only the third day of the New Year, I had a head injury, my clothes were a mess, and I’d been forced to eat noodles for survival. If I claimed I was doing well, no one would believe me. I fell into a somber silence; my quietness spoke for itself, though I was too embarrassed to admit it directly.

Seeing my despondent look, she leaned in closer. "Ah Feng, don't be sad. Life has its ups and downs; it can't always be smooth sailing. But don't worry—there’s no hurdle that can't be crossed. When I lost my husband, I was devastated, but I made it through."

Because she was so close, the fragrance of her perfume filled the air. Any hot-blooded man in my position would have felt his heart race. However, having just separated from Sister Li, I hadn't moved past the sorrow, so I felt no such desire and instinctively pulled back slightly.

Sister Yang teased, "What’s wrong? I’m not going to eat you, why are you dodging me?"

I felt awkward. "My back is a bit itchy... I was just trying to stretch..."

"Where?" she asked with a smile. "Let me scratch it for you." I realized I had told a clumsy lie and brought this on myself, but I just gestured vaguely toward my back.

She slid her fingers under my shirt and scratched gently. Her hands were soft and smooth, and it actually felt quite nice. Worried that the alcohol would make me lose my restraint, I made an excuse: "Sister Yang, thank you for your warm hospitality, but I really must be going."

She looked deeply disappointed and tried to persuade me to stay. "Ah Feng, it’s so late. Don't go. The bed you used to sleep in is still there; please, just stay."

"Sister Yang, we are a man and a woman alone," I said. "If I stay here, it will ruin your reputation and lead to all sorts of rumors."

Since I had put it that way, she couldn't insist any further and walked me out. As we reached the corridor of the factory building, I suddenly saw a figure flash by. "Who’s there?" I shouted. Then I heard a dull thud, as if someone had jumped over the factory wall.

I rushed out to investigate, only to see a van speeding away on the road outside the wall.

Sister Yang, still shaken, asked, "Ah Feng, who was it?"

"Probably a thief," I said. She grabbed my arm. "Ah Feng, please don't go tonight. I’m scared!"