Chapter 510: Shi Yong Sings

I looked at Xiao Long and first took a sip of wine.

Then I slowly said, "Xiao Long, you see how tense this table looks at night, right?"

Xiao Long looked around in confusion.

I continued, "Look, no matter who it is, without a table you can only wait,

wait for others to finish, then you can sit at the table to eat.

When they're eating, you can't drive them away.

Otherwise a fight will break out.

Forcefully driving this table away,

First, you have powerful social connections backing you, so you're not afraid of causing trouble.

Second, you have a solid financial base that can compensate others, so they won't cause trouble.

Right now people are eating just fine,

how can you tell them,

"Get up, let me say, I ate at this table yesterday, so today it also belongs to me."

"Isn't a person like that a lunatic?"

After I finished speaking, Xiao Long fell into thought for a long while and said nothing.

I downed the remaining wine in one gulp.

"Xiao Long, you can't even inquire about your father's affairs; even if you speak, he won't listen. You, on the other hand, should review your own lessons well, so you'll do better on the exam."

"Make your grandmother happy a bit."

"Don't worry, I'll definitely make my grandmother happy," Xiao Long said proudly.

At our table there were five of us, we drank six jin of baijiu, and none of us left any.

Everyone wanted to get drunk.

In fact, everyone has a belly of thoughts, and only uses alcohol to wear down those thoughts.

Over the past year we've all been too exhausted,

and all need to get drunk once to relax.

Shi Yong, that fellow, drank two jin by himself, and he still hadn't had enough; he wanted a large mug of draft beer.

Then he drank straight away like a bull.

After a large mug of draft beer entered Shi Yong's stomach,

he wiped his mouth,

"Everyone, listen up, I'll sing a song for you, in memory of our past."

Shi Yong then started singing recklessly.

Everyone could only endure listening; after a while the owner couldn't stand it, came over and said, "Big brother, I beg you, I won't charge this table any money.

Stop singing, and besides, I can't run my business like this anymore."

Sure enough, just as the owner said,

the tables around us emptied.

All because Shi Yong's song scared them away.

Shi Yong got anxious,

"What's wrong, I'm not singing well.

Sit down and listen as I sing it again for you."

The owner almost fell to his knees and cried.

This Shi Yong likes to bully ordinary people.

I said to the owner, "We'll leave now; count how many tables just left, they're all ours.

We'll never let you take a loss. Today, Shi Yong is drunk, let him sing."

When the owner heard that someone was settling the bill, he said what's the point,

and ran to the side to settle the accounts.

At this moment Shi Yong stood up,

and loudly sang, "Roll… roll, the Yangtze flows eastward, the waves wash away heroes, right and wrong, success and failure turn to emptiness…"

Not a single line was in tune.

Except for the word "roll," the rest was unintelligible.

What I admire most is Shi Yong's courage,

to dare sing, to sing so loudly; he really should join that 'I'm a Big Star' show, maybe he could become famous.

Zhao Xiaohua glanced at the time; it was almost 12 o'clock,

and said to me, "It's getting late, let's split up. I'll have the driver take you back to the hotel."

I smiled, "No need, I'll walk back with Shi Yong.

It's safe now.

Who knows me, who the hell knows who I am.

Haha, let's go, Shi Yong."

Shi Yong staggered to his feet,

"Brother, I'll go over to those few tables and sing again. That table has a few girls who are quite pretty."

"Xiao Shitou, settle the bill, give the owner more money."

"Alright, Shi Yong, at your age, can't you set an example in front of the kids?" I said, then grabbed Shi Yong.

Shi Yong staggered and followed me away.

Xiao Long, fearing something might happen to us on the road, kept following us back to the hotel.

Back in the hotel, Shi Yong flopped onto the bed and fell asleep.

I felt my mind not fully awake, so I went to the bathroom and washed up.

Then I put on my pajamas and lay on the bed,

Tomorrow, I will investigate Shangguan Zhuren's cause of death.

Really, just as Kong Shi said? Shangguan Zhuren died of a heart attack.

I have some doubts.

Moreover, Shangguan Zhuren's body is still kept in the morgue of a hospital in Teng County.

Tomorrow I'll first go to the hospital morgue to see Shangguan Zhuren.

Let Shangguan Zhuren rest in peace as soon as possible; tell him we have already won.

Lost in thought, I gradually fell asleep.

The next morning I woke up earlier; Shi Yong was still snoring. I ignored him, got up, and went outside the hotel to buy some breakfast.

But I couldn't get the baked pancake, only got a vegetable pancake and a steamed bun.

This vegetable pancake is also one of Zaocheng's specialties—just put greens on the pancake and fry it on a stove.

Anyway, it's very fragrant.

Everyone can give it a try when they have time.

I brought the breakfast back into the hotel.

Shi Yong was still asleep.

I ate the vegetable pancake by myself.

I left the steamed bun for Shi Yong; he loves steamed buns.

I had just eaten half of the vegetable pancake when Shi Yong woke up.

Seeing me eat the vegetable pancake, he rubbed his eyes,

"Brother, do we have any steamed buns? I don't want the vegetable pancake."

I then tossed the steamed bun in front of Shi Yong,

"Steamed bun, I already got it for you—hurry up and eat; we still have things to do."

Shi Yong, seeing the steamed buns, sprang up from the bed at once,

then grabbed a steamed bun and began eating it in big bites.

He ate so greedily oil dripped from his mouth.

"Shi Yong, wash your hands too; from last night your hands have touched who knows what—you don't mind the dirt, but I see they're filthy."

Shi Yong chuckled: "Our own stuff isn't dirty,"

"This steamed bun is awesome—it needs a bit of spice."

"Shi Yong, hurry up and eat; we still have important business." I said.

"Brother, you don't know—I'm called Shi SanKuai because I eat fast. Look, ten buns, I eat one per bite."

Shi Yong grabbed the buns with both hands and started stuffing them into his mouth.

Before long the ten buns were down, and Shi Yong let out a contented burp.

Then he ran to the bathroom.

Most people relieve themselves before eating, but Shi Yong does the reverse—he eats first then goes.

What a talent.

I waited over half an hour for Shi Yong to finally come out of the bathroom,

"Shi Yong, you call that fast? It's not fast at all—half an hour already, what kind of stool are you dropping?"

Shi Yong smiled sheepishly,

"My hemorrhoids have been acting up these days; hey, brother, how was my singing yesterday?"

"This time I can really put my heart into it—I feel I sang very well."

Hearing Shi Yong say that, I almost burst out laughing,

"Shi Yong, singing isn't just about survival; it also costs money—you know how much we've spent on food."

"How much? Not more than 500." Shi Yong said.

"Four thousand dollars—your singing drove the boss's customers away."

"The boss made us pay for the money lost from the fleeing customers."

"Your singing is actually not bad." I teased Shi Yong.

"Ah, you dare to shake me down, Shi Yong, without even checking my reputation in Zaocheng."

"Damn, I'm going to find him and wreck his shop."

"Going to his place to eat is me giving him face."

"Asking me for four thousand—you're practically begging to die." Shi Yong, fuming, strode out.

"Shi Yong, what are you up to?"

"I'm going to wreck that shop from yesterday. It's so aggravating, not giving me any face." Shi Yong snapped.

"Come on, running a small business isn't easy. If you smash their shop, how will the family eat? Shi Yong, why do you always pick on the weak? If you've got skill, go to Sijiucheng and take on the old timers."

"Only if you take out the notable figures of Sijiucheng will I be impressed." I said, pointing at Shi Yong.