Chapter 586

That time, Bai Piao.

That time, Bai Piao.

That was the time after Xu Damao entered Hong Kong Island when he was closest to death.

That was the time after Xu Damao entered Hong Kong Island when he was closest to death.

Those thugs chasing him.

Translation: "Those thugs who chased him."

They all drew their weapons.

Translation: "They all drew their weapons."

The bullets even hit the wall next to Xu Damao, and fragments grazed his forehead; it was Cao Long risking his life to save Xu Damao.

Translation: "The fired bullets even struck the wall beside Xu Damao, and a ricochet grazed his forehead; it was Cao Long who risked his life to save Xu Damao's life."

Toward outsiders.

Translation: "To outsiders."

Perhaps he was a little wary.

Translation: "Perhaps they were somewhat wary."

Toward Cao Long.

Translation: "Toward Cao Long."

He felt only gratitude.

Translation: "They felt only gratitude."

Two lifesaving acts.

Translation: "Two lifesaving favors."

Truly, the kind that cannot be repaid.

Translation: "They were truly the kind that could not be repaid."

Knowing Cao Long liked to smoke, Xu Damao tossed the cigarettes he'd bought especially for him into Cao Long's hand like a basketball.

Translation: "Knowing Cao Long liked to smoke, Xu Damao tossed the cigarettes he had specially bought for Cao Long into his hand like a basketball shot."

The words Lou Xiaoe spoke to Xu Damao in the courtyard are still vivid in his memory: in Hong Kong, as long as you're willing to endure hardship, any job can make money.

Translation: "The words Lou Xiaoe said to Xu Damao in the siheyuan remain fresh in his memory: in Hong Kong Island, as long as one is willing to endure hardship, any work can earn money."

These past few days.

Translation: "These past few days."

Because of the illegal residency problem.

Translation: "Due to the black household issue."

Furthermore, some locals saw a business opportunity in Xu Damao's paid photo service and took over, pocketing the money.

Translation: "Also because some locals saw a business opportunity in Xu Damao's money-making photo service and took over that income."

He had an ID card.

Translation: "They had ID cards."

He wasn't afraid of being checked.

Translation: "They weren't afraid of being checked."

Xu Damao's means of earning money was instantly taken over by others.

Translation: "Xu Damao's money-making method was instantly snatched away by them."

With no other option, Xu Damao shed the clothes he'd worn upon arriving in Hong Kong, donned local shorts and sandals, picked up a feather duster and other tools, and began washing cars on the street; occasionally generous customers would just slip him ten dollars as a tip.

Translation: "Helpless, Xu Damao took off the clothes he had worn when coming to Hong Kong Island, put on locals' shorts and sandals, grabbed a feather duster and other tools, and started doing car-washing jobs by the street; sometimes, when he met a kind customer, he would casually get a ten-dollar tip."

This also stirred Xu Damao to voice great ambitions, resolving to become a skilled car washer.

Translation: "This also stirred Xu Damao to proclaim great ambitions, vowing to become a capable car-wash worker."

Today he made more than thirty dollars.

Translation: "Today he earned over thirty dollars."

If it weren't for someone chasing him, Xu Damao could have made over fifty dollars.

Translation: "If not for someone chasing Xu Damao, he might have earned over fifty."

On his way back.

Translation: "When he returned."

Passing a cigarette stall, he saw the brand Cao Long liked and bought him a pack.

Translation: "Passing a cigarette stall, he saw the brand Cao Long liked and bought a pack for him."

Cao Long didn't hesitate.

Translation: "Cao Long was not polite."

He skillfully tore open the wrapper, pulled out a cigarette, lit it with a lighter, glanced around, and then suddenly lowered his voice to Xu Damao.

Translation: "He skillfully tore open the outer packaging, pulled out a cigarette, lit it with a lighter, then glanced around and suddenly lowered his voice toward Xu Damao."

"Damao."

"Damao."

"Huh?"

Translation: "\"Huh? \""

"You'll benefit."

Translation: "\"There's something good for you. \""

Seeing Cao Long's expression, Xu Damao understood exactly what he meant by "there's something in it for you"; after staying in Kowloon Walled City for a while, he had also picked up some knowledge about the place.

Translation: "Seeing Cao Long's expression, Xu Damao understood exactly what Cao Long meant by 'there's something good for you'; after living in Kowloon Walled City for some days, he had more or less learned some things about it."

Unlawful deeds ran rampant.

Translation: "Illegal activities ran rampant."

Before arriving, Xu Damao could never have imagined that while he slept on the east side of a wooden board, someone on the west side was conducting illegal deals, and nearby people carried basins in and out to wash up—everything he had grown used to, seeing as ordinary.

Translation: "Before coming, Xu Damao could never have imagined that while he slept on the eastern side of a plank bed, someone on the western side was conducting illegal deals, and around them people carried basins in and out to wash up; to all this, he had become accustomed, seeing it as nothing strange."

To survive.

Translation: "To survive."

Anything can be done.

Translation: "Anything could be done."

Xu Damao was no different; to make a living, he began working as a car-washing assistant.

Translation: "Xu Damao was the same; to make a living, he began working as a car-wash assistant."

"Damao, you know that without an ID, getting around here is extremely hard."

Translation: "\"Damao, you also know that in this place, lacking an ID makes every step difficult. \""

Those words.

Translation: "This sentence."

Xu Damao strongly agreed.

Translation: "Xu Damao highly agreed."

A few days earlier, while working part‑time at a restaurant, when payday arrived the authorities showed up to check IDs, forcing Xu Damao to slip out the back; he worked three days for no pay and got only three days' worth of meals.

Translation: "A few days ago, while working part-time at a restaurant, when it was time to get paid, the police were called, they checked IDs, forcing Xu Damao to flee out the back door; he worked three days for nothing, earned not a cent, and merely got three days' worth of meals."

He even dreamed of having his own identification.

Translation: "He even dreamed of having his own ID."

Then he could stand confidently before the officials and be a true Hong Kong Islander.

Translation: "Then he could stand openly before the police and be a true Hong Kong Islander."

An even more important matter.

Translation: "More importantly."

With an ID, Xu Damao could earn a higher wage; he had learned that movie‑theater projectionists on Hong Kong Island made over two thousand dollars a month, equivalent to sixty or seventy dollars a day.

Translation: "Having an ID would let Xu Damao earn a higher wage; he had heard that movie projectionists in Hong Kong Island cinemas make over two thousand dollars a month, equivalent to sixty or seventy dollars a day."

Other tasks might be beyond Xu Damao, but he could run a projector even with his eyes closed.

Translation: "Other things Xu Damao might not manage, but operating a projector he could do with his eyes closed."

He asked many people.

Translation: "He asked many people."

Unless you have relatives in Hong Kong, you can go to their home, have the authorities check your status, and they will issue you an ID.

Translation: "Unless you have relatives in Hong Kong Island, go to their home, have the relevant authorities come to verify, and they will issue you an ID."

Xu Damao had no relatives in Hong Kong.

Translation: "Xu Damao has no relatives in Hong Kong Island."

Nor can it be said that he had none.

Translation: "But you can't say he has none."

His ex‑wife!

Translation: "His ex-wife, ah."

His ex‑wife Lou Xiaoe lived in Hong Kong, as did her parents; while fleeing gangsters, he unintentionally ran past the basement of her office building, and according to onlookers, that thirty‑plus‑story skyscraper belonged solely to Lou Xiaoe.

Translation: "Lou Xiaoe, his ex-wife, is in Hong Kong Island, as are his former father-in-law and mother-in-law; when the thugs were chasing him, he unintentionally ran past the basement of Lou Xiaoe's office building, and according to the explanations of those nearby, that thirty-plus-story skyscraper belongs solely to Lou Xiaoe."

The ignorant are fearless.

The ignorant are fearless.

If he hadn't known how wealthy Lou Xiaoe was, Xu Damao might have actually run to her for help; but after learning her family's exact net worth, he suddenly felt a sense of looking up to her.

Translation: "If he hadn't known how wealthy Lou Xiaoe was, Xu Damao might have actually gone to find her; but after learning the exact net worth of her family, he suddenly felt a sense of looking up to them."

Inside the steel mill.

Translation: "Inside the Yagangchang."

Lou Xiaoe was his wife, and her parents did their best to give Xu Damao a pleasant demeanor, fearing he might cause them trouble.

Translation: "Lou Xiaoe is his wife, and her parents also try to give Xu Damao a good face, fearing he might cause them trouble."

At that time.

Translation: "This is one time."

At that other time.

Translation: "That is another time."

Nowadays, the wealthy are favored.

Translation: "Nowadays, the rich are in favor."

Overcome by feelings of inferiority, Xu Damao failed to keep his promise to visit Lou Xiaoe; his wounded pride got in the way.

Translation: "Xu Damao, feeling inferior, did not keep his original promise to visit Lou Xiaoe; his pitiful self-esteem was at work."

Cao brother, just say what happened.

"Someone needs your help, but you don't need to do anything or say anything; as long as you admit you came from there, when you came you brought some stuff, and these stuff were all taken from those rich people's homes during that time, then everything will be fine; after the matter succeeds, you take this amount."

Two fingers.

The two fingers were held up in front of Xu Daming.

Xu Daming's face changed instantly; he wasn't a clueless novice, and Cao Long's words just now had exposed a lot of the inside story.

It was guessed to be a honey trap, and moreover a honey trap of enormous value.

As one of the parties involved, they couldn't possibly send him off with just two hundred yuan; it's very likely two thousand, and with wild imagination, maybe even twenty thousand.

"Twenty thousand?"

Cao Long looked at Xu Daming.

A look of shock.

Really daring to ask for that.

Twenty thousand.

"Two thousand." Cao Long, who had spoken the number, added, "After the matter succeeds, I'll settle your identity issue; whether you do it or not, you consider it."

Can't even afford a meal.

Still considering whether to do it.

Naturally, he did it.

Xu Daming didn't consider it at all, grabbed Cao Long's arm in one motion, looked at Cao Long, and asked.

"When?"

"Wait for my notice!"

"Okay!"

Watching Cao Long's departing back.

Xu Daming fell into a daze.

He felt he was a failure as a person.

Everyone knows Xu Daming gets along well with Shazhu, but they don't know that Xu Daming has always harbored a competitive mindset toward Shazhu; unlike in his previous life, he doesn't scheme in every way, ruin you behind your back, or spread all kinds of gossip about you.

In terms of ability, Shazhu was the cafeteria head, while Xu Daming was the deputy head of Yagangchang; Shazhu married Yu Li, and Xu Daming married Lou Xiaoe; Shazhu went out on his own, became the head of Bai Xu Restaurant, and made Bai Xu the top-ranked eatery in the Capital City, while Xu Daming wondered what he could do.

He thought it over.

He realized that the current period was completely not Xu Daming's forte; his only advantage was showing movies.

He couldn't possibly open his own movie theater, could he?

After meeting Lou Xiaoe, hearing her mention Hong Kong Island in her words, he thought about going out to make his way.

He originally thought that with his own ability, he could achieve great things.

But in the end he ended up doing street-side car washing.

If he could really use this matter to obtain a local ID and get two thousand yuan, many things could be done.

……

A certain city.

Xiao Dang, who had been running all day.

Starving, he appeared at the city bus station.

He started running from after midnight, around 1 a. m.

Except for a brief rest midway to avoid the Liang Family mother and son's pursuit, Xiao Dang spent all other time rushing onward, rushing onward.

Relying on a pair of iron feet.

Within a few hours.

He actually managed to run forty or fifty kilometers.

Outside the bus station.

He bought two buns, ate them while walking, and boarded the bus to the neighboring city.

Worried that the Liang Family mother and son would send people to stake out, she deliberately chose a bus going in the opposite direction from the Capital City, preparing to take a train from the neighboring city back to the Capital City.

That train, whose number starts with H, does not pass through this city where the Liang Family mother and son are.

In terms of safety, there was some guarantee.

As for the introduction letter,

Xiao Dang wrote two herself.

When she went yesterday to the brigade to fetch the letter, she recognized the handwriting on the envelope as Huaihua's, so she tore open the stationery at the brigade office and read it, discovering it wrote about those matters of the Jia Family, which gave Xiao Dang at that time the idea of going back to the Capital City to watch the drama of the Jia Family widow, and meanwhile she took two blank stamped introduction letters from the brigade captain's drawer.

She wrote her own name on them; no one could do anything to Xiao Dang.

The bus she was on started.

It smoothly drove out of the bus station.

Just as Xiao Dang had thought, in the situation where the search came up empty, the people from the Liang Family village split into three groups: one group went to the county city and guarded the county bus station; another group came to the city bus station; and the third group went to the train station.

Using Liang Tangshi's original words to describe.

Xiao Dang came from the Capital City.

The ways to return to the Capital City are either by train or by bus; as long as those two places are guarded, Xiao Dang cannot fly away even with wings.

The people from the Liang Family village focused all their thoughts and energy on vehicles heading toward the Capital City, paying close attention to those places; other vehicles, even if seen, would be treated as if not seen.

Both sides created a time lag.

Xiao Dang took the bus to the neighboring city and bought a train ticket to the Capital City.

……

Shazhu rode the niezi.

Put-put-put, he went to see the Big Leader.

He identified himself.

He produced his credentials.

Under the guidance of someone who claimed to be the Big Leader's secretary, he walked toward the office where the Big Leader was.

This secretary, Shazhu had never met; looking at his appearance, he seemed a dozen years younger than Shazhu, likely a recent graduate, wearing glasses and giving off a scholarly vibe.

Shazhu guessed that Secretary Zhao had been transferred to another department.

Otherwise, it should have been Secretary Zhao who brought him.

Outside the Big Leader's office, the newly arrived secretary had Shazhu wait a moment; facing Shazhu, he knocked on the door, paused for about thirty seconds, pushed it open and went in. Less than a minute later, the secretary opened the door, invited Shazhu in, and after Shazhu entered the Big Leader's office, helped close the door.

This place.

Shazhu had been here twice.

The first time was when he followed Factory Director Yang to give a report.

The second time was after Bai Xu had been operating for a month, when he came to report his performance.

That was already half a year ago.

From when Shazhu formally took over Bai Xu until today, it totals exactly one hundred eighty-three days.

Exactly six months.

Within those six months, the Bai Xu under Shazhu's leadership handed over a total profit of over forty-five thousand three hundred, equivalent to a monthly net income of over seven thousand.

At present, the average monthly wage is forty-two yuan, meaning one month's earnings equal eleven or twelve years of a person's salary.

Today he came to see the Big Leader.

On one hand to report performance, on the other to discuss Bai Xu's concrete future plans with the Big Leader; seeing the Big Leader reading documents, Shazhu didn't wait for him to speak and simply sat down honestly on the stool in front of the Big Leader.

This bit of affection.

It still exists.

Shazhu deliberately used this gesture to show his closeness to the Big Leader; anyone else would surely stand there honestly, waiting for the Big Leader to speak.

He holds a high position.

He won't quibble over such things.

Do you really think the saying 'a prime minister's belly can hold a boat' is nonsense?

No.

Shazhu sat on the stool, waiting more than ten minutes for the Big Leader to finish his business, then looking up at Shazhu, the Big Leader finally greeted him.

"Big Leader, you should take care of your health."

"Well done, He Yuzhu, you've also gone bad, learned to flatter—this isn't the He Yuzhu I know."

The Big Leader wore a look of pleasure.

Upon seeing Shazhu.

His mood inexplicably improved greatly.

After the Big Leader's reminder, Shazhu also grinned.

Both recalled the scene of their first meeting.

Unlike in his previous life, when Xu Daming badmouthed Shazhu behind his back and got driven away, this life, because Shazhu gets along well with Xu Daming, Xu Daming wasn't driven away, yet he still, just as in the previous life, isn't particularly favored by the Big Leader.

Mainly because the Big Leader considers Xu Daming a bit slippery.

Having absorbed those experiences from his previous life, Shazhu did not act as the domineering master in the kitchen, rummaging through cabinets for tea leaves to brew tea, nor did he have the other party buy sesame paste, and certainly did not treat the Big Leader's wife as a housemaid; instead, he honestly prepared the usual pre‑cooking chores.

He left a good impression on the Big Leader's wife.

Although Xu Daming was also honestly doing his assigned duties, the Big Leader's wife compared him to Shazhu and felt Xu Daming was less honest than Shazhu.

A naturally long donkey face.

He deserved it.

After Xu Daming finished the movie, Shazhu also had the meals ready; waiting for the Big Leader and company to eat and drink their fill, when they expressed a wish to see Shazhu, Shazhu made his formal appearance.

Faced with the Big Leader's questioning.

He wouldn't say.

This led the Big Leader to think Shazhu was mute.

The Big Leader's wife exclaimed, saying that this person who claimed to be Shazhu's comrade had just spoken with her in the kitchen, especially honest, obviously a conscientious person.

After the Big Leader repeatedly pressed him, Shazhu told the truth, saying that beforehand Factory Director Yang had worried that if Shazhu talked too much he would cause a laughingstock, and had urged him to speak as little as possible, for 'many words lead to loss.'

When that answer came out.

The Big Leader and company burst into laughter.

They all felt they had become much younger.

He told Shazhu not to worry about their status and to speak freely; Shazhu deliberately looked at Factory Director Yang, who then spoke, and Shazhu introduced himself, explaining why he was called Shazhu: because he had been chased by rebel troops without losing his bao, instantly giving him the background of a bitter origin, and then he said that at sixteen he had run away from his father, raising his six‑ or seven‑year‑old younger sister on his own, thereby establishing the image of a responsible person.

These two personae further gave Shazhu the image of being straightforward and free of ulterior motives.

All three personae made the Big Leader think Shazhu was not bad; joking in front of Factory Director Yang, he told Yang not to bear a grudge against Shazhu, and added that Shazhu's cooking was good, hoping that when Shazhu had time he would cook a few more meals for him.

Shazhu eagerly agreed.

Thus his relationship with the Big Leader was established; even though during that unpleasant period many people kept their distance from the Big Leader, Shazhu continued as before to cook for the Big Leader and play chess with him, earning the Big Leader's praise.