Chapter 104: Who Doesn

Today, when he went out, he didn’t see the sun—the sky had been gloomy all day, and finally began to drizzle… a fine, misty rain.

Feeling the dampness on his face, he looked up briefly, then, determined to finish quickly and get it over with, Wang Yan bent his head back to work.

“Wang Yan… Wang Dashan…”

A shout from nearby drew their attention; both put down their tools, slapped the dust off their hands, and stood up.

The team leader walked up: “You two, stop working and clean up—the foreman wants to see you.”

Wang Dashan asked curiously: “Team leader, do you know why the foreman wants us?”

Glancing at Wang Yan, the team leader said: “Zhao Jiaqing came with a few others and asked for the foreman. I don’t know the details—you’ll find out when you get there. Go on, get your things and hurry. Don’t keep the foreman waiting. I’m off.”

Wang Yan nodded: “Got it, thanks, team leader.”

The team leader waved dismissively and walked off quickly.

Wang Dashan glanced at Wang Yan, turned back to pack his things, and called out loudly: “You think this is about the card game?”

Of course it is. They couldn’t afford to pay that much, they don’t want to hand over their house, and they can’t beat him in a fight—this is the only thing left they might try.

Wang Yan was crouching on the ground, clattering as he packed: “Why think so much? Just pack up.”

Wang Dashan sighed, said nothing, and hurried his movements.

………

The two hurried to the foreman’s office. After Wang Dashan caught his breath, Wang Yan knocked firmly on the wooden door: “Bang… bang… bang…”

“Come in…”

Hearing the voice from inside, Wang Yan pushed the door open and stepped in; Wang Dashan followed behind and closed it.

Ignoring Zhao Jiaqing and the others standing nearby, Wang Yan stepped forward: “Foreman, you wanted me?”

The foreman rose with a smile, patted Wang Yan’s shoulder: “Ah, you’re here. Don’t be formal—come, sit down.” He gestured toward the stools behind him.

“Thank you, foreman.”

The two thanked him and sat down.

The foreman glared at Zhao Jiaqing and snapped: “What are you standing there for? Go get some water…”

“Huh? Oh, right… water, I’ll get water!” Zhao Jiaqing snapped to attention and hurried to the side to pick up the teapot.

Seeing this, the foreman turned back and smiled: “How’s work going for you two lately?”

Wang Yan nodded: “Thank you for your concern, foreman. Everything’s fine.”

Wang Dashan beside him also nodded in agreement.

The foreman took the hot water Zhao Jiaqing handed him: “Any problems with daily life? Speak freely—if you’re struggling, say so. You’re both good comrades building the nation; the organization won’t stand idle, and personally, I’ll help however I can.”

Before Wang Yan could speak, Wang Dashan rushed to answer: “No problems at all, foreman, rest assured.”

The foreman smiled and nodded, then turned his gaze to Wang Yan.

Wang Yan said: “Thank you, foreman. Life’s fine—everything’s good.” As he spoke, he took the cup of water Zhao Jiaqing offered.

“Good, good,” the foreman sipped, glancing at Zhao Jiaqing’s back: “Zhao Jiaqing and the others told me everything…”

After a pause, he looked at Wang Yan and continued: “I think we can settle this amicably. None of you are easy off—it doesn’t have to come to Zhao Jiaqing selling his house to pay the debt. If we pursued this legally, you’d be charged with gambling in a group. No need to escalate it. Let’s sit down and talk it through—it benefits you, me, and all the workers on this section. What do you say, Wang Yan?”

He didn’t flex his authority or issue orders—he knew it wouldn’t work. Zhao Jiaqing didn’t have that kind of clout. Yes, he was a leader, but how many leaders get beaten? Does hitting a leader hurt less? He knew Zhao Jiaqing had hired people to attack Wang Yan—he could see the state Zhao Jiaqing and his men were in. If Wang Yan got angry, he’d be the one who’d suffer.

Hearing this, Wang Dashan subtly tugged Wang Yan’s sleeve and gave him a pleading look. The boss had spoken—he thought they should just let it go. Knowing how much Wang Yan had bought at lunch, he knew Wang Yan had won big. Let go of the bicycle—it’s enough.

Wang Yan glanced at Wang Dashan’s blinking eyes, then turned back to the foreman: “What do you think should be done?”

The foreman paused: “Debts must be paid—that’s natural. But we see each other every day, so there’s some face to consider. Let them raise as much as they can—whatever they can scrape together…”

Seeing Wang Yan staring at him intently, the foreman felt uneasy. Zhao Jiaqing and the others were scum—they lost, refused to pay, and now came to stir up trouble. If Wang Yan hadn’t been so fierce, who knew what might’ve happened. Now they came to him, the leader, to mediate—it was outright bullying.

He forced himself to finish: “What do you think… is that acceptable?”

Wang Yan glanced at Zhao Jiaqing and the others, who were holding their breath, then smiled: “Since the foreman has spoken, what can I say? Fine—they pay five thousand, and the matter is closed.”

He’d expected this outcome. Facing a creditor as fierce as him, their options were limited: either go all-in and kill him outright, or pay up. Reporting the gambling wouldn’t land them in jail—it was no capital offense, and they’d be out eventually. They weren’t stupid. And he had no intention of driving them to ruin—he’d give them a break.

“Foreman, we—” Zhao Jiaqing blurted out, desperate to speak. Five hundred would’ve been a miracle—where would they get five thousand?

The foreman’s smile froze. He snapped: “Shut up! Wang Yan’s already given in this much—what more do you want? Do you even respect me as your foreman? Hmm?”

As he spoke, he glanced at Wang Yan beside him. Seeing Wang Yan quietly drinking, not even looking his way, he knew his attempt to sway him was wasted.

He forced a smile back on his face and looked squarely at Wang Yan: “Fine. Five thousand, as you say. But can you give them a little more time? You know their situation. How about… one week? They’ll pay you five thousand, no less, in one week.”

Wang Yan nodded: “Agreed. That’s settled.”

“Good. You’ve both been working hard lately—go home early today. It won’t count as leaving early.”

“Thank you, foreman. Then we’ll be off…” Wang Yan rose politely.

The foreman waved: “Go on, get some rest.”

Outside, Wang Dashan grinned, walking briskly: “Looks like it’s over. I’m telling you, Wang Yan, don’t be so reckless next time. Thank goodness the foreman stepped in to mediate—we really owe him. If Zhao Jiaqing and his bunch had gone crazy and attacked you, what if something bad happened?”

The foreman?

If the foreman hadn’t taken money, Wang Yan would’ve eaten the railway tracks. What right did Zhao Jiaqing and his crew have to drag the foreman into this? All that talk about unity and avoiding disruption? They’d probably still lose their house. With Wang Yan this fierce, even the foreman dared to hint at him—what chance did Zhao Jiaqing and his useless crew have? They were completely under his thumb.

Wang Yan laughed boastfully: “Forget them—what are they? Go crazy? I’ll let them have three moves.”

“But you made a lot of money this time, right? Five thousand from Liu Jinhu, now another five thousand—you’re a ten-thousand-yuan household already. But… are you really going to take Liu Jinhu’s money?”

“You’re just worrying for nothing,” Wang Yan chuckled. “Think about it—if Liu Jinhu really wanted to cause trouble, would Zhao Jiaqing and the others have come to the foreman?” He grinned: “Stop thinking. Let’s go. I’m starving just thinking about all that meat—go home and tell your wife to cook.”

Wang Dashan realized it made sense. He rubbed his stomach and chuckled, hurrying after him.

………

Luo Yuzhu wrapped up a tea egg and handed it over, taking the money: “Four mao. Perfect.”

“Dad…”

“Ah, hahaha!” Wang Dashan beamed, picking up Wang Xu, who ran over clutching an apple, and patted his backside: “Say hello.”

“Hello, uncle,” Wang Xu greeted Wang Yan.

Wang Yan smiled, ruffling his hair: “Good. You too.” Looking at the sturdy, lively boy, Wang Yan imagined him grown up—hmm… more mature?

“Why are you back so early?”

Luo Yuzhu looked at the two, stepped around her small tricycle, and asked curiously.

Wang Dashan glanced at Wang Yan beside him: “The foreman told us to go home early—rest up. Let’s talk later. Wang Yan’s been complaining all the way—he’s hungry too. Let’s pack up.”

Luo Yuzhu didn’t press further. She turned and began packing up.

Adults get hungry too—they just control it. Earlier, with no customers, she’d flipped through what Wang Yan had bought. Honestly, even a banquet wouldn’t have been this lavish—she’d already planned every dish.

“Get down now—Dad’s helping Mom.”

Wang Dashan set Wang Xu down and helped Luo Yuzhu pack up.

Wang Yan rode the tricycle, chatting and laughing with Wang Dashan’s family as they returned to their small house by the railway.

Back home, letting the child play alone, the three sat on small stools, picking vegetables, and chatted idly.

“Yesterday, Dashan told me you played cards with Zhao Jiaqing and the others. Seeing all the stuff you bought, you must’ve won big—no trouble, right?”

It wasn’t surprising Luo Yuzhu thought of this—she understood human nature. Besides, her father was a lifelong gambler; she’d heard stories of people going mad, resorting to suicide or revenge.

Wang Yan smiled: “What trouble? If you lose, you pay. No problem.”

Worried Luo Yuzhu would keep asking, knowing about the mob that had surrounded them at lunch, Wang Dashan quickly changed the subject: “He handled it—no issues. By the way, how was business today?”

Luo Yuzhu glanced at Wang Dashan—she knew him well, and he wasn’t good at lying. Seeing his uneasy expression, she knew something was off. Assuming Wang Yan was present and it wasn’t the right time to ask, she dropped it and turned to the topic she most wanted to discuss.

“Not good. This place is too small—the station doesn’t have many people. Even after working all day, we don’t sell much. Dashan, I still think business in the city is better. Don’t you agree, Wang Yan?”

Wang Yan knew this—foot traffic outside the station really wasn’t high, but there were only a few stalls there, so Luo Yuzhu still made decent money. Honestly, she easily made dozens of yuan a day. But she had too many ideas, trapped at this station stall with nowhere to put them.

Before he could speak, Wang Dashan stopped what he was doing: “Yuzhu… I think we should wait a bit longer. Wait until the boy’s older—it’s not urgent.”

She knew he’d say that. She rolled her eyes and turned to Wang Yan for support: “What do you think, Wang Yan?”

This was their marriage. Wang Yan had already overstepped by talking to Wang Dashan alone—fine, they were close. But if he openly sided with Luo Yuzhu now, what would he become?

Wang Yan nodded: “There’s some truth to that. Making money should be done early—opportunities are limited. Moving to the city is a good idea. The country’s pushing reforms—there are chances everywhere. If you wait too long, every field will be crowded, and making big money will be hard.”

Luo Yuzhu beamed with approval. Wang Dashan’s face darkened—he couldn’t stop her, and now this bastard was encouraging her?

Before Luo Yuzhu could speak, Wang Yan shifted tone: “But the child’s situation is real. If you run a business in the city, bringing the child along is inconvenient and risky. And who knows if your business will succeed? He has a steady income from the railway—it’s a guarantee. He shouldn’t quit lightly. The child’s still so young—he needs constant care, and you have no elders to help. It’s not easy…”

Wang Yan shook his head, sighing…

All that talk was useless. Luo Yuzhu shot him an annoyed look and snapped: “Enough, enough. Stop talking. Hurry up—you two. My son’s starving—he’s drooping. Isn’t that right, son?”

Wang Xu, who’d been rolling around on the bed, sat up suddenly: “Yeah, I’m hungry. Hurry up and cook!”

“Brat, I heard your mom say you’ve been snacking all afternoon—now you’re hungry?”

Wang Xu grinned, didn’t answer, and rolled over again, pretending he hadn’t heard.

Watching the happy family of three, Wang Yan smiled and bent his head to pick vegetables.

Zhao Jiaqing had been subdued—he had no money to go out and gamble anymore. So he wouldn’t come to ask Wang Dashan to cover his shifts. As long as he didn’t cause trouble, Wang Dashan wouldn’t die. That meant Luo Yuzhu wouldn’t resume her old relationship with Chen Jianghe, and Yang Xue, that good girl, would finally latch onto Chen Jianghe.

The only possible issue might be Yang Xue’s pride and need for control—traits nurtured by her privileged upbringing. That could cause friction in their relationship. But Wang Yan believed Chen Jianghe wasn’t a pushover—he’d traveled far and wide, and he’d handle this.

As for Luo Yuzhu and Chen Jianghe’s deep love for each other, he could only say he was sorry. Life is full of regrets. Unrequited love is a problem—but not a big one. Who doesn’t have someone they can’t forget?

Besides, Chen Jianghe had already seen Luo Yuzhu’s happy life—he was prepared. Yang Xue had probably met him by now, and she’d already been moved by his wit, honesty, and depth.

After dinner, Wang Yan, full and satisfied, took his leave and went home.

The light rain still fell, the sky gray and visibility low, no streetlights to admire. Wang Yan walked steadily along the road, returning to his two-story house.

He boiled water, washed up, read a bit, then lay down and fell asleep.