Chapter 2

Handling the divorce procedures was quick; once the seal was stamped, it was over. The two walked out of the Civil Affairs Bureau, and Jiang Yuping shook her divorce certificate, looking to be in a very good mood.

"I'm leaving tonight, first to Shenhu, then taking a plane to the United States. My cousin over there has already arranged everything."

"Going to the United States to be a second-class citizen, and then finding a big-nosed, blue-eyed, yellow-haired foreigner with body odor to be your man." Zhou Andong was full of mockery: "Have you thought it through? Are you going to find a gentlemanly British man, a romantic French man, or a passionate Italian man? But I want to remind you, all that gentlemanly, romantic, and passionate stuff is all damn lies. If you really marry them, they won't give you a cent of dowry, and their parents won't even help you with the children. You won't even see a shadow of their monthly salary."

"None of your damn business!" Jiang Yuping's good mood vanished instantly: "Do you know the difference in per capita income between our country and the United States? I'll tell you, it's 70 times. Our country's per capita income is only 350 US dollars, while the United States is 25,000 US dollars."

As she spoke, she pointed to the long down jacket she was wearing: "See this? My cousin sent it to me, American goods, over sixty US dollars. Converted to RMB, it's our salary for more than two months, but in the United States, it's just one day's pay."

Zhou Andong said disdainfully: "Today I'll put these words here, you remember them. In less than twenty years, our country will surpass Japan and become the world's second-largest economy. This development and speed are unimaginable. In the future, our country will become the world's largest exporter of textiles and garments, and a large part of the clothes worn by people all over the world will have 'Made in China' printed on them."

Jiang Yuping sneered: "Although I don't believe what you said, I still hope that my motherland will really have such a day. After all, we've been shouting about catching up with Britain and surpassing America for decades."

Zhou Andong shrugged and glanced at the red Santana: "This car suits you very well."

Jiang Yuping's face changed: "What do you mean?"

"Nothing special!" Zhou Andong said: "Just remembered a saying, that vain women would rather cry in a sedan than laugh on a bicycle."

Perhaps because the wait was a bit long, the man in the driver's seat pushed the car door open and got out. He was thirty-one or thirty-two, wearing sunglasses and sporting the classic slicked-back hair of the God of Gamblers, only it seemed he had used a bit too much hair oil; it looked greasy, and one estimated that if a mosquito landed on it, it would slip.

Jiang Yuping's emotions suddenly became somewhat out of control. She pointed at the man and roared angrily at Zhou Andong: "Zhou Andong, he and I are just ordinary friends. Even if there really was something, you have no right to look down on me. Think about yourself, a dignified college student, having muddled along in the distillery for several years, not only failing to even get a deputy section chief position, but also being transferred from the Quality Inspection Section to the Broadcasting Station, reading the news with a newspaper every day. Don't you think you're incompetent? You saved me from a few little hooligans back then; I really don't know what medicine I took wrong, ignoring my family's opposition and insisting on marrying you. Now that I think about it, how naive and ridiculous I was at that time."

The man hugged Jiang Yuping's shoulder: "What's the point of talking to this useless piece of trash? It's not worth it to get yourself angry. Let's go."

Zhou Andong's eyes narrowed slightly: "I know you, Zhao Jianlong. The first game hall in Jiangzhou was opened by you, and now you have seven or eight. You can be considered one of the first people to get rich. It's just that you are very dirty in how you conduct yourself and do things; sooner or later, you'll be swept into the trash can by the police uncles."

"You're looking for death!"

Zhou Andong's words enraged Zhao Jianlong.

Zhou Andong didn't even look at Zhao Jianlong and said to Jiang Yuping: "We were husband and wife once; let me remind you one last time: it's best to stay far away from this trash, especially your brother, my former brother-in-law. His watermanship isn't good; playing on the same boat with him for too long, once the boat capsizes, you'll be drowned."

Jiang Yuping took a deep breath and stabilized her emotions: "I don't want to argue with you; let's just go our separate ways from now on." After speaking, she walked toward the Santana not far away.

Zhou Andong sighed: "When Heaven wants to rain, and a mother wants to remarry, let it be."

Her former father-in-law, the president of the City Industrial and Commercial Bank, and her former brother-in-law, the head of a certain bureau, were both pitted by this Zhao Jianlong until they were ruined. One who was about to be transferred to the head office retired early, and the other, whose future was limitless, went to a "clear water yamen" (a low-paying, low-power government office) to retire early.

Zhao Jianlong arrogantly pointed at Zhou Andong: "For Yuping's sake, I won't argue with you. If you can't make it in the future, you can come find me. At that time, I will definitely reward you with a bite to eat, just like raising a dog."

"Please don't!" Zhou Andong bared his teeth, revealing white teeth, with a cheap, punchable look on his face: "You really don't need to look at anyone's face. I beg you, argue with me a little."

Zhao Jianlong stared fixedly at Zhou Andong; his sinister gaze was terrifying. For a long time, no one had dared to talk to him like this. And this thing in front of him, which he considered less than a dog, had repeatedly provoked him. Did he really think that just because he wore a suit, he had become a gentleman?

"Ha!"

Zhou Andong laughed, the mockery quite obvious. He leaned forward slightly and leaned close to Zhao Jianlong's ear: "On the sunny road, let's each walk on one side. You'd better not walk on the wrong side and block my path. Otherwise, even if I can't kill you, I can squeeze the urine out of you. If you don't believe it, you can try."

"Zhao Jianlong, what's the point of talking to him? Let's go, I still have to pack my luggage when I get home." Jiang Yuping rolled down the car window and shouted impatiently.

Zhao Jianlong suddenly laughed: "Kid, I've been in the *jianghu* (underworld) for so many years, you're the first one who dared to challenge me like this."

Zhou Andong sneered: "*Jianghu*? In my eyes, at best, you're just a little hooligan. Do you know what *jianghu* is?"

"Oh?" Zhao Jianlong raised an eyebrow: "Then tell me, what is *jianghu*!"

Zhou Andong patted Zhao Jianlong's shoulder and said softly: "*Jianghu* is, you die, and I live."

Zhao Jianlong gave Zhou Andong a thumbs up: "Kid, I hope you can live to be a hundred."

"Don't worry!" Zhou Andong walked toward the entrance of the Civil Affairs Bureau: "I, Zhou Andong, will definitely live longer than you."

"Bang!"

From behind came the sound of a heavy car door closing, followed by a *beep* of a horn, and the red Santana sped past Zhou Andong, kicking up a gust of wind.

"Pah!"

Zhou Andong spat on the ground: "Driving so fast on a snowy day, sooner or later you'll crash and die."

Just as his voice fell, he heard the screeching sound of brakes, and then he saw the red Santana spin and rush onto the curb on the opposite side of the road, crashing into a tree with a *bang*.

Zhou Andong widened his eyes and pinched his own face: "Since when did this mouth of mine become so prophetic?"

Watching Jiang Yuping and Zhao Jianlong crawl out of the car in a sorry state, Zhou Andong felt an indescribable sense of relief and couldn't help but sing loudly.

"Hey... today is a good day, everything I think about can come true. Today is a good day, opening the door to our home, we welcome the spring breeze..."