Chapter 435: Don't Fear the Thief Stealing, Fear the Thief Coveting

"Damao, why aren't you working at the antique shop anymore? Doesn't it make money faster than the factory?" He Yuzhu asked.

Xu Damao wore a bitter expression: "My mother won't let me go anymore, saying if I go again, she'll hang herself."

"Your mother is a ruthless woman!" He Yuzhu nodded, reached out, and patted Xu Damao on the shoulder, "Once you're at the Rolling Mill, work hard."

Xu Damao squeezed out a smirk: "I have to say, you really look like a leading Cadre now."

"What do you mean 'look like,' I am one!" After He Yuzhu finished speaking, he turned and entered the courtyard.

Xu Damao stood where he was, spat fiercely on the ground, and lowered his voice to curse: "Bastard! My original crime wasn't even that heavy; it was all because you framed me for that jade worth six cars... This isn't over!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than a man with his hands in his pockets, thin as a Maguan, swayed over to him and asked in a low voice: "Damao, who are you cursing?"

"A piece of trash!"

"You called me here, who are you going to introduce to me?"

Xu Damao tilted his chin toward the distance: "San Ge, see that one with the big head and small body? That little brat has ruthless hands."

San Ge squinted to look, then shook his head: "He can't be a Buddha; his body is too clumsy. That one next to him, though..." He shifted his finger to point at Yan Jiefang, who was currently horsing around with someone, "That kid looks like he has some spirit."

"That's Yan Jiefang; his dad is a fake-proper schoolteacher." Xu Damao curled his lip, "This kid is spineless and turns on people faster than flipping a book. Can you train him?"

San Ge grinned, "A few beatings and he'll be obedient."

Xu Damao's eyes lit up: "San Ge, take both of these guys! Their parents will surely be grateful to you for a lifetime!"

San Ge raised his foot and kicked him lightly: "You little brat, you're truly vicious!"

"San Ge, I brought you two good seedlings, shouldn't you treat me to a good meal?" Xu Damao said with a cheeky smile.

"Lao Qi, we're brothers, aren't we?" San Ge patted his chest, "Let's go, today I'll take you to Kaorouji for some Zhizi Barbecue!"

"Yo, San Ge is generous!" Xu Damao followed along happily.

The two arrived at Kaorouji in Shichahai and ordered four large plates of roast lamb, ten sesame flatbreads, and two pots of white liquor.

Having not touched oil or fat for seven or eight months, the two of them swept the Zhizi Barbecue clean the moment it hit the table.

"How come I feel like I'm still not full..." Xu Damao said while rubbing his stomach after finishing two plates of meat.

"Stop eating, you'll hurt your stomach if you eat more." San Ge waved his hand.

After leaving the shop, the two strolled along the edge of Shichahai.

Before parting ways, San Ge patted Xu Damao on the shoulder: "Damao, thanks."

"Thanks for what?" Xu Damao was stunned.

"Thanks for treating me to dinner."

As San Ge spoke, he pulled a handful of small change from his pocket and stuffed it into his hand.

Xu Damao felt his own pocket—it had long been empty, and only then did he realize that tonight's meal had been paid for entirely with the money from his own pocket, and what was returned were merely some small bills.

He immediately jumped up and cursed: "Lao San, I'll screw your grandfather! You steal from your own people too? At least leave me something!"

Lao San chuckled: "Lao Qi, you want me to cultivate the children of your enemies into a Buddha and a Small Thief; you didn't lose out on this meal."

"Wang Baosheng, you damn thief, you never change!" Xu Damao was trembling with rage.

Lao San laughed "Hehe" and leaned in to ask: "Lao Qi, you kept muttering in the detention center that you hated that guy named He Yuzhu the most, why don't you move against him?"

"Move against He Yuzhu?" Xu Damao sneered, "Are you dreaming? Move against him? If things go wrong, I'll have to pay with my life. That grandson really dares to kill."

"Are you bragging?" Lao San was unconvinced, "If we brothers go together, we can't handle him?"

"This can't be rushed." Xu Damao narrowed his eyes, "To get him, we have to wait for an opportunity, a big opportunity."

"Alright," San Ge nodded, "Then tomorrow I'll go meet that Liu Guangtian first."

The next day, just as dusk fell, the north wind rolled snow flurries into people's collars.

Liu Guangtian hunched his shoulders and hurried home, carrying his homemade ice sled.

The iron blades of the ice sled glinted coldly in the dim light, and the wooden frame creaked with every step.

Just as he turned the corner of the alley, two half-grown boys blocked his path.

Liu Guangtian braked sharply and held the ice sled horizontally in front of him: "What do you want? I don't have a single cent on me. Want to rob the ice sled? This piece of junk isn't worth anything."

The dark, sturdy half-grown boy took a step forward and said: "Your name is Liu Guangtian, right? You offended someone. Someone paid us to break one of your legs."

Liu Guangtian's head "buzzed"—he knew he bullied people too much on a daily basis, and retribution had arrived.

He put on a pitiful face and begged: "Brothers... please show mercy and spare me this time. I, I'll go home and ask my dad for money, I'll definitely give it to you..."

"Bed-wetter! A guy who gets beaten every day, who believes you can get money!" The two spat and cursed, their faces full of contempt.

A fierce light flashed in Liu Guangtian's eyes—he hated being called a "bed-wetter" more than anything. Seeing that begging was useless, he swung the ice sled at the dark, sturdy boy's head! If this hit, it would definitely draw blood.

But that boy was as agile as a wild cat; he dodged to the side, and Liu Guangtian fell onto the frozen ground with a "clatter" along with the ice sled.

The man took the opportunity to mount him and hammered his fists into his body: "Little bastard! You're actually pretty ruthless? You almost cracked my skull open; today I have to teach you a lesson!"

Liu Guangtian wailed at the top of his lungs: "Murder—help!"

Before the third cry could escape, his mouth was tightly covered.

The two pinned him to the ground, their fists raining down on his chest and stomach.

Liu Guangtian struggled desperately, making muffled sounds in his throat, but he was pressed down and unable to move, feeling as if his whole body was falling apart.

"You two little brats! What kind of skill is it to bully a kid?!" A hoarse male voice suddenly exploded.

Hearing this, the two half-grown boys let go and ran away, disappearing into the depths of the alley in the blink of an eye.

Liu Guangtian lay limp on the ground, gasping for air, and a thin, tall figure appeared in his blurred vision.

The man bent down and reached out to pull him up—a face in his thirties, with protruding cheekbones, a face full of wrinkles, and a short chin, but only a pair of eyes that were terrifyingly bright.

"Child, why are you here alone? Where are the adults in your family?" The man used his strength to pull him up.

Liu Guangtian was trembling all over from the pain, and hearing this, his nose soured, and he actually burst into tears, sobbing: "My mom and dad... are both dead..."

The thin man paused for a moment, curled the corners of his mouth almost imperceptibly, and then sighed: "A poor child with no father or mother... Let's go, my place is just ahead, I'll put some medicine on your wounds; it's freezing out here, don't let yourself get frostbitten."

"I, I don't think that's appropriate..." Liu Guangtian said while wiping his tears.

"What's not suitable about it? Uncle is also living alone." The thin man's tone was flat, yet he insisted on supporting him as they walked forward.