Bully 08 02

Out in the western suburbs, without the bothersome "adopted son" around, Fang Zhiyi felt the air itself was fresher. He knew it wouldn't be easy to deal with Nian'an right now, so he simply continued with his own tasks.

"That's the third young man the boss has sent out," said Liu Acai. Ever since becoming what the boss called a "manager," he had started paying more attention to his appearance. He'd just had his face shaved clean by a street-side barber and kept touching it, still unaccustomed to the feeling.

Chen Huaimin, busy counting money, didn't look up. "The boss has his reasons. Don't overthink it. Let me tell you, though, the accounts for your lottery tickets are a complete mess."

Hearing this, Liu Acai turned his head, his gaze landing behind Chen Huaimin with a hint of envy. "You've got it good. Look at your place here, even the breeze smells sweet." He even exaggeratedly sniffed the air, only to be kicked by Chen Huaimin's one good leg.

Chen Huaimin lowered his voice. "Stop fooling around! These young ladies were all brought here by the boss's order. They have a talent for arithmetic. Without their help, I'd be worked to death!"

Liu Acai pursed his lips. "I was just saying I'm jealous. Look at you, always so touchy."

"You think I don't know what's on your mind?" Chen Huaimin knew exactly how mischievous Liu Acai could be.

"I think you..." Liu Acai opened his mouth to curse, but was suddenly interrupted by a clear, crisp voice from behind: "Uncle Acai! Mother says to come home early for dinner. She stewed a chicken specially today."

By the time Liu Acai turned around, his face was already wreathed in smiles. "Alright! I'll be back once I'm done! Tell your mother you two should eat first, don't wait for me!"

The girl happily agreed and ran off. When Liu Acai turned back, the smile hadn't yet faded from his face, and he saw Chen Huaimin staring at him with a look of horror.

"What's wrong with you?" Liu Acai reached up and touched his face again. Was he just too handsome?

Chen Huaimin stammered, "You... can you not smile like that? It's too creepy!"

Liu Acai frowned. "Is it really?"

Chen Huaimin's eyes darted towards the gate, and understanding dawned on him. Who would have thought... this Liu Acai...

The first public toilet in the western suburbs was completed. Fang Zhiyi personally educated the residents living there on hygiene and taught them methods for composting waste. Seeing how confident and convincing he was, several people immediately promised to handle the daily clean-up.

After all, most of those still living in the western suburbs were honest folk, and many had received favors from Fang Zhiyi.

No, favors from the original owner.

Fang Zhiyi's third disciple had also set out. Fang Zhiyi had Chen Huaimin give him a large sum of money, more than the previous two combined. Though Chen Huaimin didn't understand why, he followed the order.

After the young man left, before Chen Huaimin could ask, Fang Zhiyi clapped him on the shoulder. "Good times are coming!"

Chen Huaimin swallowed the question on the tip of his tongue.

Fang Zhiyi looked at his broken leg again. "I'm less busy now. Starting today, I'll teach you some exercises to strengthen your body."

Chen Huaimin remembered the question Fang Zhiyi had asked him that day. He had thought the boss was just making conversation, but he had actually remembered.

"Forget it, boss. I know what shape I'm in..." He started to decline, but Fang Zhiyi wouldn't hear it. "I don't want my chief financial officer unable to even protect the money."

All of Chen Huaimin's reservations vanished with those words. He remembered the day that ungrateful brat had brought people to steal. If the boss hadn't received word in advance, what would have happened to him, living in the storeroom? His own life didn't matter, but the money the boss and the brothers had worked so hard to earn...

Nian'an had exhausted himself to find work as a shop assistant. He had no choice; he couldn't afford to be picky. He was nearly starving.

But seeing how young he was, the shopkeeper took advantage. While others earned three qian of silver a month, he got only one.

"You eat my food, sleep under my roof, that doesn't cost anything?"

Gritting his teeth, Nian'an put on a face of complete obedience.

If he were still in the western suburbs, he, the young master, would never do such work! But thinking of the western suburbs, he still felt nothing but contempt.

At least this way, he had a foothold in the city. Step by step, he believed he could climb back up.

Moreover, he now had something to yearn for. Every time he thought of Lin Yanqing's face, he would grin foolishly, and could even bear the bullying from the older shop assistants.

Little Hei went to check on him several times and reported back to Fang Zhiyi.

"It's strange about this person. Not only did he show no gratitude for the good food and care he received, he even turned around and bit the hand that fed him. Now that he's out, people are playing him for a fool, and he's happy about it."

Fang Zhiyi just smiled without comment. He'd seen his share of odd characters; this one wasn't particularly special.

The first time Nian'an got his wages, he couldn't wait to buy a small gift for Lin Yanqing—an ordinary hairpin. Though it wasn't much, Lin Yanqing accepted it.

"Thank you, Xiao Anzi!" Lin Yanqing called him by the nickname she'd given him.

Nian'an felt a bit uncomfortable. The nickname sounded too much like a eunuch. But if Lin Yanqing called him that, it was fine. If it were anyone else, he'd definitely have words with them.

He now also knew Lin Yanqing's family background. She was the daughter of Lin Kunyuan. The Kunyuan Dye Works almost monopolized the city's cloth dyeing business, making them a wealthy household. It was said they even had connections with the county magistrate.

Nian'an knew Lin Yanqing would surely be a help on his path to turning his life around. So whenever Lin Yanqing looked for him, he would sneak out, even if it meant having his wages docked.

But after this happened a few times, the shopkeeper was displeased. I feed you and house you, and you still skip work every day?

Returning from running an errand for Lin Yanqing, Nian'an learned he had been fired. He refused to accept it. He had only been gone a short while, what right did they have to fire him? He had to get this month's wages.

But he forgot that here, he was just a background-less orphan. When he demanded his wages, the shopkeeper couldn't be bothered with him. It wasn't until Nian'an, imitating Liu Acai, cursed and insulted the man's mother that the shopkeeper finally reacted.

With just one angry shout from the shopkeeper, several older assistants rushed out, pinned Nian'an down, and gave him a thorough beating.

Beaten and battered, he wandered the streets in a daze, cursing the black-hearted shopkeeper under his breath. But after a few curses, his hatred turned towards Fang Zhiyi and the others. He believed if it weren't for Fang Zhiyi, he wouldn't have had to flee in the first place.

Little Hei felt like digging his brain out to see how it was wired, but bound by the laws of this world's natural order, could only think about it.

In his wretched state, he naturally couldn't go see Lin Yanqing. He had to maintain his image in front of her.

Of course, that's what he thought. But after being turned away by yet another shopkeeper, Nian'an wavered. He quickly made up his mind: he would cling tightly to Lin Yanqing's coattails. Even being her servant would be good.

And he'd be close to the object of his affection. Nian'an thought himself very clever.