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墨書 Inktalez
From that moment on, I was filled with a fervor, completely focused on the idea of opening a store. After calculating everything, I realized that I had everything ready—except for the cash.
It’s true that a penny can be a hero, but opening a store is no small feat. To me, it felt like an insurmountable obstacle. My previously soaring spirits plummeted instantly, much like a frostbitten eggplant.
Where was I supposed to find my first pot of gold?
As I anxiously paced at home, a voice called from outside, “Is anyone home?”
I was too preoccupied to respond, still deep in thought with my brows furrowed. My father stepped out to greet the visitor. “Is that Shen Tao? What brings you back to the village?”
Shen Tao replied cheerfully, “Uncle, I’ve started seeing someone and brought her back to meet my parents. If all goes well, we’ll get married.”
“That’s great news! Be sure to let me know when the wedding is; I’ll definitely be there,” my father said.
Shen Tao glanced into the house and asked, “Uncle, is Ling Feng home? I’d like to have a word with him.”
“He’s at home. You’re doing well among the younger generation in our village. Just so happens Ling Feng is free too. If you have any suitable job opportunities on your side, please keep him in mind,” my father said politely as he welcomed Shen Tao inside and poured him some tea.
Shen Tao seemed used to city life; he frowned slightly as he took the cup but didn’t drink. “Uncle, you’re too kind. Ling Feng and I grew up together. If I can help in any way, I won’t refuse.”
My father then called out to me from the yard, “Ling Feng! Your brother Tao is here! You should learn from him…”
My father rambled on, implying that I should curry favor with Shen Tao to secure a job. Seeing me hesitate to enter the house, his voice rose a few notches.
Reluctantly, I walked inside and greeted Shen Tao with a smile. “Brother Tao, what brings you here?”
“Just came to see you. The other day when we drove together, we didn’t really get a chance to talk. Today I have some free time; let’s go to my place for a couple of drinks and maybe meet your sister-in-law,” Shen Tao said in an elder-brother tone.
I felt a twinge of annoyance; our relationship had always been one of rivalry and conflict—where did this brotherly bond come from? Back then, Shen Tao was older and often bullied my friend Fatty. I couldn’t stand it and ended up fighting him more than once.
Seeing the smug look in Shen Tao’s eyes made me even less inclined to go. However, my father kept chattering away beside us, so in the end, just to find some peace and quiet, I agreed to go.
Besides, who would turn down free drinks?
Logically speaking, there wasn’t much connection between Shen Tao and me; why was he so eager to invite me over for dinner? Unable to keep my curiosity at bay, I asked directly, “Brother Tao, since we live so close by, if there’s something you want to discuss, just say it directly. No need for all this dinner and drinks—it feels so formal.”
Shen Tao was momentarily taken aback by my directness. After a while, he scratched his head and said, “Among all of you, Ling Feng, you’re the smartest. Here’s the deal: my wife and I are back in the village to arrange this wedding. She’s a city girl with plenty of ideas. A few of her close friends are coming as bridesmaids, and she’s given me strict orders to find some groomsmen to match up with them. Honestly, when it comes to looks, you’re the only ones in our village who can hold your own. Plus, we’ve got a good relationship.”
Hearing Shen Tao say this, whether it was true or not, I felt a surge of happiness inside. However, I didn’t let my guard down and caught the implication in his words. “So, from what you’re saying, you’ve invited others too?”
“Yeah,” Shen Tao replied, lighting a cigarette. “My wife’s bringing four friends along, and I also called Er Gouzi, Rat, and Monkey.”
With a mischievous grin, Shen Tao nudged my shoulder with his elbow and raised an eyebrow. “You’ll see when you meet my wife. All her friends are stunning beauties. You better seize the opportunity.”
The meaning behind Shen Tao’s words couldn’t have been clearer. My face flushed as I chuckled awkwardly. Seeing this, Shen Tao teased me further with a grin. “After the New Year, you’ll be nineteen, right? At your age, I was already... well, let’s just say I wasn’t a novice anymore. Look at you; you seem like a complete rookie. You really need to step up your game this time.”
Shen Tao’s family lived in a two-story house with tiled exterior that looked quite upscale. The living room had a cement floor with a large round table in the center. The other guys were already sitting together and chatting boisterously.
Sitting directly across from me was a strikingly beautiful woman with heavy makeup covering her face; she was laughing while covering her mouth. She looked unfamiliar to me, so I guessed she must be Shen Tao’s girlfriend.
I caught a strong whiff of perfume even before entering the house, likely due to the draft coming through the door; however, there seemed to be another scent mixed in with it.
Shen Tao pulled me into the room and introduced me to the woman. “Li Li, this is Ling Feng, the one I often talk about.”
“How do you do? My name is Chang Lili,” she said with a bright smile while extending her fair hand.
I frowned slightly but smiled back politely as I shook her hand lightly. “Nice to meet you.”
Chang Lili affectionately linked her arm with Shen Tao’s and teased him playfully, “If I had known there were so many handsome guys in your village, I wouldn’t have picked you.”
Shen Tao playfully pinched Chang Lili’s nose and whispered something in her ear that made her laugh uncontrollably.
I had to admit that Chang Lili certainly had some assets; just looking at her ample curves made it clear she had everything in all the right places.
As young people do, the atmosphere quickly became lively. As drinks were passed around, Monkey suggested, “Since Tao Ge and Sister Lili are getting married, we should come up with some fun ideas for their wedding night.”
This idea naturally received enthusiastic support from everyone as they began shouting out suggestions—everything from rolling eggs to using chopsticks on their tongues...
Chang Lili didn’t seem shy at all; instead, she excitedly exclaimed, “I had no idea weddings in the countryside could be this much fun! Good thing I listened to Tao; otherwise, I would have missed out!”
She extended her finger, painted with bright red nail polish, and playfully warned us with a smile, “You all are really something else. Just wait until my sisters arrive tomorrow; I can't wait to see you boys completely smitten.”
Seeing that his girlfriend seemed a bit tipsy, Shen Tao quickly helped her sit down. In the center of the table was a hot pot, steaming with heat.
Chang Lili and I happened to be sitting directly across from each other. Through the rising steam, I noticed Chang Lili, who was lowering her head to drink. It seemed as if her eyes were about to fall out, nearly drooping down to her chest. Moreover, her originally rosy complexion appeared to have taken on a slightly bluish tint. The air was thick with the smell of hot pot, mixed with an unpleasant odor.
As Chang Lili pushed her eyeballs back into place and looked up, she met my scrutinizing gaze and gave me a meaningful smile.
I raised my glass and said, “Sister-in-law, it's nice to meet you for the first time. Let me toast you. I wish you and Tao Ge a lifetime of happiness and early blessings.” With that, I tilted my head back and drank it all in one go.
Chang Lili was also a straightforward person; she raised her glass and downed it as well, laughing, “Taozi, your brother has quite the charm!”
As our eyes met, there was an undeniable spark between us. Yet in my eyes, it felt entirely different.
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