Chapter 50#

Extra Story 3

Before he started working at the gravel yard, he was a regular soldier.

He had seen real action and fired a gun, a rare real man in the army. Maybe it was because life in his hometown had been too hard, but once in the military, he was the most able to endure hardship, and his marksmanship became incredibly accurate. However, he was too rigid and by-the-book. He was promoted once to corporal and then never advanced again.

Later, he somehow got involved in a case. The higher-ups covered for each other, and in the end, he was unjustly saddled with a minor charge and was thrown into prison. It was in prison that his gloomy, somber personality slowly developed. No wonder—in those days, prisoners didn’t have the treatment they have today, with opportunities to play ball games or bask in the sun. Apart from the daily mandatory labor, a group of people huddled together in a pitch-black little room, eating, drinking, and relieving themselves all in one place.

Nine years passed that way. The people above him were replaced or left. His sentence was fifteen years; after deducting holidays and such, he had to serve at least thirteen. But maybe his behavior was fairly good, or perhaps the superior who had used him to take the fall had become the head of some local bureau and had a bit of conscience. He spent some money and greased a few palms, and eventually, he was released early.

That superior’s surname was Wen. Back in the day, he and Wen had been ordinary soldiers together. Now, Wen rode around in luxury cars and even insisted on a specific brand for his drinks.

He remembered that the superior had poured him a glass of brandy, rich and mellow. He downed it in one gulp, smacked his lips, but didn’t feel that this famous liquor—worth more than a doctor’s visit for his old mother back in the village—was much different from the cheap wine they had in the barracks.

The superior smiled and said, “Big brother, thanks for your help back then.”

He waved his hand.

The reason he had agreed to it was that his old mother back home was seriously ill at the time. With the pitiful monthly salary the army gave him, she wouldn’t have survived that winter back in the village. To be honest, he was a pretty sharp guy. The superior had promised to take care of his family back home. And serving time in prison, with meals and lodging provided, was no big deal.

The superior said to him, “I have an old friend who runs a gravel yard in the south. There’s an opening.”

He looked at the superior.

The superior continued, “That old friend of mine isn’t from around here; he operates in Southeast Asia. His business has grown in recent years, but the place he’s in isn’t Chinese territory, so there are a lot of bureaucratic rules. And now it’s hard for him to get into the country. He needs someone to oversee the gravel yard here. I want to recommend you.”

The superior took a drag of his cigarette, his face showing satisfaction. He pointed at him with the hand holding the cigarette and said, “You don’t have any family left now. I’ll hold onto your criminal record for you. I’ll tell my old friend you’re a relative of mine from the north, so you’ll take my surname Wen for the time being. What do you think?”

His old mother back home had passed away two years ago. He didn’t even know where she was buried.

After thinking it over, he agreed.

Later, the superior took him to meet this old friend. He was said to be a successful businessman in Southeast Asia, the owner of a large company. The superior called him an “old friend,” but in fact he was quite sycophantic toward the man—bowing and offering cigarettes as soon as they met. He kept his face expressionless, but inwardly he found it rather amusing, though such things were nothing new.

That big boss’s surname was Ren. He was from Singapore, and his company seemed to be in construction or something.

The superior had a stake in this gravel yard. The yard had all kinds of rough laborers, a bunch of tough guys, which reminded him of when he first enlisted. Perhaps that was why the superior had chosen him to be the foreman—maybe because he remembered his performance in the army.

Actually, to tell the truth, if this had been a few decades earlier, during those chaotic wars, a man with his ability and guts might have become a corps commander. He wasn’t like the typical soldier; at least he didn’t seem coarse or stupid. Especially after those years in prison, having suffered a bit, he’d become thin. He was only of medium height. Now as foreman, though his rifle had been replaced by a hoe, he still managed quite well. In the years he worked there, the gravel yard had never had any major problems.

After several years of smooth sailing, he ran into trouble.

The laborers at this gravel yard earned only a little over fifty yuan a month. A few of them, led astray by greed, were convinced that the big boss only came once a year at most, so they secretly sold gravel to other companies. He knew about this, but since he had no direct way to contact the big boss, he first reported it to the superior.

However, the superior simply turned a blind eye. Later, he learned that the superior was using his position and local convenience, concealing it from the other shareholders, to resell the gravel himself. The workers who helped him got a cut.

But just a few days after he found out about this, he heard that the big boss had arrived and wanted to talk to him.

The big boss looked like a scholar—refined and cultured, not at all like a nouveau riche. He didn’t envy him, but he did feel some admiration. The big boss was about the same age as him, yet had started from nothing and built such a large enterprise. That was truly impressive.

Still, his own ambitions were different.

When the big boss talked to him, he didn’t show any special favor; he just asked about the yard’s affairs. Over the years, including his time in prison, he had learned enough not to be out of touch with reality. He didn’t directly reveal the superior’s dealings. But the fact that the big boss had come in person suggested he had some plans.

Sure enough, just as he expected, the big boss wanted to withdraw his shares. If the big boss pulled out, to be honest, the gravel yard couldn’t continue operating. In the end, the superior and the big boss had a falling out. Following that, he understood that he was out of a job.

Fortunately, he never had many pastimes. He didn’t even smoke, and he only drank occasionally. Compared to the others, he really had few desires. Because of that, he had saved up enough money to buy a few acres of land back in his hometown.

The trouble started on the day he went to say goodbye to the big boss.

The big boss had a big Western-style house here. At the time, the yard hadn’t officially closed yet. In a way, it was only polite to inform him before leaving. That day, the big boss happened to be at the house. He walked in and saw the big boss sitting on the sofa, drinking in the manner of those wealthy men he’d seen in movies back in the day—completely without any vulgarity.

When the big boss saw him come in, he invited him to sit, quite amiably. It was at that moment that he sensed something was wrong. When he turned around, he had already pushed the big boss aside and solidly taken a bullet meant for him.

That bullet might have been the turning point of his life.

After his wounds healed, he followed the big boss to Singapore.

Later, the big boss didn’t like his name, so he gave him a more cultured one—Wen Jing.

After arriving in Singapore, he learned that the big boss was indeed quite famous. He had many legitimate businesses and also some shady ones. He was the kind of man who had connections on both sides of the law.

He also learned some other things—about the rich man’s family affairs.

The big boss’s first wife had borne him a son. After she died more than ten years ago, his second wife, Wang Tai, gave him a daughter and another son. The Wang family was considered a prominent local clan. He had met Wang Tai a few times; she was a woman with a sharp gaze. He didn’t pay much attention to her renowned cold and beautiful face.

He worked for the big boss and started to train himself again. The big boss secretly dealt in arms. Later, this side of the business was entirely handled by him, because unlike other businesses, it was extremely dangerous. However, the big boss was somewhat restricted in this line of work. If there hadn’t been some profit, he probably would have shut it down long ago.

Thinking about it, the big boss did value him quite a bit.

About five years later, during the Spring Festival, the big boss suddenly summoned him to the main residence. He was one of the big boss’s secret subordinates, involved in shady deals. Over the years, he had visited the main house fewer times than he could count on his fingers. The house was huge and had been elaborately decorated for the Spring Festival, looking very festive.

He stood in the main hall waiting for the big boss to summon him. After a while, he saw a group of people coming down the staircase from both sides. Wang Tai was among them. The first to come down was a young girl with pigtails, hopping and skipping.

When Wang Tai saw him, she greeted him politely but without much warmth.

The girl suddenly darted in front of Wang Tai and asked, “Is Third Brother not going to Grandma’s house?”

Wang Tai patted the girl’s face affectionately and said, “It’s a bit cold this morning. Your brother can’t stand the chill.”

The girl pouted and muttered, “I want Third Brother to win the prize for me! Last year, even Big Cousin lost to Third Brother!”

“You still want your third brother to go? Last year, who was it that threw a tantrum because Grandma said your third brother was prettier than you?”

Wang Tai, laughing, led her daughter out of the house.

He suddenly looked up at the second floor and saw a refined young man, wearing glasses and a sharp suit. His face looked very gentle, somewhat resembling the big boss. He was about seventeen or eighteen—this must be the eldest young master of the Ren family.

“Ah Jing, Father wants you to come up.” The eldest young master called out to him. They had met a few times before.

While he thought this to himself, he suddenly recalled Wang Tai’s eyes—this probably wouldn’t be so simple.

The eldest young master led him to the study, chatting along the way. However, he really wasn’t a talkative or warm person.

The big boss was in the study, along with several other people who worked for him. The big boss introduced the eldest young master to them one by one.

To be honest, the eldest young master was quite talented. He looked a lot like his father and acted like him too. It was said that the third young master of the Ren family was a sickly invalid, so it seemed the big boss intended to hand over the business to his eldest son. The group stayed and chatted for a while. Since it was the Spring Festival, they had a few drinks before taking their leave. The eldest young master was fairly capable and got along well with those people. He seemed to have quite a few schemes of his own.

But he stood at the back the whole time and didn’t participate much.

When everyone else had left, the big boss suddenly asked him, “Ah Jing, what do you think of Xiaoyang?”

He thought for a moment and told the big boss exactly what he had in mind. The big boss nodded, sighed softly, and said, “Let me show you something.”

The big boss handed him a document. He opened it right away.

It was a business proposal, proper and standard. It seemed to be the plan for the conglomerate under the big boss’s name for the coming year. He glanced through it and nodded.

The big boss lit a cigarette, then took another document from the drawer.

“Take a look.”

He opened it as instructed. At first glance, it seemed to follow the same general policy as the first proposal, but with a different approach. As he read, by the time he turned the last page, nearly an hour had passed.

The ashtray was full of cigarette butts.

The big boss asked, “What do you think?”

He nodded and said, “This one is better.”

The big boss chuckled, but shook his head.

Then he sighed softly and said, “It’s not that I’m partial.” He looked outside and continued, “Xiaoyang… after all, he can’t compare to his younger brother.”

Later, the big boss took him to meet the third young master of the Ren family.

When they reached the third floor, the big boss stepped more lightly, as if even his breathing had become softer. Then he stopped in front of a door at the end of the east wing.

The big boss knocked softly. It didn’t seem like he was going to see his son; it was more like visiting a superior.

The first impression that room gave him was darkness.

There was a drowsy feeling, the smell of medicine, and a strange scent of sandalwood. The room was sparsely furnished, and compared to the red festive decorations outside, it felt cold. The big boss told him that the sandalwood was specially brought from Thailand—it was supposed to help with sleep and even had some peculiar effect on asthma.

When he turned around, he got a clear look at the person lying on the bed.

The big boss called out, “Third child.”

He couldn’t describe the feeling. That person didn’t look human.

Not to mention the sickly pale skin, but the entire arrangement of features seemed still and lifeless, like a delicate doll. If it weren’t for the jet-black hair, he would have thought that this third young master of the Ren family might have albinism.

Back in his village, there had been an albino patient. Their skin was also this white, and their breath was weak, as if a gust of wind would knock them over.

The big boss looked at his son beside the bed, then shook his head. He pulled the blanket up for the young man on the bed, then led him out again. But his appearance seemed to have aged a dozen years.

On the balcony, the big boss said to him, “Third child can’t be counted on.”

“He’s so sick like that, I can’t let him get involved in such things—bad luck.”

He nodded. The third young master was like something fragile. That business proposal had no trace of having been written by such delicate hands.

He understood the big boss’s feelings. The third young master was a rare talent—so young and already so capable. He thought of the person lying still in bed, breathing so lightly that it was almost imperceptible, and suddenly felt a pang of regret.

Later, following the big boss’s instructions, he began to assist the eldest young master.

About a year later, the big boss collapsed. A cerebral hemorrhage, and he died in an instant.

The big boss’s legitimate businesses were all managed by Wang Tai. He continued to help the eldest young master, but the big boss’s underground dealings were something he dared not hand over lightly.

Wang Tai had once tried to sound him out, but he was too taciturn, and in the end, she couldn’t get anything out of him.

Wang Tai was a woman with some skill. She managed the company well, and outside, people called her “Madam Ren,” full of glory.

The eldest young master did things like himself—by the book, without major mistakes, and naturally without any major achievements.

Still, he had some small accomplishments.

He thought that the thing he would never forget was that incident.

That day was the big boss’s death anniversary. All the Ren family went to pay respects. Naturally, he also went to offer incense.

It was at that moment that the accident happened. With him by his side, the eldest young master had no major issues. The problem arose with Madam Ren.

The second young lady and the third young master were kidnapped by criminals.

What a huge incident! Madam Ren fainted on the spot.

Just as they were about to contact the kidnappers, they received a series of intermittent messages.

Relying on those intermittent signals, they finally found the second young lady and the third young master in an old factory. The second young lady was unharmed, but her voice was hoarse from crying, and her pretty face was covered in dirt. When he led people to the corner where the third young master was, the latter was dazed and seemed exhausted, but there was no panic on his face. By his feet was an old, telegraph-like machine that appeared to have been roughly reassembled.

Perhaps it was luck, but that luck only consisted of the old factory still having electricity.

This incident nearly cost the third young master of the Ren family half his life.

However, he thought that it was from this moment—maybe even earlier—that he came to hold reverence for this person. He resigned from his position assisting the eldest young master and instead became a servant to the third young master of the Ren family. Many people thought this was a foolish decision, but for him, perhaps there was no greater reassurance than personally taking care of him.

Back then, many had misjudged.

When the third young master was fifteen, he went with him to inspect a factory in the east district. Later, the big boss’s underground business was doubled by this third young master.

He still remembered that the third young master’s face was pale and sickly. He was wrapped in several layers of clothing and covered with a blanket, looking frail and delicate.

Yet, when the third young master raised his eyes, he made people involuntarily lower their heads.

No one dared to breathe too loudly.

Even he sometimes did not dare to meet those eyes directly.

The third young master was talented. Though burdened by illness, he couldn’t help but shine. Occasionally, he made a few suggestions to Madam Ren that brought billions in business opportunities. After a few times, the people under him were shrewd. They called another person “Eldest Young Master,” but when they saw the pale-faced youth sitting quietly to the side, they would respectfully bow and say, “Third Master.”

The higher the Ren Family Third Master stood, the more cold and eccentric he became. He wasn’t close to his mother, siblings, or anyone else. But compared to his indifference toward outsiders, this was already considered affectionate.

However, when the third master was shut in his room, lying in bed with a persistent low-grade fever, Madam Ren would leave for social engagements after checking on him for a moment, his younger sister would complain about the smell of medicine, and his elder brother was warm but distant.

For someone like that to become so cold and detached was hardly surprising.

As for the rest, the third master seemed to be born with a chill in his bones. The older he got, the more withdrawn he became. He could chat and laugh a little in public, but once he returned home, he shut himself in his room, as if he wouldn’t bother with anything.

All he could do was stand by the third master’s side.

When the third master was cold, he would cover him with a blanket; when the third master was bored, he would fetch him a book; when the third master was tired, he would light incense and close the door; when the third master laughed…

Time was wearing him down. He grew old.

But he still remembered what the third master looked like when he truly smiled.

That expression…

Ah, he remembered. It was that afternoon.

The third master had spent almost half a year in the hospital. When he returned home, he was still as cold and quiet as ever.

Until one day, the third master sat by the window and suddenly asked him, “What… name…”

He placed the third master’s medicine on the table, walked over, and followed his gaze outside.

It was the eldest young master and the little young master.

His eyes darkened.

But only for a moment.

He had thought that the third master wanted someone to keep him company.

He remembered that day—he opened the door and didn’t see the third master in the room.

He hurriedly searched everywhere. Finally, he found him in the courtyard.

The third master was lying on a lounge chair in the courtyard, with the one-year-old child nestled in his arms. That pale face seemed to have taken on a healthy rosiness, and he clumsily held the child, humming some unknown tune.

On his face was a rare smile.

He stood not far away.

Suddenly, he understood…

That child he had watched grow up was also a living human being.

In an instant, something surged inside him.

He raised his hand to wipe away the tears that nearly fell.

But it was as if fate had willed it.

The little young master’s secret was eventually discovered by the third master.

Everything was so insane that no one wanted to recall it.

When it came down to it, he was also an accomplice.

He was getting older and older.

When he suddenly realized it, the sketchbook by the window was already filled with that young man. It was like peeking into the third master’s heart—he quietly flipped through, each time more shocking than the last.

At that moment, he suddenly knew the biggest secret and deepest desire in that person’s heart.

After that, he witnessed with his own eyes as that revered figure, the one he worried about so much, gradually sank into darkness. And that young man still stood in the sunlight, unwilling to even glance back.

In the end, in his dreams, he woke with a start.

He understood.

He understood completely.

If things had to go on like this, he would rather put an end to this ill-fated entanglement.

He meticulously planned everything, relying on the third master’s trust in him.

But when it came to the final step, he realized that he was still a foolish man.

He should never have underestimated the child he had raised from childhood.

He ought to be the one who understood him best.

The third master’s marksmanship was getting more accurate.

When he ended up in his current situation, he felt no resentment or hatred at all.

He just felt a little worried.

Third Master…

In the future, when the third master was cold, who would cover him with a blanket?

When he was bored, who would fetch him a book?

When he was tired, who would light incense and turn off the lights…

Third Master.

Third Master, ah…

He was really old. Even this little wound couldn’t hold him up.

He kept his eyes open.

Something fell from that person’s eyes and landed on his face.

Ah…

He felt a little regret.

He shouldn’t have made the third master fire that shot himself.

Why had he done such a thing?

Maybe he had truly been led astray by some demon.

Then, he remembered a song his mother used to hum to put him to sleep when he was little.

…Yes.

How could he have forgotten…

How could he have…

When the third master was a teenager and couldn’t sleep because of his illness, he too had hummed that nameless tune.

Softly, quietly.

Who would have thought…

The third master remembered.

Back then, when the third master held that little baby, he was also humming this song…

At that moment, he truly understood.

They were all the same.

The same.

But it was already a little too late.

Third Master.

In the future, who will be there to accompany you?

Who will grieve for you…

Third Master…

In the end, he raised his hand, wanting to touch that person again.

But… there was no way anymore.