Sissy (Niang Niang Qiang) - Chap 60
Chapter 60
Shao Qun asked the old lady if he could keep the photo.
The photo was taken when a relative of hers got married. At that time, the whole village was invited to the celebration. There were no important people in this particular photo, so the old lady easily gave it to him.
Shao Qun carefully put the photo away as if it was a great treasure.
The old lady was curious: “Are you this kid’s former classmates? Isn’t he working in the south? Why are you even looking for his relatives?”
Shao Qun didn’t respond. He didn’t know how to explain anything to this enthusiastic old lady. He had lost Li Chengxiu, and naturally he wanted to get him back.
Seeing that he didn’t say anything, the old lady didn’t ask any more and just sighed: “He is such a good boy! Did he have a good life these past years? He used to pay off his debt little by little every month but then last year he suddenly paid everything off in one lump sum. Did he somehow get a fortune?”
Shao Qun nodded stiffly.
“The night his mother had the accident, I even went there to help. His old house was not that far away from mine. At that time, he cried so loudly and called all the neighbors for help. The whole village was up on their feet. Come to think of it, it was so strange. That night he didn’t come home until 12 am, and nobody knew why he came back so late. If he had returned even a bit earlier and sent his mother to the hospital directly, she might have been saved. His mother drank every day… every day. How can a mother even be like this? Well, and finally she managed to drink herself into paralysis! So after his mother had to be hospitalized, the boy had to drop out of school.”
Li Wenxun’s face changed. He remembered some of the pranks he played on Li Chengxiu when he was younger. It can’t be that…
“That child really suffered. I heard that he was bullied in school all the time. So much so that he even…oh my god… went deaf in one of his ears.”
Shao Qun was shocked and looked at the woman in astonishment: “His… his ear…?”
“Oh, it’s no wonder that you don’t know about it! I’ve also forgotten which ear it was. Anyway, he has problems hearing with one of his ears. But since the other ear is fine, normally people don’t even notice. ”
Shao Qun turned to look at Li Wenxun.
Li Wenxun was also stunned. Seeing Shao Qun looking at him, he felt a bit uneasy: “What are you looking at me for? I didn’t do it.”
Shao Qun lowered his head dejectedly.
He has been together with Li Chengxiu for so long, and he had never even noticed that Li Chengxiu had problems with his hearing. To be fair, it’s not like he ever paid close attention to Li Chengxiu. At the time, Shao Qun didn’t think that Li Chengxiu’s needs or feelings were something to be considered at all.
When he thought about it carefully, there were indeed a few times when Li Chengxiu wouldn’t respond to him, and Shao Qun had to shout at him really loudly. He remembered getting so angry that he cursed Li Chengxiu out, asking him if he was fucking deaf.
Shao Qun thought about the treatment Li Chengxiu received in school at that time. After so many years, he had no idea who out of all the students was the culprit for this particular injury. Even he and his gang had ruthlessly bullied him.
Li Wenxun’s face was a little embarrassed, and in his heart he couldn’t help thinking that he did indeed slap Li Chengxiu around. But he couldn’t have made him deaf, right?
Shao Qun felt so uneasy that he couldn’t breathe – pity, guilt and regret all came down on him at once.
At that time, he was very young, and when his friends barged into his and Li Chengxiu’s budding affair, his mind went completely blank. All he knew was that he couldn’t let others consider him a dirty homosexual, so he just ran away.
It’s not that he didn’t know how his buddies would deal with Li Chengxiu in order to shut him up. But Shao Qun was too anxious about his own situation, and the gay panic made him think only of himself at the time. So he didn’t care much about Li Chengxiu’s predicament.
Later, he went abroad, and his life gradually got more interesting, as he gained more freedom. So eventually, he completely forgot about what happened.
Only now did Shao Qun completely realize how much damage he had caused for Li Chengxiu by escaping like that back then. No wonder that Li Chengxiu was so hostile and wary of him when they first met.
Shao Qun then did everything possible to make him lower his guard and get him to open up to himself. And for what? Just to hurt him all over again. How could Li Chengxiu ever trust him after all of this?
Shao Qun felt that his hands and feet were getting cold, and his heart was in pieces. He subconsciously touched the photo in his pocket.
The old lady chattered some more, and after a while, her son finally came back home.
The old lady’s son called Li Chengxiu’s relative, and after the call said that he would take Shao Qun and Li Wenxun there.
When the two of them finally left the old lady’s house, it was already dark outside. If the light had been even a little bit better, anybody would be able to see that both of them didn’t look so good.
They walked through the muddy road without any proper footing, their feet sinking in dirt at times, as the old lady’s son led them towards a row of tall buildings next to the bus stop.
It was only ten minutes away, but it was worlds apart from the old village.
A middle-aged woman with a shrewd face came out to open the door for them. Shao Qun remembered that Li Chengxiu called this woman his fourth aunt.
Li Wenxun gave some money to the old lady’s son, and the man took it after some back and forth.
Seeing that the two of them were well dressed and handsome, the fourth aunt politely let them inside.
When Shao Qun went in, he evasively made up a random story about how Li Chengxiu used to work for him and that now he needed to find him for some minor issue. He asked the fourth aunt if she could be helpful in locating Li Chengxiu.
Li Wenxun also immediately expressed his gratitude for her possible help.
The fourth aunt said: “Oh, I’m indeed the right person to ask! My son actually arranged this place for this child’s mother at the time. I might still be able to find it.There are several graves in that area, and the place is a bit deserted. But Chengxiu seems to be sending money to somebody to take care of the grave at least once a year.”
Shao Qun hurriedly asked, “Can you contact that person?”
“Yes, yes… but he lives a bit further away. It would take more than three hours by bus to get there. Can’t go today anymore, rather tomorrow then.”
A sparkle of hope ignited in Shao Qun’s heart.
If Li Chengxiu is sending money to somebody, it’s possible to find his approximate location. No matter how much effort Shao Qun needs to spend, he’ll be able to find him after all.
Seeing Shao Qun’s braindead appearance, Li Wenxun didn’t expect him to be good at socializing, so he took care of talking to the fourth aunt, leaving some money for her and his contact information.
The fourth aunt smiled brightly, and repeatedly told that her son will find that person tomorrow and inquire about the situation.
Before leaving, the fourth aunt asked them: “When the child worked at your place, was he doing well? He should have made a fortune, right? Since he could pay off all his debt at once…?”
Shao Qun nodded stiffly, but didn’t say anything.
The fourth aunt sighed: “This kid is really amazing! He didn’t even finish junior high school, but still was able to pass his accounting examination. You have no idea how difficult it must have been for him. His grades were always so good, even the school board insisted on him continuing his education! But he just refused to. I also tried to persuade him to go back to school but he told me that he needed to take care of his mother. And then privately he actually told me that his classmates treated him really badly, so he didn’t want to go back there. I felt uneasy at the time but I didn’t know how to help him. Now that I know that he’s doing well, I’m so relieved.”
Shao Qun and Li Wenxun left the fourth aunt’s house in silence, and didn’t speak the entire way back.
The moonlight in the sky was grayish, making the night seem a bit desolate.
The two walked side by side to the gates of the village, where the driver was still waiting for them.
Li Wenxun suddenly said uncomfortably, “I didn’t know that his life was so difficult when he was a child.”
Shao Qun took a deep breath, and when he exhaled, his throat trembled.
He wished he could travel back to when he was eleven or twelve years old and slap himself hard.
Shao Qun seldom regretted his actions but thinking about what he did to Li Chengxiu, he was going crazy with regret.
It was because of his ignorance and frivolity back then that he used Li Chengxiu just to pass the time. And after he had used him enough, he left him high and dry because of his own cowardice.
Li Chengxiu used to have such good grades. If it wasn’t for Shao Qun, maybe he would have ended up in a completely different situation right now. At least he wouldn’t feel so inferior and would be able to talk to other people without fear.
What had Shao Qun done throughout all these years? Why, even as a grown up, did he hurt Li Chengxiu again and also trample all over his feelings?
After making a circle, Shao Qun’s retribution had finally come for him.
If he finds Li Chengxiu, what should he do to get him back? Does he even still have a chance? The fear in Shao Qun’s heart that he could neither articulate, nor swallow was stagnating and pressing at him to the point of suffocation.
A few days later, they received a call from the fourth aunt, saying that she had contacted the person who took care of Li Chengxiu’s mother’s grave.
Shao Qun immediately wanted to know if Li Chengxiu had been in contact with him lately.
The fourth aunt said that Li Chengxiu’s mother’s death anniversary was in September. Li Chengxiu usually remitted money to that person two or three months in advance.
Shao Qun felt a chill in his heart, thinking that he would have to wait at least two or three months before there was any news. But even that was better than nothing.
Day after day, he had no other choice but to wait. This feeling of insurmountable guilt made it seem like he was waiting for his own sentencing. Deep thoughts and endless remorse had almost overwhelmed Shao Qun’s spirit.
Since Li Chengxiu started working again, his life gradually went back on the right track.
One day after work, he wanted to sell Xiao Ji’s mobile phone for him.
It was a pity and quite surprising that when he asked around, the phone shop was only willing to give him 800 RMB for it.
Li Chengxiu thought that the man was deliberately haggling with him. He was not good at bargaining, so he went directly to other places. But they ended up offering him basically the same amount.
The people in the shop said that even though the phone was new, it was still a second-hand product. Besides, it was badly maintained, had scratches on it and couldn’t be resold for a good price.
Li Chengxiu looked at the phone, and there were indeed many scratches on it. This Xiao Ji really wasn’t someone who took care of his things.
Li Chengxiu came back home dejected and told everything to Xiao Ji.
Xiao Ji stared at him: “What? Just 800? Isn’t this ridiculous?”
Li Chengxiu was also helpless: “That’s how much they are offering.”
Xiao Ji gritted his teeth, “Well, 800 is still 800. You can sell it for me. By the way, ask them if they want a computer. ”
Li Chengxiu realized that the youngster was now living by selling his earthly possessions. What kind of life was that?
He remembered that one of their carriers got a foot injury two days ago, so their company lacked someone at this time. Li Chengxiu saw that Xiao Ji was in a good shape, and since he was idle every day anyway, Li Chengxiu told him about the opening.
Xiao Ji asked how much he could earn in a day.
Li Chengxiu thought for a while: “50 or 60 RMB.”
Xiao Ji thought he heard it wrong: “How much?”
“50 or 60 RMB.”
Xiao Ji showed an expression of disbelief and exclaimed: “That’s insane. I’m not doing it.”
Li Chengxiu frowned slightly and said, “But… you can’t keep selling things?”
Xiao Ji’s face darkened, and he impatiently said, “Leave me alone! I will figure it out.”
When Li Chengxiu saw him like this, he knew that the boy just didn’t know how the world worked. He probably had never bothered about such trivial things like getting firewood, rice, oil, and salt. Li Chengxiu thought it would be for the best, if Xiao Ji just went home as soon as possible.
Sulking on the sofa, Xiao Ji didn’t know who he was actually angry at. He looked down at his watch and touched it for a long time. He seemed undecided and hesitant.
After thinking back and forth for a long time, he turned around and said pitifully to Li Chengxiu, “I’m hungry. I’ve been waiting for you for the whole day.”
Li Chengxiu was helpless: “Just wait a little longer. It will soon be done.”
Xiao Ji walked over with Teacup and muttered, “Could you come back earlier from work in the future? If you are back so late again, and I’m hungry, I might eat the dog.”
Li Chengxiu smiled: “There is always something in the refrigerator. You can cook it up yourself.”
“It’s not gonna be as good as what you make!”
Li Chengxiu shook his head with a smile. While he was cooking, Xiao Ji walked around him, holding Teacup.
Li Chengxiu sometimes had the illusion that he actually had two dogs.
A few days later, Xiao Ji really sold his computer. Li Chengxiu saw that his house was completely empty, and he didn’t know what else the boy could sell.
Sure enough, after paying the rent and forcibly giving Li Chengxiu 2000 RMB for food, Xiao Ji asked him awkwardly, “Do you still need somebody at the company?”
Li Chengxiu called the manager and said that Xiao Ji was his younger brother and wanted to earn some pocket money.
The person in charge was an easy-going person, so he just told Xiao Ji to come by. The work wasn’t very technical anyway – mostly just moving goods from warehouse to warehouse
Li Chengxiu thought that it was a very simple matter. But already on his first day Xiao Ji got into trouble.
Li Chengxiu was sorting bills in his office at that time, and a colleague rushed in, saying that Li Chengxiu’s brother was in a fight with someone. Nobody could hold him back, so the colleague came to get Li Chengxiu.
Li Chengxiu immediately panicked and quickly ran to the warehouse.
Before he even got to the warehouse, he could hear banging sounds and angry screams coming from the inside.
Li Chengxiu went in and saw that three workers who were responsible for moving goods were lying on the ground. Xiao Ji’s face was flushed with anger. Several people were holding him back but he was still insisting on continuing the fight.
Li Chengxiu called out, “Xiao Ji!”
Xiao Ji glanced at him, but didn’t respond. His face was still red, and the veins on his neck were throbbing. He seemed very angry.
When the person holding him down saw Li Chengxiu coming, his hold loosened for some reason.
Xiao Ji grabbed the guy by the collar and threw him aside. He then went up to the worker lying on the ground and was about to kick him.
Li Chengxiu shouted, “Stop fighting!” Then he rushed over.
Xiao Ji was so angry that he didn’t even notice Li Chengxiu approaching him.
Li Chengxiu was just trying to stop him but got elbowed by Xiao Ji right in the chin.
Li Chengxiu bit his tongue, and blood filled his mouth. His brain was buzzing, he fell backwards, and suddenly everything got dark.
[1] So he’s the quiet sassy friend XD
[2] Counter of phones that Shao Qun has destroyed due to his temper tantrums: 4
[3] Older Sister Li
[4] What he means, is avoiding the player who blocks him from a throw or from a pass. I honestly have no idea what it’s called in English,nor do I care to research it.
[5] Open-crotch pants or split pants are worn by toddlers throughout mainland China. They are designed with either an unsewn seam over the buttocks and crotch or a hole over the central buttocks. Both allow children to urinate and defecate without the pants being lowered.
