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墨書 Inktalez
This is a northern city, vastly different from the memories of Binhai. The buildings are not as tall, and there aren't as many cars. As far as the eye can see, there are still many weathered old structures.
This was the last impression left in Xiao Mu's mind before night fell. Soon after, darkness enveloped the city. Lu Hongbo and Baldy, who would never have dared to enter during the day, began their journey at dusk. By the time they reached the edge of the city, it was nearly dark. With two pairs of bare feet and one pair of worn-out slippers, their progress was painfully slow. When they finally entered the city, Xiao Mu chose a clean spot to sit down, looking sadly at the blisters forming on his feet. His furrowed brow and pained expression made it seem like he was about to cry for his parents.
Had he really endured such suffering in his life? He sighed deeply, regretting his overestimation of his own abilities. How far had he run before he found himself in such trouble? He couldn't even secure basic necessities, let alone think about going home... Wait, he had gone the wrong way; now he was probably even farther from Binhai.
"Hey? Young master, looks like you can't go on," Baldy joked as he sat down beside him. Habitually checking his pockets, he found them empty, and that worried expression made Xiao Mu feel utterly hopeless.
"Professor, what should we do? You’ve got millions already; why don’t you use your silver tongue to solve our food problem?" Xiao Mu said. At this mention, Baldy reminded him, "Old Lu, how are you going to pay me?"
"What money?" Xiao Mu asked.
"He said if I helped him escape, he'd give me twenty thousand," Baldy replied, extending his hand.
Both of them turned to look at Lu Hongbo, who had now become less than a beast. His cheeks were sunken, one eye swollen shut, his clothes torn with several buttons missing, and mud caked on his pant legs. He sat awkwardly and glanced at his companions. "You can tell just by looking at me that I treat money like dirt; how could I owe you that little?"
"I think you look more like dirt," Xiao Mu retorted. By this point, he was thoroughly disappointed in both of them; they were nothing like he had imagined—living a life filled with wine, women, and room service.
Baldy seemed a bit helpless; given the current situation, there was no way to squeeze out any money. He rolled his eyes and turned to look into the city, the flesh on his face twitching.
With that expression on his face, Xiao Mu guessed that Baldy was probably thinking about robbing someone. In truth, he couldn't help but entertain similar thoughts himself but dismissed all potential plans. Of course, the most straightforward option would be to seek help from the police; however... He glanced at these two companions—if the police found out about their criminal activities together, wouldn’t that be walking straight into a trap?
"You’re thinking about snitching?" Professor Lu pointed at Xiao Mu. Despite his swollen eye, it still held a sharp gaze that seemed to see right through Xiao Mu.
"Don't play mind games with me; if my eyelid twitches, you think you've guessed right? Let me tell you—I am thinking about it but I don't dare! What if the police don't care about food and just send me back to you two? If I can't find you guys again... wouldn't that be asking for death?" Xiao Mu said angrily. Hearing this made Baldy feel relieved; he chuckled and said, "Oh, Old Lu didn’t misjudge him; this kid is quite clever."
"Of course! I never miss when judging people," Old Lu replied with a laugh as he exchanged glances with Baldy. Their smiles held a hint of malice that left Xiao Mu feeling uneasy; he sensed something strange in their relationship. In the mental hospital they acted like superiors and subordinates but once outside seemed ready to betray each other at any moment.
Neither of them mentioned where they would go next or what they would do. Unable to bear it any longer, Xiao Mu stood up and said, "Baldy, let's stick to what we agreed on—once we're out of here, we go our separate ways."
"Haha! Who do you think you are? Fine then—let’s go our separate ways," Baldy replied with a sinister smile and ignored him completely.
Xiao Mu gritted his teeth and left the two behind, but he walked slower and slower. He glanced at his own attire, which was hardly better than that of Professor Lu. Once a wealthy young man, he now looked like a beggar, having been beaten down countless times. Dressed like this on the streets, wouldn’t people just think he was mentally unstable? After walking a few dozen meters, he nearly came to a halt. Indeed, with no money and no one to turn to, feeling both exhausted and hungry, what could he do? He couldn’t possibly go to the police station for help; if news of his stay at the provincial mental hospital had already leaked out, it would be like escaping from a tiger’s den only to fall into a wolf’s lair.
Lost in thought and feeling helpless, he awkwardly sat down. After a while, the two slowly approached him. Xiao Mu waited for them, and as they got closer, he noticed they were both smiling at him.
“What are you laughing at... I warn you both, don’t push me,” Xiao Mu said angrily.
“Come on, Linzi... are you really that clueless about reading faces?” Professor Lu replied.
“What face?” Xiao Mu asked in confusion.
“Whoever is the most confident and composed should be followed,” Old Lu said with a grin, gesturing towards the tall and burly Baldy. The guy really didn’t seem rushed at all; he was smiling happily. Old Lu pulled Xiao Mu up and continued educating him: “When you go over mountains, worship the gods of those mountains; when you walk certain paths, sing their songs. In this place, we’re just insects relying on him.”
Pointing at Baldy made Xiao Mu understand. However, arguing about dragons and insects seemed pointless at this moment. Xiao Mu rubbed his stomach and voiced the most pressing issue: “No matter who we rely on, we need to solve the problem of food first... I’ve only eaten four cucumbers today with no protein intake whatsoever. Everything I see now looks like two shadows... I regret not eating more buns last night.”
“Ha ha, so pitiful... Baldy, let’s help him out. I think this little brother is alright; we need to sort this out quickly,” Professor Lu said, though his words were insincere as his own stomach growled twice.
Baldy chuckled as he looked at the two disheveled individuals and mysteriously said, “This isn’t really a problem for me; it all depends on personal ability. Just afraid you might not learn it.”
“Don’t rob us; if you do, we’ll be barefoot and won’t even be able to run,” Professor Lu warned. Xiao Mu chimed in, “But we need to be full before we can even think about robbing anyone!”
“Follow me; I’ll teach you... I grew up in places like this.”
Baldy smiled confidently as he strode forward with an air of authority.
Not long after, they arrived at a relatively bustling street where food stalls lined the corners—noodles, wontons, dumplings, rice noodles—all sorts of delicious offerings that made Xiao Mu’s eyes widen in excitement. He had never felt food’s allure could surpass that of beautiful women until now. Especially when a steaming basket of buns was lifted; oh my goodness, the aroma wafted into his nostrils and made him feel nauseous with hunger.
What to do?
The two hid around a corner watching Baldy as his Adam's apple bobbed and his eyes sparkled with anticipation.
“Learn from me; let’s fill our stomachs,” Baldy adjusted his hospital gown and took a few steps forward before shouting loudly: “Hey, Boss! Two meat sandwiches with extra chili!”
"Alright." The chubby man at the Meat Sandwich stall casually replied, clapping two buns together, slicing with a knife, and began his work.
Behind him, Xiao Mu observed and asked Professor Lu sternly, "How can we eat without money?"
"Aren't I learning too?" Professor Lu replied humbly. Despite being wise and knowledgeable, he surprisingly couldn't see through the situation.
As they spoke, the buns were ready. Baldy grabbed one, opened his mouth wide, and took a big bite, chewing with grease dripping everywhere. Then he bit into another bun, also filled with oil. He fumbled in his pocket and mumbled, "Hey, boss, I forgot to bring my money... Just wait a moment; I'll send it over. I'm just over there eating noodles."
As he tried to leave, the chubby man was not having it. Angrily pulling him back, he said, "Hey, hey! Who eats a bun on credit?"
"Look at you being so stingy. Can a few bucks really be owed to you? Just leave the bun here; I'll be right back," Baldy shouted as he placed the bun on the counter and hurried off to a nearby noodle shop. The stall owner couldn't stop him in time. Thinking that a few bucks wouldn't be a problem, he waited and waited but never saw Baldy return. Looking at the bun that had been nibbled into crescent shapes with all the meat gone, he cursed under his breath and tossed the remains into the bottom of the bowl.
Cool, right?
Baldy dashed around the corner with grease smeared all over his face. Xiao Mu and Lu Hongbo watched in awe, swallowing hard. How could he pull that off? They admired him immensely. Baldy nudged Old Lu and Xiao Mu, saying, "Come on, hurry up... Wow, it smells so good! Ask him to make you one; just take a bite first. It's only three bucks; what can he do to you?"
Xiao Mu hesitated; it didn't seem appropriate. This was about relying on looks to get by—only someone as fierce as Baldy could intimidate others like that. Plus, Baldy surely had no good intentions. He pretended to shrink back and told Old Lu, "Professor, you go first. I'll keep watch for you; if anything happens, I'll cover for you."
Old Lu must have been extremely hungry because he rolled up his sleeves and decided to go for it. Mimicking Baldy's demeanor, he cautiously entered the snack street. As he approached the meat sandwich stall, he felt uneasy; he couldn't just stick to one place that might cheat him. Looking around, he spotted a food stall where a woman cutting meat seemed easier to deal with. Concealing his embarrassment, he glanced at Xiao Mu nearby keeping watch and thought it wouldn't be too risky. Facing the stall owner confidently, he called out loudly, "Boss lady, cut me some beef."
"Sure thing... Want some chili?" she asked casually.
"Yes, but just a little," Professor Lu replied eagerly as his eyes fixated on her work. The aroma of the meat made his stomach churn and throat tighten. Moments later she quickly packed it into a plastic bag and said, "That'll be thirty-five."
"Oh... Is this meat fresh?" Old Lu asked as he opened the bag and tossed a few pieces into his mouth.
"Absolutely fresh," the boss lady assured him confidently.
"Is it? It doesn't taste like beef... Let me try again." Old Lu hastily shoved more into his mouth and began chewing quickly when the boss lady noticed something was off. After he'd eaten nearly half of it, she knocked on the glass counter and reminded him, "Hey! You haven't paid yet."
"It doesn't taste good; I don't want it anymore." Professor Lu dropped the half-eaten bag and slipped away sheepishly.
When the Meat Seller heard this, he became furious. Grabbing a pig's leg bone, he chased after Professor Lu, who, feeling guilty, covered his head and scurried away like a mouse. Barefoot and unable to run fast, he was caught by the Meat Seller in the street. The Meat Seller gave him a good beating on the back and head, causing him to stumble around in disarray. Only after venting his anger did the Meat Seller spit at him in disdain and let him go.
Embarrassed, Old Lu covered his head and half his face as he ran away from the street, ashamed to face anyone. Meanwhile, Baldy, who had been watching from a distance, was utterly astonished. He clearly saw that when Old Lu was being chased and beaten, Xiao Mu, who was supposed to be keeping watch, didn’t help at all. Instead, he sneaked over to a food stall, grabbed something, and ran off with nimble hands and feet that rivaled those of any street hustler.
Old Lu bore the brunt of the humiliation; he hadn’t even had his fill of beef before receiving such a beating. He met up with Baldy, cursing without any dignity: “...That little brat is so ungrateful! The moment I got into trouble, he vanished without a trace... Oh dear... What a day of bad luck! I got beaten up by some old women... Oh my head! Baldy, take a look for me; it seems like I have several lumps forming…”
As he rubbed his head while walking, Baldy laughed uncontrollably. After a while, he pulled Lu Hongbo aside and gestured for him to look further down the street. Xiao Mu was returning, munching on something as he walked. He hurriedly approached them; this guy was holding a roast chicken that he had already taken a big bite out of. Not bothering to speak, Old Lu snatched it from him and started eating. Xiao Mu chuckled and handed Baldy a chicken leg with a grin. Baldy accepted it without hesitation, laughing as he bit into it: “Wow, you’re pretty quick on your feet.”
“With Old Lu providing cover, even someone slow could grab one,” Xiao Mu replied.
Baldy looked at Professor Lu’s miserable state and laughed even harder. It took Old Lu quite some time to realize that Xiao Mu had taken advantage of his predicament to grab something for himself. Furious, he scolded Xiao Mu for being ungrateful. Xiao Mu quoted him back: “You said it yourself; to achieve victory, sacrifices must be made. Otherwise, how could we enjoy this roast chicken?”
Old Lu was too hungry to let it go; he devoured every last bit of the chicken neck bones with audible satisfaction. Clearly starving, once finished, he licked his fingers in delight.
After managing to fill their stomachs somewhat, the three of them found some energy and settled under the awning of a closed shop. However, their problems were far from solved. They couldn’t expect to stay at an inn that night; Xiao Mu would likely have to sleep on the streets if things continued like this. Baldy tugged at Old Lu and asked: “Hey, Old Lu, how much money did you claim you had back there? You can’t just rely on us for food!”
“I need to get to the Provincial Capital… This small place doesn’t have anyone who knows me; who would buy my debt?” Old Lu replied irritably.
“What about my money? You need to find someone to send me money; otherwise, what am I supposed to do? I’d rather have stayed in the mental hospital!” Baldy started arguing with Old Lu again over money.
Old Lu found himself entangled in this conversation. When asked about family, he replied that there was no one left at home. When asked about his wife, Old Lu retorted: “Have you ever seen someone who has been involved in Pyramid Schemes for twenty years still have a wife?” When asked about where he lived, Old Lu said: “I don’t have a fixed residence; besides, does someone like me who roams around eating everywhere need a place to stay?”
Baldy was stunned by this revelation and quickly asked: “If you have no home or job or place to stay… then where does your money come from? You’re not trying to fool me are you?”
“Look at what you’re saying; I’m not forcing you to believe me,” Old Lu began dodging questions—this seemed like one of the tricks commonly used in Pyramid Schemes. Baldy’s response was straightforward; he grabbed Old Lu by the throat and threatened: “Damn it! Are you messing with me? Do you want me to kill you?”
“Ah… uh… wait! I do have money… Just get me to the Provincial Capital! No wait! Get me a phone so I can call someone for help; they’ll send money right away…” Old Lu stammered as Baldy squeezed tighter around his neck until Xiao Mu intervened.
“Is it really necessary? It’s just tens of thousands; do you really want to kill him?” Xiao Mu tried to calm Baldy down.
Once Baldy was persuaded to let go, Xiao Mu sympathetically rubbed Old Lu’s back and said to Baldy: “Bald Brother, being out here is better than anything else. Why bother arguing with him? Can you really trust what he says?”
“Hey! Why can’t I trust him? Just give me a phone; I’ll call someone right now!” Old Lu insisted seriously.
With a thud, Baldy swiftly slapped him across the face, leaving Old Lu too frightened to speak. Xiao Mu could clearly see that Baldy was deep in thought. He spoke earnestly, "Bald Brother, it doesn't have to be like this... Don't believe him, trust me instead. Find a way back to Binhai, and I'll give you twenty thousand—no, forty thousand."
He feared that Baldy's stubbornness might lead to trouble. After pondering for a moment, Baldy replied, "Forget it. You two are both crazy; I can't trust either of you."
Old Lu interjected angrily, "This isn't my fault! When we went to the Provincial Capital, you took me to Hanzhong. What could I do?"
"You think just because you know everything about the world that it makes things easier?" Baldy retorted.
"Yes, I know everything about the world, but even the greatest heroes need money sometimes... Remember when Ming Taizu let the cattle go? And back then, Huaiyin Marquis was also around. Even our current Mao Taizu had his struggles in the north; what we're facing is nothing compared to that..."
"Shut up."
"Oh, right, I'll shut up. Listening to you."
Old Lu was silenced by Baldy's fierce demeanor. At that moment, Baldy seemed to have made a decision. He pointed at the other two and said, "Listen carefully. We've been through tough times together; let's part on good terms. Xiao Mu, you're a good guy; I can't ignore that."
Xiao Mu felt a change of heart towards this rogue.
He then pointed at Old Lu and added, "Old Lu, if you don't step up, don't blame me for being ungrateful."
"I won't let you down. I promise I can handle what I agreed to; you just need to help me get in touch," Old Lu replied.
"Good. Then you'll all follow my lead. No objections?" Baldy asked. Who else could they listen to at this point? The two nodded as Baldy outlined their plan: "First off, these clothes won't do; we need new outfits. Then we need to find a way to grab some cash... We must get our hands on a phone and some money... Once we have it, Linzi will cover your travel expenses so you can leave... Old Lu, I'll help you get in touch; you give me the money, and we'll part ways amicably. How does that sound?"
This plan suited both of them perfectly, and they nodded in agreement. Baldy stood up and commanded them, "Follow me; let's get some clothes."
The two instinctively got up. The hospital gowns were indeed a hindrance; they couldn't even show their faces like normal people. The three of them walked a short distance when Baldy suddenly stopped them. He grabbed one of each and pointed toward the night market stalls lined with colorful clothing—brightly colored shorts and sandals hanging on display. He looked at Xiao Mu and raised an eyebrow, asking, "If we need to take something, can you do it? What you did earlier was pretty good."
"Oh, I understand," Xiao Mu replied but then glanced at Old Lu and chuckled.
"Old Lu, follow orders: go over there and grab a piece of clothing and run back. Don't run too fast or too far; if they chase you hard, just toss it back," Baldy instructed. Old Lu jumped in surprise and replied unhappily, "I've already been hit twice; do I really have to go again?"
"At that moment, robbing a wallet was even harder than this, what are you doing?" Baldy asked seriously, knowing that it would be a far more daunting task than stealing clothes.
"Alright then... oh my goodness, my dear mother, the heavens are blind! Here I am, talented and learned, and today I've fallen to the level of a street thief..." Old Lu muttered to himself, reluctant to go but too afraid not to. Xiao Mu pushed him from behind and said, "Come on, Professor. Great responsibilities fall upon those destined for greatness; they must first endure hardship and toil... Your flesh wounds aren't even close to your bones."
With a shove, Old Lu had no shame left. Clumsily grabbing a T-shirt, he ran off. The stall owner didn’t notice at first, but Xiao Mu hurriedly stepped forward and pointed at the stall owner, saying, "Hey, hey, Boss, he just took something from you and ran!"
"What the hell! You want to die? Little brother, keep an eye on him!" The Boss was furious and grabbed a shoe to chase after Old Lu. It wasn’t long before he caught up with the clumsy Professor Lu and yanked him back. He slapped him across the face with his flip-flop while cursing loudly, "You old bastard! How old are you to still be stealing?"
"Don’t hit me! Listen to me... kid, you’ve been tricked." Old Lu's eyes were spinning as he thought quickly.
"Stop trying to scare me; I’ll slap you harder!" The stall owner was getting more aggressive. Desperate, Old Lu shouted, "If you hit me again, I’ll fall down and won’t be able to get up! Are you trying to make me dependent on you for retirement?"
Startled, the stall owner suddenly stopped and released him as if shocked. When he took a closer look at Old Lu’s miserable state, he let out a sharp scream. The old man's face was turning as red as a boiled crab; it was truly terrifying.
Seeing the stall owner shiver in fear, he turned and ran back to his stall. When he got there, he was dumbfounded—several cheap items had been stolen from his stand. Turning back again, he was even more shocked; that clumsy old man had completely vanished without a trace...
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