PCJ – Chapter 183 Minor Success in Qinggong

The idle thugs eyed Zhang Youping’s group but didn’t approach, seeing their numbers.

Zhang Youping kept his eyes on the thugs, ready to fight if they came closer. Unconsciously, his hands formed fists.

“Don’t look at them,” Xiao Lihua warned, knowing it was Zhang Youping’s first encounter with such a situation.

“You brat! What are you looking at? Don’t think just because you have more people that I won’t do anything to you! Look again, and I’ll cripple you!” one of the thugs shouted angrily when they noticed Zhang Youping glaring at them.

Zhang Youping’s neck thickened, resembling an enraged beast, ready to pounce.

“Zhang Youping, don’t look at them. Let’s go,” Xiao Lihua quickly pulled Zhang Youping. Dealing with these thugs would lead to endless trouble.

Liu Qiaoye grabbed Zhang Youping’s hand, “Listen to Sister Lihua, let’s go.”

The thugs didn’t actually follow. Although they were armed, both groups had nearly equal numbers, with Zhang Youping’s side having more. The thugs were involved in illegal activities and couldn’t risk being pursued. They watched Zhang Youping’s group, making provocative gestures until they walked away.

“Zhang Youping, outside, you must endure. They may be few, but if a fight breaks out, they’ll call for backup. No matter how well you fight, one can’t take on many. And think about us women—we need your protection!” Xiao Lihua advised sternly.

Zhang Youping realized his recklessness. In a fight, he couldn’t protect the women, “Sister Lihua, I’m sorry. I won’t act like that again.”

“You’re not wrong. The world is wrong. Remember, our priority is safety. We’re here to earn money, not to fight these thugs,” Xiao Lihua softened her tone.

Everyone was happy after depositing their money. It felt real only after it was saved in the account.

“Let’s go. Today’s payday. I’m treating everyone to a good meal,” Xiao Lihua announced loudly.

“Sister Lihua, we’re so lucky to get into this good factory because of you. This time, I’ll treat,” Zhang Youping offered generously.

“No, no. You’ve just started working. It’s only been a few hundred a month. It’s not your turn to treat yet. It’s up to us older folks. When your salary matches ours, then it’s your turn,” Xiao Lihua laughed.

Workers wouldn’t dine at fancy places. Around bigger factories were small eateries, established as factories grew. For Zhang Youping and others, the priority was a full, oily meal, not the environment.

Among the old friends, only Zhang Youping, Liu Qiaoye, and Xiao Lihua were married. The others were around twenty, some not even engaged. Except for Xiao Lihua, the rest were from other parts of Xintian County. In this factory, even from the same county, city, or province, people felt close.

The youngest, Zeng Shiyong, was eighteen, just out of high school. Failing to get into university, he came to Guangdong. Being literate, he quickly became a minor official in the factory, earning more and working less.

“Zeng Shiyong, educated folks like you have it easy. Doing nothing and earning high wages. The girls in the factory must be all over you,” Xiao Lihua joked.

“Sister Lihua, it’s not as you say. I was just lucky. Came early when the factory needed people and happened to be literate,” Zeng Shiyong blushed.

“Zeng Shiyong, I tell you, be quick with the girls in the factory. Many young men are single here. You young ones have no worries working away from home. You learn quickly and work fast. Without overtime, you earn as much as us,” Zhang Youping advised.

“You should be content, Youping. If we could work away from home in the ’80s, who knows if you could marry such a beautiful wife? Girls like Qiaoye are rare beauties in any factory. Haven’t you noticed how the young men stare at her? You better watch out,” Xiao Lihua teased.

“In our factory, they stare at you, Sister Lihua!” Liu Qiaoye retorted, feeling teased.

In truth, Xiao Lihua was indeed more attractive than Liu Qiaoye. Working for years, Xiao Lihua not only broadened her horizons but also adopted urban women’s beauty habits, dressing fashionably. Liu Qiaoye, new to this, still wore clothes from home and never dressed up. Despite being a natural beauty, she didn’t stand out among thousands of workers.

After dinner, they prepared to return to the factory. In this unfamiliar city, the small factory felt like their safest place.

At the factory gate, a man in his thirties was pacing. Seeing Zhang Youping’s group, he smiled and ran over.

“Youping!” The man was Zhao Hongbing, Xiao Lihua’s husband, who worked in a big company as a security guard. Zhao Hongbing, an ex-soldier, stayed in Guangdong after leaving the army, finding work as a security team leader in a large company. His company, a Hong Kong enterprise, treated him well.

Zhao Hongbing habitually punched Zhang Youping’s shoulder, causing him to step back slightly.

“Hongbing, coming to see Sister Lihua?” Zhang Youping greeted, following his wife’s way of addressing her.

“Don’t call her Sister Lihua. She’s younger than you. Call her Sister-in-law,” Zhao Hongbing laughed.

“You, Youping, don’t listen to him. I’m Qiaoye’s sister, so you call me Sister. Call him Brother-in-law,” Xiao Lihua corrected, glaring at Zhao Hongbing.

Zhao Hongbing laughed, “Brother-in-law is fine too.”

“I’ll stick with Brother Hongbing,” Zhang Youping scratched his head.

“Brother, since you call me brother, work with me. This electronics factory isn’t good. Be a security guard with me. The pay is higher and the job easier. This work suits women,” Zhao Hongbing suggested.

“You can’t agree! If you leave, who’ll protect us on payday?” Xiao Lihua quickly protested.

Zhang Youping had no intention of leaving. He couldn’t leave his wife alone in the factory, “Sister Lihua is right. We’re new here. Let’s stay and get familiar first.”

“Don’t listen to him. He’s just a security head. He can’t decide who joins. Even if he gets you in, it’s a regular guard job, not high-paying. Guards often deal with thugs. Hongbing, don’t mess around. Youping is honest. He can’t handle the risks,” Xiao Lihua warned, glaring at Zhao Hongbing.

Realizing he couldn’t convince them, Zhao Hongbing jokingly complained, “You care more for Youping than for me.”

“Of course, he’s my brother,” Xiao Lihua flirted, causing Zhao Hongbing to yield, smiling.

The city’s towering buildings made the moon seem dim. Unlike the clear, bright moon in Meizi Village, the night there was dark, charming, and peaceful. Zhang Jiaohua’s rice fields swayed in the wind, like graceful dancers.

Zuan Shanbao lay in the corridor, with five yellow puppies neatly beside him, learning survival skills from their mother.

Zhang Jiaohua slept soundly, his breathing steady.

As time passed, dawn broke. A new day began in Meizi Village. Zhang Jiaohua continued his routine, each day slightly different, though he didn’t notice. A giant fragrant tree at his door, which took two or three kids to hug, could be climbed effortlessly by him in one breath. Agile as a swallow, he unconsciously became skilled in qinggong.