Volume 9 – Chapter 40: Underworld’s Muddy Situation (Part 1)
There were still many things to follow-up, and need to be completed by immediate family members… There was nothing for Luo Qiu in this part.
He returned to his house.
He opened the door and walked into the living room. He then turned on the lights in the living room. At this moment, the person who was sitting on a wooden bench in the living room was suddenly apparent.
That was Dazhe…While Luo Qiu was switching on the light, Dazhe was also looking at him. He watched the young man calmly close the door after he switched on the light.
“How long have you been here?”
“You are so daring…” Dazhe shook his head. “It was the same like last time as if you are never afraid of anything. It stands to reason that anyone who switches on the light and suddenly sees a stranger at home will be scared, at least.”
“We just got to know each other,” said Luo Qiu calmly. “Then, you are not considered a stranger… So?”
Dazhe knew what the other party was asking — He only left a note saying that he would not come again. Now that he came again, naturally, he could not justify that… But, he had to go on.
So, he looked at Luo Qiu and hesitated, “I saw you all eating, and later I heard the sound of crying. Has the old lady…?”
“Very peaceful.” Luo Qiu nodded.
“Just as I thought…” Dazhe lowered his head. It was not apparent what he was thinking – He had long prepared for this mentally. After all, before the nominal owner of the house, Luo Qiu, returned, he would always quietly come back every time his ex-wife returned with the child. So, naturally, he would know better.
“What is this?” Dazhe asked subconsciously, staring at the cup Luo Qiu brought him.
“Tea made with osmanthus flower syrup. There are leftovers.” Luo Qiu smiled and said. “Have you eaten? There should be some Tangyuan left. Grandma Xiaochun made them. You probably have not eaten, have you?”
Dazhe nodded silently. Luo Qiu walked into the kitchen. After a while, he walked out with a small bowl. Dazhe ate the Tangyuan one by another without saying a word.
What was the taste like?
Dazhe thought to himself. If he could eat with his ex-wife’s family, at least it would not feel more uncomfortable than what he felt at that moment… At least, it would be another taste of life.
“Are you back to see the old lady?” Luo Qiu asked, suddenly looking at the lamp on the ceiling.
“Just assume it is.” Dazhe did not want to say more about his affairs – He did not even intend to come in here. However, his own identity was inappropriate to appear in front of everyone.
He wanted to clarify some matters, purely out of respect for this grandmother who visited him when he was in jail. Dazhe’s only choice was this young man who did not seem to reject him.
At this moment, Luo Qiu suddenly moved a stool and then stacked a smaller one on it. He then climbed up and reached the ceiling lamp, as if he wanted to find something from inside.
“How long will you… stay here?” asked Dazhe curiously. “Until the old lady’s funeral is over?”
“It should be till then.” Luo Qiu nodded. “I have more free time anyway. If you want to stay here, there is no problem. I said that as long as you don’t touch other things, it doesn’t matter…Ah, found it!”
Luo Qiu took out a small object from the lamp.
“What is this…”
“Tooth.” Luo Qiu smiled and said. “My father’s tooth. Isn’t there such a small custom? After a child has new teeth, the adults will throw the old teeth into a shed, a lamp, etc. The folks said that new teeth will grow out sooner if they do so. I saw it yesterday, and I didn’t plan to take it off at the time. I thought it would be nice to leave it like this. But… this is of no interest to you. Sorry about that.”
Dazhe shook his head as if he could always feel peace with this young man. He quieted down unconsciously and gave a faint smile, “It’s alright. I haven’t talked with anyone for a long time… It’s not bad.”
“Do you want more Tangyuan?”
“Then… let’s have another bowl.”
Later, Luo Qiu brought pillows and quilts from upstairs. “Take away all your things. Don’t sleep in the utility room tonight. Can you sleep in the living room instead?”
Dazhe accepted it silently.
“I have hot water in the kettle. You can use the cup as you like,” said Luo Qiu said. “Then, I won’t keep you from resting.”
“To be honest…” Watching Luo Qiu leave, Dazhe could not help but yell at him. “You…How can you be at ease with me? Are you not afraid that I am a bad person?”
Luo Qiu turned his head and said, “Apart from the locked room, all other places here are not as dirty as imagined…But, no one has lived here for several years. It’s somewhat illogical, right?”
Dazhe shook his head, “I can’t stay for free. Besides, sometimes, it’s boring. So, if there is anything I can do… it’s my pleasure.”
“If it was a bad guy…” Luo Qiu thought for a while and said, “Usually, he’ll ask for more, and will avoid paying as much as possible… So, good night.”
“Wait a minute.” Dazhe took a deep breath, then hurriedly took out the wallet from his bag and took out all the money in it.
After thinking about it for a while, he put away the small change, and put all the big bills on the coffee table, and looked at Luo Qiu sincerely, “Can you send it out for me in your name… For Tingting’s family, as a token from the heart.”
“Just put it here.” Luo Qiu nodded, then turned off the light in the living room, leaving only a small light and went straight upstairs.
Under the dimmed light, Dazhe, who was lying down slowly, changed to pajamas… He had not been so peaceful before going to bed for a long time.
Probably it was the hot tea made with osmanthus flower syrup, which had the effect of calming the nerves… He thought so and gradually fell into sleep.
To return the favor.
…
“Sang Kun, I have something to talk to you about!”
The shirtless man was singing a song with a woman with heavy makeup in his arms — The private karaoke room was trendy during that time.
“Ah, I wonder who it is. Isn’t this Brother Dazhe?” Sang Kun pushed the woman in his arms away, and then looked at the other man who was standing close behind Dazhe, patted the table and said, “You two eat shit! Don’t you know that Brother Dazhe and I are good brothers?! Get lost! What are you doing?!”
After the underling walked away, Sang Kun smiled and stood up with a bottle of beer, “Brother Dazhe, there is nothing here to entertain you. But, you can come to this nightclub as you please! It’s my treat!”
“Sang Kun, don’t talk about these things,” said Dazhe calmly. “Let’s talk about Xiao Hu, and I will leave after talking.”
“Xiao Hu? Who is Xiao Hu??” Sang Kun patted his head, thinking hard and talking in a meditative manner, “Big Cat! There is a Big Cat. I will introduce him to you later.”
“Sang Kun, I didn’t come here to make a joke. I’m here to ask you. Did you set a trap and conned fifty thousand from Xiao Hu?”
