Yu Mo’s work remained at a complete standstill. Her team leader, Old Zhang, looked at her with increasingly sharp eyes, and Peach didn't even bother rolling her eyes at her anymore—likely feeling that Yu Mo’s aptitude wasn't even worth the effort of a flirtatious glare.
Yu Mo had gone out "sweeping buildings," distributing countless business cards throughout various residential compounds, but they had mostly vanished into the void. She did receive a fair number of inquiry calls, but most were just people casually asking around; some bored individuals even called simply out of curiosity regarding her commission rates.
There was also a client who urgently insisted on meeting her. She initially thought her chance had come, but after a few more sentences, he gave himself away—it turned out he had seen her handing out cards, claimed it was love at first sight, and wanted to take her to dinner.
There were all sorts of eccentrics, one after another.
Lily’s first-quarter performance had once again fallen short of Zhou Tao’s. Fuming, she spent the entire afternoon cursing Zhou Tao, while generously sharing the details of how Zhou Tao seduced her clients with Yu Mo.
"You know, the guy's original wife made a scene in the company lobby. Everyone in the building came down to watch the show. She had a stack of photos this thick in her hand, but before she could show them to everyone, Manager Huang and the others dragged her away. The company has a reputation to uphold, you know? But Zhou Tao herself is thick-skinned as can be, acting like nothing happened."
Yu Mo thought to herself that troubles were likely endless, like monsters in a game that could never be fully defeated. She was troubled by her inability to close a deal, while others were troubled by not being number one. She wondered if she would ever see such a day.
Yu Mo spent twenty-eight yuan and took an hour-long bus ride to the Wu County central bus station. While queuing to get off, she smoothed out her silk skirt, trying to press out the wrinkles.
The area around the station was a chaotic swirl of traffic and noise. Although it was just a county seat, it didn't look much different from Jinning.
She walked out of the station and hailed a taxi. The driver asked where she was going.
"Master, I want to take a look at the garment factories around here. Do you know which area has the highest concentration? Just drop me off there."
The driver was a talkative middle-aged man in his late forties or fifties. Hearing Yu Mo’s request, he glanced back at her, stepped on the gas, and started chatting away. "Little girl, are you in this trade? It’s not an easy business to be in these days. You’re ten years too late. Ten years ago, our Wu County was famous; the whole country knew Wu County, even if they didn't necessarily know it was part of Jinning. Back then, eight out of ten trips we made from the bus and train stations were to the garment factories. Those bosses were so high-spirited, they practically walked with the wind."
"How is it now?" Yu Mo asked.
"It’s no good now. It started going downhill years ago. I know several bosses who sold their villas and cars; some even ran away. Even our business has dried up. If we can make half of what we used to, we thank the heavens. Wu County is failing. These past few years, everyone says money is hard to earn, and the young people have all fled."
Yu Mo kept her head turned toward the window. By now, the skyscrapers had receded, replaced by four- or five-story buildings. Most of the exterior walls were covered in mosaics or tiles, revealing a grimy, soot-stained look of being abandoned by the times. Various large signs with red backgrounds were the most eye-catching, revealing a hint of a death struggle.
They had entered the industrial zone.
She paid and got out of the car.
There were few people on the road. A few female workers emerged from a factory labeled "Zhenhua Garments," walking away while chatting and laughing.
She had only been standing by the roadside for a moment when a dog in a nearby factory yard began barking fiercely at her. Startled, she took a few steps back. Fortunately, the dog was tethered to a gatepost by a thick leather strap.
She walked forward to get out of the dog's sight, and only then did the large yellow dog stop with a few reluctant whimpers.
The large iron gate of the factory to her right was locked tight, with a "Factory for Rent" sign hanging on it. The handwriting was crooked, at most a primary school level, written in bright red for the sake of auspiciousness and good luck.
Yu Mo had come to Wu County knowing that the garment and fabric factories here were in a slump—that was the reason for her hour-long trek—but she hadn't expected it to be this dire. Seeing a beauty in her twilight years, the setting sun, or a hero in his old age always brought an involuntary sigh. How wonderful it would be if life could forever remain in the stage of "riding high on the spring breeze."
She pulled a business card from her bag and began her work. A slumping industry needed money; this was her opportunity.
She settled her lunch at a mobile boxed-meal stall by the road, buying a serving of shredded pork with green peppers. She squeezed onto the only small table with several men to finish it. The meal was surprisingly delicious, if a bit oily.
On the bus back to Jinning that afternoon, in a state between sleep and wakefulness, she received a call from a client. "I have a one-hour window right now. If you can make it, we can discuss the proposal. If you're late, forget it."
Yu Mo jolted awake, all sleepiness vanishing. She looked out the window; the bus was nearly at the station, but it was crawling at a snail's pace due to traffic congestion.
She pulled out her phone and checked the navigation; it would take forty minutes to get from the station to the client's company.
She was so anxious she wanted to jump off the bus.
By the time she finally managed to catch a taxi to the east gate of the client's company, only five minutes remained. She lowered her head and charged forward, only to be stopped by an old man at the gate. "What are you doing? What are you doing? Can't you see this gate is closed? Go to the west gate."
Yu Mo couldn't stop in time and nearly crashed into him. The old man had a long, unfriendly face. She pleaded, "Grandpa, could you please let me through? I'm in a terrible hurry." She felt like she was about to cry.
The old man lifted his drooping eyelids. Seeing the young girl before him on the verge of tears, he walked over and unlocked the gate. He looked back and said, "Hurry up, hurry up, don't let anyone see. What are you crying for?"
"Thank you, Grandpa!" She didn't have time for more words and rushed inside.
***
Lange’s current project involved installing lighting for a well-known mobile phone showroom. Qi Lian had been working with five men for three days, and they had basically finished installing the first circuit.
The showroom had ceilings four or five meters high, with floor-to-ceiling glass on all four sides, following a modern high-tech style. The wiring could only run through the ceiling and the floor. This style of renovation was notoriously difficult to execute—a fact recognized throughout the industry. It was impossible to achieve without a major brand pouring money into it.
The showroom was filled with scaffolding. Grooves had to be cut into the ceiling one by one, the electric drills whining incessantly, leaving the air thick with dust.
The boss of Lange brought two designers and an assistant to check the progress. This was currently their studio's most important project, and no one dared to be careless.
Qi Lian and a designer named Wang went over the entire blueprint again.
Jiang Yuan came over to report to Qi Lian that the first circuit was finished.
Qi Lian stopped what he was doing, and everyone gathered around him. He signaled Xiao Bo to flip the power switch.
He and Designer Wang each took a voltage tester to check the points.
He tested three points, and none of them reacted.
His brow furrowed.
The showroom fell into a dead silence. The air grew heavy; this was a result no one could afford.
Boss Wei of Lange had a ponytail and a long, thin face. He was usually polite to Qi Lian, but now his face was clouded with gloom. He questioned him bluntly, "Boss Qi, this isn't your usual level, is it? We paid a high price to hire you because we required the best craftsmanship. If you can't guarantee the quality, say so sooner. We can't afford to lose on this project, and you won't be able to bear the consequences either."
Qi Lian suppressed his anger. He had always held high standards for technical work, and it was completely unexpected for an error to occur at this stage. He didn't need anyone else to question him; he was already fuming internally.
Nothing showed on his face as he explained, "Boss Wei, this is my mistake. I will have the problem resolved by tonight. This isn't our first time working together; you can trust my technique."
Boss Wei seemed satisfied with the answer. He nodded and said, "It must be resolved by tomorrow. The schedule cannot be delayed. I hope this kind of mistake doesn't happen again."
Qi Shuai, Jiang Yuan, Xiao Bo, and two older masters stood beside Qi Lian, watching Boss Wei and his team depart.
Qi Lian radiated a cold aura. The others also felt they had lost face, and for a moment, no one spoke.
Qi Lian pointed at them and said, "All of you, go find out what the hell the problem is."
The group dispersed dejectedly.
Ten minutes later, they heard Qi Lian shout, "Everyone, get over here. Xiao Bo, go close the doors."
"Right!" Xiao Bo answered, jumping like a monkey to close the two massive glass doors. He tugged at his pants, which were slipping down his hips, as he ran.
Qi Lian turned to look at the men gathering around him and asked grimly, "Who laid the wires at the three o'clock direction? Who cut the grooves?"
Qi Shuai had a bad feeling but braced himself. "Me!"
Qi Lian stared at him, teeth gritted as he asked, "How many centimeters did I say to cut the grooves? How many did you cut?"
Qi Shuai took a step back. "Zero point... seven millimeters."
Qi Lian, exasperated by his failure to live up to expectations, raised his leg and kicked him in the thigh. "Goddammit, did you even cut zero point seven? Will you die if you don't slack off? Do you want to spend your whole life waiting on a street corner like livestock to be picked for work?"
Jiang Yuan quickly stepped in to push Qi Lian back, advising, "Old Qi, we're all brothers, calm down." He turned and scolded Qi Shuai, "Is there water in your brain? Do you have no sense of propriety at all?"
Within a few breaths, Qi Lian had calmed down. He didn't waste time on useless bickering and told them, "All of you, go. Rip out the wires and recut the grooves. The schedule cannot be delayed."
Jiang Yuan pulled Qi Shuai aside and advised him in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Use your head. You know what kind of man Old Qi is. If it were anyone else today, he would have told them to get lost long ago. It wasn't easy for him to get where he is today; as his brother, don't hold him back. And don't resent him for losing his temper."
Qi Shuai replied, "I don't resent him. I just didn't think cutting the grooves a bit shallower would be this serious."
***
After working overtime until seven in the evening, the circuit was finally powered up. Everyone had smiles on their faces as they gathered their tools to head home, still in time for dinner.
Qi Lian said, "Let's go. I'll treat you all to barbecue tonight."
Qi Shuai’s eyes lit up. "Damn, that kick was worth it!"
Qi Lian pointed a finger at him. "Keep acting like that and I'll break your leg."
Xiao Bo asked, "Can we go to that expensive Xinjiang BBQ place? The kidneys there are delicious."
Jiang Yuan, seeing his apprentice’s lack of ambition, slapped him on the head. "Who are you looking down on? Is Brother Lian short on that kind of money? When we get there, eat your fill. Order whatever is expensive."
Qi Lian ignored them and went to the restroom. He stuck his head under the faucet, splashing water everywhere as he rinsed his hair and face. He then put both arms under the tap to wash them clean before unceremoniously pulling up his T-shirt to wipe himself dry.
Jiang Yuan and Qi Lian drove separately.
In the car, the older Master Wang said with lingering fear, "That Lange guy was really fierce this afternoon, acting so arrogant. I was actually a bit worried he wouldn't let us work anymore."
Qi Lian had one hand on the window glass and the other on the steering wheel. Hearing this, he curled his lip and said, "Don't let him scare you. He was genuinely angry, but he wouldn't actually dare to replace us. Even if we caused more trouble, he wouldn't dare. You can put your heart back in your chest. This is the current level of the market; no one can guarantee zero mistakes. Even if he looked elsewhere, he wouldn't necessarily find someone with my skill level. He knows it, and I know it too."
Just then, a red light appeared. He stepped on the brake, and the car came to a steady halt. The passengers couldn't even feel a vibration. Reliable!
The Xinjiang BBQ was located at the entrance of Lianhua District 3. The owner was also surnamed Qi, known as "Fatty." Everyone knew him; he was a local and had absolutely nothing to do with Xinjiang. The barbecue tasted great, but the prices were higher than average shops.
Qi Lian told them to order whatever they wanted while he went to park.
By the time he finished parking and returned, the others had already ordered and were drinking beer. The tables were set out on the sidewalk. The May weather was perfectly mild, and the evening breeze brought a rare sense of comfort. He pulled up a stool and sat down.
There were many diners, and the place was noisy. The tables occupied the sidewalk, and pedestrians carefully dodged and weaved past, inhaling a noseful of cumin with every breath.
Master Wang took a sip of beer, wiped his mouth with his palm, and lamented, "In the early days, a lamb skewer was one yuan. Damn, now it's ten yuan a skewer. You have to think twice before eating, and you can't even be sure if what's in your mouth is rat meat. Fatty started out selling lamb skewers from a small cart, and now he's made it big. He has several storefronts and still can't fit everyone."
While everyone was reminiscing, Qi Lian pushed back his stool and stood up. Everyone looked at him, but without a word of greeting, he strode off to the side.
***
Yu Mo had gotten off the bus one stop early today. The commercial street at the entrance of District 3 was quite lively. She had finished work earlier than usual and was in a good mood, so she wanted to join the bustle.
She walked along the sidewalk, looking at the restaurants one by one, unhurried.
Today, she wore a thin, fine-spun white cashmere sweater paired with a light beige silk skirt. A thin gold belt was fastened at her waist. For ease of walking, she wore a pair of beige flat sheepskin shoes, her long straight black hair draped over her shoulders.
She stood like a graceful summer lotus in the mud, completely out of place with her surroundings.
If anyone understood, they would know the white sweater was from Loro Piana, and the braided leather belt—which could be found for twenty or thirty yuan at a wholesale market—was actually from Hermès.
The crowd only knew she looked different, and people constantly stole glances at her along the way.
Yu Mo didn't care much. She stopped in front of a stir-fry stall, leaning over to inspect the rows of meat and vegetables in the freezer.
A deep male voice came from beside her, asking, "Decided what to eat yet?"
She turned in surprise and saw the streetlights reflecting in Qi Lian’s dark eyes, which held a glimmer of a smile.
She couldn't help but smile with pleasant surprise. "Qi Lian, are you here for dinner too?"
Qi Lian gestured toward the barbecue stall not far ahead. "I'm treating some friends to dinner up there. Come join us."
Yu Mo saw his friends; several men were all turned looking this way. Feeling self-conscious, she declined, "Maybe not."
Qi Lian caught her expression and reassured her, "It’s fine. They're all close friends. If you don't want to talk, just keep your head down and eat. Come on, what are you afraid of?"
His gaze was too persuasive. Yu Mo felt a bit of a longing for the warmth of the mundane world today, so she stepped forward to follow him.
Jiang Yuan and the others saw Qi Lian stride toward a woman and stand close, talking to her. The scene had an indescribable harmony to it, and they looked at each other in bewilderment.
Jiang Yuan was the first who couldn't help himself: "Holy crap! Is that someone he knows or is he hitting on her?"
Qi Shuai had seen Yu Mo before; a woman like her was hard to forget. "He probably knows her. She lives in the same compound as him."
Jiang Yuan asked Qi Shuai, "Have you ever seen him like this?" His limited vocabulary couldn't describe Qi Lian’s appearance; he only knew it was different—very different.
Qi Shuai shook his head.
Old Wang chimed in, "The iron tree is finally blooming."
Jiang Yuan looked at the woman walking toward them and said, "I think he's in for some suffering!"
Qi Lian led Yu Mo to the table. Xiao Bo, being observant, grabbed a stool from another table and handed it over.
Qi Lian took the stool, placed it next to his own, and invited Yu Mo to sit. He introduced her to the others: "This is my friend, Yu Mo. She's joining us for dinner."
The men at the table involuntarily straightened their backs.
Qi Lian pointed them out one by one.
Jiang Yuan was a massive, burly man with a square face and thick eyebrows. A glass of beer disappeared down his throat in a single "gulp."
Xiao Bo, beside him, looked only seventeen or eighteen, with a childish face and bangs long enough to poke his eyes.
The name Qi Shuai (meaning "Handsome Qi") made Yu Mo suppress a smile, but once she saw his face, she had to marvel at his parents' foresight.
Qi Shuai was an exceptionally handsome man with deep contours—his brow bone, nose, and jawline were all perfectly placed. Yu Mo rarely used the word "handsome" to describe someone, but the word sprang to mind the moment she saw that face. It was a face good enough for a movie star, making his presence at such a roadside stall feel discordant.
However, his complexion was dark, and he didn't seem very tall.
Yu Mo studied him discreetly.
On her third glance, Qi Lian tapped the table in front of her and asked, "What do you want to drink?" He turned his head slightly; because they were sitting close, Yu Mo could feel the breath from his words.
"Plain water," she said.
Qi Lian hadn't expected anyone to drink only plain water. He confirmed, "Plain water?"
Yu Mo nodded.
Qi Lian directed Xiao Bo, "Xiao Bo, go pour a glass of warm water."
Xiao Bo jumped up and ran into the restaurant, tugging at his pants as he went.
Qi Lian tilted his head toward her again. "What do you want to eat?"
"Lamb skewers are fine. A piece of naan would be best."
Qi Lian nodded. "We've already ordered those. Let's start eating then. If there's anything else you want, just say so."
Yu Mo reached out to take the water Xiao Bo handed her. Her arm stretched in front of Qi Lian’s eyes, and he saw that she had pushed her sweater sleeves up to her elbows, revealing a fair, tender arm like a willow branch. Her wrist was so thin it was barely thicker than a chopstick.
He felt a sudden heat and quietly shifted back a bit.
Jiang Yuan called out to him, "Qi Lian, I'm talking to you! Qi Shuai said you don't want to take the job in Shicheng? What's the deal?"
"Tired!"
"Screw you," Jiang Yuan said, knowing immediately that Qi Lian was just being dismissive. He cursed, "Are you losing your edge? Remember when we did that Ningbo project? We could go days without sleep. When we got tired, we'd just pull a piece of canvas over ourselves and lie down for an hour or two. Now you're telling me you can't even go out of town? You haven't even had a son yet; don't tell me you can't perform anymore."
Yu Mo heard Qi Lian let out a low chuckle beside her.
Old Wang remembered something and said, "Do you guys remember the year we went to Malaysia? Qi Lian almost didn't come back; he was nearly kept there as a live-in son-in-law. If I'd known he'd be like this now, he should have stayed back then and fathered a son first."
Jiang Yuan agreed, "Right, right. What was that Malaysian woman's name? I remember it had 'Lian' in it too. She had a huge chest."
Qi Lian saw they were getting out of hand. He picked up a pair of chopsticks and threw them at them, cursing, "That's enough. We know you can father a son."
Jiang Yuan said proudly, "Damn right. Out of our group, I'm the only one with a kid. But it's weird how you guys are all getting up there in age and none of you are getting married or having kids. Hey, what about that woman someone wanted to introduce to you last time?"
Old Wang picked up his glass and banged it on the table. "Come on, come on, let's have a drink."
The men all banged their glasses on the table, tilted their heads back, and gulped down their drinks. The previous topic was dropped.
A waiter brought out the lamb skewers on a stainless steel tray, piled high. The fat was still sizzling, and the aroma of charred protein wafted over.
Qi Lian reached out and took a handful, placing them on the plate in front of Yu Mo. All the sharp tips of the iron skewers were pointed outward for easy grabbing.
He lowered his head and whispered to Yu Mo, "Eat. Take more if it's not enough."
Jiang Yuan looked at his brother across from him. He bit off a chunk of meat, showing nothing on his face, but inwardly he sneered—*he's in for some suffering.*
Old Wang crunched on his meat and remembered something. He said to Qi Lian, "I heard an outsider arrived recently, in our line of work. He's incredibly arrogant. Bragging everywhere, looking down on us. Qi, have you heard?"
"No. Bragging isn't illegal; let him brag if he wants. If he's still bragging in six months, it means he has some skill. So many people come and go here every year; there's no need to pay them any mind. As long as they don't cause trouble, let them be."
The waiter kept bringing out the food they had ordered, tray after tray, until the table was covered.
While speaking, Qi Lian took a piece of naan, tore it in half, and placed it on Yu Mo’s plate.
Jiang Yuan felt like he was choking again and had to take a gulp of beer to settle himself.
Yu Mo felt she hadn't been this happy in a long time.
The lamb skewers were delicious—tender and juicy when bitten into, with rich layers of flavor. She finished one after another, unable to stop.
The evening breeze blew gently, neither cold nor hot. She only felt that the world was beautiful.
The people at the table were full of laughter. She watched Jiang Yuan eat kidneys like a giant beast, stole glances at Qi Shuai’s incredibly handsome face, and watched Qi Lian tilt his head back, his neck forming a straight line as he gulped down his beer, tiny bubbles clinging to the corner of his mouth.
Watching and listening from the side, her lips curled upward along with theirs.
Qi Lian sat beside her. When he stood up or reached for something, he occasionally brushed lightly against her arm or leg, but she didn't mind at all.
At one point, both her arm and Qi Lian’s were on the table, very close together. She saw hers was like a slender willow branch—soft and white—while his was like a piece of dry wood—hard and dark. The contrast of black and white was striking.
Qi Lian saw her water glass was nearly empty and leaned in to ask, "Want another glass of water?"
She said cheerfully, "No need, no need."
Perhaps her expression was too joyful, for Qi Lian gave her a few surprised looks.
The bustle of life was so endearing.
***
After dinner, everyone dispersed. They all lived nearby, just a short walk away.
Qi Lian drove Yu Mo back to Lianhua District 1. He first parked the car in a spot near the entrance.
Yu Mo said in surprise, "You actually have a parking space."
Qi Lian slammed the car door shut and locked it. He glanced at her and teased, "Why? If you want one, I can help you get one too."
"I don't want one. I won't be living here forever anyway. I just heard they're incredibly hard to buy."
"That depends on who's buying."
"Jiang Qingfeng wants you to help him buy one."
Qi Lian looked at her, his gaze burning. "He told you that? Tell him to talk to me himself."
"Okay."
The streetlights were dim, casting flickering shadows. The scent of gardenias wafted from somewhere. Yu Mo took a deep breath; it was indeed gardenias. The hidden fragrance made even the dilapidated compound seem gentle.
"Why doesn't Xiao Bo wear his pants properly?" she asked.
"Don't know. Jiang Yuan used to scold him every day at first, but then he realized he couldn't control it, so he stopped."
"In that case, maybe it's a hobby, like smoking or drinking. That kid is quite funny."
Qi Lian didn't pick up on her comment but started another topic: "Why were you constantly stealing glances at Qi Shuai?"
Yu Mo felt a bit embarrassed. "I just wanted to see his face clearly. Don't you think he's handsome?"
"I don't. I don't like men. And so you just kept staring at a man? Aren't you afraid people will get the wrong idea?"
Yu Mo was startled. "Surely it wouldn't go that far? But I was looking secretly; how did you know I was looking at him?"
"Because I have eyes."
They chatted idly.
"Was the barbecue good?"
"Delicious!"
"Then we'll go again next time."
"Why does Qi Shuai always keep his head down? Even when I spoke to him, his eyes were evasive."
"He's not familiar with you. His personality is... different."
He thought for a moment and slowly told her Qi Shuai’s story.
"Qi Shuai’s mother was exceptionally beautiful—that's what the villagers said; I never saw her. When he was one or two, his mother ran off with someone from Guangzhou. The next year, someone said they saw her in Guangzhou, so his father went there to find her and never came back. To this day, no one knows if he's dead or alive. He was raised by his grandmother. There was too much gossip in the village back then, and other kids bullied him. He basically didn't speak and never associated with anyone. Later, when we were a bit older and understood things, we took the initiative to bring him along to play. Gradually, no one dared to bully him anymore, and he got a bit better. But it left an impact, nonetheless."
"What was his father thinking? It's one thing to encounter a heartless woman, but he could actually abandon his own son and mother? I think he's the most heartless one," Yu Mo said.
"I don't know. If it were me, I'd just work hard, raise the child well, and take care of the elderly. Maybe I'm cold-hearted, but why go looking for a woman who ran away?"
"Is it possible that his father loved his mother so much that he couldn't live without her?"
"Nonsense! Who can't live without whom? It's not like he was a nursing infant," he said flatly.
***
**Glossary**
