Chapter 14: The Toothless Viper

Finding a secluded corner, Wu Bei carefully counted the loan money once more.

When Qi Jinlong handed over the money, it was out of politeness; but counting it again was a matter of survival.

Five thousand yuan, plus the two thousand Wang Shun had lent earlier, was just enough to cover the old man’s expenses for the next few days.

“Phew...”

Wu Bei lit a cigarette and exhaled a long plume of white smoke.

Ever since the old man fell ill, he hadn’t felt this “comfortable” in a long time.

After pondering for a while, Wu Bei hesitated before pulling out a large bill and heading toward the small supermarket across the street.

He decided to buy something for Uncle Ren, the security guard, since he might be sleeping in the security office for the foreseeable future. It wouldn’t be right to mooch off him forever.

Though he had been generous handing money to Qi Jinlong earlier, Wu Bei’s everyday life was extremely frugal.

He could stretch one cigarette into three smokes, and one order of pancakes could last him two meals.

As the old master Wu Shihao had once taught him: Never be stingy with friends who create value for you.

Coming out of the supermarket, Wu Bei carried the cigarettes and liquor straight back to the security office.

“Getting off work early, huh?” Uncle Ren greeted him with a warm smile.

Wu Bei took out a bottle of Erguotou from the plastic bag and joked, “Uncle, it’s just about dinner time. If you’re not in a hurry, how about we have a drink?”

“White bull spirit, that’s my favorite!” Uncle Ren didn’t hesitate and pulled out two glass cups from the drawer.

With some loose peanuts, cheap Erguotou, and two men of different generations laughing and toasting each other, the atmosphere was light and easy.

Wu Bei didn’t know much about Uncle Ren.

He only knew that the man had worked as a security guard in the neighborhood for many years; where he was from and his full name were a mystery to him. Yet, this didn’t lessen Wu Bei’s respect for Uncle Ren in the slightest.

In this, he had perfectly inherited Wu Shihao’s generous spirit.

At his peak, Wu Shihao never questioned the reasons or identities when inviting people to eat, and when lending money to friends, he threw it out in bundles. Unfortunately, his generosity never earned him any return—at least, that was how Wu Bei felt.

After two cups of white liquor, Uncle Ren was already somewhat tipsy. Biting on his cigarette, he said, “Little Wu, you’re young. You should find a job to make money. If you don’t fight now, when you’re my age, even if you have ambition, you won’t have the strength!”

Wu Bei smiled bitterly, “I want to, but I have neither opportunity nor luck.”

“Then you’re just not poor enough yet!”

Uncle Ren gave him a blank look, then sneered, “A man without money is like a toothless venomous snake—only a frightening appearance but powerless in every way!”

Wu Bei’s heart jolted, as if he had suddenly grasped some elusive inspiration, though he couldn’t quite explain it.

“Buzz... buzz...” The annoying hum of a mosquito circled around Wu Bei.

He immediately looked up to find it.

“Smack!”

Uncle Ren suddenly slapped his own arm, silencing the mosquito with a sharp smack. A small bloodstain the size of a fingernail appeared on his arm.

Glancing at Wu Bei, Uncle Ren muttered to himself, “For a stutter, you’d risk your life. Is it worth it?”

Wu Bei was stunned for a few seconds, the earlier feeling washing over him again.

“It’s worth it! It has to live!” Uncle Ren spoke slowly, then grabbed his cup. “After this drink, I have to go back!”

“Thank you, Uncle!”

Wu Bei suddenly sprang to his feet, holding the cup with both hands and bowing deeply in gratitude for the elder’s enlightening words.

Some people take a lifetime to grow up; others need only a moment.

Just now, Wu Bei suddenly understood: to survive, no choice is shameful.

“Heh, drunk already—always talking nonsense when drinking.”

Uncle Ren laughed heartily and staggered out of the security office.

Just like last night, the talkative uncle once again left his cigarettes and lighter to Wu Bei.

In this pitch-black night, Wu Bei smoked several cigarettes and made the most important decision of his life: he would stop at nothing to make money.

Around midnight, just as Wu Bei was drifting off to sleep, the shrill ring of his phone woke him.

Seeing it was Qi Jinlong’s number, he hurriedly answered, “Got a new lead, brother?”

Qi Jinlong was panting as he asked, “Wu, do you know Luo Hou? The guy who was chatting with you in my shop during the day?”

“I’m really good friends with him…”

“Shut up! If you say another word, I’ll beat you up!”

Before Wu Bei could respond, the phone was filled with Qi Jinlong’s roar and a man’s desperate pleas.

From the tone, it was probably that dreadlocked young man.

“I don’t know him!” Wu Bei answered without hesitation.

“Big brother, big brother, can you let me talk to him?”

A few seconds later, the young man yelled anxiously, “Bro, help me out. I helped you during the day, and you should know I’m not short on money—you saw me take out cash, right?”

Wu Bei frowned and interrupted, “I don’t understand what you’re saying!”

The young man almost shouted at the top of his lungs, “One hundred thousand! Two hundred thousand, how about that? As long as you get me out, I’ll give you twenty thousand in reward money. Lying is for dogs!”