"I told you not to cause trouble, not to cause trouble. How did you agree to me, huh?"
On the bus heading north of the city, Tian Xin looked at Zhang Shuai with bandages wrapped around his head and angrily asked him.
"I was wrong, boss! Don't be mad, don't be mad! You can order me around however you like today!"
Zhang Shuai apologized humbly beside Tian Xin.
Zhang Shuai returned from Liu Xin's place and called Tian Xin early the next morning.
His friends would arrive tomorrow, and he had one day left, so he wanted to hang around with Tian Xin.
Tian Xin thought about needing an extra driver and wasn't in the mood to stroll around. The two decided to go to the job market to see if they could hire another driver.
"What happened to your head injury?"
"Boss, just don't ask. In any case, Master Li's trouble is sorted."
"Did you go to the director's son?"
"How did you know?"
"Are you stupid? You went to let him beat you up to cool off, and then he won't bother Master Li anymore? Is that right?" Tian Xin stared straight into Zhang Shuai's eyes.
"Uh." Zhang Shuai touched his head and glanced elsewhere, not daring to look at Tian Xin.
Tian Xin stared into Zhang Shuai's eyes for a long time before finally saying, "Can you stop fighting in the future, alright?"
The voice was very low, not like a command, but more like a plea.
This was not like the Tian Xin Zhang Shuai knew.
"Boss, what's going on?"
"If you fight with someone again, we'll stop being friends," Tian Xin withdrew her gaze, her tone once again firm.
That's more like it!
"Alright, alright, I'll listen to the boss. In the future, I won't fight anymore! If I fight again, I'll be your grandson. Alright? Grandma?"
Zhang Shuai leaned his face towards Tian Xin.
"Get lost—!" Tian Xin slapped him away, amused.
The two spent the whole morning at the northern city job market but didn't find a suitable person.
Those with suitable salaries complained about the distance. Those not complaining about the distance demanded double the pay.
"Seems like you were right, finding a job in your field is indeed difficult, hiring people too," Tian Xin took the water Zhang Shuai handed her, took a sip, and said helplessly.
"Yeah, otherwise I wouldn't have been working odd jobs for so long. Actually, during this time, I haven't gone hungry! I can always find some work every day, the pay is alright, and it's daily settled. But it's so lonely being alone!"
Zhang Shuai took a sip of water, looked into the distance, and sighed.
"Beep beep beep..."
The familiar ringtone of a Motorola suddenly rang from the bag, startling both of them!
It was Tian Xin's phone ringing.
"Hello!"
"Are you the Tian Xin who's with Zhang Shuai?" a middle-aged man's voice said over the phone.
"Who is this?"
"I'm his coworker Master Li; you both came to my house the other day."
"I know, I know. Hello, Master Li, is something the matter?"
"Is Zhang Shuai with you? He left me this number yesterday, I need to reach him urgently!"
"Yes, he's here! Please hold on for a moment! I'll have him speak with you!" Tian Xin handed the phone to Zhang Shuai.
"Hello, Uncle Li."
"What? Why is he coming?" Zhang Shuai frowned.
"Alright, I'll be there right away!"
Zhang Shuai hung up and returned the phone to Tian Xin.
"What happened?" Tian Xin asked.
"Boss, I might need to go to Master Li's place."
"What exactly happened?"
"That idiot Liu Xin, don't know what he's thinking, went to Master Li's house, apologized, and insisted on inviting him to a meal. He wants Master Li to bring me along; he wants to officially become friends with me."
"Then I'll go with you!"
"No need, boss, this is a matter between men, it wouldn't be convenient for you to come!"
"What's inconvenient about it? Take me along!"
Tian Xin was worried he might run into a conflict again and insisted on going with him.
"Alright, let's go then!"
They reached Master Li's house by afternoon.
Liu Xin sat with crossed legs on the desk stool, fiddling with wooden beads in his hand.
Master Li sat by the bed, looking uneasy!
"Liu Xin, what did I say to you yesterday?"
As soon as Zhang Shuai entered, he directly questioned Liu Xin.
"Hey, bro, you're here!" Liu Xin, seeing Zhang Shuai, jumped up from the stool with a start, even knocking it over! Tian Xin almost couldn't hold back her laugh.
"I'm asking you a question!" Zhang Shuai ignored him and asked again, the tone so pressing that even Tian Xin felt like calling him bro.
"Zhang Shuai, you're here. Manager Liu came today to specifically apologize, don't rush!"
"Sit, sit, sit, young lady, come sit here." Master Li guided Tian Xin to sit by the bed while pulling Zhang Shuai over, worried they might start another conflict.
"Apologize? Just like that? Who's apologizing to whom?" Zhang Shuai asked a barrage of questions, building tension instantly. Liu Xin felt the room's pressure drop immediately.
"How about this–since big brother is here, why don't we go have a meal? It's already afternoon, and I'll treat everyone to a meal as a sincere apology to Master Li. How about it, big brother?"
"I think that sounds good. I'll treat this meal. You're at my house, I haven't really entertained you yet!" Master Li quickly joined in to ease the tension.
"Alright then, let's go!"
Zhang Shuai walked out of the room.
Tian Xin saw that Liu Xin had brought a bunch of gifts, filling up the area next to the wardrobe.
Master Li spoke a few words to his mother and then closed the door and walked downstairs.
The group arrived at a Sichuan restaurant where Liu Xin asked a server for a private room.
The restaurant had a great atmosphere, and the average spending per person seemed quite high.
Once everyone was seated, the server came to take their order. Liu Xin hurriedly gave a signal to the server to pass the menu to Zhang Shuai and went around pouring water for everyone.
Zhang Shuai handed the menu to Master Li, who then passed it to Tian Xin.
Tian Xin watched the men pass around the menu as if it were a game of hot potato, and couldn't help but laugh.
She ordered a couple of homestyle dishes to the server and then handed the menu back to Master Li.
Master Li held the menu as if it were a hot potato, feeling quite awkward.
"Uncle Li, order something! I love whatever you order, go ahead, don't be shy!" Zhang Shuai earnestly encouraged Master Li.
"Yes, don't be shy, order whatever you like. Today, no one competes with me; I'm treating, so feel free and relaxed!" Liu Xin said generously.
Master Li ordered a few more homestyle dishes, passing the menu back to Liu Xin. He quickly ordered a bunch of fish and seafood. Tian Xin recognized these as some of the signature dishes of Sichuan cuisine.
As the dishes were being served, the group chatted while eating.
"Who is this young lady?"
While refilling Tian Xin's water, Liu Xin met her eye and asked.
"This is my boss. Why call her 'young lady'?" Zhang Shuai answered immediately.
"Tsk!" Tian Xin rolled her eyes at Zhang Shuai!
"Hello, my name is Tian Xin, the 'Xin' in 'Wen Xin,' and I'm Zhang Shuai's hometown friend."
"Hello, hello, I'm Liu Xin, the 'Xin' with three 'Jin' characters."
"Zhang Shuai has a bad temper, if there's anything offensive, please forgive him!"
"No, not at all. Big brother is a righteous man. This time, I crossed the line, and I'm here to sincerely apologize to everyone, and hopefully become friends with big brother!"
"Master Li, I'm sorry for any trouble I caused recently. From now on, rest assured, as long as I'm at the factory, no one will dare to bother you! I'll drink this cup, you drink at your own pace!" Liu Xin raised his glass and drank it all.
Master Li quickly finished his cup too.
"Big brother, if you come back, I'll pay you double your salary. Ask for anything, how about it?" Liu Xin walked over to Zhang Shuai with his glass.
"He can't go to your place!" Tian Xin also raised her glass, facing Liu Xin.
"Mr. Liu, Zhang Shuai is already our factory's team leader. Isn't it kind of inappropriate for you to poach people face-to-face?" Tian Xin said with a smile.
"Oh, I apologize. I didn't know that! In that case, I'll drink a glass as a penalty and pretend I didn't say anything." Liu Xin drank another glass.
"Uncle Li, I'm heading back to the village tomorrow. Take care of yourself!" Zhang Shuai raised his glass to Master Li.
"Alright, alright. Don't worry, you take good care of yourself when you're back!"
"Liu Xin, please look after Master Li for me. He's more important to me than my own father!"
Zhang Shuai raised his glass to Liu Xin.
Liu Xin quickly clinked glasses with him: "Of course, I will!"
Master Li stood up, filled his glass, and walked over to Liu Xin.
"Manager Liu, please forgive me! I wish to... resign!"
"Resign? Why would you want to resign when things are going well? Is it the salary or the benefits?" Liu Xin asked in confusion.
"No, no, the salary and benefits are excellent. I've thought about it these past few days and still want to follow Zhang Shuai to the countryside."
Going back?
He really intends to go back?
Zhang Shuai felt touched and asked tentatively, "Uncle, are you serious?"
Master Li didn't answer, instead, he said to Liu Xin: "My mother is elderly and unaccustomed to city living, she always wants to see the countryside. My wife and kids often get picked on, it's not happy living here.
I want a different life, to return to my hometown. Our hometown is near the county town, the kids can attend school there, and my wife can accompany my mother on outings.
The factory Zhang Shuai mentioned isn't far from my hometown's county town, so it'll be convenient to visit them."
Master Li raised his glass to Liu Xin: "Manager Liu, please forgive me for the trouble!" After saying that, he drank it all!
Zhang Shuai was deeply moved by this. People are emotional beings, and faced with this moment, he immediately raised his glass to Liu Xin and said: "Come, brother, a toast to you!"
The meaning was clear, and Liu Xin caught on quickly!
"Let's be friends?"
"Let's be friends!"
They both drank three glasses, and Liu Xin also drank three.
"Alright, if that's so, then I wish Master Li a smooth life in the future! Big brother, you're a friend I'm set on having, let's stay in touch!" Liu Xin said heartily to Zhang Shuai.
"Alright! Stay in touch, brother!" Zhang Shuai echoed!
The two clinked glasses again!
Tian Xin never expected that after a meal, things would turn out like this and couldn't help but sigh, indeed men resolve issues through drinking!