Sir Niu had just left on the first day of the New Year, and it was only the afternoon of the second day when he called me. Naturally, it wasn't to catch up on old times.
He was asking for my help.
It seemed as if fate was at play; that phone call indirectly saved my life.
The favor he asked of me also happened to be a way out of my current predicament.
Sir Niu called to ask me to go to Diannan.
It would be best if I arrived before the seventh day of the Lunar New Year. He had an urgent matter over there. He didn't tell me what kind of matter would require a hooligan like me to help a "Crown Prince" like him.
I didn't ask too many questions, but his tone was extremely urgent.
Actually, even without Sir Niu's call, I had been thinking about leaving Liu Xiang Town for a while, maybe heading to the county seat or the provincial capital to lay low.
I got lucky today and escaped a calamity, but there was no guarantee that one day, I, Chu Lao Er, wouldn't step out to take a leak and end up drowned in a latrine.
When you walk the night road often enough, you start to fear meeting ghosts. Chen Qiang didn't move against me today because too many people knew I had gone with him.
He didn't know the relationship between me and Sir Niu. If Sir Niu asked later and found out he had handled me, one word from Sir Niu's old man would be enough to finish off ten Chen Qiangs.
But if one day I tripped and died, got hit by a car crossing the street, or fell into a river and drowned, that would just be my bad luck—it would have nothing to do with Chen Qiang.
The only problem facing me was whether a small-time punk like me could actually help someone of Sir Niu's stature.
Something he found difficult to handle would be a monumental trouble for me. One wrong step, and the word "death" would be written all over it.
But this question only flashed through my mind for a second. I never wanted to be like I was today again, with my life and death held in someone else's hands.
If Chen Qiang dared to say he'd use me as a live pile in Liu Xiang Town, he'd use me as a live pile. Why?
Because he was the Big Brother. He had connections with Captain Xu and Director Wang in the yamen. If I, Chu Shanhe, disappeared, they'd just file a missing person report and be done with it.
What could my aging mother do to them?
Although Sir Niu was young, his background was enormous. The opportunity to attach myself to him was right in front of me; how could I let it slip?
At worst, I die and point my cock at the sky; if I don't die, I live like a god.
I hurried home. My mother had already gone out, and I didn't have time to wonder where she went. I took all the remaining money I had on me, left two thousand yuan, and put the rest in her bedroom.
Then I packed my clothes.
Sir Niu said to arrive before the seventh, but I felt it was best to leave tonight to avoid any complications.
Chen Qiang wanted to handle me!
This fact was like a venomous snake coiled at the bottom of my heart, making it impossible for me to feel at ease for even a moment.
I had just packed a few pieces of clothing when there was a knock on my door.
My heart jumped. Chen Qiang lived right next door. Did he see me come back and want to fish for information about my relationship with Sir Niu before deciding whether to handle me?
I hesitated for a few breaths, tried to keep myself calm, walked over, and pulled open the courtyard gate.
It was Xu Rang outside. He looked a bit awkward, acting as if he were very cold, constantly blowing hot air into his hands.
"You're home. I thought you went out, Number Two."
I stood in the courtyard, not stepping aside to let him in. My feelings were complicated.
Xu Rang, my sworn brother. Why was he coming to find me now?
To spy for Chen Qiang? Or just to see me?
Seeing the strange look on my face, the smile on Xu Rang's lips froze. He didn't dare look at me, his gaze shifting away.
"Number Two, I have a friend who's a manager at a factory in Yangcheng. After the seventh, why don't you go out there and take a look? He says Guangdong is much more developed than our Guizhou. It's a big city."
I didn't speak, just looked at him calmly. After a few seconds, Xu Rang couldn't hold it in anymore.
He spoke to me in a tone that was almost begging. "Number Two, consider it me begging you. If you don't want to go to Yangcheng, you can go to the provincial capital or the city. Just leave for a while. After a few months, I'll call you back."
"Your fish farm, and your mom, I'll help you take care of them."
I still didn't speak, but secretly I felt a trace of joy. Xu Rang hadn't let me down.
Maybe he didn't know Chen Qiang wanted to handle me, but he had sensed the atmosphere between me and Chen Qiang was wrong.
He wanted me, his sworn brother, to go out and hide.
Since ancient times, loyalty and righteousness have been hard to balance. A man like Xu Rang valued loyalty and righteousness above all else.
I was his brother. If Chen Qiang handled me and he stood by, that would be unrighteous.
Chen Qiang was his Big Brother. If he helped me against Chen Qiang, that would be disloyal.
caught in this dilemma, he chose to let me go out and lay low.
Looking anxious, Xu Rang pulled a handful of money from his clothes.
"Number Two, I, Xu Rang, swear to Heaven. While you're not in Liu Xiang Town, your mom is my mom, and your little brothers are my little brothers. I'll watch over everything for you."
Seeing I was still unmoved, Xu Rang stomped his foot. "Chu Shanhe, fuck your ancestors! I'll tell you the truth: if you don't leave after the seventh, I'll bring men to tie you up and drag you away."
I smiled faintly, looked at the anxious Xu Rang, and said softly, "This morning, Big Brother came to find me with Zong Bao and Yang Huzi."
Xu Rang froze on the spot, opening and closing his mouth. "I... I... Number Two... I..."
I waved my hand, signaling him not to speak. I asked, "Xu Rang, tell me the truth. I won't blame you. Did you know about this?"
Shock flashed through Xu Rang's eyes. "Know about what? Number Two, what's happened between you and Big Brother all of a sudden? I just felt like Big Brother was a bit... toward you..."
Before he could finish, I waved my hand again, telling him he didn't need to continue.
"Alright, I believe you. I believe you."
"No need to wait until the seventh. I'm leaving today. You don't need to treat my mom as your mom, but if you have time to visit her, I'd be very grateful."
"Also, Big Brother can take whatever share of the fish farm he wants. If possible, give Lin Changzai and those kids a bowl of rice to eat, so they don't have to go back to stealing."
Xu Rang's face changed drastically, and a look of fear appeared in his eyes.
"Number Two, what happened... between you and Big Brother?"
I shook my head. "I don't know. To tell you the truth, I really don't know."
Xu Rang wanted to ask more, but I shook my head, stepped aside slightly, and pointed to the luggage I had just packed.
"Xu Rang, I'm not lying to you. I really am leaving tonight."
"There's nothing going on between me and Chen Qiang... Big Brother. I'm just going out of town to handle some business."
Xu Rang shut his mouth. He knew he couldn't ask any further.
Sometimes, not knowing is a good thing.
If he knew that it wasn't just a disagreement between me and Chen Qiang, but that Chen Qiang wanted to handle me directly, what would he do? How would he choose?
Not saying it out loud was better for everyone.
Xu Rang was silent for a long while before nodding dejectedly. "Alright, okay. Number Two, go with peace of mind."
"Whether it's our mom or the fish farm, I'll watch over them for you. If the fish farm collapses, I'll pay with money. If our mom loses weight, I'll cut off my own flesh to pay."
I laughed heartily, turned around, picked up my luggage, and came out to pat his shoulder.
"Why are you making it sound so serious? Just look after things when you have time, and I'll remember your kindness."
"Alright, I'm going."
Xu Rang agreed repeatedly, and we hugged.
Then we brushed past each other.
"Number Two, we're still brothers, right?"
"Yes, Xu Rang. I, Chu Shanhe, will be brothers with you, Xu Rang, for this entire life."
Xu Rang shouted from behind me, "Number Two, where are you going? I'll see if I have any friends there who can look out for you."
My throat bobbed, and I closed my eyes. "I'm going to Guixi. No need to trouble yourself; I can take care of myself."
After saying that, I strode away without looking back.
I didn't dare tell Xu Rang I was going to Diannan. Diannan was huge; even if Chen Qiang was hell-bent on handling me, he probably wouldn't find me.
But caution was paramount.
Xu Rang, you are my brother for life.
But Chen Qiang is your Big Brother. How could I trust that you wouldn't tell your Big Brother where I went?
This is the underworld now!