Chapter 125: Cement

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When Xu Fei stepped out of the guest room, Lin Fang hurried after him.

“Brother Xu, wait a moment.”

She stopped him at the door.

Just then, someone walked in from outside.

It was a woman in her late thirties. When she saw Lin Fang blocking Xu Fei’s way, she froze for a moment. Then her expression darkened slightly.

“Lin Fang, what are you doing?”

“Mom.”

Lin Fang turned toward the woman.

“Who is this?”

“Oh, this is Brother Xu. By the way, Brother Xu, this is my mother, Mrs. Zhang Min.”

Like a little sprite, Lin Fang skipped over to Zhang Min’s side.

“Brother Xu?”

Zhang Min’s expression grew even gloomier.

She looked Xu Fei up and down. Judging by his clothes, he really did look no different from one of those drifters who came to the city seeking work.

“That’s right, Mom. Please help me persuade him. I want Brother Xu to stay at our house, but he refuses.”

At that moment, Lin Chuanzhi also came out of the living room.

He glanced at Zhang Min and gave a helpless shrug.

“If he doesn’t want to stay, then let him leave. Why insist on keeping him here?”

As she spoke, Zhang Min nodded toward Xu Fei.

“Hello, Mr. Xu. If you have somewhere to be, you may go ahead.”

She was clearly asking him to leave.

Xu Fei was no fool. He could tell that Zhang Min did not welcome him.

He nodded to both Lin Chuanzhi and Zhang Min.

“Sorry to have disturbed you.”

Then, ignoring Lin Fang’s attempt to stop him, he opened the door and walked out.

As for Lin Fang, Zhang Min had already seized her by the arm.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Zhang Min asked angrily.

“Mom, what are you doing? Brother Xu helped me at school just now. He’s in trouble—shouldn’t I help him?”

As she spoke, Lin Fang pulled free of her mother’s grasp, opened the door, and chased after him.

Zhang Min stamped her foot in anger, then turned to look at her husband.

“You’re just going to stand there and watch?”

Lin Chuanzhi shook his head.

“A daughter grows up and forgets her parents. Forget it. She’s old enough to make her own decisions. Besides, that Xu Fei already understood how we felt and has left, hasn’t he?”

“But… just look at him. He’s obviously some kind of drifter. Aren’t you afraid our daughter will be deceived if she gets involved with someone like that?”

Still anxious, Zhang Min hurried outside.

By then, Xu Fei had already reached the street.

He felt somewhat dejected.

“Brother Xu, wait for me!”

Lin Fang had actually followed him out.

Xu Fei pretended not to hear and quickened his pace, hoping to shake her off.

But Lin Fang ran quickly.

At the corner, she caught up with him and blocked his path.

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“Lin Fang, you… why did you come out?”

“I called out to you. Didn’t you hear me?” Lin Fang demanded angrily, her brows drawn together.

“I…”

Xu Fei smiled awkwardly.

“Even if you don’t want to stay at my house, we’re still friends, aren’t we?”

The stubborn look in Lin Fang’s eyes made Xu Fei think she was rather adorable.

“Of course.”

His answer immediately brought a smile to Lin Fang’s face.

“I knew you were a good person.”

“I… How can you be so sure?”

“Of course I am.”

“Why?”

Lin Fang tilted her head.

“Instinct.”

“Instinct?”

Xu Fei laughed and shook his head.

“What, you don’t believe in instinct? I do. I believed it from the very first moment I saw you.”

“The first moment?”

Xu Fei froze for a moment.

Lin Fang seemed to realize how his words might be interpreted. Her face instantly flushed crimson.

“I… you… Oh, right… where are you going?”

She stammered the question.

Xu Fei, feeling embarrassed as well, glanced into the distance.

“To the hospital.”

“Then I’ll go with you.”

“You’re coming with me?”

Lin Fang nodded.

“I want to see your friend.”

With that, she reached out, took Xu Fei by the hand, and led him toward the Provincial Hospital.

“Lin Fang, let go!”

Zhang Min’s voice came from behind them.

Before Xu Fei and Lin Fang could turn around, Zhang Min had already caught up and forcibly separated their hands.

She glared at Xu Fei.

“Mr. Xu, didn’t you say you had somewhere to go? Then please go about your business. You’re welcome to visit our home another time.”

After saying this, she grabbed Lin Fang and tried to lead her back.

“Mom!”

Lin Fang angrily shook off her hand.

“What are you doing? I’m going to the hospital with Brother Xu to see his friend.”

Zhang Min stared at her, too furious to know what to say.

“He’s going to see his own friend. What does that have to do with you? You’re a university student—shouldn’t you be attending class? Oh, that’s right. Didn’t you have class this afternoon?”

Only then did Zhang Min remember. She stared at Lin Fang in astonishment.

“You skipped class for him?!”

Lin Fang nodded.

“You child! How did you end up associating with someone like this? Now you’re even skipping class?”

Zhang Min looked at Xu Fei.

“Xu… I don’t care what your name is. In any case, stay away from my daughter. Consider this a warning.”

She grabbed Lin Fang and prepared to leave.

Lin Fang tried to break free again, but this time Zhang Min was clearly determined. She seized her daughter with both hands and dragged her away.

Xu Fei remained rooted to the spot.

Lin Fang kept looking back.

“Brother Xu, I’m sorry. I’ll come find you.”

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Watching Lin Fang being dragged away, Xu Fei did not know what to say.

What Zhang Min had said was not wrong. Lin Fang was a university student, and he really ought to keep his distance from her.

Still, Xu Fei did not take Zhang Min’s attitude to heart. He regarded it as nothing more than a minor interruption.

He soon arrived at the hospital.

He still had fifty yuan, so he bought some food and carried it upstairs.

Inside the ward, Brother An was leaning against the corner of the wall, half asleep.

Xu Fei glanced at Zhang Ze, then stepped forward and woke Brother An.

“Third Brother, have something to eat.”

Brother An rubbed his eyes.

“Why are you back so early?”

Xu Fei told him what had happened at the studio.

“It’s just as well that we didn’t take that job. This afternoon, I’ll go look for some other temporary work. You stay here and keep watch. You can get some rest too.”

“How is Brother Zhang?”

Xu Fei glanced at Zhang Ze as he asked.

“He hasn’t woken up yet, but the doctor said his condition is very stable.”

Xu Fei nodded.

The two of them ate a little.

By two o’clock in the afternoon, Xu Fei still insisted that Brother An remain behind while he went to the day-labor market.

Although Brother An was determined to go with him, Xu Fei pointed out that Zhang Ze might wake up at any moment and someone needed to stay there. Brother An could only agree.

When Xu Fei reached the day-labor market, only a dozen or so workers were there. After all, not many people looked for work in the afternoon.

Xu Fei squatted by the roadside, looking around.

Just then, two young men approached from across the street.

They looked disreputable. One wore sunglasses, while the other had tightly permed hair.

The man in sunglasses walked up to Xu Fei.

“Looking for work?”

Xu Fei stood up.

“What kind of work?”

“There’s a truckload of cargo to unload.”

“How much?”

“Ten tons.”

“Fine.”

“What is it?”

“Cement.”

Ten tons of cargo was no great challenge for Xu Fei.

“I’ll do it myself.”

The man in sunglasses looked him over.

“Can you handle it alone?”

“No problem.”

Xu Fei nodded.

“All right. One yuan per ton. If you’re willing, come with us.”

The two men turned and walked across the street.