Chapter 06

Chapter 06

Chen Jian looked at Shan Yu for a good while before he spoke. "You really don’t cherish the good leg you have left, do you?"

"What about it?" Shan Yu asked.

"Is that how you ask?" Chen Jian said.

"Too direct?" Shan Yu took a bottle of orange juice from the box next to him, twisted it open, and poured it into a glass. "I tried being tactful before, but you didn’t understand."

"You we..." Chen Jian thought for a moment. Yeah, maybe.

He sighed. "I live alone, but I’m not an orphan."

"Hmm." Shan Yu took a sip of orange juice. Chen Jian’s choice of words was quite delicate.

Not exactly.

At the very least, it was a situation where immediate family was better than nothing.

He didn’t ask further.

"There’s more here," Chen Jian shook the half-empty bottle of orange juice next to him. "Why open another bottle? These aren’t expired. They’re inventory, not manna from heaven."

"You two took turns spitting in it. Who could drink that?" Shan Yu said.

"I rea..." Chen Jian looked at the bottle in his hand and tossed it into the trash.

Liu Wu returned to the hall with his backpack. "So, we’re not staying on the third floor tonight, right, bro?"

"Suit yourself." Shan Yu said.

"I’m torn between setting up a room on the second floor... No, the first floor. I’ll do the first floor..." Liu Wu seemed quite conflicted.

"Afraid the second floor is too close to the ghosts, and afraid the first floor is too far from your brother," Chen Jian said. "Why don’t you just go back to Sister Luo’s guesthouse and stay another night?"

"Nah," Liu Wu said. "If there are more people, I won’t be as scared."

"Not many people here, just the two of you." Chen Jian said.

"You’re not staying here?" Liu Wu was surprised. "Bro, you said he’s employed here."

"I’m employed, but I don’t work night shifts!" Chen Jian raised his voice. "You two are really something, ganging up on me like this!"

"After work, you go back to the dorm. I saw there were still two employee dorm rooms on the fourth floor." Liu Wu said.

"The employee dorms are a benefit for staff, not so the boss can have someone at their beck and call 24/7." Chen Jian said.

"I know, I’m not ordering you around. I just want some company at night." Liu Wu said.

"…Then go ahead and clean up." Chen Jian was somewhat helpless.

"I will," Liu Wu said. "I’ve been cleaning my room since I was a kid."

"Just change the sheets and sweep the floor," Chen Jian said. "Don’t do any extra cleaning. As long as it’s sleepable, I’ll get the cleaning staff to handle it."

"Alright! A double bed or twin beds?" Liu Wu put down his bag and prepared to clean.

"Twin beds!" Chen Jian said.

With power restored, there were tasks that could finally be started.

Shan Yu slowly flipped through some booklets Qian Yu had left behind by the window on the first floor. Liu Wu began to clean the room closest to the main door on the first floor. Chen Jian headed up to the fourth floor.

The equipment in this building hadn’t been used for half a year. He needed to check if anything was broken or short-circuited, starting from the fourth floor and working his way down. While at it, he made a rough estimate of the basic cleaning workload, including all the sheets, quilts, and curtains that needed washing...

It seemed like a small amount of work, but after checking room by room from the top floor to the bottom, he felt his stomach rumbling. Looking at the time, it was already past 1 p.m.

"Are you eating?" Chen Jian walked to the window and asked Shan Yu.

"No," Shan Yu said. "I’m cultivating immortality."

"...You can tell me if you’re hungry!" Chen Jian said.

"If an employee works so hard they forget to eat, would a heartless boss interrupt that?" Shan Yu said.

Chen Jian sighed and placed the notebook that recorded the room conditions on the counter. "Is there anything you’d like to eat?"

"Anything except mutton noodles." Shan Yu said.

"Still traumatized from it?" Chen Jian smiled and walked toward the door. "I’ll decide what to buy then."

"Where are you going?" Shan Yu asked.

"To buy lunch." Chen Jian stopped.

"Just order some delivery." Shan Yu said.

"boss Shan," Chen Jian said, "This town doesn’t have delivery services. If you want someone to bring you food, you have to call them. If they’re free, they’ll come. If not, they won’t give you the time of day. And..."

"Then call and ask." Shan Yu said.

"I wasn’t finished. And no one delivers here." Chen Jian said.

Shan Yu was stunned for a moment, then smiled after a couple of seconds. "Ghost house doesn’t deliver, huh?"

"Yeah, I’ll get it on the way back." Chen Jian took a couple of steps and stopped, then added, "Didn’t you say salaries are being paid today?"

"Yes," Shan Yu said, "You can get the meal money back when you return."

"No need, if the salary is paid today, this meal is on me." Chen Jian said lightly as he walked out.

Business in the small town was somewhat sluggish, but there were still quite a few places to eat. Over on Second Street, there were a few small restaurants with good food, one of which he was quite familiar with. The owner lived in the village.

However, it was almost 2 PM by the time he got there, a bit late for lunch by the town's standards...

Chen Jian mentally calculated the dishes he wanted to order as he rode his motorcycle out of the guesthouse path, taking a shortcut to Second Street, which would save him five or six minutes.

Halfway there, he started to regret his choice. This road was a favorite spot for Chen Erhu and his gang to hang out, and it didn't see much traffic.

Just then, probably after being dealt with by Shan Yu, Chen Erhu and his brother Chen DaHu were talking outside an abandoned old pig pen by the side of the road, while San Bing and a few others were straddling their motorcycles, blocking the road.

Chen Jian decisively hit the brakes, preparing to turn back, but Chen DaHu had already spotted him.

"Chen Jian!"

Chen Jian stopped, one foot on the ground, and turned to look at Chen DaHu.

"It's been a long time, why so distant? Running away when you see me?" Chen DaHu stepped out from the broken fence of the pig pen, walked over with a smile, slapped him on the shoulder in a friendly manner, and said, "Not very brotherly! It really has been a long time since we met. Chen DaHu usually didn't come to this part of the town, shuttling between the old town and the city, sometimes working, sometimes causing trouble, his life was unpredictable.

"Brother DaHu," Chen Jian greeted him. "What brings you here?"

"Heard you got a good job?" Chen DaHu put his arm around his shoulder.

"Just a regular job," Chen Jian replied, "same as before."

"You managed to get a job at the haunted house so quickly," Chen DaHu shook his shoulder. "Are you close with the new boss? How did you meet?"

"I didn't know him before he came," Chen Jian replied simply, a little worried that if he delayed any longer, he wouldn't be able to get food on Second Street.

"What's his relationship with Qian Yu?" Chen DaHu asked.

"I don't know," Chen Jian said.

"Chen Jian." Chen DaHu looked at him.

"Hmm?" Chen Jian turned to look at him too.

"Don't go looking for trouble," Chen DaHu said.

"Whether I look for trouble or not, everyone knows," Chen Jian said. "Right now, trouble is looking for me."

"Damn," Chen DaHu let go of him, giving his back a couple of hard slaps, staring at him. "Still as tough as ever, really annoying. Can't you be a bit friendlier?"

"Brother DaHu doesn't need my kind of friendliness," Chen Jian said. "Fear is enough."

"Really know how to talk," Chen DaHu said, "Can't tell if you're being serious or sarcastic."

"It should be serious," San Bing chimed in from the side, "Anyway, everyone's afraid of you."

Chen DaHu looked back at him, seemingly satisfied, then turned back to Chen Jian. "It's fine, I won't make things difficult for you. Just help me figure out what Shan Yu is all about."

Having known Chen DaHu for years, Chen Jian still couldn't understand how he managed to complicate everything. It was no wonder Chen DaHu struggled to get by in the old town, and in the city, he was reduced to humble odd jobs.

"Brother DaHu, I'm just here to earn some wages," Chen Jian didn't avoid his gaze. "Wherever there's money, that's where I am, wherever pays more, that's where I go. I don't want to get involved in anything else."

"What did you say?" Chen DaHu narrowed his eyes.

"I just want to earn money honestly, and I don't want to get involved in anything else," Chen Jian summarized.

Chen DaHu looked at him, gave a cold laugh, and said, "Alright."

The atmosphere was a bit tense, Chen Jian didn't say anything more, nor did he continue to turn back. He twisted the throttle, and the motorcycle surged forward.

Chen DaHu didn't stop him, and Chen Jian passed through the group of San Bing and the others.

Slowly accelerating as he went along, he finally breathed a sigh of relief once he left the old road behind.

If he had known Chen DaHu was here, he definitely wouldn't have taken this road.

If it were just Chen Erhu and the others, he could have muddled through with some words. But with Chen DaHu, who had a yearly pass to the police station and still came out on top, even though Chen Jian was extremely reluctant, he had no choice but to stand his ground.

Some people don't respond to soft approaches, especially someone like Chen DaHu, who had beaten his own father into the hospital multiple times.

Comparing the troublesomeness of Chen Erhu and his brother was like comparing the intelligence levels of Liu Wu and Shan Yu.

Fortunately, he didn't waste too much time, and by the time he arrived at the restaurant, although there were no customers and the chairs were upturned on the tables, the kitchen hadn't been cleaned yet, and the boss could still cook for him.

Chen Jian ordered a few of his favorite dishes.

"So much food, how many people are eating?" the boss lady asked as she swept the floor.

"Three," Chen Jian sat behind the cashier's counter.

"Is it for the paralyzed boss of the haunted house?" the boss lady asked curiously, "Is the haunted house reopening?"

In just one day, the boss had gone from being lame to paralyzed. Chen Jian sincerely hoped Shan Yu's leg would heal soon. In a few months, he might become a zombie boss, which would be even more fitting for the haunted house.

"Yes," Chen Jian nodded, "It'll still take some time to clean up. I'm looking for people."

"Who would dare to go..." the boss lady said, horrified. "They say it's haunted even during the day."

"It's not haunted during the day," Chen Jian said, "If it were, that wouldn't fit the usual behavior of ghosts, right?"

"Do you live there? Aren't you afraid?" the boss lady asked.

"What is he afraid of?" The boss scooped dishes into the takeout boxes by the stove. "He slept in a coffin for nothing... How old was he back then?"

"It's not that he's brave! He had no choice!" The boss lady gave the boss a dirty look.

"Not afraid." Chen Jian smiled.

After packing everything and grabbing his phone to prepare for checkout, Shan Yu called. "Bring a case of beer."

"How much?" Chen Jian turned up the phone volume. "One case?"

"Yes, one case." Shan Yu said.

"boss Shan," Chen Jian paused for two seconds, "I'm treating, not stocking up."

"The beer is on me." Shan Yu laughed.

"Can the two of you finish a case?" Chen Jian asked.

"Not drinking?" Shan Yu seemed a bit surprised.

"It's noon, why drink?" Chen Jian said.

"If you’re not convinced, you can drink until evening." Shan Yu said.

"…I don’t have that big of an addiction," Chen Jian sighed and looked at the small supermarket across the street, "Any brand preference?"

"In this small place, are there beer brands to choose from?" Shan Yu sounded pleased, "What do they have?"

"Only a local brand," Chen Jian said, "If you have a preference, I can't buy it. If you don't, I'll bring that one back."

"Just that one." Shan Yu said.

Chen Jian returned with a case of beer and the meals to Zhengxi. Liu Wu was cleaning up a mess of cards on the ground in the yard.

"You said not to worry, I was going to get someone to clean it up." Chen Jian said.

"It was bothering me," Liu Wu put down the broom and came over to take the beer box from him, "When will the cleaner come?"

Chen Jian didn't answer and took the meals inside.

Who knows.

Maybe no one will come.

"When will they come?" Liu Wu followed and asked again.

"Are you in a hurry?" Chen Jian said.

"Not in a hurry," Liu Wu said, "What about the room on the third floor?"

"They won't clean that one," Shan Yu said, "You will."

Liu Wu stood there stunned, glaring at him, holding the beer.

Chen Jian quickly put the takeout boxes on the table, went over to help support the box first, then took it over, afraid Liu Wu might desperately smash the beer on the ground out of despair.

Shan Yu hadn't paid for the beer yet.

"Do you accept cash?" Shan Yu had already wheeled himself to a table in the first-floor café.

The table was still dusty; Liu Wu grabbed a rag to clean it.

"No need, your rag isn't any cleaner than the table. Leave it for the cleaning staff," Chen Jian laid out the bags and placed the meal boxes on top. As long as you didn't lick the table, the dust didn't really affect the meal. He sat down opposite Shan Yu. "Here, take it."

Shan Yu handed over an envelope.

It was quite thick. Chen Jian had rarely received so much money at once, only ever counting outwards before.

He didn't bother pretending to be reserved, opened the envelope, and quickly counted the money.

Exactly 14,000 yuan.

boss Shan kept his word, paying him for two months on the first day of work, at the promised increased rate.

But the beer money hadn't been given yet.

"Liu Wu, transfer the beer money to Chen Jian. I don't have change on me." Shan Yu said.

"Okay." Liu Wu nodded and added Chen Jian as a friend to transfer the money.

"I'll add you too." Chen Jian held his phone.

"He doesn't use that," Liu Wu said, "I call him."

Chen Jian was taken aback. What kind of primitive person?

Liu Wu brought a chair and placed it next to Shan Yu, helping him lift his left leg onto the chair.

Watching this careful gesture of care, Chen Jian felt a vague unease.

Before he could speak, Liu Wu spoke. "Sometimes if he sits too long, his legs get congested, and it's more comfortable to elevate them."

"I…" Chen Jian pinched the chopsticks in his hand, rephrasing his question more tactfully, "How much longer until the leg brace can be removed?"

"At least two months," Shan Yu said, "Covering your entire work period."

Chen Jian looked at him.

"It's only been a month," Liu Wu opened the meal boxes, handing Shan Yu a box of rice, "The doctor said we'll take another X-ray after three months to see if it can be removed."

"How did you get injured? They can't even put you in a cast; you need external fixation." Chen Jian couldn't help but ask.

Liu Wu, who had always been open and honest with his brother, showed no intention of answering this time. He just glanced at Shan Yu and then started eating.

"I was beaten," Shan Yu said.

The sincerity of his answer left Chen Jian momentarily unable to discern whether it was true or not.

But he chose to believe it.

With that mouth, it wouldn't be surprising if he could still talk even with both legs broken.

Chen Jian hadn't drunk any alcohol, while Shan Yu had two cans.

What surprised Chen Jian was that Liu Wu drank seven or eight cans and still seemed unsatisfied.

It seemed the beer was meant for Liu Wu.

The meal was eaten in silence. Shan Yu, as usual, didn't talk while eating. He treated every dish with equal seriousness, showing no preference or dislike. Liu Wu wasn't completely silent but spoke very little, using his mouth to drink beer when it wasn't eating.

As the meal finished, the sound of water came from the counter.

"Water's here, water's here!" Liu Wu joyfully jumped up and ran over.

Shan Yu leaned back, looking more excited about the water than electricity.

"I need to take a shower," he said.

"Is there hot water now?" Liu Wu asked Chen Jian.

"The first floor has instant hot water heaters," Chen Jian suddenly remembered. Compared to showering, lifting a leg onto a chair seemed like nothing. "Can you shower with that leg?"

"Hmm," Shan Yu responded.

"How will you wash your leg?" Chen Jian asked.

"Take it off and put it aside, wash, then put it back on," Shan Yu said. "Body gets washed with water, leg gets disinfected with cotton swabs."

It took Chen Jian a couple of seconds to understand the half-truth, realizing that the leg couldn't get wet and needed to be disinfected with cotton swabs.

"Do you need... help washing?" he asked.

"Just bandage the wound," Liu Wu said. "He can wash himself."

"Oh," Chen Jian breathed a sigh of relief.