Chapter 55

Chapter 55

Shen Muyun unconsciously touched his neck, his gaze meeting Lu Huainan's, and the air between them shimmered with a palpable, pink-tinged intimacy.

Lu Huainan took Shen Muyun's hand and led him out. "Brother Yun, did you get so lost in thought? Or do you plan to stare at me for the rest of your life?"

"Ahem, no, don't overthink it. What strange notions fill that head of yours every day? What's all this talk about a lifetime?"

The two walked through the corridor and into the shop. The owner was already seated on a bamboo chair, eyes closed in repose, fanning himself with a palm fan, occasionally shooing away a persistent autumn bug.

"Oh, you're awake. The chemical plant was shut down out of the blue—what a relief! Look, the river up ahead has regained its color. I always said it would recover one day."

Shen Muyun glanced outside. The river still held a faint pink tint, but it was a marked improvement from what he’d seen days earlier.

Shen Muyun pursed his lips, unsure what to say. He simply stood there, lost in thought, observing the owner's relaxed and contented demeanor.

Noticing Shen Muyun’s hesitant posture, Lu Huainan lightly traced his palm with his fingertips and whispered, "Brother Yun, this mess was caused by your Shen Corporation. Aren’t you going to say something? At the very least, these people who suffered unjustly deserve an explanation."

Shen Muyun picked up a rag and casually wiped the shelves, sending apples tumbling down. He quickly reached to gather them.

Lu Huainan deftly caught a falling apple and waved it triumphantly at Shen Muyun.

"Brother Yun, I'm quick on the draw."

The owner paid no mind to their hushed conversation. He hummed an unknown tune, then suddenly spoke.

"You two, are you connected to the Shen Corporation?"

Shen Muyun's hand froze mid-air. He glanced toward the entrance. "Boss, how could you tell?"

The owner set down his palm fan and slowly rose from the bamboo chair.

"How could I tell? Just a guess. Before you came, that chemical plant had been operating for ages. But within days of your arrival, it suddenly vanished. And the police were involved—that never happened before. Plus, the residents up front said compensation will be deposited into their accounts in a few days, and they'll even help with job placement for those displaced. The Shen Corporation never offered such policies during previous demolitions."

Seeing no point in further pretense, Shen Muyun nodded. "Uncle Li, I didn’t mean to hide it from you. I just wanted to investigate why you were unwilling to leave. Now that I’ve seen it, I understand your difficulties. Before, I always thought it was just people trying to exploit the situation."

The owner pointed toward the bus stop ahead. It was morning rush hour, and many people were waiting. Some kept checking their watches, anxiously stamping their feet, while others rushed off into the distance without hesitation.

"Because of livelihood—it's that simple. If we can't get what we want, we have to keep trying. We're not like you; we don't have the luxury of time to make mistakes. We can only follow our instincts, whether right or wrong. As long as we can look back without regret, it's worth it—worth all the joys and sorrows along the way."

Shen Muyun nodded, only partly comprehending. He looked toward the bus stop and walked closer. Lu Huainan followed uneasily, overhearing fragments of everyday conversation.

"Hey, did you hear? The chemical plant’s shut down. That was the golden goose around here."

"Yeah, my husband came back looking so worried. With his skills, who’s gonna hire him now? I don’t know who ratted it out, as if it was any of their business. What are we supposed to do? My mother’s disabled, and now her medical funding’s dried up."

"Exactly. I used to cook there, and now I’m out of a job. I have to go out and look for work, and who knows when this struggle will end? My kid’s school fees are a huge expense. He’s starting junior high next year, and I don’t even know which school district we’re in. The decent middle schools use a lottery system, and the ones here are just as bad."

Shen Muyun looked up at them—men and women, young and old—all discussing the chemical plant. The plant had to be shut down, but what about these people?

"Didn’t Liu Dawei and the others block the Shen Corporation’s cars a few days ago? Maybe that’s how they found out. You just can’t fight capital—this is the bitter fruit."

"Who says otherwise? Here comes the bus, here comes the bus!"

Lu Huainan immediately pulled Shen Muyun back, keeping their distance from the crowd pushing to board.

"Try harder to pack in! If you miss this one, you’ll be late! Move forward a bit! And you, put your bag in front—it’ll save space!"

"Why are you pushing? If I could get on, I wouldn’t be stuck here! There are so many people—you’re not the only one in a hurry!"

"Hey, you in the back, move up! Get your feet in! The door won’t close! There’s still room in the back! Squeeze in! It’s rush hour—everyone be considerate!"

The noisy racket echoed in Shen Muyun’s ears. He turned back and met Lu Huainan’s deep, searching eyes. His heart felt unaccountably heavy.

Those who couldn’t board pointed at the bus and shouted angrily.

"What kind of nonsense is this? There was still room for a few more! When you’re down on your luck, even cold water gives you trouble!"

"Give it a rest. It’s not like you tried hard enough. If you’d worked harder, you wouldn’t have been laid off. Don’t blame the water now—so cynical. No wonder you never amounted to much."

"What do you mean by that? As if you’re any better. If you had what it takes, you wouldn’t be here either. Stop making sarcastic remarks—it’s a joke."

Lu Huainan gently covered Shen Muyun’s ears, not wanting to worsen his mood.

Shen Muyun reached up and took Lu Huainan’s hand, leading him back into the fruit shop. The owner sat at the entrance, waving his fan and glancing at the sky. "It’s going to rain. You two, help me bring the fruit outside inside. My wife said you don’t need to go over today—the shop over there is going to be sold. It’s not making money; it’s actually losing money. We can’t keep it up."

The owner picked up an umbrella. "But I still need to go check. There might be things that need packing."

Lu Huainan nodded and lifted a crate of fruit, carrying it into the shop.

Shen Muyun followed. Sure enough, the weather was just as the owner predicted.

"A rumble of thunder!"

A drizzle began to fall outside. Shen Muyun’s mood sank. He’d come here to resolve the issues of the displaced residents, but instead he’d witnessed the cold truths of the world.

Lu Huainan patted Shen Muyun’s shoulder. "Brother Yun, what’s wrong?"

"Nothing, really. I just feel like people’s joys and sorrows don’t truly connect. I never really noticed it before."

"Brother Yun, these plums look good. I’ll take a few. We can pay the owner when he gets back."

Lu Huainan casually picked a few dark, large plums, washed them, carefully cut them open, removed the pits, and handed them to Shen Muyun. "Brother Yun, try one. They smell really good."

Shen Muyun paused for a moment before taking the fruit from Lu Huainan.

"Brother Yun, try it. What’s on your mind?"

"It’s nothing major, really. Seeing them so worried and upset just makes me feel strangely weighed down. I can’t explain it."

Shen Muyun took out his phone and glanced at his favorite contacts. Shen Liuyun’s messages were still from days ago, when negative news about the Shen Corporation was everywhere, and stock prices had plummeted. Seeing Shen Liuyun swamped, he’d come here to see what he could do. Unexpectedly, things had turned out fairly well.

Noticing Shen Muyun’s expression, Lu Huainan peeked at his screen.

"If there’s something you want to say or do, just do it, Brother Yun. You’re not one to hesitate."

Shen Muyun sat on a low stool, thought for a while, and finally edited and sent a message.

"Huainan, I think the Shen Corporation really does have problems. My suggestion is to double the payout here. Also, the second phase of the relocation housing is almost completed, so these residents can be properly rehoused. As for their jobs, the Shen Corporation has a big-box store over there that could hire some of them. Brother, the fine print needs checking. These residents... well, you have more experience, Brother. You should handle it."

Lu Huainan nodded. "That’s a good suggestion. I hope your work isn’t in vain."

The rain outside gradually lightened. Shen Liuyun hadn’t replied—maybe he was busy, or maybe he was tied up with something.

The owner shook his umbrella a few times at the entrance before coming back in.

"Boss, we’ve imposed on you for several days. It’s time for us to leave. Like you said, young people should get out and see the world."

The owner smiled at Shen Muyun. "Yes, young people shouldn’t limit themselves to a small town like this. It’s good to get out and explore. If you ever have a craving for fruit, remember to come here. But I think my shop might have to relocate before long."

Shen Muyun smiled and continued, "When the ribbon-cutting happens, I'll be asking for a good luck red envelope."

The boss nodded. Shen Muyun then remembered the items in the container and said, "Boss, over there—"

"Just go ahead with your business. I’ll take care of the things over there."

Shen Muyun and Lu Huainan collected their clothes, thanked the boss, and then left.

Shen Muyun leaned back in his seat. "Huainan, these past few days have felt like a dream."

"Yeah, I’ve never been to a place like this before. I only came because I heard Brother Yun was here alone, and I was worried. I rescheduled some company matters to come check on him. I didn’t expect to end up staying almost a week. I bet the paperwork on my desk is piled mountain-high by now."

"Then go handle your work first. You shouldn’t put your life on hold because of me."

Lu Huainan nodded. "No, it’s fine, I’ll take you home first."