Chapter 2, The Dignity of Man

Xiao Hongfei glared with bloodshot eyes at the Wind Shadow Building and hoarsely said: "Little brother, tell me, if it were you facing all of this, would you endure the humiliation and continue living in a cowardly manner, or would you risk everything, even if it means a miserable death, even if you are destined to be cast into the eighteen layers of hell for eternity, just to fight for your woman, for your family, and to carve out a semblance of justice from this desolate situation?"

In this situation, the boy was vigorously slapping the hard ground beneath him while proudly reciting the immortal verses created by the poet Li Bai, who famously celebrated with a hundred jars of wine. The boy's voice grew louder, and his smile became increasingly unrestrained. In this boy, there was a boldness that far exceeded his actual age, a carefree abandon that defied convention, and a resonant confidence that declared, "Though surrounded by thousands, I stand alone." This truly left Fengying Tower in awe. The boy's voice grew louder, and his smile became increasingly unrestrained. In this boy, there was a boldness that far exceeded his actual age, a carefree abandon that defied convention, and a resonant confidence that declared, "Though surrounded by thousands, I stand alone." This truly left Fengying Tower in awe.

Bang

Feng Yinglou indeed could not understand, but he stared blankly at Xiao Hongfei. Perhaps the two were sitting too close, or perhaps it was merely a chance meeting of their souls; he surprisingly discerned the fleeting, profound sadness reflected in Xiao Hongfei's eyes.

Bang

Indeed, it is merely a quiet narration, reflected in Xiao Hongfei's eyes, which clearly rises from the sweetest dream, an inescapable intoxication.

Afraid?

Upon hearing this sudden remark, even Xiao Hongfei was taken aback. He turned his head and carefully observed Feng Yinglou's serious expression. After a long while, he suddenly burst into hearty laughter. He appeared to be laughing so joyfully and exuberantly that tears streamed down his face.

Sitting beside a corpse that is completely naked, with blood slowly oozing from the wound on its backside, in a bustling street that should have been filled with people but has now turned into a vacuum where everyone avoids them like a venomous snake, he coldly observes the crowd that, driven by curiosity yet unwilling to approach, has formed a semicircular shape in the distance, suddenly bursting into laughter.

Bang!

Do you not see the waters of the Yellow River come from the sky, rushing to the sea never to return? Do you not see the bright mirror in the high hall lamenting white hair, in the morning like black silk, by evening turned to snow? In life, when one is successful, one must enjoy to the fullest, do not let the golden goblet face the moon empty. Heaven has endowed me with talent, it must be of use, even if a fortune is spent, it will return again. Let us enjoy by roasting sheep and slaughtering cattle, we must drink three hundred cups! Master Cen, Danqiu Sheng, let us pour the wine, do not let the cups stop. I will sing a song for you, please lend me your ear to listen... Hahaha... Let us enjoy by roasting sheep and slaughtering cattle, we must drink three hundred cups! Master Cen, Danqiu Sheng, let us pour the wine, do not let the cups stop. I will sing a song for you, please lend me your ear to listen... Hahaha... It is truly delightful!

However, looking at Xiao Hongfei, who resembled an injured wild beast, with eyes filled with pain and madness, at only eight years old, he suddenly understood the true meaning of his words: "I am no longer afraid of continuing to live, so what is there to fear about the nonsense of being shot?"

At this point, Xiao Hongfei's right hand swept across his forehead, brushing aside a few strands of hair. However, Feng Yinglou, who was beside him, clearly saw that this big boy, with such a seemingly casual gesture, gently wiped away a tear that was steadily gathering at the corner of his eye

He took a deep drag from the cigarette in his hand and said, "From the moment I received that money, I understood that I was destined to never be a good person in this life. Hehe, what kind of good thing can a guy who learned to rely on women for a living at the age of twelve become? From then on, I wreaked havoc everywhere, half playing and half making money. I once stripped down and crawled into a box, allowing someone to present me as a birthday gift to a wealthy young lady, and that very night, I deflowered her. From then on, I wreaked havoc everywhere, half playing and half making money. I once stripped down and crawled into a box, allowing someone to present me as a birthday gift to a wealthy young lady, and that very night, I deflowered her. I have also been a semi-regular lover of a rich woman, and there was even a woman who made an agreement with me that when I turned eighteen, I would have unprotected sex with her, because her husband was impotent. She wanted a child that looked like me, and she would pay me an exorbitant amount, with the condition that I must stay away from that child and never let him or her know about our relationship."

Clearly, there was no yogurt mixed into the beer, and clearly, he did not like the bitter taste of this liquid. However, facing the sparkling eyes of Xiao Hongfei, which shone like black jewels soaked in wine, an indescribable impulse compelled Feng Yinglou, who was drinking for the first time, to raise the cup in his hand and, imitating Xiao Hongfei, down the beer in one gulp.

"But when you called just now, you said you were only fifteen and a half, and a year ago you were just fourteen and a half..." Feng Yinglou said cautiously, "I heard from the teacher that it seems one cannot get married before the age of eighteen, and even when one reaches eighteen, it is still considered early marriage..."

Although I only understood a fraction of what was said, Feng Yinglou was already in a daze. After his lips moved for a while, he finally stammered out a sentence: "If you have difficulties, you can seek help from the police uncle"

Having been bound under my father's stick for so long, always watching the expressions of teachers and classmates to navigate my behavior, always lowering my head in an effort to be a well-regarded good child, it was only at this moment that I realized that in this world, one could live with such individuality and expressiveness.

From the day I vowed to marry Xueer, although I still had to rely on women to make a living, I would give half of my earnings to Xueer, allowing her to save it for me. I have even envisioned that when I turn 18, Xueer will be 23, and I will distance myself from the superficialities around me to open a flower shop with Xueer. The shop does not need to be large, and the earnings do not need to be substantial; it is enough to support Xueer and our children. If the flowers of the day do not sell out, I will collect them and give the most beautiful ones to my most beautiful and lovely goddess, Xueer, who, even if she becomes my wife with a 'Marry me,' will remain unchanged. I can hardly imagine the smile that will light up her face when she receives the flowers from my hand, because... the feeling of happiness will melt me.

I have never seen my father. My mother told me that he died before I was born. My mother's health was very poor; she often coughed up blood. When I was twelve, she finally passed away as well. I became an orphan, without parents, relatives, or family. Fortunately, I grew up quite well and had a good rapport with women, and I was relatively mature for my age. I once slept with a classmate's mother. Although I was clumsy and knew nothing during my first time, I still managed to receive two thousand yuan from her.

What a situation where one turns to the police in times of trouble, truly a ridiculous display! Come, just for you, my little brother, with your catchy tune from the 1970s, faded in the 1980s, and nonsense from the 1990s, let us raise another glass together.

Xiao Hongfei violently hurled the third bottle of beer outwards, this time deliberately aiming it at the crowd closest to them. He watched as the pedestrians surrounding him scattered in all directions, as if stung by a swarm of wasps. Despite the presence of many men taller and stronger than him, not a single one dared to step forward to confront him, nor did anyone have the courage to raise a fist against him. The mischievous gleam in the boy's eyes intensified.

I truly did not expect that the last meal and drink of my life, as Xiao Hongfei, would be accompanied not by those beautiful female classmates in school who appeared cold as ice but would become passionate once in bed; nor by those alluring women who dressed flamboyantly, frequented bars and cafes, and seemed to uphold a facade, simply waiting for someone to entice them into a one-night stand; and certainly not by the landlady who, having lost her husband, could waive my rent for three months after a single night together. Instead, it was an eight-year-old boy, who does not touch smoke or alcohol, is timid as a mouse, and would not speak unless asked.

Usually, Feng Yinglou really does not dare to主动 ask strangers questions, especially not to those older than himself. However, after downing three glasses of beer, an indescribable feeling rose from the depths of his heart, warm and floating, which made his tongue become agile and reckless. "You killed someone, and you're going to be executed. Aren't you afraid at all?"

At this point, Xiao Hongfei finally introduced himself. He bit open a bottle of beer, filled the paper cup in Feng Yinglou's hand, and then raised the beer bottle, loudly proclaiming to Feng Yinglou: "Meeting is fate; come, let’s drink heartily like men, together with me and Brother Tushu!"

He is the son of the deputy mayor, Li Yue! He has numerous witnesses to prove his innocence, and he does not need to seek help from others; there are plenty of people who are willing to step forward and clear his name. In the face of all this, as a man living off others, I am powerless against him; the law is powerless against him; even the police officers, who are supposed to help those in need, are powerless against him

Bang!

Lighting another cigarette, Xiao Hongfei's thoughts seemed to rise along with the faint blue smoke, and his gaze became distant

The boy exerted all his strength and hurled the empty second beer bottle forcefully. The bottle hit the ground with a sharp "crack," and the crowd observing these two children from a distance stirred with a noticeable ripple at the sound of the shattering.

Yet the body of Feng Yinglou began to tremble gently. Indeed, he truly understood that a happy person would not sit here. Without shattered dreams, broken hearts, or fragmented feelings, how could this fifteen-and-a-half-year-old boy possibly erupt in violence? How could he bear to take a life?

Brother Xiao Hongfei

The paper cup and the beer bottle met again. After downing the liquid from the bottle, Xiao Hongfei toyed with the non-lethal throwing weapon in his hand and said: "Although it has only been a little over three years, even I do not know how many bed partners I have changed, nor how many times I have engaged with women for money. Yet there is one woman whom I clearly like, and I even swore in front of her a year ago that I would marry her in the future, but I have never touched her."

The little turnip head before us has the ability to make him laugh incessantly

Because ... ...

Feng Yinglou pointed at the corpse beside him, and after staring for a long time, he seemed less afraid: "Then why did you kill him?"

Xiao Hongfei suddenly jumped up and smashed the beer bottle in his hand violently onto the head of the corpse beside him. Amidst the flying glass shards, he raised his foot and kicked the corpse fiercely, "You said, you said, you are the son of the deputy mayor, and you have never lacked women around you who flatter you. As long as you are willing, you can change your bed partner every day. Why did you have to assault a girl like Xue'er, who can only sit in a wheelchair for the rest of her life, forcing her to jump directly from the seventh floor? You have no worries about food or clothing, and there are people everywhere who flatter and fawn over you. Why did you brazenly take away the person I cared about most in my life, my last happiness? You have no worries about food or clothing, and there are people everywhere who flatter and fawn over you. Why did you brazenly take away the person I cared about most in my life, my last happiness?"

Feng Yinglou shook his head vigorously; he did not know, he truly did not know

He kicked the corpse fiercely with seventy or eighty kicks. Xiao Hongfei suddenly raised his neck and let out a wolf-like howl of sorrow. At last, tears could no longer be restrained, gushing from his eyes and carving two winding trails down his face.

Xiao Hongfei said: "Some people, by the age of thirty, are still nothing more than clueless kids. As for me, struggling to make a living and having experienced the myriad of human emotions, I understand clearly, even at just fourteen, that a girl like Xue'er, though five years older than me and physically disabled, will never leave her wheelchair, is the only one who truly cares for me. Her concern is genuine, devoid of any pretense or selfish motives. In my lifetime, I will never find a wife who is more sincere, more pure, and better to me than her. I, Xiao Hongfei, will never be the kind of fool who only realizes what he has after it's gone, nor will I be the idiot who thinks the view from afar is the best!"

At this point, Xiao Hongfei laughed heartily once again

Xiao Hongfei reached out with a familiar gesture, gently patting Feng Yinglou's head, and said: "You are too young, so young that you cannot possibly understand my words, but perhaps you will comprehend them in the future... I am no longer afraid of continuing to live, so what is there to fear about some nonsensical execution?"

Xiao Hongfei truly intended to casually respond to this question with phrases like "because he deserved it," but his voice suddenly faltered. He had killed this man, but in doing so, he was inevitably sacrificing his own life and would have to endure the ruthless revenge of a vice mayor who had lost his beloved son. How could such a mutually destructive outcome be summarized with a mere phrase like "because he deserved it"?