Chapter 5, The Fiery Entry into the World
Moreover, those who occupy the roads are basically all street vendors
A few more people could not help but get up and move to the back, and it is likely that some were secretly complaining about the ticket seller, thinking it would be better to let him go shirtless
From the serene and tranquil mountains where one could only hear the chirping of birds and the falling of leaves, to such a fervent and bustling atmosphere, the young person, full of youthful spirit, cannot help but break into a smile
As the saying goes, "In February, April, and August, one wears clothes haphazardly." At this transition between spring and summer, it is certainly acceptable to wear skirts and shirts. It is not surprising to see a scruffy suit on a slender middle-aged man, but it is still rather uncommon to encounter a bare-chested man casually draping a tank top over his shoulder
People carrying various burdens and goods are constantly coming and going, even spilling onto the road, unreservedly occupying the lanes on both sides, forcing the large vehicles to cautiously navigate through the narrow central lane!
Jiangzhou is a city filled with stairs, where the difference in elevation between one road and another parallel road can be several dozen steps. This makes transportation by vehicles quite inconvenient, thus manual labor for carrying goods has become an indispensable workforce. Additionally, shops are essentially located in every available gap, with both sides of each step crowded with storefronts displaying various goods.
When the bus stopped at the next station, the middle-aged man eagerly sprang up to get off. As he jumped out the door, he squeezed out a phrase through his teeth: "You motherf***er, you are still just a poor beggar!"
In fact, there are only a few stops from the Natural History Museum to the dock, but it passes through the most prosperous central area of Jiangzhou City. However, the city roads built along the mountains are quite undulating, and the expressions of the young people inevitably change somewhat with the splendid scenery outside. After all, he is still a country bumpkin who has never left County K.
The middle-aged man's expression was blank: "Association?"
Who knows that he is truly calm and composed
For the past nineteen years, since he could remember, he had been living in the mountains, only occasionally going to the town for the market. The streets and alleys of the county already seemed incredibly lively to him. The old man was most worried that he would become dazzled in this extravagant world, so he often took him to experience the most crowded cinemas and bustling areas in the county town. However, compared to the vibrant atmosphere of this big metropolis, it once again refreshed the young man's mental landscape.
The soft and gentle voice struck the middle-aged man's face like several heavy slaps, causing his already timid and furtive expression to turn pale and flushed in turns. The people around him must have heard it as well, and the previously abundant murmurs of disdain had significantly diminished. The stick figure a few meters away seemed to straighten its back for a moment.
The young man leisurely pulled out a single bill from the few coins he had: "One, thank you"
Because they carry goods that far exceed their own size, it becomes nearly impossible for them to navigate the sidewalks when jostling with others. Therefore, they confidently traverse the road, even squeezing through any available gaps to cross the street. The large cargo does not hinder their ability to skillfully avoid vehicles, as they almost maneuver through moving cars while shouldering their loads.
The wide road can accommodate four lanes of vehicles traveling in both directions, and there are iron railings separating the sidewalks along the road, but now it is all filled with people
The bus terminal is right at the dock, and the young man got up and followed the porter off the bus. The noise and crowd that greeted him almost caused him to stumble at the bus door
He walked past the young man who appeared to be in his twenties, sitting in the back of the car. The middle-aged man sat down next to him without any courtesy, watching as the young man gripped a black wooden stick, his gaze fixed on a figure. He whispered disdainfully, "He must be one of the dockworkers! Quite aggressive, they gather in groups over there, and they often fight and bully others!"
The young person's face remains calm.
Young people are suddenly confused: "Gang, faction? Group? Bullying and dominating the market?"
Young people do not appreciate this term: "Do they still have associations, and is the government not concerned?"
This is truly entering the world
The car started, and the female ticket seller began selling tickets, quite bluntly: "Put on your clothes! Does being bare-chested look cool? Hurry up..."
The ticket seller passed by, and the middle-aged man awkwardly took back one yuan: "Master..."
Young people do not seek to ingratiate themselves, nor do they appreciate such untimely behavior. Throughout history, there have been many similar wild individuals, but apart from acting foolishly to attract attention, most fail to understand the fundamental principle that one must adapt to their environment. Without rules, one cannot achieve order; if one only seeks personal comfort and pleasure at the expense of others, then it cannot be considered courteous.
This stands in stark contrast to the previously scattered roadside stalls.
The dock worker was not as fierce as he seemed, smiling foolishly as he casually threw on his sweat-soaked shirt. The moment the shirt unfolded, a strong odor of sweat rushed in through the car window, filling the entire carriage.
The ticket seller swiftly issued the tickets and jumped to the back, full of vigor. As he passed by the young man, the middle-aged man unhesitatingly handed over the money to buy tickets: "Two!"
The young man fixed his gaze intently on the other person, following with three steps and then two leaps into the car. It was precisely because of the other person's imposing demeanor, completely disregarding the various looks of disdain or dislike from those around, that he boldly chose a seat, sat down, and vigorously fanned himself. The strong smell of sweat caused several nearby passengers to frown and change their seats, yet this individual remained utterly unconcerned
The middle-aged man scoffed: "A gang? How is that possible? Such things would definitely be suppressed now. It's just a bunch of laborers huddling together! It's only because there are a few wholesale markets at the dock, and the long-distance bus station is also concentrated there, that you see so many workers around. They can find help everywhere, just a group of miserable laborers!"
The shouts of vendors, the haggling over prices, the calls of porters, and the sounds of quarrels blend into a cacophony, striking heavily upon the heads of the young people
The behavior of young people who, when seeking affection, resort to sweet words, but immediately turn hostile and speak harshly after being rejected, only daring to act out just before the door closes, can only be met with a faint smile.
The sound may have been a bit loud, and those around could hear it. That person seemed to have caught wind of it as well, but casually glanced over without any angry reaction
The sidewalk is filled with people, and the alleys, stairs, shops, commercial buildings, parking lots, and intersections on both sides of the sidewalk are all crowded with people
A sea of people
However, to put it another way, his destitute appearance combined with this expression is truly incongruous, giving off a strong sense of forced pretentiousness
The young man felt a bit disappointed; such disappointment, lacking the scale of any organized group, left him with no room for expression. Leaning against the back of the chair with a wooden stick, he listened to the middle-aged man incessantly deriding him. Finally, he spoke softly: "Those who rely solely on their own strength to support their families have nothing to be ashamed of. It is you who should feel shame for placing your hopes in gambling daydreams, idleness, and laziness. I have said all I need to say; I do not wish to be disturbed any further, thank you." After saying this, he closed his eyes to rest.
He is even more impressive than before when he was bare-chested
Regardless of the etiquette expected from ordinary citizens in any location, exposing one's chest and arms in such a public place is considered quite uncivilized. However, the robust man holding a stick boarded the vehicle without a care for his surroundings. The other citizens did not seem overly surprised, as it was evident that he was drenched in sweat, clearly having just engaged in strenuous physical labor. He was casually wiping his face with a sweat-soaked shirt draped over his shoulder. In such circumstances, even if he were wearing clothes, he would likely be completely soaked.
He gazed intently at the various street scenes outside