Chapter 2, although I am just a sheep
Xiao Wang smiled and said, "Actually, it's just a saying; I know that people like us have taboos."
I hurriedly walked out of the prison gates.
What happened to your head? The old man finally noticed my tuft of hair
I stroked my scalp and said: "Listening to your teachings, I am prepared to have this part cut as well, and I might as well have it styled into a bowl cut."
I hurriedly added the second half of the sentence: "I also leaned my right cheek over for him to hit!"
There are still a few bits and pieces left.
Entering through the corner gate, I registered my arrival, handed over my personal belongings for inspection by the prison guard, and then passed through another iron gate. Guard Xiao Wang came to receive me. Although we are not old acquaintances, we have met several times. Xiao Wang kindly said, "Are you here to see your father again?"
My mother also does not want me to be like the villain leader in martial arts films, casually saying: "Then let's call it Long Yang."
On the day I was born, it could truly be said that the winds and clouds changed color, the grass and trees were filled with sorrow, and a chilling atmosphere pervaded the heavens and the earth. In short, it was a day of great gloom. I arrived in the world with unparalleled grace, coughing up amniotic fluid while crying out loudly. A few of my father's capable subordinates came to respectfully seek the divine edict, eager to inquire about the name of the "Crown Prince." There were also several strategists who presented memorials, one suggesting the name "Long Dingbang," and another proposing "Long Zhenhai." Upon hearing these, my father shook his head vigorously and said, "These names carry too much of a folk flavor; do you have something more sophisticated?" I arrived in the world with unparalleled grace, coughing up amniotic fluid while crying out loudly. A few of my father's capable subordinates came to respectfully seek the divine edict, eager to inquire about the name of the "Crown Prince." There were also several strategists who presented memorials, one suggesting the name "Long Dingbang," and another proposing "Long Zhenhai." Upon hearing these, my father shook his head vigorously and said, "These names carry too much of a folk flavor; do you have something more sophisticated?"
The old man's thoughts, however, were not affected in the slightest, and he continued: "I will say this to you once more, you are not to interfere in the company's affairs. One must be low-key in life; if someone strikes your left cheek..."
The old man nodded in satisfaction and said, "Hmm, by the way, can you do it?"
I ended up like this after a fight—have you ever seen gangsters fighting with each other using lighters to singe each other's hair?
Longyangyang ... ... Longyangyang. ... ... Do you know why I don't want to say my name? In today's popular terms, this is quite tragic, a real drama, and not very impressive, but it is rather cute.
The driver glanced at me and asked, "East Station or West Station?"
I said: "I know even if you don't say it; I am no longer a child."
The old man nodded and said, "If you have a suitable trade, then step back; otherwise, sell it." As he spoke, the old man seemed a bit uneasy, saying, "Back then, I also misjudged the situation, struggling hard to acquire this piece of land..."
The old man took the cigarettes and said: "You don't need to bring these things in the future, we have enough. Besides, you young man are not wealthy either."
Who would have thought that my father, with a glare, said: "What’s wrong with being at the mercy of others? I would rather he be at their mercy; one sheep is not enough, I will add another for him: let’s call it Longyangyang!"
Xiao Wang politely said: "Not at all, Boss Long won't be staying here for many days. After he leaves, I will still have to ask you to take good care of me."
On this matter, one can discern the old man's attitude from the name he gave me. My surname is Long, and my name is ... . ... Ahem, let me start from the day I was born.
Looking back now, the surname Long inherently carries a certain grandeur; no matter what name one bears, it is unlikely to sound unpleasant. Even names like Long Wu or Long Liu exude a hint of a seasoned character. In an effort to restrain me, my father insisted on adding two sheep to my name, which reveals his early plans for my life. He would never allow me to step into the world of business; in a certain sense, it reflects a self-imposed limitation—those in this line of work would never support someone from the green pastures as their leader unless absolutely necessary. This further illustrates his early intentions for my life, as he would not permit me to enter the realm of business, which, in a way, suggests a self-defeating approach—people in this profession would never endorse someone from the green pastures to lead them unless it was a last resort.
Go to www.hetushu.com, take your time on the road
Just as I was about to turn around and wave my hand, Xiao Wang shouted from behind me: "Don't look back, this place is inauspicious"
East Station
I touched my forehead and said with deep frustration: "Don't mention it, let it be struck by lightning!"
"It's open, what else would I do if it weren't?"
... Except for the last situation, my father would always snort and say emphatically: "Don't teach the children bad habits!" The old man himself disliked using violence and was particularly averse to fighting; regardless of whether I returned victorious or defeated, I was always met with another baseless beating.
I laughed: "Look at what you said, I have been boasting outside: 'We have someone in the prison system!'"
I said with a smile: "Even when busy, I must come to see you"
The large iron gate in front of me bore five prominent characters: City No. 1 Prison
I lightly touched the ground with my toes and said leisurely, "No one does it better than I do"
I laughed and said, "Dad, look, you're saying this again. Don't worry about it!"
Hehe, quite good, then you go in first, he will come in a while
The old man sighed and said: "What I fear about her is this: her militaristic tendencies will eventually bring disaster upon herself. After all these years, she has not changed at all"
I chuckled and said, "Although the deal didn't go through, I can still afford two cigarettes." I asked him, "Do you need me to give the warden a heads-up?"
I nodded slightly and walked into the spacious visiting room, casually taking a seat at one of the tables. Before long, I heard the sound of the iron door to the inmate corridor opening. My father emerged with a serious expression but a leisurely gait, followed by a prison guard whose name I couldn't recall, though I had seen him a few times before. I smiled at him, and he nodded back at me. In the meantime, my father calmly sat down, and the guard stepped back a few paces, standing with his hands behind his back in a corner. If it weren't for his prison uniform, my father would have resembled a commanding officer's bodyguard.
The old man put away his smile and asked, "How is Aunt Meng doing? I heard she has new developments again?"
You will teach me a lesson; she is flourishing and has just opened a new mixing station. Anyone who dares to disrespect Boss Meng is courting death
"What book have you been reading to learn so many new words?" I said with a smile, pushing two bright red Soft Zhonghua cigarettes towards him: "You need not worry about these matters outside; in a month or so, you can come out and deal with her yourself!"
The old man then laughed: "That lightning didn't split your brain, did it?"
I stood up and said, "Then I shall take my leave"
As I stepped out, it was Officer Wang who escorted me to the door. I said, "I appreciate your help, Brother Wang, regarding my father."
When I got out of the car, Zhao Dan and Lin Hexiang had already left. I nodded in acknowledgment to the red-faced man holding the wine jug and the young white-collar worker who was going to meet his girlfriend, to express my gratitude for their just and righteous words earlier
During this time, let me introduce myself. My name is ... ... I will start with my father. My father is Long Baohua. Before he turned 40, he had already become a well-known figure in the underworld, known as "Dragon Ye." He is respected by the big brothers in the community for his steady and fair approach to business. In his early years, he took on various projects and later expanded his operations, becoming a leader in the construction industry in our city. Six years ago, he led a violent confrontation with the invading forces from another province, known as the "Haihe Gang," involving over a thousand people. The situation escalated to such an extent that it attracted the attention of higher authorities. In order to protect the company, my father turned himself in and was sentenced to eight years in prison for gathering a crowd to fight and intentional injury. This is the background of my father.
Are there any trains at the East Station? What are you going there for, along with the * map * and * book *?
Yes, Brother Wang is quite good, isn't he
The bus route 24 that I took is a circular line around the city. The place where I got off is a remote area at the urban-rural fringe. After leaving the bus stop, I walked one kilometer west, where there is an inconspicuous yet oddly styled building: high walls topped with electric fencing, and from a distance, one can vaguely see tall watchtowers inside, with armed sentries patrolling above.
I nodded: "I understand"
The old man stood up to see them off, and the father and son shook hands, nodding in acknowledgment, parting with great formality
No need, your Aunt Meng has everything arranged. The old man, stroking the cigarette case, said: This woman, aside from being a bit hasty at times, is still reliable in her work
Can one earn money
The old man also smiled
As for Aunt Meng, she is my father's second wife, which makes her my stepmother. My biological mother passed away due to illness when I was 3 years old. After my father was widowed for 3 years, he met Aunt Meng. At that time, Meng was already a local magnate, controlling a monopoly on sand and gravel in a district. During a "business dispute," the two fell in love at first sight, and Aunt Meng became my stepmother
That is essential
I said with a smile: "Don't worry about it"
Having nothing to do, I recounted the incident on the bus to the old man in its entirety. Our esteemed elder, who once roamed the world with great prowess, sighed and said, "The current world truly lacks rules; in the past, if a 'small-time artisan' was discovered, even an old lady would dare to take action against them." In the end, he added, "Hey, why am I telling you all this?"
"Are you not busy today?" My father, with his deep baritone voice, asked slowly, seemingly in a good mood, as he usually wouldn't greet me first.
Xiao Wang was taken aback: "There is nothing to boast about. Xiao Long, I must say, I really admire your father. Everything he tells you is for your own good regarding your studies."
I leaned my head on the table: "Could you not call me that?"
A taxi happened to come right in front of me, probably having taken a shortcut. After what happened in the morning, I had no desire to take the bus, so I raised my hand to hail it and told the driver: "To the train station"
Although the two of them come from the same background, their ways of dealing with people are vastly different. Aunt Meng is a true child of the rivers and lakes, quick to act when necessary, never hesitating or dragging her feet. At least two and a half out of three sentences she utters are embellishments regarding the female relatives of others. She is rarely without a cigarette in hand or a drink at her lips, embodying the ideal of someone who can provoke and withstand. My father, on the other hand, is different. After spending half his life in the underworld, it is rare to hear him utter a curse word. He is usually taciturn, enjoys reading various literary magazines, and is able to apply what he learns. Occasionally, he might come out with a saying that sounds particularly profound, but upon closer examination, is nothing but nonsense. He does not advocate for physical confrontation and resembles a businessman who weighs everything carefully.
I met Aunt Meng when I was 6 years old, and naturally, we spent a lot of time together. An inevitable issue that arose was education. Aunt Meng had a rough exterior but was deeply rooted in traditional values, filled with the expectation of inheriting the family business. From a young age, she subconsciously aimed to mold me into a dominant figure, often saying to me: "What, he dares to take your toy? Hit him!" "What, he dares to steal your candy? Hit him!" "What, you burned a hole in my mink coat? Don't run, you little rascal!
The old man slammed the table and said, "You haven't gone to fight with someone again, have you?"
My father's subordinates frowned in unison, saying, "Yang—sheep, doesn't that mean being at the mercy of others?"
The old man ignored my flattery and asked, as if he were an official reviewing lower-level projects, "Is your shop still open?"
The old man, upon hearing my words, became serious again and solemnly said, "Yang Yang..."