Chapter 2

I had already washed my face twice before. The first time was to clean a cut on my face caused by Jiang Yuduo. The second time was because I felt dizzy from the heat of the radiator

However, it is acceptable; there are not many people in McDonald's at this time. A few travelers with luggage, and three to five students are leaning on the table studying. No one is speaking, it is quite peaceful and warm

No, no, no, it should not be the case. Although he is considered a good-for-nothing in the eyes of the entire family, even less than a small fingernail of Cheng Yi, he still has some income.

Are there forty-nine trash bins managed here? Among them, one was just personally crushed by the boss.

Jiang Yuduo followed Shouhouer into a newly opened breakfast shop nearby. Looking at the pile of food that Shouhouer brought over, he frowned and asked, "Who the hell did you go out with last night?"

If you haven't escaped in the last attempt, then just give up

It is uncertain whether it was due to his intense focus, but he did not even notice when a car drove by and stopped. This sound truly embarrassed him to the utmost degree

"What kind of brain can you expect for twenty yuan?" Chen Qing said

Third Brother! Someone called out to him from behind

Jiang Yuduo instinctively tightened his grip on the knife in his pocket before turning his head.

From the distant memory, starting with my father's words, "Respect and caution are the meanings of the character 'ke'", and ending with the words "Jiang Yu Duo" written in blue ballpoint pen

"My car is parked right over there..." Chen Qing immediately dashed to the right

He never expected that one day he would yearn for these two things so much

Scar looked at his pocket

Cheng Ke remained standing without moving

When Cheng Ke opened his eyes, he couldn't help but sigh; if it weren't for this dream, he truly would not have realized how dull his life had been for over twenty years

"I swear!" Chen Qing shouted, "I didn't notice!"

He needs to go to replace his bank card, withdraw some money, then buy a mobile phone, and finally replace a number... In fact, he is not clear about how much money he has in his bank card; anyway, there always seems to be money when he uses it. However, he does not have any significant expenses, just eating a meal and buying a couple of pieces of clothing.

not to the extent that ... ...

Cheng Ke lowered his head and smiled at the coffee, then leaned on the table

Below is a mobile phone number

Before I could take a step forward, my shoulder collided forcefully with a person walking towards me

Understood, Jiang Yuduo picked up the chopsticks, "Don't keep serving, your entire month's salary must be here, right?"

I am tired

He does not understand what has been happening these past two days; a series of unfortunate events follows him like a shadow, and even when he turns around, he seems to step on thorns.

The one who was running at the front suddenly lunged forward, and Cheng Ke dodged slightly, causing this person to miss their target.

You are blind!" that person cursed.

Jiang Yuduo remained silent, while Chen Qing confidently turned around, shrugged his shoulders, and walked away

After running for a while, Cheng Ke felt very frustrated, as he had underestimated the determination of a few hungover individuals who were relentlessly pursuing such a trivial matter

I will give you twenty yuan, " Jiang Yuduo pinched his brow, " Can you go check your brain? "

"Go and pick it up," Cheng Ke said, "Don't make a trip for nothing."

Cheng Ke touched the corner of his eye, where there was a significant cut. He was not particularly afraid of pain; when he was young, he had fought with Cheng Yi and had his head smashed open by a chair wielded by Cheng Yi, requiring several stitches. He endured it without uttering a word.

Having stepped out, he found himself without a clear direction. There was a small supermarket across the street, and he entered it, purchasing a bottle of mouthwash before re-entering McDonald's

No need, "Cheng Ke quickly waved his hand, "Really, no need, thank you."

The right shoulder was violently bumped from behind by someone

The three characters written above with a ballpoint pen are Jiang Yu Duo

No! The thin monkey became anxious, "Did I not go to the internet café to work as a waiter because you told me to? I received my salary yesterday! I immediately thought of coming to find you..."

The scarred man said nothing, fumbled in his pocket for a moment, and then handed over a card: "It seems you are in a bit of trouble, young sir. This is my business card; feel free to call me if you need any assistance."

Hmm. Jiang Yuduo responded.

Yesterday, during the intense grappling match with Jiang Yuduo, he did not have much of an advantage, sustaining several injuries on his face and body. This punch now feels genuinely satisfying.

This is the rear of several residential buildings, an open street garden, a very ordinary and commonplace place, where people walk their birds and exercise during the day, and engage in square dancing at night.

"How can that be? At the very least, it should be braised beef," said the thin monkey. "How can we invite Third Brother for breakfast without any meat!"

"Good." Chen Qing turned his head to gaze ahead. Just as Jiang Yuduo wanted to remind him, he had already driven through the red light.

Do you have any sense at all? This is San Ge! This area is all under San Ge's territory!" The driver leaned over, pointing at him, "San Ge has already said this, why are you still pretending to be aloof!

"Soy milk and fried dough sticks?" Jiang Yuduo looked at him with disdain

Jiang Yuduo slapped the back of his head again and said, "I damn well gave you an extra 5 yuan for breakfast!"

"It's nothing," Chen Qing thought for a moment, "The car belongs to Old Yang, let him take care of it. After all, he breaks the rules every day, he could probably get a yearly pass by now, I doubt he can remember all of them."

They are estimated to be familiar with this area, as the terrain is quite well-known. When Cheng Ke made three turns and ran out onto a small side road, surprisingly, two individuals came around from the front.

Jiang Yuduo looked at him, narrowing his eyes slightly, his expression somewhat inscrutable.

Cheng Ke brushed off his shoulders twice, turned slightly to the side, and assumed a posture as if he were about to leave

When I came out again, I felt much more awake

Jiang Yudu

"Jaeger-LeCoultre entered a bank," Chen Qing said, "after talking to the lobby manager for quite a while, is he here to withdraw a large sum of money? Should we call a couple of people over to wait for him to come out..."

A rather sturdy individual, also quite resilient to blows, Cheng Ke felt a slight ache in his wrist after delivering a punch.

Is this person really not mentally ill

"What are you looking at?" Chen Qing was puzzled, but after thinking for a moment, he nodded slightly, "It must be practicing one's judgment. I just took a closer look, and this person is definitely not a scavenger; they are dressed quite elegantly and look like a young gentleman..."

Ah? Chen Qing was taken aback.

You might as well go directly and tell him.

He got up from the table, went to the restroom, and after washing his face, still felt that he had not fully awakened, feeling somewhat dazed, his steps unsteady, often having the illusion that he had not completely emerged from that dull and uninteresting dream

Just as I bent down to pick up the money, someone behind me shouted: "Hey!"

It was only when I turned back that I realized there were four people standing behind me

Give it to me, Cheng Ke said

"Walk to the damn right!" Jiang Yuduo shouted, pointing at him, "I give you three seconds; in three seconds, I will beat you until you foam at the mouth!"

What do you call that thing?" Cheng Ge couldn't help but retort

"How the hell could I have grown up with you?" Jiang Yuduo looked at him, "Surprised that you didn't die young?"

He could not help but look down at the card in his hand again

In this awkward stalemate, the pursuers behind arrived

"This thorny character," Jiang Yuduo said, "what have you done to provoke them? Did you get into a fight again over the trash can?"

Oh. Cheng Ke instinctively touched his pocket and realized that the cigarette case given to him by Jiang Yuduo was not in his pocket

This punch he threw was essentially just an expression of his frustration

But now it is rather extraordinary

Cheng Ke stood still

At this moment, there are quite a few people at work, and after just a few steps, the escape route was blocked. He had no choice but to change direction and run towards an area with slightly fewer people. After all, escaping was not his strong suit, and the few people behind him also had no intention of giving up.

He glanced at the time; in such circumstances, in such an environment, in such a posture, he was actually able to sleep until after 8:00 in the morning. I wonder if this can be considered a kind of extraordinary ability

He is not a troublemaker; usually, he associates with those "unambitious drinking buddies" in groups, and when real trouble arises, he does not need to face it alone.

Scar was taken aback for a moment, then handed over the lighter in his hand: "Burning money is illegal, besides, it's just that one bill; even if it burns, it won't be impressive."

"Are you going back directly?" Chen Qing asked, "I can take you back and stop by your sister's place to play a couple of rounds of cards."

"You don't even know to stop at a red light with that brain of yours!" Jiang Yuduo slapped him on the back of the head, "Fifteen yuan is enough to see it!"

Jiang Yuduo finished smoking by the flower bed and got up to leave the small garden

If it changed before yesterday, then this person should not expect to say it all.

Cheng Ke hesitated for two seconds before taking the card from his hand

What to have for breakfast every day is quite a troubling matter. Jiang Yuduo really enjoys the dim sum at the corner restaurant, but the time has already passed, and he has been eating there for half a month straight, leaving him with little left to choose from.

There are still two buildings over there by the corridor, along with another identical corridor, and he continues to rush forward into it.

I was taken aback; it seemed that Cheng Ke's energy was somewhat depleted. Upon glancing back, I realized that these four individuals had unexpectedly split into two groups at some point.

In this 0.1 seconds, Cheng Ke acted decisively.

"To the right." Jiang Yuduo sighed

He turned around and ran towards the intersection.

"Pick it up quickly," Scar said, "if you hesitate any longer, someone else will take it away."

Cheng Ke stood by the roadside, suddenly experiencing that same sense of bewilderment from last night, lost in thought for a long time

This unfortunate young master indeed has some issues. During the fight yesterday, he thoroughly searched all the pockets of this young master and found nothing but half a pack of cigarettes.

This voice is quite magnetic, he can tell that it is the scarred one from earlier

"What a coincidence." Jiang Yuduo took the cigarette from his mouth and looked at him with a smile.

Cheng Ke could not help but raise his eyes to seriously look at this third brother named Jiang Yuduo

This level! This specification!

Even if I picked up that one hundred yuan, it would only be one hundred yuan plus half a pack of cigarettes, and then I would just go to the bank like that

Fortunately, I caught sight of a passageway between two residential buildings three meters ahead

Before he had taken more than a couple of bites, Jiang Yuduo's phone rang; it was a call from Chen Qing

Cheng Ke took out a cigarette and lit it, casually putting the lighter into his pocket

"I didn't take you for a scavenger," said the scarred man, exhaling a thin stream of smoke. "By the time we finish talking, everything will have been picked up."

Cheng Ke glanced at the card, then suddenly raised his head and stared in the direction the car had driven away for quite some time

Cheng Ke looked at him

Hmm?" Chen Qing turned to look at him

Those few individuals indeed rushed forward as he had anticipated. He assumed a stance and delivered a punch with his right hand to the face of the person in front, causing him to stagger several steps to the side before regaining his balance

Cheng Ke's "I'm sorry" was stuck in his throat, shouted directly into his ear.

Understood, Jaeger-LeCoultre, "Chen Qing nodded, "I will go with him, to be more cautious."

The "business card" that Jiang Yuduo gave him was made from a cigarette pack, or rather, it was torn out from a hard cardboard.

"Watch the road." Jiang Yuduo interrupted him.

At this moment, without a hat, he appears to be just in his early twenties, an ordinary handsome guy. However, there is an indistinct fierceness on his face that makes one feel a bit wary, possibly due to the presence of that scar.

Have you had breakfast yet? A child named Shouhouer ran over, moving quite gracefully; with a bit of wind, it seemed as if he could run in place. Shall we eat together?

Cheng Ke stared at the little figure DJing for nearly ten seconds, then gritted his teeth and walked over.

Cheng Ke gritted his teeth and charged into the passageway

As he burst out, a group of people all turned their heads, staring at him in unison; he could almost hear those gazes collectively shouting, "None of us are good people, you know."

It seems that even at its peak, it is merely a bookkeeping tool for a small shop owner, what about the third brother? What about the territory? I fear that even the forty-nine trash bins only account for twenty percent of the shares at most

"You are right, anyway, it doesn't seem like someone was sent to trouble you," Chen Qing did not need him to respond, and continued to analyze on his own, "But you didn't even ask him what his name is, what the situation is now... How about I call a few people to follow him?"

As she lowered her head to look, Jiang Yuduo closed the car window, and the car drove away

He has received countless business cards, exquisite, casual, business-like, elite-like, stream-of-consciousness-like... Yet, it is the first time he has received one resembling a cigarette pack

Thank you. Cheng Ke took two steps back, turned around, and quickly walked towards the main road

"Take it," Jiang Yuduo said, shaking the fingers that held the card at him. "It's always wise to leave some room for retreat in everything."

Did I not say that you could come to me if you encounter any trouble? Jiang Yuduo said

"You should go buy two buns to eat first," Jiang Yuduo said

He is currently in no mood at all, neither to act ruthlessly nor to admit defeat. He just wants to quickly get done with what he can do, withdraw money, buy a phone, he is in urgent need of ... ...

But remarkably, even until now, he has not felt any pain from the cut on his face.

Cheng Ke felt that he was actually a person who easily gave up; any minor setback could suddenly discourage him. Therefore, in the current situation, there was even a moment in his mind when he thought about not running away, believing that if he really couldn't handle it, he might as well let them beat him up.

"Not eating breakfast will ruin your intelligence." Jiang Yuduo hung up the phone

A group of people around him seemed to have received a command, rushing over in a flurry of jumps and dashes

"It's nothing," Jiang Yuduo pulled out a flattened cigarette paper from under his bottom, "I'll give you another one."

It is said that dreams should be long, and if I were to give it a title, it could be called "My Little First Half of Life". However, many scenes in the middle were ruthlessly cut due to excessive repetition and lack of meaning, so it feels like it ended in just a few brief shots

Cheng Ke looked at the cup of coffee in front of him and yawned

"Which kid?" Chen Qing asked

He cleared his throat and turned to look in the direction where the crowd had suddenly disappeared. In the distance, he could hear the sound of someone cursing, unsure whether it was a fight or a beating.

"If I'm not here," Jiang Yuduo extinguished the cigarette butt on the ground, "you won't be able to leave this place today."

There were already quite a few people around, coming and going with their trays. When Cheng Ge raised his head, he instantly met several dissatisfied gazes.

It is likely a hangover that has not yet subsided, as I can smell a scent reminiscent of the trash bin behind a bar from such a distance

I was stunned when I ran out again

Thank you. Cheng Ge hesitated for a moment before expressing his gratitude, although he could not determine whether the group that had rushed out earlier was acting on Jiang Yuduo's orders to save him or if they had personal grievances to settle.

Jiang Yuduo still did not speak

"Lighter," Cheng Ke said

"How close we are," Chen Qing laughed, "If it weren't for that time you pulled me out of the river, I would have certainly met my end."

Cheng Ke suddenly felt a bit uncertain; what if the money he had was just enough to buy a meal and a couple of pieces of clothing?

Or perhaps there are other matters, other pains, that overshadow the trivial pain brought about by this insignificant wound on the face.

"Did you lose your business card?" Jiang Yuduo asked

Hmm? Scar leaned against the car window, looking at him

Where is the cat?" Chen Qing asked again, "It is too small to eat, shouldn't we raise it first?

"Have someone follow that kid." Jiang Yuduo said, lighting a cigarette and addressing Chen Qing, who had just rushed over.

For instance, when you only have one hundred yuan and an identification card on you, what should you do

Cheng Ke did not look back; upon hearing the sound of the engine, he thought he might as well just dive headfirst into it

"Let's take a look," Jiang Yuduo said

In fact, it would suffice to rinse his mouth casually by the roadside, but he still wanted to distinguish himself slightly from the homeless.

Chen Qing smiled and said, "Alright, I understand. It cannot be so obvious"

"That young master just now," Chen Qing said, "are you hoping to lend a hand and gain some benefits in the future?"

Not only did I fall asleep, but I also had a dream

"Third Brother," Chen Qing said while driving and turning his head to look at Jiang Yuduo's face, "Are you alright? You're not stealing anything, so why are we going back this time?"

"Come over for breakfast." Jiang Yuduo answered the phone

This is no longer a matter of whether one can endure the pain; it is possible that he has been struck with a punch that has caused him to suffer from facial paralysis

They ... ... " Cheng Ke pointed in the direction from which the sound came.

Regardless of whether he truly manages the trash can, this person is indeed the leader who can stretch and have more than twenty people rush out. The key point is that those more than twenty people are still present, and Cheng Ge does not wish to attract any further trouble

Cheng Ke felt that Jiang Yuduo looked more agreeable during the day than at night, but his face was indeed not suited for such a benevolent smile, which made one feel a chill down their spine no matter how one looked at it

Cheng Ke straightened his back and turned around: "Let it be left for those who need it more."

This is the first time Cheng Ke has slept in such a position outside of the bedroom, and he is actually asleep.

Withdraw money, buy a mobile phone

In front of his flowerbed, a large group of people were either sitting or standing, and at a glance, there were at least more than twenty of them. In the middle, sitting there with a cigarette in his mouth, was Jiang Yuduo

Thank you. Cheng Ke nodded at him.

Scar said: "My name is Jiang Yuduo, just call me Third Brother."

Jiang Yuduo let out a sigh

Cheng Ke suddenly felt surrounded by people in all directions, even unable to discern from which direction they were coming. However, this feeling quickly dissipated, and within just a few seconds, both the four individuals and the group had vanished without a trace

Scar smiled, took out a cigarette and put it in his mouth, then pulled out a lighter and with a snap lit it: "There’s also a wallet inside, is it yours too?"

Jiang Yuduo, who had been sitting still, finally raised his arm and stretched lazily

Cheng Ke turned around and intended to walk towards the intersection, planning to casually find a bank to inquire about the procedures.

Only he and Jiang Yuduo were left on the scene

"No, the thin monkey happily patted his pocket, saying, 'What else is there?'"

territory

He did not make a sound, nor did he look at the person, and simply walked forward

Cheng Ke stumbled forward for two or three steps before coming to a stop

Cheng Ke feels that he has a very limited understanding of life, or to put it less diplomatically, he considers himself quite useless

The only one who was different was Jiang Yuduo; both his expression and gaze were very calm. From the very beginning, Cheng Ke could see a hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth

Why is this person so eager to tear off the cigarette shell for strangers without wanting to understand? He only knows that the smile that Jiang Yuduo always had on his lips disappeared when he refused to accept the business card again

A mobile phone

Jiang Yuduo frowned, indicating that there was a significant issue

Cheng Ke did not speak

Cheng Ke recalled the previous one-on-one confrontation he had with this Third Brother, a boss who could roll around in a trash can while fighting, and yet he still claimed territory

Jiang Yuduo said nothing and turned to look out the window

"Are you really doing this for a hundred bucks?" The voice of Scar was filled with delight, and if one were to glance back, they would surely see the smile on his face

Aside from sitting in McDonald's in a daze, he surprisingly could not come up with a second plan

What? Scar looked at him

However, the consequences of such impulsive venting must be borne by oneself. Among the four individuals on the opposing side, three have begun to reach into their pockets, and whatever they pull out may not necessarily make them a match for him.

"Your father." Jiang Yuduo frowned