Chapter 7, Old Friends

The man surnamed Liu exclaimed proudly, "I think it should be attributed to this!" As he spoke, he raised a steel wine flask and positioned it in front of the camera for a close-up: "My wife complained a few days ago that my illness is all due to drinking, but what is the point of living if I don't drink? Besides, can my illness really get better? Everyone knows that alcohol is a disinfectant!" The man positioned the wine flask in front of the camera for a close-up: "My wife complained a few days ago that my illness is all due to drinking, but what is the point of living if I don't drink? Besides, can my illness really get better? Everyone knows that alcohol is a disinfectant!"

Which floor do you live on, and how did you manage to run outside

Gao Xiaowei indignantly said to me: "You heartless capitalist, taking advantage of others at the opportune moment"

As the scene shifts, the host awkwardly remarks: "Mr. Liu is indeed straightforward, but his experience seems quite questionable. Alright, let's move on to the next piece of news: the national badminton team will arrive in our province for training this month, and they will also engage in exchanges with the badminton professionals from our city, aiming to elevate the badminton level in our city to a new height. Let's see what our city's athletes have to say."

Reporter: "Have you encountered any special events recently"

Wait! I waved my right hand vigorously in the air and said in one breath: "You will first tell me that you have no money, and that you don't even have an ID card. You have no wife and no parents, but you just like it here, so you must stay no matter what. If I don't agree, you will sit quietly on the steps at the door until I relent and agree. Although you didn't ask, I will answer first: I want money just for the sake of counting it—Boss, just go ahead and kill me!"

Then why do you think there would be such a result? The reporter said with a smile, "Could it be that the *picture* book, as mentioned online, is a matter of character?"

The scene shifts to a hospital, where a red-faced man is in the center of the frame. A voiceover states: "Mr. Liu was diagnosed with late-stage liver cancer just last month. This news struck him with great sorrow. However, Mr. Liu, who comes from a modest background and has a child still in swaddling clothes, resolutely refused to be hospitalized for treatment. Strangely, during a routine check-up yesterday, the doctors discovered that all the cancer cells, which had already spread, had completely disappeared. It must be said that this is a miracle"

For an entire afternoon, Gao Xiaowei kept pestering Xiao Qian to recount the details of her running away from home

The reporter hesitated and said, "Uh, wouldn't what you said mislead others?"

Nonsense! My floor of guest rooms is almost fully booked, yet not a single paying customer is here. How can I not be agitated

I said tremulously, "Can I still pick up a bit more..." I certainly do not believe that what I picked up is legitimate, nor do I believe that this item came through proper means. I simply do not know what he intends to do, and one thing is certain: this person is no good. He might be a robber or something similar. However, what could I possibly have here that is worth more than over a pound of gold? Does he want to rob me of my 56 consecutive one-yuan bills?

He smiled, revealing his white teeth: "Aren't you just after money? Just wait." Without saying another word, he walked out the door. I thought he had gone to sit somewhere again, but unexpectedly, he just strolled around the entrance for a short while, then returned with large strides, throwing two yellowish items onto my counter: "Here!"

"I recognize you now, how about that?" Gao Xiaowei said, pulling Xiaoqian and the book's hand, "From now on, you are my sister. Whoever dares to bully you, I will help you kick their butt!" As she spoke, she broke off a piece of chocolate and stuffed it into Xiaoqian's hand. Xiaoqian held it under her nose and chuckled, "Alright."

He widened his eyes: "Do you still want money?"

He laughed: "Boss, stop messing with me. Just say whether I can stay or not." In the end, he added dismissively, "We're all just spirits, so let's be straightforward."

As the scene shifted back, the coach of the provincial sports team spoke to the camera, expressing gratitude for this and that, as if the arrival of the national team was a tremendous honor for him. Following this, several team members stammered through their prepared remarks. At that moment, a person suddenly grabbed the microphone and excitedly exclaimed: "I have only one thing to say, I am really very happy that the idols are here!"

No, no, I don't have that kind of free time. I still want to earn some extra money for my son's milk powder while I'm still alive

His hair, neither long nor short, just grazed his eyes. He had a sharply defined nose and long, jet-black eyebrows. He carried a high-tech-looking backpack, exuding a star-like aura. However, I noticed that in such hot weather, he was surprisingly wearing a thick pair of leather gloves, the kind with a suede finish, which at first glance resembled bear paws.

Picked up

The man grinned and said, "Alright!"

He chuckled after I finished speaking and said, "Why are you so agitated?"

Her sincere attitude and devout gaze have deeply betrayed her: I am certain that she is preparing theoretical guidance for a plan that has long been brewing in her heart

Gao Xiaowei exclaimed: "Sister, you have such a m.hetushucomcom personality, I like it. However, my principle is that as a woman, one must be a bit tough on men." As she spoke animatedly, she scattered sunflower seed shells all over the ground, while Xiao Qian picked them up with a piece of cardboard.

Gao Xiaowei then said, "Oh, I apologize, I need to find a trash can"

How much money did you bring at that time

Zhao Dan? I was surprised to discover that the tall boy was actually the university student who rode with me. Seeing two old acquaintances in the same news segment, and both on the same trip, made me marvel at how small the world is. However, judging by Zhao Dan's performance, he doesn't seem to be a key player even in the provincial team. With the national team coming for training, he basically has nothing to do with it.

Gao Xiaowei's eyes turned red as she took out a stack of money from her bag, pulling out more than half and placing it beside Xiao Qian, saying: "Sister, I can see that you don't have much money. This is a gesture from a younger sister; please don't think it's too little."

No

I focused my gaze and couldn't help but feel a bit surprised; this object looks like gold! Moreover, judging by its color and the texture when struck against the table, it seems to be of very good quality

While eating, the taste is quite strange, but it is very delicious

Have you never encountered any bad people

The reporter on the screen held the microphone up to the man's mouth and excitedly asked, "How do you feel right now?"

I followed Zhile and murmured, "It’s likely that the hospital misdiagnosed him, and now he’s trying to find a way out." Then I realized that this man looked very familiar, as if I had seen him somewhere before. Looking again at his wine flask, I finally remembered: I had seen him on the bus. Excitedly, I pointed at the television and said, "I know this person!"

Why don't you eat with the picture book?

"You wait," he said, then walked out the door. He bent down at the entrance and soon returned, throwing two pieces of gold onto my table with a thud.

I rubbed two pieces of gold and asked, "Where did you get this?"

Xiao Qian said: "Money? It would be of no use to me even if I had it."

The two of them were chatting like sisters, while Old Wu was tinkering with something outside all morning. I, feeling quite bored, turned on the television, which was replaying yesterday's local evening news. The local news airs after the Central Television's news broadcast and usually features local oddities and events, making it quite popular among the public. When I switched over, the host was adopting a storytelling posture, and he pretended to be mysterious as he said: "For a patient, late-stage cancer is almost like a death sentence, but the following news may bring a glimmer of hope to those with similar experiences. Please watch the report." The local news airs after the Central Television's news broadcast and usually features local oddities and events, making it quite popular among the public. When I switched over, the host was adopting a storytelling posture, and he pretended to be mysterious as he said: "For a patient, late-stage cancer is almost like a death sentence, but the following news may bring a glimmer of hope to those with similar experiences. Please watch the report."

Xiao Qian said: "These papers are really beautiful, but I cannot take them!"

Gao Xiaowei shot me a glance and pulled Xiao Qian upstairs to continue their conversation

Welcome, 80 per day, how long will you stay? I am too lazy to offer a 15% discount.

Reporter: "Have you undergone any other treatments during this period? For example, traditional Chinese medicine or the like."

Where did you find it

Gao Xiaowei feigned anger and said: "If you don't want to, then you don't treat me as a sister."

Xiao Qian had no choice but to put it away, and then she took off the pair of emerald green earrings from her ears and handed them to Gao Xiaowei, saying, "Then my sister will also give you a gift." At that moment, she noticed that Gao Xiaowei had a row of hula hoops hanging from one of her ears and exclaimed in surprise, "Doesn't it hurt?"

Haha, it's fake, you and the books look—" Gao Xiaowei took down all those circles, which turned out to be pinched on. She was not polite at all and casually put on the earrings that Xiaoqian had given her, which were lush and vibrant, instantly making her look much cuter

I innocently said: "It wasn't me who brought it up. Let's decide based on the situation. In any case, I won't treat your sister unfairly—by the way, when did she become your sister?"

Gao Xiaowei asked me: "Such a good cleaner, how much do you pay my sister per month?"

The man, unconcerned, said: "I don't care about others; anyway, my remedy is to drink well! Come, have a sip yourself." As he spoke, he handed the wine jug to the photographer, and the man had drunk too much again

Can we pick up a bit more?

Xiao Qian simply said: "I have no money on me, nor have I thought too much about it. The man's family is a well-known bully, and their son has mistreated many girls. I just think that as women, although we often cannot do much, for the sake of our chastity, at the very least, we can choose to run away"

Right at your doorstep

I was greatly surprised; I never expected such words to come from her mouth

I held it in my hand, weighing it carefully, and stared at it intently for a while. Based on the feel and my earlier judgment, I reached a conclusion: it is not pure gold, at least 22K! I am quite skilled at appraising such items; nearly everyone among my father's subordinates wears a gold chain. By the age of 5, I could already distinguish between K gold and pure gold.

At that moment, I heard someone outside the door talking to Old Wu. I looked up and saw a stylishly dressed, tall and handsome young man approaching with a smile. He greeted Old Wu and then walked straight to my counter, saying cheerfully: "I am checking in."