Chapter 7, The Straw Sandal Gang
Hua Zhenxing finished speaking. Looking at Old Yang's face, it was as dark as the bottom of a pot. Squinting his eyes, he said: "The person that Xia Er wants to kill, he knows, and you know as well, and that person clearly trusts you more. In Jin Datou's eyes, you can deceive him without any defenses! You must find out who this person is, Xiao Hua. Have you ever thought about what would happen if that person were me?"
The Grass Shoe Gang is not a criminal organization, at least not in the sense of occupying territory, collecting protection fees, or monopolizing illegal businesses. It seems to be merely a guild of law-abiding craftsmen. The Grass Shoe Gang does not have the concept of competing for territory; it only promotes internal camaraderie, equality, mutual assistance, and mutual benefit. However, the local gangs would not easily provoke them; to offend one is to offend the entire Grass Shoe Gang.
Those who can repair can also create; the products produced by these individuals may not be very advanced, yet they are the most practical for the local context. The straw sandal community is not loose; its internal organization is quite strict. Once one joins them, internal strife is prohibited, and mutual support must be upheld. This has formed a significant middle-tier force in the chaotic port of Niso, with membership exceeding ten thousand.
Compared to the construction workers sent by the Eastern Kingdom, Xia Er is indeed lazy and clumsy, but when compared to his local peers, he can be considered smart and capable, which is why Hua Zhenxing is able to communicate well with him
Mo Shang's wrinkled face revealed no expression as he replied in a deep voice: "The person you know, Doctor Luo."
Mo Shangtong is a friend of Old Yang, but the two have very different temperaments. Old Yang has a rosy complexion, with thick, grizzled hair that is of medium length and slightly curled at the ends, giving him a distinguished appearance. His clothing, while not luxurious, is certainly appropriate and comfortable. In contrast, Old Mo has a dark complexion, and at first glance, he resembles the local indigenous people. His face is covered in deep wrinkles, as if carved by a knife.
Moshang stands out here as something very special, because the locals hardly repair anything; when something is broken, they simply replace it with a new one, and there is little effort to renovate or maintain houses and other facilities. Almost all the people gathered around Moshang are artisans, such as those who brew wine, bake bread, repair cars, and process various agricultural tools and daily necessities.
Later, Xia Er clearly drank too much, and Hua Zhenxing returned home by himself. This is the course of events.
In a certain sense, the straw sandal gang of Feisuo Port resembles a primitive cult, with Moshangtong as its leader. This leader, however, lives as a minimalist pragmatist, dressing very simply, and sitting at the table like a rural old farmer from the East.
What does an orphan know about having a family? However, Charles's concept is somewhat different; for him, family should refer to his two aunts and the other four siblings. Huazhenxing then asked, "What else did Jin Datou say, and why did you think of looking for me?"
After Hua Zhenxing sat down, he poured a glass of wine for both old men, and then asked: "Master Mo, have you gathered any information? Who does Jin Datou intend to kill?"
However, upon closer inspection of Mo Shangtong, he is not tall, yet his posture is upright and straight. His facial features are well-defined, and his gaze is very clear, exuding a sense of strength. It is difficult to determine the exact age of Master Mo; he arrived at Feisuo Port fifteen years ago, the same year that Old Yang picked up Huazhenxing. Now, he has become the leader of the local "Grass Shoe Gang".
In fact, the group that Mo Shangtong initially established was named "Great Lovers," which in the local dialect roughly conveys this meaning, embodying a sense of elegance without ostentation, refined to the point of being exquisite. However, it was ultimately overshadowed by the name "Straw Sandal Gang." The locals referred to them as the Straw Sandal Gang, and in the end, even Mo Shangtong himself began to use this name, which can be seen as an acceptance of the prevailing custom.
There is an ancient saying in the Eastern Kingdom: "A child without a father is an orphan." When a child loses their father before reaching adulthood, even if their mother is still alive, they are still considered an orphan. This is why the idiom "orphan and widow" exists. However, in the Black Wasteland, if we apply this standard, it is likely that there are orphans everywhere. It is uncertain whether many of these children's fathers are still alive, as they themselves cannot even ascertain who their fathers are
Xiar rubbed his forehead and said: "I neither want to nor dare to. He should not be a bad person; he has helped me before. Moreover, his identity is quite sensitive, and everyone is reluctant to act, otherwise it would bring trouble. I asked Boss Jin if I could avoid going, but the boss pointed a gun at me and yelled. This is a gang task that must be completed. Such an important confidential matter, he has already informed me, so I have to do it. The boss also said that I have been trained by him since childhood, and now is the time to serve him. If I dare to refuse or betray him, my whole family will be in danger. " This is a gang task that must be completed. Such an important confidential matter, he has already informed me, so I have to do it. The boss also said that I have been trained by him since childhood, and now is the time to serve him. If I dare to refuse or betray him, my whole family will be in danger.
The term "grass shoe gang" was originally just a joke made by Old Yang, but unexpectedly, it became a colloquial term recognized by the local people. In fact, Mo Shangtong is also a craftsman; this elderly man seems to know how to do everything. The disassembly and assembly of the black wasteland bright lamp, as well as the understanding of the functions of its various components, were taught by Old Mo.
Many local men cannot control their waistbands at all, and many women are the same; it is very easy for them to engage in such activities, and often a child is conceived this way. If one wishes to blame those men for pulling up their pants and denying responsibility, many people would probably not understand, because they do not have the concept of "responsibility" at all, so it is irrelevant whether they acknowledge it or not
Thus, Huazhenxing rephrased the question: "Why do you not want to kill this person? Is it out of unwillingness or fear?"
Many people wish to join the Grass Shoe Gang, but becoming a member is not easy. First, one must give up all illegal profit-making activities and strictly adhere to its rules. In the Grass Shoe Gang, one cannot seek self-interest without helping others. If any member fails to participate in actions when others are in need of assistance, they will be expelled.
This statement revealed a lot of important information, but Charles ultimately did not disclose who that person was. If the situation had been different, with only the two of them speaking privately, Hua Zhenxing might have found a way to gradually extract the answer. However, at that moment in the bar, there were many people nearby, so Hua Zhenxing had to exercise caution.
Perhaps due to the relationship with his uncle, Jin Datou has been very considerate towards Xia Er, providing him with work consistently. Not only does he have enough to eat, but he also often earns money to spend, allowing him to live healthily up to this point. Xia Er is quite tall, with a dark and sturdy appearance, and possesses a very good physique, giving the impression of wild grass in the desert, which can thrive with just a little water.
Old Yang interrupted him, saying: "Now I understand why you dreamt of such things. You don't need to think of a solution; just make me a late-night snack now, and after eating, we can go to sleep. I will ask Uncle Mo about it; you should prepare a few good dishes for lunch, and I will invite Old Mo over for dinner"
Families certainly exist, but relatively stable families have become a minority phenomenon. Many men who originally lived a family life have left without a word, and often women do the same.
Such a person can live comfortably anywhere, and Hua Zhenxing cannot understand why he would come to the war-torn Port of Fisuo. Mo Shangtong initially opened a repair shop, helping many people and teaching various skills to quite a few, and then he formed a mutual aid community.
Yang Tehong has an old friend named Mo Shangtong, who often comes to drink and discuss ancient and modern topics with the old man Yang. On one occasion, when the academic community was still questioning whether matriarchal societies truly existed, Mo Shangtong, in a drunken state, said: "Why not go to Fisok Port to take a look and analyze what social form the neighborhoods here belong to?"
Xiar is also one of the few playmates of Huazhenxing in the area, and they have known each other since childhood. Xiar often comes to the grocery store to buy things, and sometimes he shops on behalf of the gang. The two local dialects spoken by Huazhenxing are mainly learned from Xiar
It is evident that Xia Er is somewhat afraid; he wishes to seek help from Hua Zhenxing. Of course, Hua Zhenxing will not assist him in such matters, so he asks Jin Datou whom he intends to kill. Xia Er replies that he cannot disclose this unless Hua Zhenxing agrees to help, as Jin Datou has repeatedly ordered confidentiality.
Initially, the three sisters later became two, and raising eleven children was certainly not easy, as evidenced by the mortality rate. Charles also had an uncle who was involved in gang activities and died in a shootout eight years ago; the leader of that gang was Jin Datou, which is why the locals referred to it as the Datou Gang. It is said that Charles's uncle was a brother of Jin Datou and had been involved in gang activities with Charles since childhood
There are three common types of shoes in the area: flip-flops, sports shoes, and clogs, yet many people still prefer to go barefoot. Mo Shangtong often wears straw sandals and teaches others how to make them. Once his group gained prominence, straw sandals became a unique symbol, even though there were no regulations requiring members to wear any specific type of shoe.
No one can clearly state how many gangs of various sizes exist in Feisuo Port, but the Grass Shoe Gang is likely the largest in terms of membership. Strangely, it seems that no gang truly recognizes this fact, and they do not even regard the Grass Shoe Gang as a rival, at most considering it a nuisance
Mr. Mo initially worked in maintenance, capable of repairing everything from various household appliances to automobiles and cannons. His repair scope also included electronic products such as mobile phones, computers, and satellite phones, as well as houses, agricultural tools, and various engineering machinery. He even possessed skills that have nearly vanished in the distant Eastern country, such as pot mending, bowl baking, and barrel hooping, bridging the gap between tradition and modernity
Hua Zhenxing: "It is indeed not possible, we must think of a way..."
The next day at noon, Huazhen Action used four of the nine furnaces, quickly preparing a table of dishes, and then sat down to have a meal with Old Yang and Uncle Mo
Old Yang: "It is already certain that it is someone you are familiar with. As long as the identity has not been confirmed, no possibilities can be ruled out. Even if it is not me, what if it is Engineer Lei? What if it is your Uncle Mo, or Master Ke and the others? Can you eliminate all these possibilities?"
The tall black Shaer is also a war orphan left behind fifteen years ago, as both of his parents perished in that turmoil. In the vicinity of Fensuo Port and its surrounding areas, there are no fewer than one hundred thousand such orphans. However, in the eyes of the locals, Shaer is not entirely considered an orphan, as he has two aunts who have raised him since childhood
Hua Zhenxing: "It can't be, it can't possibly be you. You are overthinking it."
Xia Er: "We are brothers, and your skills in martial arts and marksmanship are excellent! Boss Jin also mentioned that since I have a good relationship with you, I can ask for your help. You can lure that person out, and as long as we pass through a place where there are no people, I can hide nearby and take him out with one shot..."
Charles's maternal grandmother had four children, one son and three daughters. Charles's parents died in the war, and he has one uncle and two aunts. In the tradition of this neighborhood, the children of the sisters are raised together. The three sisters have a total of eleven children, possibly from six fathers, and currently, five of the children are still alive. Charles is the eldest, and he is twenty years old this year
The black light fixture hanging in Hua Zhenxing's bedroom is the one that He Xiaer brought to the grocery store for sale. At that time, there were two of them, both quite worn and seemingly broken. However, Hua Zhenxing inspected them and still purchased one for twenty Dongguo coins. He then disassembled, repaired, and modified it, resulting in the one that now hangs in his bedroom
In increasingly turbulent environments, social relationships appear more chaotic, especially in cities that have experienced turmoil and are impacted by foreign industrial civilization. The previously stable tribal structures have been disrupted, resulting in a unique phenomenon
Most of the indigenous tribespeople in the wilderness do not wear shoes, and their feet are covered with thick calluses, but this makes them susceptible to injuries. In cities like Niso Port, the scorching concrete or asphalt roads in summer, along with various foreign objects that could injure the feet, make it even more necessary to wear shoes for foot protection
Last night, Xia Er invited Hua Zhenxing to the Happy Bar for drinks and earnestly requested him to come, saying there was something to discuss. After they had drunk quite a bit, Xia Er finally revealed that Jin Datou wanted him to kill someone. Xia Er felt very conflicted; he did not want to kill this person, but he could not disregard Jin Datou's orders
The name "Grass Shoe Gang" derives from the fact that Mo Shangtong sometimes wore grass shoes. Before Mo Shangtong arrived at Fesuo Port, the locals had never seen such a thing as grass shoes. Mo Shangtong found a suitable type of grass stem to make the grass shoes, which left everyone astonished.