Yu Shuang's incredibly beautiful face was filled with disbelief.
I imagine Yu Shuang had absolutely no idea that I would so decisively refuse her, without even a moment's thought, under such a simple and crude monetary onslaught.
After all, it was 2008!
To put it without exaggeration, the daily wage Yu Shuang offered me, 1000, was almost equivalent to half a month's salary for most working people!
And this 1000 was merely the daily wage.
If I had truly agreed, just the base salary alone would have amounted to 360,000 a year!
What did 360,000 mean in 2008? I'm not sure about other cities.
But in a small county town like An Hai, I knew it was enough to buy two apartments outright, with each apartment averaging around 90 square meters!
And this was before even considering commissions and bonuses!
To say I wasn't tempted at all would be a lie.
Money moves the heart! Who doesn't love money?
With these two apartments, I wouldn't have to worry about the house back home anymore, nor would I need to think about avenging Zhao Wang Yangming!
But I couldn't accept this method. I couldn't accept Yu Shuang's assumption that she had me completely figured out.
So, I refused her very straightforwardly.
"Why!?"
Yu Shuang's expression instantly turned cold.
"Because money... I'll earn it myself."
As I answered Yu Shuang, to calm my slightly agitated mood, I lit another Red Nanjing cigarette and took a deep drag.
Upon hearing my words, Yu Shuang first frowned, then her face fell, and she stared at me, saying, "I know with your abilities, earning tens of thousands a year shouldn't be a big problem. However..."
"I don't think that's the real reason you're refusing me."
Yu Shuang's words made my right hand, holding the cigarette, pause slightly.
I desperately wanted to retort, but after thinking it over carefully, I immediately gave up.
No matter what Yu Shuang said, my mind was made up: I wouldn't go!
I had initially thought Yu Shuang would continue to talk, trying to persuade me earnestly.
But after seeing my silence, she surprisingly stopped speaking and didn't say anything further.
And so, we two, though looking at each other, neither spoke, falling into a tacit, silent understanding.
I don't know how long it had been.
"You... leave."
After speaking, Yu Shuang stood up.
As if remembering something, she suddenly added, "If you change your mind, feel free to come find me here anytime. If I'm not here, ask Shi Jianguo, or Leng Meng, Sister Ran, or the others to contact me."
"Oh, right! Take the money on the table with you. Consider it my personal compensation for you."
After saying this, Yu Shuang went downstairs without waiting for my reaction.
After Yu Shuang left, I didn't delay for a second and immediately got up and went downstairs.
As for the money on the table, I only took my share. As for her so-called compensation... heh!
Consider it paying for a big lesson.
"Speak seven parts, act seven parts, deal with people seven parts."
These three sayings taught to me by Uncle Tuo, I believe I've done the first two reasonably well, not saying too much, nor doing too much.
Only the last one, "deal with people seven parts," I failed miserably.
Women, oh women! Heh heh!
I paid tuition. I paid tuition.
From now on, I won't believe a single punctuation mark from any beautiful woman!
...
Exiting the door of the Baole Chess and Card Room, I looked up and saw two rows of poplar trees lining the roadside, their branches almost bare.
The few remaining scattered leaves, scorched by the setting sun of summer, were a faint, withered yellow, yet they clung stubbornly, unyielding.
Seeing this scene, my heart felt a subtle stir.
If even these few remaining poplar leaves didn't yield to the scorching midday sun, then I had even less reason to yield!
"Money is definitely not omnipotent!"
After declaring this with conviction, I prepared to leave.
Not long after, I saw Shi Jianguo walking towards the Baole Chess and Card Room, arm in arm and chatting happily with a man in the distance.
That man was none other than one of the villains who had personally kicked me out of his home, Wang Yu, my classmate of nine years!
The worst villain was his father, Wang Yangming!
I never expected to run into Wang Yu here.
Compared to six years ago, Wang Yu had not only grown taller and darker, but he had also gained a lot of weight.
It was probably due to eating too well.
As he passed by me, Wang Yu didn't recognize me. His eyes didn't even glance my way, and he was still excitedly talking to Shi Jianguo.
Once upon a time, I had countless times imagined in what kind of environment I would meet Wang Yangming and his son again.
At that time, the scene that appeared most often in my mind was at a card table.
But the current reality proved me wrong!
No wonder people say there is destiny in the unseen.
I never imagined that the one who would truly give me a slap and then a sweet date would be heaven itself!
For this, I can only say that life is unpredictable, and fate is truly wondrous!
I had originally planned to leave, but upon seeing Wang Yu suddenly appear, I immediately changed my mind.
Turning, lifting my foot, stepping forward, all in one smooth motion!
Without any hesitation or pause, I directly changed direction and walked back towards the Baole Chess and Card Room.
As I hurried to the entrance of the chess and card room, Leng Meng happened to be coming out.
We bumped into each other head-on!
Feeling a sudden warmth and softness near my chest, I looked up and prepared to apologize...
The "du" of "duìbuqǐ" (sorry) had already formed on my lips, but the moment I saw Leng Meng's face, I froze in place.
It was as if I was puckering my lips, waiting for a kiss, incredibly awkward!
Catching my embarrassed expression, a subtle curve appeared at the corner of Leng Meng's mouth.
But immediately, that curve vanished completely.
Seemingly guessing that I wouldn't have a good look, Leng Meng, standing at the door with her arms crossed, stared at me coldly and asked, "Little cheater, why are you back?"
"Could it be... you've thought it through? Are you ready to accept Sister Shuang's offer? Or are you still too proud and want to get revenge on us?"
Seeing my silence, Leng Meng, thinking she had guessed correctly, raised her fist towards me and said with a frown, "I take responsibility for my actions!"
"All the ideas were mine! If you want revenge, come at me!"
"Whether you're black or white, or spicy or plain, this young lady fears nothing!"
Hearing this, I sneered and asked, "Heh heh. Can't I come to play cards?"
"No!!!"
Leng Meng refused me very decisively.
"Why?" I asked with a frown.
Shaking her head, Leng Meng pointed at my hand and said in a deep voice, "Because you're a cheater!"
"Catch the thief with the loot, catch the adulterer with the evidence! Don't falsely accuse good people of things you have no proof of!"
While staring coldly at Leng Meng, I raised my voice and said, "I get it! Your Baole Chess and Card Room only allows people to lose money, not win!"
Just as Leng Meng was getting angry and about to retort due to my words, Yu Shuang's voice suddenly came from inside the chess and card room.
"Xiao Meng, let him in!"