Chapter 9: Warm

Lying in bed at night, Wen Liang tossed and turned, unable to sleep. The image of Li Siqing in his memory had become blurry, but he still remembered how many years later, Ding Mei had shed many tears when she suddenly mentioned Li Siqing. In his previous life, after graduating from elementary school, Li Siqing did not continue her education. She picked up trash, ate leftover food, sold flowers, cigarettes, and alcohol, and even carried bricks at construction sites to barely make a living. As she grew up, Li Siqing became even more beautiful than her mother, Zhao Yaqing. She mixed in society, engaging in all sorts of deceit and fraud. At fifteen, she followed a gang member named Scar Brother. After Scar Brother got into trouble and was shot, she then attached herself to a wealthy businessman. When the businessman's business failed, Li Siqing, without any support, went south alone. After Wen Liang graduated from university, he learned from his mother that a child of the agricultural machinery factory had seen Li Siqing in the south. In the bustling city with its bright lights and debauchery, what could a girl with only an elementary school education do?

The last time Wen Liang heard news of Li Siqing was when she was arrested during a crackdown on prostitution and taken to the police station. Some sisters from Qingzhou tried to bail her out but were told there was no such person. At twenty-five, Li Siqing disappeared from everyone's sight, perhaps from the world.

Ding Mei, remembering the kindness between the two families, had done everything she could to help. She had more than once thought of bringing Li Siqing home, but the young girl, unwilling to burden those who truly cared for her, rarely met with Ding Mei and always avoided her when they did. What was touching was that, whether she was picking up trash and eating leftovers or mixing with gang members and attaching herself to wealthy businessmen, from the age of eleven to her disappearance at twenty-five, for fifteen years, the Wen family would receive a plate of stir-fried rice cake every Spring Festival. Under the rice cake was a note with crooked handwriting that read: "May good people have a peaceful life!"

Every year, when Ding Mei saw this, she would hold the note and silently weep.

Thinking about all this, Wen Liang felt he could no longer hesitate. Most tragedies in life, at their root, were about money. With money, many people's lives could be completely changed.

He slammed his fist on the bed and muttered as he fell into a deep sleep.

The next day, he woke up and, for the first time, did not go running. Instead, Wen Liang rode his father's Phoenix bicycle to Li Siqing's house. The agricultural machinery factory was established in 1985 and was not a large factory in Qingzhou, which was centered on heavy industry. Compared to the giant Qingzhou Heavy Industry Group, it was insignificant. However, even a small state-owned enterprise was solid. Ding Mei was able to enter this factory entirely because of Wen Huiming's efforts. Li Shengli had taken over his mother's position, as the old retirement system allowed a worker's child to take over their job after they retired. How Zhao Yaqing, a farmer's daughter, entered the agricultural machinery factory remained a mystery.

The factory expanded in 1989 and built a few storefronts outside. In 1992, after Li Shengli resigned, he could no longer live in the factory housing and moved to his parents' place. With the compensation money, he rented a storefront and opened a restaurant, using his family's traditional skills. Initially, it went well, but within a year, things took a sharp turn for the worse. His parents passed away one after another, and his business declined. Soon, he lost all his savings, and Zhao Yaqing left him and their daughter. Unable to bear the blow, Li Shengli became an alcoholic, numbing himself with alcohol every day and never sobering up.

No one knew how Li Siqing had survived these two years...

Li Shengli's parents' home was in the northern suburbs, far from the city center. It was a small, detached house with a yard. The three rooms were lined up in a row, and the Qing River flowed slowly in front of the house. The absence of urban noise brought a rare tranquility.

Pushing open the half-closed door, Wen Liang immediately saw Li Siqing. She was sitting on a small wooden stool, her small, thin body bent like a bow. In her hand was an axe almost as thin as her arm, and she was struggling to chop firewood. The yard was empty, and the stove in the corner was cold. On the wooden table, there was a pile of chopped black leaves, clearly wild vegetables she had picked. A few chickens ran out of the coop in the northwest corner, clucking and adding a bit of life to the desolate yard. Hearing the door open, the little girl looked up. Her messy hair covered her forehead, her sallow face showed no color, and her dry, chapped lips had faint streaks of blood. Her large, clear black eyes opened wide, but they no longer held the innocence and vitality of a child her age.

Was this still the lovely, charming little girl he remembered?

Wen Liang sighed softly, took a few steps forward, and smiled gently, "Nuan Nuan, do you still recognize your brother?"

The little girl stood up. Her ill-fitting coarse clothes were clean, but they could not hide her shyness and unease. She called out timidly, "Brother Wen..."

Standing in front of the girl, Wen Liang looked at the once beautifully dressed little princess and didn't know what to say. This was the only time in his adult life, accustomed to smooth talk, that he was at a loss for words.

Li Siqing lowered her head, still holding the axe in one hand, and with the other, she pulled at the hem of her clothes, trying to cover the exposed skin. After a moment of silence, the girl suddenly remembered something and said, "Brother Wen, please sit down. I'll get you some water."

Wen Liang's heart ached. When had the little girl with braids and a princess dress learned to be so considerate? He took the axe from her hand, gently placed it on the ground, and patted her shoulder, making her sit down. Squatting in front of the little girl, he held her hand and said softly, "It's okay, I don't need water. Nuan Nuan, it's my fault for not visiting you for so long."

A child's hand should be plump and soft, but Li Siqing's hand was bony and felt almost painful to hold.

Li Siqing shook her head and said earnestly, "Brother, you're busy with school. Aunt Ding often comes to see me, and that's already very good."

Wen Liang, hardened by two lifetimes, still couldn't remain calm after hearing this. He opened his arms and gently hugged the little girl, stroking her hair and saying softly, "Nuan Nuan, you've suffered. Don't be afraid, everything is over now."

Li Siqing had endured white eyes and hardships for two years. Children would point at her and call her an orphan, and adults would often add that it was all the fault of that bad woman. But that bad woman was her mother.

How long had it been since someone spoke to her with such warmth? Feeling Wen Liang's sincerity and care, the unfamiliarity of two years vanished, and childhood memories of playing together flooded back. Li Siqing's hands, which had been hanging by her sides, slowly raised and wrapped around Wen Liang's waist. She bit her lower lip hard to stop the tears from falling and said softly but firmly, "Nuan Nuan is not suffering, Nuan Nuan is not afraid!"

Brother was no longer the annoying troublemaker, and she was no longer the beloved Nuan Nuan. But for some reason, after two years of hardship, her cold heart was easily melted by Wen Liang's simple kindness.

The door opened again, and two men in their forties walked in. One had a square face and an imposing appearance, and the other had a sharp chin and narrow eyes. The square-faced man, without even looking at Wen Liang, said, "Nuan Nuan, is your father more lucid today? We need to sign this agreement quickly. I don't have time to drag this out..."

The man with the sharp chin added, "Nuan Nuan, I heard about this from your uncle. It's actually a good thing. Don't be stubborn. Just get your father to sign it, and it will save me from coming every day to collect the alcohol money."

Wen Liang, not knowing the reason, stood to the side and sized up the two men.

The little girl had been cold-faced and silent since they entered, ignoring their smooth talk. The square-faced man became impatient and pointed at Li Siqing, scolding, "If it weren't for your pitiful situation, do you think I would want your shabby house? You're ungrateful. Your father is a drunk, and your mother is a whore. What kind of good person could they raise?"

Li Siqing, who had matured mentally due to her hardships, suddenly lifted her head, her hands gripping her clothes tightly, and her whole body trembling. Wen Liang's eyes narrowed, and he pulled Li Siqing to his side, gently squeezing her hand and smiling at the square-faced man, "What's your name, sir? I don't know what's going on that has you so upset."

The square-faced man looked at Wen Liang in surprise. He had no patience for a teenager and waved his hand irritably, "None of your business, kid. Stay out of it."

The man with the sharp chin, seeing the situation getting tense, tried to mediate, "Xiang Qian, don't be impulsive. We can talk this out calmly. There's nothing we can't resolve."

The square-faced man said angrily, "What's there to talk about? I've said everything I can. I've been here seven or eight times. Last time, I managed to talk to Li Shengli when he was sober, and we agreed to sign the agreement. But this little girl came in, threw a tantrum, threw the pen, and even tore up the contract... If it weren't for your pitiful situation, I would have slapped you long ago. Damn, you'll grow up just like your mother, a piece of trash!"

This was directed at Li Siqing, and he looked menacing.

Wen Liang was confused and asked Li Siqing what had happened. Only then did he understand the whole story. The square-faced man was Li Xiangqian, Li Shengli's cousin. They were not very close, but after Li Shengli's parents died, the only property left was this small house. After Zhao Yaqing left, Li Shengli became an alcoholic, and the burden of supporting the household fell on an eleven-year-old girl, which attracted others' covetous eyes. Li Xiangqian was a notorious troublemaker, idle and unproductive, but he had a good appearance and had fooled many people. Somehow, he had his eye on Li Shengli's house and had come several times to buy it. Although Li Shengli was an alcoholic, he was not stupid. This house was the last place he and his daughter could live, and if he sold it, they would be homeless. He refused Li Xiangqian's offer. But Li Xiangqian did not give up and kept trying to make the deal happen.

The man with the sharp chin was You Chuanzi, who ran a grocery store nearby. Li Shengli had lost all his money in business and used what was left to buy alcohol. When he ran out of money, he started to owe debts. Initially, a few stores were willing to extend credit, but as the debts piled up, only You Chuanzi was left. Li Xiangqian, hearing this, approached You Chuanzi, offering him some benefits to collect the debts. When the pressure was high, he would then approach Li Shengli to buy the house, confident he would agree.

Li Shengli, of course, did not know this. After Li Xiangqian's visits, the usually accommodating You Chuanzi suddenly started to demand payment for the alcohol. Everything that could be sold in the house was sold, and the only remaining item, a white jade jar passed down from the Li family, used for making secret sauces, was pawned to You Chuanzi. Finally, under pressure, when Li Xiangqian came again, Li Shengli agreed to sell the house. Just as they were about to sign, Li Siqing rushed in, tore up the agreement, and, at a young age, held an axe to her neck, threatening to die if Li Shengli signed.

The deal, of course, did not go through. Li Xiangqian was scared by the little girl's madness and disappeared for a while, but today he was back. After hearing everything, Wen Liang still had a calm expression. He pulled Li Siqing back and smiled, "Alright, I understand everything. Nuan Nuan is just a child and doesn't know better. Don't hold it against her. Since Uncle Shengli has agreed... Li Brother, let me see the agreement. Nuan Nuan will listen to me."

Seeing Li Xiangqian's questioning look, Li Siqing nodded. She trusted Wen Liang, just as she always believed her mother would come back to explain everything!

Wen Liang read the agreement and couldn't help but frown. This was bullying! This was the height of shamelessness! Ignoring everything else, the three-room house and yard were being sold for only 1000 yuan. This was not just robbing; it was like killing someone and then cutting them up, leaving no trace.

Wen Liang smiled and said to Li Siqing, "You were right last time. Looking at this again would only dirty our eyes!" He held the agreement high and tore it in half, then folded it and tore it again.

A faint smile appeared on Li Siqing's sallow face. Her brother had not let her down.

Li Xiangqian finally reacted, his square face turning iron gray. He pointed at Wen Liang and said, "You little brat, are you playing with me? I'll beat you to death..."

Before he could raise his hand, Wen Liang moved like lightning, grabbed his outstretched finger, and bent it down hard. With a piercing scream, he punched Li Xiangqian in the face, and there was a crack as the nose broke, if not shattered, at least bruised.

Li Siqing gasped and covered her mouth, looking at Wen Liang with wide, admiring eyes. The boy she had always liked had become so strong! She hated Li Xiangqian and had often wanted to beat him up. Today, her wish was finally fulfilled.

Li Xiangqian fell to the ground, tears and blood splattering everywhere, his painful cries almost unbearable. Wen Liang picked up the axe and walked towards him, a cold smile on his face. You Chuanzi, who ran a store and was used to dealing with people, though not a good person, had a sharp eye. Initially, he thought Wen Liang was just a regular kid, but now he realized he had misjudged him. He had never seen a young man who would attack so fiercely at the slightest provocation. Terrified, he waved his hands frantically, "No... no, we can talk this out, we can talk this out... Brother, calm down, calm down." He rooted himself to the ground, afraid of any misinterpretation by Wen Liang.

Wen Liang ignored him, stepped on Li Xiangqian's face, and dropped the axe in front of him. The sharp blade flashed past his nose, and Li Xiangqian was so scared that he stopped screaming, holding his breath, afraid to anger Wen Liang.

"I'll only say this once," Wen Liang, recalling the style of villains in movies, said menacingly, "Get out of here and don't let me see you again. Otherwise, I can't guarantee where the axe will land!"

Li Xiangqian nodded frantically, feeling the boy's fierce aura. Wen Liang smiled, knowing that a bully who only picked on the weak would not have much courage. This level of intimidation should be enough.

Dealing with Li Xiangqian, Wen Liang dragged the axe towards You Chuanzi. You Chuanzi stood frozen, his legs trembling with the sound of the axe scraping the ground. He forced a smile and bent over, "Brother, you know, I was just dragged here by Li Xiangqian... Li Shengli only buys cheap alcohol, it's not worth much. I just came to see, no... no other intentions..." As Wen Liang approached, You Chuanzi's mouth started to stutter.

Wen Liang stopped in front of him, his half-smile making anyone nervous. He smiled, his bright teeth shining in the sunlight, "How much do you owe?"

"Three... three hundred..."

Wen Liang frowned. At 0.6 yuan per pound, the cheap alcohol, and the total debt was three hundred. This was a family's debt; how much had Li Shengli been drinking these past two years?

"Actually, this debt can be delayed," You Chuanzi, seeing Wen Liang frown, his heart raced, "For half a year, no one else would extend credit to him. I felt sorry for him, as he would die without alcohol. I didn't have any other intentions..."

Li Siqing walked over and pulled on Wen Liang's sleeve, saying softly, "Uncle You is a good person, brother..."

Wen Liang patted her head and said gently, "Yes, since Nuan Nuan says he's a good person, I won't make things difficult for him." Li Siqing looked up, her eyes filled with the happiness of being affirmed and cared for, and she smiled shyly, a hint of her former charm visible.

Wen Liang stared at You Chuanzi, his eyes full of mockery, "Mr. You, since Li Xiangqian is not buying the house, the benefits he promised you are gone. Please don't be upset."

You Chuanzi, realizing the young man had seen through his scheme, was shocked. Wen Liang gave him a sense of being both fierce and unpredictable. He laughed awkwardly, "Not at all, not at all!"

Wen Liang thought for a moment and had Li Siqing fetch paper and pen. He wrote a few lines and handed them to You Chuanzi. You Chuanzi read it and saw it was an IOU: "I owe You Chuanzi 500 yuan for alcohol. This is a note! Wen Liang."

"What is this?"

Wen Liang laughed, "Mr. You is a man of principle, so I can't let you lose out. I'll pay the debt owed by Uncle Shengli, but it will take two months, and I'll add 200 yuan in interest. Mr. You, is this a fair deal?" He handed the paper and pen back.

"Not at all, not at all," You Chuanzi, smiling bitterly, put away the IOU, thinking, "Who do I know you are? You can just walk away, and I'll be left with a worthless note." But the situation was against him, and he had no choice. He took the pen and wrote: "All debts with Li Shengli are settled. This is a note, You Chuanzi!"

Wen Liang praised, "Mr. You has excellent handwriting!" Seeing his bitter expression, he smiled, "Mr. You, my father is Wen Huiming from the Municipal Committee. You