Chapter Eleven: This Is a Brand-New World.

Oh heavens! What happened to being quiet and well-behaved? Did you crack your head on the door this morning? Do you want me, Liu Haizhu, to slam the table?

After that girl Zhizhi disappeared, Liu Haizhu rubbed his reddened hand but kept glancing toward the entrance. Yes, he wanted to run away! Yet, with several enthusiastic young men with disabilities beside him, he sighed heavily, sat back down, picked up the menu, and stared absentmindedly.

A few minutes later, accompanied by lively music, the entire hall came alive. Then, Shishi entered, a dazzling figure dressed in brilliant fiery red, so bright it was hard to look away.

The young lady was both beautiful and bold. She stepped into the green gauze curtain, where the corn had already formed ears. A gentle breeze stirred the heat, and the girl’s beauty and spirit captivated everyone.

The song itself was enchanting, but combined with Dong Zhizhi’s fiery floral attire and the blazing red handkerchief in her hand—her eyebrows, her enchanting eyes, her fingers, her slender waist, her every provocative movement, and that constantly twirling splash of red almost made Liu Haizhu weep with emotion.

He was like a zombie priest frozen in place, mouth agape, drool glistening at the corner of his lips without him even realizing it.

Several days later, at Tianhe Airport in Jiangcheng, Liu Haizhu slung a large canvas bag over his shoulder, trailing behind two leaders with a forlorn expression. The airport had been built just a few years ago, completed about three years prior. The entire province was thrilled at the time; newspapers and television were flooded with one slogan: “Jiangcheng’s First Flight!”

Liu Haizhu had surely seen the news, but he never imagined he would so quickly be boarding a large airplane in his lifetime. What would it feel like to fly in the sky? The sky is every man’s dream. Would it be thrilling? Absolutely. Despite his serious face carrying the bag, inside he was bursting with joy.

“Zhu’er, study hard!” came the shout from behind. Liu Haizhu turned around, nearly breaking down in tears. Song Xiaole and Guo Minghao waved vigorously, “Zhu, have a safe journey!” Yang Peng called out, “Brother Zhu, don’t forget us when you make it big!” Guo Minghao smiled and said, “What are you talking about? Zhu’s just going on a business trip, not working!” Yang Peng blinked innocently and retorted, “You don’t know? Li Er, Huo Gang, and Lei Zhenyang all went together early this morning to the Wuzu Temple in Huangmei to pray.” Guo Minghao was dumbfounded. “Pray for what?” Yang Peng rolled his eyes and snapped, “Are you stupid?!” Guo Minghao chuckled. Though he wasn’t part of the underworld, he quickly figured it out. “You better just focus on your job; you’re overthinking things.” Song Xiaole frowned unconsciously beside them.

Among the crowd seeing him off, Geng Wudi smiled foolishly. Beside the second aunt stood Dong Zhizhi, arm linked with hers. Liu Haizhu clenched his teeth, recalling the joyful days he had just experienced.

Do you remember the day they ate at that private restaurant? Before Dong Zhizhi’s folk dance was finished, the second aunt arrived and immediately recognized her “future niece-in-law.” Seeing the lively girl, the second aunt jumped up with joy!

Yes, she jumped! The single-person folk dance turned into a duet. Comrade Liu Haizhu was so happy he kept banging his head on the table repeatedly.

That night, with a flushed forehead, Liu Haizhu, his younger brother, the second aunt, and the beloved Dong Zhizhi sat around the kang (heated brick bed) at Old Liu’s house. Facing one cup after another, Liu Haizhu was fearless. Yet Zhizhi’s extraordinary tolerance, combined with the second aunt’s relentless refills, made even the god of liquor at the Erliang granary struggle to keep up!

The most frustrating part was even Geng Wudi, who usually couldn’t handle alcohol, kept raising his glass alongside them, mixing white liquor and tap water, refusing to stop drinking. The young man’s eyes reddened, and he almost called Dong Zhizhi “big sister-in-law.”

Of course, that night, at the final hurdle, Liu Haizhu held himself together.

But a young unmarried lady spending the night at her fiancé’s family’s house was not something people spoke well of in those days.

Early the next morning, as if following a script, the union leader, Director Dan, personally appeared to act as matchmaker. With the friendly agreement of both families, the marriage was settled.

At Dong Zhizhi’s strong insistence, she dragged her luggage and moved in as the not-yet-wed bride! (Though not officially married yet, she temporarily slept with the second aunt, both tacitly aware—one hoping to cradle her future grandnephew, the other eager to have her own little monkey.)

As for what happened in the following days, it’s best left unmentioned; for Liu Haizhu, it was an ocean of tears.

Bidding tearful farewell to his family, Liu Haizhu gritted his teeth and stepped into the corridor.

Perhaps even he did not know what kind of path awaited him in the port city he was heading to.

Passing through security, the airport’s melodious music played. The song brought a smile to his heart.

The stillness and mystery of the dark night, distant lights flickering in the darkness; no matter how hard it is from night to dawn, setbacks only make me stronger. Whether demons or devils, or whether the heavens are true or false and good or evil indistinguishable, I was meant to be equal to the heavens, gods and immortals mean nothing to me. Only by breaking through the sky can I shatter the murkiness. Who can escape life and death? Temper me a thousand times, and I will break through the celestial palace!

The dark clouds will eventually disperse, the darkness will pass, and dare to make the sun and moon usher in a new day!

Hong Kong.

A legendary bustling city.

Under the night sky, neon signs flickered along the streets, filled with bustling people dressed sharply, a sea of humanity.

Back in his hometown, Liu Haizhu had never even been to nearby Jiangcheng, let alone this dazzling city of Hong Kong.

This was a brand-new world.

At night, by the waterfront in Wan Chai, a leader pointed grandly toward the nearby fragrant harbor and asked, “Xiao Liu, do you know where this is?”

Liu Haizhu replied, “It’s Hong Kong.”

The leader fell silent for two seconds, then said, “It’s said that Hong Kong was originally just a small coastal village. This little village was near the sea, with a small stream flowing into the ocean, creating a natural harbor. Because the water was sweet and tasty, sailors often came here to fetch water. Over time, the sweet water became famous and was called ‘Fragrant River.’ The harbor formed by the river’s mouth came to be known as Hong Kong. As more people came, the name stuck, and the place became Hong Kong.”

Liu Haizhu’s face flushed red as he applauded vigorously. The leader’s words were truly excellent.