Chapter Fourteen: Safety and Peril, Warmth and Cold
Today was Friday. Since Lu Kun had already made an appearance here yesterday, business for the Five-Spice River Snails had picked up considerably. People tend to follow the crowd, and the line of customers waiting to buy grew longer and longer.
“Damn it! Whose filthy hand just groped my thigh... Is there no decency left?!” A heavily made-up woman with a nasally voice berated the crowd, then spat a thick wad of phlegm onto the ground.
Lu Kun: “...”
The crowd: “...”
Not long after the woman paid and took her Five-Spice Snails, another discordant note sounded from the line.
“Hey! Which brazen hussy just grabbed my crotch?! Damn you!” a burly man shouted.
Laughter erupted around them.
Everyone realized the man was just cracking a joke. The woman, who had already left, suddenly spun around, her eyes blazing with fury, ready to pounce on the man for a fight.
People rushed to intervene, separating the two. The woman’s fighting spirit was truly something to behold—several people nearly failed to restrain her. The thick foundation on her face flaked off in streaks, her eyes were bloodshot, and she gnashed her teeth in rage.
Lu Kun began to piece things together—this woman must make her living in that line of work, earning her bread by the bed.
Of course, if paid extra, she’d probably be willing to go at it day and night—on the couch, in the kitchen, on the balcony, in the bathroom, wake up and go again, and so on...
The big man, seeing she was a bit unhinged, dared not provoke her further and made a hasty retreat.
Once he fled, the woman cursed under her breath for a while, then, wiping away what little makeup remained, stormed off in a huff.
“It’s over, nothing to see here, everyone disperse!” An elderly man, who seemed dignified and respected, spoke up, and the crowd, almost as if rehearsed, scattered at once.
Lu Kun: “...”
What on earth just happened?!
My hard-earned money!!!
The meat was right at my lips and now it’s gone!
Bastards!!!
...
“Fresh Five-Spice Snails! Twenty cents a serving, only twenty cents! Buy now and you’re sure to profit...”
The film was about to start, and quite a few people were already heading inside.
Lu Kun grew anxious—just a few portions of snails remained, but he’d hardly sold any popcorn.
With the Five-Spice Snails as competition, the snails were selling much better, but the popcorn... just wasn’t moving.
“Sir, buy some popcorn for your girlfriend,” Lu Kun said, and even he could hear the humility in his voice. He couldn’t afford to be left holding all this popcorn—it had to go.
The man replied, “How much?”
Lu Kun: “Only fifty cents a serving!”
The man: “No.”
Lu Kun: “Sir...”
Lu Kun: “Sir, please...”
The man: “No, get lost!”
Lu Kun: “...”
Damn it!
...
Luckily, it was Friday and there were plenty of people coming to see the movie. Lu Kun, ever resourceful, launched a Popcorn Couple’s Special: two servings for just fifty cents.
There was no choice!
Young people these days were broke... At fifty cents a serving, popcorn simply wouldn’t sell.
After all, there aren’t many fools in the world—everyone knew what was what.
A movie ticket only cost a buck twenty, and a serving of popcorn was fifty cents? That was a rip-off!
It was like in later years, when cinema tickets cost fifty, but popcorn dared to sell for twenty-five. Same principle.
Maybe everyone’s ancestors were hawking overpriced fruitcakes!
Inside, the movie had already started; only a handful of unlucky souls were still running late...
The snails had sold out long ago, but some popcorn still remained.
Lu Kun’s heart finally settled.
“Popcorn on special! Going cheap! Just now it was fifty cents a serving, crispy and fragrant popcorn—now only thirty cents a serving, just thirty cents...”
The other street vendors: “...”
What a showstopper.
...
The latecomers: “...”
Lu Kun: “Sir... sir... sir...”
Latecomer: “Alright, alright, I’ll buy one! Just let go!”
Lu Kun: “That’ll be sixty cents, thank you!”
Latecomer: “Wait, I said I wanted one!”
Lu Kun: “You said you wanted two!”
Latecomer: “I... damn it all!”
“Just to sell a bit of popcorn, is it really supposed to be this hard?” Lu Kun muttered to himself, feeling a bit aggrieved.
...
This popcorn was just too damn hard to sell!
Lu Kun, thick-skinned and unyielding, finally managed to offload all the popcorn he’d brought, but he was left feeling utterly drained.
It was nothing like selling Five-Spice Snails!
It had taken every trick Lu Kun knew just to barely get rid of his stock.
“Sigh... should I keep selling tomorrow?”
“Forget it, just thinking about popcorn makes me nauseous... Ugh...”
Lu Kun was beaten.
He packed up his things, strapped them onto his bicycle, and headed home in low spirits.
The sweltering heat was like a furnace, as if he’d been tossed into a steaming basket—there wasn’t a dry patch left on his whole body. He rolled up his sleeves and wrung them out; sweat dripped steadily to the ground.
Tonight, he finished earlier than yesterday; Lu Kun reckoned it was only around nine o’clock.
He wasn’t in the mood to wander the county town—he was exhausted, body and soul!
Tomorrow morning he’d have to check out the street market in town, so he needed to get up early.
Riding his bicycle along the highway, Lu Kun didn’t let his mind wander—he just kept his head down and pedaled on.
The croaking of frogs in the fields was relentless, making him more irritable, and even the wind in his ears felt hot.
The couple who had been cavorting in the cornfield last night didn’t show up tonight. Lu Kun was both relieved and a bit disappointed—he wondered what they looked like and how skilled the woman was.
Bah. Curiosity killed the cat!
...
He pedaled faster and faster, the fields on either side of the road flying past, his wheels chasing shadows ever onward.
Just like last night, as soon as Lu Kun opened the gate to the courtyard, the door to the house swung open, casting out a beam of light.
Lu Kun grinned broadly at Liu Liping, trying to conceal how exhausted he felt.
“Go wash up—I’ve saved you some supper, just like last night,” Liu Liping’s voice was as gentle as a spring breeze.
At that moment, Lu Kun nearly lost control; tears welled up in his eyes.
No matter how many grievances a man endures outside, as long as he knows there’s someone at home who cares for his comfort and warmth, he can overcome any storm.
Liu Liping was without a doubt a good wife—she cherished her husband, cared for their child, and managed the household with perfect order.
Lifting the lid off the pot and seeing the steaming food and hot water, Lu Kun couldn’t help but shed tears.
To have such a wife—what more could a man ask?
Men!
While you struggle in the world outside, the women at home are quietly giving their all for the family.
...
May your path be blessed by the wind, soaring to the heavens;
May the years never chill your heart, and may you return as young as ever.