Chapter Seventy-Three: 1990, A Rendezvous with Shenzhen

Lu Kun stood on the station square, gazing out, and realized that by now, skyscrapers in Shenzhen were no longer a rarity. People hurried along the streets, each with a determined stride, chasing after a better life. Some were white-collar workers, others were laborers, and still others toiled at menial jobs... In this young city, everyone seemed to have found their own path.

“All those who come to Shenzhen are the elite of China!” read the enormous slogan on the banner, and a faint smile played at the corners of Lu Kun’s mouth.

Lu Kun had come to Shenzhen seeking opportunities after the great man’s southern tour in his previous life. He remembered back then, the job application windows in the Futian Industrial Zone were crowded every single day with young women looking for work. The busiest place in Shenzhen was near the old Dongmen, at the public telephone booths.

“Kun, where are we going now?” Liu Shixun was awed by the sheer number of people on the street, his mind a blur, and asked in a daze.

The brothers Cheng Yuan and Cheng Hao also turned to Lu Kun.

“Just follow me,” Lu Kun replied with a smile.

In truth, at a time like this, every newcomer to Shenzhen would be stunned by the city’s vitality. This place was unlike anywhere else in China—no other city’s energy could match it. At that very moment, Beijing was mired in the whirlpool stirred by a “ten-thousand-word letter,” while Shanghai was just awakening from its slumber, lifting its head to look around.

“What’s this...?” Liu Shixun was dumbfounded, momentarily speechless. Even the Cheng brothers appeared lost and overwhelmed.

This was Liberation Road.

Lu Kun had brought them to the very first McDonald’s in the mainland.

Liu Shixun and the Cheng brothers all seemed rather ill at ease. Their clothes and manners set them apart, making them feel like strangers in this world.

Lu Kun went to order food while the others waited obediently.

Liu Shixun’s feelings were complicated. Back in Ping’an Town, he was the pampered son of the mayor, and even at Gui A County No. 1 High School, there were plenty who would flatter him. But here...

He realized that once away from the shelter of his father’s wings, he was just a country bumpkin in everyone else’s eyes.

The restaurant was quiet, the customers speaking in hushed tones, their voices barely audible to anyone else. Yet from their glances, Liu Shixun could clearly read the word “contempt.”

Their food arrived quickly. Lu Kun and the others had been hungry for almost a whole day, so they cast aside any sense of decorum and ate and drank heartily.

“Kun, I need to go to the bathroom,” Liu Shixun leaned over, clutching his stomach and whispering awkwardly into Lu Kun’s ear halfway through the meal.

Lu Kun almost spat out the food in his mouth. If it weren’t for the crowd, he’d have given this guy a beating. No wonder Liu Shixun had looked so restless when Lu Kun returned from placing their order—it turned out this was the reason. Why didn’t he say something earlier? Saying it now was enough to ruin anyone’s appetite.

“Hurry up then,” Lu Kun rolled his eyes, clearly annoyed.

“But... but I can’t find where it is,” Liu Shixun clutched his belly, his face flushed bright red.

Lu Kun couldn’t help but laugh.

He waved to a server in the distance, “Excuse me, my friend can’t find the restroom. Could you please show him the way?”

The server saw Liu Shixun’s discomfort and nearly laughed but managed to hold it in, quickly leading him away.

Fifteen minutes later...

Liu Shixun returned, looking utterly drained.

“Have some juice,” Lu Kun said, seeing his sorry state and choosing not to tease him further.

Glug, glug.

Liu Shixun downed a large glass of orange juice, then licked his lips.

“Kun, you mustn’t tell anyone about this when we get back,” Liu Shixun pleaded, a hint of desperation in his eyes.

“What’s the matter?” Lu Kun asked, puzzled.

“What do you think? I’ve never been so embarrassed! I almost didn’t make it. If word gets out, I’ll never live it down!” Liu Shixun grumbled, clearly frustrated.

Lu Kun burst out laughing, and even the usually stern-faced Cheng brothers couldn’t help but break into smiles, their eyes narrowing with amusement.

“Hey, how come you two have cute little canine teeth, just like my cousin?” Liu Shixun exclaimed, as though he’d made a startling discovery.

The Cheng brothers froze for a moment, then immediately composed themselves, their faces turning serious once more, as if warning strangers to stay away.

Luckily, the brothers had changed out of their flamboyant “killer” outfits before boarding the train, or they might have frightened the local children.

Lu Kun was already used to it. In the business of being a street tough, you had to look fierce—there was no room for cuteness. Especially for the Cheng brothers, with their baby faces; if they smiled all day, they’d lose all their intimidation factor.

...

By the time they’d eaten and drunk their fill, night had fallen. It was time to find a hotel and settle in.

The four of them booked two standard rooms.

The main reason was that the Cheng brothers had always done everything together since childhood and weren’t used to sleeping alone. As for the future, when they eventually married... well, that was too far ahead to consider.

Of course, another reason was Liu Shixun’s constant fear that Lu Kun would sneak off and leave him behind, so he insisted on sharing a room.

Liu Shixun paid for the rooms. Only after he’d paid did Lu Kun discover just how much money this fellow had brought along.

Good grief!

His parents had given him five thousand yuan just for this trip.

Lu Kun was stunned! Most migrant workers wouldn’t be able to save more than a few hundred yuan in a year, and here Liu Shixun’s parents had handed him more spending money than others could earn in over a decade.

Lu Kun’s eyes burned with envy.

Was Liu the Money-grubber’s knack for getting cash really this powerful?!

Maybe his family had some secret ancestral craft...

“Shixun, tell me honestly, does your family have some ancient art of printing money?” Lu Kun asked, his face red and his grip tight on Liu Shixun’s collar.

Liu Shixun just shrugged. “You’re overthinking it. Other people forced the money on my dad, and since he didn’t want it, he gave it to me.”

Lu Kun was speechless.

How could they say such things with a straight face?

After their showers, it was around nine o’clock at night. Having spent nearly a day and a night on the train, they were exhausted and looking forward to a good night’s sleep.

Creak, creak...

Damn.

Thankfully, the sounds weren’t coming from the Cheng brothers’ room, but from the room to the left.

Lu Kun and Liu Shixun exchanged a glance, instantly understanding.

“You sleep. I’m going out for a walk,” Lu Kun said, pulling on his clothes and shoes.

“Wait for me, Kun! I’ll come too,” Liu Shixun called, slipping on his slippers and hurrying after him.