Volume One, Chapter 17: Sister Jing’s Tea Service

I listened in alarm, never expecting the matter to be so serious! Severing the tendons in the hands and feet—wouldn’t that render a person crippled?

Inside, my brother shook his head again. “That Ma Fei doesn’t even know which factory we’re at. Let’s just stay inside the factory for now and not go out. There shouldn’t be any trouble.”

“Let’s… hope so,” Kang Youwei said, clearly still worried.

At that moment, my brother let out a hiss through clenched teeth. It came from a bleeding wound on his shoulder, already stuck to his partially removed shirt by coagulated blood…

He sat on the edge of the bed, slowly tearing the fabric away, his whole body trembling uncontrollably.

I gritted my teeth once more, realizing that Ma Fei’s threat to sever my brother’s and Kang Youwei’s tendons was no idle threat.

Judging from my brother’s injury, Ma Fei had dealt a deadly blow!

It was highly likely that Ma Fei’s intention to sever their tendons wasn’t just talk—it was action.

Ma Fei had sent men to beat up my brother and Kang Youwei and intended to cut their tendons! It was only because the security team happened to raid the small shop for illegal slot machines that Ma Fei’s plan was thwarted!

But… something didn’t add up.

According to my brother’s account, they had only exchanged a few words with Ma Fei. Would Ma Fei really go so far as to be so brutal over just a few words?

Besides, my brother and Kang Youwei had only arrived at the night market street about ten minutes earlier than me and Sister Yu Zhu.

Could it be that as soon as they sat down at the slot machines in that small shop, Ma Fei—who ran the illegal machines—came over and immediately started arguing with them?

There must be something wrong here!

I thought quickly, while inside, my brother and Kang Youwei fell silent.

Seeing no more useful information forthcoming, I suppressed my suspicions for the moment and retreated back to the stairwell.

Calling out “Brother!” I made my way back to their dormitory.

When I entered, my brother and Kang Youwei had already put on clothes again to cover their wounds because of my greeting.

“What’s up, Xiao Hui?” my brother looked at me.

“Oh, just wanted to tell you something—Sister Yu Zhu agreed to be my girlfriend,” I said with a smile.

“That’s great, Hui Zi!” Kang Youwei tried to come over and pat my shoulder but barely took a step before clutching his stomach, bending over. “Ah… my stomach hurts…”

His face twitched, but he still gave me a thumbs-up. “Hui Zi, Yu Zhu is a real beauty—you’re one lucky guy!”

My brother winked at me. “Ah Hui, keep it up! If this works out, Dad won’t be hounding me anymore—I’ll be free!”

I kept smiling, handing my brother the bag containing disinfectant alcohol and medicine for bruises, which Sister Yu Zhu had asked me to bring for them.

They both took it, lowering their heads to look at the contents.

I stealthily pocketed Kang Youwei’s cigarettes that had been left on the bedside.

Then I went straight down the dormitory building and waited in the stairwell on the ground floor.

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After more than half an hour, Kang Youwei came down the stairs, looking alert.

“Brother Kang, what a coincidence!” I smiled and approached.

He looked surprised and asked what I was doing in the dorms.

“Nothing, just hanging around,” I replied.

His eyes flickered, and he handed me ten yuan. “Hui Zi, go to the small shop outside the factory and buy me a pack of cigarettes. Keep the change and buy yourself something.”

“Brother Kang, it’s not far. Why don’t you go yourself?” I asked.

“Eh, you know me—I’m lazy,” he laughed.

“Alright.” I took the money and left the factory, my heart growing heavier.

Because of Ma Fei, Kang Youwei didn’t even dare to leave the factory…

I bought the cigarettes and returned to the dormitory, where Kang Youwei was waiting in the stairwell.

I didn’t give him the cigarettes right away but asked what conflict they had with Ma Fei.

“Nothing, just an argument,” Kang Youwei said casually.

“How did it start?” I pressed.

“Ah… I don’t know if Ma Fei was on something! Just as we sat at the slot machines, he came with his men, accusing us of rigging the machines!

We don’t even have the skills to rig those machines!

He wouldn’t listen, pulled out weapons, and started beating us! Then he held us down and ordered his men to sever our tendons…”

Realizing he’d said too much, Kang Youwei laughed nervously and waved his hand. “Hui Zi, that’s about it. Nothing serious…”

“Brother Kang, you said you’d just sat down at the slot machines when Ma Fei found you? Had you won any money then?” I asked.

“Won money? We had just sat down and hadn’t even started playing…” Kang Youwei paused, seeming to understand what I was getting at. “That’s right… we hadn’t won anything. So why would Ma Fei say we rigged the machines?”

“Do you have any other grudge with Ma Fei?” I asked again.

“No, I only saw Ma Fei when I played slots before. Others say he runs the illegal machines here. Besides that, we never spoke or even met properly. We don’t know each other at all…”

“What about my brother?” I inquired.

“He doesn’t play slots often, maybe buys a horse or two. No grudge with Ma Fei,” Kang Youwei shook his head decisively.

“That’s really strange…” I said, handing over the cigarettes and turning away.

Then my face grew cold.

According to Kang Youwei, Ma Fei wasn’t after the slot machines at all! He was targeting Kang Youwei and my brother!

Exactly!

Ma Fei came fully prepared, with men and weapons.

His target was Kang Youwei and my brother!

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The accusation of rigging the slot machines was just an excuse!

Ma Fei wanted to harm Kang Youwei and my brother! To sever their tendons!

If not for the security team’s timely arrival, Kang Youwei and my brother would now be lying in the hospital—truly crippled!

But… Kang Youwei said they didn’t even know Ma Fei.

If they don’t know each other, why would Ma Fei want to attack them so viciously?

Though I didn’t know why, I realized I had to find out the truth quickly!

If Ma Fei was truly targeting my brother and Kang Youwei, hiding inside the factory was useless!

I had to uncover the matter and resolve it properly before Ma Fei struck again, or else my brother and Kang Youwei would be in grave danger!

I hurried back to my dormitory building and found an old worker from our Group Five, from whom I learned Sister Jing’s residence.

Since my brother and Kang Youwei didn’t know Ma Fei, the only way to get to the bottom of this was to find Ma Fei himself!

Sister Jing, who knew where Old Hei lived, might also have information about Ma Fei!

Fortunately, the old worker said Sister Jing lived in a small single room on the third floor of our dormitory building.

I quickly made my way there and knocked on the door.

“Who is it?” came Sister Jing’s cold voice.

“It’s me, Chen Hui. Sister Jing, sorry to bother you. I have a question to ask,” I answered politely.

After a brief wait, the door opened, revealing Sister Jing.

But at one glance, I immediately turned my head aside.

Her head of large, wet waves of hair draped over her chest, as if she had just taken a shower and changed clothes…

“Come in,” Sister Jing said, dropping the words before turning back into her room.

I hesitated a moment but followed inside.

It was a small, nondescript room like the others, with just a bed and a small dressing cabinet beside it.

“Close the door,” Sister Jing said as she poured tea at the dressing table, her back to me.

I closed the door behind me.

“Sister Jing, do you know Ma Fei who runs the illegal slot machines around here?” I asked.

Sister Jing didn’t answer right away. After pouring the tea, she pushed a plastic stool over and gestured for me to sit.

Then she took the tea and sat on another plastic stool facing me.

But after sitting, though she tilted her head back to drink the tea, whether intentionally or not, the tea dribbled from the corner of her mouth, soaking her already wet clothes…