Chapter 42: Eating Without a Lunch Box

Li Xiangdong smiled, “You say we’re on the same side, so should I get even closer to you?”

Seeing the raised palm, Hou San immediately switched his stance, “We just met today. I’m not familiar with you, alright?”

Looking at Hou San’s pathetic state, Li Xiangdong couldn’t help but laugh, “Nonsense. The first time I saw you, I already decided that you, Hou San, would be my non-blood-related sworn brother from now on!”

Ah Zhe joined in the laughter, “Haha, and me too. We’re three brothers.”

Hou San completely gave in, “Brother Dong, you call the shots. If you say we’re good brothers, then we’re good brothers. Little brother knows he was wrong. Please spare me.”

“It’s good that you know you were wrong.”

Li Xiangdong and Ah Zhe pulled Hou San up from the ground. Seeing his clothes were dirty, they said to Hou San, “Don’t move, I’ll pat the dust off you.”

Hou San enjoyed Li Xiangdong’s service, completely forgetting about the beating he had just received. He started to get cocky again, “Pat me clean! You have to be meticulous in your work, you know? If you’re so careless, what will you do when you get on the train?”

“Hou San, you’re getting cocky again, aren’t you?”

“I won’t talk anymore, alright Dongzi?”

“I’m several years older than you, and you still dare to call me Dongzi? Do you need me to help you remember? But, if your scalp is itchy, then never mind.”

“Huh?”

Hou San was dumbfounded. Why was he suddenly asking if his scalp was itchy?

Ah Zhe laughed, “Dongzi is asking if your scalp is itchy.”

Hou San said, puzzled, “It is itchy. Brother Dong, how did you know?”

Li Xiangdong nodded, “It’s right that it’s itchy. It means you’re growing a brain. Hou San, do you think I’m right?”

“Right, right, right, Brother Dong, you’re so right. I’ve also noticed I’m growing a brain. I can’t even say it now. As soon as I say it, my scalp starts to itch again!”

This clown, Hou San, was finally behaving himself.

It was the first time Ah Zhe had heard that an itchy scalp meant growing a brain. He laughed uncontrollably, “Hahahaha, that’s hilarious.”

“Stop laughing, Ah Zhe.”

Seeing Zhang Dajun come out, Li Xiangdong walked forward and took the overcoat and leather boots.

Zhang Dajun asked, “What were you three arguing about just now?”

Zhang Dajun had heard the noise of the three of them fooling around from inside the warehouse. “What’s wrong with Hou San?”

Li Xiangdong and Ah Zhe followed Zhang Dajun’s gaze.

They saw Hou San craning his neck, his hands behind his back, his lifeless, upturned, triangular eyes gazing up at a 45-degree angle.

The clouds in the sky were a bit gloomy at the moment, as if it was about to rain. A cool breeze blew by. Hou San rubbed his nose, sneezed, and muttered in a whiny voice.

“Little Dongzi, little Dongzi, ptooey, I’ll just call you little Dongzi. You really think your master Hou has no brain? You’re just an uncultured illiterate. My scalp is itchy because your master Hou hasn’t washed his hair in a week!”

Although Li Xiangdong and the other man didn’t hear what Hou San was saying, seeing his current state, they couldn’t help but shiver, goosebumps breaking out on their skin!

“It’s nothing, Brother Jun. The three of us were just playing around.”

“It’s good to be young, full of energy.”

Zhang Dajun was very envious. Unlike him, in his thirties, when he lay on the kang at home at night, facing his wife’s demands, it felt like he was facing a tribulation every time!

He rubbed the small of his back and took down the notebook hanging on the wall by the warehouse door.

The notebook had a blue cover, with the words “Goods In and Out Registration Form” written in red.

“Everything on the list is here. Dongzi, you and Ah Zhe check it again.”

Seeing Li Xiangdong and Ah Zhe nod, Zhang Dajun opened the notebook and began to write down the items and quantities collected.

“You two take a look. If there are no mistakes, sign here under ‘Recipient’.”

There were too many things, so Zhang Dajun kindly took out two hemp ropes from the drawer.

Taking the ropes, Li Xiangdong and Ah Zhe began to repack.

They were now wearing a set of summer work clothes. The clothes they had changed out of, along with the other three sets of work clothes and a blue overcoat, were folded again, tied securely with the rope, and carried. The rest was stuffed into their cloth bags.

Clothes make the man. Li Xiangdong’s spirit and energy had changed greatly!

He and Ah Zhe thanked Zhang Dajun and walked over to Hou San with their things.

“Stop daydreaming, Hou San. Where are we going next?”

Hou San snorted with his hands behind his back, raised his right hand to look at his watch, “Let’s go to the cafeteria for lunch first. We’ll talk about the rest in the afternoon.”

Seeing Hou San about to leave, Li Xiangdong grabbed him and stuffed the clothes he was carrying into his hands, “We’re on the same side, aren’t we? Shouldn’t you help me share the load?”

Hou San rolled his eyes, snorted, and slung Li Xiangdong’s clothes over his back. His attempt to look cool failed, and he stumbled, almost falling to the ground.

He quickly looked left and right. No one. He coughed dryly twice and swaggered towards the cafeteria.

Looking at Hou San’s back, Ah Zhe couldn’t help but laugh, “Dongzi, this guy Hou San is quite interesting.”

Li Xiangdong smiled, “He’s simple-minded, suitable to be a friend.”

“I need to go and say some nice things to Hou San quickly, coax him into getting the three of us assigned together. This guy is hilarious. It’s guaranteed to be interesting with him.”

After speaking, Ah Zhe quickened his pace and caught up with Hou San.

…

The three of them arrived at the cafeteria. The bell for the end of the work shift hadn’t rung yet. The cafeteria only had kitchen staff and a few scattered employees eating.

There was a row of faucets at the entrance, and a dozen tables were set up in the hall. The three of them casually found a table and put their things down.

Li Xiangdong and Ah Zhe went to the sink, planning to wash the lunch boxes they had just received. Who knew how long the lunch boxes had been in the warehouse? They wouldn’t feel at ease using them without washing them clean.

Li Xiangdong looked at Hou San, who was following behind him, and asked, “You’re not eating?”

Hou San said, speechless, “Why wouldn’t I eat? I’ve been running around with you two all morning. I’m already starving!”

Li Xiangdong looked him up and down and said, puzzled, “You didn’t even bring a lunch box. How are you going to eat? Does our cafeteria have hand-pulled rice?”

“What the f*ck!”

Hou San slapped his forehead. Only then did he remember that he had come empty-handed