Chapter 6791
What a grand style!
Zhang Fei forcefully stubbed out his cigarette on the cement ground at his feet. Sparks flew up like fleeting meteors before quickly going out, leaving a charred dot on the ground, much like their bleak lives at that moment.
He nodded somewhat helplessly and said, "That's all we can do. We can't just sit here and wait to starve."
"Business is getting worse every day. If this continues, our family will be even more unable to make ends meet."
His fingertips were covered in tobacco tar, which smeared onto his trouser leg, leaving a dark stain, but he was oblivious, staring blankly at the skinny stray cat at the base of the opposite wall.
The stray cat was struggling to pry open an empty soda can with its paws, making a clanging sound that was particularly jarring in the quiet night.
Looking at the wild cat, Zhang Fei seemed to see his own reflection, struggling in this predicament but unable to find a way out.
Suddenly, as if remembering something important, he sat up abruptly. The chair leg creaked loudly on the floor, the sound echoing in the silent air.
Ashes fell softly onto his faded blue cotton jacket, but he paid no heed.
He raised his hand and scratched the back of his head, the calluses on his palms making his scalp tingle, a few strands of gray hair sticking to his sweaty forehead.
"Mom, um... should we wait for Mr. Xiao? He said he's bringing some friends over for dinner?"
His voice carried a hint of expectation and hesitation, his eyes fixed on his mother, hoping to get a positive answer from her.
This is just a child, fifteen or sixteen years old. He should be carefree and full of energy, but his face is full of vicissitudes and sorrow.
He had gray hair, and those few strands of gray hair were particularly conspicuous under the light, like snowflakes falling too early in winter.
He must be incredibly worried. The pressure of life is like an invisible mountain, making it hard for him to breathe and forcing him to experience the hardships and helplessness of life far too early.
The proprietress, reminded by her son's words, seemed to suddenly wake up from a daze. She slapped her thigh hard, the "smack" sounding particularly loud in the silent air, startling a small insect in the corner, which fluttered its wings and flew away.
She suddenly realized, slapped her forehead, and said in annoyance, "That's right!"
"Look at my memory, it's getting worse and worse as I get older!"
"Mr. Xiao clearly said he would arrive later, how could I have forgotten about it?"
"Let's not expect a grand opening or a flood of guests today. I think a simple welcome dinner for Mr. Xiao and his family will suffice!"
"Let's treat them well; maybe this business will turn around in the future."
"It's a good thing there's no one around, and the shop is quieter, so we can prepare in peace and serve them the best we can."
As the proprietress spoke, a glimmer of light rekindled in her eyes, a light like a candle suddenly lit in the darkness, faint yet full of hope.
A hint of anticipation flickered in her eyes, as if she could already see the shop packed with customers and the business booming.
Zhang Fei nodded in agreement as he stood up.
But as soon as he stood up, his knee made a soft "click," a sound that was particularly clear in the quiet shop, like a rusty hinge being forcibly pried open. He frowned, subconsciously rubbing his knee, realizing that it was clearly due to overuse of his knees; prolonged standing and busy work had taken their toll.
But he didn't care about any of that, and just smiled and said to his mother, "Okay!"
"Then I'll go inside and get ready. I'll wipe the table twice more, making sure it's spotless, without a speck of dust."
“Sweep up the coal ash in the corner too. Those things piled up there make a mess. We can’t let Ah Chen’s friends think our place is too shabby and make us lose face.”
After saying that, he strode towards the shop door.
The plastic curtain rattled as he slammed it, as if applauding his actions.
The little colored lights hanging on the curtain had long since stopped working, leaving only a few broken LED beads swaying back and forth, like a few homeless children drifting helplessly in the darkness.
Zhang Fei didn't pay any attention to these things and walked straight into the shop.
The proprietress was about to follow her son inside when, just as the two were about to walk into the shop, a silver-gray Rolls-Royce Phantom slowly turned into the alleyway.
The car's body gleamed coldly under the streetlights, and the bright crystal emblem on the front of the car shone coldly under the streetlights, like a lurking beast, exuding a sense of majesty and dominance.
The alleyway was already narrow, and the sycamore trees planted on both sides had drooping branches that looked like menacing arms, almost scraping the lidar on the car roof.
The driver had to slow down and carefully avoid the branches; the car moved forward slowly, like a cautious snail.
The proprietress and Zhang Fei immediately stopped in their tracks. The proprietress subconsciously tugged at her son's arm, her eyes wide open as if she had seen something unbelievable.
Her mouth was slightly open, big enough to fit a quail egg, and her face was full of surprise and confusion.
Zhang Fei was also drawn to the sudden appearance of the car. He stared intently at it, wondering who was inside. Could it be Mr. Xiao and his friends?
Having spent most of their lives struggling in this shabby alley, they were used to seeing dilapidated bicycles and old motorcycles. This was the first time they had ever seen such a magnificent luxury car in such a run-down alley.
The vehicle was tall and imposing, half a head taller than the green trash can at the alley entrance, resembling a moving hill, standing out conspicuously in the narrow alley.
The pitch-black car window, like a giant obsidian, was deep and mysterious, reflecting the low bungalows and crooked power lines in the alley. The dilapidated scenes were distorted and deformed on the car window, adding to the sense of absurdity.
The tires slowly rolled over the bluestone pavement, making a dull "gurgling" sound, like a giant beast roaring in a deep voice.
The sound startled several sparrows that were pecking at leftover food on the wall. They had been enjoying their meal, but the sudden noise terrified them. They flapped their wings and scattered in all directions, leaving a few gray feathers that drifted onto the car roof, adding a unique touch to the luxury vehicle.
"Look at that car, how impressive it is!"
The proprietress was so excited her eyes widened. She stood on tiptoe and craned her neck to look into the car window. The calluses on her heels hurt painfully inside her rough cloth shoes, but she didn't care about that.
Her voice was filled with astonishment, trembling slightly with excitement: "How rich must the people sitting inside be... Their lives are worlds apart from those of us at the bottom of society." (End of Chapter)