Chapter 21 At Liangzi's Home

  Liang Zijia's family lives in the town, where the houses are divided into two areas: residential and staff quarters. The staff quarters are mostly bungalows built in the 1950s, which are very small, with a total area of only about 15 square meters for one and a half rooms. Only a few buildings built in the 1980s are barely passable.

  The houses in the district were all built in the early and mid-1980s, a small courtyard with two bungalows, which was much more comfortable than living on the mine.

  Along the small path trudging through the snow, Hei Zi and Zhu Xiao Fei soon arrived at the district's residential area.

  Liang Zi and Hei Zi knew each other, Liang Zi had been playing at Hei Zi's casino every day for some time, Hei Zi and Liang Zi were familiar with each other, having visited his home and even drinking together.

  The gate of the Liang family's courtyard was like that of other families, an iron sheet door that made a loud noise when knocked. The two arrived at the entrance and Zhu Xiao Fei used his palm to heavily pound on it twice, as the wind was strong, he feared the people inside wouldn't hear.

  With the sound of knocking on the door, the yard came with the sound of opening the door, and then someone shouted: "Who is it?"

  "It's me, Zhuo Xiao Fei, Liangzi's friend." Zhuo Xiao Fei said loudly while peeking inside through the door gap. Then he whispered to Heizi: "Liangzi's wife."

  The yard again transmitted Liangzi's wife's voice and footsteps: "Come in, Ba, the door is not locked."

  Li's wife said the door was open but still walked from the entrance of the house to the entrance of the courtyard, the iron gate was closed very tightly, and Hei pushed hard before it opened.

  What appeared before him was Liangzi's wife with a worried and angry face. Heiziblack felt strange, asking: "Sister, what's wrong?"

  Liang Zi's wife had met Hei Zi and Zhu Xiao Fei twice before. Seeing that they didn't look happy, she asked: "Are you here to collect debts too?"

  "Hei Zi smiled and said: 'Sister-in-law, what are you thinking? Liang Zi never lends or borrows money. We came for something else.'"

  "Alas, come in first. Marrying such a good-for-nothing, I'm doomed to be unlucky."

  Listening to Liangzi's wife's tone was off, Zhuo Xiaofei asked: "Sister, what's wrong?"

  Liang's wife looked into the house, Hei Zi and Zhu Xiao Fei also looked towards the house, through the glass window, there were several people inside, two pieces of broken glass were temporarily blocked with plastic cloth, it was unclear who the people inside the house were.

  "Look at our home," said Liang's wife, pointing inside. "He lost all the money in the house on gambling and now he's borrowed from loan sharks again. This is the second time they've come."

  Hei Zi and Zhu Xiafei knew that it wasn't the right time to come, as others were collecting debts. Liang Zi was also their friend, so they were stuck in between, finding it hard to speak up.

  Hei Zi wanted to leave, but Liang Zi's wife said: "Come in, you guys help Liang Zi say something, let them give us a few more days, after a few days we will definitely be able to pay back."

  Liáng zǐ's wife said so, and the two of them felt embarrassed and had no choice but to swallow their pride and enter the house.

  In addition to Liangzi, there were five other young men in the room. Hei Zi was delighted to see these five people, and Da Bei Tou, who had been beaten by Hei Zi twice during middle school, was also among them.

  Da Bei Tou turned his head and took a glance, then looked at Liang Zi again. He didn't recognize Hei Zi and Zhu Xiao Fei, his attention was all on Liang Zi.

  Others didn't know Hei Zi and Zhu Xiao Fei, seeing them come in didn't think much of it.

  "Liang Zi, are you going to pay back or not? Give me an answer!" Da Bei Tou sat on a chair with his legs crossed and asked.

  Xiao Fei gave Heizi a little push and nodded his head towards Heizi, who smiled slightly and nodded to show he understood.

  Liang Zi sat on the bed, with Da Bei Tou's four younger brothers standing behind him. These people were all older than Hei Zi and Zhu Xiao Fei, about the same age as Da Bei Tou. They wore identical windbreakers, expressionless, with their hands clasped behind their backs, just like the triads in Hong Kong gangster movies.

  Hei Zi and Zhu Xiao Fei sat down next to Liang Zi, facing Da Bei Tou. When they arrived, Liang Zi just smiled bitterly and didn't say a word.

  Liang Zi's five-year-old son was playing alone on the bed, saw Hei Zi and others came over to hug Hei Zi's shoulders and said: "Uncle, play with me."

  Liáng zǐ de lǎo pó jí máng guò lái lā kāi ér zǐ shuō: "Dà ren yǒu shì er máng zhe, yī biān er wán er qù."

  Translation:

  "Liáng's wife hastily came over and pulled away their son saying: 'The adults are busy with something, go play on the side.'"

  Liáng zǐ de érzi tiào dào dì shàng chuān shàng xié, zhǔn bèi dào wài wū qù wán er, zhè shí dà bèi tóu yī bǎ lā guò liáng zǐ de érzi shuō: "lái, érzi, wǒ péi nǐ wán er."

  Liáng zǐ de ér zǐ dào bù shì hài pà，tā kàn zhe dà bèi tóu shuō："nǐ bú huì wán r，wǒ yào hé wǒ shū shū wán r。"

  Translation:

  Liáng's son was not afraid, he looked at Big Back Head and said: "You don't know how to play, I want to play with my uncle."

  Da Bei Tou smiled and stroked the back of Liang Zi's son's head, saying: "Liang Zi, you only have one son, your son is really likable, but his neck is a bit thin."

  As soon as the words left his mouth, both Liang Zi and his wife became anxious. Liang Zi suddenly stood up: "Hao Kun, I'm the one who owes you money, don't touch my son."

  Dà bèi tóu heard this and burst out laughing: "Liáng zǐ, haven't you ever heard that children pay for the debts of their parents? If you keep owing without repaying, it will be very disadvantageous to your son."

  Hei Zi couldn't take it anymore. Although Liang Zi was just a casual friend, and they only became friends because Liang Zi spent too much time in his own casino, Da Bei Tou using Liang Zi's son to threaten Liang Zi made Hei Zi see red. He sneered coldly and said: "Hao Kun, are you still a man? Let the kid go."

  Hao Kun only then looked at Hei Zi and Zhu Xiao Fei with serious eyes, and as soon as he did, his heart skipped a beat. Somehow, both of these people seemed a bit familiar. After some thought, Hao Kun suddenly remembered who they were.

  "You are......" Hao Kun released Liang Zi's son and looked at Hei Zi and Zhu Xiao Fei hesitantly.

  Liang's son was let go and ran into Hei's arms, whispering in his ear: "Uncle, this big guy is a bad egg."

  Hao Kun's words were not finished yet, when Zhu Xiao Fei stood up and said: "I am your grandfather."

  Zhuo Xiaofei was about to fight with Da Beitou, but Hei Zi pulled him back and said: "Xiaofei, we have something important to attend to."

  These two people are who big back head suddenly thought of.

  Da Bei Tou is a child of a miner, Hei Zi and Zhu Xiao Fei are from rural areas. The mixed children in the mine look down on those from rural areas and have little contact with them, although they all live in the same place.

  Back then, Hei Zi and his four friends fought against Hao Kun and his three friends. Now Hao Kun has four younger brothers, while Hei Zi only has two friends left. Hao Kun seems to have recovered from his injuries and forgotten the pain, feeling pleased with himself.

  "You're Cheng Heizi, right? Back then you guys beat me up and I let it slide. If you're going to give me trouble again, don't expect me to be polite." Hao Kun sneered at Heizi and Zhu Xiaofei.

  Nowadays, Hei Zi doesn't even notice four or five ordinary thugs, but he just doesn't want to fight now. His purpose for coming this time is to buy Liang Zi's two cars and the racing track, not to fight.

  Hao Kun's four younger brothers heard that the person in front of them was Cheng Hei Zi, and they were all a little afraid in their hearts. Hei Zi's fight with Ouyang Qiang had left a shadow in the minds of the town's hooligans, and whenever they mentioned Hei Zi, they would think of Ouyang Qiang. Before Hei Zi fought Ouyang Qiang, Ouyang Qiang was the most formidable big hooligan in the town, and no one dared to provoke him.

  Hei Zi smiled and said, "Hao Kun, I've come this time with some matters to discuss with Liang Zi. You all leave now and wait until we're done discussing, then you can say your part. Everyone is at the starting line, I won't block your path to wealth."

  Hao Kun's four younger brothers were about to leave after hearing Hei Zi's words, but Hao Kun turned around and glared at them, so the four of them stood obediently behind him again.