Chapter 29: The Humiliation

  At this time, the few people who had previously discussed prices grabbed his arm again and wanted to buy a few more fish. Yu Songyuan said: "Sorry everyone, I'll be here next week."

  An older sister grabbed his arm and whispered, "The one who opened this restaurant is not a good person, be careful, young man."

  "Thank you, sister-in-law, I have money!" Yu Songyuan nodded to his sister-in-law and continued to follow her to the restaurant.

  As he walked into the restaurant, a middle-aged man was even more anxious than Yu Songyuan. He quickly put the bag on the scale and it weighed 27 jin and 6 liang. Then, he immediately poured all the fish and aquatic plants into the cement pool, and also asked a chef to hurry up and find some bran.

  Because of the cool weather and not being stained with mud, even the red fish that died immediately after leaving the water in summer were still alive. The manager's face bloomed with a smile. Several surrounding chefs and a young woman dressed in gaudy but vulgar attire all started dancing with joy.

  A middle-aged man explained to Yu Songyuan, "We have an important reception task tonight, arranged by the county. We need to entertain several old leaders who fought guerrilla wars here during the Anti-Japanese War. They chose our restaurant because our sign says 'Live River Water Fresh'. But today we can't get any live fish, and the county specifically asked for River Carp, which is even harder to get due to the season. Now I'm in a predicament, but you've arrived just in time, young man, you're saving my life!"

  As he spoke, he took out his wallet and counted out ten 10-yuan bills, handing them to Yu Songyuan. Yu Songyuan was startled, "Too much, it's not worth that much."

  The manager said: "My name is Liu Daohua, and I opened a restaurant just because of the word 'righteousness'. For those who are righteous, I am righteous; for those who are heroic, I am heroic; for those who have no shame, I also have no shame. I can tell that you're not a fisherman by profession, this fish is freshly caught by your own hands, isn't it?"

  "I'm a student, this is just for fun."

  "I said it's worth 100 yuan, and it definitely is. Do you want to know why?"

  “……”

  Yu Song looked at him in confusion, the manager said, "These knife fish and red fish are all alive now. Before putting them in the pot tonight, let's show them to the leaders first. It will bring more glory to our county and restaurant than any advertisement. Think about it, from now on, important receptions for the county will all be held at our store."

  "It's not even worth 100 yuan"

  "I haven't finished yet. There are also fifteen live four-finned bream from Guanhe River. This large bream is called Guanhe bream, a well-known specialty of my province, famous at home and abroad. In Chapter 68 of 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms', the scholar Zuo Ci said to Cao Cao during dinner, 'There are only two-finned bream in the world, except for the four-finned bream from Songjiang River.' Qing dynasty writers also had a famous couplet: 'Four-finned bream only come out of Songjiang Prefecture, eight-legged crabs roam all over the nine provinces.' In fact, Guanhe four-finned bream and Songjiang four-finned bream are the same species, just discovered later."

  "Every year before and after 'Mangzhong', the bream fish is fat and tender, it's the time for catching and selling, the price is generally over 1 yuan. The four-fin bream has white and tender flesh, after cooking, the meat is like garlic cloves, the soup is thick like fresh milk, with a milky white color, sticky to the lips, fragrant like Osmanthus tree, lingering forever. Its color, fragrance and taste are comparable to those of Yangtze River bream, it has always been a delicacy for banquets."

  The manager looked at him and continued: "You brought me precious crucian carp in the severe winter when we needed it most. These carps, I'll find some chaff later, wet them with water, put the fish in, and they can live for seven or eight days. You said you helped me so much, even if you want more, I will give it to you."

  Yu Song nodded, "After hearing you say that, I'll take it for 100 yuan."

  "Since you've already agreed, can I ask another favor of you?" The manager was taking advantage of the situation.

  "You said."

  "Next Wednesday evening, I have an important reception to attend to, for a very important person. To be frank with you, it's the 80th birthday banquet of our county's big leader's father. I need over thirty kilograms of freshly caught live carp, knife fish and red fish, as many as possible. Little brother, there's no other way out, I'm relying on you completely."

  "I can't guarantee it, I'm a student. Unless absolutely necessary, how can I go fishing? On Wednesday I have school, really no time."

  "I'm begging you, little brother. I really don't dare to put my hopes on the fishmonger. The crucial thing is the bass, which is the hardest to get. Besides, in this cold winter, even if it's the fishing season, it's impossible to get live fish. It all depends on you, missing a day of school won't matter. And I'll give you 150 yuan for 30 catties." The manager coaxed and tempted him.

  Yu Songyuan compromised, he needed the money too much. He could earn 100 yuan by fishing for a day, while his monthly salary as a teacher was only 30 or 40 yuan, which was equivalent to what they could earn in three months. If he fished again, not only could he alleviate the burden on his family, but he could also buy an old car, which would be convenient for commuting. So, he gritted his teeth and said, "Okay, I don't dare guarantee 30 kilograms, how about 10 to 15 kilograms?"

  The manager said: "That's okay, at least 15 catties, can't be less, the more the better."

  Yu Songyuan picked up his money and was about to leave, when he suddenly thought of something. "This pocket can't be used anymore, I need to go buy some provisions. Can you lend me a pocket? I'll return it to you next time along with the other one."

  The manager said, "This is easy to handle. The restaurant lacks everything, but this thing is abundant." So he let the chefs bring three nylon bags, one of which contained 20-30 kilograms of rice. The manager said, "I'm giving you this rice, don't forget our agreement."

  "I keep my promises and will definitely try my best to fulfill what I've agreed to. However, this rice I won't take."

  "Don't mind too much, it's just a gesture of gratitude. If you keep pushing back and forth, it won't be interesting anymore." The manager seemed very sincere, so Yu Songyuan had no choice but to accept.

  Yu Songyuan walked out of the restaurant, just as he was about to put the grain on his shoulder, when he heard a woman inside yelling at the manager, "You're crazy, Liu! Giving so much money to a poor kid? Twenty yuan would have been enough, but you gave him one hundred? I'm giving you my best look and you're pretending not to see!"

  The boss said, "You don't understand anything, this poor kid from the countryside may be a loser, but look at his eyes, they're harder than the stones in his mother's toilet. The poorer they are, the harder their bones are. If I didn't soften up a bit, he would definitely not sell to you. In the middle of winter, where am I supposed to find these live fish? Give him a few more bucks, just consider it charity for beggars or letting thieves steal from you, will that kill you?"

  "You're not capable of running a restaurant, what did you and my dad say back then?"

  "Don't think you can bully me just because of your dad. I don't want to be with a scumbag like you. You're flirting everywhere, hooking up with this one and that one... What were you doing with Director Li in the private room that day? Don't think I don't know. And by the way, we haven't settled our accounts yet..."

  The manager, with his hands in his pockets and a cigarette dangling from his mouth, walked to the entrance of the restaurant, only to find Yu Songyuan standing beside the door, silently gazing into the distance. Realizing he had misspoken, the manager immediately put on a flattering smile and approached him, "Don't mind it, my friend, this old woman is just being petty and annoying, I was just trying to humor her..."

  Yu Songyuan ignored him and quickly left the restaurant. Behind him was the manager's voice, "I'll be waiting for you on Wednesday..."

  He walked out a long way, and Yu Song's tears flowed quietly. He desperately restrained himself, forcing himself to forget all this. It had reached the moment of utmost difficulty, when one was under the eaves. In the past, Han Xin had suffered humiliation not far from here; today, I too had to swallow this breath alive!

  On Wednesday, he asked for a day off again on the grounds that there was an emergency at home. As a result, it rained that day, which is rare before winter. After busy fishing all day, only more than 20 kilograms were caught, including only six or seven big carp. The promised thing was not done well, but Yu Songyuan wanted to fish again, and the sky was already late.

  He went to the library and checked, at this time of year, striped bass should be returning to the river mouth to spawn, perhaps it was the unique geographical structure of this river, or perhaps it was the abundant food source here, or perhaps it was the unique ecosystem where the tide rises and falls and the sea and fresh water mix, that delayed the journey of these large striped bass.

  When he delivered the fish to the restaurant in the afternoon, the manager was anxiously waiting at the door. Suddenly seeing Yu Songyuan walking with a bag, the manager's hanging heart finally fell, and he almost knelt down to thank him profusely, insisting on giving him 100 yuan. He also promised that whenever he delivered fish, they would pay this price, the more the better.

  Yu Songyuan ignored him and didn't say a word from start to finish. He took the money and quickly left.

  He shook off the depression after being stolen, and with a refreshed spirit, he went straight to the market. After some haggling, he finally spent 78 yuan to buy an 80% new Shanghai Flying Pigeon bicycle. He also bought a bottle of roasted pumpkin seeds, a bag of salted peanuts, and 20 kilograms of corn flour on the way back.

  Returned to the dormitory, cleaned up the two large red fish that had been left behind due to death. Set up a wooden frame on the empty ground in front of the water pool and lit a bonfire. After the fire passed, roasted the fish with charcoal, sprinkled salt, and began to comfort myself. After eating the two fish, a bottle of 65-degree sweet potato wine was also drunk, and the peanuts were eaten up.

  Then, with a drunken intention, wearing only underwear, he went to the wooden bridge and punched a set of punches, until he sweated profusely, all the grievances and depression in his heart seemed to have been vented, and his mood was extremely pleasant.

  After finishing his exercise, he stood naked in front of the river under the night sky and let out a loud, hoarse howl until he collapsed to the ground, exhausted, with tears streaming down his face.

  He doesn't think this life is much better, compared to the hardships of his family, compared to the loved ones who are still struggling, what does it matter if he lives like this. He is adrift, and doesn't want to trouble more people, his own road, no matter how bitter or difficult, must be walked alone.

  The decision was made, but he was not destined to be a person who could easily be alone and should continue to be alone. The habit of living alone that had been gradually cultivated soon became lively with the arrival of a new "guest" at the "ghost house".

  "The six states were destroyed, not because of a lack of military strength or poor fighting skills, but because of corruption and bribery to the Qin..."

  This morning there was no morning reading, Yu Songyuan woke up early and went to the river embankment to recite some English words, then chanted "The Six States Theory", and the morning reading was considered complete.

  He tossed the book onto the plank bridge and performed a set of punches. At this time, he noticed that a majestic large black dog was sitting far away on the riverbank, tilting its head like a human, with its two big ears standing upright, thoughtfully watching him practice his skills.

  This was clearly the big black dog that had frightened Zhang Laoshi so badly that day. For half a month, it kept appearing in Yu Songyuan's line of sight from afar. When Yu Songyuan approached it slightly, it didn't run away, but instead calmly stared at him with its eyes, not afraid of him at all. On the contrary, there was a hint of familiarity in its gaze.

  Suddenly, two more dogs ran over from a distance, slightly smaller in size, one white and one gray. Yu Songyuan noticed that these two dogs also often appeared on the riverbank. The two dogs cautiously approached the big black dog, growling lowly and continuously issuing warning sounds and threatening sounds, seemingly competing for territory. However, the big black dog completely ignored the hostility of the two dogs and continued to look at Yu Songyuan in a friendly manner.

  Two curs teased, threatened and made a tentative attack on the large black dog. The black dog was enraged; it quietly got up, suddenly sprang at the white dog that had nipped it, seized its throat and with a quick jerk sent the yelping cur flying several meters away.

  The grey dog also rushed up, the big black dog jumped and dodged, extremely agile. In less than a round, the grey earth dog was defeated. At this time, a dramatic scene appeared.

  The grey dog was defeated, knowing it couldn't escape, so it lay down on its back, paws in the air, and put on a cute, begging-for-mercy expression. Yu Songyan knew that this big black dog must be a male dog, and that grey dog must be a **bitch.

  The big black dog, however, didn't take a liking to the grey dog, ignoring its fawning and teasing, nor did it chase after the fleeing white dog. Instead, it licked its wound and sat back down, staring at Yu Songyan. This scene left him utterly perplexed.

  I'm at a low point in my life, it's really hitting rock bottom, are you here to seek refuge with me?