On the first day of renting the apartment, I discovered a hole in the wall. Through it, I observed a strange couple living next door. They appeared affectionate yet strangely distant. From that day on, I became captivated by their lives.
Every day, I watched the woman next door through the small hole. Her name was Ah Zhen. She was young with a fair, doll-like face and long, curly hair. She was both mature and cute. Without a job, she spent her days watching dramas and occasionally shopping. At home, she was casual, often in a pink cartoon pajamas. She was strikingly beautiful.
Ah Zhen’s husband, Old Hu, ran a restaurant downstairs called Old Hu’s Casserole. Old Hu had a cook’s appearance, with a square face, a buzz cut, and a burly build. He was forty-something, greasy, and down-to-earth but worked hard. Every night at 11:30, he would come home, shower, go to bed, and start his marital life with Ah Zhen punctually. He was deeply in love with her, or rather, infatuated. In his eyes, Ah Zhen was the most perfect woman in the world during their private moments.
Hidden in the darkness, just three or four meters away, I witnessed their nightly routine. In my view, the slender Ah Zhen beside the bulky Old Hu was like a delicate chicken next to a fat wolf. They usually went to sleep at one in the morning, but I often found it hard to fall asleep. In the still darkness, Ah Zhen’s image lingered in my mind. She seemed so close, just a wall away, yet so far that I might never reach her.
Entranced, I was drawn to their world day after day. Old Hu and Ah Zhen were like a timed projector, entering my sight on schedule. However, gradually, I sensed something abnormal about them. They barely talked. Old Hu worked long hours, yet they had little to say. Ah Zhen never refused Old Hu, no matter how late. Most puzzling was that with Ah Zhen’s beauty, she could have easily married a wealthy or respectable man. Instead, she was with Old Hu, who reeked of grease and smoke.
One day, I heard a soft closing of the door across the hall. Usually, it happened at midnight, but it was only five in the afternoon. Looking through the hole, I saw Ah Zhen embracing a man in a shirt and shorts. The man was short and thin. “It’s a pity you quit. I searched for you for a year,” the man said. “I’m married now and don’t want to do this anymore,” Ah Zhen replied.
“Do you believe it? After you left, I never looked for anyone else,” the man said as he started to take off his shirt. “I don’t believe you! Could you bear it? Wouldn’t you be suffocated?” Ah Zhen playfully punched him. “I only want you,” the man said, gently pushing Ah Zhen onto the bed. After a while, he took out three hundred-yuan bills and stuffed them under the pillow. “I don’t want you to come back either. I think no one is worthy of you,” he said. Ah Zhen didn’t object. She helped him dress, hugged and kissed him, and sent him out.
Now I understood. Old Hu, a shrewd small-business owner, married Ah Zhen because she had her own secrets. Perhaps she had a past in the red-light district. To Old Hu, enjoying Ah Zhen was like earning 300 yuan each time, so he never missed a night. And Ah Zhen’s passionate responses were likely professional performances. Maybe for money or loneliness, she had resumed her old profession.
Five in the afternoon was peak business hours for Old Hu’s restaurant. I guessed she was hiding it from him. Old Hu’s food was good and reasonably priced in this poor neighborhood. A man like him, who worked hard for an honest living, wouldn’t want his wife to earn money this way. Learning Ah Zhen’s true nature was like a bucket of cold water poured over me. I felt extremely disappointed, like seeing my innocent first love walking out of the back door of a nightclub.
Disillusioned, I returned to my old life, gaming during the day and writing online novels at night. It was my career. Later, I met a girl while gaming. Her avatar was cute, but her skills were terrible. She was often criticized by teammates for messing up at critical moments, having a bad memory, slow reactions, and being suspected of being a guy. Honestly, I didn’t like teammates who held me back, but as a gamer for hire, I hoped for more unskilled players. So I defended her and comforted her.
Once, after being flamed and logged off by teammates, she asked me to add her on WeChat. As soon as I did, she video-called me. On the screen was a pitiful yet cute girl with a round face, crying inconsolably. After treating her to a meal of spicy hot pot, we became closer and had endless conversations. She didn’t mind my poverty, and I didn’t care about her naivete. Her name was Xiaoyue, and we started dating.
During that time, Ah Zhen disappeared from my thoughts. My relationship with Xiaoyue grew stronger, and I was extremely happy. The only drawback was that Xiaoyue was very traditional. Even when we were alone, we could only hold hands. She said she wanted to save the best moment for marriage and wanted me to marry a “complete” wife. It was both disappointing and touching. When I felt frustrated, I started watching Ah Zhen again.
Ah Zhen had few clients, but they were diverse. There were old men with white hair and young guys younger than me. They all paid 300 yuan in cash. That man often came, and Ah Zhen was only affectionate with him. Calculating, Ah Zhen’s income was much better than my hard-earned money. I felt a bit jealous and disdainful.
A month later, Xiaoyue finally let me kiss her. She was very nervous and closed her eyes tightly. She seriously told me that she would marry only me in this life. I was overjoyed. I never thought I could find a girlfriend, let alone have a cute girl say she wanted to marry me. Then she told me that she had told her family about us, and her parents, who were farmers and not good with words, had left the matter to her brother.
I immediately promised to treat her well and listen to her brother to build a happy life together. That time, she kissed me and hugged me for a long time. Two days later, her brother called her, and she handed the phone to me. Her brother said he fully supported our relationship. As long as I treated Xiaoyue well, they would accept me as family. The only condition was a bride price of 188,000 yuan. Once I was ready, I could go to propose. Xiaoyue saw my embarrassment and said the standard in the village was 288,000 yuan, and her brother had reduced it by 100,000 yuan. She said the money would be brought back after marriage to start our family.
188,000 yuan wasn’t a small amount, but I didn’t have it. My parents were in poor health, and my family had no savings. I returned to my rental room dejected and sat in front of the computer for a long time. It was already winter, and even at noon, the room was freezing cold. “Click…” The soft closing of the door sounded again. Annoyed, I looked through the hole and heard Ah Zhen say, “It’s been a long time. Did you forget about me?” “There was a problem with my business. I came to see you as soon as I had time!” the man said. “Hasn’t any other man come to see you during this time?”
Ah Zhen froze, then slapped the man and pushed him away hard. “I’m still a prostitute in your heart, right?” Ah Zhen said disappointedly. “Leave and never come back.” “No, I didn’t mean that,” the man rushed to hug Ah Zhen. “I love you too much. I don’t care about your past. Honestly, I feel unworthy of you. I just want to be with you forever.” Ah Zhen softened and hugged the man. The man kissed her, tore her clothes, and they got back to their usual business. Thinking of Old Hu downstairs, sweating over the stove and bowing to customers, while his beloved wife was upstairs having an affair, I felt a complex mix of emotions.
Soon, they calmed down. Ah Zhen leaned against the man like a little girl. “What happened to your business?” “I want to start my own business. There’s a great opportunity now, and I can make several times the profit, but… I still need some funds.” “How much?” “At least 200,000 yuan. The more, the better.” “I’ll give it to you,” Ah Zhen said.
The man jumped up in suprise and hugged Ah Zhen tightly. “When I make money, I’ll take you away. We’ll go to Shanghai, Shenzhen, or anywhere you want to live. I will marry you.” Ah Zhen was touched and hugged the man’s chest. “I’ve been looking forward to this day. I can’t stand this life anymore.” “Don’t worry. Once I invest this money, I’ll become rich overnight. Believe me.” “That’s my bride price and savings. You must not let me down. I’ll go to the bank tomorrow to withdraw the money. Come and get it later,” Ah Zhen said. The man left after getting dressed, and Ah Zhen called him “A Qiang” as he left.
Old Hu had given all his savings and the bride price to Ah Zhen, but she was going to use it to please a client. Thinking of the 188,000 yuan I needed to marry Xiaoyue, I envied A Qiang a bit. As I felt sorry for Old Hu, a dark thought crept into my mind.
The next morning, Ah Zhen and Old Hu left together and didn’t come back until noon, carrying a bulging bag. 300,000 yuan. She put it in three kraft paper bags and hid them under the freezer by the door. The freezer was used by Old Hu to store ingredients. There was a bigger one in the restaurant, and this one was probably retired.
Just after hiding the money, the phone rang. “Ah Zhen, I’ve made some new dishes. Come and try them for me,” Old Hu said. “Okay, honey. I’ll come down right away. I’m just about to have lunch too,” Ah Zhen replied. Ah Zhen went downstairs, and I quietly climbed in through the window, took out the kraft paper bags, and sneaked back into my own home. I knew I was committing a crime, but I wanted to bet that Ah Zhen wouldn’t dare to make a fuss. If I won, Ah Zhen would be punished, and I could marry Xiaoyue. If I lost, I didn’t dare to think about it, so I didn’t.
I sat at home nervously, thought for a while, and put the file bags under the kitchen gas stove. All afternoon, Ah Zhen didn’t come home. It was late at night when Ah Zhen and Old Hu came home together. “I’m going to take a shower. You go to bed and wait for me. Don’t take off your clothes,” Old Hu said. Ah Zhen was wearing leggings and boots, looking as sexy as in summer. Fortunately, Ah Zhen was too busy looking at her phone and sending messages to notice the freezer.
I wasn’t in the mood to watch their passionate scene that night. I just hoped they would finish quickly and go to sleep. The next morning, A Qiang came. After a brief moment of intimacy, A Qiang impatiently asked where the money was. Ah Zhen was a bit unhappy and didn’t say anything. A Qiang coaxed her for a long time, promising to marry her and swearing that he only loved her. Ah Zhen then pointed to the freezer.
“300,000 yuan. It’s all for you,” she said. “Darling, I love you so much!” A Qiang kissed Ah Zhen hard and started looking for the money on the floor. “It’s not here! Ah Zhen, there’s nothing here.” “Impossible. Are you kidding?” “Really. You can see for yourself.” Ah Zhen suspiciously got on the floor and looked around. She sat down in shock, covering her chest. “The money… where is the money?” “I should be asking you. Where is the money?” “I put it right here… How could it be…”
A Qiang’s face changed. He straightened his clothes. “I understand. You’re playing with me, right?” “I… didn’t. I really withdrew 300,000 yuan. All my money is in the bag and under here.” “Damn it!” A Qiang slapped Ah Zhen. Ah Zhen screamed and fell on the bed. “Bitch! How dare you play with me!” A Qiang took out his belt, folded it, and whipped Ah Zhen hard. “I’ve signed the contract. Where is the money? Where is the money?” After a few whips, Ah Zhen knelt on the ground and hugged A Qiang’s leg, begging for mercy.
But A Qiang was furious. He threw away the belt, grabbed Ah Zhen’s neck, and lifted her like a chicken to the north window. The window overlooked Old Hu’s casserole restaurant. If Old Hu looked up, he could see his wife being humiliated at the window. A Qiang pointed downstairs and said, “If you don’t have the money, I’ll post your story all over this area.”
A Qiang left, and Ah Zhen crawled back to the bed in despair, sitting on the ground and crying uncontrollably. I felt a bit guilty. Such a beautiful woman was really pitiful. Ah Zhen lit a cigarette. As she smoked, her expression changed. She made a phone call. “Honey, there seem to be rats at home. Do you still have the rat poison you got last time?” “Yes, it’s in the restaurant. I’ll bring it home later,” Old Hu said. “Okay. I’m so scared. Bring more,” Ah Zhen said.
Ah Zhen obviously didn’t want the rat poison for rats but for A Qiang. If someone died, I would definitely be involved. Panic swept over me. A few minutes later, Old Hu came home wearing an apron and handed over a glass bottle wrapped in several plastic bags. “Be very careful. This thing is deadly if you touch it,” Old Hu warned repeatedly. “Come down and have dinner soon.” Ah Zhen went to the window to make sure Old Hu had gone back to the restaurant before picking up the phone to call A Qiang.
“A Qiang, I’m sorry. I lied to you because I was afraid you would leave me. I really withdrew the money. You can come and get it this afternoon. Okay? I can’t live without you. I just want to marry you.” A Qiang was silent for a while and then said, “Okay. I’ll come and get it. I love you too. I just can’t stand being lied to by the person I love the most.” I quickly went back to my room, took out the three file bags, and waited for Ah Zhen to leave. Then I sneaked back and put the money under the freezer.
After that, I went back to my room and started playing games to calm my pounding heart. At five in the afternoon, A Qiang came again. Ah Zhen handed him a bottle of cola. A Qiang didn’t drink it. He hugged Ah Zhen and said, “I’m sorry. I was wrong. I shouldn’t have been so impulsive. But I love you.” Ah Zhen said gently, “I know. I love you too. The money and I are all yours.” A Qiang kissed Ah Zhen all over her face. “Where is the money?” “Say you love me.” “I love you. Where is the money?” “Don’t be in such a hurry,” Ah Zhen said coquettishly. “Are you tired? Are you thirsty?” “No. It’s getting late.” “Can’t you stay with me for a while?”
A Qiang couldn’t hold back and started looking for the money himself. The pillow, the bedside table, the wardrobe… Soon, his eyes turned to the freezer. Ah Zhen watched him motionlessly. “This is…” A Qiang took out three kraft paper bags from under the freezer. “100,000, 200,000, 300,000… 300,000 yuan. Why is it so greasy… Ah Zhen, I love you so much.” The bottle of cola in Ah Zhen’s hand dropped and hit the edge of the bed, spilling all over the floor. “When I get rich, I’ll come and marry you,” A Qiang said quickly. He put on his clothes and disappeared out the door.
“Greasy? The money… Why is it back?” Ah Zhen stared blankly. Old Hu came home furious after arguing with the landlord. He opened the door wide and cursed, “We agreed on no rent increase for ten years. It’s only been three years, and they want to double the rent. Damn it!” “Calm down, honey. You have skills. You can make money anywhere,” Ah Zhen poured a glass of water and brought it to Old Hu. Old Hu picked it up and threw it. “Damn it! I won’t rent a place to do business anymore. I’ll be my own landlord. Bring our savings. I’m going to buy a shop now. Let’s see who dares to mess with us.”
Ah Zhen didn’t move. “Go!” Old Hu said. Ah Zhen closed the door, and soon, there was the sound of something being smashed. I couldn’t help but look through the hole. I saw Old Hu pressing Ah Zhen on the ground and slapping her. “Bitch! Where is the money? I spent money to redeem you from the brothel. Where is the money?” Ah Zhen’s hair was messy, and she didn’t dare to resist. Old Hu picked up a kitchen knife and put it on Ah Zhen’s neck.
He swung the knife down! Ah Zhen screamed, and her whole body froze like she was electrocuted. The knife hit the edge of the bed and missed Ah Zhen. A few seconds later, a liquid flowed out from between Ah Zhen’s legs. Old Hu raised the kitchen knife again. I was terrified and quickly retreated to my room. I turned on the computer and entered the game. I was trembling all over, and the screen was shaking too. Thinking that someone was being killed next door, I couldn’t believe I had rented such a house.
“Ah!” I vaguely heard Ah Zhen scream, and then there was no more sound. Time passed slowly. I didn’t dare to move or breathe. It was as quiet as a cemetery around me. “Bang bang bang…” “Bang bang bang…” Someone was knocking on the door. I could feel my heart pounding. “Bang bang bang…” The knocking continued.
“Who is it?” I asked. “It’s Old Hu from across the hall,” the voice said. “Just a moment,” I said. I tried to calm myself down, put on my headphones, and opened the door. “Boss Hu? Why aren’t you at the restaurant at this time?” “Sorry to disturb you. What are you doing?” “Playing games. I had my headphones on. I wouldn’t have heard you if you hadn’t knocked so hard,” I said, pointing to my big earmuffs that covered my ears.
“Just came to see you. Can I come in and sit for a while?” Old Hu asked. I stepped aside and pretended to be generous. “Come in! Come in! I live alone, and it’s a bit messy,” I said. Old Hu walked around the room and then on the balcony. His eyes were fixed on the railing. He reached out, grabbed a railing, and pulled hard. The railing didn’t move.
“I have a lot of things piled up on my balcony. Does it bother you?” Old Hu asked, looking at me. “Balcony? Oh, I never go to the balcony. The smell downstairs is too strong. I’m planning to buy some sealing strips to seal the window cracks,” I said. The old house faced the fast-food street where Old Hu’s restaurant was on the north side, and downstairs on the south side was a garbage disposal station. The stench of swill was so strong that all the balconies on the south side of the building were sealed.
Our balconies were close, separated only by the railing. “That’s okay. That’s okay,” Old Hu said as he walked into the room and looked at my computer. The screen showed the end of the game interface, with big words on it: [This game lasted 26 minutes.] “Boss Hu, what’s up?” I asked. “Nothing much. A neighbor is better than a distant relative. I want to invite you for a drink,” Old Hu said.
“Now?” I looked at my phone. “It’s only a little after five in the afternoon. Isn’t your restaurant busy?” “I have staff to take care of it. Let’s go somewhere else to drink. Let’s go,” Old Hu said. “Okay… Thanks. I’ll change my clothes,” I said. Then I realized that Old Hu had also changed his clothes. I followed Old Hu downstairs, turned out of the fast-food street, and sat down at a barbecue stall a few hundred meters away.
“Have you seen my wife?” Old Hu asked as he ordered barbecue and beer on his own. “I saw her once in the corridor,” I said. “What do you think of her?” “She’s very pretty. Sister-in-law is a great beauty,” I said. “Aren’t you curious why I, with my looks, could marry such a beautiful woman?” Old Hu asked.
“Not really. Boss Hu, you have a business, an income, and skills. These days, not many people can support themselves, let alone support a wife,” I said. Old Hu looked at me with a smile. “Young man, do you just play games at home? Don’t you want to find a job or something?” he asked. I also smiled and pretended to be confident. “Playing games is my job. You don’t know. Many rich people don’t have the patience, so they pay me to play for them,” I said.
Old Hu thought for a while and said, “It’s like not cooking by yourself and hiring a chef to cook at home.” “Yes, that’s right,” I said. Old Hu’s topic gradually became normal, and his mood also relaxed. I thought I should be safe for now. With the help of alcohol, Old Hu complained that the landlord was a bad guy, increasing the rent maliciously, trying to force him out and take over his staff to steal his casserole business.
I asked him what he was going to do. He said he was an outsider and couldn’t compete with the local bully. He planned to go back to his hometown and quit. I understood that he was going to run away. “That won’t do. People in this area will lose their good food,” I flattered him. We didn’t drink much until we walked back at 11 o’clock at night. In fact, we both couldn’t and didn’t dare to drink too much.
When we got home, I locked the door and quietly went to the hole in the wall. Old Hu was sitting on the bed, smoking in front of the freezer. There was no one else in the room. When a cigarette was finished, Old Hu opened the lid of the freezer. The arm in a pink cartoon pajamas was exposed in the freezer. Old Hu looked inside again and again, with a numb and fierce expression on his face. I stayed awake all night.
The next day, Old Hu’s Casserole put up a notice saying that there was something at home and the restaurant would be closed for a few days. A moving company’s truck stopped downstairs, and several workers walked into Old Hu’s house and moved out big and small bags. They also took away the freezer. Old Hu disappeared like this. No one asked where he went or why he didn’t take his wife with him.
Life returned to normal faster than I expected. Sometimes, that’s how people are. No matter how big the thing is, once it’s over, it’s over. Old Hu’s shop started a new renovation. The sign of the casserole was taken down and transported away with the construction waste. Firecrackers announced the birth of a new hot pot restaurant. Xiaoyue asked me several times about the proposal. She wasn’t as understanding as before. Even though she knew I couldn’t afford the 188,000 yuan, she still kept urging me to give her brother an answer.
Thinking about the house I was living in, which was surrounded by the stench of swill, thinking about how a life could end with just a few knife cuts, and thinking about how kindness and marriage were nothing compared to a 300-yuan deal, I suddenly felt that love was just about money and betrayal. I told Xiaoyue that I wanted to break up. She got very angry, and we had a big fight. She called me a scumbag and slammed the door and left.
It was my first time experiencing a breakup without dignity, but I hadn’t hurt her. She could still marry her Mr. Right as a virgin. That was a little comfort. I muddled through a week. Unexpectedly, Xiaoyue contacted me . She apologized, saying that she was immature and hadn’t cherished our relationship. She said she had talked to her family, and they agreed. They didn’t want a bride price, a house, or a car. As long as I treated her well, we could get married. We didn’t even need to have a wedding banquet.
She insisted on meeting me. I softened. After all, she was my first love. As soon as we met, she threw herself into my arms and asked me to kiss her, saying that she didn’t want to live alone anymore. She was lonely and wanted to live with me. Looking at her delicate and helpless appearance, I gave in. That night, we had sex. I entrusted the house to a real estate agent to sublet, used all my savings to buy cigarettes and alcohol, and went to her hometown with Xiaoyue to meet her parents. The process was very smooth. Her parents didn’t ask for any conditions and agreed to our marriage. Xiaoyue was like a shy hawthorn, not daring to look at me.
We didn’t see her brother at home. They said he was working in a coastal city. Maybe it was a good thing. At least there was one less person to be picky. After that, we went back to my hometown. My parents were very happy to see Xiaoyue and said that she was plump and would definitely give birth to a big fat grandson. A month later, we got married. At a time when I had achieved nothing, love had a bumper harvest.
In the midst of wedding candies and countless congratulations, I forgot about the old market street, Old Hu, and the body stuffed in the freezer. I vaguely remembered that her name was Ah Zhen and that she had an unseemly occupation. For Xiaoyue, I also started to work hard. We went to another city together. I worked at the bottom, as a salesperson in a real estate project. Maybe Xiaoyue was my lucky star. As soon as I became a full-time employee, a good school was planned in the area, and the apartments sold like crazy. I also made my first bucket of gold with my performance.
Xiaoyue got pregnant. The doctor said it was twins during the prenatal checkup. I was extremely excited. That was the happiest time of my life. From renting to buying a house, from the suburbs to the city center, from a two-person world to a family of four. I thought I must have done a lot of good deeds in my previous life, and that’s why God favored me so much and gave me such good rewards. We had a very good relationship. I worked hard outside to earn money, and she took care of the children at home. I often told my friends that I got such a good wife by playing games. As long as you dared to dream, even a gamer for hire could have a spring of love.
In a blink of an eye, the two sons were both eight years old, and Xiaoyue and I had been married for ten years. To celebrate this happy moment and express my love for Xiaoyue, I decided to take them on a trip. I chose many destinations, but the two sons disagreed. They saw a video from somewhere and insisted on going to a small town in the southwest mountains. The video showed a homestay halfway up the mountain with a really nice environment. According to the comments, the owner also opened a special restaurant at the foot of the mountain, selling big-bowl dishes. It was a local internet-famous shop.
Xiaoyue said that since the children wanted to go, she also wanted to go. Of course, I listened to her. Anyway, we were tired of living in the big city. It would be nice to go to a small place and experience something different. So I immediately bought train tickets and booked a suite with a yard in the homestay. The ten-hour journey was tiring, but the children were very excited. Xiaoyue and I could only take turns to rest and watch the children to make sure they didn’t run around.
However, when we dragged our tired bodies into the door of the Big Bowl Restaurant, it was like my eyeballs were suddenly pierced by a thumbtack, and my blood vessels burst all over my body. The woman at the cashier counter was actually Ah Zhen.
Ah Zhen was supposed to be dead. The long-buried memories echoed in the air. The old market street, the iron railing, the arm in the pink pajamas, and Old Hu who came to test whether to kill me to silence me. Ten years had passed, and I didn’t know why I was so sure that it was Ah Zhen at the counter. Her long hair, her skin, her figure, like movie film, flashed on her.
The waiter took Xiaoyue and the children to their seats, but I was still in a daze. Ah Zhen looked at me. I subconsciously lowered my head and turned to leave, but I bumped into someone’s chest. “You? Hey! It’s you?” I looked up and saw a square face, a buzz cut, a burly build, and a smiling face. “Honey!” he shouted. “Come here!” “What’s wrong? Who is it? Are you?”
I quickly adjusted my state of mind and squeezed out a surprised expression. “Boss Hu, sister-in-law, is this your restaurant? What a coincidence!” Old Hu had a lot of white hair, but he was still very fat and greasy. Knowing that I had brought my wife and children, Ah Zhen immediately arranged a nice private room with a good view. This unexpected encounter made Xiaoyue a bit uncomfortable.
Ah Zhen was well maintained, with fair and translucent skin. In contrast, Xiaoyue looked like a typical housewife. She held the children’s hands tightly and walked behind with a not-so-happy expression on her face. Honestly, I didn’t want to meet Old Hu thousands of miles away either. Old Hu ordered a full table of dishes, including the signature big bowls and local famous dishes, and also thoughtfully ordered many desserts that the children liked.
Old Hu talked eloquently, saying that after leaving the old market street, he went back to his hometown, but life was not satisfactory, so he brought Ah Zhen to this small town to continue his old business. Life was like a fleeting moment, which made people sigh. Just like ten years ago, we drank and talked, but we all knew when to stop. Ah Zhen occasionally chimed in, but she was always reserved. She looked at Old Hu with tenderness in her eyes and at Xiaoyue taking care of the children with envy.
Knowing that we were staying at the homestay on the mountain, Old Hu waved his hand grandly and said, “Stay as long as you want. It’s on me. Since you’re here for a trip, I’ll cover your food and accommodation.” As soon as he finished speaking, the eldest son burst into tears. Xiaoyue apologized and said, “The children are tired from the long journey. Could you trouble sister-in-law to take us back to the homestay? I’m afraid I won’t be able to find the way.”
I was about to say that I would go back with the children, but Xiaoyue held me down and said, “You and Brother Hu are old friends meeting in a foreign land. Why don’t you have a few more drinks and sleep in tomorrow. I’ll take the children back to rest first. It’s just a trouble for sister-in-law.” Ah Zhen looked at Old Hu and said, “It’s no trouble. I really like these two children. You are so lucky.” Xiaoyue led the children and left with Ah Zhen. Only Old Hu and I were left in the private room.
Old Hu’s face was red. He held my hand and said, “Brother, it’s not easy for both of us. I really didn’t expect to meet you again.” There seemed to be words in Old Hu’s eyes. We drank for another twenty minutes or so, and then Ah Zhen called Old Hu. Old Hu put it on speakerphone.
“Husband, I changed the room for sister-in-law without your permission. There was a wild wasp nest outside the east courtyard where they booked. I was afraid it would scare the children, so I moved them to the Daisu Residence in the north courtyard,” Ah Zhen said. Old Hu said lightly, “I see. I’ll take brother there.” At that moment, I actually admired Old Hu a little. Ah Zhen’s tone was gentle and humble, like a concubine talking to the emperor in a palace drama.
“I renovated these houses on the mountain. There was a wild wasp nest outside the yard of the suite you booked. I was just thinking about finding someone to deal with it,” Old Hu said. “The north courtyard is quiet, but it’s a bit of a walk uphill. I’ll take you there. It’s nice to enjoy the mountain breeze and sober up.”
The Daisu Residence was an ancient folk house with a tiled roof and a wooden corridor. It backed onto a hillside and had a yard in front. When we were a few dozen meters away from the courtyard gate, we met Ah Zhen. “Sister-in-law and the children have already settled in,” Ah Zhen said with a smile, looking at me. “Then let’s go back. You can go in by yourself, brother,” Old Hu said as he took Ah Zhen’s hand and walked back down the mountain. “Oh, by the way, tell the children not to run behind the mountain. There is a cliff, it’s not safe.”
The cool breeze blew, and looking at their backs, I had a strange feeling. Ah Zhen was indeed alive. The only possibility was that Old Hu thought he had killed Ah Zhen, but in fact, she didn’t die. Later, they made up and moved to this small town to start a new life. But could someone really live with a man who had tried to kill her? What kind of charm did Old Hu have that made Ah Zhen so devoted?
I sighed and walked towards the lighted folk house. My originally heavy mood gradually eased. Since Ah Zhen was alive and their relationship was still so good, Old Hu wasn’t a murderer, and I wasn’t a witness, so Old Hu had no reason to silence me. A couple’s quarrel and occasional fight were common. Xiaoyue had already put the children to bed. When she heard me come in, she immediately rushed out and asked me to be quiet.
She always put the family first. Although Ah Zhen was beautiful, she couldn’t compare to Xiaoyue. In the following days, we took the children to play around the small town. The town was small, with a river, an ancient town, and surrounded by mountains. The children were very happy. They had never seen mountains and rivers before and were like discovering a new world, running around non-stop. But Xiaoyue seemed to have something on her mind. She always looked listless.
Old Hu and Ah Zhen left the next day. The staff at the restaurant said they went to the mountains to collect mountain products and cured meat. They went two or three times a season and usually stayed for three to five days. But before leaving, Old Hu told the staff that all the food and drinks for our family of four would be charged to his account and not to let us pay. He also said that he must wait for them to come back and drink the green grass wine they brought back from the mountains.
We were used to getting up at sunrise, having tea and making breakfast, and enjoying the quiet mountain morning in the yard. However, we seemed to be used to city life. In the mountains, we felt more and more headache, weak, and sleepy all day long.
I opened my eyes in a daze, feeling sore all over and my skin burning. Two figures appeared in front of me. I shook my head hard and stared for a long time. It was Old Hu and Ah Zhen. I struggled to stand up, but as soon as I exerted force with my arms and legs, I lost my balance and fell to the ground. Only then did I realize that I was tied to a chair, and the hemp rope cut into my flesh, making my bones ache.
My vision gradually became clear. Old Hu and Ah Zhen had expressionless faces, one staring at me and the other at the corner beside me. I followed their gazes and saw that Xiaoyue was also tied to a chair, silent. She didn’t struggle and was very calm. “You… the children… the children…” I knew something was wrong and immediately worried about the children’s safety.
“The children are sleeping next door. We’ll throw them off the cliff later,” Ah Zhen said. “Cliff? What are you doing? Let me go!” I roared and tried to break free of the rope, but no matter how hard I tried, it was useless. “When it gets dark, we’ll first throw the two children off the cliff to their deaths, and then push you two off from the other side. Even if the police come, they will think that the children were playful and fell off the cliff, and you two died while looking for the children,” Ah Zhen looked at her watch. “It’s almost time. There’s only one hour left.”
I knew they weren’t joking. Old Hu’s eyes were the same as when he came to test me ten years ago. I shouted at them, “I’m staying at your hotel and eating at your restaurant every day. If I die, do you think you can escape?” “It doesn’t matter,” Old Hu smiled slightly at the corner of his mouth. “We are still collecting mountain products in the mountains now. Even if the police suspect, we are not here. Besides, the Daisu Residence is not a guest room in the homestay. Who knows where you are staying?”
I remembered the phone call Ah Zhen made to Old Hu when we were drinking. It was she who changed our suite to the Daisu Residence. All of a sudden, all the strange things that had accumulated in the past few days came to mind. Ah Zhen specially changed us to the Daisu Residence, which was far from the homestay hotel but close to the cliff. They had been married for more than ten years and had almost killed each other. How could Ah Zhen be so polite when she called Old Hu?
That was their secret signal. When we were eating, Old Hu never mentioned that he was going into the mountains to collect goods the next day. The mountain road was rugged. How could he drink so much for a neighbor he hadn’t seen in ten years the night before? The feeling of tiredness spread all over my body again. Since we moved into the Daisu Residence, this feeling of fatigue and weakness had become more and more obvious. I only thought it was due to the journey, but now it seemed that it was because we were drugged.
“So you two have planned this all along,” I roared in despair. “Why? It’s been ten years. Why?” Ah Zhen pointed at Xiaoyue and said softly, “Why don’t you ask your wife why she came all the way to find me?”
I looked at Xiaoyue. She still didn’t move and was surprisingly quiet. She, who had always cared more about the children than her own life, didn’t even resist a little. “If you don’t say it, then I’ll tell your dear husband,” Ah Zhen walked a few steps towards me and squatted in front of me. “Looking at your conditions, you should be doing well. You’re right. It’s been ten years. Why come to bother us? Isn’t it good to live well?”
“You’re mistaken. I’m just here for a trip. My son saw the video of this place, your homestay and the Big Bowl Restaurant. It’s a coincidence. It’s just a coincidence…” “Really? Such a coincidence? Then what about you and your wife? Is that also a coincidence?” “What do you mean? I won’t allow you to insult her!”
“Maybe,” Ah Zhen stood up and walked back to Old Hu’s side. She showed me a bright smile, full of contempt, disdain, and even a little pity. “Your wife has been married before and had a man. They grew up together and went to the city to work together, but they had no education and couldn’t find jobs or make money. So they divided the work. Your wife was in charge of hooking up with netizens in the game, pretending to be a innocent girl, and cheating the bride price under the pretext of marriage. That man pretended to be her brother and was fully in charge of her marriage. Before you, they had already succeeded in cheating several fools…”
“You’re lying!” I interrupted Ah Zhen. “Xiaoyue’s household register shows that she is unmarried. Her brother is working in another city, and she didn’t ask for my bride price.” “Oh? Is that so?” Ah Zhen said. “Then have you ever thought about why she married you without asking for a bride price?”
In the past eight years, if someone had asked me this question, I would have firmly told them – because we were truly in love. But at this moment, I suddenly couldn’t say it. Ten years ago, Xiaoyue first urged me to give the bride price to her brother, and then within a week after I decided to break up, she did a 180-degree turn and didn’t want anything as long as she could marry me.
We didn’t have a wedding in her hometown, and in fact, we hadn’t been back to her home much in the past eight years. As for her brother who was working in another city, I had never even seen him. Xiaoyue always said that after marrying me, she was part of my family, so of course she would come home with me for the New Year. As for her parents, she only made video calls with them occasionally.
“Your wife and that man had a wedding in the village, but they didn’t get a marriage certificate. I think you haven’t been to her hometown much either,” Ah Zhen said. “Otherwise, the people in the village would have told you that she was second-hand.” I said angrily, “Even if she is second-hand, she is better than you, who has been with thousands of men.”
Ah Zhen’s face suddenly darkened. I then laughed and said, “Does your man know? Does he know that you are doing business at home and that you charge 300 yuan each time?” Old Hu walked up to me silently, pulled me up and made me sit properly, and then slapped me. His arm, which had been used to stir-frying for years, and his calloused palm made me feel like my face was being scraped by sandpaper. My head was buzzing.
“I won’t allow you to insult her either,” Old Hu said fiercely. “So it turns out that you two also have a division of labor… Sister-in-law is in charge of receiving clients and making money at home, and Boss Hu is in charge of keeping watch downstairs. No wonder you stopped running the casserole restaurant. Naturally, sister-in-law makes money faster,” I continued to laugh. “Do you know how much money she made from selling her body? You gave all your money to her. 300,000 yuan. How many casseroles do you have to sell, Boss Hu? Didn’t you want to kill her? What? Did your man sleep with so many women that he developed an iron body? The kitchen knife couldn’t even kill her?”
“You know a lot,” Old Hu silently took out a rag and stuffed it into my mouth. Ah Zhen slowly walked up to Xiaoyue, lifted her chin with her fingertips, and said, “You asked so many questions in a roundabout way that day. I’ll tell you now. Your Brother Qiang confessed everything about you two. He said that you were like a log in bed and that he didn’t care even if you slept with the gamer. Then he died. He died under the bed and was buried in the freezer.”
At that moment, I saw Xiaoyue’s eyes turn red and big tears fall down. I couldn’t believe that the Brother Qiang Ah Zhen mentioned was the brother in Xiaoyue’s phone call. Although my mouth was blocked, my mind was clear. They say that in a desperate situation, people can become very resourceful. Every second when my life was on the line was like overclocking my brain.
Even though I didn’t want to believe it, everything that happened ten years ago seemed to unfold before my eyes. I understood. Because the landlord suddenly increased the rent, Old Hu angrily went home and asked Ah Zhen to take out the money to buy a shop. When he found that the money was gone, Old Hu had a fierce quarrel with Ah Zhen.
Old Hu picked up a kitchen knife and swung it at Ah Zhen, but it hit the edge of the bed, scaring Ah Zhen so much that she wet herself. It was at that time that Old Hu found a man under the bed. With Old Hu’s shrewdness, he of course understood that Ah Zhen had cheated on him, and the man under the bed was probably related to the missing money.
Angry, Old Hu killed the man. After killing someone, Old Hu calmed down, became afraid, and his resentment towards Ah Zhen turned into fear. One was cruel, and the other was despicable. At that moment, they became one again. Old Hu came to me not to test and silence me, but to call me out to create time for Ah Zhen.
Ah Zhen cleaned up the blood, took off the man’s clothes, put on clothes that absorbed blood better for him, and stuffed him into the freezer. Then, she pretended to be the man and left the old market street. She met up with Old Hu after he moved. When I was having a long barbecue with Old Hu, he was stalling for time, and I was pretending that nothing had happened.
The person Old Hu stuffed into the freezer that night was A Qiang, wearing a pink cartoon pajamas. Xiaoyue suddenly changed her mind and said she would marry only me because she found that A Qiang was missing. She knew that fraud was a crime, and once it was discovered, only I could protect her. Marrying me and depending on me was her only choice.
The timing was just right. It was hard for me not to believe it. For ten years, our marriage, our children, and all the beautiful memories we had in the past, Xiaoyue still hadn’t forgotten A Qiang. I shook my head crazily and made sounds, staring at Ah Zhen, my blood pressure soaring.
Ah Zhen walked over and took out the rag from my mouth. “Did you marry me because A Qiang was missing?” I asked with a bitter smile. Xiaoyue looked at me with teary eyes and said after a long time, “I’m sorry.” I felt like my heart was being torn apart.
“When we were having dinner, did you make the child cry on purpose and then ask Ah Zhen to accompany you back to the homestay? Was it to be alone with her and ask about A Qiang’s whereabouts?” I asked. Xiaoyue nodded. “Did you also instigate the children to come here for a trip?” Xiaoyue didn’t say anything.
“You killed our sons,” I said through gritted teeth. Xiaoyue cried out, “I just wanted to know where he was. I guessed he was dead. I knew it was her. I didn’t know she recognized me.” Ah Zhen coldly replied, “Your Brother Qiang cheated 300,000 yuan from me. I followed him and saw that he gave all the money to you. You two even checked into a hotel to celebrate. Unexpectedly, he was still not satisfied and kept blackmailing and asking me for more money. He deserved to die. Even if he hadn’t been killed by Old Hu, I would have poisoned him to death…”
“It’s getting late,” Old Hu interrupted Ah Zhen. “It’s time to send you all on your way.” I panicked and kowtowed to Old Hu. “Please let my two children go. I can die. I’m willing to commit suicide and not dirty your hands!” “I don’t have the luck to have sons. I can’t sympathize with you,” Old Hu said to Ah Zhen. “I’ll go and throw the two children off the cliff and then come back to deal with them. You stay here and watch.”
Old Hu left the room, completely ignoring my heart-rending cries. Ah Zhen lit a cigarette. “Stop crying. Even if a wolf howls here, no one can hear it downstairs. It takes half an hour to walk to the cliff. If you cry now, you won’t be able to cry when it’s your turn.”
“Ah Zhen,” I said. “Huh?” “Is Old Hu still as in love with you as before every night?”
I wanted to save my sons. At that moment, I didn’t care why Xiaoyue had married me in the past. I just wanted to save my sons. Ah Zhen was stunned by my question.
“Aren’t you afraid that he will kill you again? As long as you die, no one in the world will know that he killed someone. With his current property, it won’t be difficult for him to marry an eighteen-year-old, right?”
“He knows that you cheated on him with A Qiang, but does he know that you are doing business at home? Does he know that you have slept with so many people besides A Qiang? At that time, he wanted to kill you because of A Qiang. Now you are forty years old and not as beautiful as before. Do you think he will still want you? If he doesn’t want you, will he still keep you alive?”
“To tell you the truth, since I saw you two, I have been careful. I wrote down everything that happened ten years ago and what happened these days on the internet and set a timed release. As long as I die, you and Old Hu will definitely not escape. You have been hiding for so many years. You stay with a man who almost killed you every day. Isn’t it just because you want to live?”
“Ah Zhen, now you have no choice. You are just a parasite on Old Hu. You only have one way to survive. You only have one way to live a stable life.”
“Shut up!” Ah Zhen shouted. I felt a glimmer of hope in my heart. My series of questions had made Ah Zhen lose her composure.
“I’ll give you a chance to live a stable life. Let me go, and we’ll catch up with Old Hu together and save my sons. Then…” I stared at Ah Zhen with firm eyes. “Kill Old Hu! Come with me to the big city and live the life you want.”
“Are you kidding? I let you go and kill Old Hu? Am I crazy? How can you guarantee that you won’t call the police? How can you guarantee that you won’t kill me to silence me?”
“I can guarantee it!” I roared. “I have a way to make you believe me! We can live together. Let’s leave this mountain valley. You take all his property, and I also have a few million yuan. You don’t have to depend on him anymore. We can live well…”
Four years later, at the primary school graduation ceremony. The two sons had excellent grades and were invited to give a speech as outstanding graduates on behalf of their class. The twin scholars received warm applause as soon as they appeared.
The eldest son recited, “We are grateful to our father. His broad shoulders are our strongest support.” The youngest son continued, “We are grateful to our mother. Her gentle smile is our happiest harbor.” Other parents looked at us with envy.
During the intermission of the ceremony, the two sons rushed towards me and threw themselves into my arms, one on each side. I smiled and said, “Will our agreement be fulfilled today?” The eldest son looked at me and then at the side, took his younger brother’s hand, and said, “Aunt Ah Zhen, from today on, my brother and I will call you mom.”
Ah Zhen was very touched and praised them for being good. The sons happily went to participate in the following activities. Ah Zhen held my arm and leaned her head on my shoulder. “Do you really not mind that I’m old?” she said coquettishly.
“How could I? The first time I saw you through the hole in the wall, I was attracted to you,” I said. “Husband, thank you. I wish we could get married,” she said. “There will be that day. It’s still too early,” I kissed her forehead gently.
For a moment, I seemed to see the scenes of that day again. I asked Ah Zhen to push me in front of Xiaoyue and untie the rope on my hands. I didn’t hesitate.
Then, Ah Zhen untied all the ropes on me, and we caught up with Old Hu, who was carrying the children. The children were saved. They had been drugged and had been sleeping all the time.
Old Hu, tied with a stone, was thrown off the cliff. Below was a deep pool, rarely visited by people. That night, Ah Zhen called the police. The police rescued me and the children from the guest room of the Daisu Residence. We had all been drugged with a knockout drug.
Xiaoyue was found dead in the master bedroom, with messy clothes, marks on her body, and the same drug in her body. The bed sheets were tested to have Old Hu’s skin tissue. I stated that we didn’t go out that day because we were not feeling well, and then we lost consciousness. I woke up tied to the guest room and could only hear Xiaoyue screaming for help and vaguely heard her call “Boss Hu.”
Ah Zhen stated that she and Old Hu were collecting mountain products in the mountains. Old Hu had been mentioning the new female guest all the way and asked her to stay in the Daisu Residence far from the foot of the mountain and also asked the restaurant to waive her bill. They were busy in the mountains until noon that day, and then Old Hu left in a hurry and never came back. Ah Zhen knew that Old Hu was lustful, so she rushed home immediately. After arriving at the restaurant, the staff said they hadn’t seen Old Hu come back. Ah Zhen then took the staff to the Daisu Residence and found Xiaoyue dead.
Old Hu disappeared and became a wanted fugitive, with no news of him. He broke into a homestay and raped a female guest. When the guest resisted, he killed her. It soon became local news, and no one went to the Big Bowl Restaurant to eat anymore, and no one was willing to go up the mountain where the homestay was located.
Ah Zhen sold everything and left the small town. “I will always love you,” I said to Ah Zhen. “Me too,” Ah Zhen gave a charming smile. “Wait another 16 years, and I’ll delete the video. Then we can live a clean life.” I hugged her tightly and said in her ear, “I don’t love you because you filmed the video of me strangling Xiaoyue. I really like you.” Ah Zhen also hugged me tightly and said in my ear, “I know. You must have a way to make me believe you!”
