Chapter 313: Thank You, Mr. Chen

On May 16th, a few days after the successful father-son surgery, Wang Haitao’s first act upon being discharged from the hospital was to visit Chen Shi.

Arriving early, Wang Haitao woke Chen Shi, who was still in bed. Compared to their first meeting, Wang Haitao looked vibrant and healthy, his hair neatly combed. Chen Shi said, “No need to thank me. It’s all thanks to the police. You should thank them.”

“Mr. Chen, I stayed at your place for a few days. Let me treat you to breakfast to show my appreciation.”

“If it’s too far, I’m not going.”

“It’s just nearby.”

They went to a nearby street where Chen Shi pointed at a stall selling jianbing guozi (Chinese crepes) and said, “This is pretty good. Want to try it? They don’t have this in Yunnan, do they?”

“Sure!” Wang Haitao agreed readily.

They stood in line for a while before buying two portions. Wang Haitao also wanted to try a spicy soup from the neighboring stall. They sat on small stools outside, eating the spicy soup and jianbing. Tears welled up in Wang Haitao’s eyes.

“Too spicy?” Chen Shi asked.

“No, it’s just… this might be the last time I eat this kind of humble food. I feel a bit nostalgic.”

Chen Shi set down the vinegar bottle. “Looks like I don’t need to add vinegar. I’m already feeling pretty sour.”

Wang Haitao laughed through his tears. “I’m not just whining. You don’t know my situation. My mother got involved with an educated youth during that era and had me. She could never hold her head up in public. You can’t imagine how poor we were. Only on New Year’s morning could we have a bowl of rice noodles. At school, my clothes were always patched, and I was mocked by classmates for being a fatherless bastard. When I tried to get a job, I was rejected everywhere. Dating was a nightmare; I was despised. To be honest, I’m still a virgin…”

His tears fell into the soup as he sighed and shook his head. “It feels like a dream, or like I’ve traveled through time. My life of poverty suddenly ended, and I have a super-rich father… You know what my father hopes for?”

“He wants you to take over his company?”

“He asked, but I told him I don’t know anything. I can’t even run a small restaurant like this,” Wang Haitao gestured to the small eatery behind them. “So he said, ‘I don’t expect anything from you. Your two brothers are gone…’”

“Your two brothers?”

“Yes, yes, my two brothers!” Wang Haitao laughed. “He said, ‘Your two brothers are gone, and I don’t expect you to achieve much. Just live happily. I’ve earned enough money to last you three lifetimes. If you don’t want to take over the company, I’ll sell all the stocks when I die. You can do whatever you want, even be a playboy.’”

“Actually, you’re pretty lucky in a foolish way. You know, Lu Qixing was partly responsible for his two sons’ deaths because he expected too much from them. Now, with you, he’s changed his mindset. It’s a good thing. Life is about happiness, after all. Money can buy happiness, but most people get it wrong, chasing money as if it’s happiness itself, and end up not being happy.”

“Mr. Chen, talking with you is really enlightening.”

“Not at all, not at all. Just random thoughts… Do you have any plans for the future?”

Wang Haitao smiled sheepishly. “Not really. Now that I have more money than I know what to do with, do you have any financial difficulties…”

“No, no!” Chen Shi waved his hands frantically. “I’ve heard there are many poor areas in Yunnan. Why don’t you donate to build some hope schools? Help your father accumulate some good karma; maybe he’ll live longer.”

“Great idea. I’ll have my secretary handle it this afternoon… Mr. Chen, walk with me a bit more!”

“Mr. Wang, let’s leave it here. I don’t expect any repayment from you. I was just doing my job.”

“I asked around. You’re not even a policeman. How is this your job?”

Chen Shi was at a loss for words, unsure how to explain that he was just a taxi driver.

After finishing their meal, Wang Haitao bought a pack of seven-yuan cigarettes, opened it, and sighed. “This might be the last time I smoke such cheap cigarettes in my life…”

“Can you stop with these farewells to a life of poverty?”

“Mr. Chen, come see my new house! I… I want to show off a bit! It’s really big!”

Chen Shi frowned. “I’m leaving. I’m leaving.”

“No, I didn’t mean it like that. You’re my first friend in Long’an, and maybe the poorest of all my future friends. I cherish you!”

“Our relationship ends here. You’ll have many friends in the future.”

“Please don’t look down on me just because I’m rich now. Who knows, maybe one day you’ll find a rich father too. Luck is unpredictable.”

“Who are you insulting?”

“I didn’t mean it that way…”

Under Wang Haitao’s persistent pulling, Chen Shi ended up getting into a luxury car driven by a chauffeur because Wang Haitao couldn’t drive.

As the luxury car left the neighborhood, the vendors selling jianbing guozi and spicy soup were stunned, asking those around if the person who just got in the car was the same one who ate at their stalls.

Watching the scenery pass by, Wang Haitao smiled and remarked, “This is much more comfortable than a bus… I regret it now. I should have taken the bus. It might have been my last bus ride ever.”

“You can buy a bus and ride it whenever you want, Mr. Late Bloomer Rich Kid,” Chen Shi retorted.

As they got out, Wang Haitao said, “You go first. Oh, I forgot, we don’t need to pay.”

At Wang Haitao’s luxurious house, the place was newly decorated but without servants. Wang Haitao said, “I haven’t lived here yet. I don’t know how it feels… Mr. Chen, look, this is the bathroom. It’s huge!”

“You don’t need to show me around. I won’t be coming back.”

“This house was a gift from my father. I don’t plan to live here. I plan to stay with him. That woman who poisoned him has been prosecuted. With great power comes great responsibility, attracting villains. I think I’ll feel better taking care of him myself.”

“Oh!” Chen Shi didn’t have much to say about the lives of the rich and gave a perfunctory response.

“Wait a moment.”

Wang Haitao brought out a large red certificate and keys, grabbing Chen Shi’s hand. “Mr. Chen, this house is yours, a token of my gratitude!”

Chen Shi’s mouth hung open, stunned for a full half-minute…