Chapter Four: Turmoil on the Way to Work

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In July, the sun blazed mercilessly. Sha Leer and Gang Mengzi sat together on the train, accompanied by four other people from Shangtao Village. All of them were seasoned workers. As soon as they boarded, they began playing cards. Among them was Tao Hailong’s elder brother, Tao Gaolong, whose glance toward Sha Leer and Gang Mengzi carried a hint of hostility.

Tao Gaolong was full of cunning schemes, but Sha Leer couldn't be bothered to pay him any mind.

The six of them occupied an entire compartment, playing cards and boasting with unrestrained tongues. Besides, the train was filled mostly with migrant workers, their experiences cut from the same cloth, and their stories, whether bawdy or cheerful, flowed without inhibition.

“Leer, you’re heading to Guangdong—are you going to look for your father?” asked one of them, named Tao Liang, who got along with Sha Leer and used to play with him before. He spoke while shuffling the cards.

“Look for him?” Sha Leer turned his face to the window. “He has nothing to do with me.”

“Oh…” Tao Liang knew Sha Leer’s father had never cared for him. Still, having started the conversation, he pressed on. “Your dad really is something else. Never made much money, yet he drank, gambled, whored, and caroused. Your stepmother is even worse—she squeezes every penny out of him but fools around with all sorts of men outside. Not one of them is worth a damn…”

“Liang, don’t bring up that crap with me, or I’ll lose my temper.”

Sha Leer’s face darkened.

“Alright, I’ll drop it,” Tao Liang laughed loudly. “Leer, when we get to Guangzhou, I’ll take you to see some women. The ones in the brothels are gorgeous and cheap—I guarantee you’ll have the time of your life.”

Sha Leer rolled his eyes and ignored him, but Gang Mengzi perked up.

“Liang, how much does it cost?” Gang Mengzi asked.

“Heh, depends. Quickies go for fifty bucks a time. Sometimes even less—I once only paid thirty. Cheap, right?”

“Yeah... really cheap.” Gang Mengzi’s eyes shone with admiration, his arousal barely contained by his trousers. Tao Liang had been hustling in Guangzhou for five or six years. He hadn’t brought much money home, but he’d certainly enjoyed himself.

“Gang Mengzi, want me to show you around?”

“I want to… but I don’t have money right now.”

“No money? Doesn’t matter, you’ll have some later. When you do, come find me,” Tao Liang suddenly yelled, “Bomb! Haha, I win again! Pay up.”

“Liang, don’t lead Gang Mengzi astray,” someone joked.

“Lead him astray? Hell, he’s a bad seed by birth!” Tao Liang laughed while gathering his winnings. “Look, his pants are about to burst. Who knows, maybe he’s packing. If he lands a rich woman, he’ll be set.”

Gang Mengzi didn’t get angry; he wasn’t shy about wanting women. What man isn’t? Especially at his age, full of longing and curiosity about the opposite sex. He quickly blended in with the others, while Sha Leer, irritated, gazed out the window. Tao Liang’s words had completely ruined his mood. He no longer had any real memory of his parents; whatever vague impressions he’d had before age eight had faded into nothingness.

Yet Tao Liang’s words stirred those blank memories, casting faint shadows in his mind.

“Damn it all…” he muttered unconsciously. The blurred shadows turned into racing fields outside, the scenery whirling by. Trees, harvested rice paddies, houses, pedestrians, roads… and then, his grandfather’s face filled his thoughts: gentle, white-haired, stooped, with calloused hands.

His eyes grew moist.

“Leer… live a good life… don’t be like your father… stay away from him… live well, find a wife…”

His grandfather’s image lingered on these last words—his final message, his last will. Sha Leer clenched his fists tight, almost unconsciously.

“Leer, play a couple of hands for me. I need to use the restroom,” Tao Liang’s voice broke his reverie.

“Let Gang Mengzi play, I don’t feel like it.”

“Leer, I have no money—can you lend me some?” Gang Mengzi was eager to play.

“You want to lose, huh?”

“I might not lose, you know?”

“You’ll definitely lose.” Sha Leer thought for a moment. “Fine, here’s seven bucks, just won it back. I’ll lend it to you.”

“Lend me a bit more—ten more, come on.”

“Not a chance.”

Sha Leer shot him a look, then turned back to the window.

At that moment, Little Gold, the small snake, slipped out of a bamboo tube, crawled onto the back of his hand, and flicked its red tongue, licking his skin. Watching the tiny snake, Sha Leer’s eyes softened, and he stroked its back.

Tao Liang noticed the snake, put down his cards in surprise, and stood for a closer look.

“Leer, is this the snake you keep? It’s beautiful.”

“Snake?” Not only their group but people from other seats craned their necks to look. “Doesn’t it bite?”

“It’s so pretty, with a little crown on its head. What kind is it?”

“Never seen a snake like this before.”

Everyone started discussing at once. Unafraid, the little snake raised its head proudly, flicking its tongue, emitting faint hissing sounds.

People were interested, but no one dared get too close.

“Make way, let me through—I need the restroom,” Tao Gaolong stood up, pushed through the crowd, and squeezed out. The rest kept gawking.

Suddenly, several train police officers approached. “What’s going on here? Who brought a snake onto the train?”

The officers had come from the direction Tao Gaolong had gone; Sha Leer knew he’d tipped them off. He said nothing but signaled the snake, which immediately slipped up his sleeve and vanished.

“Snake? Where’s the snake?” Sha Leer grinned. “It’s not a snake, just a little bug.”

“We saw the snake. Hand it over,” the officer said sternly. In front of migrant workers, police liked to show off their authority. They’d come because of Tao Gaolong’s report, fearing trouble on the train, but now, seeing such an unusual snake, their greed was piqued. Such a specimen might fetch a handsome price.

“I said there’s nothing, and there isn’t. Search me if you don’t believe it!”

Who would dare search him? A snake could be deadly. But would the police let it go? Would they allow a mere worker to get away? Their pride was at stake.

“Keep lying, and we’ll arrest you.”

“Arrest me? What law have I broken?” Sha Leer smiled coldly. “Where would you take me? Fine, I’ll go, but you’d better not touch me… unless you want to get bitten.”

The police hesitated. Truth be told, they didn’t dare touch him either; if the snake bit them, it could be fatal.

“Come with us.”

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“I’ll go—what do I have to fear? Where to?” Sha Leer stood up. “Where are we going?”

“To the dining car.”

“The dining car? Are you buying me a meal?” Sha Leer walked ahead of them. “You’d better keep your distance unless you want to get bitten.”

The police kept back. As soon as Sha Leer left with them, Tao Gaolong returned, a look of smug satisfaction on his face.

“Gaolong, you called the police?” Tao Liang caught on quickly.

“Call the police? What for?” Tao Gaolong denied, but his gloating expression only deepened.

“You bastard, you’re not even human!” Gang Mengzi exploded, raising his fist to strike Tao Gaolong. “I’ll kill you!”

Tao Liang hurried to restrain Gang Mengzi. Tao Gaolong wasn’t one to back down, and leapt up to fight back. Chaos erupted in the compartment.

Meanwhile, Sha Leer reached the dining car.

“Hand over the snake,” more police arrived. Sha Leer remained calm; not even the threat of death would make him give up Little Gold. He sprawled in a chair, refusing to budge. Passengers and staff began to gather.

“What snake?” someone asked.

“Where’s the snake?”

“It’s on him,” an officer said. “This kid is stubborn—he just won’t hand it over.”

“There’s nothing on me. Search me if you want! Should I strip down to prove it?”

Now that he’d started bluffing, he wasn’t about to give up. No one would dare search him for real—if the snake appeared, no one would catch it.

“On him?” a female attendant’s face turned pale, biting her lip nervously. “Doesn’t the snake bite him?”

“Everyone stay back. If the snake gets out, it might bite you.”

The police chief arrived, listened to the officer’s explanation, and quickly assessed the situation. With a single warning, he scared off the onlookers. The chief approached Sha Leer with a smile.

“Young man, is there really a snake?”

“No.”

Neither threats nor smiles could sway Sha Leer—he was determined to deny everything. Suddenly, a noisy group arrived, followed by train staff. In the lead were Gang Mengzi and Tao Gaolong; Gang Mengzi’s face was swollen, and Tao Gaolong sported a black eye.

“What happened to them?” the officer asked a staff member.

“They were fighting.”

Things were getting complicated. The chief sent others to deal with Gang Mengzi and Tao Gaolong, while he continued questioning Sha Leer. Seeing their injuries, Sha Leer knew exactly what had happened. Soon, the officer handling their case returned to report to the chief—it was the snake that had triggered the fight.

“Young man, see? Because of you, your friends are fighting. Hand over the snake.”

“Chief, I told you, there’s no snake. Search me if you don’t believe it.”

The situation was getting out of hand; the chief was at a loss. A crowd of passengers blocked the dining car entrance. Then the conductor arrived—a woman with a dignified presence.

“Lao He, what’s going on?” she asked.

The chief explained, and the conductor pondered.

“Lao He, let it go. Even if there is a snake, if he can keep it hidden, it must be his pet. Leave him be.” She glanced at the passengers crowding the doorway and smiled wryly at Sha Leer. “Still, young man, for safety’s sake, you’ll need to stay in my office and not come out. If the snake bites someone, we’ll be in trouble.”

“Fine, whatever you say. I don’t have a snake anyway.”

The chief could only smile wryly, too. He didn’t want a bigger commotion on the train.