Chapter 96: Chapter 96: I Want You to Wish You Were Dead!

Lin Shanhu, his father-in-law, once said something to Chen Xiao.

Change comes from within, not from appearances.

After his rebirth, Chen Xiao would still raise a glass and drink with Lin Shanhu, stopping when appropriate.

At this moment, Lou Xiaodong had prepared several dishes, but when he brought out the white wine, Chen Xiao politely declined and chose some beer instead.

As they were eating and drinking, before long, a man about the same age as him walked over.

Seeing this, Lou Xiaodong quickly stood up to introduce: “Chen Xiao, this is my son Lou Yang. He’s a few months younger than you. Xiao Yang, this is your Brother Chen from Jiang Province.”

Chen Xiao looked at Lou Yang and seemed to understand another meaning behind this meal.

Lou Yang glanced at Chen Xiao, then pulled out a cigarette from his pocket and said, “Brother Chen, have a smoke.”

Chen Xiao smiled and waved his hand: “I only drink, I don’t smoke. Judging by your hands, you smoke quite a lot, don’t you?”

Between Lou Yang’s right index and middle fingers, there was a yellowish stain, a clear sign he often smoked heavily.

Lou Yang smiled and nodded: “I’m the opposite of you; I don’t really like drinking, I just enjoy this.”

Saying this, Lou Yang deftly flicked the cigarette into his lips from the pack.

Chen Xiao was originally a streetwise guy.

He’d seen countless displays of smoking to look cool and couldn’t help but give a thumbs up at Lou Yang’s pose, saying to Lou Xiaodong: “Brother, this hierarchy’s a bit messed up now, eh?”

Lou Xiaodong was momentarily stunned.

He had earlier mentioned he was slightly older than Chen Xiao, so he asked not to be addressed as an elder, calling himself ’brother’ instead.

Now, with his son present, having Lou Yang call Chen Xiao ’Brother Chen’ did indeed mix things up.

Recovering his wits, Lou Xiaodong laughed heartily: “It doesn’t matter, we call each other what we want, you call yours, I call mine.”

Chen Xiao didn’t mind these details. At this time, Lou Yang also proactively poured himself a glass of beer: “Brother Chen, my dad told me over the phone. But from the looks of it, it seems like he hasn’t had the nerve to bring it up with you, has he?”

Hearing Lou Yang’s words, Lou Xiaodong looked momentarily astonished, then extremely pleased with his son.

Feigning ignorance, Chen Xiao asked Lou Xiaodong: “Brother, is something the matter?”

“It’s like this, Chen Xiao, Lou Yang has never really worked a proper job. I see your home appliances project in the countryside has great potential, so I brought Hu Yue along, hoping you could guide Xiao Yang.”

Lou Xiaodong revealed his true intentions.

Chen Xiao suddenly understood: “So that’s what this is about. The pilot program for rural home appliances in Qingxi is in full swing, I shouldn’t have a problem helping introduce Lou Yang. But does he want to do it? I reckon it’ll be tough, once things get busy, he might constantly have to carry those appliances.”

Chen Xiao’s words were quite direct.

He could afford Lou Xiaodong and Hu Yue this favor, but not too much.

Their relationship hadn’t reached the point where he would call in favors with those influential in Qingxi’s home appliance industry yet.

But even this much satisfied Lou Xiaodong. At their age, they naturally understood that while others could connect you, what mattered was one’s own performance.

The reason they sought Chen Xiao’s help was simply because once Lou Yang entered the home appliance project, people at the top might come to know of him.

From then on, as long as Lou Yang performed well, people might associate his success with Chen Xiao, making them pay more attention to him.

Before Lou Xiaodong could express his gratitude, Lou Yang jumped in to say: “Brother Chen, in fact, my dream has always been to become a police officer like Old Lou. But, as you know, Old Lou made mistakes, making it very difficult for me to become an officer in this life. Old Lou has never asked anyone for favors, today though we didn’t say much, but I know he’s asking you for help.”

“I don’t really know what this home appliances project is about, but if Old Lou and Uncle Hu both think highly of it, then it can’t be bad. So Brother Chen, please guide me in the future!”

Saying this, Lou Yang downed a glass of beer in one go, slamming the cup down on the table.

Those in the know understood it was Chen Xiao doing a favor, and Lou Yang showing gratitude. Outsiders might think Chen Xiao was some big guy, offering Lou Yang a golden chance!

Lou Yang’s response made Lou Xiaodong lower his head in shame.

Yet, looking at Lou Yang, Chen Xiao felt an oddly familiar sense.

That strong rebellious vibe, and the misguided belief in being free and unrestrained—it was just like Luo Dali!

Awkwardly, Chen Xiao also raised his glass. After drinking, he chuckled wryly: “I think Lou Yang would get along well with my group of buddies.”

Lou Yang sat upright, while Lou Xiaodong hurried off to say: “I’ll go make a few more dishes.”

Chen Xiao was about to protest, but Lou Xiaodong had already headed back to the late-night food stall.

Seeing this, Hu Yue said to Lou Yang: “Go help your dad out.”

“Okay.”

After Lou Yang left, Hu Yue sincerely said to Chen Xiao: “Thanks, Chen Xiao, for doing this favor for my teacher.”

Chen Xiao smiled and shook his head: “It’s just a word, no need to be so polite.”

Hu Yue sighed: “If it weren’t for my teacher’s past troubles, otherwise Lou Yang working with us would be no issue. That boy, for all his clumsiness, is quite sharp.”

“A real pity, though what other jobs did he do before?” Chen Xiao asked with a smile.

Hu Yue helplessly spread his hands: “You might never guess, my teacher doesn’t want me to say, but… it’s unspeakable!”

Chen Xiao was taken aback, what sort of job would be deemed unspeakable?

Looking at Lou Yang’s build, Chen Xiao suddenly widened his eyes in surprise, thinking: “Could it be? That guy looks decent, strongly built, but his father was once a police officer!”

Seeing Hu Yue’s demeanor, Chen Xiao knew it was best not to ask further questions.

Soon, Lou Xiaodong fried a couple more dishes. The group didn’t bring up work again, nor did they mention any more cases, maintaining a mutual silence.

Suddenly, while eating, Chen Xiao caught a whiff of a foul stench.

He looked up to see a few tables hurriedly fleeing in panic.

By the time he realized what was happening, he watched as an old woman walking up simply dumped the contents of a bucket she was holding over Lou Xiaodong’s head.

Instantly, Lou Xiaodong was covered in disgusting waste.

Seeing this, Hu Yue grabbed the old woman, but her steely, triangular eyes remained fixed on Lou Xiaodong, cursing:

“So, it really is you, you murderer, you’ll never die a good death!”

Initially filled with rage, Lou Xiaodong’s anger dissipated entirely upon seeing the elderly woman.

Next to him, Lou Yang seemed to recognize her too, clenching his fists with bloodshot eyes: “Old lady, are you crazy? Aren’t you done yet? Do you believe I’ll get rid of you eventually?”

“Ha ha, not done! Go ahead, learn from your dad now and get rid of me, otherwise don’t expect peace for your family!”

Hu Yue gave Lou Yang a stern glare, then icily turned to the old lady: “Shut up, it was your son who broke the law first, you’ve pestered for years, been detained so many times, isn’t that enough?”

The old lady showed no fear, angrily pointing a finger at Lou Xiaodong: “My son was tried and punished by the law. Who the hell is he to substitute the law and kill my son? I’m telling you, as long as you keep moving, I’ll keep finding you! Every time I find you, don’t expect to do business and make a living!”

“You’ve turned our family into a laughingstock, and I want your entire family to live in misery…hahaha!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep