Chapter 42: Going to Dinner Without a Lunchbox

Li Xiangdong chuckled and said, "Since you said we are one of our own, how about I show you some more affection?"

Seeing the raised palm, Hou San immediately switched sides. "We literally just met today. We are not that close, are we?"

Watching Hou San's pathetic look, Li Xiangdong couldn't help but laugh. "Nonsense! The first moment I laid eyes on you, I knew in my heart that you, Hou San, would be my sworn brother from another mother!"

A Zhe chimed in with a laugh, "Haha, don't forget me! The three of us are sworn brothers."

Hou San completely surrendered. "Brother Dong, you call the shots. If you say we're good brothers, then we're good brothers. Your little brother knows he was wrong, so please spare me."

"It's good that you know you were wrong."

Li Xiangdong and A Zhe pulled Hou San up from the ground. Noticing how filthy he was, Li Xiangdong said, "Hold still, let me dust you off."

Relishing Li Xiangdong's service and completely forgetting about the beating he had just taken, Hou San started acting full of himself again. "Make sure you dust me clean! You need to be thorough, you understand? If you're this sloppy, what are you going to do when you get on the train?"

"Hou San, are you getting cocky again?"

"I won't say another word, alright Dongzi?"

"I'm several years older than you, yet you still dare to call me Dongzi? Do you need me to help refresh your memory again? Though, if your scalp happens to itch, I suppose we can skip it."

"Huh?"

Hou San wore a blank expression, utterly confused as to why the conversation had suddenly shifted to whether his scalp was itching.

A Zhe smiled and asked, "Dongzi asked if your scalp is itching?"

Puzzled, Hou San replied, "It is itching, actually. Brother Dong, how did you know?"

Li Xiangdong nodded. "If it's itching, that means it's right. It means your brain is growing. Hou San, tell me, am I right or wrong?"

"Right, right, right! Brother Dong, you are so right! I can actually feel my brain growing too. I shouldn't even talk about it—the moment I mention it, my scalp starts itching again!"

That comedic character Hou San had finally been completely tamed.

It was the first time A Zhe had ever heard that an itchy scalp meant one's brain was growing, and he burst into laughter, completely doubled over. "Hahahaha, that is hilarious."

"Stop laughing, A Zhe."

Seeing Zhang Dajun walk out, Li Xiangdong stepped forward to take the overcoat and the large leather boots from him.

Zhang Dajun asked, "What were you three yelling about just now?"

He had heard the sound of their commotion from inside the warehouse. "What's wrong with Hou San?"

Li Xiangdong and A Zhe followed Zhang Dajun's gaze.

They saw Hou San with his neck stiffened and his hands clasped behind his back, staring blankly with his triangular eyes cast upward at a 45-degree angle.

The clouds in the sky were somewhat gloomy, looking as though rain might fall at any moment. A cool breeze swept past; Hou San rubbed his nose, sneezed, and muttered nasally under his breath:

"Little Dongzi, Little Dongzi—bah! I'll call you Little Dongzi if I damn well please. Do you really take Lord Hou here for a brainless fool? You're nothing but an uncultured illiterate! The only reason my scalp was itching is because Lord Hou hasn't washed his hair in a week!"

Although Li Xiangdong and A Zhe couldn't make out what Hou San was muttering, just seeing his current pose made them shudder involuntarily, goosebumps rising all over their skin!

"Nothing's wrong, Brother Jun. The three of us were just horsing around."

"Youth is a wonderful thing, so full of energy."

Zhang Dajun felt a twinge of envy. Unlike them, he was already in his thirties. Every night when he went home and lay on the brick bed, facing his wife's demands felt every bit like undergoing a harrowing trial of tribulation!

He rubbed his lower back and took down the ledger hanging from a nail on the warehouse wall.

The ledger had a blue cover, with the bold red characters "Inventory In and Out Registration Form" written across it.

"Everything on the slip is here. You and A Zhe should double-check it, Dongzi."

Seeing Li Xiangdong and A Zhe nod, Zhang Dajun opened the ledger and began copying down the items and quantities to be claimed.

"Take a look, both of you. If everything is correct, sign your names here as the recipients."

Since there were so many items, Zhang Dajun kindly fetched two hemp ropes from the drawer.

Taking the ropes, Li Xiangdong and A Zhe set about repackaging everything.

They were currently wearing their summer work uniforms. They refolded the clothes they had just changed out of, along with the other three sets of work uniforms and the blue overcoat, tied them securely with the rope to carry by hand, and stuffed everything else into their canvas shoulder bags.

Clothes make the man; Li Xiangdong's energy and spirit had undergone a dramatic transformation compared to before!

After thanking Zhang Dajun, he and A Zhe walked over to Hou San.

"Stop daydreaming, Hou San. Where are we heading next?"

Hou San kept his hands behind his back, let out a "Hmph," raised his right hand to check his watch, and said, "First, we go to the cafeteria to grab lunch. Whatever's left can wait until this afternoon."

Seeing that Hou San was about to storm off, Li Xiangdong grabbed him by the arm and shoved the bundle of clothes into his hands. "We're supposed to be one of our own, aren't you going to help share the load?"

Hou San rolled his eyes, let out a "Hmph," hoisted Li Xiangdong's bundle of clothes onto his shoulder, and tried to strike a cool pose. The pose failed miserably, and he nearly tripped flat on his face.

He quickly glanced left and right—no one was around—gave two dry coughs, and swaggered toward the cafeteria with a sway in his step.

Watching Hou San's retreating figure, A Zhe couldn't help laughing. "Dongzi, this Hou San guy is quite a character."

Li Xiangdong smiled. "He doesn't have a malicious bone in his body. He's well-suited to be a friend."

"I need to go butter Hou San up and sweet-talk him into getting the three of us assigned together. This guy is too funny; hanging out with him is guaranteed to be a blast."

With that, A Zhe quickened his pace to catch up with Hou San.

...

When the three of them arrived at the cafeteria, the bell for the end of the shift had not yet rung. The cafeteria was sparsely populated, with only the kitchen staff and a handful of employees eating.

A row of faucets lined the entrance, and over a dozen tables were set up in the main hall. The three of them randomly chose a table and set their belongings down.

Li Xiangdong and A Zhe headed over to the sink, intending to give their newly issued lunchboxes a thorough wash. Who knew how long those lunchboxes had been sitting in the warehouse? They wouldn't feel comfortable using them without cleaning them first.

Li Xiangdong looked back at Hou San, who was trailing right behind him like a little duckling, and asked, "Aren't you going to eat?"

Speechless, Hou San replied, "Why wouldn't I eat? I've been running around with you two all morning, I've been starved for hours!"

Li Xiangdong looked him up and down, puzzled. "You didn't even bring your lunchbox, how are you going to eat? Does our cafeteria serve food with your bare hands?"

"What the fuck!"

Hou San slapped his forehead, only then remembering that he had come empty-handed and brought nothing at all!