Home/ The Selfish Gene/ Chapter 5
Zheng Jieyuan’s father and Sang Zhengbai are business partners. Because of this relationship, Zheng Jieyuan and I often met when we were young, and we naturally became acquainted.
He is a little younger than me, and he still idles around all day, playing wildly with his friends. Therefore, when his father saw Sang Zhengbai, he would always have an over-enthusiasm to find a bosom friend, and he liked to chat over and over about the sons of the two families, which made Sang Zhengbai very annoyed—he really didn’t need another person to emphasize my importance to him. What a waste of a son.
【Want to come and play? I booked the venue today. 】
Zheng Jieyuan’s message popped up on the phone, because the avatar was newly changed, I almost didn’t recognize it.
In the photo, a red-haired Zheng Jieyuan is half sitting and half leaning on the hood of a yellow sports car, with a pair of gold-rimmed sunglasses on his forehead, and he arrogantly raised two shining middle fingers to the camera, appearing like a bastard.
It’s no wonder that Sang Zhengbai always felt that Zheng Jieyuan led me badly. From the beginning to the end, he almost wrote the word “bad boy” on his face.
In fact, in the past two years, the two of us have not hung out so frequently. I already quit drinking, don’t like noise and cars, and don’t like his friends. But he still continues to ask me out, not only because of his past relationship, but also because of habit.
The chat history showed the previous conversation, all of which were almost similar. Zheng Jieyuan asked me if I could get out, and I replied “No”, and I was too tired to type one more word.
This time I still wanted to refuse, but before sending it, I suddenly changed my mind.
【where? 】
Anyway, no matter whether I go out to fool around or not, Sang Zhengbai will think that I have gone, so I might as well go.
【Finally, the big Buddha will come 】
It didn’t take long for Zheng Jieyuan to send the location. It was a nightclub he had always loved to visit. It was in the city center and only twenty minutes away from my residence.
I took my coat and went out. The journey was unimpeded, and I arrived five minutes earlier than expected.
Throwing the car keys to the parking boy at the door, as soon as I stepped into the store, I was shaken by the loud sound waves and my temples throbbed slightly.
Although it was only ten o’clock, the atmosphere in the club was already very lively. On the dance floor, a crowd of men and women danced wildly, and the air was filled with the strange smell of tobacco, alcohol and various unknown perfumes, which made me want to throw up.
The waiter knew me and knew that Zheng Jieyuan and I were together, so he led me to the largest booth on the second floor without asking.
“Sang Nian!” Zheng Jieyuan saw me from a distance and raised his hand in greeting.
“Brother Nian!”
“Brother Nian.”
A group of people around him had both new and familiar faces, and they greeted me one after another.
It’s hard for me to have a good face towards Zheng Jieyuan, let alone his little followers. Without giving them any response, I sat directly opposite Zheng Jieyuan and asked the waiter to bring me a bottle of sparkling water.
“I haven’t seen you for a while, I almost thought you were going to be a good man.” Zheng Jieyuan took a cigarette case from the table in front of him and handed it to me.
“Just been busy.” I took out my electronic cigarette from my pocket and motioned him to take it back.
He glanced at the black electronic cigarette in my hand, raised his eyebrows and said, “Have you quit smoking?”
“Hmm.” I didn’t explain much, inhaled a puff of e-cigarette, flowed through the lungs, and then exhaled slowly through the nasal cavity. In an instant, the originally suffocating and unpleasant air around was stained with a strong mint fragrance.
Zheng Jieyuan took a glass of drink, twisted his body to the DJ’s music, and cheered. He looked at the crowd downstairs with great interest, his upper body swaying gently with the music, and he looked like he was enjoying it.
After 11 o’clock, there were more and more people in the club. The DJ picked up the microphone and shouted to everyone present, thanking Zheng Jieyuan for booking the venue and letting everyone enjoy the carnival.
The lights hit the second floor, Zheng Jieyuan was holding a cigarette in his hand, and at the same time he was holding a glass full of whiskey in a dawdly manner.
Young and wealthy, handsome and generous, under the lights, Zheng Jieyuan lost his timidity which he always presents in front of his father, and has a confident appearance just like a totally different person.
This may be the reason why he is addicted to nightclubs, to get the recognition and support that he can’t get from his family, but just like tobacco and alcohol, once you become addicted, it will be very difficult to quit.
It was almost twelve o’clock, Zheng Jieyuan was tired of lying around, and planned to turn to eat, and asked me if there was any restaurant I wanted to go to.
There really is.
“I’ll treat you to a late-night snack and let them follow my car.” I held the car door and said.
“Then you lead the way.” Zheng Jieyuan said, and got into my passenger seat.
Half an hour later, our group arrived at Fisherman’s Wharf by the river. Pieces of food stalls are connected together to form a spectacular matrix of bright lights.
It is far away from the downtown area of Hong Kong, surrounded by dilapidated self-built houses and old buildings, but because of its size, it is considered a place for tourists to visit, and it is now at the end of the peak season. Although it is late at night, there are not many people dining.
Several sports cars of different colors were parked on the side of the road, attracting the attention of many people. Several stall owners rushed out to snatch customers and invite us to eat at their home.
I was unmoved, with a clear goal, and led the people all the way forward, passing the stalls with the best business, and came to the most remote corner of the pier.
“This one? Are you sure?” Zheng Jieyuan looked around with doubts on his face.
I hooked my lips: “yes”.
The man who was wiping the table at the particularly shabby stall turned around when he heard the movement. When he saw me, his face could not hide his surprise.
“Ah, Doctor Ji?” I also pretended to be surprised.
Ji Chenfeng was wearing an apron, holding a rag in his hand, as if he couldn’t understand why I was here, and asked a question that sounded a little funny.
“Are you here…to eat?”
Under the apron, he was wearing an ordinary sweater and jeans, which lacked the aloofness brought by the white coat and were more casual and approachable.
“Yeah, I’m here for dinner with my friends.” Sitting down at the seat closest to Ji Chenfeng, I sighed, “What a coincidence, we can meet like this.”
Of course it’s not a coincidence. The owner of this stall have been neighbors with Yan Shanhua and Ji Chenfeng for many years. Yan Shanhua will come here every night after cleaning the hospital to do little jobs, and when there are many people in the peak season, Ji Chenfeng will also come to help, it has been going on for many years since high school.
The topics created by that stupid turtle are really limited, and in order to further approach Ji Chenfeng, I can only artificially create a chance encounter in this way.
“Chenfeng, go over and serve the dishes, I’ll greet the guests.” While speaking, a familiar female voice came from not far away.
Ji Chenfeng turned his head: “Come here.” He stuffed a folded advertising paper placed on the table into my arms, and said, “This is the menu, please take a look first.” Then he turned and left.
As soon as he left, there was no cover in front of him, and Yan Shanhua, who was walking this way, also spotted me. Her eyes widened uncontrollably, and she almost said the word “Sang”, but was forced back by my cold eyes.
She ran over in a hurry, and wiped her hands on the apron around her waist several times: “Sit…you can sit…you can sit here.”
She greeted everyone attentively, and when introducing the signature dishes of the stalls to Zheng Jieyuan, Yan Shanhua would sneak glances at me from time to time.
Such furtive staring is no better than staring openly, but if it is pointed out deliberately, it will arouse suspicion.
Just look at it, anyway, it is absolutely impossible for other people to guess the relationship between me and her.
“Order.” Handing over the task of ordering to Zheng Jieyuan, I looked around and focused on Ji Chenfeng in the distance.
Compared with other stalls in the wharf with a scale of more than ten or twenty tables, this “Uncle Li’s stall” only has three round tables, each of which can only seat five or six people.
Before our group came, there were only two guests sitting on one table in the stall. Compared with other places, it can be described as “deserted”.
Ji Chenfeng put down the plates containing the food, and took away the plates that the guests had finished eating. During the process, he glanced over here and met my gaze.
I smiled at him, showing a gentle expression.
His eyes flicked across my face, his expression remained motionless, and he didn’t give me any response, as if he was not only deaf, but also blind.
“That’s all.” Zheng Jieyuan didn’t mean to be polite to me, and ordered a whole lot of dishes.
Yan Shanhua repeated the confirmation, brought us drinks, and then went to help the boss.
“Do you know the owner of this stall?” Zheng Jieyuan took apart the disposable bowls and chopsticks, and asked curiously, “This is not your style, don’t you hate this kind of dirty roadside stall the most?”
“I don’t know the boss, but I know the waiter.” I pointed to Ji Chenfeng who skillfully poured the leftovers into the slop bucket behind the stove, and told Zheng Jieyuan the whole process of treating the turtle.
“You actually care about the life and death of that turtle?”
Although Zheng Jieyuan and I don’t have many similar hobbies, it’s true that we have played together since we were young, and he grasped the key points right away.
“Anyway, after so many years, it’s normal to have some feelings.” After finishing the dirty dishes, Ji Chenfeng came to Yan Shanhua’s side, as if he wanted to take over her work, but she smiled and blocked him.
The boss, Li Qiang, is a middle-aged fat man with a solid appearance. The short-sleeved T-shirt on his body is already soaked, and sweat is dripping from his forehead and neck. Be careful so that it won’t drip into the dishes he cooks.
What he said to Ji Chenfeng, Ji Chenfeng picked up a large tea mug on the stool beside him and handed it to his mouth, and fed him half a glass of water.
Li Qiang squinted his eyes comfortably, smiled kindly, and pointed to the rest chair next to the stove with his chin, which seemed to mean letting him rest.
Ji Chenfeng had a little smile on his lips, this time he finally didn’t refuse, and sat down.
“I remember you hated that tortoise very much at first, and said that you would stew it sooner or later.” It may be rare to find a topic that I can chat with, and Zheng Jieyuan is always going around that little bastard.
I withdrew my gaze, and my tone could not be restrained to sarcasm: “People’s hearts are always complicated.”
Dragon begets dragon, phoenix begets phoenix, although I don’t want to admit it, but I should be like Yan Shanhua.
Twenty-five years ago, when Yan Shanhua was seven months pregnant, her husband, who was working on the construction site, had a conflict with a fellow worker playing cards in his spare time. He was severely injured by a brick and lay unconscious on the bed. She was frightened and gave birth prematurely to a baby boy, which was me.
The family lost their only source of income. Faced with huge medical expenses and an infant child, she shed tears all day long. Finally, she was introduced by a kind nurse at the hospital and became the nurse of the young master of the Sang family.
Mrs. Sang Xu Wanyi died of dystocia during childbirth, leaving behind a son. When Sang Zhengbai’s wife died suddenly, his career was at a critical period. He was overwhelmed with internal and external troubles, and he didn’t even have time to look at the child, so he handed him over to this honest looking woman.
For Yan Shanhua, this job can be said to be a blessing in a pinch, but in the face of an uncertain future and the superior family environment of the Sang family, she secretly exchanged her own child with that of the Sang family under selfish intentions. Since then, I have become Sang Zhengbai’s son, and Ji Chenfeng has become her son.
If it wasn’t for the complicated heart, how could Yan Shanhua do such a thing? If it wasn’t for my complicated heart, how could I sit here, knowing everything, yet pretending to be ignorant of her?
Selfishness is instinct, greed is nature; goodness is temporary, evil is eternal. Yan Shanhua is like this, and as her son, I am naturally like this too.
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