Chapter 53: The Road-Building Madman (Part 6)

Chapter 53 The Road-Building Madman (Part 6)

Duan Ying danced quite well. The two of them moved through the various corners of the dance hall like fish swimming through water.

The third song began, a familiar melody with lyrics that resonated deeply: "How long can one love another? Where does the heartache end… Your promise is like a tear, crystal clear and dazzling, yet it breaks the heart… Petals rain down behind me."

Listening to the song, Hou Weidong was inexplicably reminded of the long-haired woman he had encountered outside the college dance hall that day. Her melancholy expression and warm body temperature suddenly became vivid in his mind, triggered by the music. He scanned the room with his eyes, searching for her. There were many beautiful women, and not a few with long hair, but the mysterious woman from that day was nowhere to be found.

When the song ended, all the seats were taken. Hou Weidong and Duan Ying stood in a corner. Duan Ying’s figure was different from Xiaojia’s; she was more mature, with a touch of sexiness. The neckline of her red dress was low, revealing a glimpse of pale, snowy skin under the flickering lights.

"Has Xiaojia been to Yiyang?"

"She’s coming next week. Her Garden Management Section is going on a trip, so she’s taking the opportunity to visit. She wants to see what kind of a mess my workplace is."

The music was melodious, and the lights flashed. A few fine beads of sweat appeared on Duan Ying’s face. She smiled gently and said, "Although Qinglin Town is harsh, it is a place that produces cadres. Gao Zhiyuan, the Director of the Standing Committee of the Shazhou People’s Congress, came from Qinglin Town. You are so capable; I believe you will surely stand out."

"Stand out? You’re just comforting me. You haven’t been to upper Qinglin. It hasn’t changed much since the early 1980s. There isn’t even a paved road."

Another song started, another familiar tune. A man with a thick, resonant voice sang, "I have finally lost you, in the crowded crowd."

Hou Weidong stretched his arms, and he and Duan Ying merged back into the dance floor. Still close to Duan Ying’s ear, Hou Weidong recounted the story of building the road.

Duan Ying lowered her head and giggled, "Hee, hee." Her forehead almost touched Hou Weidong’s shoulder. "Using private money to build a road? Besides, road building is a bottomless pit. Even though your family is well-off, you can never fill that gap."

Hou Weidong had been full of confidence about building the road, but he had encountered an insurmountable obstacle at the very first hurdle. He gritted his teeth and said, "Since I’ve started this road project, it must have a result. Otherwise, I won’t be able to hold my head up in Qinglin Town."

By this time, the dance floor was getting more crowded. Their range of movement gradually shrank to a small area in the center. As they turned, someone bumped into Hou Weidong from behind. He stumbled forward, and he and Duan Ying came into intimate contact. In the summer, people wore less clothing. Hou Weidong clearly felt the softness of Duan Ying’s chest. His heart skipped a beat. He truly wanted to embrace this healthy, beautiful, and sexy body. However, reason leaped up from the bottom of his heart, sternly stopping him: "Xiaojia is your girlfriend. Duan Ying is Xiaojia’s friend. You can’t do this."

Hou Weidong changed his posture with the music, cleverly breaking the contact with Duan Ying. Because of that brief intimate touch, the atmosphere became somewhat awkward and ambiguous. After half the dance, the "Ten Minutes of Tenderness" began, a popular segment in Yiyang dance halls.

"If I don’t dance this song, it will seem like I’m guilty. Better to enjoy this beautiful time openly." Hou Weidong struggled briefly in his mind, then embraced Duan Ying, immersing himself in the music. Neither spoke. They swayed gently to the rhythm. Duan Ying’s hair brushed against Hou Weidong’s nose several times, making him want to sneeze. His hands were also unusually sensitive. Through the thin red dress, he could feel the smoothness of Duan Ying’s skin.

When the dance ended, everyone rushed toward the exit. As Duan Ying was Hou Weidong’s dance partner, he felt it was his duty to protect her. He held her hand, and they walked out of the dance hall together.

"I’ll treat you to cold drinks."

"Drinking cold drinks" was a summer cooling method that had become popular in Yiyang in recent years. It involved setting up tables, chairs, and ice cabinets on the street or in storefronts, hanging a few strings of "Sky Full of Stars" lights, and that counted as a cold drink stall. These stalls were affordable and romantic, quickly sweeping through Yiyang. On summer nights, such stalls were everywhere, most doing good business, adding much color to Yiyang’s nights.

"Never mind. I need to go to the college guesthouse. It’s late, and there might not be any cars left."

Duan Ying’s expression suddenly became somewhat desolate. She said in a low voice, "Then forget it." Duan Ying had once had a quite handsome boyfriend at the college. At graduation, they cut the tangled mess with a quick sword, each heading toward a new life. On the night of June 30th, Xiaojia had delayed her precious date for a while to comfort the grieving Duan Ying.

Hou Weidong knew Duan Ying’s story well through Xiaojia. Seeing Duan Ying’s expression now, he seemed to feel the pain hidden deep within her heart.

"Okay, let’s go. Let’s have cold drinks. There’s one on the pedestrian street with a nice environment. Let’s go there."

Duan Ying nodded lightly and said, "Alright."

The cold drink shop had a pleasant name—"Green Island." The background music was the "Green Island Serenade." Hou Weidong originally wanted cola, but Duan Ying proactively ordered four bottles of beer, along with beef jerky and other snacks.

After drinking half a bottle of beer, Duan Ying was already slightly drunk. Like an old friend, she began to talk about various past events with her boyfriend.

"Back then, if he had just asked, I would have followed him to Hubei. But right before graduation, he didn’t even ask to be assigned to Hubei for me. Now I finally understand. Don’t let his resemblance to Takakura Ken fool you. Inside, he has no manly courage at all. His parents arranged his job. He simply didn’t have the courage to bring up my situation to them."

As she spoke, there was a self-mocking smile on Duan Ying’s face, but Hou Weidong saw deep pain in her eyes.

Sure enough, the smile didn’t last long. Duan Ying’s tears gushed out like the springs of Jinan, "gurgling" outward. "Graduation is the grave of love" was a popular saying on university campuses. But like all superficial truths, everyone knew it, yet only those who experienced it personally could truly feel it.

Hou Weidong drank two of the four bottles of beer, and Duan Ying grabbed the other two. But Duan Ying was now very drunk, her speech becoming intermittent. Seeing that things were getting out of hand, Hou Weidong supported her and left the Green Island cold drink stall. Yiyang City already had taxis, with a starting fare of ten yuan. As Hou Weidong supported Duan Ying out, a waiting taxi slid over.

It was difficult to get Duan Ying into the room. As soon as they entered, Duan Ying sat down on the floor. Hou Weidong didn’t have time to think much. It took all his strength to lift her onto the bed. Hou Weidong stood by the bedside, unsure of what to do. Suddenly, Duan Ying turned her head, extending it over the edge of the bed, and vomited with a "whoosh."

A sour, foul smell quickly filled the room.

"Even what a beauty vomits smells terrible." Hou Weidong first brought a basin, patted Duan Ying’s back, and let her vomit a few more times. After she finished, he brought a cup of water and supported Duan Ying to rinse her mouth, but she kept her eyes closed and refused to open her mouth no matter what.

After a while of fussing, Duan Ying finally calmed down somewhat. She lay flat on the bed, her face flushed red, her chest wet. The neckline of her red dress was already low, and now, sticking to her chest, it clearly revealed the outline of her full breasts. The skirt on her thighs had ridden up, exposing her snowy white legs.

"Damn it, is she really trying to tempt someone to commit a crime?" Hou Weidong was in his youth and had sexual experience. Seeing the beautiful woman in a drunken state, he couldn’t help but feel aroused. After settling Duan Ying, he stood on the balcony, watching Yiyang City gradually sink into sleep, before re-entering the room.

Duan Ying rolled over, exposing her entire buttocks. She was wearing white underwear, clumsy in style, loosely hanging on her buttocks. Hou Weidong swallowed hard, gathered his courage, pulled the red dress down, turned off the light, and prepared to leave.

As he was leaving, Hou Weidong unexpectedly discovered that Duan Ying’s door used an old-fashioned padlock. After entering the room, the door could only be latched from the inside. If Hou Weidong left quietly, the door could not be locked. Helplessly, he returned to the room and shook Duan Ying, but she remained asleep.

Hou Weidong had no choice but to stay. He had a faint desire to stay, but Xiaojia was rooted in his heart. Without a suitable reason, he would not stay. Now, with such a reasonable excuse, he stayed.

He went to the balcony to get some air and surprisingly found a bamboo cooling bed standing there. He moved it into the room, wiped it slightly, and used it as a bed. When Yiyang City had gradually fallen asleep, he returned to the room to rest.

Sharing a room with a beauty, even a drunken one, made it difficult for Hou Weidong to fall asleep. When he finally did, he had a series of spring dreams.

When he woke up, as usual, he had an erection. He opened his eyes and saw Duan Ying standing at the door, holding a bowl of porridge and steamed buns.