Chapter 16: Running Oneself Ragged (Part 3)
Hou Weidong politely declined Liu Kun’s invitation to stay for dinner. Stepping out of Liu Kun’s gate, he found his friend still wearing his slippers, walking him all the way to the entrance of the "Second County Government" compound.
At the gate, Liu Kun stopped. "After graduation, we won’t be able to see each other every day like we did before. Stay here tonight; let us brothers have a good long chat."
Hou Weidong smiled and refused. "My brother is on a business trip to Yiyang to handle a case. We’ve arranged to meet later. Since we’ll both be working in Yiyang, there’s no shortage of opportunities to meet. You should go back; we can talk another day."
Liu Kun didn’t press the issue. "If you really have something to do, I won’t keep you. Once the assignment results are out, get in touch with me." He suddenly lowered his voice, speaking with an air of mystery. "Let me tell you something. You must keep this confidential; don’t tell anyone." He glanced around to ensure no one was listening, then continued, "My job has been confirmed. I’ve been assigned to the County Government Office. When you’re posted to a township, if you need any help, just let me know."
Streetlights filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on Liu Kun’s face—patches of darkness and light. Suddenly, Hou Weidong felt a sense of unfamiliarity toward his friend. Since leaving school, Liu Kun had developed an unspoken sense of superiority. During their college days, this feeling had been buried deep within him, but now that conditions were ripe, it had slipped out unnoticed.
"In the future, when you’re at the County Government, I’ll have to call you 'Leader,'" Hou Weidong forced a weak joke. He turned and walked toward the gate. "You should go back. My brother’s car might have arrived by now; I can’t keep him waiting too long."
Hou Weidong walked out of the "Second County Government" compound without looking back. Only after turning a corner did he quickly glance back. The compound had already faded into the night, resembling a dark, looming beast.
"Let’s see how things play out," he muttered to himself. "In two years, there will be a clear verdict. Let’s see who fares better. Liu Kun, you weren’t my match in college, and in Yiyang, you’ll be defeated by me just the same."
Hou Weidong pumped himself up as he walked. He wandered around Limin Street for a few laps before realizing his stomach was growling loudly. He ducked into a small noodle shop, ordered three taels of mixed sauce noodles with plenty of chili, and ate until sweat covered his face. Only then did he feel a bit better.
Thinking of Liu Kun’s demeanor, Hou Weidong gritted his teeth and booked a double room at a decently priced hotel for twenty yuan. A burly man with a pockmarked face was already sitting on the adjacent bed. Hou Weidong had no mood to chat; he simply lay on his bed, lit a cigarette, and puffed away in silence.
Noticing Hou Weidong smoking Hongtashan cigarettes, the big man asked, "Brother, are you in Yiyang on a business trip?"
The man spoke with an authentic Northern accent. Hou Weidong exhaled a cloud of smoke and asked, "Are you from the North?"
"I’m from Northeast China. I just came from Shazhou. Tomorrow, I’m going to the Weimin Machinery Factory to inspect some equipment." Hearing Hou Weidong speak Mandarin, he added, "Where are you from?"
"Shazhou."
The Northerner was clearly a seasoned veteran of business travel. He asked bluntly, "Are there prostitutes in Yiyang?"
Hou Weidong, fresh out of college and lacking social experience, had never engaged with such women. However, during his studies, Liu Kun had constantly drooled over the prices and locations of Yiyang’s prostitutes, giving Hou Weidong a basic understanding of the scene. After a moment’s thought, he replied, "There are some upstairs at the Far East Hotel. The girls are not bad."
The Northerner’s eyes lit up. "How much for one time?"
"One hundred for on-site service. Four hundred if you take them out for the night."
The Northerner immediately got out of bed and pulled on his pants. "Yiyang women are pretty, but they have one flaw: no buttocks. Come on, brother, let’s go have some fun together."
Hou Weidong retorted, "What do you mean 'no buttocks'? That’s called slender. You go have your fun. I’m tired today and not in the mood."
The Northerner laughed heartily twice, then left with a lecherous look, ready to contribute to Yiyang’s tertiary industry.
The small hotel had a fourteen-inch color TV. Bored out of his mind, Hou Weidong turned it on, only to find that several channels were broadcasting The Legend of White Snake. He switched through a few stations but found nothing worth watching. He went out for a walk on the street, bought a pirated copy of The Korean War, and returned to his room to read.
Since his father had served in the army in Korea, Hou Weidong had a particular interest in novels and biographies about the Korean War. This was the third version he had purchased. He read until eleven o’clock, right at a thrilling part, when the Northerner returned.
"The girls in Yiyang have such tender skin; it feels so good to touch. Brother, I played with two tonight." As he spoke, the pockmarked face beamed with joy. He suddenly remembered what Hou Weidong had said and added, "I did two on-site. The last one lasted half an hour; the Yiyang girl was wet all over."
Seeing the man drooling and still eager for more, Hou Weidong felt annoyed. He impatiently said, "Go to sleep. Turn off the light."
Satisfied, the Northerner took his towel to take a shower. When he returned, he threw himself onto the bed and soon began snoring like thunder. He was clearly exhausted from his vigorous activities.
The next morning, when Hou Weidong woke up, the Northerner was still fast asleep.
The summer sun rose early. By seven o’clock, sunlight was already dazzling the streets and alleys of Yiyang County. Hou Weidong ate three taels of small noodles at the same noodle shop from the previous day, killing time until eight-thirty. He then went to the Xinhua Bookstore to stand around for a while, finally dragging out the time until nine-thirty before heading toward the County Government.
The Yiyang County Personnel Bureau was on the third floor of the County Government building. Although he had been full of youthful arrogance at Shazhou College, dismissing the County Government as nothing, standing before the actual compound made him feel different. Looking at the square, gray building, the national emblem on the roof, and the red flags fluttering outside, Hou Weidong felt a complete lack of confidence, his mouth going dry.
"If I die, my eggs face the sky. We’re all human; what do I have to fear?"
He pumped himself up again, lifted his head, and walked toward the County Government. At the guard post, he didn’t even glance at the three security guards, who were in their thirties. They paid no attention to him. However, as Hou Weidong approached the main gate, the guards noticed two middle-aged men dressed in worn clothes, looking hesitant. One guard stepped out and said in a low but stern voice, "Who are you looking for? Register here first." Hou Weidong glanced back; the two middle-aged men had obediently stood at the door of the guard room, looking like prisoners awaiting trial.
On the third floor, Hou Weidong looked at the row of offices in the Personnel Bureau, feeling somewhat confused. After standing for a moment, he entered the room marked "Office."
The bureau office had two desks. Behind one sat a young man who, by his demeanor, Hou Weidong guessed was a graduate from the past two years. Behind the other desk sat a woman in her forties, reading a newspaper intently. Several people handling business were gathered around the young man’s desk. The young man was asking questions and writing something on a piece of paper.
Seeing that the young man was busy for the moment, Hou Weidong approached the woman’s desk and asked, "Comrade, I have a question." The woman didn’t even lift her head; she continued staring at her newspaper.
"I’d like to ask about graduate assignments. Which comrade should I speak to?" Hou Weidong asked again. The woman flipped the newspaper over and looked at it again before finally raising her head. She pointed at the young man and said, "Ask him. I don’t know about this matter."
Hou Weidong was rebuffed but didn’t get angry. He stood quietly. After a while, the people handling business left. He walked up to the young man and said, "Hello, I’d like to ask about graduate assignments." The young man picked up his teacup, took a sip, and pointed at the woman, saying, "I’m busy with work. Go ask Secretary Jiang."
The woman referred to as Secretary Jiang had a flushed face and seemed very irritable. Hou Weidong guessed silently, "Is she going through menopause? If so, her temper must be bad." Sure enough, upon hearing the young man push the matter to her, Secretary Jiang said impatiently, "Director Wan has specifically divided the work in the office. I’m only responsible for receiving documents. Visitor inquiries are your responsibility. I’m about to retire; why are you pushing this onto me?" Secretary Jiang threw her newspaper onto the desk and stormed out in a huff.