The Game of Life

January 15th marked the last day of Taifeng Building’s operations before the New Year. The entire staff of Taifeng Building was like students who didn’t have to take finals and went straight to holiday break, with everyone’s face brimming with happy and joyous smiles, and the whole building radiated an air of festive cheer.

That happiness also infected Han Guishan, who, despite initially feeling gloomy about Taifeng Building’s last day, left in the afternoon with a joyful smile, carrying several dozens of pickled vegetable buns. This was in stark contrast to the crestfallen look on Han Youxin trailing behind him.

Believe me, once Little Youxin finds out he doesn’t get any of those pickled vegetable buns, his happy smile will return to his face.

During the rest break in the late afternoon, Jiang Feng took a moment to go to the bank and withdrew 8,888 yuan in cash, all in bills, which he stuffed into a red envelope. He planned to hand this bulging red envelope to Ji Xia first thing the next morning.

After the evening’s business ended, no one left on their own; instead, they stayed in the restaurant waiting for Wang Xiulian to distribute the red envelopes.

Although the restaurant wasn’t operating during the New Year period, Wang Xiulian felt that the New Year’s bonuses still had to be given out, as a way to usher in good luck a little earlier.

The amount of money in each person’s red envelope varied from a few hundred to a few thousand, with the amounts decided by Mrs. Wang Xiulian, Fan Mei, and the two Sirs, based on everyone’s performance and length of service. Newcomers would naturally get less, such as Master Wang, Dong Shi, and Dong Li, who only received 200 yuan each in their red envelopes. However, the envelope paper was the same for everyone, purchased by Mrs. Wang Xiulian from the wholesale market.

Among the kitchen staff, the thickest red envelope didn’t go to Jiang Feng or Wu Minqi, but to Zhou Shi, who, after finishing the last day, was set to resign and go back home to start his own business.

These past few months, Zhou Shi had been anything but distracted, working diligently and earnestly every day. If not performing at 100% of his capabilities, he was at least giving eighty or ninety percent, and his reputation had improved drastically, receiving very few bad reviews. In this last half-month, he earnestly mentored Dong Shi, giving his all without holding back and was equally generous with his colleagues, ready to answer any question they had, like a bonanza of knowledge in his final month.

After discussing it for a few days, Mrs. Xiulian and the Sirs decided that even though Zhou Shi was leaving, they should still give him a hefty red envelope to leave him with a good impression of Taifeng Building, especially since Mrs. Xiulian had indeed deducted quite a bit from his salary in the previous months.

After receiving their red envelopes, everyone was overjoyed. Even though the New Year hadn’t arrived yet, they couldn’t help but wish each other a Happy New Year, as if they were paying respects to their elders back home.

Once Mrs. Xiulian finished handing out the last red envelope, which was the 666 yuan one meant for Ji Xia, everyone was ready to disperse. They all prepared to go home to rest well and gather some luck in hopes of winning the top prize at tomorrow’s annual gathering.

Since ancient times, it’s been said that it’s hard for the diligent to match the luck of the blessed; just one lucky draw at the annual meeting can make up for any deducted salary from the year.

Jiang Feng was about to head home with Wu Minqi when he turned around and saw Zhou Shi crouched at the entrance of Taifeng Building, smoking a cigarette and staring at the ground. Jiang Feng told Wu Minqi that he wanted to say a few words to Zhou Shi and asked her to wait for him.

Wu Minqi nodded her acknowledgment and waited for Jiang Feng at the intersection, as he approached Zhou Shi.

Zhou Shi smoked but didn’t have a big addiction – only indulging occasionally when happy or troubled. Despite not smoking much on regular days, his demeanor while holding a cigarette was that of an old smoker, particularly the way he crouched by the roadside like a little ruffian at a school gate.

“It’s late, why haven’t you gone back?” Jiang Feng squatted down, facing Zhou Shi.

“I’ll head back after finishing this cigarette,” Zhou Shi said. “Little boss, want one too?”

“I don’t smoke,” Jiang Feng waved his hand, “My grandma has a chronic sore throat and can’t stand the smell of smoke; no one at home smokes.”

“Not smoking is good,” Zhou Shi laughed, “I’ve been wanting to quit for a long time but never managed to, luckily my craving isn’t strong so it’s not too bothersome for others.”

Zhou Shi then took a couple of hard drags and stubbed out the cigarette. “Why hasn’t the little boss gone back himself? It’s quite late.”

“Well, you’re about to resign and return to your hometown. I’m afraid there won’t be many more chances to talk, so I’m taking the opportunity to have a proper chat,” Jiang Feng said with a smile.

Zhou Shi was silent.

A chill wind blew by, and Zhou Shi, who hadn’t zipped up his down jacket, involuntarily shivered and stood up; Jiang Feng stood up alongside him.

“Are you really going home to open a store, and not considering staying here?” Jiang Feng asked.

“Even if I wanted to stay, I can’t now. When I called home and told my mom I was preparing to go back and open a store, she was overjoyed. She has already rented the location and paid the deposit and rent in full. If I back out now, wouldn’t I be at a huge loss?” Zhou Shi said, “I’ve been in Beiping for so many years without making a name for myself. Although I’ve saved some money, it’s barely enough for a down payment on a house. Without a wife or a girlfriend, it’s time for me to settle down at home.”

Zhou Shi had made up his mind, so Jiang Feng didn’t insist on him staying, but after spending months together sharing watermelons and developing a comradery, the thought of him leaving to resign and return home was somewhat hard to let go of.

“It’s really a pity. If you stayed and continued with this momentum for a couple more years, maybe by the time you went back, you could have bought a house outright,” Jiang Feng pretended to lament.

“Buying a house outright without a wife, my mom would go crazy chasing me around the city with a knife,” Zhou Shi shook his head, “Going back is also good. There aren’t any famous shops where I’m from, so maybe after a few decades I could make a name for myself as a master.”

“By the way, the red envelope you gave me today felt quite thick, I reckon it was a substantial amount, thanks a lot.”

“Don’t thank me, I had no say in how much money to put in the red envelope. There’s actually less money in mine than yours. The amount was decided by my mom and my two grandpas; if you think it’s too much, just consider the extra money as our family’s gift for your new shop. Anyway, when your new shop opens, we won’t be able to come,” Jiang Feng said with a laugh.

Zhou Shi smiled, took out a box of cigarettes from his pocket, lit one, and said, “Young boss, thank you.”

“Thanks for looking after me these past few months.”

“Why call me young boss when you’re already resigning?”

“Even though I am resigning and have submitted my resignation letter, I still have to go to tomorrow’s annual meeting. Since there will be a lucky draw, of course, I have to call you young boss again. After all, it’s the boss who gives out the money,” Zhou Shi took a deep drag of his cigarette, turned his face, and exhaled the smoke.

“It’s getting late, I should head back too. By the way, young boss, would you mind letting me know what the grand prize is at tomorrow’s annual meeting?”

“You’ll find out tomorrow. If I tell you now and you spend all day expecting it, but don’t win it tomorrow, wouldn’t that just add to your worries?” Jiang Feng turned around, waved at Zhou Shi, “I’m off. Unlike you, I can’t sleep in tomorrow. I still have to take Xiaxia shopping,” he said.

Zhou Shi just smiled without saying anything, glanced up at the sign of the Taifeng Building, put out the cigarette he had just lit and only taken two puffs of, and left.

His figure radiated a sense of resignation.

Jiang Feng met up with Wu Minqi at the street corner.

“How did it go?” Wu Minqi asked.

“Couldn’t persuade him, he’s still going home. Zhou Shi has already rented the shop space. If I had talked to him two months earlier, maybe I could have convinced him,” Jiang Feng said.

“Even two months earlier you couldn’t have convinced him. It’s good for Brother Zhou to go home. He’s not fit for staying in Beiping,” Wu Minqi took Jiang Feng’s hand, and they walked forward together, “Are you accompanying Xiaxia to go shopping tomorrow? Did you withdraw the money?”

“Yes, I did. It’s on the hall table. Now I’m actually a bit worried that giving her so much money at once will make the girl spend it recklessly,” Jiang Feng said in the tone of an old father.

“Let Xiaxia spend her own money however she wants. Even if she buys over a hundred chocolate pies, she’ll have to finish them herself or take them home, right?” Wu Minqi laughed.

“That’s true. Anyway, New Year’s is almost here, so she should buy whatever she wants. Besides, Xiaxia doesn’t have a mobile phone to spend on game top-ups, so she can’t really waste it,” Jiang Feng agreed.

The two of them walked side by side. Even though the streets were as deserted as usual, it felt as if the air carried a hint of the New Year’s spirit.

New Year’s was fast approaching.

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