Carrying a Jurassic on me
Chapter 112 - 53: Picked up a free worker_1

Chapter 112: Chapter 53: Picked up a free worker_1

Those watching the spectacle from either side of the street didn’t have Yan Fei’s reservations, and the majority were quietly laughing as they watched the two old men scolding their sons. In such a small town, everyone knew everyone else. No one tried to stop the two old men; it was only natural for a father to scold his son.

The local police station couldn’t interfere with such matters. Even if they arrested gamblers, could they ensure that they’d mend their ways upon release? Besides, nowadays, it’s not uncommon to see children being chased by their angry parents onto the streets for a beating. What could they do about it?

The two who were being scolded were so rattled they could barely walk straight from one end of the street to the other.

They walked all the way to the easternmost end of the street, to a plot where Pang Fa’s house was being built. This was an even better spot because Ma Yongming was also there. He’d been dealing with the brick kiln workers for some time and knew them well. He quickly called on Pang Fa to help get some chairs and prepare tea.

The two old men sat down with an authoritative air, angrily drinking their tea while continuing to scold their sons.

"Why are you here too?" Yan Fei suddenly felt someone nudge him. Turning his head, he saw Ma Yongming.

"I was just out shopping and saw them in the street, so I decided to tag along."

"Did you see? This is the danger of gambling. These two kids are crazy! They’re not content with playing cards for a few dimes. They run around everywhere looking for bigger stakes, and now they’ve got what they deserve," Ma Yongming warned Yan Fei. "Be careful. I see you hanging around, don’t get dragged into gambling."

"I don’t have time for that!" said Yan Fei, nonchalantly. He was too busy for card games, and he’d never even played before. He had no interest.

"Good," Ma Yongming said, although still worried that Yan Fei wasn’t taking him seriously, so he proceeded to speak more about various examples. Someone from a village, someone who had lost his family and went bankrupt, all due to gambling.

Ma Yongming didn’t hold back in describing the dire consequences. Fortunately, he was soon busy pouring tea, or Yan Fei would’ve had a headache.

After a while of the two old men scolding their sons, a few members of the crowd tried to intervene. Da Zhan’s father took him home, saying he should work properly at the brick kiln and reform himself through labor.

He didn’t even untie his son but planned to take him back just like that.

Yan Fei had a rough idea where the brick kiln was, five or six miles from here, past a couple of villages. It seemed Da Zhan’s disgrace would continue till they reached home.

With the crowd thinner, only Heizi was left. Some spectators tried to persuade his father to untie him.

The old man wouldn’t agree. After a thought, he turned to Ma Yongming: "Could he work in your construction team for a couple of months?"

Ma Yongming was stunned. "Can he do this kind of work?"

"Even if he can’t, he’ll have to. Why wouldn’t he be able to if fifteen- or sixteen-year-old boys are doing it?" The old man glared. "He doesn’t need to be paid. Let him do whatever work that’s tiresome. As long as he’s fed enough not to starve."

Ma Yongming made a wry face. "Uncle, spare me. We can’t let those who haven’t done this kind of work do it. What if he gets hurt? Besides, I can’t keep an eye on him."

"If he dares to run away, I’ll break his leg! If he gets hurt, he deserves it. As long as he doesn’t die," The old man struck Heizi again. "You tell me, are you going to do it or not?"

At the blow, Heizi let out a howl of pain, and then whined, "Stop hitting me, stop hitting me. I can do anything! But let me be clear first, I don’t know how to build a house. If the wall goes crooked, don’t blame me!"

Upon hearing that, the old man immediately stood up ready to strike again, but Heizi quickly avoided the blow and found refuge behind Yan Fei.

Someone quickly held the old man back, while Heizi, eyeing Yan Fei, had another idea: "Why don’t I go with him to Yan Fei’s place? Even if I can’t rear cows, I can shovel cow dung! Anyway, I’ll just stay in the cowshed until I promise not to gamble anymore."

"I promise I won’t gamble anymore!" Heizi shouted, sticking his head out.

"I don’t think you can change. So, here’s the deal. You’ll start shoveling cow dung soon, and if you dare step out of the cattle farm, I’ll break your leg." The old man decided without bothering to discuss with Yan Fei.

Yan Fei didn’t expect to get tangled up in this, and he was completely stunned! The old man was already pulling him over and said: "You must be Xiao Fei? I’ve heard about you from Xiaohei. Good boy, running your own business at such a young age. Do not worry, whatever work we assign to him is for free. Feel free to beat him up if he messes up; disability is not your responsibility, just keep him alive. I will owe you one!"

This is his real son, right? And what about the familial hierarchy? Uncle Ming called him uncle, does that make me his uncle? Did I get a promotion within the family?

Anyway, Yan Fei was completely confused.

Luckily, once the old man was persuaded to sit down, Xiaohei quietly came over with some tips: "No worries, just supervise him for a month or so. Make sure he doesn’t go out, beat him up if he does. We’re not afraid if you beat him, as long as you don’t disable him."

"Brother, are you really my brother? Is this really how you’re handling this? Are you just afraid I’ll ask for my share of the family property?" Heizi grumbled.

Xiaohei ignored him and continued to Yan Fei: "See, even after all of this, he’s defiant. Do what you need to do, and afterwards, I’ll thank you for it."

Some onlookers chimed in with their own shady ideas: "If he disobeys you, just push him into the dung pile, three meals a day, three times a day. He’ll become obedient for sure."

Being involved in gambling has earned him a particularly bad reputation in town. Seeing that nobody around was speaking up for him, Heizi surrendered soon enough.

Not too long after, the old man left, reminding Xiaohei to thank Yan Fei properly.

So, dazed and confused, Yan Fei got himself a free laborer, even if he seemed like a potential nuisance.

After talking with the folks for a while, it was already dark. Yan Fei planned to leave, but Heizi insisted on waiting for Pang Fa to provide dinner before heading home. However, his plan was mercilessly exposed by Pang Fa: "You’ve been wandering around the streets half the day, and now you suddenly care about face? Afraid of being seen?"

Xiaohei nodded: "Good, as long as he knows his place. After dinner, Xiao Fei, let’s go together. I’ll get him a bedroll at my house. You can give him any room you want in your cattle farm."

Ma Yongming instructed, "Don’t let him run away. If he tries to run, beat him. No worries, I absolutely assure you, as long as he doesn’t become disabled, no one will blame you."

Heizi pitifully looked around, but in the end, all he could do was keep quiet.

Poor him, birds of a feather flock together. Although Pang Fa, Ma Yongming, and Xiaohei were all around the same age, these guys meant business. Where were his usual buddies? All day they only messed around, played cards, walked their dogs, or chased rabbits. The two groups were like oil and water, neither cared for the other.

After dinner, he followed Yan Fei and Xiaohei to Xiaohei’s house. Heizi saw a pile of black stuff thrown outside the door. Yan Fei, following Xiaohei, laughed when he saw the stuff. Great, even his bedding was thrown out. The old man was really determined not to let Heizi through the door again.

Seeing Xiaohei stuffing the bedding into Heizi’s arms, Yan Fei tactfully avoided entering the house and went straight back to the cattle farm.

Just as they started moving, Heizi suddenly whined: "Brother Xiao Fei, you’re not seriously making me shovel cow dung, are you? I’m telling you upfront, I can’t do it."

Yan Fei giggled: "No worries, I’ll beat you if you can’t do it. Free labor is not to be wasted."

While Heizi hadn’t interacted much with him, he had heard about Yan Fei’s formidable strength. So he quickly switched tactics: "I haven’t eaten well these past few days, and I’m not full from dinner just now. Can you please treat me to some Knife-Shaved Noodles? I can’t work on an empty stomach!"

"There’s food at the cattle farm, you can eat when we get back." Yan Fei showed no sympathy.