Yama Reborn
Chapter 35 - 33 [My Brother Lei, a Man of Benevolence and Righteousness]

Chapter 35: Chapter 33 [My Brother Lei, a Man of Benevolence and Righteousness]

Chapter Thirty-Three: The Righteousness of Brother Lei

Chen Nuo unlocked the door and returned home.

He turned on the living room light and changed into slippers. The room still felt dim, so he turned on the lights in the living room, kitchen, and balcony as well. Only then did it feel bright enough.

After sitting on the sofa and smoking a cigarette, Chen Nuo stood up and went into the kitchen to boil water on the stove. He then rinsed rice and cooked it in the rice cooker. Next, he set up a steamer on the stove and put the leftovers from the previous day inside.

Standing in the kitchen, spacing out for a while, he gazed out the window at the myriad of lights twinkling in the building across the way.

A sudden sense of loneliness washed over him.

He moved to the living room, turned on the TV, and randomly picked a channel. He found a domestic drama and turned up the volume.

The steamer in the kitchen began to hiss, releasing steam, and the characters on the TV spoke their lines about everyday family matters. The room was bathed in bright light.

The touch of loneliness in his heart slowly began to dissipate.

Just as Chen Nuo was lighting his second cigarette, the phone rang.

When he answered, he heard Sun Keke’s sobbing voice on the other end. He knew all too well what was happening. He listened silently as the girl cried. After she had cried for a while, she said softly, "Chen Nuo, my parents are fighting again."

"Where are you?"

"At home."

"Okay, wait for me. I’ll be right over."

After hanging up, he first turned off the stove. Looking at the food in the steamer, he found an insulated container to pack it in, and he packed the cooked rice as well.

He changed out of his black leather jacket and put on his school uniform blazer. Chen Nuo then left the house, carrying the insulated container.

***

When she opened the door, School Belle Sun’s eyes were clearly swollen. As soon as she saw Chen Nuo, she clung tightly to his clothes.

Old Sun and Yang Xiaoyi were not home.

According to School Belle Sun, when the couple returned home that evening, they had hidden in their room and had a massive argument. Then, Yang Xiaoyi had run out crying. Old Sun, after fuming for a while, eventually changed his clothes and went out to find her. Before leaving, he told his daughter not to wander off.

"You haven’t eaten, have you?"

Chen Nuo went into the kitchen, took out bowls and plates, and opened the insulated container he had brought. He served the rice and the other food separately.

After a moment’s thought, he boiled a pot of water on the stove. Once it boiled, he cracked an egg into it, added a few drops of oil, and sprinkled in a bit of salt—making a simple egg drop soup.

He brought the food to the table, gently pulled a dispirited Sun Keke over to sit down, and handed her a pair of chopsticks.

"Eat!"

School Belle Sun looked at Chen Nuo, hesitated for a moment, and then asked, "My dad... does he owe a lot of money?"

Chen Nuo shook his head. "Don’t ask too much about adult matters. Your dad can handle it."

School Belle Sun lowered her head and took a few bites with her chopsticks, then tears began to silently fall. Finally, unable to hold back any longer, she looked up at Chen Nuo with a pitiful expression and asked, "My parents... are they going to get a divorce?"

"They won’t," Chen Nuo said, shaking his head.

He was quite certain on that point.

If Old Sun were to get a divorce, he wouldn’t have married Yang Xiaoyi eighteen years ago.

It was something he had known all along.

In the end, it all came down to forbearance, a pain he had to endure.

If Yao Weishan had returned and Yang Xiaoyi had actually done something inappropriate with him, then naturally, the marriage couldn’t have continued.

But as it was, Yang Xiaoyi’s only mistake was falling into a trap and losing money.

However, after Yao Weishan’s return, nothing inappropriate had happened between them.

Although in the eyes of others, such a woman truly deserved whatever fate befell her...

But Chen Nuo remembered that night in the private room. After Yao Weishan had laid everything bare, and while he was pulling and tugging at Yang Xiaoyi, Old Sun had abruptly stood up, pulled his wife behind him protectively, and even slapped Yao Weishan across the face.

That attitude made things very clear.

Eighteen years ago, Old Sun had married her, regardless of her already having a child.

So, eighteen years later, he wouldn’t divorce her over this incident.

It was a rather subservient love, perhaps.

But Chen Nuo didn’t want to pass too much judgment on the matter.

After comforting Sun Keke for a while, he cajoled and gently tricked the girl into eating a little something, then pulled her onto the sofa to watch TV for a bit.

Sometime later, Sun Keke tilted to one side on the sofa and fell asleep.

Hmm. Chen Nuo thought for a moment, then walked straight into her bedroom.

In this era, a girl’s bedroom was quite different from those of later generations. There were no pink decorations, and the dressing table wasn’t covered with cosmetics and skincare products.

Just simple floral-patterned bedsheets and a brown wooden wardrobe.

Chen Nuo opened the wardrobe and pulled out a woolen blanket, trying his best to keep his eyes from wandering towards the girl’s intimate apparel stored in the compartments.

Back in the living room, he carefully covered Sun Keke with the blanket and gently pinched her small hand to make sure it wasn’t cold.

He turned the TV volume down a bit. He could smell a faint, pleasant fragrance from the girl beside him—perhaps the scent of vanishing cream. He could also hear her soft, even breathing.

He was suddenly reminded of a passage from "The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber," which he had read in his previous life, describing Zhang Wuji’s feelings as he listened to Xiao Zhao doing needlework beside him while he slept.

Yes, peaceful joy.

Those were the perfect words for it.

Mulling it over, he too began to feel sleepy.

Seeing that Sun Keke was sound asleep, Chen Nuo got up to leave, gently closing the door behind him.

Descending the stairs, he saw Old Sun and his wife by the roadside.

Yang Xiaoyi was sobbing uncontrollably, whispering something to Old Sun.

Several times, Yang Xiaoyi tried to kneel, but Old Sun held her up firmly each time.

Finally, after some more conversation, Old Sun heaved a long sigh and pulled his wife into his embrace.

Yang Xiaoyi cried even louder.

Chen Nuo watched from a distance. Only when Old Sun finally led his wife back upstairs into their apartment did Chen Nuo step out from the dark corner where he had been standing.

He stood there thinking for a moment, then began to search the area around the base of the building.

He found a Forever brand 28-inch roadster bicycle and recognized it.

Yes, that’s Old Sun’s.

No doubt about it, this is the one.

Chen Nuo couldn’t be bothered with unlocking it; he simply hoisted the bike onto his shoulder and carried it away.

***

The next day, Chen Nuo skipped class as usual.

He got up early, took the bus into the city, and leisurely made his way to Tangzi Street.

At Luo’s Pan-fried Buns, he heartily enjoyed a steamer basket full of buns and drank a bowl of wontons with chili oil.

When he saw the shop across the street, with a sign reading "Brother Lei’s Bike Shop," roll up its metal shutter, Chen Nuo finally stood up, paid for his meal, and walked out of the bun shop.

Brother Lei was still bald, but he had fewer people with him today—just one young man, who looked to be twenty at most, and was a new face.

After the rolling shutter was up, the young man began moving second-hand bicycles out one by one, lining them up by the roadside. He then pushed out a few electric bikes and placed them on the other side.

Next, he took out a sign that read "Top Prices Paid for Second-Hand Bikes" and propped it up.

Brother Lei sat through the entire process, leaning back in a bamboo chair, smoking a cigarette, a thermos cup in his other hand.

When Chen Nuo walked straight into the shop, Brother Lei’s eyes widened, and he nearly jumped out of his skin.

Chen Nuo said nothing as he entered. The young man behind him didn’t recognize him and approached, asking, "Sir, looking for a bike? What kind are you interested in?"

Chen Nuo still ignored him, acting as if he owned the place. He walked up to the counter, picked up a pack of Yuxi cigarettes lying there, lit one for himself, then casually grabbed the remote control and turned on the wall-mounted TV to the early morning news channel.

After a glance at the screen, he noticed a bamboo chair nearby that looked decent enough. He picked it up, moved it to face the TV directly, and settled into it, leaning back and smoking.

The young man was stunned!

What the fuck!

Who the hell is this kid?!!

This damn brat walks into our shop and acts like he owns the place?!!

The young man bristled and strode forward, shouting, "Hey, kid! Where the hell did you spring from, you little punk! What do you think you’re doing, messing with our stuff?!"

As he spoke, he reached out to grab Chen Nuo.

Brother Lei, watching from the side, felt a surge of uncontrollable rage.

Just as his employee’s hand was about to touch Chen Nuo, Brother Lei let out a roar and sprang up from his chair with a jolt.

He rushed forward and landed a swift kick on his employee’s thigh.

No questions asked, it was pure righteous indignation!

"How dare you speak to my Big Bro like that!!!"

Then, turning to Chen Nuo, his face instantly wreathed in smiles, "Big Bro! Big Bro, you’re here! See anything you like today? Need anything? Just help yourself!"

Chen Nuo smiled. "I don’t need anything today. I’m just borrowing your place to wait for someone."

Brother Lei personally brewed tea, claiming it was Longjing. He also sent his employee to the nearby supermarket to buy a pack of soft-pack Zhonghua cigarettes for Chen Nuo.

Chen Nuo smoked his cigarette and drank his tea without saying a word, just leisurely watching the television.

Around ten o’clock in the morning, Chen Nuo saw Old Sun’s figure approaching from the far end of Tangzi Street.

Well, of course he’d come. His bike was stolen, after all.

***

Old Sun strolled along the roadside, checking out one bike shop after another. He occasionally inquired about prices, looking around until he arrived in front of "Brother Lei’s Bike Shop."

He was examining the bicycles displayed outside.

Chen Nuo had already leaped from his chair in a flash. He grabbed a white rag from the counter, slung it over his shoulder, rolled up his sleeves, and strode out.

"Old Sun!"

Old Sun turned around. "...Chen Nuo?"

He was taken aback. "What are you doing here? Skipping class again today?!"

Chen Nuo pulled the somewhat bewildered, bald Brother Lei over and said with a smile, "I’m working here to save up for tuition. This is the boss, Brother Lei. He’s generous, easygoing, honest, and kind-hearted. Working for him, I can even learn a bit about fixing bikes."

Old Sun looked at the thuggish-looking bald man.

Brother Lei shot Chen Nuo a questioning glance. What in the world?

Chen Nuo returned an insistent look. Play along!

Immediately, Brother Lei turned and smiled at Old Sun. "Yes! He’s working for me!"

Old Sun’s attitude softened considerably, and he reached into his pocket for a cigarette.

Now, Brother Lei was a man of the world; he was the type who could expertly curry favor with a prison kingpin, incredibly perceptive and quick-witted!

Seeing Old Sun’s movement, he quickly preempted him, pulling out his pack of Zhonghua cigarettes and respectfully offering one.

"My student is working for you; I’ll have to trouble you to look after him," Old Sun said earnestly. "He can be a bit mischievous, but he’s not a bad kid at heart. He’s kind. Please teach him well. If he doesn’t listen, feel free to discipline him!"

Brother Lei was momentarily speechless. ...

A stampede of ten thousand mythical "grass mud horses" thundered through Brother Lei’s mind. There are so many things to retort, where do I even start? Somebody help me, I’m waiting for an answer online!

Not letting a hint of his inner turmoil show, he maintained his smile. "Brother, are you here to look at bikes?"

Old Sun’s expression turned a bit awkward. "My bike was stolen last night. It’s inconvenient not having one these days, so I came to find an affordable replacement."

"We have some, we have some!"

Old Sun felt a bit embarrassed. "Nothing fancy needed, just something cheap that can get me around."

Meanwhile, Chen Nuo had already selected the best-looking bike from a row on the left side of the shop and wheeled it out, casually kicking a sign that read "Price: 280" into a corner.

"Old Sun, what do you think of this one? The boss is offering a big discount—eighty yuan."

Brother Lei sucked in a sharp breath. Sss!

Old Sun was startled and stepped forward to take a closer look.

The bike indeed looked good. He’d asked at a few shops earlier, and something like this would cost at least two hundred yuan or so.

Eighty yuan?

He turned to look at Brother Lei, the bald man.

Brother Lei’s smile didn’t waver in the slightest. "Eighty? Nonsense! Since you’re this young man’s teacher, fifty! Fifty it is!"

After a few rounds of polite back-and-forth, Old Sun finally handed over fifty yuan. Brother Lei even personally took out a pump and made sure the bike’s tires were fully inflated.

Old Sun was somewhat touched.

What a nice guy... He looks rather fierce, but you really can’t judge a book by its cover.

He was about to say a few polite words before leaving.

Just then, Chen Nuo, who was standing nearby, suddenly spoke up again.

"Brother Lei, didn’t you say you had to go to the finance company this morning to check the accounts?"

What finance company? Brother Lei was taken aback.

Big Bro, you can’t just change the script on me like this!

My acting skills are terrible; I can’t keep up with this rhythm!

Chen Nuo smiled at Old Sun, his tone half-explanatory, half-boastful. "Brother Lei also runs a finance company that deals in small loans. He’s a man of integrity and always follows the rules, so his business is doing quite well!"

Upon hearing "small loans," Old Sun’s expression changed, and he subconsciously glanced at Brother Lei again.

Brother Lei shot Chen Nuo an incredulous look. I do loans now?

Chen Nuo returned a firm, commanding gaze. Yes, you do!

Turning back to Old Sun, Brother Lei burst out laughing. "Yes, yes, I do! Haha! It’s all thanks to everyone’s kind support and my competitors making me look good by comparison! As for me, I’m all about righteousness! In business, if you aren’t righteous, can you even call yourself a man?!"

Old Sun was tempted...