Chapter Forty-Six: Cliché

Chen Liang glided ahead, his arm looped with a rope that pulled Chen Hong, who sat on the sled behind. He moved swiftly, and even towing Chen Hong allowed her to feel the rush of the wind as they sped along. Her jubilant cheers infected the crowd around them, drawing curious glances from those nearby at the playful uncle and niece.

Soon enough, Chen Hong grew dissatisfied with merely sitting on the sled. Tugging at the rope, she called out, “Uncle, Uncle!” halting Chen Liang, who had been pulling her like an old ox plowing a field. She wasted no time, ignoring the slippery ice underfoot, and ran over with her short legs to wrap her arms around Chen Liang’s thigh. “Uncle, I want to ride the big horse, ride the big horse!”

Confident in his skating skills, Chen Liang naturally agreed to her request. He lifted her up and set her atop the special seat. The now-empty sled was quickly borrowed by someone else—it was just a few battered planks, worth little.

With Chen Hong riding high on his shoulders, Chen Liang skated with her for some time. From her lofty perch, she spotted a vendor selling candied hawthorn nearby and immediately clamored for a treat. Such a small wish—of course, Chen Liang obliged.

One had to admit, clever people were everywhere in this era. These vendors knew to flock wherever the crowds gathered. Chen Liang chased after the vendor and bought eight big skewers of candied hawthorn. Returning to their resting spot where they had left their shoes, he found Shazhu sitting alone, dozing off.

That rascal hadn’t even changed his skates, just plopped down and claimed he was “helping to guard the shoes.” Chen Liang handed him a skewer. Shazhu, ever the sharp-tongued, bit into it but had to grumble, “Hey, I’m not a kid. Why buy me this?”

If he truly had the nerve, he wouldn’t eat; but since he did, he had to make a fuss, as if it proved something.

“If you don’t want it, get lost!” Chen Liang retorted, not indulging his bad habit. Then, waving the candied hawthorn in his hand, he signaled to Xiaoyu and his brother and sister-in-law, urging them over.

When they skated back, Shazhu could no longer bear it. The two brothers, each with their wives, feeding each other, left him feeling utterly single and aggrieved—was there no pity for the lone dog among them?

They gave Shazhu a bellyful of “dog food.” He secretly spat and then scooped up little Chen Hong. “Come, Honghong, let Uncle Shazhu take you to play up front!”

Not long after, Shazhu returned with a panicked expression. “Liangzi, quick! Yushui and Chen Rong are surrounded by a bunch of thugs up front—come with me!”

“What?” Chen Liang was instantly alarmed. He hurriedly changed his shoes and asked his elder brother to look after the women before rushing off with Shazhu.

Little Chen Hong, oblivious to danger, clamored to follow her uncle, but was firmly suppressed by the cold-faced sister-in-law. Even Xiaoyu didn’t help her this time, leaving Chen Hong heartbroken. Was love gone? Aunt, you used to be kinder to me!

The Shichahai park’s skating rink wasn’t large. Anxious, Chen Liang and Shazhu jogged over. When they arrived, they saw not just Chen Rong and He Yushui, but four or five girls surrounded by a gang of hoodlums.

“Stop right there!” Chen Liang called out, his voice booming with such force that everyone’s hearts trembled.

Taking advantage of the stunned silence, Chen Liang and Shazhu squeezed in, shielding their own sisters behind them.

“Brother Shazhu!” “Second Brother!” The girls’ confidence surged with their protectors’ arrival.

“Second Brother, they’re bullying us—beat them up for me!” Chen Rong, always eager for excitement, egged Chen Liang on to avenge her.

“Chen Liang?” At that moment, one of the hoodlums recognized him.

As the saying goes, a person’s reputation precedes them. Anyone who could call out Chen Liang’s name was surely wary of his prowess.

Chen Liang ignored the gang for now and listened closely to Chen Rong’s account. It was simple: Chen Rong and He Yushui were skating, met some classmates, and a group of girls banded together.

This crowd of pretty girls attracted the gang of thugs, who flirted shamelessly, refusing to let them leave, though no physical harm occurred—just nasty words that grated on the nerves.

Hearing his sister was unharmed, Chen Liang relaxed. Just as he prepared to deal with the matter, another group arrived, led by someone Chen Liang recognized: Li Yuanchao, a man whose job quota he had once snatched away.

Grass—a kind of plant.

“Xiao Mengchang, do you think our fates are at odds, or are we simply incompatible? Is your brother among that crowd again?” Chen Liang teased Li Yuanchao.

“Chen Liang?” Li Yuanchao glanced at the goddess he was guarding, relieved. With Chen Liang here, she’d surely come to no harm.

“You’re mistaken—this time we’re on the same side. My sister is behind you!” With that, Li Yuanchao had his people surround the thugs.

“Chen Liang, you, a notorious troublemaker, colluding with these veterans—aren’t you afraid people will laugh if word gets out?”

The hoodlum who recognized him, hearing the exchange, shouted as if he’d discovered a new world.

Damn, what a temper!

Chen Liang’s anger flared. He strode forward and slapped the instigator, knocking out two of his front teeth on the spot.

“You, when you had the numbers and harassed girls, did you remember you were a troublemaker? Now you want to talk about status? What’s the use! Damn trash!”

See, troublemakers and veterans have long harbored grudges. Just a greeting between Chen Liang and Li Yuanchao was enough to spark controversy.

Ultimately, the blame lay with the toothless thug who was in the wrong.

The title “troublemaker” wasn’t something any ordinary hoodlum could claim—it was earned, bestowed by others through strength.

If some petty thug dared call himself a troublemaker, the real troublemakers would deal with him before the police even got involved.

Did they think the title was worthless? Any random nobody could set up a flag and hope to stand as their equal? What a dream—better wash up and sleep, maybe it’ll come true in a dream.