Chapter 82

Chapter 82: Sister

Rest time came.

Song Rui Ze carried the basket back to the workers’ shed, the crude wooden structure stinking of sweat and damp straw.

Jiang Qi Bin limped over, worry stamped across his face. “What did the dam foreman want you for? Did he make things hard for you again?”

Song Rui Ze handed him the bundle without answering.

Jiang Qi Bin took it, still talking as he opened it. “What’s this—”

The smell hit him like a fist.

His eyes went wide. With a sound that was half a howl, he tore open the oiled paper, pinched off a chunk of braised meat, and shoved it toward Song Rui Ze. “It smells amazing! This is meat! Who gave it to you?”

Song Rui Ze said blandly, “Your creditor.”

“My—” Jiang Qi Bin almost swallowed his own tongue. “Your sister came to see you?”

Song Rui Ze glanced down at himself again, then yanked the robe from the bed and pulled it on.

As he bowed his head to tie the sash, Jiang Qi Bin stuffed something into his mouth. Song Rui Ze wasn’t prepared; his cheeks bulged.

Jiang Qi Bin looked like he might cry. “It’s so good. I’ve never eaten anything this good in my life.”

Song Rui Ze chewed, swallowed, and didn’t argue. Jiang Qi Bin wasn’t exaggerating. It really was good—good enough to make you forget the dust in your teeth.

Jiang Qi Bin opened a bamboo tube too. Just as he reached inside, Song Rui Ze caught his wrist.

“That’s meant to go with rice.”

“Go with rice?” Jiang Qi Bin blinked at him.

“Mix it into rice.” Song Rui Ze’s tone stayed flat, as if he weren’t describing treasure. “It’s a sauce she made. Mushrooms, minced meat, pickled vegetable bits, and other seasonings.”

“That already sounds delicious.” Jiang Qi Bin counted quickly, eyes shining. “Brother Ze, you’ve got seven big jars. Could I…”

“If you like it, take some.”

“I’ll just take one,” Jiang Qi Bin said, sudden seriousness cutting through his greed. “For the rest… we should give one to the dam foreman, and one to Brother Xiang who stays beside him. I know you don’t like dealing with people, but a little effort can make life a lot more comfortable.”

“She already gave the dam foreman some,” Song Rui Ze said.

“Even better,” Jiang Qi Bin insisted. “What she gave is what she gave. But if you take the initiative and bring another jar yourself, the dam foreman will definitely stop making trouble for you. Brother Ze, he manages so many people. If you don’t give him a way to save face, he’ll feel humiliated.”

He leaned closer, voice urgent. “We don’t know how long we’ll be here. Offending the dam foreman isn’t something a smart person does. The worse your life is, the happier the people who envy and hate you will be. Think about Song Tie Gen—when the dam foreman was picking on you these days, wasn’t he the happiest one?”

Song Rui Ze stared at the jars for a moment, then took three and shoved them into his arms. “Put the rest away.”

Jiang Qi Bin grinned like a child. “Got it. Don’t worry, Brother Ze. I’ll keep our little sister’s gifts safe.”

Song Rui Ze walked back to the dam foreman’s tent and called out in a voice that carried. “Dam Foreman Yang. It’s Song Rui Ze.”

“Come in.”

Dam Foreman Yang had just seen him. He hadn’t expected him back so soon.

The brat had been punished for days and still didn’t bend. Had he caused new trouble? Had he come to argue again?

Dam Foreman Yang’s gaze flicked to the gifts on his table. If Song Rui Ze dared stir up nonsense, he’d smash those jars over the boy’s head with his own hands.

The tent flap lifted. Song Rui Ze stepped in, set a jar on the table, and bowed his head.

“I was wrong before,” he said. “I shouldn’t have embarrassed the Dam Foreman in public.”

Dam Foreman Yang’s eyebrows rose. He looked Song Rui Ze up and down like he’d found a strange stone in his shoe. “You? A brat with that foul, stubborn temper actually came to soften on your own.” His mouth curled. “Looks like you listened to your sister.”

He leaned back and let his voice carry the weight of authority. “Brat, you are capable—I’ve heard about you. But you need to understand you’re part of a group. If you don’t learn how to get along, anyone can trip you up from behind. A mouthful of spit from each person could peel your skin off.”

Song Rui Ze lowered his eyes. “The Dam Foreman is right.”

“Lone bravado isn’t bravery. It’s suicide.” Dam Foreman Yang waved a hand, satisfied. “Go. I’ll tell them your punishment is canceled. From now on, you do the same work as everyone else.”

Song Rui Ze turned to leave—and ran into Dam Foreman Yang’s right-hand man outside the tent.

Brother Xiang’s eyes narrowed, still wary, but not hostile.

Song Rui Ze handed him another jar. “The hundred loads I was punished with the other day—the last ten baskets weren’t filled to the brim. I know it was Brother Xiang’s signal that made them let me off a little. Thank you.”

Brother Xiang took the jar, then patted Song Rui Ze’s shoulder with a heavy palm. “Brat, you’re smart. As long as you don’t get stuck in your own head, you’ve got a bright future.”

The last jar, Song Rui Ze carried to a tall, burly man built like an ox. The man’s face was carved in hard lines; he looked like trouble that walked on two legs.

People avoided Song Rui Ze these days because the name “Coffin Wretch” had spread too far. As for this man—Chen Yong—most avoided him simply because his eyes looked like they’d seen blood and weren’t afraid of seeing more.

Song Rui Ze set the jar in Chen Yong’s hands.

Chen Yong blinked, surprised, then opened it and sniffed. His eyes lit up. “Smells great. What is it?”

“Mushroom and minced meat sauce,” Song Rui Ze said.

“For me?”

“Mm.”

Chen Yong’s brow furrowed. “Who do you want me to beat up?”

Every time someone gave him something, it was because they wanted a favor.

“No need,” Song Rui Ze said. “I just want a friend.”

Chen Yong held the jar as if it might burn him. He hesitated, then finally grunted. “Fine. You don’t have friends, and I don’t have friends. From now on, we’re friends.”

Back at the work area, Jiang Qi Bin had been waiting, too curious to sit still. He kept lifting his head to look into the distance, eyes searching for Song Rui Ze.

Snap!

A whip cracked through the air.

Pain exploded across Jiang Qi Bin’s arm. He cried out, clamping his hand over the welt. “Brother Zhang! My leg is still injured. If you injure my arm too, there won’t be anyone left in my family to work!”

Brother Zhang glared. “Do you think money from the Imperial Court is that easy to earn? If you’re going to work, work properly. If you want to slack off and muddle through—dream on!”

Song Rui Ze returned at that moment.

Before anyone could rush him with questions, Brother Xiang strode up and raised his voice for everyone to hear. “Song Rui Ze has been performing well lately, so the dam foreman has decided to cancel his punishment. From now on, Song Rui Ze will do the same work as everyone else.” His gaze cut to Jiang Qi Bin. “Also, Jiang Qi Bin—your leg is injured. The dam foreman is giving you special consideration. You’ll go over there and sit to saw wood. Song Rui Ze, you’ll go with him.”

For a heartbeat, the worksite went quiet.

Then men stared at Song Rui Ze as if he’d grown a second head.

What had just happened?

Brother Xiang’s expression hardened. “What are you muttering about? If you have time to talk about other people, you have time to work.”

Song Tie Gen’s face twisted. He was the least satisfied with this outcome, but he wasn’t stupid. Song Rui Ze had only snapped back once and got punished for days. Song Tie Gen wasn’t about to oppose the dam foreman in front of everyone.

No one was happier than Jiang Qi Bin.

He’d been working injured from the start. Now he was riding Song Rui Ze’s good fortune straight into the easiest area.

Jiang Qi Bin beamed as if he’d won the heavens. “Brother Ze, I knew following you would bring the best future. The first time I saw you, one line popped into my head—this man is no ordinary fish in a pond.”

Song Rui Ze didn’t dignify that with an answer.

This man really was noisy.