“Are you okay?”
Old Feng helped me up and looked up at Chi Na.
“You bastard! You can’t tell the difference between a person and a yellow sheep!”
Someone ran over from the bonfire, cursing while hopping and apologizing: “I’m so sorry, Old Feng. This kid has eye problems—he’s nearsighted!”
It was Chi Na’s father, who looked very much like Wang Jing—the boss of North Cang Transportation, Teng Qishier.
He kept asking me, “Hey, child, how are you? Are you dizzy? Do you need to go to the hospital?”
“I’m fine. Heh, my foot slipped.”
“Good that you’re okay. My lamb is roasting. We’ve been waiting for you! Come, Old Feng, let’s eat and talk.”
He put his arm around Old Feng’s shoulders affectionately and walked toward the bonfire. I shuddered.
“Old Feng” was just what we called him behind his back. Even our big boss, General Manager An, addressed him as “Mr. Feng” every time.
What exactly was his background? Did he know Old Feng?
This was a hunting ground opened by Boss Teng. During the day, guests could hunt animals, and at night they could roast and eat them at bonfire parties. There were also yurts to stay in—it was basically a private club.
A table full of sumptuous delicacies, including king crabs and red devil shrimp flown in specially, and in the very center were several fat sheep roasting and dripping with oil.
Yu Shixuan was also there, wearing a creamy white cape, pitiable like a snowflake. Chi Na was cutting the tenderest mutton for her.
Several large dogs ran among them, sometimes frolicking about, sometimes wagging their tails for meat.
“Today is just a family dinner. Old Feng and I have been good friends for over ten years.” Boss Teng stuck out his belly, laughing like a Maitreya Buddha. “Hearing that he came to Inner Mongolia, I had to treat him well.”
Chi Na curled the corner of his mouth in a cold laugh. I was so shocked I nearly jumped up. I asked Old Feng in a low voice, “You know him? Why didn’t you say so earlier?”
Old Feng gave me a sideways glance. “I know a lot of people. Should I report to you one by one?”
Fine. Trying to read the emperor’s mind—my fault.
Boss Teng personally cut meat for Old Feng and said, “You, such a big leader, coming to our small place—it brings light to our humble dwelling!”
Old Feng pointed at me with his chin and said, “Originally I didn’t want to come, afraid she’s young and can’t handle things.”
“Oh! We’ll just help look after her!” Boss Teng’s round, chubby face smiled even more broadly, his eyes disappearing. “Child, from now on, this is your home! If you want to eat or play anything, just come find Uncle Teng!”
I quickly stood up sensibly and offered a toast.
“Manager Ren’s methods are superb! She doesn’t need you to look after her.” Chi Na sneered coldly, threw the meat to a large dog, and said, “When she sees a leader, her tail wags so much even Yogurt has to call her grandpa, right?”
Yogurt was a German Shepherd, chewing raw meat, looking just like a wolf.
Yu Shixuan gently tugged at Chi Na. He ignored her and continued to look at me with ill intent.
I said, “Young Master Teng is too kind. I’m young and inexperienced, so of course I need the elders to educate me more.”
Then I poured a glass of wine and said, “This glass is for Young Master Teng. If I’ve offended you before, please be magnanimous.”
Chi Na didn’t take it, just sneered coldly at that glass of wine. “Last time I saw you, you still had that look like you wanted to eat me alive. Now you’ve learned your manners?”
The atmosphere suddenly froze. No one expected him to bring this up. The fawning smile on my face stiffened there.
“Chi Na.” Boss Teng spoke. He said, “Apologize to Little Ren.”
Most of the time he smiled cheerfully, like a sinister fat man.
But at this moment, although his tone wasn’t loud, it carried tremendous oppressive force.
Chi Na also looked at him, narrowing his eyes, just like a wolf about to attack.
For a moment, the entire grassland fell silent. Only the sound of the bonfire burning fiercely could be heard.
I thought Chi Na would continue to talk back or storm off. After all, there were quite a few subordinates around, and Yu Shixuan was also watching. Middle-school-syndrome teenagers couldn’t stand losing face in public.
But what I didn’t expect was that Chi Na finally licked his lips, took my glass of wine, and said, “I’m sorry, I drank too much.”
Then he tilted his head back and drank down that glass of wine.
Teng Qishier’s face changed as fast as flipping through a book. He immediately smiled cheerfully and said, “That’s right! You’ll be working together a lot in the future—you’ll be like real brothers and sisters.”
Everyone then laughed together, and the atmosphere became lively and bustling again.
Between the toasting, I looked at Old Feng in bewilderment.
Old Feng paid no attention to my gaze. He ate meat in large bites, toasted frequently, and even sang “Green Flowers in the Army” with Teng Qishier.
Finally, when everyone was drunk and tipsy, I moved closer and asked in a lowered voice, “Mr. Feng, what did Boss Teng mean just now? Is our project transportation going to cooperate with North Cang from now on?”
“Yes.”
Old Feng toyed with a hunting rifle. Earlier he and Teng Qishier had agreed to go night hunting.
I thought of Zhao Yu. When he left, half his hair had turned white. What did all his hard struggle for so long amount to?
And what did Qinglong’s life amount to?
Thousands of words stuck in my throat, but I knew I wasn’t qualified to ask these questions.
I could only start from practical considerations and say carefully, “But Mr. Feng, you also saw that Young Master Chi Na doesn’t really like me. It’ll be a hidden danger for work in the future.”
Actually, Yu Shixuan had told me subtly before.