Linxia

Chapter 85, Whitehead

When he got up the next day and opened the window, the cold air hit him in the face, making Fang Lin tighten his clothes.

Outside, the sky was grey and light snowflakes were floating in the air.

"I don't know how things are going at home. Mom and Sister Xuan can light a fire at home, but Dad has gone to the dock, and it's quite cold outside."

Fang Lin suddenly remembered that Xu Kuo Lao mentioned yesterday that there was also a thank-you gift: "It is most likely for Dad."

After all, Fang's father was the only one in the Fang family who was away from home, and he vaguely guessed that Xu Kuo Lao should be someone who had some say over the dock.

Because it was snowing outside, we didn't go out for a walk this morning. The same went for Shopkeeper Liu. It's their habit not to go out on rainy or snowy days.

Turning around, the table in the room was littered with cups and plates. Fang Lin had bought some food last night. Not only Huang Di and Chai Yiwei, but also Manager Liu came over to sit for a while, happily celebrating.

Fang Lin's mind flashed back to the lively scene of last night. He felt a little restless and lazy, not wanting to do much, but he suppressed his thoughts: "The noise is only temporary. After the excitement, I still have to concentrate and be myself again!"

He quietly cleaned up the table, sat in front of the window and began to copy books, and soon calmed down.

After a while, Chai Yiwei got up: "Brother Fang, good morning... Hey, is it snowing outside?"

"Really?" Huang Di listened and got up from the bed: "It's very rare for us to snow here. As far as I can remember, it hasn't snowed for two or three years."

As he spoke, he rubbed his hands and exhaled. Seeing Fang Lin copying a book in front of the window, he gave him a thumbs up: "Linzi, you can sit still and copy books so early in the morning. You are this. Alas, you deserve to make money!"

……

Small snowflakes were floating, under the same sky, in the morning, at the pier, at the easternmost point.

"Hurry up, everyone. Make the most of your time and try to finish loading the goods before the snow falls heavily. There's some ginger soup here. Come and have a bowl later." Chang, the manager in charge of the east side of the dock, shouted.

——The factories in the city are still short of people, and a lot of them have been taken away from the docks. This makes the docks pay more attention to the remaining porters. At least, they can't be used as consumables.

Father Fang and many porters were carrying goods onto the ship. In such cold weather, there was a dense layer of sweat on their foreheads, and their breath condensed into white mist in the air.

Father Fang put down a sack of things, wiped his face, talked to the porters he knew, drank a bowl of ginger soup, and turned around to continue working.

At this time, Xu Kuo Lao came over. When Chang Guanshi saw him, he hurried forward, half bent over and smiled, and said, "Master Xu, do you have any instructions?"

Xu Kuo Lao contracted a section of the wharf. Although it was not this area, as a small manager he naturally had to be careful.

"Well, I'm looking for Uncle Fang. Do you have such a person here?"

"Yes, Mr. Xu, please come in!" Manager Chang asked the crowd to make way, and when he found Fang's father, he tactfully stepped back, and even drove away some porters who wanted to watch the fun.

"Brother is Uncle Fang?"

Xu Kuo Lao came up to Fang's father, looked him over, and said with a smile, "I have contracted a section of the western dock. How about you come work with me? Be a small manager and help me look after the people and check the numbers. It's an easy job. Take the three taels of silver per month first."

This seemed like a piece of cake, but when Mr. Fang heard the other party's gangster-like words, he instinctively wanted to refuse. He was just thinking about how to refuse without offending the other party.

Old Xu Kuo observed his expression and seemed to have guessed what Fang's father was thinking. He laughed and said, "Let's be frank. I'm not trying to trick you or gain anything from you. Your son saved my son yesterday. I'm an old man in the underworld. I repay kindness with kindness and revenge with revenge. Otherwise, who would dare to help me in the future?"

This made it clear. Mr. Fang hesitated for a moment, but still did not dare to agree.

In Haining County, his impulsive agreement to go to the provincial capital for the fourth house almost caused the family to be broken up. After this incident, he reflected and grew up. He was afraid that this matter would bring any trouble, burden, or debt of favor to Fang Lin, so he subconsciously became much more cautious.

"I'll go back and discuss it and give you a reply tomorrow. Is that okay with you?" Father Fang thought for a moment and said.

"Haha, sure, why not? Just give me an answer in one or two days." Xu Kuo gave Father Fang a deep look and said, "Your son is an interesting guy, and your brother is also responsible and sensible. You are a good family, not bad."

He didn't say much, just turned around and left in a hurry.

As soon as Xu Kuolao left, many porters came over. They had been watching from afar, and although they didn't hear what was said, they knew clearly that they were not here to cause trouble for Fang's father.

Manager Chang was the first to speak: "Old Fang, you have met a distinguished person. As for this old master Xu Kuo, he has contracted a section of the dock and has some shares in a fleet... For ordinary people like us, he is already considered a wealthy and powerful person."

This is talking about Xu Kuolao's background, how he advised Fang's father and used favors to make friends.

"I think Mr. Xu looks fierce, but he was very kind when he was talking to Lao Fang."

"Kind? Hey, that was towards Old Fang, try someone else! This Master Xu has a nickname, 'Nine and a Half Fingers', because half of his middle finger on his left hand is missing, because he was robbing the docks back then..."

The man didn't continue, as if he was very secretive about it: "Anyway, when Master Xu was young, he was a man with a hot temper and was good at fighting and killing. It's only now that he's landed and has a baby that he's become more restrained."

...Later, under questioning from his coworkers, Mr. Fang revealed that his son had helped Xu Kuo Lao's son yesterday, and that Xu Kuo Lao had called him today to do a small job as a manager.

"Your son saved Master Xu's son? This is really a dog's nest... ahem! Old Fang, you have a good son. He is going to be rich. It will be easy for you in the future."

"You don't know, do you? Old Fang's son works in a bookstore. I heard from Old Fang that he is still learning calligraphy. He is a scholar. He may become a juren in the future!"

"Mr. Fang, I have a daughter who is still unmarried. Do you think it's okay to..."

"Go away, everyone, look at Old Mengtou's big nose and small eyes. What can his daughter look like? Isn't this just cheating people? I am different. My niece is very pretty and famous far and wide."

……

Mr. Fang gave a long explanation, saying that his son was already married, and then he sent his co-worker away. He felt a little happy but also a little sad.

——In the past in Xiaohe Village, people called Fang Lin "the kid from Fang Laosan's family". Now, he has to be respected because of his identity as "Fang Lin's father".

He suddenly remembered a saying: Thirty years ago, the father respected the son, and thirty years later, the son respected the father. He couldn't help scratching his head. His son was only a young child, but he had already started to take advantage of him. What would happen in the future?
……

In the afternoon, the snow fell heavier, from snow grains to fluttering goose feathers. There were not many customers in the store, and there was a fire, so it was warm.

"Linzi, your father is here to look for you." Huang Di suddenly shouted.

"Hey, here we come!"

Fang Lin agreed and went out. As expected, he saw Fang's father standing at the door in a somewhat reserved manner: "Dad, why are you here? Did something happen at home?"

"No, it's cold, and your mother asked me to bring you some clothes." Father Fang said as he took off his sack and gave it to Fang Lin.

In fact, he was the first one to bring up the idea of ​​sending clothes before he came here, but when he said it out loud, it became "your mother asked me to do that". He is always like this, and he is reluctant to even show his concern.

"I was just saying it was cold, and Dad sent me some clothes. That really helped." Fang Lin said, looking at his father who opened his mouth and wanted to say something but hesitated, and asked, "Dad, do you have anything else to say?"

"That's it."

Father Fang always felt that his son had taken advantage of this matter, and he felt a little uncomfortable. After a long pause, he finally said, "This morning... That's it. Linzi, do you think I should take this job?"

"Sure enough, I guessed it right. This should be the other thank-you gift that Xu Kuo Lao mentioned. I just didn't expect that Dad would be so cautious to ask for my opinion."

Fang Lin thought about it and said, "Dad, I can take this job. Not only will you get more money, but more importantly, you can relax a little."

He had always reminded Fang's father to work and take breaks, and would ask him every time he went back, but he was still afraid that Fang's father would get too excited and work non-stop, overdrawing his body and shortening his life. He had also been keeping an eye out for some lighter work in the city that was suitable for Fang's father, but due to Fang's age, he had never been able to find one... Now, this worry has finally been resolved.

"Okay, I'll accept it then." Father Fang felt happy and relieved after hearing this. He looked at Fang Lin and said, "I'll go back then. You can go in too. It's cold outside."

He said, turning around and preparing to leave.

"Dad, wait a minute." Fang Lin suddenly remembered something, ran into the house, and quickly took out a coat.

"This was given to me by the store owner. It's too loose for me, so it should fit you perfectly." Fang Lin put it on and it really fit him well.

"Okay, this coat is nice."

Father Fang touched his jacket, his tone changed a little, he sniffed hard and blinked, he didn't know how to express the complicated feelings in his heart, and he looked a little at a loss when he showed it on the outside.

He shrugged and raised his hand, as if he wanted to touch Fang Lin's head, but then put it down again. He raised his face slightly and looked at Fang Lin. He found that his son had grown taller without knowing when, and was already a little taller than him. He opened his mouth and finally just said, "Linzi, you've grown up!"

Fang Lin didn't know how to respond for a moment, and Fang's father didn't know what to say either. After a moment of silence, he said, "You stay here, eat more, and take care of yourself."

"Ah."

"Okay, I'll go then." Father Fang took two steps forward, turned around, and waved his hand for him to go in.

After watching Fang Lin go into the house, Fang's father turned around again and strode into the snow.

"Dad used to care about his reputation, and even suffered losses because of it. This time he took the initiative to come to me, threw away his face, and bowed his head in front of his son. This change..."

Fang Lin looked through the window at his father's departing back. He suddenly felt dazed and couldn't tell for a moment whether the white hair on his head was hair or snow.

……

(End of this chapter)