I was consumed with regret, but regret availed nothing. I remembered the business card Boss Liu had given me back in January—he'd said to reach out if I ever needed help. So I rushed home, dug the card out of the drawer, and took a taxi to the nightclub address on it.
I walked in and told the manager, "I'm Huang Xiacheng. I need to see Brother Liu." Just as Boss Liu had said, giving my name got me in. The manager led me to a large office, but it was empty. "The boss is out," he said, "but I've reached him. He said he'll be back tonight and asked you to wait. He ordered us to take good care of you—you can grab a drink in the club, dance, even find a girl if you want."
I shook my head. "No, thank you." I wasn't in the mood for any of that.
I waited until evening, and then Boss Liu arrived. He asked what was wrong as soon as we met. I told him everything that'd happened lately, including who Meng Wei was. When he finished listening, he didn't make a big deal of it—just clapped me on the shoulder. "I'll smooth this over. Sit here—I'll make a call."
Boss Liu sat on his desk, pulled out an address book, flipped through a few pages, and dialed a number on the landline. From the conversation, it sounded like the person on the other end was a relative of Meng Wei's—also a gangster, by the sound of it. A few words later, he hung up and told me it was taken care of.
I stared, confused. "It's… over?"
Boss Liu nodded. "All done. You can go home without worry. The police won't come looking, and Meng Wei won't bother your shop again."
"How'd you… manage that?"
"Meng Wei's older brother and I came up in the same circles—we've got history. And he's heard about you, too—thinks highly of you. So he gave Meng Wei a good talking-to on your behalf."
I could hardly believe it. A single phone call, and I was off the hook for prison? I was still processing it when Boss Liu offered me a spot with him. "Brother, I really do admire you. You can fight, run a business, and you're loyal—guys like you make the best brothers. Come work for me. I won't shortchange you."
But I turned him down again. "I'm sorry, Brother Liu. My wife's gone, and I'm left with my in-laws and the baby—I'm the backbone of this family. I can't take risks."
Boss Liu nodded. "I get it. No hard feelings. This was just a small favor—won't make up for what happened to your wife. But if you ever need help again, come find me. I'll still have your back."
"Thank you, Brother Liu." That conversation won me over—he'd earned my respect.
I got home to find the police hadn't come, and the old folks knew nothing about the stabbing. I thought it was all behind me. But it wasn't.
The next day, I reopened the shop, but not a single customer came. I figured the crowd would trickle back in a few days. But days passed, and still no one showed. No Meng Wei this time—so why?
I asked around at the other shops. Turns out word of me chasing Meng Wei with a knife had spread all over the neighborhood. Then people dug into my past and found out I'd been in prison for assault. Now everyone knew—I was an ex-con, and no one dared eat at a shop run by a former inmate. They all figured it must be a front for something shady.
I had no defense. I just kept the shop open, silent, day after day. Still, no one came—save a stray passerby now and then.
After a while, I faced the truth: the shop couldn't survive. Without telling the family, I closed it down and snuck back to the restaurant where I'd worked before. "Boss lady," I said, "are you still hiring? I'm desperate…"
She sighed. "I wish I could, but if I take you back, no one'll eat here anymore." Her words hung in the air—kind, but final. She'd been good to me, never holding my prison record against me when I first got out. But I'd ruined my own reputation, running around with a knife like that. I left without another word.
When I got home, I told my in-laws everything. They were stunned. My father-in-law slammed a fist on the table. "Seven years! How can there be people like this?!"
I shook my head, handing back the bankbook. "The shop's closed. All the money I made is gone, and we're out a few thousand from what you gave me. I'll go look for work soon—construction, a factory, whatever."
My father-in-law thought for a minute, then took the bankbook. "Here's what we'll do. Tomorrow I'll go to the factory and beg the bosses—see if they'll give you a job."
"But I don't know any skills."
"You can learn. Start as an apprentice. Don't look down on it—it's a state-owned enterprise. Do well, and you could get a permanent position."
"…All right."
It was the only option.