Huang Dafa turned back and said to the Old Lady, "Mom, you don't need to worry about this. If she wants to sue, let her sue!"
The Old Lady said, "Dafah, don't be like this. After all, he is your son, and it's right to give him child support. He's my only grandson, and I dote on him! If you don't give the money, I'll give my retirement card to them, mother and son."
Huang Dafa impatiently took out a wad of cash from his bag and said, "Alright, alright, Mom, I know. Give her this ten thousand yuan and tell her it's two years' child support. I have to go now~"
Huang Dafa angrily got into his car. The car drove for about three kilometers and stopped at the entrance of a place called Xiangfa Hotel. Huang Dafa got out of the car, grabbed his bag, and walked directly into Xiangfa Hotel.
Chéng Xuàn and Dà Shān, who were following closely behind, also parked their car in the parking area in front of Xiangfa Hotel. Through the car window, Chéng Xuàn saw Huang Dafa joking around with some young ladies at the hotel reception.
Then, Huang Dafa walked into the elevator, humming a tune. Chéng Xuàn also quickly got out of the car and entered the hotel, watching the elevator slowly ascend to the sixth floor.
Chéng Xuàn said, "Hello, could you please get us a room? I see the scenery from your front is quite nice. Get me a room on the highest floor, is there an eighth floor? I'll take the eighth floor."
Receptionist: "Sorry, sir, the highest floor we have is the sixth floor."
Chéng Xuàn: "Oh, then the sixth floor it is."
When they reached the sixth floor, Chéng Xuàn pretended to be looking for his room, walking around the entire floor. He paused at the door of each room to listen. Finally, at the door of room 608, he heard Huang Dafa talking on the phone.
Chéng Xuàn's room number was 605, diagonally opposite Huang Dafa's. This is because hotel layouts in China usually have even numbers in one row and odd numbers in another.
Chéng Xuàn returned to his room and deliberately left the door ajar. If anyone entered or exited the neighboring rooms, Chéng Xuàn could clearly hear what was happening outside.
Chéng Xuàn took a shower and then lay on the bed to rest. Dà Shān was already lying on his back on the bed, spread out and fast asleep.
Chéng Xuàn lay with his eyes closed, listening to the sounds outside the room. It wasn't until eight o'clock in the evening that Chéng Xuàn left his room and went to Huang Dafa's door. He listened at the door and heard Huang Dafa snoring thunderously.
Only then did Chéng Xuàn feel at ease and lie down. The next day, Chéng Xuàn and Dà Shān went downstairs early, around seven o'clock, and sat in the car to wait.
It wasn't until past ten o'clock that Huang Dafa came downstairs, chatting familiarly with the lobby staff, and walked out of the hotel.
Chéng Xuàn felt that Huang Dafa must be a regular here because he seemed very familiar with all the hotel staff.
Huang Dafa drove to a food factory. This was a very famous food factory in H City, with over 1,000 employees. After restructuring, it was renamed Shenghe Food Co., Ltd.
Huang Dafa's car stopped at the entrance of the food factory. The elderly gatekeeper was on the phone, reporting his arrival. A moment later, Huang Dafa got out of the car and walked into the factory.
Chéng Xuàn found a place to park the car by the roadside. Dà Shān said, "This guy really has a lot of business. I wonder where he hides all the money."
After a short while, they saw Huang Dafa walking slowly with a young man wearing glasses. The man with glasses said apologetically, "General Manager Huang, I'm really sorry about today. Manager Wang happened to be on a business trip. Before he left, Manager Wang said to tell you to call him and that we'll sign the contract next week. I hadn't even had a chance to call you before you arrived here."
Huang Dafa said with a smile, "It's okay, it's okay, no rush. Signing next week is the same."
After seeing Huang Dafa off, the man with glasses turned and went back into the factory. Huang Dafa lit a cigarette at the entrance, made a call, and said energetically, "Sister-in-law, arrange 20 vehicles for me in the next two days. Make sure they are reliable! The nationwide transportation contract for Shenghe Food Factory can be signed next week. If we get 500 yuan commission per vehicle, the income from 20 vehicles will be quite substantial. You must arrange this properly!"
Huang Dafa continued with a sly smile, "Why don't you come to your brother-in-law's place tonight? We can celebrate properly. Brother-in-law, I really miss you..."
After finishing the call, Huang Dafa made another call and then drove away.
Chéng Xuàn said to Dà Shān, "Let's go home too."
Dà Shān: "Aren't we following anymore?"
Chéng Xuàn: "It's Sunday today. I have plans with Zēng Líng this afternoon, and I have to go home tonight because I promised Mom I'd eat dinner at home."
Chéng Xuàn added, "I think we've gathered enough information from following him these past few days. We'll pay Huang Dafa a visit tomorrow."
Chéng Xuàn stopped the car in front of a barbershop. Dà Shān asked suspiciously, "Why are we at a barbershop?"
Chéng Xuàn: "Of course, to get a haircut. What else would we be here for?"
Cuī Dà Shān looked utterly confused, his expression quite comical.
Chéng Xuàn asked the barber to give him a buzz cut, a military-style haircut. After the haircut, Chéng Xuàn looked at himself in the mirror, appearing much more spirited and capable.
Because there were many people at the barbershop, they had to queue according to the order of arrival. Dà Shān sat on the barber's chair and fell asleep at some point.
When it was Dà Shān's turn to get his hair cut, the barber asked him what kind of haircut he wanted. Dà Shān, still half-asleep, couldn't answer immediately.
Chéng Xuàn said, "We agreed when we came here that he wants a buzz cut because it's hot."
The barber's razor slid upwards from the back of Dà Shān's neck. Dà Shān suddenly woke up, touching the back of his head and exclaiming, "What kind of haircut is this?" The barber looked at Chéng Xuàn, completely baffled.
Chéng Xuàn said with a sly smile, "It's a buzz cut. It'll give us more presence when we pay a visit tomorrow."
Dà Shān looked at Chéng Xuàn's very short hair and asked, "Why didn't you get a buzz cut too?"
Chéng Xuàn touched his head and chuckled, "Mine is pretty much like a buzz cut."
Dà Shān, with a dark expression, barely spoke to Chéng Xuàn for a long time after his haircut.
Chéng Xuàn laughed, "It'll grow back in a few days. It's not like it's the end of the world."
After getting their haircuts, they went to a nearby market for small commodities. Chéng Xuàn picked out two men's necklaces, as thick as fingers and golden in color.
Chéng Xuàn put one of the golden necklaces around Dà Shān's neck, looked him up and down, and said, "Hmm, it has that vibe now."
Dà Shān: "What vibe?"
Chéng Xuàn: "A gangster vibe."
Dà Shān looked at the necklace around Chéng Xuàn's neck and said, "You look like a nouveau riche country bumpkin."
Around two o'clock in the afternoon, Chéng Xuàn drove to the meeting point they had agreed upon with Zēng Líng and picked her up.
In the car, Zēng Líng looked at Chéng Xuàn's short hair and golden necklace and burst into laughter, saying he looked like the second son of a nouveau riche family.
The two drove to the central park in H City. Since it was Sunday, there were many people out for a stroll. There were couples picnicking with blankets and snacks, families with tents, children chasing each other, and playful boys catching cicadas with nets.
Chéng Xuàn and Zēng Líng found a shaded bench by the lake and sat down. Zēng Líng looked at the distant lake view, then suddenly turned her head, reached out, and took off the large gold necklace around Chéng Xuàn's neck, saying with disgust, "Take it off! It's so ugly!"
Chéng Xuàn smiled and let Zēng Líng remove the gold chain from his neck.
Zēng Líng played with the necklace in her hand and asked meaningfully, "How have you been lately? You seem a bit different than usual."
Chéng Xuàn pretended to scan himself from head to toe with his eyes and smiled, "How am I different? I haven't lost anything, have I?"
Zēng Líng pretended to be angry and lightly punched Chéng Xuàn's arm, saying indignantly, "It's not that something's missing, it's that there's something extra! There's more weight!"
Chéng Xuàn said with a teasing smile, "I just eat and sleep all day; how can I not get fatter?"
Zēng Líng gave Chéng Xuàn a look and said, "I'm not talking to you anymore. It's like talking to a brick wall."
Chéng Xuàn chuckled slyly and said, "Is it 'brick wall' or 'flirtation'? Make it clear?"