Eternal madness

Chapter 43 One O'Clock
Yang Laoliang said Zhang Laifu was a craftsman, and Zhang Laifu didn't hide it: "Shopkeeper, how did you know?"

“Your talent is something that ordinary people don’t have. As for Old Wang saying that you came with a skill before becoming an apprentice, that’s pure nonsense. The way you broke the bamboo just now, it’s obvious that you’ve never done this before. The way you broke it just now could easily hurt your hand. You can’t fake that.”

Zhang Laifu clasped his hands in greeting and said, "Shopkeeper, are you also a craftsman?"

Old Liang touched his bald head and sighed: "I wanted to be a craftsman. I went through a lot of trouble to get a craft spirit. The fruit was quite good, bright red, with only a small greenish patch."

I ate the fruit, but instead of becoming a craftsman, I lost a layer of skin, exposing my flesh and blood. If I hadn't met a good doctor, I would have lost my life.

Later, I survived, and my skin grew back, but my hair wouldn't grow back—not a single hair. I even had to have an artist draw my eyebrows on.

"From a painting?" Zhang Laifu looked at it for a long time, but he really couldn't tell.

Lao Liang gave a bitter smile: "In short, I didn't become a craftsman because I was afraid, and I dare not eat the craft spirit anymore."

I learned the craft of paper lantern making in my early years. I was a junior apprentice with a formal apprenticeship certificate. Later, I saved up some capital by working on a ship and opened this paper lantern shop. I also spent a lot of money to hire this master craftsman.

I've made a lot of money, and my business is doing well, but I'm still not satisfied. Do you know why?

"I don't know." Zhang Laifu shook his head; he didn't want to know either.

Yang Laoliang chuckled: "You're a bit simple-minded, but I like that about you. I'm upset because I don't like Lao Wang. This morning I asked him to teach you how to make a skeleton, why didn't he? Whose shop is this?"

"I'll force him to teach you the trade again tomorrow. I want to see if he'll actually teach you. Once you've mastered it, I'll fire him. We'll go into business together, and I'll give you 150 silver dollars a month. What do you say?"

One hundred and fifty silver dollars, how much is that?

Even if we don't talk about eating wontons, but just eat roast chicken every meal without rice, thirty silver dollars a month would be enough.

Zhang Laifu pondered for a moment, then looked up at Lao Liang: "By the time I finish my studies, it will be at least three years later, right?"

"No need for three years! Do you think I don't know what kind of skills Old Wang has? If you ask me, it won't even take three months."

"Really that fast?" Zhang Laifu asked in surprise. "But what if he just refuses to teach?"

“I’m the manager, I force him to teach, how could he not teach? He has to listen to me!”

Zhang Laifu disagreed: "If he really listened to you, wouldn't you feel better? If you felt better, would you still need me?"

Lao Liang remained silent for a long time.

Zhang Laifu looked at him expressionlessly.

"Laifu, you don't trust me!" Lao Liang picked up a bottle of Ingrid perfume and sprayed it on his head twice. "Let me tell you this: as long as you sincerely follow me, I will teach you the craft within three months, and even the special skills!"

“I trust the shopkeeper, so let’s wait three months.” Zhang Laifu got up to take his leave.

Lao Liang stopped Zhang Laifu: "Where are you going?"

"Go back to your room and sleep."

Which room are we going back to?

"That was the original house!"

“That’s not a place for craftsmen to live. I’ll arrange a single room for you. You don’t need to go to work. You can just stay in the room and work on your craft.”

Let's get this straight: three months from now, once you've mastered the skills, don't try anything funny with me. I've built this business so big with plenty of tricks up my sleeve. If you break your promise, I'll make sure you starve in Heishakou.

Lao Liang arranged a single room for Zhang Laifu. The room was the same size as the original place, but with only one bed, it seemed much more spacious.

After locking the door, Zhang Laifu opened the bundle and took out the alarm clock.

He couldn't wind up the clockwork before, but now that he's a craftsman, he wants to try again.

Hehehehe~
The spring was still very tight, but this time it could be turned.

After turning the clock twice, Zhang Laifu's index finger was worn raw. He let go to give it a break, but then he saw the hands of the alarm clock move.

The hour hand moves faster than the minute hand, and the minute hand moves faster than the second hand. When all three hands stop, the minute hand stops at twelve and the hour hand stops at one.

One o'clock.

The old helmsman always wanted the alarm clock to stop at two o'clock. What special function does one o'clock have?
Zhang Laifu stared carefully at the alarm clock, when suddenly he saw the two alarms vibrate.

Please don't let it ring; Zhang Laifu doesn't want anyone to know about the alarm clock.

The alarm clock didn't ring; instead, a puff of green smoke drifted out from under the bell.

What's with this green smoke? Zhang Laifu quickly held his breath. He remembered something: the old helmsman had once said that this alarm clock was poisonous, and this might be how it released the poison.

Green smoke swirled around him, and Zhang Laifu could hardly hold it in any longer. He wanted to go outside for some fresh air, but he was afraid that the green smoke would follow him outside and harm others.

How do we take this green smoke back?
The green smoke lingered in the room for almost a minute before disappearing back into the alarm clock's chime.

Zhang Laifu had no time to think. He ran outside, leaned on his knees, and gasped for breath.

Once he caught his breath and calmed down, Zhang Laifu checked himself to make sure he wasn't poisoned. He then returned to his room and continued studying the alarm clock.

He tried to wind it up again, but this time no matter how he turned it, the key wouldn't move.

What's going on here?
Did I use the wrong method just now? Or does this alarm clock need a break?
Zhang Laifu stared at the clock face for a long time.

The three hands of the alarm clock all returned to the twelve o'clock position.

……

At 3:30, the lamp shop opened for business. Master Wang walked around among the apprentices but did not see Zhang Laifu.

"Chen Xiaowang, where is Zhang Laifu? Go and fetch him here!"

Chen Xiaowang looked bewildered; he had slept too soundly at noon and had no idea where Zhang Laifu had gone.

Deng Yuechuan walked up to Master Wang, looked around, and whispered in Master Wang's ear, "The shopkeeper sent Zhang Laifu to run errands. He was called away at two o'clock this afternoon."

Master Wang was very embarrassed; he stared at Deng Yuechuan for a long time.

Zhang Laifu was running errands for the shopkeeper. It wasn't anything important. He could have just told him directly.

In front of so many people, Deng Yuechuan insisted on coming over and whispering in Wang's ear, as if afraid others wouldn't know he was Master Wang's confidant.

For three consecutive days, Zhang Laifu did not come to work. When it was time to eat, he asked his colleague Xiao Chu to bring him a meal.

Every time Wang Tiaodeng asked, Deng Yuechuan would say that Zhang Laifu had gone to run errands for the shopkeeper.

Do you go out and run errands every day?
Master Wang called Deng Yuechuan aside to the material warehouse: "Yuechuan, is Zhang Laifu still living with you?"

Deng Yuechuan nodded and said, "We'll stay together; his bed is still in our room."

Does he come back to stay tonight?

"No, he left that day and never came back."

Where is his luggage?

"He only had one burden, and he took it with him."

Wang Tiaodeng slapped Deng Yuechuan across the face: "You good-for-nothing, you've taken both the person and the luggage, so isn't that the same as moving away?"

Deng Yuechuan covered his face, tears streaming down his face.

Wang inquired with others and learned that Zhang Laifu had received special treatment from the shopkeeper and was now living in a private room without having to work.

"Old Yang has figured it out!" Wang Tiaodeng smiled and muttered to himself, "Looks like I'd better hurry up and make my move."

That evening, Wang Tiaodeng called Deng Yuechuan into the house again, and they drank together.

"Yue Chuan, I was wrong during the day, please don't take it to heart."

Deng Yuechuan quickly admitted his mistake: "It's my fault for not doing my job well. I didn't keep an eye on Zhang Laifu and made my master angry."

Old Wang sighed: "You can't blame yourself for this. This Zhang Laifu is no ordinary man. He's a craftsman, and he's after our livelihood."

"Yue Chuan, I've finally seen through him. After following Yang Laoliang for so many years, he has absolutely no affection for us! I'm not serving him anymore; I'm planning to go solo. Are you willing to come with me?"

"I'm willing to follow you! I'll pack my things and go with you tomorrow!" Deng Yuechuan couldn't wait to leave tonight. He was Master Wang's confidant, and if he followed Master Wang to start his own business, he would become the second manager of the shop in the future!
"No rush!" Old Wang poured Deng Yuechuan a glass of wine. "If we men are going to leave, we have to leave with dignity. We can't let that bastard Zhang Laifu laugh at us. So you still have to do something for me."

Deng Yuechuan drank the wine: "Master, please feel free to give me any instructions!"

Old Wang took out an oilcloth bundle from the cabinet, opened it, and inside was a black revolver.

"Yue Chuan, do you recognize this?"

P.S.: Surely not, what kind of deep-seated grudge is this?

(End of this chapter)