Shuangling: Braving the Rapids

Two months later, Cheng Dong received the verdict. A year and a half in prison was not considered too harsh during the years of severe crackdown.

As the paper documents were sent back to his hometown, the explosive news eventually spread throughout Laojiapo.

One day, Cheng Dong's mother learned of this news from her neighbor. She was so angry that she burst into tears and immediately started cursing. Unlike her previous cursing, this time her target was not her neighbors, but her long-deceased husband and two unfilial sons.

"Old man! What sins have you committed?! You died young from drunkenness, and now your two sons are causing me trouble. I'm so old, how can I possibly live?... How can I possibly live...?"

Seeing the old woman tearfully berating her family, the other elderly villagers rushed to comfort her. One of the women, who was closest to her, even took her arm and said, "Sister-in-law, Er Dong is still young. It's normal for him to make mistakes. Don't be too upset. Besides, you still have your eldest son. He manages the farmers' market, and I heard he recently built a high-end restaurant. With money and power, you don't have to worry about who will take care of you in your old age."

"Don't even mention my eldest son! He's just like his father! Both are 'all show and no substance,' never telling the truth, always scheming... I was counting on my second son, but who knew... Waaah... Who knew he'd be framed and sent to a labor camp? Tell me, how am I supposed to live now..."

The old woman's tearful complaint left the other old woman feeling quite helpless. She couldn't understand why the other woman was belittling her respectable eldest son so much, while praising her imprisoned younger son so highly.

A short while later, Lao Chengxi finally returned. He stood respectfully in front of the old lady, comforting her while bowing his head and admitting his mistake. Those who knew him understood that he was comforting his mother, but those who didn't would have thought that he had done something wrong and angered his mother!

The villagers nearby were astonished by what they saw, but the old lady's reaction next was even more eye-opening!

The old woman picked up her dragon-headed cane and began to strike her eldest son fiercely, yelling, "I told you to keep an eye on your brother! What have you been doing?! Now your brother's a convict, and you're still hiding in a hotel, eating and drinking! Don't pretend to be a dutiful son here, get out of here right now! Get out of here!"

Lao Chengxi knew his mother was truly angry this time, so he didn't try to dodge the question. He just kept apologizing, "Mom, it's all my fault this time. It's my fault for not finding the second son sooner. You can hit me to vent your anger, but don't make a scene outside and become a laughingstock!"

"Are you afraid of being laughed at? If you knew it would be shameful, you wouldn't have kicked your second son out of your company in the first place! Don't think I don't know your little schemes. You're just like your deadbeat father, all you do is drink and keep a mistress..."

The old lady became more and more agitated as she spoke, and the force of her hand increased. This time, Lao Chengxi was in trouble; he was hit on the forehead and blood started flowing.

Seeing that things were about to escalate, the villagers nearby rushed over to try and calm things down; otherwise, they didn't know how this family farce would end.

More than an hour later, Lao Chengxi, with his head wrapped in gauze, finally left the house. Who else but his mother could make such a prominent figure look so disheveled!

From childhood to adulthood, Lao Chengxi has been beaten by his mother countless times. He would be beaten for disobeying, and even more so for not taking good care of his younger brother. There was nothing he could do, since his father died young. If he didn't take it out on his mother and instead filled in the gaps and kept the family afloat, the family would be completely ruined!

Lao Chengxi should have gotten used to this by now, but this time, he felt extremely aggrieved. It wasn't that he kicked his younger brother out of his company; on the contrary, he genuinely wanted to work together with his brother to build a career. But no matter how he explained it to his mother, she just wouldn't believe him. Thinking about this, the pain in his heart was even more intense than the wound on his head!

At this moment, Lao Chengxi felt extremely agitated, as if his heart was on fire. In order to calm himself down, he ignored his injuries and went to Xia Shang Restaurant again.

"Boss! In broad daylight, have you seen a ghost? You look so pale!" Seeing Lao Chengxi's furrowed brows and pained expression, Xiao Hongjuan swayed her hips and came closer.

"Stop talking nonsense! Are Xiao Ying and Xiao Yan up there?" Lao Chengxi asked with a stern face.

"As soon as I received your message, I notified them. The two sisters are waiting for you in their room right now!" Xiao Hongjuan said, gesturing with her lips. She is now officially the hotel manager, but secretly she also plays the role of "madam".

And so, under Xiao Hongjuan's strange gaze, Lao Chengxi went upstairs and soon entered a luxurious double room.

At this moment, two alluring twin sisters, dressed in bathrobes, sat on a white Simmons mattress. As soon as they saw Lao Chengxi, the twins each took one of his arms. Judging from their posture, a dramatic and exciting encounter was probably in store.

The tips of cardamom buds are faintly green in spring.

New gauze trial

A gentle breeze stirs my sleeves.

The sun is high in the sky, the curtains are rolled up.

Swallows flying in pairs in the shadow of the painted pavilion

A daytime sex drama was unfolding in the king-size bed room. If it weren't for the special soundproofing measures, anyone passing by would probably blush and have their heart race from the moans coming from inside.

Just then, a girl carrying a broom walked over. She was wearing a cotton mask and a tight-fitting khaki work uniform. Even in this outfit, she couldn't hide her outstanding looks and temperament. Who was this girl with short hair and bangs and a light-colored mole under her eye? It was none other than Yue Chuan's classmate—Liu Qing!

With her father critically ill and her mother suffering from depression, the once wealthy young woman could only survive on this part-time job. Fortunately, with the help of her god-sister, Xiao Hongjuan, she was able to barely maintain her life of working and studying.

Initially, Liu Qing was only responsible for cleaning the first and second floors. As for the guest rooms on the third and fourth floors, Xiao Hongjuan strictly forbade her from entering or leaving.

Xiao Hongjuan's original intention was naturally to protect her naive and inexperienced god-sister, but this arrangement aroused the dissatisfaction of other employees. Liu Qing was a strong-willed girl who would rather work more than allow others to talk behind her back.

And so, Liu Qing eventually came into contact with the escorts hidden on the fourth floor. As for the prostitution business in the guest rooms, she was extremely resistant to it, but after a while, she naturally got used to it.

"These girls are willing to work in the sex industry for their families, so what's a little extra work? Humph! As long as it can cure my dad's illness, I'd be willing to drop out of school and work!"

No one could have imagined that these words would come from Liu Qing's mouth. She used to be arrogant and looked down on those who sold their bodies. But after a family tragedy, Liu Qing's thinking underwent a complete change, and she actually began to sympathize with these scantily clad girls.

If it weren't for the pressures of life, if it weren't for dire circumstances, who would willingly become a hostess?