Making a living in Dongguan, her fiery red lips offer me tenderness.

While wandering around the industrial area, around 1 p.m., my phone rang. It was Liu Cuicui calling.

"sister!"

"Xiaoyang, where are you? Are you hungry? Let's go eat together."

"Sis, I've already eaten. You can go back to sleep."

"You've already eaten? Where are you now?"

"I'll wander around the industrial area and see if any factories are hiring."

"Xiaoyang, don't rush to find a job. Tomorrow is fine too. I'll ask someone to introduce you to one."

"Sis, I know, you don't need to worry about me, just go to sleep."

Ding Yang hung up the phone immediately. He wandered around the industrial zone, doing nothing, and was in a bad mood, feeling somewhat hesitant.

At four o'clock in the afternoon, Ding Yang returned to Liu Cuicui's rented room.

"Bang! Bang!"

"The door is open!"

A tall, slender woman, wearing a spaghetti strap nightgown with a full bust, opened the door, holding a toothbrush in her hand, seemingly preparing to brush her teeth.

Who are you looking for?

"Hello, I'm looking for my sister, Liu Cuicui!"

Just then, Liu Cuicui came out of the bedroom.

"Xiao Yang!"

"sister!"

Ding Yang walked into the room. There were several women in the living room. They had all gotten up by now, probably planning to go to the temple.

"Wow, what a handsome guy!"

"Hello!"

"Hello!"

Ding Yang sat on a worn-out little sofa, while two women sat on the edge of the bed, holding mirrors and applying foundation.

"Xiaoyang, I have to go to work soon. You can sleep here, but don't touch anyone's things. Let's grab some fast food tonight. Don't rush to find a job."

Unexpectedly, at that moment, the woman sitting on the edge of the bed suddenly took off her nightgown, leaving only her bra and panties, and changed her clothes, completely ignoring Ding Yang's existence.

The other one was even more outrageous; she wasn't even wearing a bra, revealing her voluptuous figure.

Ding Yang had no choice but to turn his head away and pretend he didn't see it. It's true what they say, it's not others who are embarrassed, but you who are embarrassed.

Ding Yang's last remaining illusions were shattered. If she wasn't a prostitute, how could she possibly take off her pants and change clothes in front of a strange man?

Ding Yang got up and went into Liu Cuicui's bedroom to get his luggage.

To my surprise, the situation in the bedroom was even more outrageous. A woman was changing clothes, and several condoms were scattered on the closet.

When Ding Yang barged in, the woman didn't scream; she simply turned around and continued putting on her pants.

Ding Yang was so embarrassed that his face turned red.

"I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry!"

"Hehehehe..."

A burst of laughter suddenly came from the room, a laugh that carried a hint of lewdness and provocation.

Ding Yang picked up his canvas bag, walked out of the room, rushed into the living room, and went outside.

"Xiaoyang, why are you carrying a duffel bag?"

"Sis, come downstairs with me, I have a few words to say to you."

When the two came downstairs, Liu Cuicui's expression was somewhat unnatural. She should understand that Ding Yang knew what she was doing.

"Sis, is this what you call a job?"

"What's wrong?"

"Do you think I'm stupid? I'm 24 years old. When I was a petty thug, you were still wearing open-crotch pants."

Liu Cuicui remained silent, head down, not daring to look Ding Yang in the eye.

"Sister, the whole family always thought you were a clerk in the factory. We never imagined you'd become so degenerate. If Auntie found out, how heartbroken she would be!"

"Xiaoyang, it's not what you think."

"Alright, you know perfectly well whether it's true or not. I don't want to argue with you. I really wish I were blind."

"Xiaoyang, I'm sorry!"

"Sister, Aunt is a teacher who has dedicated her life to educating people. You have disappointed her greatly."

"Xiaoyang, you don't understand, I had no choice."

"Alright, I don't want to know about your past. Maybe you had your reasons at the beginning, but you didn't lose your personal freedom. The choices you made were just excuses for your laziness and greed."

"I can't bring myself to say anything even more disgusting. You'd better watch yourself. I'm leaving."

"Xiaoyang, our hotel is also hiring male escorts. You're handsome, why don't you stay? It's much better than working a regular job."

"You're talking nonsense!"

"Feel my spine, is it still there? If I were to fall as low as you, how could I face my deceased father and the grandparents who raised me?"

"Hmph, don't use such harsh language. What do you mean by 'degenerate'? Didn't your mother work as a prostitute in America?"

"Snapped!"

Ding Yang slapped him across the face.

Liu Cuicui's face turned red immediately after being slapped, but she didn't cry or make a fuss.

"Go ahead and hit me, go ahead and kill me!"

Ding Yang calmed down.

"Sister, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have hit you. You'd better watch yourself! Just pretend I was never here."

"Xiaoyang, you've just arrived in Dongguan and don't know anyone here. It's almost dark, where are you going?"

"That's none of your business. Do you think I, a grown man, will starve to death?"

"Xiaoyang, please don't tell Grandpa and Grandma, okay?"

Ding Yang ignored her and walked directly out of the urban village.

Liu Cuicui caught up with him, now holding a wad of banknotes.

"Xiaoyang, take this money and go check into a hotel."

"No, don't disgust me!"

Ding Yang walked away without looking back.

Liu Cuicui squatted on the ground, covered her head with her hands, and suddenly burst into tears.

Ding Yang, carrying a bag, arrived at Tangxia Overpass again.

But he didn't know where to go. He sat by the flower bed, lit a cigarette, and felt a tightness in his chest, a sense of oppression.

What's wrong with me? Even if my cousin is a prostitute, what does it have to do with me? She's not my wife. Why am I acting like a saint? Don't people say they laugh at poverty but not prostitution? Why am I being so old-fashioned?

There must be a reason why she wears leather pants over cotton pants. My cousin must have experienced something unknown before she was able to sell herself into prostitution. Why should I be so harsh on her?

There's a saying that goes, "Heroes aren't afraid of humble beginnings; even rich women were once prostitutes." These days, even monks have betrayed Buddha, so why are you still taking it so seriously? What a fucking idiot!

Sigh, it seems I'm still too superficial; my understanding isn't up to par! I still need to learn!

After sitting for an unknown amount of time, as darkness fell, Ding Yang walked along Lianhu South Road. He only had 42 yuan on him. What would he do next?

The factory had just closed for the day, and this area was also an industrial zone. Men and women in factory uniforms were packed like sardines in a can, and the streets were somewhat crowded.

Before I knew it, I had arrived at a farmers' market. Looking up, I saw the words "Lianhu Central Market".

There are many small vendors and night food stalls around the market. The smell of barbecue fills both sides of the road, which makes people's mouths water.

A late-night snack shop had a sign that read "Sichuan-style stir-fry".

"Boss, one order of fried rice noodles and one bottle of beer."

"Yes, yes!"

The boss spoke with a strong Sichuan accent.

Arriving at the barbecue stall, I chose two skewers of chives, two chicken legs, one skewer of squid tentacles, and two skewers of chicken feet.

Damn it, I only have a few dozen yuan left, why should I save it? I'll just become a beggar once I've spent it all. They say success comes from hard work, so I'll rest today and tomorrow.

Ding Yang ate barbecue and drank beer, thinking about his future path.

I haven't read many books, I have no skills, and I have a bad temper. I'm like a rock in a latrine—stinky and hard. I can't make money standing up, and I'm not capable of making money lying down because of my gender. It's really tough!

Everyone compliments my good looks, so why doesn't any rich woman fancy me? It's better to have a heart-to-heart talk with an auntie than to watch a teenage girl grow up. What I really need right now is an auntie who understands me. If you ask what's the most beautiful thing in the world, a rich woman is definitely a miracle.

I'm broke and unemployed. Where am I going to stay tonight? Am I really going to have to sleep on the street and feed the mosquitoes? I've heard the mosquitoes in Guangdong are really vicious. How can my delicate skin withstand that?

Suddenly, something occurred to him. Wasn't Tang Li, who had come all the way with him, running a beauty and nail salon in Fenggang? This woman seemed to have a good impression of him. After all, they were from the same county. He was currently desperate, so going to her place for a meal shouldn't be a problem, right?

Ding Yang took out his Nokia and immediately dialed the number.

The phone rang for a while before someone answered.

"Hello!"

"Hello, Sister Tang, it's me, Xiao Yang."

"Xiaoyang! Is this your phone number? Did you find your cousin?"

"Yes, it's a new number I bought today."

"oh!"

"Sister Tang, do you have a place to stay?"

"what……"

"Doesn't your cousin have a place to stay?"

"She lives in the factory dormitory. She's a girl and doesn't rent a place. It's inconvenient for me, a guy, to go to her dormitory. I originally came here to look for work and didn't think too much about it."

"Xiaoyang, Fenggang to Tangxia isn't far, but it's not close either. If you stay here, how will you find a job?"

"I'll just look in Fenggang. It's all the same whether I'm working or not."

"Xiaoyang, I'm staying at the shop. If you come, you'll have to sleep on the floor. If you don't mind, then come on over."

"Sister Tang, when you're traveling, you don't need to be so particular. As long as you're willing to take me in, I'll sleep anywhere."

"Okay, then come over. If you take the bus from Tangxia Overpass, there are many buses. Take it to Shaling Station, but there aren't many buses after 9 pm. If you want to come, come early. Call me when you get to Shaling and I'll come out to pick you up."

"Okay! Thank you, I'll hang up now!"