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

This kid glanced at Ding Yang, but unexpectedly, he didn't give him any face at all.

Who are you?

Xiulian said, "This is Ding Yang, my friend. Please show him some respect."

"Wow, the sun's risen in the west! When did you gain another friend?"

"none of your business!"

"Kid, Lei, you've got guts! Daring to pursue my sister!"

Li Xiulian said, "Have you eaten? If not, sit down and eat."

"I ate at the team's restaurant!"

The young man pulled over a stool, sat down, took out a pack of Double Happiness cigarettes, and lit one.

"Xiao Yang, this is my younger brother, A Yong. He works in the security team. Don't take it personally."

Ding Yang laughed and said, "He's quite handsome. You two siblings look alike."

Suddenly, a series of voices came through the walkie-talkie, speaking in Cantonese, which Ding Yang couldn't understand. It was probably a gathering somewhere or something had happened.

"Sister, I left early."

The kid glared at Ding Yang, climbed into the driver's seat, and drove off.

"Xiaoyang, don't be angry!"

"No, this younger brother is just worried about his older sister. Seeing her with a man, he'd naturally want to ask her about it. That's normal; it shows he cares about you."

"Yeah?"

"certainly!"

How old is your brother?

"I'm 23 now. I've been drifting around all day since graduating from junior high. Now I work in the security team. It's better to have something to do."

Are you married?

"No, who would marry him looking like this? Don't let his youth fool you, he's a womanizer and gambler."

"Being a spoiled brat is nothing special, as long as he's not inherently bad."

"Xiaoyang, if you sell cement and sand in the future, my younger brother can help you."

"Help me carry some sand?"

"You wish! How could he possibly do that? He works in the security team and hangs around here all day. He knows exactly who's doing renovations and who's building houses. He also has a good network of connections. Many out-of-towners need to renovate their storefronts, and he can bring them business for you."

Do you understand what I mean?

"I don't quite understand!"

"You're so naive. Outsiders doing business here generally don't dare to mess with the locals. When they need to buy cement and sand for renovations, if my brother tells them to buy from a certain company, they'll usually give him face. Understand? As long as you don't charge outrageously high prices."

"I understand what you mean, so does that mean I won't steal your dad's business?"

"What business are you trying to steal? My dad doesn't rely on this. He's the manager of three factories."

"What?"

"Factory manager? Three more?"

"Don't you understand?"

"When out-of-town companies hire locals as factory managers, they can save a lot of trouble. They can avoid problems such as villagers causing trouble, security teams inspecting factories, fire safety, public security disputes, obtaining permits, and customs.

"He's called the factory director, but he's just a figurehead. He doesn't participate in the actual management of the factory and rarely goes there more than a few times a month."

Ding Yang has learned something new again.

"Then how come your dad drives a small six-wheeled truck for transportation?"

"My dad started driving a small six-wheeled truck in the 90s. It's his old profession, and he's reluctant to give it up. Some acquaintances still call him to pick up goods. But he doesn't usually go to the building materials market to wait for business."

"Here, some families own several buildings and collect rent while also working as sanitation workers cleaning toilets. People can't be too idle; they always have to find something to do."

"This must be what they call being so bored out of your mind!"

"Don't swear!"

"hey-hey!"

Not long after they finished eating, Ding Yang pretended to go to the restroom, then went to the food stall counter and secretly paid the bill.

After finishing her meal, Li Xiulian called out:

"Waiter, the bill, please!"

"Let's go, I've already bought it."

"Xiaoyang, what's going on? I'm treating, why should you pay?"

"I'm giving you a free ride and expecting you to treat me to a meal? You can't do that. You can treat me another time."

"Alright!"

Get back on the bus.

"Xiaoyang, where are you going? You're not really going back to sleep so early, are you?"

"Xiulian, if you have time, you could drive me around and take me to see the gates of big factories like Jinbao Electronics Factory, BBK, and Kingston. I'd like to get familiar with these places."

"Okay, then I'll take you to see it!"

Li Xiulian drove Ding Yang around the industrial areas of Niaosha and Shatou, and then returned to the tin-roofed house.

"Xiaoyang, what's your phone number?"

"Write this down: 13607568..."

"alright!"

Ding Yang got off the bus.

"Dude, thanks for today!"

"Ugh, I'm not going to be your buddy!"

Ding Yang returned to the tin shack, turned on the light, and carried a bucket to the tap. Old Li helped him install the tap.

He filled a bucket with water, went to a corner, and took a cold shower.

Turn on the fan, light the mosquito coil, and lie down on the metal bunk bed to sleep.

Li Xiulian went up to the second floor next door and entered the living room.

My mother is eating.

"Mom, why are you eating so late?"

"I went to play mahjong and came back late. None of you were home for dinner, and I was too lazy to cook for myself. Your dad wasn't home either."

"Mom, where's the liniment we keep?"

"What do you need this for? Did you sprain your ankle?"

"I don't have any. Xiaoyang said his foot hurt, so I gave it to him to use."

"Girl, my goodness, you weren't just with Xiaoyang, were you?"

Li Xiulian blushed slightly.

"When I was driving out earlier, I saw him wandering around on the road, so I gave him a ride. Later, he treated me to dinner."

Aunt Tian immediately stood up and took her daughter's hand.

"Girl, sit down and talk to your mother."

"Mom, what are you doing?"

"Hehe, didn't you fall in love with Xiao Yang at first sight?"

"Mom, I'm not that shallow, I'm not a three-year-old. But I just had some interaction with him and I think he's pretty good."

"Keep pretending. Your eyes are practically glued to you, and you still say it's good. You're my daughter, don't I know that? You're tempted, aren't you?"

"Mom, he said he'd be my buddy, and that he's too poor to find a girlfriend. He said if finding a girlfriend means suffering with him, then not finding one is a kind act."

"Girl, you've only just met. It's best to keep him as a buddy to avoid awkwardness. Once you break through the 'buddy' barrier, won't you become a couple?"

"Mom, to be honest with you, I'm afraid I might not be able to handle a boy like Xiaoyang. He's completely different from others; he likes to take the initiative in everything he does."

"Don't let his poverty fool you, he has integrity. We were having dinner together earlier, and I was supposed to treat, but he secretly paid the bill instead. Unlike some guys who pretend to pay and then argue about it, he just quietly paid first."

"That alone sets him apart from others."

"What surprised me even more was that he could play the guitar and sing very well. If he had a good family background and had been trained from a young age, he could definitely have become a star."

"Girl, are you really smitten?"

"Mom, do you think he'll accept me?"

"Why shouldn't I be able to? Our family is so well-off!"

"Mom, not necessarily!"

"What do you mean?"