A life of success begins with being a landlord.

Chunyan paused for a moment, thinking I was asking for rent again, and nervously shook her head: "I haven't done it yet, it costs 150 yuan, I won't have the money until my mother gets her salary..."

"Then don't bother. Sister Li said she'll do it for you. Just write down your ID number, name, and address for me."

I started working, cleaning up the dirt on the ground: "Sister Li also said that once you get your documents ready, she'll introduce you to a job."

"Really? Sister Li is that nice?"

Chunyan was very excited and snatched the shovel from me to get to work: "Let me do it, big brother..."

I had no choice but to hand the shovel to Chunyan and mop the floor myself.

Chunyan turned to me and asked, "Sister Li, if you help me make an ID card, is the price... a little less?"

"Judging from Sister Li's tone, it should be less."

"Thank you, brother. I knew Sister Li was a good person."

Chunyan smiled happily and innocently.

With Chunyan helping me out, my work became much easier.

"Brother, you're a college student, right?"

Chunyan took a moment to chat with me: "I saw your handwriting in the account book, it's really beautiful."

"I didn't get into university. If I had been a university student, I wouldn't be working here."

I shook my head and smiled wryly: "My name is Wang Yaozu. Don't call me 'Big Brother' anymore, just call me by my name."

He calls me "big brother" like I'm his own sister; I can't accept that title.

"Then I'll call you Brother Wang, since you're older than me."

"How old are you this year? Why aren't you studying and instead you're out working?" I asked.

"After finishing junior high school, I couldn't afford to continue my studies, so I went out to work."

Chunyan thought for a moment: "I have two younger brothers at home, living with my grandparents, and they all need money. I can't find any money at home, so I came out to take a look."

"Where do you plan to work? Which factory?"

"I don't know either. My dad said there's a shoe factory in the Sanlichuan New District. When it's busy, they can earn a thousand yuan a month," Chunyan sighed.

"But that factory isn't hiring right now, so I can't get in."

Earning a thousand a month?

I'm tempted.

Working in a factory is worry-free; you get a fixed salary every month, and life is stable.

Chunyan hesitated, then asked, "Brother Wang, Sister Li is so capable, could you introduce me to a job at the shoe factory?"

"I don't know, let me ask for you. Sister Li did say she would help you find a job, otherwise... you won't even have money to rent a place."

Chunyan and I chatted casually, and we found ourselves getting along very well.

It took three hours to clean all the stairwells, and they look much cleaner now.

However, many tenants leave junk and clutter in the hallway, not knowing whether it's useful or not, which is very annoying.

I thought about it and put notes on all the clutter. I also posted a notice at the entrance of the building, giving the tenants three days to deal with the clutter in the hallway, or else I would throw it all away.

By the time I finished all that, it was already dusk.

Chunyan helped me return my tools to 302.

Sister Li wasn't there; I don't know where she went. She left me a note telling me to go to Sister Pang's for dinner and not to wait for her.

"Brother Wang, thank you and Sister Li for your help. Let me treat you to dinner, let's have Fatty Sister's fried noodles."

Chunyan wiped her sweat, looking shy: "It was my dad who told me to treat you to dinner. If it weren't for you yesterday, I would have..."

"I'll treat you; you did a lot of work today."

After washing my hands, I called out to Chunyan, "Would you like to wash your hands and face?"

Knowing that Chunyan had no money, I couldn't bear to let her treat me.

"Then I'll go home and wash my hands, and head straight to Sister Pang's fried noodles shop. Brother Wang, wait for me."

The swallows flew away quickly.

I washed my hair and went downstairs to wait at Fatty Sister's Fried Noodles shop.

Not long after, Chunyan arrived, wearing a slightly worn dress, fidgeting and giving a half-smile.

I ordered two servings of fried rice, a bottle of beer, and a bottle of cola for Chunyan.

Anyway, Sister Li said that you don't have to pay for meals here, you can pay on credit.

The plump woman was very polite and even gave us a plate of stir-fried snails.

While I was eating, I saw Dao Zixiong's nephew, Awen, walking past the fried noodle shop with a pretty girl of about seventeen or eighteen.

Hi, hello.

Awen nodded at me: "To pick up girls."

"no."

I glanced at Chunyan, my face slightly flushed: "Have you eaten, Awen? Want to eat together?"

But Chunyan smiled at me, not caring at all.

"I've already eaten, I'm going to play billiards."

Awen pointed to the pool table on the side: "Come over and play a couple of rounds later, let's play together."

"Okay, I'll be right there."

I used to enjoy playing billiards. When I was in school in the county town, a game cost five cents. But because I was too playful, I neglected my studies and didn't get into university.

After quickly eating the fried noodles, I asked Sister-in-law Pang to put the bill on the tab.

Chunyan ran over and took out some change to pay the bill.

"Alright, little girl, if you come eat with Xiao Wang, it's free."

The plump woman pushed Chunyan's money back and laughed, "You and Xiao Wang are dating, aren't you? Go have some fun, but don't go too far, it's not safe."

The swallow blushed, unable to come or go.

I shook my head and went next door to play billiards with Awen.

Chunyan followed along, watching the excitement from the sidelines.

The pool table was placed outside the door, and inside was a small karaoke room where several migrant workers were wailing and howling.

The boss, Lao Zhou, came over and offered us cigarettes, and also poured us four cups of tea.

Awen is pretty good at billiards, a little better than me. Because he's better than me, Awen feels superior and kept pestering me to play seven or eight games.

Chunyan didn't leave; she just watched from the side.

I suddenly remembered that I had to go to room 505 to collect rent tonight, and when I checked the time, it was already past eight o'clock.

"Ah Wen, I have something to do back home. I'll call you next time."

I dropped my billiard cue and greeted the boss, "Boss Zhou, put this on my tab, I'll pay you back later."

Old Zhou is also a tenant in Building 27. Sister Li showed me around the building this morning and told me that I don't have to pay to sing or play ball here.

If I say I'll keep the accounts, it's practically the same as defaulting on the debt.

"It's alright, Xiao Wang. Why would you need money to play ball with Wenzi?"

Old Zhou smiled ingratiatingly: "Come visit anytime, you can sing or play ball, it's free."

That's when I remembered that Ah Wen is the boss.

His uncle, Dao Zixiong, controlled an entire street and the whole of Sanlichuan.

I rushed back to 302, but Chunyan followed me.

"Chunyan, I need to go to room 505 to collect rent. You can go back first. I'll call you when there's work to do later."

"Brother Wang, I haven't written down my ID number and address for you yet..."

"Then you write it."

I handed them paper and pen, then turned and walked towards the small bedroom: "Just put it on the table when you're done writing, and there's also a photo."

There are some things hidden in my luggage.

My second uncle gave it to me; it's a must-have for roaming the martial arts world.

I found the thing, hesitated for a moment, and then equipped myself with it.

Chunyan had already written down her name, address, and ID number, and left two photos. She was waiting for me in the living room.

"Spring Swallow..."

I thought for a moment: "Come with me to room 505 and wait for me in the hallway. Is that alright?"

Chunyan nodded: "Of course, what's up?"

I wrote down Sister Li's phone number and handed it to Chunyan: "If I don't come out of room 505 within fifteen minutes, go downstairs and call Sister Li."

"Okay, no problem."

Chunyan nodded.