Chapter 23: Encountering an Acquaintance

Wan Shun arrived at the northern industrial district of the city, a place filled with various mechanical and electrical factories. Once, these factories bustled with activity, but now they were deserted and desolate. The workshops were old, their products outdated and unable to meet modern demands, and even the workers within had grown old. Business was so poor that they struggled just to stay afloat; it was clear they were on the verge of collapse.

Hoping to find an opportunity here, Wan Shun’s hopes were quickly dashed. She visited several other places—Qijiang County was only so big—yet found nothing suitable. She began to consider whether she should go to the city. There, she knew, were automobile factories, dealerships, and many repair shops; she was sure she could find something that fit.

With her mind made up, Wan Shun stopped wandering aimlessly and prepared to return to settle things with Yu Yan. She did not expect to run into someone familiar—the boss whose car had broken down on the road that night.

“Hey, hey, hey, girl—is that you? It’s you, isn’t it?” Left Dalong was visibly excited. If not for Wan Shun that night, the delay on the road would have been minor, but missing an important deal would have been disastrous. Later, he felt deeply embarrassed that he had only given her a hundred yuan. Left Dalong prided himself on his loyalty—he had never been so stingy before. To meet Wan Shun again was an unexpected delight.

Wan Shun raised her eyebrows, surprised as well. “What a coincidence, boss.”

Left Dalong laughed heartily. “It is a coincidence! What brings you here, young lady?”

Wan Shun shrugged. “Looking for work. Trying to earn some money.”

“Oh? Out working already at your age? Want to buy new clothes?”

Wan Shun shot him a glance, unimpressed. “To save a life.”

Left Dalong was taken aback.

“To really save a life? How much do you need? I could lend you some if you want.”

Wan Shun was surprised—wasn’t this man a saint?

“Five thousand.”

Left Dalong’s mouth twitched. This little girl knew how to name her price.

“You’re not pulling my leg, are you?”

Wan Shun shook her head with a straight face. “No. Will you lend it?”

Left Dalong sucked in a breath. He was putting himself on the spot. If he lent the money, it was risky; if he didn’t, it was embarrassing. When he looked into Wan Shun’s dark eyes—youthful, yet unsettling in their depth—his heart skipped a beat.

Gritting his teeth, he said, “Alright, I’ll lend it to you.”

This time, it was Wan Shun’s turn to be surprised. He really would lend it? Five thousand yuan was a fortune in the nineties. To lend it so readily to a girl he’d only met twice, who didn’t seem particularly promising, was almost foolish.

Seeing Wan Shun’s hesitation, a smile appeared on Left Dalong’s face. He thought to himself, at his age, how could he let a little girl outdo him in composure?

“Listen, girl, if you truly want to borrow the money, I’ll lend it to you. But I do have a problem that needs solving—come with me and see if you can help out, how about it?”

This finally sounded reasonable. Wan Shun nodded.

Left Dalong grinned. This girl really was brave—she wasn’t even afraid he might sell her off.

“Come on, get in the car.”

Left Dalong drove Wan Shun to the newly planned eastern industrial zone of the county. This area was even more desolate than the old factory district. The dirt road was pitted and uneven, and construction debris was strewn everywhere. The place had once been a garbage dump, and much of the trash remained uncleared. Beyond that, barren hills stretched as far as the eye could see—a wasteland in plain sight.

The car couldn’t drive into the factory grounds, so they got out at the edge.

“It’s usually fine here, but it rained yesterday, so we’ll have to walk a bit. It’s not far. Don’t be fooled by how remote and desolate this place looks—it’s only temporary. In no more than two years, this will be the most bustling part of Qijiang County.”

Wan Shun nodded indifferently. She knew that while this place might never become the busiest hub, it would certainly become the most profitable. After all, once a boss named Left bought this land, he built the largest automotive industrial park in Jiangdong Province here. Though the project faced many crises, it survived in the end. Barring any surprises, this amiable, almost saintly man beside her was most likely that very boss Left.

For now, Qijiang County was still a small, peripheral city, and land here was cheap. But with the rise of the Damai Commune, all of Jiangdong Province’s fortunes would rise, and within a few years, the value of this land would increase tenfold. Just the land alone would make Left Dalong a millionaire.

At this moment, Left Dalong was still just a small-time boss with a bit of money and a stroke of luck.

“We’re here, we’re here. Come in, girl.”

The factory was newly built—equipment and facilities were incomplete, and even the workshop was just a red-brick skeleton. Still, it was spacious; the yard in front alone was as large as a football field.

Dozens of old harvesters were parked outside, with several technicians working busily around them. Hearing the boss arrive, they barely had time to look up and greet him. Inside the factory, more workers bustled about.

Left Dalong waved a hand, presenting the scene. “See, girl? All these machines are in urgent need of repair. The rice harvest is coming soon, and our regular clients have brought their problematic harvesters for maintenance or a check-up, so nothing breaks down mid-job. They need them back quickly, and everything’s piled up at once. I don’t have enough hands, and it’s too much for us. You can fix cars, right? Come, see if you can handle these harvesters.”

“My workers here are regular staff—paid by the month. It’ll be different for you; I’ll pay you by the job. Fifty yuan for every machine you fix, and if you tackle one with more problems or higher difficulty, I’ll pay extra, depending on the work. What do you think?”

Wan Shun said nothing but walked around the harvesters, hopping onto one and starting it up. Just by listening to the engine, she could tell where the issues lay.

“I can fix them.”

Left Dalong was overjoyed. “I knew you were capable! Alright, ask the others for any tools you need. Do a good job for me, and I promise you’ll be well rewarded. Whatever you want to borrow later, I’ll lend it.”

Wan Shun smirked. “Uncle, you’re someone I can work with.”

Left Dalong immediately straightened up. “Of course! Not to boast, but if this were a martial arts world, I’d at least be a chivalrous hero—loyal, righteous, respected even by the martial arts alliance leader as a brother.”

Wan Shun respected him for that—his almost saintly generosity made him a perfect target for being taken advantage of.

Fixing harvesters was harder than repairing small appliances, but the pay was good, and Wan Shun threw herself into the work.

Left Dalong wanted to linger and chat, but seeing Wan Shun ignore him, he wandered off, disappointed.

From morning until nightfall, Wan Shun ate nothing but a piece of bread, drank two bottles of water, and didn’t even visit the restroom. Yet she repaired ten machines—more than all the other technicians combined. Her efficiency was truly astonishing.

The other technicians eyed Wan Shun with daggers in their gaze, because Left Dalong now looked at them with that same sharpness.

“Girl, do you really need money so badly? You’re working yourself to the bone! If you’re truly in trouble, I said I’d lend you money. You’re still young—don’t push yourself too far.”

Wan Shun was covered in oil and sweat, a sorry sight, but her dark eyes shone with clarity.

“I do need money, but this isn’t pushing myself. That’s enough for today—I’ll come back tomorrow. Give me an advance, and deduct it later.” She needed to pay at Yu Yan’s place, and what little she had left wasn’t enough.

Left Dalong was truly impressed by this young girl. Without a word, he handed her five hundred yuan—didn’t even write an IOU.

Wan Shun stuffed it into her pocket. “Thanks. See you tomorrow.”

“Wait, let me drive you back. There’s no bus service out here.”

“Alright.”

Wan Shun didn’t refuse and rode back to the hospital with Left Dalong.

“Uncle, what happened to your driver?”

At the mention of his driver, Left Dalong’s face darkened. “Don’t remind me. That guy not only couldn’t fix cars, he was a lousy driver. I fired him. He was a relative someone introduced to me. That’s why I say, you have to follow the rules when hiring people. Nepotism only causes trouble. I won’t take anyone on a relative recommends again.”