In Zeyang City at the end of August, even the wind was scorching.
At six in the evening, the great iron gates of the First Mechanical Factory swung open. Workers getting off their shifts pushed their bicycles out, forming a torrent of gray and blue.
Chen Jianguo was in the middle of the crowd.
Pushing his heavy-duty roadster, he left the factory gates. Instead of rushing home, he stopped at his usual tobacco and liquor wholesaler.
The shop’s owner, Old Wang, was sitting behind the counter, fanning himself with a palm-leaf fan and watching TV.
Chen Jianguo propped up his bike and walked inside.
"Old Wang, give me two cartons of hard-pack Zhonghua."
Old Wang’s fanning hand paused. He looked up at Chen Jianguo, a little surprised.
"Jianguo, did the sun rise in the west today? You usually hesitate for ages over a single pack of Hongtashan, and now you’re going straight for two cartons of hard-pack Zhonghua?"
Chen Jianguo smiled and pulled his wallet from his pants pocket.
"It’s for a special occasion. And grab me two cases of good whole milk, the Yili brand."
Old Wang turned to grab two cartons of Zhonghua from the glass cabinet behind him, then went to a corner to retrieve two cases of milk, placing everything on the glass counter.
"Eight hundred and sixty in total," Old Wang said, tapping on his calculator.
Chen Jianguo nodded, counted out nine hundred-yuan bills from his wallet, and handed them over.
Old Wang gave him forty yuan in change.
"This is for Xiaozhuo’s business, right?"
Old Wang asked casually as he handed over the change.
By now, who in the neighborhood didn’t know that the Chen Family’s son had placed first in the nation and was about to attend some ’class for gifted youngsters’ in Huizhou?
"Borrowing a car."
Chen Jianguo pocketed the cigarettes and change, then bent over, picking up one case of milk in each hand.
"Taking my boy to school. Borrowed a friend’s car. He didn’t want any money for it, but you’ve gotta know the proper way to do things."
Old Wang nodded and gave him a thumbs-up.
"You’re a man who does things right. Okay, be careful on your way."
Chen Jianguo secured his change, grabbed the plastic bag with the cigarettes, and carried the two cases of milk over to his bicycle.
He found an old elastic cord and tied the milk securely to the bike’s rear rack.
Hopping on, Chen Jianguo pedaled away, heading toward the city center.
After riding for about ten minutes.
The road surface gradually became smoother and wider, and the shops on either side gave way to clothing stores and restaurants with glass storefronts.
Chen Jianguo squeezed the brakes and stopped by the side of the road.
Across the street was a residential complex that had been completed not long ago.
「Brocade Garden.」
Chen Jianguo pushed his bike and walked over.
A guard booth stood at the main gate, manned by two young men in dark blue security uniforms.
"Sir, are you looking for someone or making a delivery?"
one of the guards asked, his eyes glancing over Chen Jianguo’s bicycle and the milk on the back.
"Looking for someone," Chen Jianguo said, stopping. "I’m looking for Boss Zhang, Zhang Zhicheng, in Building Six, Unit Two."
Hearing the name, the guard picked up his walkie-talkie.
"Boss Zhang in Building Six, right? One moment, please."
Two minutes later, the barrier arm lifted.
"Go on in. Head straight, and Building Six will be on your left."
Chen Jianguo pushed his bike inside.
The paths in the complex were paved with neat interlocking bricks, flanked by large, perfectly manicured lawns.
A few automatic sprinklers were spinning, watering the grass.
When he reached the base of Building Six.
Chen Jianguo immediately spotted the black Santana 2000.
It was parked in a designated spot, washed to a brilliant shine, its windows reflecting the light.
Zhang Qiang’s dad, Zhang Zhicheng, was standing beside the car door, talking on the phone.
Zhang Zhicheng was wearing a T-shirt and a pair of crisply pressed trousers, with a genuine leather phone case clipped to his waist. His black leather shoes were impeccably polished.
He held a flip phone in his hand and was speaking loudly into it.
"That shipment is stuck on the provincial highway? Alright, I get it. I’ll have someone push them tomorrow."
Zhang Zhicheng snapped the phone shut, turned his head, and saw Chen Jianguo approaching with his bike.
"Well now, Old Chen!"
The serious look on Zhang Zhicheng’s face vanished, replaced by a broad smile as he hurried over to greet him.
"Qiangzi was just talking about you upstairs, saying you were coming to pick up the car. It’s so hot out, why’d you ride your bike all this way?"
Chen Jianguo propped his bicycle against the curb.
"I came straight from work."
Chen Jianguo wiped the sweat from his forehead.
He turned, untied the two cases of milk from the rear rack, and also took the plastic bag containing the two cartons of hard-pack Zhonghua from the handlebars.
Chen Jianguo took two steps forward and placed the items on the Santana’s hood.
"Old Zhang, it’s all happening the day after tomorrow. I’m taking the car home today to get used to it."
Chen Jianguo gestured at the pile of goods.
"Take this stuff upstairs. It’s for Qiangzi to drink."
Zhang Zhicheng glanced down, and his expression stiffened.
"Old Chen, what is this?"
Zhang Zhicheng reached out to push the two cartons of cigarettes away.
"What’s all this between our families? If it weren’t for Xiaozhuo tutoring him, Qiangzi wouldn’t have even gotten a foot in the door to get into City No.1 Middle School this year."
Zhang Zhicheng sighed, his tone sincere.
"I, Zhang Zhicheng, am a businessman. I know what’s truly valuable. A mind like Xiaozhuo’s—he’s the top scholar in all of Zeyang City! Me lending you this car to drive to Huizhou, I’m the one honored by it. Bringing these things is like a slap in my face."
Chen Jianguo didn’t back down, blocking with his hands.
"Old Zhang, let’s keep things separate."
Chen Jianguo was a down-to-earth man. He wasn’t eloquent, but he stuck to his principles.
"A loan is a loan, and a favor is a favor. You bought this car less than two years ago, and you baby it like crazy. I’m going to be driving it hundreds of kilometers, gone for days."
Chen Jianguo looked Zhang Zhicheng in the eye.
"If you consider me a brother, you’ll take these things. If you don’t, then I’d rather borrow a car from someone else today than drive yours. I, Chen Jianguo, can’t just take advantage of you like this."
Zhang Zhicheng looked at Chen Jianguo’s stubborn expression and stood there for a moment.
Then, he suddenly laughed and clapped Chen Jianguo on the shoulder.
"Alright, Old Chen. You’re a man of your word."
Zhang Zhicheng picked up the cigarettes and milk and set them on the ground nearby.
He pulled a car key with a Volkswagen logo from his pants pocket and handed it over.
"Take it."
Chen Jianguo wiped his sweaty palm on his pants before taking the key.
"I filled up the gas tank at the station yesterday. There’s a spare tire and a jack in the trunk, and the windshield washer fluid is topped up too," Zhang Zhicheng explained.
Chen Jianguo nodded and pulled open the driver’s side door.
The car had a faint scent of air freshener. The seats were covered with cooling mats woven from bamboo blocks.
Chen Jianguo got in, inserted the key, and turned the ignition.
The engine let out a steady, low rumble.
He pressed the clutch, shifted into first gear, and tested the feel of the pedal.
"The clutch is a little high," Zhang Zhicheng said from outside the window. "That’s just how this car is. You’ll get used to it after a few tries."
"It’s fine," Chen Jianguo said, turning off the engine and getting out of the car.
Just then, the entrance door to Building Six swung open.
A chubby Zhang Qiang came running out in a pair of flip-flops, holding an old-fashioned popsicle, his footwear slapping against the pavement.
"Uncle Chen," Zhang Qiang greeted him, taking a big bite of his popsicle.
"Qiangzi," Chen Jianguo smiled back.
Zhang Qiang walked up to the car and peered inside.
"Uncle Chen, Brother Zhuo didn’t come?"
"No, he’s at home watching TV. It’s too hot to have him running around," Chen Jianguo said.
Zhang Qiang slurped the melted popsicle from his lips.
"Oh. Well, I’ll come over to your place tomorrow or the day after to hang out with Brother Zhuo. He’s leaving the day after tomorrow anyway."
"Sure, come on over. I’ll have your aunt cook something nice for you," Chen Jianguo agreed.
Chen Jianguo turned to look at his heavy-duty roadster.
"Old Zhang, pop the trunk. I’ll stuff my bike in and take it with me."
Zhang Zhicheng walked over and used the key to open the trunk.
Together, they lifted the heavy bicycle and shoved it into the trunk.
The trunk lid wouldn’t close, so Chen Jianguo found a red plastic rope and tied the lid down to the bumper below.
"Well, Old Zhang, I’m heading back then," Chen Jianguo said as he pulled open the car door.
"Alright. Drive safe. I’ve still got some issues to deal with on the provincial highway these next couple of days, so I won’t be able to see you off. I’ll just wish you and Xiaozhuo a safe trip," Zhang Zhicheng said with a wave.
Chen Jianguo nodded and closed the car door.
He released the handbrake, lightly tapped the accelerator, and the black Santana slowly drove out of the gates of Brocade Garden, merging into the evening streets.

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