Reservoir Dogs chapter 8

Going Home

The humid summer wind brought out a thin layer of sweat. The ginkgo leaves by the street were wilting at the edges. The sun slowly set, retracting its piercing rays.

Xiao Zhou asked for directions all along the way, transferring trains, turning around until he finally found his old home.

First through a narrow alley, stepping on water-soaked bluestone slabs, separated from the noisy main street by only a small lane, it felt like entering a different world—quiet plastic awnings dripping water, slippery moss, bicycles leaning against the wall, flower pots on window sills. Xiao Zhou walked slowly, his breathing slowing down.

He entered the corridor. The iron door was rusty, the corridor light flickered twice and went out. It wasn’t as tidy and bright as he remembered in reality, rather rundown and shabby. The corridor was narrow, barely accommodating two adults passing through, and the floors weren’t as high as he remembered, where six floors felt like a long climb.

Standing at the door, he noticed a new “good fortune” sticker peeling off a corner. He raised his hand to smooth it out. It was only when he arrived that he began to feel a sense of anxiety about being so close to home. Taking a deep breath, he knocked on the door several times before it opened.

Inside, there were scattered noises, and then a middle-aged woman appeared and opened the door.

Xiao Zhou and she stared at each other.

The woman looked at him strangely. “Who are you looking for?”

Xiao Zhou was taken aback. “Didn’t someone live here before…?”

The woman suddenly understood. “Oh, you’re looking for the previous family. They sold the house and moved away a year ago.”

The door closed again. Xiao Zhou turned around, paused for a moment, and leaned against the mottled white wall.

He took out the letter from his pocket. The contents were brief, saying that the surgery costs had been paid for him and it was up to him to decide whether to undergo it. It also mentioned his father’s job transfer and his own new job, implying that they might not visit him often, hoping he would take care of himself and stay out of trouble. The letter was too concise, unlike his mother’s usual rambling style, making him feel that something was off.

He hadn’t expected that they had moved away.

He bowed his head and flipped through his phone’s contacts. Finally, he dialed out.

The continuing ringtone felt like a lingering knife hanging over his neck; he was afraid even their mobile number had been changed.

Fortunately, it finally connected. It was as if a weight had been lifted off his chest.

A woman’s voice full of disbelief came through, with surprise and urgency, “Zhou Zhou, is that you? How did you get hold of a phone? Are you out?”

Xiao Zhou choked for a moment, almost unable to speak. He leaned against the wall, squatted down along the wall for a long time before stopping his tears, biting his lower lip and saying, “Um, just got out. I had surgery and got parole.”

The voice on the other end paused for a moment, then trembled a bit, “Good, that’s good, it’s good that you’re out.”

Xiao Zhou wiped his tears with the back of his hand. “Did you move? I didn’t see you at the old place.”

His mother’s side was noisy, with occasional urging voices. She covered the phone and moved to a quieter place, explaining to Xiao Zhou, “Yes, Xiao Ping came back and found a job, so we moved closer to him.”

Xiao Zhou sniffed and forced a smile, “Why did Xiao Ping come back so early? Wasn’t he supposed to be studying?”

His mother didn’t say much, just gave him the new address and invited him to dinner, saying she would get off work at six and prepare something nice for him.

Following his mother’s address, Xiao Zhou, feeling anxious, took a taxi there. That neighborhood was full of daily rental rooms, internet cafes, hair salons, and cheap motels. As night fell, neon lights started to glow, making the place even more bustling and chaotic.

He followed the address all the way, finally standing in front of a dilapidated residential building, almost like a dangerous building.

He went upstairs, raised his hand and knocked on the door. There was no response the first time, so he knocked twice.

“Coming, what’s with all this knocking, trying to raise the dead?” An impatient voice came from inside. After the door opened, Xiao Zhou saw Xiao Ping.

Thin and dark, not tall at all, he didn’t seem to have grown much taller over the years, dyed his hair yellow, and his soft hair fell over his eyebrows. His pointed chin, ear pierced with an earring. It was completely different from his memory of a good student and obedient child.

The brothers met, but the expected closeness was absent.

Xiao Ping first looked surprised, then became very angry and disgusted, “How did you get out? You didn’t escape, did you? Damn, don’t come here to cause trouble for us.”

Xiao Zhou’s face suddenly changed, “I’m on parole.”

Xiao Ping’s expression shifted, “You really had the surgery?” Being a Beta, he couldn’t smell Xiao Zhou’s pheromones. He stared at him as if seeing a ghost, then walked away from the door. “Fine, you’re back. At least Mom won’t be nagging every day.”

The room was lit by a dim yellow light, with exposed wires hanging from the ceiling holding a conical lampshade. The bulb underneath flickered occasionally.

Xiao Ping returned to the table, pulled out a chair, and sat down. A little girl was still doing her homework at the dining table in the living room. Hearing someone come in, she turned her head to look. She had two braids, wore a pink dress, and had bright black eyes that curiously stared at Xiao Zhou.

Xiao Zhou felt uncomfortable under her gaze and sat awkwardly on another folding stool.

Xiao Ping made the little girl turn back and continue her homework. She obediently buried her head and began writing with her short pencil.

The house was very small, with only a large round table and a circle of chairs in the living room—no sofa or TV. There were two bedrooms separated by partitions, the space layout was clear at a glance, and it was nothing like the previous two-story living environment, a drastic downgrade.

Xiao Zhou felt disheartened, knowing that something significant must have happened to the family.

Noticing Xiao Zhou’s gaze, Xiao Ping sneered, “The thing where you beat someone to death, Dad and Mom spent a lot of money to reduce your sentence and get the victim’s family to forgive you. They used up all our savings and even took on a huge debt for your surgery later. We’re left with nothing, not even savings but a mountain of debt.”

“You were stable in there, but it was chaos outside. The victim’s family caused trouble every day, and when they weren’t satisfied with our home, they went to Dad’s workplace. Dad, who’s always cared about face, couldn’t take the pressure from his boss and colleagues, so he resigned voluntarily. You know Mom’s salary is barely enough, and she had to endure a lot of gossip at work just to keep earning a bit. Even so, they still wanted to get you out. And you weren’t even behaving in prison…” His words were full of resentment. Xiao Zhou listened with a stiff neck, not daring to make a sound.

As Xiao Ping was speaking, a key turned in the door lock, and Liu Xia came in carrying many groceries, followed by an aunt.

Xiao Ping stopped mid-sentence, glanced at the newcomers, and said loudly, “Aunt Xu is here. My task is done, I’m going to my room.” He turned and went into his room, slamming the door loudly without looking at Xiao Zhou.

Xiao Zhou stood up. Liu Xia saw him, quickly put down her things, came over, hugged him, touched his hair and face, tears streaming down as she choked, “You’ve lost so much weight, you must have suffered a lot.”

Xiao Zhou felt a pang of guilt, thinking of what Xiao Ping had just said. He could only cry silently, feeling deeply remorseful for having destroyed the entire family in a moment of impulse.

Seeing him cry, Liu Xia felt even more heartbroken. She thought Xiao Ping’s attitude had hurt him, so she patted his hair and comforted him, “It’s okay. Your brother isn’t mad at you. His plans to study abroad fell through, and he’s been unhappy for a while, acting like this to everyone. Just bear with him.”

Xiao Zhou looked up suddenly, “But he got the acceptance letter, didn’t he go?”

Liu Xia sighed awkwardly but didn’t say directly, “Maybe he felt he couldn’t adapt abroad, so he didn’t go.”

Xiao Zhou said, “But he didn’t even take the college entrance exam.”

Liu Xia averted her eyes, “It’s fate, nothing we can do. He has a job now, which is good, gaining experience early.”

Xiao Zhou trembled all over, “It’s because you raised money for me, and the family ran out of money, isn’t it?”

Liu Xia stiffened, “It’s not entirely because of you. Xiao Ping stayed home all the time and didn’t learn anything. Going abroad might not have been good for him anyway.”

Xiao Zhou felt a great shock, realizing he had indirectly ruined Xiao Ping’s future. No wonder Xiao Ping harbored such resentment and anger towards him. Xiao Ping’s grades weren’t great; he might not have passed the college entrance exam, and at most, he’d have gone to a vocational college. But with the family’s decent financial situation, they had planned to send him abroad to a proper university. Everything had been arranged, and no one expected Xiao Zhou to mess it all up, crippling the entire family.

He clenched his fists, his eyes red, head down, body trembling slightly, “You shouldn’t have helped me.”

“Don’t be silly. You’re out now, that’s the best thing. I was so afraid I wouldn’t see the day you got out.” Liu Xia hugged Xiao Zhou, stroking his hair. Her face buried in his shoulder, her tears soaked through his T-shirt, burning his heart.

After a while, Liu Xia wiped her tears, “Let’s not talk about sad things today. You’re finally out, we should have a happy meal.”

She pulled him over to the aunt who came with her, “Let me introduce you, this is Aunt Xu from next door, and this is her daughter, Xiao Yun.”

Xu Cuiping greeted him cheerfully, “Your mom always talks about you, saying how smart, filial, and handsome you are, like a model. Finally seeing you today, you really do look like a model.”

The little girl was nestled in Xu Cuiping’s arms. Xu Cuiping lowered her head and waved her daughter’s hand, “Xiao Yun, quickly call ge.”

The little girl, a bit shy, hid behind and looked at Xiao Zhou for a while before softly calling out, “Ge.”

Xiao Zhou wiped his tears and smiled somewhat sheepishly. He wanted to touch the little girl’s head, but she immediately turned and buried herself in Xu Cuiping’s embrace.

Having a child around lightened the atmosphere a bit, making the adults relax considerably, and the somber mood dissipated somewhat.

Liu Xia went to prepare dinner. Xu Cuiping found a copper basin from somewhere, burned some bits of paper, and told Xiao Zhou to step over it, saying, “Step over the fire basin to drive away bad luck and bring prosperity!”

At dinner, Liu Xia prepared a large table of dishes. Due to time constraints, she bought many ready-to-eat foods, including roast chicken, braised duck, and pre-made couple’s lung slices, mostly meat dishes. Throughout the meal, she kept adding food to Xiao Zhou’s plate.

Because there was a lot of food, Xu Cuiping and Xiao Yun were also invited to stay for dinner.

Xiao Zhou then learned that Xu Cuiping’s husband had died, and she now worked at the same place as Liu Xia. Because she was too busy with work to take care of her child, she left her daughter here for Xiao Ping to look after. Xiao Ping had changed jobs many times and never stayed long at any; recently unemployed, he helped by looking after the child.

Xiao Ping kept his head down, eating without making eye contact or speaking. When he was almost done, he pushed his bowl away and went back to his room.

Xiao Zhou asked, “Where’s Dad?”

“He’s working the night shift today,” Liu Xia replied.

Xu Cuiping, inherently a gossipy middle-aged woman, was curious about Xiao Zhou’s experience of rehabilitation. She tried to ask indirectly, “How did it feel?”

Liu Xia was visibly unhappy with her bringing this up, but Xiao Zhou didn’t feel too offended. “It didn’t feel like much. It was just a normal surgery. The gland development and hormones were all taken care of by medication and injections, not much physical alteration.”

Xu Cuiping nodded, then asked thoughtlessly, “So, you got marked?”

Xiao Zhou paused, “Not yet.”

“What?” Xu Cuiping was surprised. “Is that possible? Don’t you need an Alpha guardian?”

Liu Xia frowned and kicked her under the table.

Xu Cuiping yelped in pain, “Ouch, Xia Jie! Don’t you want to know what kind of person your son is involved with? This is serious, it concerns his future life, and he should choose carefully.”

Xiao Zhou lowered his gaze, “Well, there’s one. The Pardon Court gives a one-month grace period.”

Xu Cuiping got interested, “Who is it? What’s he like? Do you have a photo?”

This time Liu Xia didn’t stop her, looking worried yet curious.

Xiao Zhou poked at the meat in his bowl, suddenly losing his appetite. He thought about Jiang Chengyuan, pondering how to describe him positively. “He’s a lawyer, a nice guy. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be out today.”

Xu Cuiping was a bit astonished and whispered, “Wow, a lawyer. Does he earn a lot? Is he rich?”

Thinking about his luxury car and superior living conditions, Xiao Zhou nodded, “Should be decent.”

Xu Cuiping’s face lit up. She tugged Liu Xia’s sleeve, “Jie, you’re lucky! You got a rich son-in-law.”

Liu Xia looked embarrassed, half-angry, and glared at Xu Cuiping, “What are you saying? How is this lucky?” She turned to Xiao Zhou, “How is he treating you? Aren’t the people assigned by the Pardon Court usually not very good?”

Xiao Zhou smiled at Liu Xia, “Don’t worry, Mom. I got lucky. He’s good-looking and nice. Everyone envies me.”

Liu Xia was momentarily stunned, then smiled reassuringly, “As long as you say it’s good.”

After dinner, Liu Xia got up to clean. Xiao Zhou wanted to help, but she insisted, “Today’s your welcome home dinner. You shouldn’t lift a finger; it’s bad luck.”

Xu Cuiping agreed, “Yes, exactly.”

Xiao Zhou had to stop. After Liu Xia went to the kitchen, Xu Cuiping pulled him aside and asked, “Are you very close with that lawyer?”

Xiao Zhou felt awkward and vaguely responded.

Xu Cuiping, assuming he was shy, eagerly said, “I have a case. Can you ask him to help out as a favor for you?”

Xiao Zhou knew that even if he asked, Jiang Chengyuan wouldn’t agree. He could barely leave the house without being tightly monitored, let alone ask for favors.

But Xu Cuiping continued, “My older sister and her newborn son were murdered by her husband. That man is wealthy, hired top lawyers, and bribed the police, claiming it was suicide. I don’t know what to do. I’ve wanted to sue him but can’t afford a lawyer, and the police say there’s no evidence to prosecute.”

She shakily pulled out a cigarette, her hands trembling with anger. “How can there be no evidence? That scumbag was at the scene when my sister died. Who else could it be? He was just a bellboy at a hotel until my sister took a liking to him. After she caught him embezzling company money and having an affair, he feared losing everything if she divorced him and killed her. He pushed her down the stairs right after she gave birth, claiming postpartum depression to cover it up. That bastard will burn in hell.”

Xu Cuiping cursed as she spoke, and Xiao Zhou managed to piece together the whole story from her barrage of colorful language.

She had a sister named Xu Juan and a brother-in-law named Zhou Jun. Half a month ago, Xu Juan jumped off a building with her newborn baby. The police said it was suicide, but Xu Cuiping insisted it was murder by Zhou Jun. Zhou Jun came from the countryside, didn’t receive much education, dropped out after the nine-year compulsory education, and had been doing odd jobs ever since. He met Xu Juan while working as a waiter in a hotel.

Xu Juan also came from the countryside, but she was smart and diligent. She saved up money by doing manicures and beauty treatments, eventually opened her own shop, expanded it into a chain, and later started an e-commerce company, becoming a millionaire entrepreneur.

Although Zhou Jun wasn’t well-educated, he was handsome and sweet-talking. Years of struggling at the bottom taught him how to read people and say the right things. Xu Juan was ten years older than him, nearing forty, and still unmarried. When Zhou Jun met her, he pursued her relentlessly, using every trick in the book, and within a month, Xu Juan fell into his trap and married him. However, Xu Juan was wary that Zhou Jun might be after her money, so she wisely arranged a prenuptial agreement stating that he would get nothing in case of a divorce.

Xu Juan, given her age, had a high-risk pregnancy. Initially, she didn’t want a child and considered adoption, but Zhou Jun insisted and even sabotaged their contraceptives to get her pregnant. With no other choice, she decided to keep the baby. Throughout her pregnancy, she faced multiple risks of miscarriage, leading her to step back from her company and focus on a healthy pregnancy at home. Zhou Jun seized this opportunity to gain control of the company, indulging in affairs with the company’s young secretaries, which led to widespread rumors.

Xu Juan, preoccupied with her pregnancy, didn’t notice Zhou Jun’s actions until after the baby was born. Discovering his infidelity, she stormed into the office and beat the mistress before firing her. Zhou Jun, instead of defending his mistress, only sought forgiveness for himself. Xu Juan, weakened after childbirth and emotionally distressed, fell seriously ill. During her illness, Zhou Jun pretended to care deeply for her, and Xu Juan, softened by his facade and reluctant to let her child grow up fatherless, decided not to divorce him.

While Xu Juan recuperated at home, Zhou Jun had full control of the company. He became addicted to stock trading, misappropriated company funds, and frequently indulged in lavish nightlife. When his actions were exposed, Xu Juan finally decided to divorce him. However, a few days later, Xu Cuiping heard about Xu Juan’s tragic fall with her son.

Xu Cuiping’s hand trembled as she held a cigarette. “Tell me, how could it be so coincidental? My sister, such a strong-willed person, would jump off a building for that scumbag? And take her son with her? You have no idea how difficult it was for her to have that child and how much she cherished him.”

Xu Cuiping’s voice choked up as she wiped her tears with the back of her hand.

Xiao Zhou also sympathized with Xu Juan’s plight. However, with such clear murder suspicions, how could the police overlook it?

Xu Cuiping coldly said, “Money talks. Plus, that high-priced lawyer of his, a money-grubbing dog. I heard just meeting with that lawyer costs tens of thousands. The whole legal system is rotten, all blinded by money.”

As she spoke, she grabbed Xiao Zhou’s wrist and pleaded, “What’s the name of your lawyer? Can you give me his contact information? A personal connection might be more dedicated, or at least offer some advice.”

Xiao Zhou felt awkward. “I’m not sure if he handles criminal cases, and honestly, I’m not very close to him.”

Xu Cuiping thought Xiao Zhou was trying to avoid trouble and persistently pressed on, “It’s okay, I just need some consultation. If it doesn’t work out, that’s fine. I’m totally in the dark about legal matters. You wouldn’t refuse this small favor for your aunt, would you? Given my close relationship with your mother, just pass the message along.”

Feeling cornered, Xiao Zhou reluctantly agreed, “I’ll ask for you, alright?”

Xu Cuiping beamed with joy, “Good, good.” She added, “What’s the lawyer’s name? I’ll look him up online.”

Xiao Zhou replied, “His surname is Jiang, Jiang Chengyuan.”

As soon as he said it, Xu Cuiping’s head snapped around, her eyes widened, and her face turned red with anger, like an inflating balloon.

From the kitchen, Liu Xia heard an incredulous scream from outside, “What? The lawyer defending that bastard Zhou Jun is the same one you mentioned?”

Liu Xia rushed out, only managing to step between Xiao Zhou and Xu Cuiping, “What’s going on?”

Xu Cuiping’s trembling finger pointed at Xiao Zhou, “Your son, that alpha lawyer, is the one handling Zhou Jun’s case.”

Liu Xia, well aware of Xu Cuiping’s family troubles, also turned pale upon hearing this. She turned to Xiao Zhou, “Is this true?”

Xiao Zhou was still trying to grasp the situation.

Xu Cuiping, seething with anger, accused, “That heartless, money-hungry lawyer, who disregards human life and justice, will face his reckoning! And you, associating with him, will reap no good either!”

Liu Xia’s face suddenly changed, “Why are you dragging my son into this? If you’re angry, go vent over there!”

“Did I say something wrong? What did I say wrong? What kind of good person would defend a murderer like Zhou Jun?”

The place instantly became chaotic, and Xiao Zhou was caught in the middle, at a loss.

Suddenly, his phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID, his face darkened, and he hurried outside to answer it.

“What’s up?” he whispered.

A lazy male voice came from the other end, still gentle and mellow but tinged with displeasure, “It’s almost 9 o’clock. Why aren’t you back yet?”