Underworld Chronicles: Qiao Si's Strategist, Xiao Ke, and Wang Weifan

Xiao Ke's father brought the gifts and took Xiao Ke, who was about to enter society, to his cousin's house.

Although Xiao Ke's father's cousin lived in the city, he wasn't from a wealthy family; he lived in a small bungalow in a hutong (alleyway).

As soon as the father and son entered, they saw three mahjong tables set up in the small room, which was packed with people and filled with smoke.

Xiao Ke's uncle is a gambling addict. He often sets up a few mahjong tables at home, takes a cut of the winnings, and sometimes plays a few rounds himself.

When Xiao Ke and his father arrived, his uncle was smoking and playing mahjong at the table. Xiao Ke's father walked over to his cousin and called out, "Cousin!"

"Hey, my cousin's here! Hey, third brother, third brother, come play a couple of rounds, my cousin's here." Xiao Ke's uncle was quite enthusiastic. Seeing the father and son arrive with gifts, he asked someone nearby to play a few rounds for him, and then led the father and son to the small room where they slept.

"Come, sit down, sit down. Look, you've come all this way. What did you bring? Let me get you both some water," said Xiao Ke's cousin.

Xiao Ke and his father sat down on the stool. Xiao Ke was quite reserved, with his bottom half on the stool, his legs tucked between his hands, and his head down, like a primary school student who had made a mistake at school.

Xiao Ke's father placed two boxes of peach shortbread and two cans of food on the table. "Ah, it's been a long time since you've come to visit. You can't come empty-handed, can you? Is your sister-in-law not home?"

"You old hag, you went to get your hair permed. You're such a flirt. I haven't seen Xiao Ke in ages. Why haven't he grown any taller? Is he even 1.5 meters yet?" Xiao Ke's uncle poured two glasses of water, placed them on the table, and asked.

"Just 1.5 meters tall, Uncle," Xiao Ke whispered.

"Speak louder! You're a grown man, it doesn't matter if you're not tall, but you have to have a loud voice! Hey bro, what brings you here today?" Little Ke's uncle shouted in a boisterous manner.

Yes, there is something I want to ask my cousin.

Damn, we grew up together, peeing and playing in the mud. What's with all this begging and asking? Just say what you need. Why are you being so polite with me?

"Well, look at Xiao Ke, he's not cut out for studying. He might as well quit. With that small frame, he's no good for farming. I was thinking, cousin, you have connections in the city, could you find him a job so he can support his family and make a living? Otherwise, with his condition, he'll have a hard time getting married," Xiao Ke's father said.

Looking at Xiao Ke, Xiao Ke's uncle said, "With such a small frame, how can he possibly farm? It'll be quite difficult for someone this young to find a job."

"Cousin, I can provide you with food and lodging. You just need to learn a skill. Take this money; we'll use it for gifts. Use the rest to buy yourself two packs of cigarettes." Xiao Ke's father said, pulling out ten ten-yuan bills.

Seeing his cousin giving him money and gifts, Xiao Ke's uncle felt a little embarrassed. "Look at what you're doing," he said. "How about this, let Xiao Ke stay with me for now. It's just a matter of having an extra pair of chopsticks. I'll help him find a job."

"Then I'll leave it to you, cousin. Listen to your uncle here, understand? If you don't obey, I'll give you a beating," Xiao Ke's father said to Xiao Ke.

Alright, you can go now. I've got the child, don't worry. Little Ke's cousin was in a hurry to go play mahjong.

After Xiao Ke's father left, Xiao Ke's cousin told him to stay inside while he went back to the table to play mahjong.

As soon as Xiao Ke's cousin sat down, he saw Lao Guan across the street. Suddenly, his eyes lit up. He thought to himself, "Hey, Lao Guan runs a bathhouse. Why not let Xiao Ke go there? He'll have food and lodging, and he can even learn a skill."

So, Xiao Ke's uncle, with a cigarette in his mouth and mahjong tiles in hand, said to Lao Guan, "Lao Guan, don't you need a bathhouse attendant? I'll find you someone, how about that?"

"Yeah, I'm short-handed. There's this kid who can't take hardship and ran away. Do you have a suitable candidate?" Old Guan said, bumping into a two-legged object.

"Hey, Xiao Ke, Xiao Ke~" Xiao Ke's cousin called into the house.

Xiao Ke rushed out in a flash. "What's wrong, Uncle?"

"This is my eldest nephew, what do you think?" Xiao Ke's cousin said to Lao Guan.

Old Guan squinted and carefully examined Xiao Ke. "Old Wang, is this okay? Scrubbing a body is hard work. He's so short and thin, I'm afraid he can't handle it."

"How can you not be able to handle it? This kid comes from the countryside. Country kids are the most hardworking. Besides, how much force can you use to scrub a few times? That requires skill. Look at his energy, he's got enough!" Xiao Ke's uncle praised him on Xiao Ke's behalf.

"Alright then, since you, Old Wang, have asked, let's give it a try tomorrow." Old Guan said, pulling a cigarette from the table and putting it in his mouth.

Just as he was about to pick up the lighter on the table to light his cigarette, Xiao Ke, who was standing behind his uncle, quickly grabbed his uncle's lighter, ran to Lao Guan, and lit the cigarette in his mouth for him.

Old Guan took a drag of his cigarette and looked at Xiao Ke. "Damn, he's got a good eye. Old Wang, this kid might make a name for himself someday."

Xiao Ke's cousin also looked at Xiao Ke. This kid was full of tricks even when he was young. He didn't grow tall because he had too many tricks up his sleeve. Let's see how he develops in the future.

Xiao Ke's work was settled at the mahjong table. By evening, the game ended. Xiao Ke's uncle had won several tens of yuan that day and was in a great mood. He even generously tossed Xiao Ke five yuan.

Here, go buy some soda!

"No need, no need, Uncle, you keep it to buy cigarettes. When I make money, I'll buy you better cigarettes," Xiao Ke said.

Xiao Ke's uncle patted his head and said, "Little rascal, it's enough that you have this thought in your heart."

Just after Uncle finished speaking, Xiao Ke's aunt finished getting her hair permed and came home with her son. Aunt had almost forgotten about Xiao Ke, and she even asked, "Whose child is this?"

Ah, it's my cousin's family from the countryside; they're looking for a job.

Xiao Ke's aunt was immediately unhappy when she heard this, asking, "Where will he live then?"

"Stay at our place for the night, then we'll go to Lao Guan's bathhouse tomorrow. Look at you, so shrewd! Here's what you won today." Xiao Ke's uncle generously tossed 50 yuan to his wife.

These old women get all excited when they see money. Ah, fine, let them stay here then. Son, take your little brother to play.

Xiao Ke's cousin was two years older than him. His real name was Wang Zhi. Wang Zhi later followed Xiao Ke and became a ruthless character who dared to fight and kill. But that's another story.

That night, Xiao Ke's uncle was happy after winning money and drank a little wine. He and his wife slept in the main house, while Xiao Ke slept in the small room inside with Wang Zhi.

Xiao Ke was still awake when he heard a series of clanging and crackling noises from the outer room, like a fight was taking place.

Xiao Ke nudged Wang Zhi under the covers and whispered, "Cousin, what's that noise from the outer room?"

"Go to sleep. Don't pry into adult matters. You'll know when you get married," Wang Zhi said impatiently.

Xiao Ke fell asleep listening to the strange noise, and had several random dreams that night, all about young women and wives.

Will Xiao Ke be able to handle this hard-won job? Stay tuned for the next episode.