Chapter 18: Bang Geng Courts Disaster Again—Old Grudges and New Feuds

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Zhu the Fool was a man of his word.
The next day at noon, Chen Mo was reading in the infirmary when Zhu the Fool came in cheerfully carrying an aluminum lunchbox.

“Doctor Chen! Busy?”

As soon as Zhu stepped in, his face was beaming with a broad smile. His enthusiasm startled Lin Wanqing, who was busy cleaning nearby.

“Is there something you need?” Chen Mo lifted his eyelids and glanced at him.

“Hehe, no, no.”

Zhu placed the lunchbox on Chen Mo’s desk like he was presenting a treasure, then opened it up.

“I figured since you just arrived at the factory, you probably aren’t used to the communal meals yet. So, I prepared a little something special for you: braised lion’s head meatballs and a stir-fried vegetarian dish with three shredded ingredients. Try it and see if you like it.”

As the lunchbox opened, a rich aroma of meat wafted out.

The lion’s head meatball was as large as a fist, glossy and reddish-brown, instantly whetting the appetite.

Even Lin Wanqing couldn’t help swallowing.

Chen Mo glanced at the lunchbox, then looked at Zhu’s face full of eager anticipation for praise, and his mind was as clear as a mirror.

Unsolicited attentions usually meant trouble. Zhu was probably being used as a pawn by Qin Huairu again.

Trying to bribe me with food? That was seriously underestimating me, Chen Mo.

“Take it back,” Chen Mo said flatly.

“Huh?”

Zhu’s smile froze on his face.

“Doctor Chen, you mean… you don’t like the food I made?”

“It’s not that I don’t like it.” Chen Mo closed his book.

“I told you, no reward for no merit. We’re strangers; why should I eat your food?

If you have too much money to spend, you can donate it to the Jia family. They really need help.”

Zhu’s face flushed red. He hadn’t expected Chen Mo to reject him so straightforwardly, giving him no face at all.

“I… I just wanted to make friends with you and apologize for what happened last time,” Zhu scratched his head awkwardly.

“I accept your apology, but friends?”

Chen Mo smiled.

“All right. If you want to be friends, it has to be on my terms.

Take the lunchbox back. This afternoon, go to the finance department and hand over your entire month’s salary to me.

Do this every month from now on, and then we’ll be friends. How about that?”

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“What?!” Zhu’s eyes widened. “Give… give you all my salary?”

He only earned 37.5 yuan a month, which he needed for helping Qin Huairu and for himself.

If he gave it all to Chen Mo, he’d starve!

“Don’t want to?” Chen Mo shrugged.

“Then no friendship for us. I won’t eat your food either. Take it away and don’t distract me from work.”

Zhu stood there, clutching the lunchbox, his face red with embarrassment, stuck between leaving and staying.

The nearby workers who had come for treatment covered their mouths, trying not to laugh.

“Enough, Zhu. Hurry up and leave, don’t make a fool of yourself here.”

In the end, Lin Wanqing couldn’t stand it any longer and pushed him outside.

Zhu slunk away, still holding the lunchbox, feeling angry and wronged.

He just couldn’t understand why his good intentions in bringing food had gone so wrong.

Elsewhere, at the Jia household.

The lingering side effects from Bang Geng’s “venting needle” had finally ceased after nearly a week.

But that week had been hell for him.

At school, he was mocked by classmates and even expelled from class by teachers because he couldn’t control his flatulence.

In the courtyard, he became the laughingstock of everyone; even his usual playmates avoided him.

He blamed it all on Chen Mo.

In his small heart grew a deep hatred for Chen Mo.

Especially after seeing Chen Mo not only escape punishment but thrive—becoming a doctor, riding in a small car, being fawned over by everyone in the courtyard. Even Zhu the Fool, whom he despised most, was eagerly delivering meals to him.

Meanwhile, in his own home, his grandmother was punished by being made to sweep the yard, becoming a joke among the neighbors. His mother wore a constant frown; their family’s life worsened day by day.

This stark contrast fueled Bang Geng’s resentment and jealousy, growing wildly like weeds.

He wanted revenge!

Absolutely had to take revenge!

He was just a kid, unable to fight Chen Mo physically, but he had his own plan.

That afternoon, Bang Geng left school early and lurked suspiciously near the courtyard gate.

He knew that Director Yang’s black sedan came every afternoon to pick up Chen Mo on time.

He had stolen a shoemaker’s awl from home, hiding it in his sleeve, and waited in the alley’s corner for the car to arrive.

Before long, the shiny black Volga car slowly pulled up and stopped at the courtyard gate.

The driver was a man in his thirties. After parking, he leaned against the door to smoke, waiting for Chen Mo.

Bang Geng’s heart pounded wildly.

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Seizing the moment when the driver was distracted, Bang Geng slipped to the other side of the car like a little mouse.

He crouched down, staring at the brand-new shining tire, his eyes gleaming with malice.

He took out the awl and, aiming at the thinnest sidewall of the tire, plunged it in with all his might!

“Pffft—”

A faint hiss of air escaping sounded.

Bang Geng was overjoyed!

He didn’t stop and stabbed the tire several more times until it visibly deflated.

Still unsatisfied, he went around to the back and did the same to another tire.

After finishing, he stuffed the awl back into his pocket and turned to run.

But as soon as he turned, he bumped into someone.

He looked up and was instantly terrified.

Chen Mo!

Chen Mo had appeared silently behind him, looking down with an expressionless face.

“Having fun?” Chen Mo’s voice was calm, but to Bang Geng’s ears, it was like a judgment from hell.

“I… I wasn’t…” Bang Geng’s legs went weak, and the awl slipped from his trembling hand with a clatter.

“Not you? Then what’s this?” Chen Mo stepped on the awl, bent down, picked it up, and waved it in front of Bang Geng.

The driver, hearing the noise, came over and saw both tires deflated. He was shocked.

“My goodness! Who did this?!”

He immediately spotted the pale-faced Bang Geng and the awl on the ground, no longer needing explanation.

“You little brat! How dare you puncture my tires! I’ll beat you to a pulp!”

The driver roared, raising his hand to strike.

“Wait.” Chen Mo stopped him.

The driver was stunned. “Doctor Chen, this…”

“Don’t rush.” Chen Mo looked at the trembling Bang Geng and smiled kindly.

“Kids don’t understand. Beating them doesn’t solve anything. This matter needs to be dealt with by his parents.”

He grabbed Bang Geng by the collar like a chick and carried him into the courtyard.

“Call a full courtyard meeting!”

Chen Mo’s voice echoed through the central courtyard—not loud, but reaching every corner.

“Jia Zhangshi! Qin Huairu! Get out here now!”