Chapter 2: The First Younger Brother

After asking around through many twists and turns, and even being chased out with brooms or sticks several times, Shen Zechuan had at least gained something.

This village, which looked poor and crowded but had all kinds of shops fully stocked, was called Xiaoshi Village, and it was also the largest village in Ningyang City.

Most of the people here were hardworking farmers. Although the main labor force was middle-aged people, it was still very common to see elderly people in their seventies or eighties, as well as children only a few years old.

In addition, Shen Zechuan also obtained one of the most important pieces of information, which was…

He was really extremely unpopular here.

And not just unpopular—he was the kind considered deeply sinful and full of evil deeds.

For more than half a month, the sentence he heard most was, “Have you forgotten what you did before?”

Every time, Shen Zechuan wanted to cry but had no tears. He wished he could throw his head back and howl at the sky, shouting, “I’ve been wronged!”

Wronged, more wronged than Dou E.

“Sigh…”

Shen Zechuan let out a long sigh, silently picked up a plastic bottle, and threw it into the sack. He muttered to himself, “If I want to live in Xiaoshi Village long-term, I can’t keep getting dirty looks every day. What should I do…”

Frowning in worry, he picked up a small wooden stick and rummaged through the pile of garbage in front of him a few times.

Soon, several cans that had been hidden relatively deep were revealed. His eyes lit up immediately, and he carried the sack over to pick them up.

However, a large net still beat him to it.

Shen Zechuan was stunned. Looking at the dusty old man in front of him, he stammered, “Sir, these… these are the ones I found first.”

The old man silently put away his large net and did not even spare him a glance.

Shen Zechuan choked on his words. Seeing that the man was about to put them away and take them off, he could not help but quicken his pace anxiously and circle around to the old man’s front.

“Sir, that’s not right of you, is it?” Shen Zechuan said seriously. “As the saying goes, in all three hundred sixty trades, every trade has its own way. To put it another way, collecting scraps counts as a trade too, so you and I are in the same line of work.”

“I saw these cans first, so they’re mine. But now you suddenly came over and took them. What’s the difference between that and stealing my business? Isn’t it a bit unethical?”

After hearing him out, the old man finally stopped what he was doing and slowly shifted his gaze onto him.

But the instant their eyes met, Shen Zechuan got a fright.

Because he discovered that there was actually a trace of anger in the old man’s eyes.

Then, in the next second, an old, hoarse voice suddenly rang out, still carrying a certain forcefulness.

“You still have the nerve to talk to me about ethics?! Fine, you never did good things before, but stealing chickens and touching dogs didn’t bother us scrap collectors anyway. Now look at you—you fucking joined in too. What exactly are you trying to do?!”

Shen Zechuan was scolded into a daze, and even his tone carried a bit of grievance: “I… I want to sell scraps to make money and eat.”

To be honest, in his previous life he had lived for more than ten years. Although he had not lived any glorious days, he had at least never lacked money. So within his limited understanding, he simply did not know what he could do to earn money.

He had thought about working, but some places thought he was too young, some jobs he did not know how to do, and some… directly cursed him out as soon as they saw him, not even giving him a chance to step through the door.

After thinking it over again and again, Shen Zechuan finally decided to walk around everywhere and start collecting discarded bottles and cardboard. If he was lucky, he could even find some usable things.

He had not thought too much about it. He only felt that this job was quite free. By selling a little every day, he could buy two steamed buns, and at least he would not go hungry.

Perhaps the various torments of his previous life had trained him, so Shen Zechuan had always felt that there was no difficulty he could not get through, whether it was the way the people of Xiaoshi Village looked at him or his current lack of food.

But now, after hearing the old man’s angry scolding, a trace of sourness unexpectedly welled up in his heart.

Although he did not know what the previous Shen Zechuan had actually done, ever since he had taken over this body, he had not done a single bad thing. Sometimes, when he saw people who needed help, he would even quietly go over and lend a hand.

Even though he still received cold looks, he was already trying…

Why did even collecting scraps to live have to be scolded?

Was this place really so unable to tolerate him?

But if he left this place, where else could he go? He did not even know the roads, had no money on him, and even taking a bus was a luxury.

Shen Zechuan lowered his head somewhat forlornly, both hands tightly clutching the sack, and he actually looked a little pitiful.

The old man stared at him quietly for a while. After a long moment, he gave a soft hum, then opened the large net he had just packed and poured all the cans back out.

“All right, stop acting pitiful in front of me. Those little tricks of yours are useless on me.”

“I’ll let it go this time. If you’re this arrogant again in the future and hog all the scraps around here every day, we definitely won’t forgive you! Hmph!!”

With that, the old man did not forget to glare at him again, then limped off in the opposite direction.

Shen Zechuan looked at his back in astonishment, and for a moment he actually did not react.

So… this time it was not because his reputation was bad that he had been targeted, but because he had collected too much?

But thinking about it carefully, it really was true. He was young, had long legs, and because he was often chased and beaten, being fast on his feet had become one of his great advantages.

The more places he ran to every day, the more things he naturally collected.

Shen Zechuan curled his lips and murmured softly, “This is clearly everyone relying on their own abilities. So why is it wrong that I collected more?”

Although he said that, over the next few days he indeed restrained himself quite a bit. Every time he ran to a place, he would subconsciously leave behind a few worthless scraps.

Because the ones slightly more valuable had all been taken away by him first.

Shen Zechuan held a smile at the corners of his mouth and counted the small change in his hand. In his heart he thought: This can’t be blamed on me. Whoever sees this stuff first gets it.

If I saw something that could be sold for money and didn’t hurry to pick it up, wouldn’t I be a huge idiot?

That night, as usual, he came to the entrance of a noodle shop and called out, “Auntie Guan, I want two steamed buns!”

“Coming!”

A woman’s voice came from inside the house, and then a somewhat older woman quickly walked out. “Xiao Chuan is back. How were your results today?”

“Very good.” Shen Zechuan grinned. “Sold them for eight yuan.”

“That really is pretty good.”

Guan Ting smiled and took out a plastic bag. She directly grabbed three steamed buns from the pot, then quickly tied the bag and handed it to him.

Shen Zechuan opened his eyes wide, flattered, and waved his hands again and again. “No, no, no, two steamed buns are enough for me…”

“Take them quickly. The extra one is from Auntie.” Guan Ting lowered her voice. “My husband isn’t here today. It’s fine. Eat your fill.”

Looking at Guan Ting’s slightly anxious expression, Shen Zechuan understood that this was not the time to argue too much, or it would definitely bring her trouble.

He had no choice but to thank her, hold the three piping-hot steamed buns in his arms, and feel warmth spread through his entire heart.

While Guan Ting turned to go back inside, Shen Zechuan took out another one-yuan coin and quietly placed it on the table, then strode away.

Having lived in Xiaoshi Village for so many days, Shen Zechuan had seen all kinds of malicious gazes, but he had also received a little kindness and care.

Even if this kindness could only be cautious, Shen Zechuan was already very content.

Happily gnawing on a steamed bun in large bites, he walked as usual into the alley he passed through every day, but he soon sensed that something was off.

Somehow, he kept feeling that in today’s alley, a pair of eyes had been staring at him the whole time.

Ambushed again?

Shen Zechuan put the remaining steamed buns back into the bag, then slowly slowed his steps. The instant he heard a sound behind him, he quickly turned around.

“Who?!”

Just as he finished shouting, Shen Zechuan could not help but frown. Looking at the boy in front of him, he asked, “Who are you? Why are you following me?”