Chapter Fourteen: The Temptation of One Hundred Thousand Yuan

The Snake King Without Barriers

Sha Le'er climbed into the small car and drove straight toward Shiqiao Town. It was his first time riding in such a car, and everything felt delightfully novel.

"Brother driver, may I ask your surname?"

"It's Li."

"Brother Li, how much does this car cost?"

"Over two hundred thousand," the driver replied, not much for words.

"It's so comfortable, and it even blows cold air. So cool..." Sha Le'er gaped in awe, taking a while to recover. Dressed in his work clothes, damp with sweat, he glanced at the pristine seat cushion, hesitant to settle himself, "If I sit down, will I dirty the cushion?"

"The boss said not to worry. Just sit."

Only then did Sha Le'er dare to sit properly.

"So soft... Wealth really is wonderful... This car costs more than two hundred thousand; even if I sold myself, I wouldn't be worth so much."

The car sped along, and before long they entered Shiqiao Town. With a hiss, the car stopped at the entrance of a shopping mall.

"Let's get out," said the driver Li, stepping out first. "We're here to buy you some clothes."

"Clothes? But I didn't bring any money."

"The boss ordered it. You don't have to pay."

"This... This doesn't feel right. How can I accept the boss's generosity?" he protested, yet followed the driver into the mall. Everyone inside stared at them—a sharply dressed young man, trailed by a sweaty laborer.

Sha Le'er reached out to touch the clothes, but the saleswoman's expression darkened.

"Don't touch; your hands are dirty."

He looked at his hands—they were indeed filthy. Still, inwardly, he cursed her fiercely: "Damn it, looking down on me because I'm poor. Just wait till I have money..." He didn't know what he'd do with wealth, but venting made him feel better.

"Give me a set of clothes, for him," the driver demanded, glancing at the saleswoman. Her expression shifted instantly.

"Sure, sir, how about this set?"

"Will it fit him?"

"Yes... Absolutely, if it doesn't, you can exchange it."

"Want to try it on?"

"But he's..."

The driver looked at Sha Le'er and nodded.

"Just wrap it up."

Sha Le'er cursed the saleswoman for her snobbishness, but couldn't muster much anger. He really was dirty, and if he tried it on, the clothes would probably be ruined. They bought the clothes, and a pair of leather shoes as well.

The outfit wasn't expensive—only three hundred fifty, and the shoes a hundred and ten. Still, Sha Le'er had never worn such costly clothes, let alone leather shoes. Three fifty plus one ten, that's four hundred sixty; that would take over ten days of work to earn. Boss Hong was incredibly generous; Sha Le'er felt a bit overwhelmed.

No kin, no ties, yet treated so well—perhaps not a good sign, he thought. But he was here now, so he didn't dwell on it.

The car stopped in front of Yushan Hotel, where a uniformed attendant took it away. Sha Le'er followed the driver into the lobby. More than a dozen pairs of eyes trailed him; without the driver, he might've been thrown out.

"Snobs," he muttered, dissatisfied. Then he rode the elevator upstairs, recalling the different experience from when he'd shopped with Wen Li.

"Boss, your guest has arrived."

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"Oh, young man, please come in." The boss turned to the driver, "Li, take our guest to the bath—let him freshen up before we eat."

It was a spacious suite, with several guests engaged in close conversation with Boss Hong. The driver led Sha Le'er to the bathroom, explaining how to adjust the water, use the shower head, and instructed him to put on the new clothes after washing.

Everything felt so new. Sha Le'er touched everything curiously.

"My goodness, if the driver hadn't told me, I'd have embarrassed myself—these things, I wouldn't know how to use at all."

Half an hour later, Sha Le'er emerged, dressed in his new clothes and leather shoes. He bundled his sweaty clothes in a plastic bag, carrying them in his hand. Now, he was a different man—though his skin was dark, he looked handsome and upright, his bearing dignified.

"Haha, truly, clothes make the man. Young man, you're a fine figure. I wonder how many young ladies you'll charm," Boss Hong joked.

"Thank you, Boss Hong. I'm just a country boy..."

"Enough, let's eat."

"What about these clothes..." Sha Le'er raised the bundle, uncertain where to put them.

"Just throw them away," Driver Li said, "toss them in the trash."

"No way," Sha Le'er guarded his old clothes like a treasure, "I have to work tomorrow—can't go without something to wear."

"Haha..." Boss Hong laughed heartily, "Good, young man, that's admirable—new clothes but still cherishing the old. Put them on the coffee table, you can pick them up later."

They went to the restaurant; Boss Hong and Sha Le'er sat at one table, while three bodyguards and the driver took another.

"Young man, what would you like to eat? Pick something."

"I..." Sha Le'er gazed at the luxurious restaurant, bewildered, and even more so at the idea of ordering. The finest dish he'd ever had was Dongpo pork; every country banquet had it—fat and lean, juicy, and to him, the tastiest. So he blurted out, "My favorite is Dongpo pork."

"Dongpo pork?" Boss Hong had heard of it, but as a man of his stature, seldom ate such greasy food—especially not common among Cantonese, who prefer seafood. But since Sha Le'er liked it, he obliged, "Miss, bring us Dongpo pork."

"Sorry, sir, we don't have that dish here."

"No Dongpo pork? Then..."

"But we do have braised pork knuckle."

"Young man, we don't have Dongpo pork—how about braised pork knuckle?"

"That's fine, no problem," Sha Le'er replied, easygoing, "as long as it's meat."

Boss Hong laughed, as did the bodyguards and driver. Soon, the dishes arrived—a large spread for just two. Sha Le'er drank beer and devoured the braised pork knuckle, finding it far tastier than the Dongpo pork from country banquets.

"Delicious, so good—better than any Dongpo pork I've had at a banquet."

"Take your time. We have crab—aren't you going to try it? The chrysanthemum crab is in season, the best there is."

Sha Le'er looked at the crab and shook his head.

"There's not much meat; this is much more satisfying."

He polished off the entire knuckle in no time, leaving Boss Hong astonished. The other dishes weren't to his taste; he only sampled them.

"Alright, Boss Hong, I've eaten and drunk my fill. Now, tell me—what do you want me to do?"

"No rush. Let's sit over here and talk while we have tea."

They moved to the sofas; a waitress brought tea. Boss Hong took a sip, then handed Sha Le'er a newspaper.

"Young man, you recognize this snake, don't you?"

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Sha Le'er looked—it was indeed about his little snake, Jin'er.

"Boss Hong, you're not from the police, are you?"

"Haha... Young man, you're joking." Boss Hong was excited, knowing he'd found the right person. "Don't worry; we're not from the police."

"Good. If you were, I'd never admit it, even if beaten." Le'er said earnestly, "Yes, this snake is mine."

"Excellent, young man! Will you sell it to me? Name your price."

"Sell it to you?" Sha Le'er shook his head.

"I'll give you fifty thousand. How about that?"

"Fifty thousand?" Sha Le'er was stunned, shaking his head. A little snake, fifty thousand—fifty thousand! Enough to build a house and marry a wife, but he still shook his head.

"Is fifty thousand too little?" Boss Hong smiled, "I'll add ten thousand."

Sha Le'er was even more astonished, shaking his head harder.

"Final offer, one hundred thousand. Deal?"

"One hundred thousand?" Sha Le'er was dumbfounded, "Heavens, a hundred thousand?"

Yet, he still shook his head.

"Not for a hundred thousand?" Boss Hong studied Sha Le'er closely. The young man seemed a country bumpkin, but maybe he was playing dumb?

"No, Boss Hong. A hundred thousand is more than I'd make in a lifetime, but... But you don't understand. Even if I wanted to sell it, you wouldn't be able to catch it."

Boss Hong relaxed.

"No problem. You just put it in the iron cage I've prepared."

"Put it in an iron cage?" Sha Le'er shook his head vigorously, like a rattle drum.

"No, Jin'er can't be caged. It would go mad." Sha Le'er was firm, "Not for a hundred thousand, not for a million."

Boss Hong was stunned. He was a snake enthusiast, but here was a poor boy refusing a hundred thousand for a snake, simply because he didn't want it to suffer.

"You won't reconsider?"

"Boss Hong, Jin'er has been with me since childhood. I've never fed it, nor needed to, but it's never left me. I have no family; it's like my brother. To cage it—I won't sell."

Boss Hong regarded Sha Le'er seriously. He was silent for a long time, then sighed deeply.

"Young man, I admire you. I thought myself a lover of snakes, but today I see you are the true one."

Boss Hong seemed moved. "I'm very glad to have met you today."

"Thank you, Boss Hong."

"Don't thank me. Can you let me see your Jin'er?"

"Of course, I'd be glad to... But it's not with me now."

"I understand. Let's go to your place. A snake like that—just seeing it would be worth it."

They left Yushan Hotel, drove to Zhong Village, and entered Sha Le'er's home. Seeing the car arrive, Uncle Shengui and Aunt Ma came out as well. When they saw Sha Le'er and Boss Hong get out together, not knowing what was happening, they all gathered round.