The Luckiest Man - Chapter 51

Chapter 51: Steamed Buns

If it were someone else working in a construction site as an Awakener, they would be as depressed as someone getting a spoiler for their suspense films.

It was completely different when it came to Hong Xiaofu. To him, moving bricks was a form of exercise. Other people spent money to go to the gym while he was earning money from moving bricks.

As a result, he grinned while working on the job and every time he moved a brick he would count, “Sixty cents, sixty cents, sixty cents…”

He gave off a rather similar vibe as the character Yellow Sledgehammer, in the sketch Teacher Huang acted in…

While he was moving bricks joyfully on his own, Uncle Chen and the rest of the workers were shocked by his speed. It was not difficult to move fifteen bricks at once—all the other workers could do it.

What was surprising, however, was that no one could work continuously for as long as Hong Xiaofu! He had been moving bricks for an hour, yet he had not stopped to take a break, and was only sweating a little on his forehead. The workers were amazed.

“He is awesome. He has been doing it for more than an hour. He has moved at least four thousand bricks?!”

“I know, right? Going at this speed, he could move twenty thousand bricks a day!”

“Oh my god. Twenty thousand bricks means eight hundred dollars a day!”

“I don’t think he could do so much. He was just trying to accomplish everything in one go just now. When he is tired later, I’m sure he will start slowing down. He should be able to move fifteen thousand bricks a day, similar to what old Wu can do.”

“That is remarkable too!”

A group of workers were discussing vehemently and old Wu sensed that there was something interesting going on. He dropped the cigarette he had in his mouth on the ground and said, “You are pretty capable, little brother. Are you an Awakener as well?”

“Hi Uncle Wu.” Hong Xiaofu wiped his sweat and said, “I was Awakened a few days ago.”

“Wow, a young hero.” Old Wu joked and continued, “There’s another star among our construction industry now. Are you from the Strengthening System?”

When he mentioned that Hong Xiaofu instantly felt embarrassed as he ruffled his hair and said, “Nope. My power is… erm, I think I can make people kneel down…” Hong Xiaofu felt uncomfortable admitting to that—his power was indeed a little… weird…

Indeed, upon hearing such a weird power, old Wu immediately stared at him with widened eyes. He exclaimed, “There is such a cool power?”

Hong Xiaofu nodded lightly and replied, “I… I think so…”

Old Wu stared at Hong Xiaofu blankly for a while before he turned to walk away while saying, “All the best, young man, I have faith in you!” He added, “Oh right, if you have nothing important, don’t go near my area…”

Hong Xiaofu, “…”

Everyone laughed for a while before they got back to work.

At that moment, Chief Wang Zhen also noticed Hong Xiaofu’s flying speed. He looked blankly at him as he mumbled to himself, “Wow, is he that good? How much would he earn a day?”

Time passed quickly as he moved bricks. Hong Xiaofu worked the whole morning and took breaks as well. He was indeed very fast at the beginning, but after some time he did get a little tired and started slowing down.

By eleven, he had already moved a total of eleven thousand bricks. He was extremely elated. He had already earned four hundred dollars in one morning, that was great! Going at that speed, he would have enough money to get the drugs soon!

“Everyone, let’s take a break. It’s lunchtime!”

As Hong Xiaofu was thinking about that, Chief Wang Zhen shouted, “Be quick, there isn’t much food here. If you are late there might be none left!”

When they heard that, all workers immediately put their work aside and ran toward the shed nearby.

“Little brother, let’s go and eat!” said Uncle Chen as he patted on Hong Xiaofu’s shoulders. While walking over, he smiled and said, “You have to be quick. If you are fast you will get it, otherwise you will have no food! These guys have the zodiac sign of the pig—there are all huge eaters!”

Hong Xiaofu giggled as he rubbed his nose and quickly followed along. He was indeed hungry from working the entire morning.

As he followed Uncle Chen into the shed, Hong Xiaofu took a glance around. Lunch was simple: there were steamed vegetables with pork belly slices and at the side were big, white steamed buns.

He came a little late. There were still enough vegetables left, but the steamed buns were almost gone, with only three remaining. Each of them was as big as the size of a fist.

He did not feel much when he was working. Now that he was resting and after seeing all the food, Hong Xiaofu felt extremely hungry and his whole body was aching.

Bread was life. At that moment, Hong Xiaofu could not be bothered anymore. He reached for a steamed bun and started eating immediately without even washing his hands.

“Little brother, eat slowly.” Uncle Chen said while eating, “You have worked the whole morning, you must be really hungry, right? Have a good rest after you are done eating. We usually start working again at one. Are you aching all over now? Don’t be too hard on yourself, your body won’t be able to take it.”

“Yup.” said Hong Xiaofu while devouring his food. He nodded and replied, “Got it.”

He had indeed been starving. Three steamed buns and a huge bowl of vegetables were gone in the blink of an eye. He finished his buns and only had a few vegetables left. Hong Xiaofu touched his stomach—maybe he had overworked, he was still not full…

“Haha, I know.” Uncle Chen gave him the last steamed bun he had on his plate and said, “Here, I intentionally took one extra steamed bun for you.”

Hong Xiaofu looked at Uncle Chen and nodded firmly while replying, “Thank you Uncle Chen!”

He felt so touched. He had met another person who treated him very well.

“You must be having it rough if you are working here at such a young age.” When Uncle Chen saw that Hong Xiaofu was still swallowing his food, he smiled and said, “You came here despite being an Awakener, you wouldn’t be here if you were not at your wit’s end. Have more food and rest well after you are done.”

“Yup, I know.” Hong Xiaofu replied while eating, “Rest well too, Uncle Chen.”

The surroundings were simple at the construction site. Beside their workplace, there were a few sheds which stored a few beds and blankets.

In Shencheng, it started to get warm again by mid-March, and the workers could go back to work. Uncle Chen brought Hong Xiaofu into one of the sheds and said, “Here. Take a nap and remember to cover up with the blanket, the weather is quite chilly.”

While speaking, he found a bed and covered up in the blanket as well before he said, “Oh right, just now Chief Wang had told me that we shouldn’t wander around the area. There are many things that cannot be touched within the construction site, especially the forested area at the west side. It is constantly being watched on as it was said to have strange signs occurring. I also think someone had once encountered a huge rat, more than two feet long, in this construction site—almost as big as a dog. Just be careful when you are going to the washroom. If you find something just scream for help in case you get injured.”

Whatever Uncle Chen said was definitely good advice. Hong Xiaofu immediately replied, “Alright, got it.”

He made a promise to himself silently: he would not go to places that he was not supposed to be in. And he would not cause trouble for others either..

After covering himself with the blanket, Hong Xiaofu prepared to sleep.

However, just as he lay down, he felt extreme pain—he really had overexerted himself in the morning from working so hard. Now that he was resting, the muscles in his whole body felt like they were pricked by needles. It was really painful.

Forget sleeping well, he could barely lie down properly in such a state. But he had to rest. If he did not take a good break, how would he continue working in the afternoon?

Hong Xiaofu started to think. After a while, he thought of something. He wrapped the blanket around his body before replaying the image in his Awakener’s Training Manual in his head, and started practicing.

The result was just as he expected. He fell asleep within seconds.

The necklace on his chest suddenly shone. A faint ray of green light entered Hong Xiaofu’s chest…