Chapter 34: 34, The misfortunes of others

"Why do you keep dwelling on finding a wife?" Ren Xiaosu exclaimed in confusion: "Our town isn't lacking women, is it? Many would willingly fawn upon you for a daily meal."

This was not unfamiliar to Ren Xiaosu; men were the same way. Several women, including men, had once fawned upon Ren Xiaosu for a meal, and when Yan Liuyuan learned of this, he nearly vomited, which was why he had been so wary of Xiaoyu's sister at first.

Sometimes, the tales of real life surpass the strange stories from Master Zhang's school.

Wang Fugui shook his greasy half-long hair and spoke haughtily: "How could I want such unseemly people? With my status, I must find a proper wife."

"Indeed, you are the town's gentry..." Ren Xiaosu said, his words lacking sincerity.

At that moment, two girls walked past the clinic entrance. Wang Fugui's eyes lit up: "What do you think of these two?"

Ren Xiaosu examined them: "One is attractive but lacks a good figure, the other less so but well-proportioned. Tell me, what connection do these girls have with you?"

Wang Fugui: "???"

These words truly left Wang Fugui speechless, angering him to the point he turned to return to his general store. But then, a sudden change occurred!

The refuge barrier's gate slowly lifted, the grinding of steel, wood, and ropes sending a chill through the onlookers. The heavy gate rose inch by inch, its weight nearly suffocating.

Chen Haidong emerged with a private army, but this time the officer was not Wang Congyang, whom Ren Xiaosu had dealt with, but a completely unfamiliar face, never before seen in the town.

Where had Wang Congyang gone? Had he been punished by that Mr. Luo?

"What are they doing?" Ren Xiaosu asked curiously.

"I don't know," Wang Fugui replied, bewildered. He pulled away from Ren Xiaosu and approached Chen Haidong, their conversation inaudible due to the distance.

Soon, the private troops of Barrier 113 rushed toward the town, returning shortly with a man screaming: "Why are you arresting me? Let me go!"

Ren Xiaosu watched silently as the arrested figure was revealed to be Zhang Baogen, who had sought him out the previous night.

Wang Fugui hurried to stop the troops: "Gentlemen, what is the meaning of this? Though this boy is a bit reckless, he hasn't committed any grave offense."

"Move aside," the private officer said coldly.

Before the black, icy firearms, Wang Fugui could only retreat, lest they opened fire.

After arguing with Chen Haidong, Zhang Baogen was still dragged into the refuge barrier.

The grating sound echoed again as the mountain-heavy gate sealed the two worlds apart.

Ren Xiaosu approached Wang Fugui and asked: "What happened?"

He had to inquire, for he knew Zhang Baogen must have been seized for his so-called "supernatural abilities," and he and Yan Liuyuan both possessed such gifts.

Wang Fugui sighed: "It's over. This child is doomed."

"What do you mean?"

"Chen Haidong said this boy had displayed his supernatural powers before his cronies, who promptly sold him out. Now, all refuge barriers are rejecting such individuals. If there were no attacks on barrier managers by supernatural beings, it might be excusable. But now, these people are the ones they fear most. If you fear someone, what do you do?"

"Kill them," Ren Xiaosu said calmly yet resolutely.

"Look, the barrier managers differ from you," Wang Fugui said with a troubled expression: "Upon detecting danger, they don't think of killing but of understanding them. Chen Haidong mentioned a courtyard and a large building had been temporarily vacated inside the barrier, a mental hospital hastily established, with medical equipment sent in."

"Are they treating these supernatural beings?" Ren Xiaosu paused.

"Treat them? Nonsense," Wang Fugui replied: "Chen Haidong said those instruments weren't for treatment—they were research tools from the barrier's old days. Within a single day, three supernatural individuals had been seized, and their fates were grim."

A chill gripped Ren Xiaosu's heart; he could not fathom the feeling of being trapped in a mental hospital, subjected to experiments.

"Old Wang, do you still desire supernatural abilities?" Ren Xiaosu asked.

Wang Fugui pondered: "Perhaps, but not so brazenly that others might discover. You too, Xiaosu—if you and Liuyuan ever develop such abilities, never let others know."

Ren Xiaosu's expression grew peculiar: "Hmm, very well."

That evening, a great commotion erupted in the town. Zhang Baogen's father, in the dead of night, stormed into his son's cronies' dwelling—a cramped hut—and unleashed a massacre, killing all four family members before succumbing to blood loss himself.

Zhang Baogen's mother hanged herself from a withered, dead tree at the town's crossroads.

Zhang Baogen was the family's sole heir, doted on by his parents, never needing to labor. Now, with his death, the family could not endure.

In the town, some sympathized, while others whispered in secret: "Boasting about supernatural abilities? And Zhang Baogen's father—if you had courage, you'd storm the refuge barrier yourself."

At that moment, Ren Xiaosu recalled Zhang Baogen's bubble-blowing face: "Damn this world."

The high-and-mighty figures within the barrier seemed to hold sway over everyone's lives and deaths, yet Ren Xiaosu believed such days would one day change.

Only time would tell when that day would come.

A crowd gathered at the town's edge, gazing at the withered tree where Zhang Baogen's mother had died. Ren Xiaosu spotted Master Zhang from the school.

But Zhang Jinglin addressed those nearby: "Did I teach you to gawk at others' misfortunes? Their tragedy is not so different from your own."

After speaking, several strong laborers lowered their heads. Zhang Jinglin sighed: "Go bury the couple properly."

"Sir, we must return to work at the factory," the laborers hesitated.

Wang Fugui interjected: "I'll pay you 800 yuan for your trouble."

"Ah," they agreed: "We'll go at once."