April 1912. The late-spring cold lasted longer than usual. Drizzling snowflakes fell on the streets. Pedestrians wrapped themselves in not-too-heavy clothes and thin shirts. A group of eight came to Chinatown.
Looking at Lauren following behind them, Uncle Qiang asked blankly, "A Ren, why is this little fatty following us?"
Hearing Uncle Qiang, Liu Ren couldn't help but look back. Seeing Lauren looking somewhat lost, he said, "Uncle Qiang, he at least helped us on the ship. He's come to New York alone and doesn't know his way around. To abandon him—I can't do that!"
Looking at the "upright" Liu Ren before him, Uncle Qiang didn't say anything. He immediately turned to Lauren: "Little fatty, from now on follow us. We won't let you go hungry!"
Looking at Uncle Qiang's hand patting his shoulder, Lauren smiled honestly. "Okay, thank you!"
"By the way, Lauren, I still don't know your full name!"
Curiously looking at Lauren, Liu Ren asked with some confusion.
Embarrassedly looking at Liu Ren, Lauren spoke somewhat shyly: "Astor!"
"Lauren Astor? That name is a bit strange!"
Suspiciously looking at Lauren, Liu Ren immediately stared at him in surprise.
"No, it's Lauren Jacob Astor!"
Smiling sillily at Liu Ren, Lauren seemed to be saying something very ordinary.
"Oh, is that so?"
Looking at Lauren as if suddenly understanding, Liu Ren nodded but didn't say anything.
However, after walking a few steps, Liu Ren stopped.
Looking at Liu Ren ahead, Lauren instantly broke out in a cold sweat, afraid the other had discovered something.
But the next second, Lauren realized he was overthinking—Liu Ren had stopped because they had arrived in Chinatown.
Looking at the street full of hometown flavor before them, Uncle Qiang and the others all stopped.
"Is this Chinatown? Wow!"
Lauren exclaimed in surprise, his face showing a surprised expression.
But the next second, Liu Ren turned and said: "We're home!"
"Yeah, we're home!"
Walking toward the large Chinatown sign ahead, Uncle Qiang couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. Because as they walked New York's streets, they had to worry at any time about being stopped by passing detectives or being maliciously provoked. Now it was different—they were home...
Walking into Chinatown before them, hearing the familiar hometown dialect around, Liu Ren couldn't help but sigh. Because this small Chinatown had also been fought for by their ancestors with fists and hot blood. The world thought that abroad, Chinatown was given for free by local governments for Chinese people to live in, but no one knew how much compatriot blood had been spilled behind Chinatown. Did you really think the Chinatown occupying core streets was given out of kindness by foreigners? No, that was fought for by ancestors with unity and unyielding spirit, one knife and one gun, blood spilled on Chinatown. Because in this world, there's no such thing as a free benefit—let alone in this day and age. To be strong, Chinese people drifting overseas must unite, using the sickles and fists in their hands to fight, to grab, to maintain all their dignity!
As for why Liu Ren knew about this darkness, it was because Chinatown was right next to Wall Street and Broadway. Any normal person knew how much weight these two places carried in New York. So conflicts arising from their location could be figured out with one's knees!
Walking into Chinatown, Uncle Qiang led everyone to the local guild hall.
Looking at the young man in a short jacket registering, Uncle Qiang stepped forward: "Little brother, we came from London. We took the Titanic, but the ship sank. We have no money to go back, and we don't want to go back. Can you help us find a livelihood...?"
Lifting his head, the young man in a short jacket looked at Uncle Qiang and the others, immediately speaking with a surprised face: "The Titanic? You're the people who survived from that sunken ship?"
"Yeah, we're all nine-deaths-what-is-it?"
When the young person beside Uncle Qiang spoke, he immediately scratched his head, not knowing what to say.
"It's 'a narrow escape'!"
Hearing the young man's words, Liu Ren immediately chimed in: "Oh, yes yes yes, it's a narrow escape!"
Realizing it, the young man finally reacted. "You kid, did you study? Can you write?"
Sizing up Liu Ren, the young man in a short jacket asked somewhat unexpectedly. You have to know, in this day and age, scholars overseas were not common. Being able to read and write was quite rare.
"My father taught me for two years when I was little. I know some English, can communicate fluently, and can write!"
Answering the young man in a short jacket before him, Liu Ren immediately explained.
"Fine, if you can, that works. The guild hall has been looking for a scholar these days!"
Happily looking at Liu Ren, the young man in a short jacket put down the registered name, then quickly said: "Like this, I'll go say something upstairs. You wait a moment!"
Not long after, when the young man in a short jacket came downstairs, beside him was a middle-aged man in a long gown, wearing glasses, looking quite refined. But looking at him, Liu Ren couldn't help but narrow his eyes. This gentleman didn't look as simple as he seemed. The calluses between his thumb and index finger could prove that he was someone who had held guns for a long time.
After the gentleman's arrangement, Uncle Qiang and the others were sent to the neighboring temporary restaurant to rest.
Looking at Liu Ren, the young man in a short jacket stepped forward: "Uncle Qing, this is the scholar I told you about!"
When Uncle Qing walked up to Liu Ren, he immediately smiled: "Killed anyone before, young man?"
Hearing this suddenly, the young man in a short jacket immediately stared warily at Liu Ren, placing his hand on his waist.
"Hey, since you've come to our guild hall, we're all our own people!"
Stopping the young man beside him, Uncle Qing smiled: "Interested in following Uncle? Recently the gang needs young people with guts!"
Hearing Uncle Qing's words, Liu Ren didn't think too much. He immediately said: "Deal in opium?"
"Huh! If it's opium, you don't plan to join?"
Curiously looking at Liu Ren, Uncle Qing stared at him with interest.
"My father and I drifted overseas because our family was ruined by opium. I won't touch this stuff!"
Lifting his head, Liu Ren looked at Uncle Qing before him, without any fear, eyes filled with determination. Because in his life, besides "uprightness and righteousness," opium was the only line he absolutely could not cross! And not only Liu Ren didn't touch it—no Chinese person was allowed to touch it! Otherwise he'd use the axe in his hand to show the other exactly how "winning people over with virtue" was done!
"We don't touch this!"
Smiling at Liu Ren, Uncle Qing couldn't help but admire him. Because a boy this age being able to stay calm when facing him was already good—let alone stating his bottom line!
"Fine, I'll join!"
Hearing Uncle Qing's words, Liu Ren immediately agreed. After all, unfamiliar with the place, he could only find a place to stay for now. However, if the other dared to cheat him, Liu Ren would tell this person before him: pretending to be sugar is fine, but if you really treat him as a "little sugar person," then he'll "Waaagh!"
Orc Beastman: "I reckon, you've made things complicated!"
Liu Ren: "Shut your mouth. Do you have a brain? Just think!"
"A Chao, take this little brother to get clothes. From now on he'll follow you and learn the rules!"
Patting the shoulder of the young man in a short jacket beside him, Uncle Qing turned and left with a smile, seemingly having other matters to handle.
But right after Liu Ren found Uncle Qiang and the others, he discovered something: Lauren had left.
Looking at the note in confusion, Liu Ren didn't understand why this little fatty would leave when he was unfamiliar with the place.
But when he walked out of Chinatown and saw the huge real estate sign, he was instantly stunned.
"Damn, I thought I was sugary enough? But this fatty is even more sugary than me!"
Staring wide-eyed, Liu Ren looked at the Astor Family Hotel not far away, instantly stunned.
Chapter 10