South to North: A Prison Guard at the Beginning

Time flies, and it is New Year's Eve. At Lao Ma's house, Lao Ma's family of four plus Yuan Mu and Hou Sanjin, a total of six people, are sitting around the table.

Old Ma didn't like Hou Sanjin very much, but since he was there after all, and it was also New Year's Day, he couldn't say anything and just let him stay at home to celebrate the New Year.

Hou Sanjin knew his limits well. When he was with Ma Jian, he always regarded himself as his godfather, and never told Ma Jian implicitly or directly that he was his biological father.

If he really did that, not only would Lao Ma not be able to tolerate him, even Yuan Mu would not be able to tolerate him.

The year always slips away quietly, and in the blink of an eye it is the fifth day of the Lunar New Year. Hou Sanjin also took the train back to Shenzhen today, where a large business is left unattended.

If it weren't for Ma Jian, he would have left long ago. It was because of Ma Jian's desire to spend more time with him that Hou Sanjin stayed here for nearly a week.

Yuan Mu lived a very comfortable life during this period. He didn't have to worry about anything. When he woke up, he would go to Lao Ma's house for dinner. When he was sleepy, he would sleep. He didn't have to go to work or school. Every day he lived like an old man, and it was extremely comfortable.

But leisurely time is always short, and he will have to return to Kyoto in a few days. He called Zhou Xiaobai before and she said she wanted to go back by herself, and Yuan Mu agreed.

Indeed, they had just been together for a short time and were suddenly separated for such a long time. Yuan Mu missed her very much, but before that, he had one thing to do.

In the evening, Yuan Mu called Niu Dali home. He went home to visit his parents during the New Year holidays and just came back yesterday. After all, work on the railway is sometimes like this and is quite busy. He should go to work the day after tomorrow.

"Brother Yuan, what do you want to talk to me about?" Niu Dali sat at the table, picked up a bite of food and looked at Yuan Mu.

"It's nothing, I just want to chat with you. I'm going back to Kyoto soon, and it will take a long time for me to come back next time." Yuan Mu said with a smile.

"Oh my god, that's right. You've been away for a long time. Can you come back to work after you graduate?" Niu Dali nodded.

"I'm not sure about that. Just obey the organization's arrangements. We serve the people wherever we go."

"Brother Yuan, how could you become an official? Your ideological awareness is really high." Niu Dali laughed.

"Okay, Dali, let me tell you something serious." Yuan Mu smiled and waved his hand.

"What's the matter?" Niu Dali was stunned.

"Have you ever thought about changing the way you live?" Yuan Mu took out a cigarette and handed it to Niu Dali and asked.

"Change the way of life?" Niu Dali frowned slightly.

"Isn't it good now?"

"Okay?"

"I feel pretty good."

"But Xiaoyao doesn't want to be with you, do you still think it's okay?"

Hearing this, Niu Dali immediately gave a wry smile, took a puff of his cigarette and spoke.

"Alas! I have been chasing Yao Er for so many years, and I am really unwilling to give up. I must chase her in this life!"

"Well, it's good to have a goal, but do you understand Xiao Yao?" Yuan Mu nodded and flicked the ash off his cigarette.

"I know him well. After all, we have worked together for so many years."

"I don't think so. Do you know what the biggest reason why Xiao Yao didn't want to be with you for such a long time is?"

"What?"

"Your job is not respectable enough, and you don't earn enough! Think about it, Xiao Yao is a girl who loves beauty very much. She can even exchange her food coupons for cloth coupons. Just think how much she must love making clothes?"

"She likes new clothes and beautiful things, but what is the prerequisite for all this? Money! You need money to afford all this!"

Niu Dali fell into deep thought, carefully thinking about Yuan Mu's words. After a while, he raised his head because he felt that what Yuan Mu said made sense.

"But Brother Yuan, I have no choice but to do this job. I worked really hard to get this job. At least it's a stable job, right?"

"Da Li! You really had no choice before, but it's different now. The country has opened up its policies and individuals can do business. Many workers have gone into business. Don't you have this idea?" Yuan Mu tempted.

"But I'm not cut out for business." Niu Dali shook his head.

"You haven't even done it yet, how do you know you're not cut out for it? You like Xiao Yao, and if you continue to be like this, I'll be honest, she won't be with you."

"Because you can't satisfy her needs. She wants beautiful clothes, beautiful jewelry, and a beautifully decorated home. Can you give her all of these?"

"Da Li, you only have so little money a month now, so it's no problem for you to be alone. If you find a normal woman to live with, it's no problem either. You can even live quite well."

"But all this can only be achieved if you don't marry Yao Yuling. Even if you really marry Yao Yuling, you won't be able to buy her clothes and jewelry regularly. You can't give her the life she wants!"

"I have seen through Xiao Yao very well. You should trust my judgment. I, Brother Yuan, have seen countless people and can judge people accurately. Unless you are rich, she will not be with you!"

"Brother Yuan's words may sound harsh, but this is the truth. You have to admit it even if you don't want to. I told you these words today because I feel sorry for you. Seeing how hard you are trying to pursue Yao Yuling, I want to help you."

Niu Dali listened to Yuan Mu's words carefully. He admitted that he was moved, very moved. He was happy when he thought that he was really rich and Yao'er would marry him.

"But Brother Yuan, I really don't know how to do business." Although he wanted to become rich, he really didn't know how to do these things.

Yuan Mu shook his head and narrowed his eyes.

"Da Li! It's not that you can't do it, but you have worries! You are afraid that if your business fails, you will lose your stable job as a boiler operator. You lack the determination to make a decisive move!"

"But think about it, if Xiao Yao continues like this, and if she meets a rich and handsome man, will you still have an advantage over him? Xiao Yao is very beautiful and attracts other people's attention. If you don't take action, she will really run away."

Niu Dali was struggling internally at this moment. After hearing what Yuan Mu said, his heart was as tangled as a piece of scattered wool.

"Da Li! Brother Yuan has known you for so many years, and you should know my character. I won't cheat you, and there is no need for me to do so, because it won't benefit me at all. I just want to help you."

"You know Hou Sanjin, right?"

"Oh, I know." Niu Dali nodded.

"Do you think he's rich?"

"Of course he has money. He always comes back with bags and bags full of good stuff. I estimate those bags of stuff must cost hundreds of dollars."