I, the public enemy

Chapter 37 Coward

Graycore City, South District, Canal/Inland Sea Wharf.

As one of the major cities in Cangzhou, ranking among the top three in GDP within the prefecture, the port has frequent trade and an enormous throughput, providing vital financial support to the entire prefecture.

Lifetime contract worker.

Cultivation can be infused, the body can be controlled by a prosthetic body, and upon retirement, the company's assets will be reclaimed, cultivation will be recovered, and the prosthetic body will be dismantled.

The robotic arm, designed for manual laborers, is used to haul containers and move heavy objects. With the cultivation and physical strength infused by violence, a dock worker is far stronger than an ordinary crane or heavy forklift, except for the heavy equipment of the psionic industry.

Fu Jianzhou gripped the cargo container of a loading truck with his two robotic arms. Some lumps of iron grew on the rusty robotic arms. When he exerted force, the connection between the robotic arms and his shoulders burned his neck and shoulder blades, making his skin and flesh feel tight.

He pulled the container to the sorting and distribution area.

The wind blowing from the dark sea carried sand and gravel, stinging my face like sharp thorns. Every time I bent over, it was a struggle, and every step I took dragged along a heavy, salty burden.

The endless, relentless toil continued, meandering and entangled, each exhausted breath shattered by the sea breeze.

After the last container was transported to the designated location.

He slumped down, finally getting some time to catch his breath.

Lifetime contract workers are managed like soldiers in a prison, with only twenty days of compensatory leave per year, the dates of which are arbitrarily allocated, and all other food and accommodation are provided by the company.

"Old Fu, your phone keeps ringing."

A fellow worker reminded him.

Cell phones are not allowed during work hours to prevent people from slacking off.

Fu Jianzhou's eyes dimmed; he already knew what had happened.

After returning to the lounge.

Here, about a dozen laborers are using syringes to administer medicine, delivering nutrients to their bodies and violently restoring their strength so that they can quickly return to the next job.

These people were chatting and laughing, but after Fu Jianzhou entered, their laughter stopped abruptly for a few seconds before they started casually bringing up other topics.

Fu Jianzhou didn't pay attention and took the phone out of the bag containing the phone.

After opening and reading it.

It was flooded with missed calls and a barrage of debt collection text messages.

[Fu Jun] still owes our company 75899 yuan (overdue for 175 days) and has been unreachable for several days. According to the relevant agreement, overdue payments will incur late fees and penalties, and will also affect his personal credit record.

[Aren't you ashamed to have raised a son like this? Or do you just want to become famous among your relatives and friends?]

【…】

Fu Jianzhou scrolled through the text messages one by one, even those from virtual numbers, until he reached the real numbers, with the note "Criminal Room Club".

He remained expressionless, knowing only that this matter had to be resolved. He hadn't used a single day of his compensatory leave this year.

He picked up his phone, put it in his work uniform pocket, and left the break room.

In fact.

He was already well-known among his relatives, friends, and all his coworkers.

"So, ordinary people shouldn't even think about going to cultivation schools; it's simply beyond our means."

"Let this be a lesson. My child is in elementary school. I hope he will be an ordinary person and not have unrealistic ambitions."

"What do you know? Old Fu's wife ran off with someone else, and he's just trying to prove himself. Sigh."

"Alright, that's enough."

The discussion abruptly ended after the foreman's reprimand.

Ten minutes later.

Fu Jianzhou arrived at the manager's office of the dock transportation company and knocked on the door.

There was no response for a while, so I knocked again.

Then a young female accountant from the finance department opened the door, glanced at Fu Jianzhou, and hurriedly left in her high heels.

Fu Jianzhou entered the office.

"Old Fu, what are you doing here?"

The manager was smoking a cigarette.

Fu Jianzhou's gaze fell on the sweat stains on the desk. The manager noticed this and naturally took a file folder to cover them.

"Manager, I'd like to ask when salaries will be paid."

Fu Jianzhou took off his safety helmet, lowered his head, and asked.

"As you know, the company's performance has been poor lately, the market is volatile, and many payments have been delayed. We are currently experiencing a tight cash flow. But don't worry, we will definitely pay out before the end of the year so that everyone can have a good New Year."

The manager smiled and reassured him.

"But it hasn't been issued for three months."

"Old Fu, I'm just an ordinary department manager. You have to think about me. This is not something I can decide. If you say that, there's nothing I can do. I just asked for you a few days ago, and I got a severe scolding from above."

The manager looked worried and flicked his cigarette ash.

With a thud.

"I'm begging you."

Fu Jianzhou knelt down.

The person across the desk had a look of disgust in their eyes, a fleeting glimpse of hatred mixed with an overwhelming aversion to the stench.

"What are you doing... Get up, don't let anyone see you."

……

……

……

7 PM.

South District, Wharf, Commercial Street.

It was a roadside food stall, frequented mainly by dockworkers.

Fu Jianzhou didn't get the money in the end; the only thing he got was a personal donation from his manager, who advanced him 5,000 yuan.

On the folding chairs of the barbecue stall, there were complimentary beers, and the ashtrays were full of cigarette butts.

"What's wrong?"

Fu Jun's gaze was icy cold. He already believed that he had learned the truth about the makeshift hospital from the USB drive, even though he had long known that this world was a thick, murky current, floating with gold dust and sinking with rotten mud.

But this...

It's too shallow.

Finally, Fu Jun unearthed the real hell.

"What happened to the injury on your face?"

"I fell, that's all I have to say, I'm leaving."

"The school said you haven't been there for several days, and if you continue to be absent, they will cancel your student status."

"I will go to class."

After Fu Jun finished speaking, Fu Jianzhou remained silent for a long time. He knew that things had developed to this point, and blaming was pointless.

"How much money do you owe in total?"

"It's none of your business. The money was borrowed by me, and it has nothing to do with you."

"It has nothing to do with me? Those phone calls and text messages are already common knowledge, maybe... even your mother knows."

But these words seemed to ignite Fu Jun's long-suppressed anger.

Fu Jun stood up. He was at the second level of Qi Refining, and his height and build far exceeded that of ordinary people, far surpassing Fu Jianzhou. He looked down at him from his elevated position.

"You are a coward."

Fu Jun said coldly.

Fu Jianzhou never expected him to say such a thing, and he even forgot to shake the ash off his cigarette as he stared at him.

"It is because there are people like you in the makeshift hospital, beasts with the instinct to work, who leave offspring at all costs, that generation after generation, endlessly, will produce thieves and prostitutes."

Fu Jun finished speaking expressionlessly, and then felt a little regretful. But there was nothing he could do. He had embarked on the most dangerous path in the world, and today he had to sever all ties with Fu Jianzhou.

Fu Jianzhou was stunned for a long time, as if he had been struck by lightning.

Fu Jun said no more and prepared to leave.

"They all bully Dad, so you bully Dad too."

Fu Jianzhou spoke in a daze.

Farewell.

Fu Jun suppressed a surge of emotion that threatened to erupt, and quickly left the place.

The strange looks from others quickly subsided. Fu Jianzhou drank beer and smoked one cigarette after another. He stubbed out the last cigarette in the ashtray.

It was as if they had made up their minds.

I dialed a number on my phone.

Who are you?

"I am Fu Jun's father, and I know he got into fights here."

【Huh? What, are you going to call the police? You've got me, hahaha. He owes money, and it's only right to pay back debts. You want to pay it for him?】

Fu Jianzhou had already calculated the accounts and was able to pay off Fu Jun's debts, but this was the only problem. The platform only needed to pay off its debts, but the underground banks could take as much money as they wanted, until they had squeezed the person dry.

"I have no money, I'll pay for him."

There was silence for several seconds on the other end of the phone.

Sometimes, there really are people like you. Fine, your son's money can be wiped clean, but as for you, you have to sign the trial contract. Do you understand what I mean?

"I see."

To alleviate the city's mud.

Artificial rainmaking has started again in Gray Core City.

The sound of rain is a monotonous incantation, repeating and echoing, trapping people in this eternal dampness.