Chapter 71: Worlds Apart

There is a saying that horses and cattle driven by the wind never meet. Horses love to gallop against the wind, while cattle prefer to walk with it. When the north wind blows, horses run north and cattle head south; when the south wind blows, cattle move north and horses go south. Thus, the phrase was born: horses and cattle driven by the wind never cross paths.

Many people use these six words when they wish to dissociate themselves from a matter or a person. In truth, within mathematics, the wind-driven horse and cattle problem is both a separation issue and a meeting issue. Because the earth is round, even if the horse and cattle are running in opposite directions, as long as they keep going, they will eventually meet.

Yet some horses long for such an encounter, while some cattle wish to avoid it. Just as Han Yuan’s group, running with the wind, had no desire to meet the man in sunglasses; while Zhu Dachang, charging against the wind like a drooling pug, was desperate to meet Hou San.

"Run!"

The same two words, spoken by different people, are as disconnected as horses and cattle driven by the wind. Han Yuan shouted "Run" to Zhang Yunxi and her companions, not truly suggesting they run after him, but urging them to escape quickly on their motorcycles. Yet Zhang Yunxi and the others failed to grasp his intent, and genuinely started running behind Han Yuan.

Hou San stuck his head out of the car and shouted "Run" to Zhu Dachang, sincerely hoping Zhu Dachang would pick up the pace, as roadside parking was limited to 180 seconds, and Zhu Dachang was a daunting 810 meters away.

Though horses and cattle driven by the wind seem disconnected, all are chasing problems. Han Yuan kept glancing back at the man in sunglasses, calculating the distance between them, and also between himself and Shen Yixia’s Wuling van.

Hou San watched the distance between himself and Zhu Dachang shrink, occasionally checking the dashboard clock to calculate how much longer he could remain stopped.

"Get in the car!"

This time, the same three words, spoken by different people, were no longer disconnected. When the rear car door sounded with quick consecutive clicks, both Han Yuan and Hou San urgently started their cars, speeding off in directions as disparate as horses and cattle driven by the wind.

Twenty minutes later, the black sedan came to a halt. The man in sunglasses and Hou San simultaneously opened their doors and stepped out, both placing their hands on their hips, yet their expressions and emotions worlds apart.

Just as the man in sunglasses was about to catch up with the Wuling van, a large truck suddenly sped in from the right side of the intersection, forcibly wedging itself between the black sedan and the van. The man in sunglasses had no choice but to brake hard, losing the van in the process. He stepped out, hands on hips, glaring at the truck that had nearly collided with him, his face dark as iron as he cursed, "Damn! Are you rushing to get reincarnated? Barging in like that—do you even have manners?"

Meanwhile, Hou San’s journey had been perfectly smooth, green lights all the way until he reached the entrance of the Jiangnan Leisure Club. Hou San stepped out, hands on hips, gazing at the glittering entrance, pulled out his black membership card with a flourish, and said to Zhu Dachang behind him, "Come on! Let’s get inside and live it up. Good times don’t wait!"

Zhu Dachang helped Hou San into the lobby, relishing the warm breeze that greeted them. He sneezed comfortably, looked around at the extravagant décor, and pointed at a golden pillar, saying, "Third Brother, we’ve struck it rich! Even the pillars here are made of gold. If we pry off a piece, wouldn’t we have money to go home for New Year? Thieves never leave empty-handed… Such a big pillar could buy a whole herd of pigs!"

"I think you’re the pig!" Hou San rolled his eyes. "Can’t even tell real from fake. That’s just a stone pillar wrapped in gold foil, like how some people smear layer after layer of white powder on their faces—underneath, they’re still yellow-skinned. It’s just a pig’s nose stuck with scallions pretending to be an elephant. If you don’t understand, say less, don’t let people think you’ve never seen the world..."

Hou San strode over to the reception desk in three quick steps, eyeing the fair-skinned, beautiful receptionist with graceful curves, swallowing hard as he tried to appear like a regular, but his gaze lingered on her ample bosom. He puffed his chest and gave a subtle cough.

The receptionist glanced at Hou San and Zhu Dachang’s attire, discreetly curled her lip, but maintained her standard smile. "Sir, how may I help you?"

"I brought my brother here to relax," Hou San said, slapping Zhu Dachang’s hand away as he tried to sneak snacks from the counter, and continued without missing a beat, "Can you give him a good introduction to your services?"

"I’m sorry, sir," the receptionist chuckled, "we’re a members-only establishment. Without a membership card, we can’t serve you."

Hou San slapped his black membership card onto the marble counter. "Can you serve us now?"

The receptionist glanced at the card, her face lighting up with smiles. "Of course." She produced a thick menu. "This lists all our services. Please take a look, and let me know if you have any questions."

Hou San quickly scanned the menu, frowning. "There are just names here, nothing’s clear… Like this—" he pointed at one section, "—‘Poetry and Couplets.’ There’s no explanation. Who knows whether or not to pick it?"

"Sir, all our offerings are package-based," the receptionist explained. "Customers usually recharge their membership cards in advance, and before each visit, just call to tell us which package they want. Our regulars are all old members, so the menu is a bit basic. I see your card’s an old membership—shouldn’t you know our services?"

"Why don’t you check which packages I have?" Hou San nodded at the black card. "It’s been so long, I’ve forgotten."

"Certainly, sir, just a moment…" The receptionist swiped the card through the terminal beside the computer, bent over with one hand on the mouse and one on the desk. After a moment, she looked up and replied, "Sir, your card only has one basic package bound: sauna and bath… Would you like to add other services?"

Zhu Dachang tugged at Hou San’s sleeve and whispered, "Third Brother, there’s nothing to eat here?"

"All you think about is food…" Hou San glared at Zhu Dachang, his eyes flickering toward the receptionist’s exposed cleavage. He pursed his lips, turned back with a smile, and asked, "Miss, do any of these packages include food? My brother’s hungry."

"Yes, sir, our food is complimentary and unlimited," the receptionist replied with a flirtatious wink. "Would you like to add any other services?"

"You hear that? Unlimited. Eat as much as you want," Hou San snapped at Zhu Dachang, squeezing the notes he’d hidden in his jacket seam, then leaned on the counter. "Miss, do you offer massages?"

The receptionist straightened, her enthusiasm blazing. "Of course, sir, massage is our specialty!"

"Specialty sounds great…" Hou San rubbed his hands together. "Give me one!"

"Just one?" The receptionist glanced at the dazed Zhu Dachang, suspicious. "But there are two of you…"

"We’ll take turns, split the time—half and half, so together it’s like one person’s session," Hou San coughed. "And what’s the price for massages?"

"Flat rate: 288 per hour," she replied patiently, "but the tip varies—99, 199, or 699—depending on which masseuse you choose."

"You have to tip?" Hou San tilted his head. "Miss, how much would someone like you usually get?"

The receptionist blushed. "I’m new and not very skilled; usually just 99."

"Then give me a 199," Hou San’s eyes lit up, muttering, "If 99 gets that, then 199 must be amazing. If only I had enough money, I’d go for the 699—my god, straight to heaven!"

The receptionist quickly typed a few numbers on the keyboard. "It’s arranged. Tip goes directly to the masseuse. You just need to pay the service fee now—cash or card?"

"Cash, cash…" Hou San said excitedly, reaching for his wallet without noticing a nearby vase. He accidentally knocked it, and quickly steadied it with his hand, the sudden movement tugging at his wound. Gritting through the pain, he told Zhu Dachang, "Why are you just standing there? Steady it! Can’t you see I’m about to pay? Use your eyes for once…"

Zhu Dachang fiddled with his fingers, shyly muttering, "Third Brother, isn’t it inappropriate? There are people watching…"

"Stop yammering and hurry up, steady it," Hou San snapped, "It’s your fault, now my backside hurts again…"

"Alright…" Zhu Dachang blushed, puckered his lips, and gave Hou San a loud kiss on the cheek.

Hou San instantly broke out in goosebumps, staring at Zhu Dachang. "What are you doing?"

Zhu Dachang hung his head, aggrieved. "You told me to kiss you…"

"I meant steady the vase," Hou San’s face turned red and green. "What on earth is in that pig brain of yours?"

Zhu Dachang paused, scratched his head, then straightened the vase with a goofy smile. "My mistake… You should have said it clearer…"

Hou San sighed helplessly, tore three red bills from the hole in his jacket, and handed them to the receptionist. "Give me a pack of Hongtashan cigarettes—three hundred, keep the change."

The receptionist looked at the bills, then at Zhu Dachang and Hou San, her expression stiffening as she pointed at Zhu Dachang. "Sir, to be honest, your friend’s situation requires extra payment. It’s not easy to find a masseuse willing to serve him…"