[125] Robbed

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Seeing his arrogance, Shen Mo lifted her chin and said, “Pride comes before a fall, you know that, right?” She truly seemed unaware of the transfer plans. Fang Chang’an sighed quietly to himself, wishing there was some way to stop it—even if it meant staying just one more semester—but there was simply no way to intervene.

“Anyway, it’s only two and a half years,” Fang Chang’an comforted himself.

That evening, he sneaked a meal at Shen Chengyan’s place again. After dinner, Fang Chang’an borrowed two volumes of the Selected Works of Mao Zedong, planning to read them over the winter break.

During exam periods, boarding students had to attend evening self-study sessions, while day students could choose freely. Shen Mo usually studied at school and intended to do so tonight as well. Since Fang Chang’an had come by bicycle, he didn’t wait for her and headed home first.

Just as he was about to leave, Shen Chengyan called out to him, handing over a sealed red envelope. He patted Fang Chang’an’s head with a smile and said, “We probably won’t see you before the New Year. Here’s an early red envelope from Uncle Shen and Teacher Cheng. Study hard and grow up healthy.”

Fang Chang’an took the envelope and, feeling its thickness, said hurriedly, “Uncle Shen, Teacher Cheng, this is too much.”

Cheng Mengfei laughed, “Your Uncle Shen gave one, and I gave one. Just keep it—it’s just this year, won’t happen again. And if you want one next time, it won’t be this much.”

Fang Chang’an hesitated but accepted it, saying, “Thank you, Teacher Cheng, thank you, Uncle Shen.”

Shen Mo stood nearby and asked, “What about me?”

Fang Chang’an looked at her in confusion. The little girl blinked at him, then pouted, “I want a red envelope, not to thank you.”

Shen Chengyan and Cheng Mengfei both laughed. Shen Chengyan said, “Yours will come after the New Year. No rush.”

Fang Chang’an secured the red envelope in his rough cloth schoolbag, sewn by his mother, and went to the courtyard to fetch his bicycle.

Because both Fang Chang’an and Shen Mo had evening study, they ate early. It was about half past five, and twilight had already fallen. Cheng Mengfei reminded him, “It’s getting dark. Ride slowly, don’t rush.”

“I know. Teacher Cheng, you all go back inside,” Fang Chang’an replied.

He was about to push his bike out when two bicycles appeared at the gate. One belonged to Shen Chengyan’s classmate who had played cards there that afternoon. The other was a sturdy man he hadn’t seen before, stocky and short, with a fierce-looking face that seemed oddly familiar.

“Oh, little genius, leaving already?” Shen Chengyan’s classmate teased upon seeing Fang Chang’an. Without waiting for a reply, he turned to Shen Chengyan and said, “I knew you’d be home. Let’s go drink.”

Shen Chengyan seemed unsurprised, as if expecting him, and said, “Forget it, I’ve already eaten. Let’s go inside and chat.”

Cheng Mengfei invited them in, and Shen Chengyan explained to Fang Chang’an, “This is Chang Wei’s father, the deputy chief of our town’s police station. You should call him Uncle.”

Fang Chang’an only knew that Chang Wei’s father was named Chang Chao and had never met him before. Now he understood why the man looked familiar. He greeted, “Hello, Uncle Chang.”

Chang Chao’s fierce expression clearly showed his disapproval of his son, which extended to a poor first impression of Fang Chang’an. However, out of respect for Shen Chengyan, he didn’t offend him and forced a smile with a nod.

Shen Chengyan’s classmate said, “Hey, Old Chang, don’t get the wrong idea. This kid isn’t like your son—he’s Teacher Cheng’s star pupil, top of the school for a whole semester.”

Chang Chao then realized his misunderstanding and looked a bit embarrassed. He wanted to explain but didn’t know what to say. Fang Chang’an shyly smiled and said, “Uncle Shen, Uncle Chang, and you, sir, if you have things to do, I’ll head back to school now.”

Cheng Mengfei reminded him again, “Take it slow!”

“I know,” Fang Chang’an said, waving his hand as he pedaled away. Behind him, Shen Chengyan’s classmate laughed and shouted, “My name’s Gou Zhu, not this uncle guy.”

Fang Chang’an laughed and called back from a distance, “Got it, Uncle Gou.”

Gou Zhu clicked his tongue, glanced at Chang Chao, then looked at Shen Chengyan and Cheng Mengfei, saying, “Why do I feel like this kid is cursing me?”

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“Because your surname’s Gou,” Shen Chengyan laughed and invited them inside. Shen Mo followed her aunt back into the house, covering her mouth as she struggled to hold back laughter.

Fang Chang’an rode his bike out of the alley near Shen Chengyan’s home and stopped. He took out the red envelope, opened it, and counted the money: two thousand yuan.

Even though Fang Chang’an had heard of such sums from entrepreneurial ventures, he’d never given or received that much. So, even though he had suspected there’d be a lot of money, he was still stunned for a moment.

Two thousand yuan nowadays could cover a family of five’s living expenses for a whole year!

No wonder Cheng Mengfei said it wouldn’t happen again. It must be because their steamed bun shop was booming, plus Fang Chang’an’s good grades and diligence, both in work and personal matters, that they gave him such a thick envelope.

Of course, he couldn’t keep so much cash on him. Riding his bike to the intersection near the lighthouse, the town’s banks were all along those two main streets.

This was the busiest part of town, though it was still just a small town. During the day, crowds bustled, especially near the Spring Festival. But by now, most people had dispersed. In the dusk, the abandoned lighthouse stood dark and foreboding. Many nearby shops and houses had their lights on.

During the day, the bank entrance was lively, crowded with parked bikes and people handling various transactions. But once it closed, it became one of the quietest spots.

There was only one ATM that accepted deposits and withdrawals; the other only allowed withdrawals. Neither had protective covers. Fang Chang’an observed from a distance, then quickly rode over, parking without locking his bike. He swiftly approached the ATM, inserted his card, entered the password, and deposited the money.

Shen Chengyan had probably guessed he’d be depositing the money or that it was intended for him. The bills were all new, and the machine scanned them quickly.

After confirming he’d deposited 1,800 yuan, Fang Chang’an retrieved his card and pocketed it, then turned to leave.

At that moment, he spotted a figure approaching rapidly—wearing a military-green padded coat and a fur hat. The man kept his head low, hands tucked inside his coat for warmth. His head moved swiftly, glancing around as if assessing the surroundings. His movements betrayed a deep, unnatural nervousness.

Fang Chang’an’s heart skipped a beat. He pretended not to notice and moved toward his bicycle. But in the next instant, the worst happened.

The middle-aged man came up beside him and pressed close. Suddenly, the man pulled his hand from inside the coat pocket. In the dim light, the glint of a knife flashed across his chest from the nearby store’s illumination.

Fang Chang’an quickly calculated the distance to his bike and the likely difference in agility between them. He made the wisest choice: let the man come close and grab his arm.

“Kid, hand over the money!” the man growled in a low, threatening voice. Yet his trembling betrayed his intense nervousness.

“Uncle, I…” Fang Chang’an looked terrified, his voice shaking, his body trembling, unable to speak.

Without waiting for him to say more, the man plunged his hand into Fang Chang’an’s coat pocket. Finding nothing, he reached into his chest, pulled out Fang Chang’an’s money pouch, and tugged it. It was tied by a string to a button on the coat. The man decisively cut the string with his knife and asked in a low voice, “How much is inside?”

“About one hundred, a bit over a hundred,” Fang Chang’an replied truthfully.

The man stuffed the pouch into his coat, his hands shaking as he spoke anxiously, “Is there more? What about the money you withdrew?”

“Right side pocket, there’s two hundred more…” Fang Chang’an’s voice became choked with tears. “Uncle, I’ll give you all the money, please don’t kill me. Killing people gets you shot…”

“I want only money, not to kill,” the man said, startled by the mention of execution. His body trembled briefly but didn’t stop him from quickly reaching into Fang Chang’an’s right pocket, where he took the two hundred yuan that hadn’t yet been put into the pouch.

“Anything else? Be good and hand it over. I take the money and leave, won’t hurt you.”

“There is…”

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Fang Chang’an fumbled into a hidden inner pocket beneath his coat and pulled out his bank card. With trembling hands, he handed it to the man. “There’s over two thousand, I just deposited it…”

Hearing that, the man’s breathing became rapid. He snatched the card, his eagerness mounting, and asked, “What’s the password?”

“I…” Fang Chang’an’s voice was trembling, near tears. “I don’t know…”

“You don’t know how did you withdraw money?”

The man seemed angered, brandishing his knife to intimidate Fang Chang’an. Fang Chang’an recoiled, “I, I didn’t withdraw money, I deposited it… Uncle told me to…”

“You have to enter the password to insert the card. Don’t try to fool me!”

“No, no, it’s true… This is my uncle’s card…”

Fang Chang’an trembled, tearfully explaining, “My parents work far away. I live with my uncle and aunt. They told me to deposit money. You just enter the card number to deposit; they didn’t tell me the password…”

“Then why give you the card?”

“They were having dinner at home and didn’t copy the card number, so they told me to bring the card to deposit…”

The man found no fault in the story but refused to believe someone could have over two thousand yuan on a card and not be able to withdraw it. He hesitated, pondering, silent for a moment.

Fang Chang’an sniffled and looked up at the man softly, “Uncle, I’ll ask my uncle for the password. Please give me back my money?”

The man paused, then asked, “How will you get the password?”

“I’ll say I don’t know how to use the card number to deposit; I need to insert the card and ask them for the password,” Fang Chang’an said tearfully. “My uncle treats me badly, and my aunt scolds me. You take their money, just give me back mine, okay?”

In the faint light, the man, about thirty or forty years old, seemed to brighten a little. He nodded firmly, “Alright, once I get the money, I’ll give your money back.”

“Okay.”

Fang Chang’an nodded earnestly, then asked, “Uncle, do you have a phone? I want to call my uncle.”

The man looked uncomfortable, glanced around, and said, “We’ll go to the store to call. I’ll come with you. If you say anything wrong, I’ll stab you.”

“No, no, I won’t. I won’t say anything wrong,” Fang Chang’an said quickly, waving his hands in fear. “Uncle, don’t be rash. Robbery can get one or two years in jail if caught. Killing or stabbing someone gets at least ten years, and killing always leads to execution.”

“Enough of your chatter!” the man snapped.

He grabbed Fang Chang’an and headed toward the nearest convenience store. Seeing only a woman inside, he finally relaxed and pushed Fang Chang’an forward.