Chapter 1: The youth that tried to buy a knife

June 16, 06.30a.m.

Xiao Mo habitually jogged around the river in the park.

Both the eco-friendly park and the unnamed river surrounding it were artificially constructed.

The eco-friendly park was quite wide, spanning about 200 acres, was originally a copper mine. It had later been redeveloped by the government using the non-toxic waste produced from the nearby demolished buildings as landfill. Using technology and scientific design, the park even boasts an artificial mountain with a cultivated forest, with bridges and roads constructed on it. Underground water is being guided upwards to form the twists and turns of the river, completing the whole project as a public park.

Even though the park was constructed not more than 2 years ago, it had earned itself a high reputation.

It attracted not only the locals, but also the city folk who sometimes travel here to picnic or enjoy the picturesque scenery.

When sourcing for his home, Xiao Mo especially aimed for it due to its proximity to the park filled with plenty of greenery

Xiao Mo purchased his apartment here, although far away from the city, it was close to this park with such a scenic view.

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The boy had soft brownish hair that was neck-length. He had wide but dull, sunken eyes, thick long lashes, a high nose bridge and clear lips. Such sharp and pronounced features made him look like a mixed blood.

Looking at his eyes made Xiao Mo unintentionally rub his bare arms.

Such dark eyes with nary a spark in them, were just like those of a dead person.

“Busybody.” Before Xiao Mo could finished his sentence, the boy stared at him before jumping down from the bench and walking away.

Xiao Mo frowned. He watched the boy walked towards the nearest public restroom, thinking to himself, perhaps he really was a busybody. Perhaps his family was nearby.

He jogged out of the park towards the neighboring stall selling breakfast and got himself a set of pan-fried dough sticks with soya bean milk, also stopping by the next stall to buy a mushroom vegetable bun and two bamboo shoot buns.

When he went back to the park, just as he expected, the kid was still there, at the same bench by the river.

The boy seemed to be focusing on something.

Xiao Mo followed his line of sight and saw a youth with a harvest sack, standing close to the river.

The youth stared at the river, with a lost and hesitant expression.

When Xiao Mo was about to move away, the youth left without hesitation.

Xiao Mo relaxed and walked towards the bench and sat down, casually pushing the plastic bag with the buns towards the child, who was sitting with his legs folded beneath him.

The boy simply glanced at him without moving.

Xiao Mo thought inwardly: Eat it or leave it; I’ll just simply bring them back for myself later.

He opened his own bag and started on his own breakfast.

Although he was not a goody two shoes, he could not help meddling with the child’s affairs. He acknowledged that it was an illness that requires treatment, but for now, he had yet to find the right remedy to cure it.

A minute later, a gulp could be heard from beside him. Xiao Mo thought, probably his eating performance was too fantastic, it even incited saliva!

Rustle.

Xiao Mo smirked when he heard the plastic bag being opened.

One adult and a child were sitting apart with space that could fit another person between them, savouring their breakfasts silently.

Once Xiao Mo finished his breakfast, he pushed the unopened soya milk to the boy. He stood up, patted the invisible dust off his bottom and walked off coolly.

To Xiao Mo, today’s incident could not even be considered as “a kind act a day” according to the scouts. This was more like casually teasing a stray kitten or puppy in his books.

He may be compassionate, but that is limited to the condition that such kind acts are within his scope of ability. Offering vagrants some food and bringing a child home is two entirely different issues.

Perhaps he could call the police and entrust the police to help the kid find his parents? But since he did not bring his phone, he was unable to take a photo of the kid. Also, the kid would most likely not want to follow him, who knows if his family might be just right around the area? It would not be good if his kind act caused a misunderstanding instead.

Once Xiao Mo got back to his store, he called to inform the police of the kid.

When the operator inquired about the kid’s features, Xiao Mo became startled. He realised that he could not recall the kid’s face at all, although it had only been a few minutes ago that they parted. The kid’s prominent features should have had a lasting impression on him, but no matter how much he scratched his head, he was unable to recall anything regarding the boy’s looks. All except the pair of unreflective, abyss-like eyes.

After recording the incident, the police informed him that an officer would be sent to patrol the area. Just like that, Xiao Mo put the matter to rest.

After immersing in work for about half a day, it was time for lunch. Xiao Mo straightened his back and gave his sore back a massage. Examining the storage’s new and refreshing look, he felt proud and satisfied.

This was his career- a recycling shop.

Most of the recycling shops had two characteristics: dirty and messy. Therefore people who dealt in the thrifting trades were commonly named the rag and bone men.

Rag and bones, that meant scavenging for things that were not wanted by people anymore. In most people’s eyes, the act of picking up people’s trash was considered filthy, grimy and impoverished.

However, Xiao Mo’s recycling shop was unlike others, it was not only very clean and tidy, it also did not have any unpleasant odour. If not for the two big “Recycling Shop” words on the signboard, people living in the neighbourhood would have thought that he was operating a thrift shop.

But, Xiao Mo is also dabbling in the second-hand goods. This is a trade with good market prospects. Like the recycling industry, there was a solid chance that he could earn a good buck from it.

Xiao Mo recalled how he jumped onto the band wagon of recycling business six years ago. Only one word could describe his action- impulsive!

He was about twenty-six years old then, an age where he felt mature, rooted, rational and experienced, but in fact, was extremely naïve.

Back when he was younger, he used to have an extremely nasty temper, and only looked at the sides of the coin- the good and bad. He also considered himself as a very decisive but stubborn person; if he decided on one idea, nothing would change his mind, there was absolutely not space for negotiation at all. With such a temperament, he had offended several people, but he refused to explain to them his stand, thinking that he looked cool.

Six years ago, back when he just came back from overseas, his close friends and family claimed that he had changed. His younger brother even speculated that he must have suffered and lead a tough life overseas. They looked at him with pitiful but warm gazes.

Perhaps his porcupine like temperament had smoothed out to become warmer and more tactful.

Ok, let us just face it and said that he had changed to become more long winded and nagging as compared to his younger self. His younger brother had even thought that he had transmigrated.

He hadn’t transmigrated, he still had crystal clear memory with not gaps, he did not feel any changed in his behaviour too. After all, people change, be it due to environment or age.

And back then, he chose to be a recycling shop owner because…

Ding Dong, Ding Dong

The doorbell broke off Xiao Mo’s reminiscing.

 His store was equipped with a doorbell sensor, so anyone walking into the shop will trigger it, and no matter where Xiao Mo is, he would be able to hear it.

Level 1 was being reconstructed to become a storage area, so only a small space was left as a shop, and most of the goods were gathered at the 2^nd floor.

 Xiao Mo walked along the storage shelves towards the glass door segregating the store and the shop. Opening the door, he saw a high school boy wearing a school uniform and backpack browsing through the goods displayed in the glass cabinet.

This was the exact youth he saw just his morning that was staring blankly at the river. Xiao Mo smiled; he had thought that the youth was planning to commit suicide.

Xiao Mo closed the glass door behind him and while washing his hands in the sink, he smiled and asked, “What would you like to buy?”

The youth lifted his head in response, and Xiao Mo noticed that his eyes were abnormally red, similar to those who got the red eye disease.

Poor little fellow, he must have been cramming to score in the year end exams, Xiao Mo thought sympathetically.

“They told me that you sell almost everything in this shop.” He commented while knocking on the glass display. He seemed a little emotionally unstable.

“Um, not really, I definitely do not have your school’s exam paper though.” Xiao Mo jokingly replied.

It seemed that the youth did not buy the joke. He then asked, “Can I take a look upstairs?”

“Sure, please help yourself. Upstairs is mostly some home furniture, electrical appliances, some clothes, sports gear, books and others. All second hand, take your time, if you spot anything that catches your attention, you can call me or bring it down to the cashier for payment.” Xiao Mo dried his hands, hanged the towel and ambled towards the cashier.

“Oh.” The youth replied and walked up towards the second floor with his backpack.

Xiao Mo did not follow, quite a few student patron his shop for books and sporting gear. Sometimes they will also purchase electronic gadgets if they find one that is suitable, though this only occurs once in a blue moon.

Electronic appliances that are small or on the expensive side have been locked in the display cabinet, and those on the second floor are mostly big, bulky or inexpensive items. All four corners of the shop have been installed with CCTVs, so he was not worried that the goods upstairs will go missing. Of course, if there is a big crowd upstairs, he will go up and monitor to prevent theft.

While the youth was browsing the goods upstairs, Xiao Mo turned on his computer and started collating the profit and loss for the first half of this month.

According to the excel spreadsheet, it was obvious that the profit share from the recycling was minor, only accumulating to 10% of his total business. Most of his profit came from the wholesale of second-hand goods.

Speaking of wholesales, he had not been visiting the university town lately. It was around this time that those graduating students would start clearing their hostel of old books, furniture and household appliances. Perhaps he should drop by tomorrow.

Thud

There was a sound of a heavy item dropping on the floor. Xiao Mo lifted his head to look at the CCTV Monitor, only to see the youth trying to remove an item from the wall. He zoomed in and found that it was a long knife used for cutting watermelons.

Xiao Mo shook his head and went upstairs.

“You want to buy a watermelon knife?”

Startled, the youth abruptly turned his body and stared at Xiao Mo alertly.

Xiao Mo was shocked by his aggressive reaction.

“Student, are you alright?”

The youth did not answer, he only stared at Xiao Mo and slowly approached him step by step.

Xiao Mo instinctively retreated.

The youth halted and lifted his hand to touch his face. He spoked lowly, “Sorry, I haven’t been sleeping well the past two days. The exams are coming, so I’m a bit nervous.”

“No worries. If you want the watermelon knife, I can help you retrieve it. But for what purpose are you buying the watermelon knife for?” Xiao Mo nonchalantly asked as bypassed the youth and picked up the multi-purpose wooden knife rack that fell to the ground. He inspected for any damages and placed it back on the shelf, before bringing down the melon knife that was hanging on the top of the rack.

“To cut watermelon.” The youth stretched out his hand.

“Ah, it’s good as long as it’s not used for fighting.” Xiao Mo laughed. Acting like he did not notice the outstretched hand, he casually hid the knife behind his back and gently told the youth, “I have sharpened the knife before so it’s dangerous. It is best if you get your family member to come and buy it, alright?”

The youth frowned, “How much?”

Xiao Mo purposely quoted a price higher than the supermarket: “Two hundred and eighty dollars.”

“Why is it so expensive? The market only sells it for forty to fifty dollars!”

“Now see here, little fella, this melon knife is from one of the top ten brands called ‘Wang Xiao Quan’.  Not only is it stainless steel, the knife has also been specially crafted fifteen years ago. Such a knife is hard to find nowadays, and I even sharpened it beforehand, naturally, it would be more expensive.”

“Can’t you sell it cheaper?” The youth asked, biting his lip.

“The cheapest I can sell is $205 and no lesser.” Xiao Mo spoke while preparing to put the knife back on the wall.

“$30, are you selling or not?”

Xiao Mo chuckled, “This student, it’s not that I don’t want to sell it to you. This knife is very dangerous, if anything happens it would be hard on me. Also, the price you want is too low, sorry.”

The youth glared at Xiao Mo unwaveringly.

Xiao Mo frowned inwardly. Why is the kid so agitated? Why does he look so threatening? Is he planning to kill someone?

“How about a drink? My treat.” There was a private shopping mall next to Xiao Mo’s shop, and they sold milk tea there.

The youth breathed in deeply, rubbed his eye and suddenly ran away.

Xiao Mo was very worried for the youth, but even if he was worried, he would not interfere with his private affairs.

It was only because he was too nosy that… sigh, what was wrong with him today that made him keep thinking of the past?