Charles Miller was hunched over in front of the computer, fiddling with something, and when he heard the glass door make a sound, he didn’t even look up and shouted, “We’re out of stock. If you want something, just say it first and come back after the New Year to pick it up.”

　　“Do you have a General? I want one…”

　　Ryan Bennett joked. Last time Charles Miller went to Shanghai, he nagged in his ear for several days, saying that when he was in Shandong collecting crickets, he was a few days late and someone else snatched up a General before he could get it. He looked more dejected than if someone had stolen his wife.

　　“A General? I want one too… Damn, it’s you, kid. Go sit over there and smoke, let me finish this round…”

　　When Charles Miller saw it was Ryan Bennett, he tossed over a pack of cigarettes. Ryan Bennett leaned over to take a look and couldn’t help but laugh—this guy was actually playing Super Mario, such an old-school game, and he was still enjoying it so much.

　　“Damn, didn’t clear the level again. I’m telling you, kid, you came back and didn’t even check in with me. If my mom hadn’t mentioned it, I still wouldn’t know. She said you got shot a while back—are you okay? Let me see, let me see…” Charles Miller dropped the game controller, walked over to Ryan Bennett, snatched the pack of cigarettes from his hand, and insisted on checking the wound on the back of his head.

　　“I’m not that fragile, the wound’s almost healed. You’re the one living comfortably. If I’d known, I wouldn’t have gone to college either. Would’ve been great to work with you! You’re even using a computer now, didn’t expect that! You’re really keeping up with the times.”

　　Ryan Bennett lit a cigarette, brushed Charles Miller’s hand away, and lounged on the shop’s sofa. He didn’t smoke much—only when he was in a really good or really bad mood. Sometimes it took him four or five days to finish a pack.

　　“If you hadn’t gone to college, even my old man wouldn’t have let you off. By the way, my mom said you’re heartless, coming back and not visiting her. Why do people get so naggy after they retire? I can’t stand it, that’s why I’m here at the shop.”

　　Charles Miller complained for a bit, then his eyes lit up and he said, “You should just quit that job. If you keep at it, you might lose your life one day. Seriously, bro, come work with me! These past few years without you, nothing I do feels right. You’re smarter than me—if you join this business, I guarantee our shop will be one of a kind in Pengcheng.”

Chapter 0011: The Tattered Book

　　When Ryan Bennett had just graduated from college, Charles Miller tried to persuade him to work together, but Ryan Bennett felt that he couldn’t let his four years of college go to waste, and besides, Charles Miller’s business was already up and running—if he joined, he’d just be reaping the benefits, which didn’t appeal to him. So he never agreed. Now that the pawnshop was about to promote him, he’d given up on the idea even more, and didn’t respond to Charles Miller’s suggestion.

　　“Rascal, you’re in here all warm and cozy, but there’s an old lady outside hiding from the snow. Why don’t you let her in to warm up? You grew up learning from Lei Feng, but now you’re acting like Huang Shiren. I’ll tell my mom when I get back—guaranteed you won’t have a good New Year.”

　　Ryan Bennett looked through the glass door and saw the old lady shivering in the cold wind. He felt a bit sorry for her and spoke up.

　　“Huh? There was no one at the door just now, I didn’t know! Please don’t tell my mom, or she’ll scold me again. I’ll invite her in right now.” Although Charles Miller looked fierce, he was actually warm-hearted. When he saw the old lady outside, he quickly pushed open the glass door.

　　“Ma’am, come in and warm up! Wait until the snow lets up before you go—it’s too cold outside.” Charles Miller called out, but maybe because of his distinctive face, the old lady stared at him for a moment, then shook her head firmly.

　　Seeing this, Ryan Bennett also went out and said, “Ma’am, come in and warm up! The snow’s not stopping anytime soon, and we’re not bad people.”

　　“Well… thank you.”

　　After seeing Ryan Bennett, the wary look on the old lady’s face relaxed a lot. She hesitated for a moment, then agreed, which made Charles Miller feel a bit frustrated. It was his shop, but Ryan Bennett got the thanks. Ever since they were kids, this guy was always the good guy—so unfair!

　　With a stranger in the shop, Ryan Bennett and Charles Miller couldn’t talk as freely as before. After letting the old lady warm up by the stove, Charles Miller went back to playing Super Mario. The way he gritted his teeth, he really didn’t look like a good person. The old lady clutched her bundle tightly and carefully moved her stool a bit farther away, as if keeping some distance from Charles Miller made her feel safer.

　　“Ma’am, what brings you out on such a cold day? Buying a pet for your grandchild?” Seeing the old lady looking a bit uneasy, Ryan Bennett asked.

　　“Young man, don’t joke. In our village, we barely have enough chickens and ducks, let alone time for pets! That’s just wasting money.” The old lady glanced at the pet pictures on the wall and realized what the shop sold.

　　When Charles Miller heard this, he curled his lip, wanting to say something but holding back. He was definitely annoyed—if everyone thought like the old lady, he wouldn’t have any business.

　　“So what brings you here then…” Ryan Bennett poured a cup of hot tea and handed it to the old lady.

　　The old lady already had something on her mind, and now that she’d met Ryan Bennett, she spilled her story like beans from a bamboo tube.