The City In The Shadows

Not long after, the landlord arrived. He was a short, scruffy man in his forties, drunk, with a red face and food stuck in his yellow teeth.

"Little Mo, right? Ah, I don't even know how to say this. I'm sorry, you need to find a new place now," the landlord said with a look of regret, hinting at something.

"Come on, you can't just kick me out!" Mo Wen's stomach tightened."There isn't enough time to find a new place!"

"Well, you see, management's been on my back. Apparently, you outsiders are'affecting the city's appearance,'" the landlord said, with the sympathy of a man who definitely didn't care.

Mo Wen was stunned and then asked quietly,"Is it because I didn't pay them?"

The landlord glanced at him, avoiding eye contact, and sighed."Don't blame me. If things hadn't blown up like this, it wouldn't be such a hassle today. Besides, you know what they say,'The current boss is worse than the county official.' If you really anger them, you won't be able to stay, not just in this house, but anywhere on the street!"

Mo Wen was silent for a moment, then forced a smile."Fine. At least return my deposit so I can find somewhere to move."

The landlord's face shifted faster than a traffic light."Deposit? Oh, no— remember that water pipe you broke? Cost me a fortune in repairs. And let's not forget the electric switch issue— my TV got fried. You'll have to cover that too."

Mo Wen listened, half-amused."Brother, those water pipes and switches are older than the Queen. How's any of that my fault? And haven't I always been on time with the rent?"

The landlord seemed to expect Mo Wen to say this and rambled on with a lot of explanations. The logic was like saying,"If a leaf falls from a tree and hits your head, it's your fault for walking under the tree."

Mo Wen didn't bother arguing. He just watched the landlord with quiet indignation, his eyes drifting to the low basement ceiling. In his mind, it dissolved into an endless sky— and there he was, a young eagle trapped in a chicken coop, being scolded by a rooster for not laying eggs, not crowing properly, and failing to hide his head under his wing.

Mo Wen sat on the small bed, staring blankly at the dim wall. His figure looked especially frail under the dim light. His mind kept replaying the moments when he first arrived in the city, full of enthusiasm and hope.

He remembered the day he arrived in the big city, as a stranger, looking at the wide streets, the endless stream of luxurious cars, and the well-dressed, hurried city people. At that moment, he felt like he was standing at the center of the world. The buildings here were towering compared to his hometown, the malls were bright, the subways were fast, and the neon lights made the night sky feel warm. He looked at the unfamiliar yet vibrant scene around him and felt a strange excitement: as long as he worked hard, he could also settle down here and live the life he longed for.

He also remembered meeting a 3-4-year-old girl. She greeted him with a childish voice,"Hello!" He was so excited that he felt like he encountered a"good omen" and silently told himself,"Mo Wen, this city won't treat you badly. As long as you work hard, you'll have a chance to succeed and move out of this dirty basement."

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It was late at night, and the wind felt like knives cutting through the air, making people uneasy.

Mo Wen left his bedding to a family worse off than him and wandered aimlessly on the streets with his backpack. He didn't know where to go and didn't want to spend money on a hotel. His finances were tight, and he had to be careful even with food expenses.

The wind, carrying the night with it, moved through the streets, bringing a bit of the cold harshness of winter. He instinctively tightened his clothes and quickened his pace. He walked through a dark, empty alley. The streetlight at the alley's entrance flickered weakly, casting a faint light on his slim figure. At that moment, a staggering drunk man came towards him, singing loudly with a hoarse voice full of roughness and drunkenness.

"Ah, life... ha ha, life is just a... uh..." The drunk man suddenly hiccuped, followed by the sound of water.

Mo Wen had just walked out of the alley and saw the scene. He quickly stepped aside, but the drunk man suddenly looked up and shouted at him,"Young man, what's the rush? No matter how fast you walk, you can't escape fate!"

This sentence was like a small stone thrown into the lake of Mo Wen's heart, causing slight ripples. He paused, frowning and thinking,"Yes, what's the rush? Walking fast, is there a warm bed waiting for me ahead?"

He hesitated for a moment and asked,"Are you talking to me?"

The drunk man mumbled something, pulled up his pants, and took out a crumpled flyer from his pocket with an obviously unwashed hand, handing it to Mo Wen.

Mo Wen looked at the flyer with some distaste. He instinctively didn't want to take it but felt the man seemed harmless. Before he could decide, the drunk man shoved the flyer into his hand—it was wet, sticky, and slightly warm.

Mo Wen's face stiffened.

There was no water around, so it was obvious where the dampness came from.

The drunk man staggered away, still humming off-key songs, disappearing into the shadows of the alley.

Mo Wen stood there, feeling a tingling sensation on his scalp. He quickly took out his portable hand sanitizer and repeatedly scrubbed his hands, almost wishing he could soak them entirely. He had a bit of a cleanliness obsession.

After calming himself down, he carefully picked up a corner of the flyer with his fingertips and read it under the streetlight—it was a job ad.

A villa was hiring a gardener, offering food and accommodation, with a good pay.

He stared at the ad for a few seconds, focusing on the part that said,"food and accommodation provided," feeling a slight stir in his heart.

Right now, what he lacked most was a place to stay and a hot meal.

This ad was a godsend.

He looked at the map at the bottom of the flyer, figured out the direction, and headed towards the moat.

Gradually, he slowed down and looked up at the night sky. The stars were exceptionally bright, with the Milky Way stretching across the sky like a silver river, twinkling with starlight. Mo Wen had never seen such a magnificent starry sky. At that moment, he felt small and developed a deep sense of humility and awe.

He thought of his father, the man who used to stand under the night sky watching the stars when he was a child. His father used to say,"Only a day truly enjoyed is a day truly lived. Living for money or others' envy is not a real life." But he had disappeared three years ago, without a trace.

Mo Wen sat on the cement embankment by the river, looking up at the stars, as if talking to his father,"Dad, where did you go? Are you still somewhere? I feel like you're still alive...

But why haven't you called me or sent a letter? You left in such a hurry; something must have happened, and you must be trapped somewhere. Tell me, what should I do?

I was busy all day today, earning more than at the company, and I even sent out a dozen resumes. Now, every company is struggling, and there are few interview opportunities. But someone as excellent as me won't starve. This year has been good, with a job that can sustain me. You don't need to worry, don't send me money anymore!"

Mo Wen laughed at himself. His father had been missing for more than three years, so there was no one to send him money. He laughed until he leaned on his knees, tears streaming uncontrollably.

Suddenly, he made up his mind to leave this place,"I want to visit Moon Lake again, follow my father's footsteps, and maybe find out where he went!" He never thought his father might no longer be in this world. Perhaps it was this deliberate avoidance of the thought that kept him moving forward in this world alone.

But thinking about the travel expenses gave Mo Wen a headache. He decided to save up some money and then leave. He'd better take the quarantine job so that he can leave this city earlier.

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Full book available-----------https://www.amazon.com.au/City-Shadows-Pubang/dp/B0DTYBH95G