There is One New Rule Every Month Globally

"Next time you come, you won't see him anymore."

"If I can't see him, so be it."

The middle-aged man didn't care much; the world is so vast, and with so many important things happening every day, who would mind whether one could see a once simple-minded fishmonger again or not.

"Let's go."

"Okay, see you next time."

...

"..."

Tie Chui sat on the bench behind his stall, his gaze slightly vacant as he watched the middle-aged man interacting with the vendor next door. He didn't know what he was thinking, but it was only after the man left that he slowly turned his head and fixed his gaze on the cigarette tucked behind the vendor's ear.

In this marketplace, many regular customers would hand a cigarette to the vendors while talking with them.

But... no one had ever handed one to him.

At first, he thought perhaps they didn't know he smoked, so he agonized over it for a long time and deliberately bought the cheapest pack of cigarettes. When it was crowded, he would light one and put it to his mouth, coughing incessantly from the smoke.

Even so, no one ever offered him a cigarette.

But from time to time, he could overhear other sounds.

"Hey, look at that idiot trying to smoke."

"His brain might be useless, but his mouth isn't, huh?"

"Exactly."

His mind might not be sharp, but that didn't mean he couldn't distinguish between those who were kind to him and those who were malicious. Not understanding why they would do such a thing, he could only continue to sit behind his stall, silently passing day after day.

And he didn't smoke that pack of cigarettes again.

He left half a pack on the stall.

"Brother."

Just then, a complaining voice came from beside him: "I told you not to buy that pack of cigarettes, but you insisted. You know we barely have any money right now. Cigarettes are so expensive and you can't even eat them, so why buy them?"

"..."

Tie Chui didn't speak, merely turning his head to look at the little girl just over a meter tall beside him and suddenly bursting into a silly laugh. He stroked the two little braids behind her head; the braids didn't look very nice because he had made them.

He had secretly practiced for a long time.

Because his sister had once said she wanted braids like the other little girls, and since she didn't know how to make them, he learned secretly. But being slow-witted, no matter how seriously he tried, he just couldn't braid as neatly as the other girls.

But his sister didn't mind.

She was even happy about it.

Seeing his sister happy made him happy as well.

"Never mind."

Perhaps tired from talking, Iron Nail stopped her complaints. She didn't bring up the half-smoked pack of cigarettes again but instead excitedly pulled out a flyer from her embrace, her eyes shining as she spoke animatedly.

"A new seafood market is about to open, and they are looking for vendors right now."

"The market manager knows we've been here for a year and considers us experienced fishmongers. He's willing to give us a deal where we can defer rent for six months and pay the first six months of rent after we've been there for half a year." "You opened your stall so early today."

A middle-aged man walked up to a vegetable vendor in the market with a smile, handing him a cigarette: "I've never seen you set up this early, give me three eggplants, a bunch of scallions, and half a pound of chili peppers."

"Not really."

The vegetable vendor happily accepted the cigarette, tucking it next to his ear while skillfully packing the requested vegetables: "I come this early on regular days too, there, take it."

"That will be 17 yuan. We're all regulars here, I'll give you the scallions for free, no charge."

"Okay."

The man didn't fuss and happily received the vegetables, glancing at the neighboring stall where a simple-minded, large figure kept gazing their way, he casually remarked: "That fool is still selling fish here."

"Yeah, he's been here all along, comes quite early every day."

The vegetable vendor replied casually: "He works hard, but it's a pity his mind's not all there, moreover, he has to take care of a little girl. No matter how hard he works, it's useless. Life can be harsh. I've never seen their parents; they probably passed away early, leaving an idiot and a little girl in this world; it's really a torment for them."

"I heard they won't be staying for much longer, though. The market's going to implement new rules soon, not allowing any seafood vendors to stay. They'll be chased out before long."

"Next time you come, you won't see us anymore."

"If we can't see each other, so be it."

The middle-aged man didn't mind; the world was so big, and there were so many important matters happening every day, who would care about whether they could see a once foolish fishmonger again.

"Let's go."

"Okay, I'll come again next time."

...

...

Tie Chui sat still on the bench behind his stall, his gaze slightly vacant as he watched the middle-aged man talking with the stall owner next to him, not knowing what he was thinking. It wasn't until after the man had left that he slowly turned his head and fixed his eyes on the cigarette clenched between the ear of that stall owner.

In this market, many regular customers passing cigarettes to the stall owners during conversations was a common practice.

But... no one had ever passed one to him.

At first, he thought perhaps people didn't know he smoked. He agonized over it for a long time and eventually bought the cheapest pack of cigarettes. During busy times, he'd light one and put it to his lips, coughing continuously from the irritation.

Yet even so, no one ever offered him a cigarette.

From time to time, he would overhear other voices.

"Hey, look at that idiot, trying to smoke."

"His brain's dumb, but not his mouth, huh?"

"You got that right."

His mind might be slow, but that didn't mean he couldn't distinguish between those with good intentions and those with malice. He didn't understand why they acted this way and could only continue to sit on the bench behind his stall day after day, passing the time in silence.

And he never smoked that pack of cigarettes again.

He left half a pack on the stall.

"Brother."

Just then, a complaining voice came from the side, "I told you at that time not to buy that pack of cigarettes, but you had to buy it. You're not unaware that we don't have much money right now. Buying a pack of cigarettes that's so expensive and you can't even eat it, why bother?"

...

Tie Chui didn't say anything but turned his head to look at the little girl standing beside him, roughly just over a meter tall, and suddenly burst into a foolish grin. He stroked the two small braids at the back of her head, which didn't look very nice. He has braided them.

He had secretly practiced for a long time.

Because his sister said she also wanted braids like the other little girls, but she didn't know how to do it herself, so he went and secretly learned. However, his mind was slow, and no matter how earnestly he learned, he could never braid as prettily as the other girls.

But his sister didn't mind.

Instead, she was very happy.

Seeing his sister happy made him happy too.

"Forget about it."

Perhaps tired from talking, Iron Nail stopped her complaining and didn't mention the unfinished pack of cigarettes again; instead, she pulled out a flyer from her chest as if exhibiting precious treasure, her eyes sparkling and animatedly began to speak.

"There's a new seafood market that's about to open soon, and they are looking for vendors."

"The person in charge of this market knows we've been here for a year and thinks we are experienced fishmongers. They're willing to give us a discount by delaying the rent for six months. We'll settle the first six months' rent after we've been settled for six months."

He had secretly practiced for a long time.

Because his sister said she also wanted braids like the other little girls, but she didn't know how to do it herself, so he went and secretly learned. However, his mind was slow, and no matter how earnestly he learned, he could never braid as prettily as the other girls.

But his sister didn't mind.

Instead, she was very happy.

Seeing his sister happy made him happy too.

"Forget about it."

Perhaps tired from talking, Iron Nail stopped her complaining and didn't mention the unfinished pack of cigarettes again; instead, she pulled out a flyer from her chest as if exhibiting precious treasure, her eyes sparkling and animatedly began to speak.

"There's a new seafood market that's about to open soon, and they are looking for vendors."

"The person in charge of this market knows we've been here for a year and thinks we are experienced fishmongers. They're willing to give us a discount by delaying the rent for six months. We'll settle the first six months' rent after we've been settled for six months."