Sometimes, as I write, things just turn out this way.

"I know that's not very realistic. Give us something more reliable," Dazhuang said. "Let me ask you all—who here has a job? Has a future? Has a pension?"

Fatty replied, "Just spit it out."

Dazhuang continued, "There have been a few televised fighting tournaments these past two years, you know, combat sports as entertainment. I watched some and thought the level wasn't all that. So here's my idea: have any of you considered going on TV and boxing?"

Zhang Pa chuckled. "Your wife must be a real genius."

Dazhuang was puzzled. "My wife?"

"Whose idea was this? Don't tell me it was yours," Zhang Pa said.

"No one came up with it," Dazhuang answered. "One day I was watching TV, saw them flailing around, and thought I could do that too. My wife didn't want me to go—she was afraid I'd get hurt. But it didn't look dangerous to me; seemed like fake fighting. Is it fake?"

Girly chimed in, "Who are you asking? If you hadn't mentioned it, I wouldn't even know those shows existed."

"Of course you wouldn't, you only have eyes for women," Dazhuang snapped, then continued, "Later I thought, it's not a bad idea. But to compete, you have to train. I can't do it alone, so I thought of you guys."

"You want us to go fight for you?" Fatty asked.

Zhang Pa sighed, "We used to fight in the streets, now you want to take it to TV? Man, I'm really a good kid at heart—I don't even like fighting!"

Dazhuang said, "If you agree, I'll rent another place for a boxing gym, connect it to the fitness center, and even get you guys dorms—so you can stay in both places for free. But no salary. I'll set up a company, sign you all, and figure out how to get us into competitions. The only way you'll make money is through fighting."

Fatty shouted, "Are you insane? You think we're professional athletes?"

Dazhuang insisted, "You might not be, but Zhang Pa could do it. Tiger could too. Add me in..."

Zhang Pa quickly shook his head, "No, I can't either."

Fatty yelled, "None of us can! What's the point?"

Dazhuang tried to convince Zhang Pa, "I'll hire a provincial team coach to train us..."

Zhang Pa cut him off, "Don't waste your money. This idea is even wilder than bodybuilding competitions. It's not happening."

"Why not?" Dazhuang asked.

"There are so many sanda teams, so many fighters, boxers, wrestlers—when would it ever be our turn to shine? Forget it." Zhang Pa called everyone to eat.

Dazhuang thought for a moment, sighed, and said, "What are we supposed to do? The gym business is getting worse." He took a swig of liquor and continued, "Every morning I wake up to pressure. It was better before, just goofing off with you guys, eating our fill and sleeping soundly. Those were the days."

"You're a driver, complaining about stress to a bunch of guys who ride bicycles? I ought to punch you," Zhang Pa said. "Eat and then get lost... Wait, I just had an idea."

Dazhuang immediately asked what it was.

Zhang Pa said, "Fatty and Girly's crew are shooting a web series. How about using your gym as a set? Put a big sign up. As long as the show gets views, you get free advertising."

"Deal. I'm in," Dazhuang agreed enthusiastically.

Fatty said, "Then rent us a place—a spot for equipment, computers, and a break room."

Dazhuang agreed. "How big do you need?"

"At least three or four rooms," Fatty said.

"Alright, I'll start looking tomorrow," Dazhuang promised.

Zhang Pa thought for a moment, then took two thousand yuan from his pocket. "The production team will pay part of the rent. Can't have you footing the bill alone."

Dazhuang insisted it wasn't necessary.

"Take it," Zhang Pa said. "It's just to make things clear. If the series makes money, you won't get a share otherwise."

"Alright, fair enough," Dazhuang said, pocketing the cash.

Fatty asked Zhang Pa, "Think this will make money?"

"We won't die just by thinking about it," Zhang Pa replied, just as a taxi stopped by the curb. Out stepped Long Xiaole and Ma Ping.

Seeing Zhang Pa and the others, Long Xiaole walked over with his trademark friendliness. "Just the man I wanted to see."

"We're not exactly close. What do you want with me?" Zhang Pa asked.

Long Xiaole laughed. "I went to play billiards yesterday—walked in and saw you were the champion! I was so curious—I really want to know where you found so many lousy players that you could actually win."

"I won that title fair and square," Zhang Pa replied.

"Yeah right, with your lousy skills," Long Xiaole said, dragging over a small stool and sitting next to Zhang Pa. "Seriously though, I'm looking for someone. Can you guys help?"

"Looking for someone? Men cost a thousand, women two. Pay up if we find them," Zhang Pa said.

"If you really find this person, I'll pay ten thousand," Long Xiaole replied, pointing across the street to an alleyway. "You know that spot?"

"Nope," Zhang Pa said.

"Then what's the point?" Long Xiaole replied.

Fatty asked, "Who are you looking for? Maybe we know them."

"If I knew the name, I wouldn't be running around like this," Long Xiaole answered.

"Is it a man or a woman? Any features?" Fatty asked. "If it's a beautiful woman, Girly probably knows her."

"Really?" Long Xiaole said. "Back in first year of middle school, I was riding my bike—must've been New Year's, maybe the second or third day..."

"Hold up, how old are you now?" Girly cut in quickly. "If you're going to reminisce like some old man—"

Fatty interrupted, "Just let him finish."

So they listened to Long Xiaole's story—love at first sight, a memory that lingered for years, prompting him to come back and search.

Back then, Long Xiaole was just a kid. Passing that street, he saw three girls about his age talking by the roadside. One stood facing the street, wearing a blue outfit—beautiful and eye-catching.

They exchanged a few glances, but with a road between them and the need to get home, nothing happened.

He was too young to care then, but after years spent either in England studying or training billiards with the provincial team, he couldn't get that pretty girl out of his mind. Even knowing he'd never see her again, and probably wouldn't recognize her if he did, Long Xiaole couldn't let go. So he often came to Tiger’s BBQ, hoping for a miracle at that street corner.

After he finished, Girly stood and bowed, then sat down and applauded. "A true romantic!"

Fatty said to Zhang Pa, "I thought your stories were ridiculous, but reality is even crazier."

Long Xiaole said, "You never know—maybe I'll meet her again. It's only been a few years."

"Alright, just a few years," Zhang Pa replied. "Girly handles all searches for beautiful women. You two talk. Need us to give you some privacy?"

"Not until the bill’s settled. Don’t try to stiff me," Girly replied.

Long Xiaole looked across at the alley, saying, "I don't want anything much, just to meet her. After all these years, I owe her that."

Zhang Pa clapped his hands. "You really should be a poet."

Fatty added, "Or a novelist. That's real poetry—better than those so-called artists who claim they're happy being ghosts."

Zhang Pa warned sternly, "Fatty, why are you bringing up politics again? Happiness doesn't allow that, you know?" Still, he found himself thinking of two women—one a once-familiar figure, the other a graceful, beautiful teacher.

He realized he owed a lot—an introduction to the teacher, a confession to that familiar figure... But, poor as he was, what could he do?

He was poor, but Long Xiaole was rich. Zhang Pa suddenly felt cross. "Why didn't you just go talk to her? Why? Why? Why?"

"Have you lost your mind?" Long Xiaole asked.

"Yeah," Zhang Pa replied. "I've been crazy for years."

Fatty nodded in agreement. "This nutcase is definitely insane."

Long Xiaole laughed, "Are you guys always fighting?"

Fatty scoffed, "When have we ever been united?"

Zhang Pa called Monkey, asked about his mother's health, then checked in with the other four Monkeys. He called them over for BBQ.

Chaos was better than thinking too much about other things, or people... But if he did think—maybe buy a house in the provincial capital? A car? Maybe then he'd have the courage to meet someone?

Long Xiaole was too sociable—didn't ask anyone, just opened a bottle and started drinking, eating heartily, joking with Fatty and Girly. Zhang Pa couldn't take it anymore. "You two were fighting just days ago, now you're best buddies? Are you nuts?"

"You're the one who's nuts," Long Xiaole replied. "I'm your client now, hiring you to find someone. What's wrong with sharing a drink?"

"Damn, there isn't a single normal person left in this world," Zhang Pa shouted. "Boss, bill please!"

Fatty shouted even louder, "Don't pay yet!"

"If you don't pay, I'm leaving. Are you paying or not?" Zhang Pa threatened.

Fatty said, "You just called four kids over. You want them to settle the bill?"

That shot down Zhang Pa's plans to leave. He sat for a while, then asked Long Xiaole, "Do you regret it?"

"Regret what?" Long Xiaole replied.

"That girl in blue."

"It's not regret, just disappointment. I should have introduced myself, but I didn't. So now I really don't know her," Long Xiaole said.

Fatty said, "That's the mark of a good man. Unlike our friend here—a walking cannon, sees a woman and has to meet her. Do you know how many fights we've been in because of his woman trouble... Damn it, Girly, you bastard, did you befriend us just so we'd help you fight?"

Girly replied, "Took you long enough to realize? Of course. Why else would someone as handsome as me run with a bunch of ugly misfits like you?"

...

The night passed in banter and nonsense. In the end, Girly, Fatty, and the rest dropped their vengeance plans—Zhang Pa bought them all BBQ as compensation. Dazhuang's gym revival turned into a web series collaboration. As for Long Xiaole's girl in blue, there were no leads, and the search was of no consequence.

Lying in bed, Zhang Pa couldn't help but imagine—if only he had as much money as Long Xiaole...