It was July, the sun was scorching, and the hot and dry air choked every pedestrian, and while squeezing out the only remaining moisture from its throat, it also maliciously shook its head back and forth to create vertigo, as if it would not give up until it killed people. If those air-conditioned places are paradise and shady basements are fairylands, then there is no doubt that some people, such as Qian Jing, are walking in the scorching hell of the shadows of the buildings and the sun.

Sweat turned into vapor and steamed up from the top of his head, forming a rainbow of light that shook and disappeared, as unreal as the equally swaying empty streets. He adjusted the crossbody bag on his shoulders and leaned forward, hiding under the narrow eaves of the communication room. With a kind smile on his face, he showed his charm to an old man.

By the way, rub the cool air of the fan leaking out of the window of the communication room.

"You're not wrong, young man, here it is. What unit you are looking for, just have a house number. I've lived here almost my whole life, and I'll show you the way. ”

Uncle Conveyor raised his eyes and looked at the money mirror from above the reading glasses. He placed the newspaper on the table, his calloused palms propping up his ears, trying to hear clearly.

"I went to the Baixi supermarket chain and went there to work during the holidays. My phone just broke, I got a little lost without navigation, and I couldn't see the specific address in the text message, only the name of the supermarket. Qian Jing smiled embarrassedly.

"I understand, it's much better to get a mobile phone for a part-time job than for my grandson to only ask for money if he doesn't work. The old man probably understood, he waved his arm and pointed in a direction very firmly: "That side is east, and then there is a road to the north." You walk past and you can see the supermarket. There's been a shortage of people there, and it's definitely hiring!"

"Great! Thank you, you've been able to help. Qian Jing breathed a sigh of relief. He's okay with everything, but he has a problem with "urban road idiot". Whenever he's in the city, surrounded by a "jungle" of buildings, he'll slowly get dizzy, and he won't know where he's coming from or where he's going to go – and he's even more of a roadworm indoors. Only by navigating on a mobile phone and frequently asking people for directions can Qian Jing stay in the right direction. It had been going well until the phone went on strike outright because there was no heat subsidy.

The lack of navigation was enough to kill, and this time, it seems, affected by the scorching heat, road idiots are attacking faster than ever. It was only five minutes before he realized that he had suddenly arrived in another place, and everything had become strange. The city center, which was still a high-rise building just a moment ago, suddenly seemed to be on the outskirts.

In the direction of the old man's arm, the two-lane asphalt road is terminated thirty meters to the east, with several cement piers with red and white stripes in the center, and only the dirt that has not yet been constructed is ahead. On one side of the road, on the sidewalk where Qian Jing is located, is a construction site, and a high wall formed by billboards blocks the view. It can be known from the colorful advertisements that it should be a commercial complex, the kind of mall where you can eat, buy and play.

The clanging sound of percussion came from the fence from time to time, and the lack of accompaniment to the noise of mechanical operation made it seem weak, and the construction was either slow or there were no people on the hot holiday. Fortunately, there was an old man at work in the communication room at the gate, so Qian Jing hurriedly came over to ask for directions.

The old man is a bit of a back-of-the-ear, not only does he speak loudly, but he also needs others to talk to him loudly. But even if the volume is amplified as much as possible, Qian Jing always feels that communication is not smooth.

"Busy? I'm not busy. Now that the construction site is about to stop, there is no need for me to open and close the door to direct the vehicles, alas, ......" said the old man, "If there is a lot of work, it is not bad to come to us as a temporary worker." Seeing that you still have the strength to move bricks, you can definitely move bricks. But if you have a craft, such as tying scaffolding, you can earn more. ”

"Thank you, but still not. Qian Jing hurriedly said. He is in his freshman year, and he has not achieved any outstanding results in his studies, but he has achieved remarkable results in fitness with his roommates - who called the "livestock" to run a gym at home, and dragged him to play all day long. After being busy for most of the year, at least double the lack of physical exercise in the past three years. If you move too many dumbbells, you will be annoyed, so forget about the work of moving bricks.

"Uncle, let me ask you, how is this Baixi supermarket chain?"

"Locks? I don't remember it sells locks, but it sells a yellow-orange-orange wine that is strong and delicious! You walk along the road and you will see a flagpole with a white cloth on it, and you will find it. Tsk, when I talk about it, it seems that I haven't been there for a while, and I'm still a little hungry. ”

The old man fell into deep thought for a moment, his brows tightly tangled, and his eyes were misty, as if it was a serious problem that he hadn't bought wine for a long time. The old man didn't pay attention to Qian Jing anymore, and he didn't even pay attention to him saying goodbye very politely.

Memories came flooding back to his heart, and the old man finally remembered the last time he drank wine in the store. He remembered the shopkeeper there, a kind big brother, but unfortunately he had no wife and no children. I vaguely remember that he drank a good amount of alcohol, and he was willing to give credit to the villagers in the neighborhood, and he could get enough goods at the beginning of the reform and opening up, when the material goods were not very developed, and he was definitely a capable person.

"The last time I went to the store to buy alcohol was to celebrate the birth of my eldest grandson, and it's been more than ten years since then. Strange, why didn't I ever remember to go there to buy wine? Lad, can you come back when ......?"

The old man looked left and right, only to find that Qian Jing had left, and couldn't help but shake his head and smile bitterly. "Anyway, it's okay now, it's only a few steps away, I'll go for it. ”

He picked up his teacup and took a long sip of water, then was about to get up. But at this moment, a light blue light flashed in his eyes, and at the same time, a puff of green smoke rose from under the soles of his feet, and quickly dissipated into the air. The old man froze for a moment, and after a few seconds he recovered, and then gently rubbed his stomach.

"Oops, I'm going to the toilet again. If you don't drink water, it's hot, and if you drink too much, you go to the toilet, this ghost weather is really terrible. ”

Walking briskly with the pergola in hand, the old man had completely forgotten about going to the supermarket to buy alcohol. He also doesn't remember showing people the way, and the money mirror completely disappeared from his mind.

Qian Jing will not disappear out of thin air, he is standing in a corner of the construction site. This is right at the end of the asphalt road, where the concrete piers occupy. Along the edge of the billboard, there was a dirt road that folded into the distance, three meters wide, uneven and potholed, with several clear ruts on it, and the traces of pressure were deep and wide, perhaps trucks. Qian Jing looked into the distance, and a small river could be faintly seen at the end of the dirt road, and there was nothing else.

"Well, it doesn't look like it's going to be a good supermarket. But it doesn't matter, I'm just here to work, and I don't want to develop a career here. Since it's a job, don't be too picky!"

In Qian Jing's "sociological classification", there are many things that can make money, but they are also divided into several categories. The highest level is called career, which is a spiritual pursuit, and can even be raised to the height of philosophy. The second level is called occupation, which is to demonstrate one's ability, worth, and professionalism while earning income. The third level is called work, doing one thing steadily, working hard to do it well, getting money, and striving to be able to develop into a career. The fourth class is called "work", that is, looking for work to do, and after completing one piece, there is no expectation that there will be a next meal.

Straightening the schoolbag strap on his shoulders again, and blowing cool air on it with the corners of his mouth obliquely, Qian Jing took a big step and walked on the path without a name.