What an Idiot

“There’s not even anywhere to sit.” Jiang Zhou frowned and walked over to the iron bed. When he sat down and pressed his palm against the mattress, he realized it was only a thin layer. He could clearly feel the chill of the iron plate beneath it. Lowering his eyes, he saw a single neatly folded blanket on the bed, barely thicker than the mattress.

Chen Ju opened the breakfast bag on the table. Inside were two large steamed buns and a cup of hot soy milk. They looked far more appetizing than the steamed bun he’d just been eating, and he couldn’t help swallowing.

No matter how unhappy he was, he couldn’t take it out on the food—especially when it was his favorite kind of big meat bun.

After breakfast, with Jiang Zhou watching, Chen Ju began packing. There were still more than forty minutes before work, so he had to hurry.

“I-I’m done.” Chen Ju packed his things as quickly as he could. He hadn’t lived here long, and he had pitifully few belongings: one large backpack and two thin blankets tied together with hemp rope.

Jiang Zhou walked over, picked up the two neatly folded blankets, and tossed them onto the iron bed. “We’re not keeping these.”

“This too.” The iron enamel mug, about the size of a bowl, was tossed aside as well.

“I have slippers at my place. Throw these worn-out ones away.” The blue plastic slippers didn’t escape their fate either; they went straight into the trash.

“How long have you had this set of pajamas? Throw it away.” Jiang Zhou was just about to toss them when Chen Ju finally couldn’t take it anymore. He rushed forward, grabbed his pajamas, and retreated to the doorway.

Jiang Zhou frowned at Chen Ju and held out one hand. “Give them to me.”...